in question and that a little to save his Reputation he chang'd the Subject but to no purpose for ever there too he was confounded for forgetting those decencies which even Nature prescribes to Men and common Custom has taught us in civil Conversation he advanc'd infamâ—us Propositions which cannâ—t be related without offending Modâ—sty and these he maintain'd with a strange impudence against the Reasons of the Father though the King and the Noble Auditory thought the Christian Arguments convincing But the Bonza still flying out into Passion and continuing to rail and â—awl aloud as if he were rather in a Bear garden than at a solemn Disputation one of the Lords there present said smiling to him If your business be fighting why did not you go to the Kingdom of Amanguchi when they were in Civil-Wars there you might have found some one or other with whom you might have 〈◊〉 to hâ—rd-heads What make you â—ere where all things are at quiet But if you came hither to dispute why do you not carry on your Argument with mildness and good manners according to the Copy which is set you by the European Bonza This sharp raillery had no effect upon Fucarandonâ— He reply'd to the Lord with so much impudence and haughtiness that the King whose Patience was tir'd with so much insolence caus'd him to be put out of the Hall saying That his Coat of a Bonza was the only protection of his life The affront which Fucarandâ—no had receiv'd was interpreted by the Bonza's as an injury done to the Gods and as such they declar'd it to the People saying That Religion was prâ—fan'd and that the King the Court and the whole Nation had incurr'd the wrath of Heaven Upon which pretence they shut up the Temples and wou'd neither offer Sacrifice nor accept of Alms. The Multitude which had already been dispos'd to rise began to get together and had certainly taken Arms if the King by good management had not somewhat calm'd their Spirits In the mean time the Portugueses not believing themselves to be secure against the rage of a Superstitious People and having just grounds of apprehending that the affront which Fucarandono had receiv'd might be reveng'd on their persons return'd with all expedition to their Ship designing to set Sail with the benefit of the first fair Wind At their departure from the Town they inâ—reated Father Xavier to follow them but he cou'd not resolve to run off like a Fugitive or to forsake those new Christians whose ruine had been sworn by the Heathen Priests How eager soever those Merchants were to get out of a Countrey where their lives were in so little safety yet their fear for Father Xavier kept them lingring there some days longer they deputed the Captain of the Vessel to him who was to desire him in their name to make haste to them Edward de Gama after a long enquiry found him at last in a poor Cabin with eight Christians who having been the most zealous in opposition of the Bonza's were in reason to expect the more cruel usage at their hands and were content to offer up their lives provided they might die in the Arms of the Man of God. The Captain urg'd him with the strongest Reasons which he cou'd invent and set before him all the dangers which attended him that being at the mercy of the Bonza's his death was inevitable and that the means of escaping wou'd be lost when once the Tempest shou'd begin to rise The Father far from yielding to these Arguments was offended at the Captain and the Merchants for desiring to hinder him from the Crown of Martyrdome which he had taken so long a Journey to obtain My Brother said he to Gama with a servour which express'd the holy ambition of his Soul how happy shou'd I be if I cou'd receive what you reckon a disgrace but what I account a Soveraign Felicity but I am unworthy of that favour from Almighty God yet I will not render my self more unworthy of it which assuredly I shou'd if I embark'd with you For what scandal shou'd I give by flying hence to my new Converts Might they not take occasion from it to violate their promises to God when they shou'd find me wanting to the duty of my Ministry If in consideration of that Money which you have receiv'd from your passengers you think your self oblig'd to secure them from the danger which threatens them and for that reason have summon'd them on Board ought not I by a stronger motive guard my Flock and die with them for the sake of a God who is infinitely good and who has redeem'd me at the price of his own life by suffering for me on the Cross Ought not I to seal it with my Blood and to publish it by my death that all men are bound to sacrifice their Blood and Lives to this God of Mercies This generous answer wrought so much upon the Captain that instead of doubling his solicitations on Father Xavier he resolv'd to partake his Fortune and not to leave him Having taken up this Resolution without farther care of what might happen to his Ship or what became of his own person and accounting all his losses for a trifle while he enjoy'd the Company of Xavier he return'd indeed to his Merchants but it was only to declare to them the determination of the Father and his own also that in case they wou'd not stay he gave up his Vessel to them they were supply'd with Mariners and Souldiers and had plentiful Provisions laid in both of Food and Ammunition for War. They might go at their pleasure wheresoever they design'd but for his own particular he was resolv'd to live and die with the Man of God. Not a Man of them but subscrib'd to the Opinion of the Captain and they were one and all for following his Example and the Fortune of the Saint Suddâ—nly they put into the Port again for the Ship had lain off at a good distance for fear of some attempt which might be made upon it from the Town Souldiers were left for its defence and the Captain and Merchants came in Company to Fucheo Their return gave new vigour to the Christians and amaz'd the People who cou'd not but wonder that so poor a man shou'd be had in such esteem by his Country-men that they chose rather to run the hazard of their wealth and of their lives than to lose the sight of him This prompt return broke all the measures of the Bonza's whose courage had been swell'd by the â—light of Gama which had given them the opportunity of making their Cabals against the Christians but when they found that those designs mightâ— possibly miscarry and that on the other side they were again desy'd to a new Conference on the Subject of Religion they thought good to accommodate themselves a little to the times and to renew the dispute betwixt Xavier and Fucarandono before the Court. To
favour not only of the Concubinarians bâ—t of thâ—â—r Mistresses and he compass'd this by the mildness of his Aspect by the obligingness of his Words and sometimes by good Offices Yet we cannot think that the Conversions of Sinners cost him only these Addresses Before he treated with them concerning the important business of their Souls he treated with God at the holy Altars but to render his Prayers more efficacious he join'd them with all manner of Austerities Having notice that three Portuguese Souldiers belonging to the Garrison of Amboyna had liv'd for five years past in great debauchery he got their good Wills by his ingaging carriage and wrought so well that these Libertines as wicked as they were lodg'd him in their Quarters during a whole Lent so much they were charm'd with his good humour But while he appear'd thus gay amongst them in his outward behaviour for fear of giving them any disgust of his Society he underwent most rigorous Penances to obtain the Grace of their Conversion and us'd his Body so unmercifully that he was languishing for a moneth of those severities When Xavier had reduc'd his Penitents to that point at which he aim'd that is when he had brought them to Confession they cost him not less pains than formerly He always begg'd of God their perseverance with his tears and frequently when he had enjoin'd them some light Penance pay'd for them the remainder of their debts with bloody disciplining of his own Body But when he lighted on intractable and stubborn Souls he left them not off for their contumacy but rather sought their good opinion and on occasion shew'd them a better Countenance than usual that thence they might be given to understand how ready he was for their reception When he went from Ternata to Amboyna he left but two persons who were visibly ingag'd in Vice The first opportunity which the Vessels had of repassing to Ternata he writ expresly to one of his Friends that he shou'd salute those two scandalous sinners with all tenderness from him and let them know that upon the least sign which they shou'd make him he wou'd return to hear their Confessions But these Condescentions and this Goodness of the Apostle had nothing in them of meanness or of weakness and he knew well enough to make use of severity when there was occasion for it Thus a Lady who had accus'd her self in Confession to have look'd upon a Man with too alluring an Eye was thus answer'd by him You are unworthy that God shou'd look on you since by those incouraging regards which you have given to a Man you have run the hazard of losing God. The Lady was so pierc'd with these few words that during the rest of her life she durst never look any Man in the Face By all these Methods Xavier made so many Converts But whatever he perform'd he look'd on it as no more than an Essay And he wrote in the year 1549 that if God wou'd be pleas'd to bestow on him yet ten years more of life he despair'd not but these small beginnings wou'd be attended with more happy Consequences This ardent desire of extending farther the Dominion of Iesus Christ caus'd him to write those pressing Letters to the King of Portugal and Father Ignatius that he might be furnish'd with a larger supply of Missioners he promis'd in his Letters to sweeten the Labour of the Mission by serving all his fellows and loving them better than himself The year he dy'd he writ that when once he had subdu'd the Empire of China and that of Tartary to the Scepter of Iesus Christ he purpos'd to return into Europe by the North that he might labour in the reduction of Hereticks and restoration of Discipline in Manners that after this he design'd to go over into Africa or to return into Asia in quest of new Kingdoms where he might preach the Gospel For what remains though he was ever forming new designs as if he were to live beyond an Age yet he labour'd as if he had not a day to live and so tugg'd at the work which he had in hand that two or three days and nights pass'd over his head without once thinking to take the least manner of nourishment In saying his Office it often happen'd to him to leave for five or six times successively the same Canonical-hour for the good of Souls and he quitted it with the same promptitude that afterwards he resum'd it He broke off his very Prayers when the most inconsiderable person had the least occasion for him and order'd when he was in the deepest of his retirements that if any poor Man or even but a Child shou'd desire to be instructed he might be call'd from his Devotions No Man perhaps was ever known to have run more dangers both by Land and Sea without reckoning into the account the Tempests which he suffer'd in ten years of almost continual Navigation 't is known that being at the Molucca's and passing from Isle to Isle he was thrice Shipwrack'd though we are not certain of the time or places and once he was for three days and nights together on a Plank at the mercy of the Winds and Waves The Barbarians have often shot their Arrows at him and more than once he fell into the hands of an inrag'd multitude One day the Saracens pursu'd him and endeavour'd to have ston'd him and the Brachmans frequently sought after him to have murther'd him even to that point of merciless barbarity as to set Fire on all the Houses where they imagin'd he might lie conceal'd But none of all these dangers were able to affright him and the apprehension of dying cou'd never hinder him from performing his ordinary Functions It seem'd that even dangers serv'd to the redoubling of his Courage and that by being too intrepid he sometimes enter'd into the extream of rashness Being at Iapan he reprehended the King of Amanguchi so severely for the infamy and scandal of his Vices that Father Iohn Fernandez who serv'd him for Interpreter as being more conversant than the Saint in the Language of the Court was amaz'd and trembled in pronouncing what the Father put into his mouth as we are given to understand in a Letter written by the same Fernandez Xavier one day perceiving the fear of his Companion forbade him absolutely either to change or soften any of his words I obey'd him says Fernandez but expected every moment when the Barbarian shou'd strike me with his Cymetar and confess my apprehensions of death were as much too great as the concernment of Father Francis was too little In effect he was so far from fearing death that he look'd on it as a most pleasing Object If we dye for so good a Cause said Xavier on another occasion we ought to place it amongst the greatest benefits we receive from God and shall be very much oblig'd to those who freeing us from a continual death such as is this mortal life
for the love of whom I undertake this Voyage that if there shou'd only pass this way some little Bark of Malacca I shou'd go aboard without the least deliberation All my hope is in God and I conjure you by his Love to remember always in your Prayers so great a sinner as my self Though his intentions in coming to Meliapor were only to receive the instructions of Heaven in his solitude yet he employ'd some part of his time in the good of others His holy Life gave a lustre and value to his Discourse and the sight of him alone was of efficacy to touch the Heart The people had receiv'd it as a Maxim That whoever follow'd not the Counsel of Father Francis shou'd dye an Enemy of God. And they related the unhappy end of some sinners who being urg'd by Xavier to make a speedy Repentance had deserr'd the work of their Conversion This popular Opinion contributed much to the change of Manners in the Town and the fear of a disastrous death serv'd frequently to break off in one moment the criminal commerce of many years There was in Meliapor a Portuguese Gentlemen who liv'd a debauch'd and scandalous life His House was a Seraglio in little and the greatest part of his business was making a Collection of beautiful Slaves Xavier went one day to visit him about Dinner time Are you willing said the Father that we shou'd begin an acquaintance by dining together The Portuguese was somewhat discompos'd both at the Visit and the Compliment yet he forc'd himself into good humour and made shew of being very glad of the honour which the Father had done him While they were at Table Xavier spoke not one word to him concerning his debauchery and only entertain'd him with ordinary talk though they had been serv'd by young Damsels whose Habit was not over modest and whose Air was very impudent He continu'd in the same way he had began after they were risen from Dinner and in conclusion took his leave without making him the least reproach The Gentleman surpris'd at the conduct of Father Francis believ'd his silence to be a bad omen to him and that he had nothing else to expect but an unhappy Death and a more unhappy Eternity In this thought he went with all diligence to find the Father and falling down before him Tour silence said he has spoken pow'rfully to my Heart I have not enjoy'd one moment of repose since you parted from me Ah Father if my everlasting Damnation be not already sfix'd I put my self into your hands do with me what you shall judge necessary for the Salvation of my Soul behold me ready to pay you a blind obedience Xavier embrac'd him and after he had given him to understand that the mercies of the Lord are infinite that it is our duty never to despair that he who sometimes refuses to Sinners the hour of repentance always grants pardon to the Penitent he caus'd him to put away those occasions of his sin and dispos'd him to a general Confession the fruit of which was a chast and Christian Life In short the Father did what he cou'd desire to be done at Meliapore and Witnesses of known Integrity have depos'd on Oath that he left the Town so different from what it was at his coming thither that it was hardly to be known for the same place which also gave him so entire a satisfaction that giving it a thousand Benedictions he said that there was not in all the Indies a more Christian Town And at the same time he Prophecy'd that one day it shou'd become flourishing and wealthy which Prediction was accomplish'd some few years afterward Though all these Conversions drew the publick veneration on Father Francis it seem'd that God took pleasure in making the name of his Servant yet more illustrious by certain wonderful events A Merchant of Meliapore being just ready to imbark for Malacca went to take his leave of him In receiving his blessing he beg'd of him some little token of his friendship The Father who was very poor cou'd find nothing to give him but the Chaplet which was hanging at his neck This Chaplet said he to the Merchant shall not be unprofitable to you provided you repose your trust in the Virgin Mary The Merchant went away in full assurance of the Divine Protection and without fear of Pyrates Winds or Rocks but God wou'd make a tryal of his Faith. He had already almost cross'd without the least hazard the great Gulph which is betwixt Meliapore and Malacca when suddenly there blew a furious Storm the Sails were torn the Rudder broken and the Mast came by the Boord and the Vessel afterwards being driven against the Rocks was split The greatest part of the Seamen and Passengers were drown'd some of them held upon the Rocks where they were cast away and the Merchant himself was of that number But being upon the wide Sea and not having wherewithal to supply Nature to avoid dying by hunger they took a resolution which only despair cou'd have inspir'd having gather'd up some floating Planks of their wreck'd Vessel and joyning them together the best they cou'd they put themselves upon thâ—m and abandon'd their safety to the mercy of the Waves without other hope than of lighting on some current which might possibly carry them on shore The Merchant full of confidence in the Blessed Virgin had still preserv'd the Chaplet of Xavier and fear'd not drowning while he held it in his hand The float of Planks was hardly adrift upon the waves when he found he was transported out of himself and believ'd he was at Meliapore with Father Francis. Returning from his extasie he was strangely surpriz'd to find himself on an unknown Coast and not to see about him the Companions of his Fortunes nor the Planks to which he had intrusted his Life He understood from some People who casually came that way that it was the Coast of Negapatan and in a transport mix'd with joy and amazement he told them in how miraculous a manner God had deliver'd him from death Another Portuguese by profession a Souldier call'd Ierome Fernandez de Mendoza receiv'd a considerable assistance from Xavier in a different manner but full as marvelous Fernandez having put off from the Coast of Cormandel in a Ship belonging to him wherein was all his wealth to go to another Coast more westward was taken near the Cape of Comorin by the Malabar Pyrates equally covetous and cruel To save his life in losing his goods he threw himself into the Sea and was happy enough in spight of his ill fortune to swim to land on the Coast of Meliapore Meeting there Father Francis he related his misfortune to him and beg'd an Alms. The Father was almost sorry at that time for his being so poor himself that he had not wherewithal to relieve the miserable man yet he put his hand into his Pocket as if he were searching there for
waited for him a Sâ—ip which was to go towards Malacca He took for Companions Father Cozmo de Torrez and Iohn Fernandez besides the three Iaponneses Paul de Sainte Foy and his two Servants Iohn and Anthony 'T is true there imbark'd with him in the same Galley Emanuel Moralez and Alphonso de Castro but it was only that the Father might carry them to Malacca from whence both of them were to be transported to the Molucca's The Ship which attended the Father at Cochin being just ready to set sail they made but a short stay in that place but it was not unprofitable The Saint walking one day through the Streets happen'd to meet a Portuguese of his acquaintance and immediately ask'd him how he was in health The Portuguese answer'd he was very well yes reply'd Xavier in relation to your body but in regard of your Soul no man can be in a worse condition This man who was then designing in his heart a wicked action knew immediately that the Father saw into the bottom of it and seriously reflecting on it follow'd Xavier Conâ—ess'd himself and chang'd his evil life The Preaching of Castro so charm'd the People that they desir'd to have retain'd him at Cochin there to have establish'd the Colledge of the Society But Xavier who had design'd him for the Molucca's oppos'd it And Providence which destin'd the Crown of Martyrdom to that Missioner suffer'd him not to continue in a place where they had nothing but veneration for him They left Cochin on the 25th of April and arriv'd at Malacca on the last of May. All the Town came to meet Father Xavier and every particular Person was overjoy'd at his return Alphonso Martinez grand Vicar to the Bishop at that time lay dangerously Sick and in such an Agony of Soul as mov'd compassion For having been advertis'd to put himself in condition of giving up his Accounts to God of that Ministry which he had exercis'd for thirty years and of all the actions of his life he was so struck with the horrour of immediate death and the disorders of his life which was not very regular for a man of his Profession that he fell into a deep Melancholly and totally despair'd of his Salvation He cast out lamentable cryes which aâ—â—righted the hearers they heard him name his Sins aloâ—d and detest them with a furious regret not that he might ask Pardon for them but only to declare their enormity When they wou'd have spoken to him of Gods infinite mâ—â—câ— he broke out into a rage and â—râ—'d out as loud as he was able that there was no forgiveness for the Damn'd and no mercy in the Bottomless Pit. The sick man was told that Father Francis was just arriv'd and was ask'd 〈◊〉 he shou'd not be glad to see him Martinez who formerly had been very nearly acquainted with him seem'd to breathe anew at the hearing of that name and suddenly began to raise himself to go see said he the man of God. But the attempt he made serv'd only to put him into a fainting Fit. The Father entring at the same moment found him in it It had always been his custom to make his first visit to the Ecclesiastical Superiours but besides this the sickness of the Vicar hasten'd the Visit. When the sick man was come by little and little to himself Xavier began to speak to him of Eternity and of the conditions requisite to a Christian death This discourse threw Martinez back again into his former terrours and the Servant of God in this occasion found that to be true which he had often said that nothing is more difficult than to perswade a dying man to hope well of his Salvation who in the course of his life had â—latter'd himself with the hopes of it that he might Sin with the greater boldness Seeing the evil to be almost past remedy he undertook to do violence to Heaven that he might obtain for the Sick man the thoughts of true repentance and the grace of a religious death For he made a Vow upon the place to say a great number of Masses in honour of the most Holy Trinity of the Blessed Virgin of the Angels and some of the Saints to whom he had a particular devotion His Vows were scarcely made when Martinez became calm began to have reasonable thoughts and receiv'd the last Sacraments with a lively sorrow for his Sins and a tender relyance on Gods Mercies after which he dy'd gently in the arms of Xavier calling on the name of Iesus Christ. His happy death gave great consolation to the Holy man but the Apostolick labours of Francis Perez and Roch Oliveira increas'd his joy He had sent them the year before to Malacca there to found a Colledge of the Society according to the desire of the People and they had been very well receiv'd Perez had begun to open a publick School for the instruction of the youth in Learning and Piety according to the Spirit of their Institute Oliveira had wholly given himself to the Ministry of Preaching and the conduct of Souls but tying himself more especially to the care of Turks and Iews of which there was always a vast Concourse in the Town For the first came expresly from Mecca and the last from Malabar to endeavour there to plant Mahometism and Iudaism where Christianity then flourish'd The Example of the two Missioners drew many Portugueses to that kind of life of which they both made profession The most considerable of all was a young Gentleman whose name was Iuan Bravo who by his noble Birth and Valour might justly hope to raise his fortunes in the World. But he preâ—erring Evangelical Poverty and Religious Humility before all those earthly expectations and establishments was just then ready to have taken Ship for Goa there to execute those thoughts with which Heaven had inspir'd him when he was inform'd that Xavier wou'd take Malacca in his way He therefore waited for him and in the mean time liv'd with Perez and Oliveira as if he had been already of the Society At least he conform'd himself as much as he was able to their manners and habited himself like them that is to say instead of rich Garments he put on an old threed-bare Cassock with which he look'd the World in the face without having yet forsaken it He perform'd the Spiritual Exercises for a month together and never came out of his retirement but to employ himself in works of Charity in the Hospital There for three months he attended the Sick living in Poverty and begging his Bread from door to door even in the sight of Iames Sosa his Kinsman Admiral of the Fleet which was Rigging out for the Molucca's These Tryals oblig'd the Father to receive Bravo into the Society He admitted him almost immediately to take the first Vows and finding in him an excellent foundation for all the Apostolical Vertues he took care to cultivate him even so far as
to discover the neighbouring Coast. She was three days before she came back and all the Ships Company imagin'd that she had been overtaken by some Hurrican but Xavier assur'd them that she shou'd suddenly return with refreshments sent them by the Portugueses of Sancian and that also she shou'd be follow'd by some Vessels which shou'd come to meet them on their way and conduct them into the Port. All happen'd as the Father had foretold and the Santa Cruz. guided by the Vessels of Sancian arriv'd at that Island twenty three days after her departure from Malacca There are three Islands so little distant from each other that they appear but one for which reason the Chineses in their language call them Samceu a word compos'd of Sam which signifies three and Ceu which is to say an Island The chief of these Islands which the Portugueses have nam'd Sancian has a convenient and safe Port all Crown'd with Mountains and forming a semicircle on that side which looks towards Macâ—â— It has few Inhabitants who are Natives almost no Provisions and is so barren of it self so uncultivated and so wild that it seems rather a place of Banshment than of Commerce The Chineses had permitted the Portugueses to trade thither to buy their Commodities and sell their own to them without breaking their fundamental Law of suffering no stranger to set foot within their Country So that the Portugueses durst come no nearer the main Land for fear of hazarding their lives or at least their liberty Neither was it permitted them to build solid Houses in the Isle they were only allow'd to set up slight Cabins cover'd with Matts and dress'd about with boughs of Trees that they might not always be shut up within their Vessels Amongst these Merchants there was one who was very rich and infinitely charitable but of a gay humour and pleasant in Conversation addicted to all pleasure which decency permits and loving not to deny himself any thing which will make life comfortable For the rest most affectionate to Father Xavier his name was Peter Veglio the same Veglio who was with the Saint at Iapan and who return'd in his Company Xavier being very desirous of his Friends Salvation exhorted him from time to time to mortify his natural Inclinations even sometimes to chastise his Body for the expiation of his Sins Veglio understood not that Latin whether he was too tender of his own person or thought his Sins were not of a nature to deserve such severities he cou'd never find in his Heart to take up the Discipline but instead of Macerations and Penances he gave great Alms and Father Francis receiv'd from him very large supplies for the relief of such as were in want One day the Father having need of a certain sum of Money to marry a young Orphan Virgin who was poor and handsome and consequently in danger of being ruin'd had recourse to Veglio according to his Custom He found him ingag'd in play with another Merchant but the business being urgent he forbore not to request his Charity Veglio who lov'd to be merry made as if he were angry with him and answer'd thus Father Francis when a man is losing he is in no condition of giving Alms and for a wise man as you are you have made a very gross miâ—â—ake in this unseasonable demand 'T is always in season to do good reply'd Xavier and the best time for giving Money is when a man has it in his hand The Merchant continuing in the same tone and seeming to be displeas'd with the Fathers company added as it were to be rid of him Here take the Key of my Chest take all my Money if you will and leave me to play my Game in quiet In the Merchants Chest were thirty thousand Taës which amount to forty five thousand Crowns of Gold. The Father took out three hundred Crowns which were sufficient to marry the Orphan Mayden Some time afterward Veglio counting over his Money and finding the sum was still entire believ'd the Father had not touch'd it and reproach'd him with want of friendship for not making use of him whereupon Xavier proteâ—ted to him that he had taken out three hundred Crowns I swear to you said Veglio that not one of them is wanting But God forgive you added he my meaning was to have parted the whole sum betwixt us and I expected that of my forty five thousand Crowns you shou'd at least have taken the one moity Xavier finding that Veglio had spoken very sincerely to him and out of a pure principle of Charity said as a Man transported out of himself by the Spirit of God Peter the design you had is a good work before the Eyes of him who weighs the motions and intentions of the Heart he himself will recompence you for it and that which you have not given shall be one day restor'd to you an hundred-fold In the man time I answer for him that temporal gâ—ods shall be never wanting to you and when you shall have misfortunes to put you backwards in the World your Friends shall assist you with their Purses I farther declare to you that you shall not die without being first advertis'd of the day of your death After these predictions Veglio was quite chang'd into another man applying himself wholly to exercises of Piety and in the condition of a Merchant liv'd almost the life of a Religious What had been foretold him that he should have warning of his death came frequently into his remembrance and he cou'd not hinder himself one day from asking the Saint at what time and in what manner it shou'd be The Saint told him without pausing When you shall find the taste of your Wine bitter then prepare your self for death and know that you have but one day more to live The Merchant liv'd in Opulence and Splendour even to an extream old age He had several losses in his Trade according to the chance of things which are depending on the Sea. But his Friends continually reliev'd him in his necessities and gave him wherewithal to set up again At length being one day at a great Entertainment and more gay than ever having ask'd for Wine he found the taste of it was bitter Immediately remembring the Prophecy of Father Xavier he was seiz'd with an inward horrour which begining from the Soul spread over his Body as if death had been pronounc'd against him or the Image of death presented to his Eyes Nevertheless somewhat recovering his Spirits for his farther satisfaction in the point he desir'd his fellow Guests at the Table to taste the Wine out of his Glass All judg'd it to be excellent besides himself who made divers tryals of it on his Palat. He call'd for other Wines and another Glass but always found the same bitterness Then no longer doubting but that his last hour was coming after he had made an interiour Sacrifice of his life to
honour him during the rest of our lives hoping that out of his abundant mercy he will bestow on us a new strength and fresh vigour to serve him faithfully and generously even to our death May it please the Divine goodness he says elsewhere that good men whom the Devil endeavours to affright in the service of God might fear no other thing besides displeasing him in leaving off what they have undertaken for his sake If they wou'd do this how happy a life wou'd they then lead how much wou'd they advance in virtue knowing by their own experience that they can do nothing of themselves but that they can do all things by the assistance of his grace He said that our most stedfast hold in dangers and temptations was to have a noble courage against the foe of our Salvation in a distrust of our own strength but a firm reliance on our Lord so that we shou'd not onely fear nothing under the conduct of such a general but also shou'd not doubt of Victory He said also further that in those dangerous occasions the want of confidence in God was more to be fear'd than any assault of the Enemy and that we shou'd run much greater hazard in the least distrust of the divine assistance in the greatest dangers than in exposing our selves to those very dangers He added lastly that this danger was so much the more formidable the more it was hidden and the less that we perceiv'd it These thoughts produc'd in the Soul of this holy man an entire diffidence of himself together with a perfect humility He was the onely discourse of the new World Infidels and Christians gave him almost equal honour and his power over Nature was so great that it was said to be a kind of Miracle when he perform'd no Miracle But all this serv'd only to raise confusion in him because he found nothing in himself but his own nothingness and being nothing in his own conceit he cou'd not comprehend how it was possible for him to be esteem'd Writing to the Doctor of Navarre before his Voyage to the Iâ—dies he told him that it was a singular grace of Heaven to know our selves and that through the mercy of God he knew himself to be good for nothing Humbly beseech our Lord he wrote from the Indies to Father Simon Rodriguez that I may have power to open the door of China to others where I am I have done but little In many other passages of his Letters he calls himself an exceeding evil man a great Sinner and conjures his Brethren to employ their intercessions to God in his behalf Bring to pass by your Prayers says he to one of them that though my sins have render'd me unworthy of the Ministerial Vocation yet God may vouchsafe out of his inâ—inite goodness to make use of me I beseech you says he to another to implore the heavenly assistance for us and to the end you may do it with the greater fervency I beseech our Lord that he wou'd give you to understand how much I stand in need of your intercession It is of extream importance to my consolation he writes to the Fathers of Goa that you understand the wonderful perplexity in which I am As God knows the multitude and heynousness of my Sins I have a thought which much torments me 't is that God perhaps may not prosper our Vndertakings if we do not amend our lives and change our manners 'T is necessary on this account to employ the Prayers of all the Religious of our Society and of all our Friends in hope that by their means the Catholick Church which is the Spouse of our Lord Iesus will communicate her innumerable merits to us and that the Authâ—ur of all good will accumulate his graces on us notwithstanding our offences He attributed all the fruits of his labours to an evident Miracle of the Divine Power which made use of so vile and weak an instrument as himself to the end it might appear to be the work of God. He said that they who had great Talents ought to labour with great courage for the safety of Souls since he who was wanting in all the qualities which are requisite to so high a Calling was not altogether unprofitable in his Ministry As he had a mean opinion of himself and that his own understanding was suspected by him he frequently by his Letters requested his Brethren of Italy and Portugal to instruct him in the best method of Preaching the Gospel proâ—itably I am going said he to publish Iesus Christ to people who are part Idolaters and part Saracens I conjure you by Iesus Christ himself to send me word after what manner and by what means I may instruct them For I am verily perswaded that God will suggest those ways to you which are most proper for the easie reduction of those People into his Fold And if I wander from the right path while I am in expectation of your Letters I hope I shall return into it when I shall have receiv'd them All that succeeded well to his endeavours in the service of our Lord he attributed to the intercession of his Brethren Tour Prayers he writ to the Fathers at Rome have assuredly obtain'd for me the knowledge of my infinite offences and withal the grace of uâ—vearied labouring in the Conversion of Idolaters not withstanding the multitude of my sins But if the designs which he was always forming for the advancement of Religion happen'd to be thwarted he acknowledg'd no other reason of those crosses than his own sins and complain'd onely of himself As for those Miracles which he continually wrought they pass'd in his opinion as the effects of innocence in Children or for the fruits of faith in sick Persons And when at the sight of a miraculous performance the people were at any time about to give him particular honours he ran to hide himself in the thickest of a Forest or when he cou'd not steal away he enter'd so far into the knowledge of himself that he stood secure from the least temptation of vain glory It even seem'd that the low opinion which he had of his own worth in some sort blinded him in relation to the wonders which he wrought so that he perceiv'd not they were Miracles It was the common talk at Goa that he had rais'd the dead on the Coast of Fishery After his return to Goa Iames Borba and Cozmo Annez his two intimate friends requested him to inform them for God's further glory how those matters went and particularly they enquir'd concerning the Child who was drown'd in the Well The holy Man at this request hung down his head and blush'd exceedingly when he was somewhat recover'd of his bashfulness Iesus said he what I to raise the Dead can you believe these things of such a wretch as I am After which modestly smiling he went on Alas poor Sinner that I am they set before me a Child whom they reported
was one of those Men of Quality whose Fortunes are not equal to their Birth was thinking to remove him from his Studies after having allow'd him a competent maintenance for a year or two He communicated these his thoughts to Magdalen Iasso his Daughter Abbess of the Convent of St. Clare de Gandia famous for the austerity of its Rule and establish'd by some holy Frenchwomen of that Order whom the calamities of War had forc'd to forsake their Native Country and to seek a Sanctuary in the Kingdom of Valencia Magdalen in her younger days had been Maid of Honour and Favourite to the Catholick Queen Isabella The love of Solitude and of the Cross had caus'd her to forsake the Court of Arragon and quit for ever the pleasures of this World. Having chosen the most reform'd Monastery of Spain for the place of her retreat she apply'd her self with fervour to the exercises of Penitence and Prayer and became even from her noviciate a perfect pattern of Religious Perfection During the course of her life she had great Communications with God and one day he gave her to understand that she shou'd dye a sweet and easie death But on the contrary one of her Nuns was preordain'd to dye in strange torments The intention of God was not thereby to reveal to the Abbess what was really to happen but rather to give her an opportunity of exercising an heroick act of Charity She comprehended what her Heavenly Father exacted from her and petition'd him for an exchange God granted to her what himself had inspir'd her to demand and was pleas'd to assure her by a new Revelation that he had heard her Prayers She made known to her Ghostly Father what had pass'd betwixt God and her and time verify'd it For the Sister above mention'd dy'd without sickness and appear'd in dying to have had a foretaste of the Joys to come On the other side the Abbess was struck with a terrible disease which took all her Body as it were in pieces and made her suffer intolerable pains yet even those pains were less cruel to her than those inward torments which God at the same time inflicted on her She endur'd all this with wonderful Patience and Resignation being well assur'd that in the whole series of these Dispensations there was somewhat of Divine For what remains concerning her from the first years of her entry into a Religious Life the gift of Prophecy shone so visibly in her that none doubted but that she was full of the Spirit of God and 't is also probable that she left a Legacy of her Prophetick Gifts to her Spiritual Daughters For after her decease the Nuns of Gandia foretold many things which afterward the event confirm'd As amongst others the unhappy success of the Expedition to Algier of which the Duke of Borgia Viceroy of Catalonia gave the Advertisement from them to Charles the Fifth when he was making his Preparations for that Enterprise It was six years before the death of Magdalen that Don Iasso her Father writ to her concerning Xavier After she had receiv'd the Letter she was illuminated from above and according to the dictates of that Divine Light she answer'd Don Iasso That he shou'd beware of recalling her Brother Francis whatsoever it might cost him for his Entertainment in the University of Paris That he was a chosen Vessel preordain'd to be the Apostle of the Indies and that one day he shou'd become a great Pillar of the Church These Letters have been preserv'd for a long time afterwards and have been view'd by many persons who have depos'd the truth judicially in the process of the Canonisation of the Saint Don Iasso receiv'd this Answer from his Daughter as an Oracle from Heaven and no longer thought of recalling his Son from his Studies Xavier thereupon continued his Philosophy and succeeded so well in it that having maintain'd his Theses at the end of his course with a general applause and afterwards taking his degree of Master in Arts he was judg'd worthy to teach Philosophy himself His Parts appear'd more than ever in this new Employment and he acquir'd an high Reputation in his publick Lectures on Aristotle The Praises which universally were given him were extreamly pleasing to his Vanity He was not a little proud to have augmented the Glory of his Family by the way of Learning while his Brothers were continually adorning it by that of Arms and he flatter'd himself that the way which he had taken wou'd lead him onward to somewhat of greater consequence But God Almighty had far other thoughts than those of Xavier and it was not for these fading Honours that the Divine Providence had conducted him to Paris At the same time when this young Master of Philosophy began his course Ignatius Loyola who had renounc'd the World and cast the model of a learned Society wholly devoted to the Salvation of Souls came into France to finish his Studies which the obstacles he found in Spain after his Conversion had constrain'd him to interrupt He had not continued long in the University of Paris before he heard talk of Xavier and grew acquainted with him Our new Professour who taught at the Colledge of Beauvois though he dwelt in the Colledge of St. Barbe with Peter le Fevre a Savoyard was judg'd by Ignatius to be very proper for the preaching of the Gospel as well as his Companion To gain the better opportunity of insinuating himself into their acquaintance he took Lodgings with them and was not wanting to Exhort them to live up to the Rules of Christianity Le Fevre who was of a tractable nature and was not enamour'd of the World resign'd himself without opposition But Xavier who was of a haughty Spirit and whose head was fill'd with Ambitious thoughts made a fierce Resistance at the first The Discipline and Maximes of Ignatius who liv'd in a mean Equipage and valued nothing but that Poverty made him pass for a low minded Fellow in the Opinion of our young Gentleman And accordingly Xavier treated him with much contempt rallying him on all occasions and making it his business to ridicule him This notwithstanding Ignatius omitted no opportunities of representing to him the great consequence of his Eternal welfare and urging the words of our Blessed Saviour What profit is it to a Man to gain the whole World and to lose his owâ— Soul But perceiving that he cou'd make no impression on a heart where self-conceit was so very prevalent and which was dazled with vain-glory he bethought himself of assaulting him on the weaker side When he had often Congratulated with him for those rare talents of Nature with which he was endow'd and particularly applauded his great Wit he made it his business to procure him Scholars and to augment his Reputation by the crowd of his Auditours He conducted them even to his Chair and in presenting them to their Master never fail'd to make his Panegyrick Xavier was too
for having neglected thâ— means of his Salvation He protested afterwards as Xavier himself relates in one of his Letters That in that dreadful moment the remorse of his Conscience and the sencâ— of Gods Judgments on Souls unfaithfâ—â— to their Vocation were more terrible 〈◊〉 him than the horrours even of Death 〈◊〉 self He spoke of Eternal Punishmentâ— with expressions so lively and so strong as if he had already felt them and was return'd from Hell. He frequently said as the Saint has assur'd us that by a just Judgment of Eternal God those who during their Life made no preparations for their Death had not the leisure to think on God when Death surpris'd them The Ambassadour and all his People doubted not but the safty of this Gentleman was to be ascrib'd to the Merits of â—he Saint But Xavier himself believ'd it â—o be the pure effect of the Embassadours Devotion for thus he writes to Father Ignatius concerning it Our Lord was pleas'd to give â—ar to the fervent Prayers â—f his Servant Mascaregnas which he â—ade with Tears in his Eyes for the deliâ—erance of the poor Creature whom we look'd â—pon as lost and who was taken from the â—aws of Death by a most evident Miracle In passing over the Alpes the Embasâ—â—dour's Secretary alighting to walk in a â—ifficult way which he cou'd not well â—bserve by reason of the Snows his â—oot happen'd to slip on a sharp descent â—nd he roll'd down into a Precipice he had tumbled to the very bottom if in falling his Cloaths had not taken hold â—n one of the Crags of the Rock where he remain'd hanging over the depths without ability either to disingage himself or get up again Those who follow'd made towards him but the horrour of that Abyss stopt short the most daring Xavier only made not the least demur he descended the Precipice and lending his Hand to the Secretary by little and little dragg'd him up Being gotten out of France and having pass'd the Pyreneans on the side of Navarre when they were now approaching Pampeluna Mascaregnas bethought himself that Father Francis for by that name Xavier was usually call'd had not spoken one word of going to the Castle of Xavier which was but little distant from their Rode He remember'd him of it and was even so importunate with him as to say That since he was about to leave Europe and perhaps never more to see it he cou'd not in decency dispence with giving a visit to his Family and taking his last leave of his Mother who was yet living But all the Arguments of Mascaregnas wrought no effect upon a Man who having forsaken all things for the love of God was of Opinion that he had nothing remaining in this World and who also was perswaded that Flesh and Blooâ— are Enemies to the Apostolical Spirit He turn'd not out of the Rode but only said to the Embassadour That he deferr'd the sight of his Relations till he shou'd visit them in Heaven that this transient view wou'd be accompany'd but with Melancholy and Sadness the common products of a last farewel but in Heaven he shou'd eternally behold them with pleasure and without the least allay of â—orrow Mascaregnas had already a high Idea of Xavier's Vertue but this wonderful disingagement from the World yet more increas'd the esteem which he had of him insomuch that before they reach'd Portugal he sent an Express to King Iohn the Third with no other errand than to inform of the Holiness of this second Missioner to the Indies They arriv'd at Lisbonne towards the end of Iune And Xavier retir'd to the Hospital of All Saints where Rodriguez who came by Sea had taken up his â—odging He found him much weaken'd â—ith a Quartan Ague which had not left â—im and embrac'd him just at the moment when his â—it was coming on him But whether it were that the extream joy which Rodriguez found so unexpectedly to see him dissipated the Humour which caus'd his Disease or that the Embraces of Xavier had from that time an healing Vertue certain it is that the â—it came not and from thence forward the Sick-man entirely recover'd of that Distemper Three or four days after they were both call'd to Court. The King and Queen who were in company together receiv'd Xavier as a Saint on the report of Mascaregnas and entertain'd him with all imaginable shews of kindness They ask'd them diverse Questions concerning their way of living by what accident their new Society came to be form'd and what was the ground and ultimate design of it and at last desir'd to be inform'd by them from whence proceeded that strange Persecution which was rais'd in Rome against their Body which had made so great a noise over all Europe Xavier made answer to all these demands in few words but so very pertinently as much satisfy'd both their Majesties They gave great approbation as himself relates in his Letter from Lisbonne to Ignatius to what we said concerning the Discipline of our Houses the Quality of our Ministry and the Spirit and Modeâ— of our Foundation In the midst of the Conversation the King sent for the Prince of Portugal his Son Don Iuan and the Infanta Maria his Daughter that the two Missioners might see them And from thence his Majesty took occasion of relating to them how many Children he had still living and how many he had lost which turn'd the Discourse on the Education of Youth and before the Fathers were dismiss'd the King recommended to their care an hundred young Gentlemen who were bred at Court. Though an Officer of the Palace had orders to prepare an handsome Lodging with good Accommodation for Xavier and Rodriguez they return'd to their Hospital and there continu'd They wou'd not so much as receive their Entertainment of Diet which was assign'd them from Court but went the round of the City begging Alms at their appoinâ—ed hours and liv'd in Poverty accordâ—ng to the manner of Life which they â—ad prescrib'd themselves The Fleet not being to set Sail till â—he next Spring and these Apostolical â—ersons not knowing what it was to live â—n idleness Xavier was not satisfy'd onely to instruct those young Gentlmen in Piety whom the King had committed to his charge He gave himself an Employment and did at Lisbonne what he had done at Venice Bolognia and Rome for the space of two years and more But besides that he assisted the sick in the Hospital day and night visited the Prisoners every day and catechis'd the Children many times in the week he often discours'd with the principal persons of the Court and ingag'd them in the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius At first he preach'd not in the Churches judging that the Ministries of the Gospel ought to begin with less publick Actions and went not into the Pulpit without being first requested by the King who one day sending for him to the Palace acquainted him with the desire he
because they lead a hard and solitary life having very often no other Lodging than the hollow of a Tree or a Cave and sometimes living expos'd to the Air on a bare Mountain or in a Wilderness suffering all the hardships of the weather keeping a profound silence fasting a whole year together and making profession of eating nothing which has had Life in it But after all there was not perhaps a more wicked nation under the Canopy of Heaven The fruit of those austerities which they practice in the desart is to abandon themselves in publique to the most brutal pleasures of the Flesh without either shame or remorse of conscience For they certainly believe that all things how abominable soever are lawful to be done provided they are suggested to them by the light which is within them And the People are so 〈◊〉 with them that they believe 〈…〉 become holy by partaking in 〈◊〉 â—â—mes or by suffering any outrage 〈◊〉 them On the other side they are the greatest Impostours in the world their talent consists in inventing new Fables every day and making them pass amongst the vulgar for wonderful misteries One of their cheats is to perswade the simple that the Pagods eat like men and to the end they may be presented with good cheer they make their Gods of a Gigantique figure and are sure to endow them with a prodigious paunch If those offerings with which they maintain their Families come to fail they denounce to the People that the offended Pagods threaten the Country with some dreadful judgment or that their Gods in displeasure will forsake them because they are suffer'd to die of hunger The Doctrin of these Brachmans is nothing better than their Life one of their grossest errours is to believe that 〈◊〉 have in them somewhat of Sacred and Divine That happy is the man who can be sprinkled over with the ashes of a Cow burnt by the hand of a Brachman but thrice happy he who in dying lays hold of a Cow's tail and expires with it betwixt his hands For thus assisted the Soul departs out of the Body purified and sometimes returns into the Body of a Cow. That such a favour notwithstanding is not confer'd but on Heroick Souls who contemn life and dye generously either by casting themselves headlong from a Precipice or leaping into a kindled Pile or throwing themselves under the Holy Chariot-wheels to be crush'd to death by the Pagods while they are carried in Triumph about the Town We are not to wonder after this that the Brachmans cannot endure the Christian Law and that they make use of all their credit and their cunning to destroy it in the Indies Being favour'd by Princes infinite in number and strongly united amongst themselves they succeed in all they undertake and as being great Zealots for their antient superstitions and most obstinate in their Opinions 't is not â—asie to convert them Father Xavier who saw how large a Progress the Gospel had made amongst the People and that if there were no Brachmans in the Indies there wou'd consequently be no Idolaters in all those vast Provinces of Asia spar'd no labour to reduce that perverse Generation to the true knowledge of Almighty God. He convers'd often with those of that Religion and one day found a favourable occasion of treating with them passing by a Monastery where above two hundred Brachmans liv'd together he was visited by some of the chiefest who had the curiosity to see a man whose Reputation was so universal He receiv'd them with a pleasing countenance according to his custom and having engag'd them by little and little in a discourse concerning the eternal happiness of the Soul he desir'd them to satisfie him what their Gods commanded them to do in order to it after death They look'd a while on one another without answering At length a Brachman who seem'd to be fourscore years of age took the business upon himself and said in a grave tone that two things brought a Soul to glory and made him a companion to the Gods the one was to abstain from the murther of a Cow the other to give Alms to the Brachmans All of them confirm'd the Old man's answer by their approbation and applause as if it had been an Oracle given from the mouths of their Gods themselves Father Xavier took compassion on this their miserable blindness and the tears came into his eyes He rose on the suddain for they had been all sitting and distinctly repeated in an audible tone the Apostles Creed and the ten Commandments making a pause at the end of every Article and briefly expounding it in their own language after which he declar'd to them what were Heaven and Hell and by what actions the one and other were deserv'd The Brachmans who had never heard any thing of Christianity before and had been listning to the Father with great admiration rose up as soon as he had done speaking and ran to embrace him acknowledging that the God of the Christians was the true God since his Law was so conformable to the Principles of our inward light Every one of them propos'd divers questions to him if the Soul were immortal or that it perish'd with the Body and in case that the Soul died not at what part of the Body it went out if in our sleep we dreamt we were in a far Country or convers'd with an absent Person whether the Soul went not out of the Body for that time of what colour God was whether black or white their Doctours being divided on that point the white Men maintaining he was of their colour the black of theirs the greatest part of the Pagods for that reason being black The Father answer'd all their questions in a manner to suitable to their gross understanding which was ignorant alike of things divine and natural that they were highly satisfied with him Seeing them instructed and dispos'd in this sort he exhorted them to embrace the Faith of Iesus Christ and gave them to understand that the truth being made known to them ignorance cou'd no longer secure them from eternal Punishment But what victory can Truth obtain over Souls which find their interest in following Errour and who make profession of deceiving the common people They answer'd said the Saint in one of his Letters that which many Christians answer at this day what will the world say of us if they see us change and after that what will become of our Families whose only subsistence is from the offerings which are made to the Pagods Thus humane interest and worldly considertions made the knowledge of the truth serve only to their greater condemnation Not long afterwards Xavier had another conference with a Brachman who liv'd in the nature of an Hermite He pass'd for the Oracle of the Country and had been instructed in his youth at one of the most famous Academies of the East He was one of those who was knowing in their most
that the Company possest it in propriety and without dependence It then receiv'd the name of a Colledge and was call'd the Colledge of St. Paul from the title of the Church which was dedicated to the Conversion of the Apostle of the Gentils From thence it also proceeded that the Jesuites were call'd in that Country the Fathers of St. Paul or the Fathers Paulists as they are call'd in that Country even at this day Father Xavier remain'd but a little time at Goa and return'd with all expedition to his Paravas with the best provision of Gospel Labourers which he cou'd make He was then desirous of sending a Missioner of the Company to the Isle of Socotora not being in circumstances of going thither in Person For he had not forgotten the promise which he made to God in behalf of that People when he left them But the small number of Companions which he had was not sufficient for the Indies and it was not till three or four years afterwards that he sent Father Alphonso Ciprian to Socotora Besides Mansilla who had not yet receiv'd the Order of Priesthood he carried with him to the Coast of Fishery two Priests who were Indians by nation and one Bisâ—ayner call'd Iohn Dortiaga when they were arriv'd there he visited all the Villages with them and taught them the method of converting Idolaters to the Faith and of confirming those who were already Christians in it After which having assign'd to each of them a division at his particular Province in the Coast he enter'd farther into the Country and without any other Guide than the Spirit of God penetrated into a Kingdom the Language of which was utterly unknown to him as he wrote to Mansilla in these terms You may judge what manner of Life I lead here by what I shall relate to you I am wholly ignorant of the Language of the People and they understand as little of mine and I have no Interpreter All I can perform is to Baptise Children and serve the Sick an Employment easily understood without the help of an Interpreter by only minding what they wanâ— This was the Preaching by which he declar'd Iesus Christ and made the Christian Law appear amiable in that Kingdom For amongst those Barbarians who reduce all humanity to the notion of not being inhumane and who acknowledge no other duties of Charity than forbearing to do injuries it was a thing of admiration to see a stranger who without any interest made the sufferings of another man his own and perform'd all sorts of services to the Poor as if he had been their Father or their Slave The name of the Country is neither known nor the fruits which these works of Charity produc'd â—Tis only certain that the Saint continued not there any long time and that a troublesome affair recall'd him to the Coast of Fishery when it was â—east in his intentions to return The Badages who are a great multitude of Robbers in the Kingdom of Bisnagar Idolaters and Enemies of the Christian name naturally fierce always quarrelling amongst themselves and at war with their Neighbours after they had seiz'd by force of arms on the Kingdom of Pande which is betwixt Malabar and the Coasts of Fishery made â—n irruption into the said Coast in the absence of Xavier The Paravas were under a terrible consternation at the sight of those Robbers whose very name was formidable to them not daring so much as to gather into a Body nor to hazard the first brunt of War they took flight and abandon'd their Country without any other thought than of saving their Lives In order to which they threw themselves by heaps into their Barques some of them escaping into little deâ—art Islands others hiding amongst the Rocks and Banks of Sand betwixt Cape Comorin and the Isle of Ceylan These were the places of their retreat together with their Wives and Children while the Badages overran the Coast and destroy'd their Country But what profits it to have escap'd the Sword when they must dye of hunger Those miserable Creatures expos'd to the burning heats of the Sun wanted nourishment in their Isles and on their Rocks and numbers of them daily perish'd In the mean time the news of this Excursion of the Robbers and the flight of the Christians was spread about and Xavier heard it in the Country where he then resided The misfortunes of his dear Paravas touch'd him in the most tender part he made hast to their relief and having been inform'd that they were press'd with Famine he pass'd speedily to the western Coast and earnestly solicited the Portuguese to supply them in this their extream necessity He obtain'd twenty Barks laden with all manner of Provision and himself brought it to their places of retreat where the poor Paravas as many as were left alive of them were languishing without hope of comfort and expecting death to end their misery The sight of the Holy man whom all of them regarded as their common Father caus'd them to forget some part of their misfortune and seem'd to restore them to Life He gave them all imaginable consolation and when they had somewhat recover'd their strength he brought them back to their Habitations from whence the Badages were retir'd Those Plunderers had swept all away and the Christians were more poor than ever he therefore procur'd Alms for them and wrote a Letter earnestly to the Christians of another Coast to supply their Brethren in distress The Paravas being resetled by degrees Xavier left them under the conduct of the Missioners whom he had brought for them and turn'd his thoughts elsewhere He was desirous to have carried the sound of the Gospel into the more Inland Countries which had never heard of Iesus Christ yet he â—orbore it at that time upon this account that in those Kingdoms where there were no Portuguese to protect the new Christians the Idolaters and Saraceus wou'd make war on them or constrain them to renounce their Christianity to buy their Peace Returning therefore by the western Coasts which were in the possession of the Portuguese he travell'd by Land and on foot according to his custom towards the Coast of Travancor which beginning from the point of Comorin lies extended thirty Leagues along by the Sea and is full of Villages Being come thither and having by the good offices of the Portuguese obtain'd permission from the King of Travancor to publish the Law of the true God he follow'd the same method which he had us'd at the Fishery And that practice was so successful that all that Coast was converted to Christianity in a little space of time insomuch that forty five Churches were immediately built He writes himself that in one month he Baptiz'd with his own hand ten thousand Idolaters And that frequently in one day he Baptiz'd a well Peopled Village He says also that it was to him a most pleasing object to behold that so soon as those Infidels had
readiness O my Lord send me wheresoever thou shalt please even to the Indies if thou command'st me Good God how much more happily wou'd those Learned men then live than now they do with how much more assurance of their Salvation and in the hour of death when they are ready to stand forth before the dreadful Iudgment-Seat how much greater reason wou'd they have to hope well of God's Eternal Mercy because they might say O Lord thou hast given me five Talents and behold I have added other five I take God to witness that not being able to return into Europe I have almost resolv'd to write to the Vniversity of Paris and namely to our Masters Cornet and Picard that Millions of Idolaters might be easily converted if there were more Preachers who wou'd sincerely mind the interests of Jesus Christ and not their own concernments 'T is pity that his Letter to the Doctours of Sorbonne is irrecoverably lost for certain it is he wrote to them from the midst of the Indies to engage them to come and Preach the Gospel And for this we have the testimony of Don Iohn Derada one of the chief Magistrates of the Kingdom of Navarre who studying at Paris saw the Letter sent from Father Xavier admir'd the Apostolical Charity with which it was replenish'd and took a Copy of it as did also many Divines to whom it was directed Amongst those Idolatrous Nations which breath'd after Baptism and desir'd to be instructed the Manarois were the first who made a deputation to the Saint The Isle of Manar is scituate towards the most Northern point of Ceylan and at the head of the Sands of Remanancor It has a very convenient Port and is a place of great Trafick But the Soil is so sandy and so dry that it produces nothing unless in some few places which also are cultivated with much care and labour For Manar has no resemblance to Ceylan though plac'd so near it Ceylan being the most delicious and most fruitful part of all the East where the Trees are always green and bear fruits and flowers in every Season where there are discover'd Mines of Gold and Silver Chrystal and Precious Stones which is encompass'd with Forests of Ebony Cynamon and Coco and where the Inhabitants live to an extream old Age without any of the incommodities which attend it The wonder is that being distant from the Equinoetial but six degrees the Air is temperate and pure and the Rains which water it from Heaven regularly once a Moneth joyn'd with the Springs and Rivers which pass through it refresh the Ground in a greater measure than the scorching heats can parch it Father Xavier was employ'd in establishing Christianity in Travancor when he receiv'd this Embassy from Manar As he cou'd not forsake an Infant Church without a reasonable apprehension of its ruine he sent to Manar one of the Priests whom he had left on the Coast of Fishery And God so bless'd the labours of that Missioner that the Manarois not only became Christians but died generously for the Faith and this was the occasion of their Martyrdom The Isle of Manar was at that time under the Dominion of the King of Iafanatapan for by that name the Northern part of Ceylan is call'd This Prince had usurp'd the Crown from his elder Brother and enslav'd his Subjects Above all things he was an implacable Enemy of the Christian Faith though in appearance he was a Friend to the Portuguese whose Forces only cou'd set Bounds to his Tyranny When he understood that the Manarois were converted to Christianity he enter'd into that fury of which Tyrants only can be capable For he commanded that his Troops shou'd immediately pass over into the Island and put all to the Sword excepting only the Idolaters His Orders were punctually executed and Men Women and Children were all destroy'd who had embrac'd the Christian Faith. It was wonderful to behold that the Faithful being examin'd one by one concerning their Religion and no more requir'd for the saving of their lives than to forsake their new Belief there was not one amongst them who did not openly declare himself a Christian. The Fathers and Mothers answer'd for the newly baptis'd Infants who were not able to give testimony of their Faith and offer'd them to the death with a Resolution which was amazing to their Executioners Six or seven hundred of these Islanders gave up their lives for the name of Iesus Christ and the principal place which was consecrated by so noble Blood from Pasim which it was call'd before now took the name of the Field of Martyrs This dreadful Massacre far from abolishing the Christian Law serv'd only to render it more flourishing The Tyrant had even the shame of seeing his Officers and Domestick Servants forsake their ancient Superstition in despight of him But what most inrag'd him was the Conversion of his eldest Son. This young Prince inspir'd of God caus'd himself to be instructed by a Portuguese Merchant who had dealings at the Court which yet cou'd not be so secretly perform'd but that the King had notice of it At the first news he cut his Throat and threw the Body into the Fields to serve for food to Salvage Beasts But Heaven permitted not that a death which was so precious in the sight of God shou'd be without honour in the sight of Men. The Portuguese Merchant buried his Disciple by night and on the next morning there appear'd a beautiful Cross printed on the Ground which cover'd the Body of the Martyr The spectacle extreamly surpris'd the Infidels They did what they were able to deface and if I may so say to blot out the Cross by treading over it and casting Earth upon it It appear'd again the day following in the same Figure and they once more endeavour'd to tread it out But then it appear'd in the Air all resplendent with light and darting its Beams on every side The Barbarians who beheld it were affrighted and being touch'd in their Hearts declar'd themselves Christians The Kings Sister a Princess naturally vertuous having privately embrac'd the Faith instructed both her own â—on and her Nephew who was Brother to the Martyr But while she directed them in the way of Heaven she took care to preserve them from the cruelty of the Tyrant To which purpose she address'd her self to the Merchant above mention'd and intrusting him with the lives of the two Princes order'd him to convey them to the Seminary of Goa This Portuguese manag'd all things so discreetly with the concurrence of the Princess that he escap'd out of the Island with the two Princes undiscover'd He took his way by the Kingdom of Travancor that he might behold Father Xavier and present to him these two illustrious new Converts The Father receiv'd them as Angels descended from above and gave immortal thanks to God for so noble a Conquest He fortify'd them in the Faith gave them excellent
instructions and promis'd so to mediate in their favour with the Viceroy of the Indies that they shou'd have no occasion of repenting themselves for having abandon'd all things for the sake of Iesus Christ. When the King of Iafanatapan had notice of the flight of his Son and Nephew he broke out into new fury against the Christians and put to death great numbers of them Being apprehensive that his Brother from whom he had usurp'd the Crown and who now led a wandring life might possibly change his Religion also and beg protection from the Portuguese he sent Officers round about with orders to bring him into his Hands or at the least to bring back his Head. But he fail'd of getting him in his power either alive or dead For this unhappy Prince attended by ten Horsmen having pass'd to Negapatan came by Land to Goa after having suffer'd extream hardships in a Journey of more than two hundred Leagues Father Xavier who was inform'd of all these proceedings thought it necessary to make advantage of these favourable opportunities without loss of time He consider'd with what perfection Christians might live in a Kingdom where they dy'd so generously for the Faith with so imperfect a knowledge of it On the other side he judg'd that if the injustice and cruelty of the Tyrant remain'd unpunish'd what an inducement it might be to other Idolatrous Kings for them to persecute the new Converts in their turn That the only means for repairing the past and obviating future mischiefs was to dispossess the Tyrant of the Crown which he so unjustly wore and restore it to his Brother to whom it rightfully belong'd That for these Considerations recourse ought to be had to the Portuguese to ingage them by a principle of Religion to take Arms against the Usurper of the Kingdom and the Persecutour of the Christians In order to this the Father caus'd Mâ—nsilla to be recall'd from the Coast of Fishery and having intrusted him with the care of Christianity in Travancor took his way by Land to Cambaya where the Viceroy of the Indies then resided Besides these reasons relating to the King of Iafanatapan the Saint had other Motives which oblig'd him to take this Journey The greatest part of the Eurâ—peans who were in the Indies and chiefly the Officers of the Crown of Portugal liv'd after so infamous a manner that they made the Christian Faith appear odious and scandaliz'd alike both the Idolaters and the Faithful The publick Worship of the Pagods was tolerated at Goa and the Sect of the Brachmans daily increas'd in Power because those Pagan Priests had brib'd the Portuguese Officers The people profess'd Heathenism freely provided they made exact payments of their Tribute as if they had been conquer'd only for the sake of gain Publick Offices were sold to Saracens and the Christian Natives stood excluded for want of Money which does all things with corrupt Ministers The Receivers of the Kings Revenues who were to pay the Paravas of the Coast of Fishery constrain'd those poor Fishers to deliver their Pearls almost for nothing and thus the exaction of a lawful Tribute in the Constitution became Tyranny and Oppression in the managment Men were sold like Beasts and Christians iâ—slav'd to Pagans at cheap pennyworths To conclude the King of Cochin an Idolater but tributary to the Crown of Portugal was suffer'd to conâ—iscate the Goods of his Subjects who had receiv'd Baptism Father Francis was wonderfully griev'd to perceive that the greatest hindrance to the growth of Christianity in those vast Dominions of Asia proceeded only from the Christians He bewail'd it sometimes to God in the bitterness of his Heart and one day said that he wou'd willingly return to Portugal to complain of it to the King not doubting but so Religious and Iust a Prince wou'd order some remedy for this encroaching evil if he had notice how it spread Xavier had taken the way of Cochin along by the Sea Coast. He arriv'd there the sixteenth of December 1544. where he happend ' to meet with Michael Vaz Vicar General of the Indies In acquainting him with the Reasons of his Journey he made him sensible that the weakness of the Government was the principal cause of the Avarice and Violence of the Officers That Don Alphonso de Sosa was indeed a Religious Gentleman but wanted Vigour that it was not sufficient to will good Actions if at the same time he did not strongly oppose ill ones In a word that it was absolutely necessary for the King of Portugal to be inform'd of all the Disorders in the Indies by a person who was an eye witness of them and whose Integrity was not liable to Suspition Vaz immediately enter'd into the Opinions of the Father and his Zeal carry'd him to pass himself into Portugal in a Vessel which was just ready to set Sail. Xavier prais'd God for those good intentions and wrote a Letter by him to King Iohn the Third the beginning of which I have here transcrib'd YOur Majesty ought to be assur'd and often to call into your Mind that God has made choice of you amongst all the Princes of the World for the Conquest of India to the end he may make trial of your Faith and see what requital you will make to him for all his Benefits You ought also to consider that in conferring on you the Empire of a new World his intention was not so much that you shou'd fill your Coffers with the Riches of the East as that you shou'd have an opportunity of signalizing your Zeal by making known to Idolaters through the means of those who serve you the Creatour and Redeemer of Mankind The Saint after this beginning gave the King to understand the good intentions of Michael Vaz and the ill conduct of the Portuguese who were in the Government of the Indies He suggested to him the means of putting a stop to those disorders and advis'd him above all things not only to recommend by Letters the interest of Religion but rigorously to punish all those Officers who were wanting to their duty in that respect For there is danger said he thâ—t when Gâ—d shall summon your Majesty to Iudgment that will then come to pass 〈◊〉 yâ—u least expect and which is not to be avoided there is danger Great Prince that you may then hear these words of an â—ffended God Why have you not punish'd tâ—ose who under your Authority have made War against me in the Indies you who have pâ—â—ish'd them so severely when they were neâ—ligent in gathering your Revenues â—â—ur câ—â—se will be little help'd by your return of this answer to Jesus Christ Lord I have not wanted yearly to recommend â—y Letters to my Subjects all that câ—ncerns 〈◊〉 honour and thy service For â— ubt nâ—â— it will be thus answer'd But your Orders were nâ—ver put in Execution and you leâ—t your Ministers at their own dispose to do what ever they
and Men Women and Children attracted by the novelty of the sight as much as by the expected succour he offer'd to God the death of his only Son and pray'd him by the merits of that Crucify'd Saviour who had pour'd out his blood for the sake of all Mankind not to deny a little water for the Salvation of an Idolatrous People Scarcely had the Saint begun his Prayer when the Sky began to be overcast with Clouds and by that time he had ended it there fell down Rain in great abundance which lasted so long 'till they had made a plentiful provision of water The Enemy now hopeless of taking the Town immediately decamp'd and the King with all his People receiv'd Baptism from the hand of Father Xavier He commanded also that all the neighbouring Islands who held of him shou'd adore Christ Iesus and engag'd the Saint to go and publish the Faith amongst them Xavier employ'd three months and more in these little voyages after which returning to Amboyna where he had left his Companion Iohn Deyro to cultivate the new growing Christianity and where he left him also for the same intention embarqu'd on a Portuguese Vâ—ssel which was setting Sail for the Molucca's That which is commonly call'd by the name of the Molucca's is a Country on the Oriental Ocean divided into many little Islands scituate near the Equator exceeding fruitful in Cloves and famous for the Trade of Spices There are five principal Islands of them Ternate Tidor Motir Macian and Bacian The first of these is a degree and half distant from the Equinoctial to the North the rest follow in the order above nam'd and all five are in sight of one another These are those celebrated Islands concerning which Ferdinand Magellan rais'd so many disputes amongst the Geographers and so many quarrels betwixt Spain and Portugal For the Portuguese having discover'd them from the East and the Spaniards from the West each of them pretended to inclose them within their Conquests according to the Lines of Longitude which they drew Ternate is the greatest of the Molucca's and it was on that side that Father Xavier took his course He had a Gulph to pass of ninety Leagues exexceeding dangerous both in regard of the strong Tides and the uncertain Winds which are still raising Tempests though the Sea be never so calm The Ship which carried the Father was one of those Vessels which in those parts are call'd Caracores of a long and narrow built like Gallies and which use indifferently Sails and Oars Another Vessel of the same make carried a Portuguese call'd Iohn Galvan having aboard her all his goods they set out together from Amboyna keeping company by the way and both of them bound for the Port of Ternate In the midst of the Gulph they were surpriz'd with a storm which parted them so far that they lost sight of each other The Caracore of Xavier after having been in danger of perishing many times was at length sav'd and recover'd the Port of Ternate by a kind of Miracle As for that of Galvan it was not known what became of her and the news concerning her was only brought by an evident Revelation The first Saints day when the Father Preach'd to the People he stop'd short in the middle of his discourse and said after a little pause Pray to God for the Soul of John Galvan who is drown'd in the Gulph Some of the Audience who were friends of Galvan and interessed in the Caracore ran to the Mariners who had brought the Father and demanded of them if they knew any certain news of this tragical adventure They answer'd that they knew no more than that the storm had separated the two Vessels The Portugueses recover'd courage at those words and imagin'd that Father Francis had no other knowledge than the Seamen But they were soon undeceiv'd by the testimony of their own eyes for three days after they saw wash'd on the shore the Corps of Galvan and the wreck of the Vessel which the â—ea had thrown upon the Coast. Verâ— near this time when Xavier was saying Mass turning to the People to say the Orate Fratres he added pray also for Iohn Araus who is newly dead at Amboyna They who were present observ'd punctually the day and hour to see if what the Father had said wou'd come to pass ten or twelve days after there arriv'd a Ship from Amboyna and the truth was known not only by divers Letters but confirm'd also by a Portuguese who had seen Araus dye at the same moment when Xavier exhorted the People to pray to God to rest his Soul. This Araus was the Merchant which refus'd to give Wine for the succour of the Sick in the Spanish Fleet and to whom the Saint had denounc'd a sudden death He fell sick after Xavier's departure and having neither Children nor Heirs all his Goods were distributed amongst the poor according to the custom of the Country The Shipwrack of Galvan and the death of Araus gave great Authority to what they had heard at Ternate concerning the Holiness of Father Francis and from the very first gain'd him an exceeding Reputation And indeed it was all necessary I say not for the reformation of Vice in that Country but to make him even heard with Patience by a dissolute people which committed without shame the most enormous crimes and such as Modesty forbids to name To understand how profitable the Labours of Father Xavier were to those of Ternate 't is sufficient to tell what he has written himself That of an infinite number of debauch'd persons living in that Island when he landed there all excepting two had laid aside their wicked courses before his departure The desire of Riches was extinguish'd with the love of Pleasures Restitutions were frequently made and such abundant Alms were given that the House of Charity set up for the relief of the necessitous from very poor which it was formerly was put into stock and more flourishing than ever The change of Manners which was visibly amongst the Christians was of no little service to the Conversion of Saracens and Idolaters Many of those Iâ—fidels embrac'd Christianity But the most illustrious conquest of the Saint was of a famous Saracen Lady call'd Neachile Pocaraga Daughter to Almanâ—or King of Tidore and Wife to Boliefe who was King of Ternate before the Portuguese had conquer'd the Island She was a Princess of great Wit and Generosity but extreamly bigotted to her Sect and a mortal Enemy to the Christians that is to say to the Portuguese Her hatred to them was justly grounded for having receiv'd them into her Kingdom with great civility and having also permitted them to establish themselves in one part of the Island for the conveniâ—nce of their Trade she was dealt with so hardly by them that after the death of the King her Husband she had nothing left her but the bare Title of a Queen And by their
they were first to be transform'd into Men before they cou'd be made Christians And how cou'd he imprint the Principles of the Divine Law into their Hearts who had not the least sence of Humanity Who shou'd be his Guide through those thick intangled Forests where the greatest part of them were lodg'd like so many wild Beasts and when by rare fortune he shou'd atchieve the taming of them and even convert them how long wou'd that Conversion last at the longest but while he continu'd with them That no Man wou'd venture to succeed him in his Apostleship to those parts for that was only to be expos'd to a certain death and that the Blood of Simon Vaz was yet steaming To conclude there were many other Isles which had never heard of Iesus Christ and who were better dispos'd to receive the Gospel These reasons were accompanied with Prayers and Tears but they were to no purpose and Xavier was stedfast to his Resolution His Friends perceiving they cou'd gain nothing upon him by Intreaties had recourse in some measure to Constraint So far as to obtain from the Governour of Ternate a Decree forbidding on severe penalties any Vessel to carry the Father to the Isle del Moro. Xavier then resented this usage of his Friends and cou'd not forbear to complain publickly of it Where are those people said he who dare to confine the Power of Almighty God and have so mean an apprehension of our Saviour's Love and Grace Are there any Hearts hard enough to resist the Influences of the Most High when it pleases him to soften and to change them can they stand in opposition to that gentle and yet commanding force which can make the dry Bones live and raise up Children to Abraham from Stoâ—es What shall he who has subjected the whole World to the Cross by the Ministry of the Apostles shall he exempt from that subjection this petty corner of the Vniverse Shall then the Isle del Moro be the only place which shall receive no benefit of Redemption And when Jesus Christ has offer'd to the Eternal Father all the Nations of the Earth as his Inheritance were these people excepted out of the Donation I acknowledge them to be very barbarous and brutal and let it be granted they were more inhumane than they are 't is because I can do nothing of my self that I have the better hopes of them I can do all things in him who strengthens me and from whom alone proceeds the strength of those who labour in the Gospel He added That other less Salvage Nations wou'd never want for Preachers That these only Isles remain'd for him to cultivate since no other Man wou'd undertake them In sequel suffering himself to be transported with a kind of holy Choler If these Isles pursu'd he abounded with precious Woods and Mines of Gold the Christians wou'd have the courage to go thither and all the dangers of the World wou'd not be able to affright them they are base and fearful because there are only Souls to purchase And shall it then be said That Charity is less daring than Avarice You tell me they will take away my life either by the Sword or Poison but those are favours too great for such a Sinner as I am to expect from Heaven Yet I dare confidently say That whatever torment or death they prepare for me I am ready to suffer a thousand times more for the Salvation of one only Soul. If I shou'd happen to die by their Hands who knows but all of them might receive the Faith for 't is most certain that since the primitive times of the Church the Seed of the Gospel has made a larger increase in the Fields of Paganism by the Blood of Martyrs than by the Sweat of Missioners He concluded his Discourse by telling them That there was nothing really to fear in his undertaking That God had call'd him to the Isles del Moro and that Man shou'd not hinder him from obeying the Voice of God. His Discourse made such impressions on their Hearts that not only the Decree against his passage was revok'd but many offer'd themselves to accompany him in that Voyage through all the dangers which seem'd to threaten him Having thus dis-ingag'd himself from all the incumbrances of his Voyage he imbark'd with some of his Friends passing through the Tears of the people who attended him to the Shore without exâ—ectation of seeing him again Before he set 〈…〉 wrote to the Fathers of the Company at 〈◊〉 to make them acquainted with his Voyage The Country whither I go says he in his Letter is full of danger and terrible to Strangers by the barbarity of the Inhabitants and by their using divers Poisons which they mingle with their Meat and Drink And 't is from hence that Priests are apprehensive of coming to instract them For my self conâ—idering their extreme necessity and the duties of my Ministry which oblige to free them from Eternal Death even at the expence of my own Life I have resolv'd to hazard all for the Salvation of their Souls My whole confidence is in God and all my desire is to obey as far as in me lies the word of Jesus Christ He who is willing to save his Life shall lose it and he who will lose it for my sake shall find it â—â—lieve me dear Brethren though this Evangelical Maxime in general is easily to be understood when the time of Practising it calls upon us and our business is to dye for God as clear as the Text seems it becomes obscure and he only can compass the understanding of it to whom God by his mercy has explain'd it For then it will be seen how frail and feeble is humane nature Many here who love me tenderly have done what possibly they cou'd to divert me from this Voyage and seeing that I yielded not to their requests nor to their tears wou'd have furnish'd me wiih Antidotes But I wou'd not take any lest by making provision of Remedies I might come to apprehend the danger and also because having put my Life into the hands of Providence I have no need of preservatives from death For it seems to me that the more I shou'd make use of remedies the less assurance I shou'd repose in God. They went off with a favourable wind and had already made above an hundred and fourscore miles when Xavier on the sudden with a deep sigh cried out Ah Iesus how they Massacre the poor People saying these words and oâ—tentimes repeating them he had turn'd his countenance and fix'd his eyes towards a certain part of the Sea. The Mariners and Passengers affrighted ran about him enquiring what Massacre he meant because for their part they cou'd see nothing But the Saint was ravish'd in Spirit and in this extasie God had impower'd him to see this sad â—â—ctacle He was no soonâ—r 〈…〉 than they continu'd 〈…〉 know the occasion of his 〈…〉 cryes But he blushing
Soâ—ra was in it self ridiculous and full of fustian Bravades according to the style of the Barbarians yet it put the Governour and Officers of the Fortress to a shrewd demurr for how shou'd they accept the Challenge without Ships to sight him and how cou'd they refuse it with their honour A Council of War was summon'd to deliberate on this weighty and nice affair when Father Xavier came amongst them He had been saying Maâ—s at the Church of our Lady Del Maute so call'd from its being built on a Mountain near the City and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Don Francisco who had sent for him to consult him in this troublesome business gave him the General of Achen's Letter to peruse and demanded his advice what was to be done on this occasion The Saint who knew the King of Achen's business was not only to drive the Portuguese out of Malacca but also and that principally to extirpate Christianity out of all the East having read the Letter lifted up his eyes to Heaven and answer'd without the least pause that the affront was too great to be endur'd that the honour of the Christian Religion was more concern'd in it than that of the Crown of Portugal If this injury shou'd be dissembled to what audaciousness wou'd the Enemy arise and what wou'd not the other Mahometan Princes attempt after this Example In conclusion that the Challenge ought to be accepted that the Infidels might see the King of Heaven was more powerful than their King Alaradin But how said the Governour shall we put to Sea and on what Vessels since of eight Gally-foysts which we had in port there are but four remaining and those also almost shatter'd in pieces and half burnt and in case we cou'd resit them what cou'd they perform against so numerous a Fleet Suppose answer'd Xavier the Barbarians had twice so many Ships are not we much stronger who have Heaven on our side and how can we chuse but overcome when we fight in the name of our Lord and Saviour No man was so bold to contradict the Man of God and they all went to the Arsenal There they found a good sufficient Bark of those they call Catur besides seven old Foysts fit for nothing but the fire Duarte de Bareto who by his Office had the super-intendance of their Naval Stores was commanded to fit out these Foysts with all expedition But he protested it was not in his power for besides that the King's Magazins were empty of all necessaries for the equipping of them there was no Money in the Treasury for Materials The Governour who had no other fund was ready to lose courage when Xavier by a certain impulse of Spirit suddenly began to embrace seven Sea Captains there present who were of the Council of War. He begg'd of them to divide the business amongst them and each of them apart to take care of fitting out one Gally At the same time without waiting for their answer he assign'd every man his task The Captains durst not oppose Xavier or rather God who inclin'd their hearts to comply with the Saints request Above an hundred Work-men were instantly employ'd on every Vessel and in four days time the seven Gallies were in condition of fighting Melo gave the Catur to Andrea Toscano a man of Courage and well vers'd in Sea affairs He divided amongst the seven Captains an hundred and fourscore Souldiers chosen men and appointed Francis Deza Admiral of the Fleet. Xavier was desirous to have gone along with them but the Inhabitants who believ'd all was lost if they lost the Father and who hop'd for no consolation but from him alone in case the Enterprise shou'd not succeed made such a disturbance about it that upon mature deliberation it was resolv'd to keep him in the Town The day before their embarkment having call'd together the Souldiers and the Captains he told them that he shou'd accompany them in Spirit and that while they were engaging the Barbarians he wou'd be lifting up his hands to Heaven for them That they shou'd sight valiantly in hope of glory not vain and perishable but solid and immortal That in the heat of the Combat they shou'd cast their eyes on their Crucify'd Redeemer whose quarrel they maintain'd and beholding his wounds themselves should not be affraid either of wounds or death and how happy shou'd they be to render their Saviour life for life These words inspir'd them with such generous and Christian thoughts that with one voice they made a Vow to fight the Insidels to their last drop of blood This solemn Oath was so moving to Xavier that it drew tears from him he gave them all his blessing and for their greater encouragement nam'd them The Band of our Saviour's Souldiers in pursuit of which he heard every man's confession and gave them the Communion with his own hand They embark'd the day following with so much chearfulness that it seem'd to presage a certain Victory But their joy continu'd but a moment They had scarcely weigh'd Anchor when the Admiral split and immediately went to the bottom so that they had hardly time to save the men The crowd of People who were gather'd together on the shore to see them go off beheld this dismal accident and took it for a bad omen of the expedition murmuring at the same â—ime against Father Xavier who was the Authour of it and casting out loud cries to recall the other Vesseis The Governour who saw the People in an uproar and apprehended the consequences of this violent beginning sent in haste to seek the Father The Messenger found him at the Altar in the Church of our Lady del Mâ—â—te just ready to receive the Blessed Sacrament he drew near to whisper the business to him but the Father beckon'd him with his hand to keep silence and retire When Mass was ended Return said Xavier without giving the man leisure to tell his Message and assure the Governour from me that he has no occasion to be discourag'd for the loss of one Vessel By this the Saint made known that God had reveal'd to him what had happen'd He continu'd some time in Prayer before the Image of the Virgin and these words of his were over-heard O my Iesus the desire of my heart regard me with a favourable eye and thou holy Virgin be propitious to me Lord Iesus he continu'd look upon thy sacred wounds and remember they have given us a right to ask of thee every thing conducing to our good His Prayers being ended he goes to the Citadel The Governour allarm'd with the cryes and murmurs of the People cou'd not dissemble his disturbance but reproach'd the Father for having engag'd them in this Enterprise But Xavier upbraided him with his distrust of God and said smiling to him What are you so dejected for so slight an accident after which they went in company to the shore where the Souldiers belonging to the Admiral
himself to be directed in all things by him The Servant of God instructed him in the Principles of Faith of which his Friends the Portuguese had already given him some knowledge as 〈◊〉 as men of their Profession were capable of teaching him But to the end his Conversion might be more solid he thought it convenient to send him and his Servants to the Seminary of Goâ— there to be more fully taught the truths and practice of Christianity before their Baptism The Father had yet a further purpose in it that these first fruits of Iaponian Christianity shou'd be conâ—ecrated to God by the Bishop Don Iohn d'Albuquerque in the Capital City of the Indies Since in his Voyage to Goa he was to visit the Fishing Coast he wou'd not take the three Iaponians with him and gave the care of conducting them to Georg ' Alvarez He only wrote by them to the Rector of the Colledge of St. Paul giving him Orders to instruct them with all diligence He put on board the ship of another Portuguese call'd Gonsalvo Fernandez twenty or thirty young men whom he had brought from the Molucca's in order to their Studies in the same Colledge After which himself imbark'd in another Vessel which went directly for Cochin In passing the Streight of Ceylan the Ship which carried Xavier was overtaken with the most horrible Tempest which was ever seen They were constrain'd at the very beginning of it to cast over-board all their Merchandise and the winds roar'd with so much violence that the Pilot not being able to hold the Rudder abandon'd the Vessel to the fury of the Waves For three days and nights together they had death continually present before their eyes and nothing reassur'd the Mariners but the serene countenance of Father Xavier amidst the cries and tumults in the Ship. After he had heard their Confessions implor'd the help of Heaven and exhorted all of them to receive with an equal mind either life or death from the hand of God he retir'd into his Cabin Francis Pereyra looking for the man of God in the midst of the Tempest to have comfort from him found him on his knees before his Crucifix wholly taken up and lost to all things but to God. The Ship driven along by an impetuous current already struck against the Sands of Ceylan and the Mariners gave themselves for lost without hope of recovery when the Father coming out of his Cabin ask'd the Pilot for the Line and Plummet with which he was accustom'd to fathom the Sea having taken them and let them down to the bottom of the Ocean he pronounc'd these words Great God Father Son and Holy Ghost have mercy on us At the same moment the Vessel stop'd and the Wind ceas'd After which they pursu'd their Voyage and happily arriv'd at the Port of Cochin on the 21st of Ianuary 1548. There the Father gave himself the leisure of writing divers Letters into Europe by a Vessel of Lisbon which was just in a readiness to set sail The first was to the King of Portugal Iohn the third the Letter was full of prudent Counsels concerning the duties of a King he advertis'd him a-new that his Majesty shou'd be guilty before God of the evil Government of his Ministers and that one day an account must be given of the Salvation of those Souls which he had suffer'd to perish through neglect of application or want of constancy in his endeavours But he did it with all manner of precaution and soften'd his expressions with Christian Charity I Have long deliberated said he whether I shou'd certify your Majesty of the Transactions of your Officers in the Indies and what ought farther to be done for the establishment of our Faith. On the one side the Zeal of God's service and his glory encourag'd me to write to you on the other I was diverted from that resolution by the fear I had of writing to no purpose But at the same time I concluded that I cou'd not be silent without betraying my Ministerial Function and it also seem'd to me that God gave me not those thoughts without some particular design which probably was that I might communicate them to your Majesty and this Opinion as the more likely has at length prevail'd with me Nevertheless I always fear'd that if I shou'd freely give you all my thoughts my Letter wou'd only serve for Evidence against you at the hour of your death and wou'd augment against your Majesty the rigour of the last Iudgement by taking from you the excuse of ignorance These considerations gave me great anxieties and your Majesty will easily believe me For in fine my heart will answer for me that I desire not to employ all my strength or even my life it self for the Conversion of the Indians out of any other prospect than to free your Majesties Conscience as much as in me lies and to render the last Iudgement less terrible to you I do in this but that which is my duty and the particular affection which you bear our Society well deserves that I shou'd sacrifice my self for you After he had inform'd his Majesty how much the jealousies and secret divisions of his Officers had hinder'd the Progress of the Gospel he declares that he cou'd wish the King wou'd bind himself by a solemn Oath to punish severely whosoever they shou'd be who shou'd occasion any prejudice to the farther propagation of Faith in the Indies And farther assur'd him that if such who had the authority in their hands were made sensible that their faults shou'd not escape punishment the whole Isle of Ceylan all Cape Comorine and many Kings of Malabar wou'd receive Baptism in the space of one year that as many as were living in all the extent of the Indies wou'd acknowledge the Divinity of Iesus Christ and make profession of his Doctrine if those Ministers of State who had neglected the interests of the Faith had been depriv'd of their Dignities and their Revenues After this he Petitions the King to send him a supply of Preachers and those Preachers to be of the Society as judging them more proper than any others for the new world I beg and adjure your Majesty says he by the love you bear to our blessed Lord and by the real wherewith you burn for the Glory of the Divine Majesty to send next year some Preachers of our Society to your faithful Subjects of the Indies For I assure you that your Fortresses are in extream want of such supplies both in reference to the Portugueses who are there in Garrison and to the new Christians establish'd in the Towns and Villages depending on them I speak by experience and that which I have seen with my own eyes obliges me to write concerning it Being at Malacca and at the Molucca's I Preach'd every Sunday and all Saints days twice and was forc'd upon it because I saw the Souldiers and People had great need of being frequently
clearing iâ— Distribute to the Poor those Collections which are made for them in the Churches by the Charity of the Congregation and beware of taking any part of them for your own uses Fail not every Saturday and Sunday to put the Faithful in mind of giving you notice when any one falls sick to the end you may visit them And give them to know that if they do not advertise you and that the sick person dies you will not allow him burial amongst Christians in punishment of their neglect When you visit the sick take especial care that they repeat to you the Apostles Creed in their Mother Tongue Interrogate them on every Article and ask them if they believe sincerely After this make them say the Conâ—â—teor and the other Catholick Prayers and then read the Gospel over them For the burial of the dead you shall assemble the Children and coming out of the Church with them the Cross being at the head of the Procession you shall sing the Christian Doctrine coming and going You shall say the Prayers of the Church at the House of the dead person and before he is put into the ground You shall also make a short Exhortation to the Assembly before the Corps upon the necessity of death the amendment of life and the practice of Vertue You shall give notice to the Men on Sunday and to the Women on Saturday to bring their sick Children into the Church that you may read the Gospel over them for their cure and that the Parents from thence may receive increase of Faith and respect to the Temples of our Lord. You shall your selves determine all litigious causes and if you cannot end them on the place defer them to the next Sunday and after Divine Service cause them to be expedited by the principal Inhabitants of the place Yet I will not that these sort of Affairs shou'd take up too much of your time Nor that you prefer the care of your Neighbour's temporal Concernments before works of Charity which respect the Salvation of Souls and am of opinion That when any important business of that kind shall happen you shou'd remit it to the Portuguese Commandant Do all things in your power to make your selves belov'd by those people for by that you will be able to do more good upon them than by being fear'd Decree no punishment against any person but by the advice of Father Antonio Criminal And if the Commandant of the Portuguese be present do nothing without his order In case any Man or Woman shall make a Pagod or Idol banish them from the Village if Father Criminal consent to it Testify great affection to the Children who frequent the Christian Schools pardon and wink at their faults sometimes lest a severe usage shou'd fright them from us In presence of a Portuguese abstain from reproving and condemning the Natives of the Countrey who are Christians on the contrary commend and excuse them on all occasions For considering how lately they have embrac'd the Faith and what assistance is wanting to them to live like good Christians 't is only to be admir'd that they are not more vicious Be serviceable in all you can to the Malabar Priests in what relates to their Spiritual Advantage take care that they confess themselves and say Mass and give good Examples and write nothing against them to any person whatsoever Live so well with the Portuguese Commandants that no misunderstanding be ever perceiv'd betwixt you and them For the rest of the Portugueses use all sort of means to make them your Friends Have never any quarrel with any of them though they shou'd bring you into Law or quarrel with you without the least provocation on your part If they use the new Christians hardly oppose them but with much mildness and if you find your opposition may be likely to succeed make your Complaint to the Portuguese Commandant with whom I once again beseech you never to have any difference Let your Conversation with the Portugueses be alwaâ—s confin'd to Spiritual Subjects of Death of Iudgment of Purgaâ—â—ry of Hell of the frequentation of Sacraments and the exact observation of Gods Commandments For if you never speak to them but concerning these matters they will never rob you of those hours which are set apart for your Function Fail not to write to Goa to the Fathers and Brâ—thers of our Society giving them an account of the Fruit of your Labours and proposing to them what you think may be to the advancement of Piety You shall write also to the Bishop but with much Reverence and Submission as to the Common Father and Pastor General of this new World. What 〈◊〉 all things I recommend to you and which I can never sufficiently repeat 〈◊〉 That whatsoever Voyage you make and wheresoever you shall be 〈◊〉 shall endeavour to gain the love of all pâ—â—ple by your good Offices and fair demâ—â—nour by which means you will have greater opportunities for the gaining of Sâ—â—ls which God Almighty grant you all the Grace to do and abide for ever with you Things being thus regulated on the Cost of Fishery the â—ather wou'd pass into the Isle of Ceylan before his return to Goa His design was to gather the fruit of that precious Blood which two years before was shed by the King of Iafanatapan or at least to see what inclination those people had to receive the Gospel who had beheld the constancy of the Martyrs Indeed the death of the two young Princes converted who pretended to the Crown of Iafanatapan destroy'd almost all hopes of planting Christianity in that Isle Notwithstanding which Xavier converted the King of Candè who is one of the Kings of Ceylan After which he went to the Tyrant who had treated the Christians with so much cruelty to try if he cou'd work him though against all humane appearances to suffer the Law of Iesus Christ to be preach'd in his Dominions and to bring him also to be a Christian. As Reasons of State prevail most with Princes so the Father represented to this Infidel That his Throne cou'd never be establish'd but by the Arms of the Portugueses that if he once contracted with them a strict alliance he had nâ—thing farther to apprehend either from his Enemies or his Subjects The Barbarian who fear'd all things both from within and from without forgetting that Dâ—â— Alphonso de Sosa wou'd have made War upon him in favour of the two baptis'd Princes hearken'd to the Propositions of Peace and even permitted the Father to explain to him the Mysteries of the Christian Faith. The instructions of the Saint wrought so much upon the Tyrant that being chang'd in a very short space of time he promis'd to embrace the Faith and labour to bring his Subjects into it offering for the pledge of his word to put his Kingdom into the Hands of the King of Portugal and to pay him such Tribute as shou'd be thought sitting without
to shut up the passage of the Indies to the Turks and Saracens who go thither by the red Sea and from this consideration it was that Albuquerque the Great endeavour'd to have Master'd it in the year 1513 but the vigorous resistance of the Achenois forc'd him to forsake the Siege After that time they were desirous of their own accord to have deliver'd it up to the Portugueses thereby to free themselves from the tyranny of the Turks Yet it was not then done through the fault of a Captain call'd Soarez who having no Orders to take Possession of the Town was so weak a Politician as to refuse it when it was offer'd to the Crown of Portugal That People whom the Turk us'd worse than ever testifi'd the same inclination under the Government of Castro and it was on that occasion that he sent a Fleet towards the Streight of Mecca under the Command of his Son Alvarez de Castro Eight Foysts of Goa full of Souldiers set out for the Expedition of Aden Amongst these there was one very brave Fellow renown'd for his Military Actions but blacken'd with all sorts of Crimes and more infamous by his Debauch'd Manners than known by his Valour He seem'd a kind of salvage Beast who had no more of Man in him than the bare Figure nor any thing of a Christian besides the name Above eighteen years he had abstain'd from Confession and that he once presented himself to the Bishop of Goa was less to reconcile himself to God than to take off the imputation of being either a Mahometan or an Idolater Father Xavier had cast an eye upon this wretch and waited only an opportunity to labour in so difficult a Conversion Understanding that this Souldier was imbarking on one of the Foysts which were going to joyn the Fleet he went out of the Colledge of St. Paul at the first notice of it taking nothing with him besides his Brâ—viary and enter'd into the same Vessel It was believ'd by those who saw the Father that he had Orders from the Viceroy to accompany his Son Alvarez and every one was glad of it excepting only he for whose sake he came He drew near the Souldier and when they had weigh'd Anchor began to make acquaintance with him and grew familiar to that degree that the rest of the Souldiers who were less debauch'd cou'd not sufficiently admire it and some of them said of Xavier what a Pharisee said formerly of our Lord If this Man were indeed a Prophet he wou'd discern what manner of man he was in whom he takes so much delight These Discourses did not at all daunt the Father He saw his Souldier playing whole nights together for he was a great Gamester He took no notice of his extravagancies and sometimes heard him Swear without seeming to regard it Only one day he said to him that Gaming requir'd a Compos'd Spirit and if he took not the better heed that Passion which he had in Play wou'd make him lose The Souldier brutal as he was grew insensibly to have a kindness for a man who was so much concern'd in his advantages and took pleasure in hearing him discourse not only of War and Sea Affairs but also of Religion and Morality In conclusion he made some reflections on the horrour of his life and felt even some remorse of Conscience for it Being one day together with the Father in a private part of the Ship Xavier ask'd him to whom he had Confess'd himself before he went on Ship-board Ah Father said the Souldier I have not been at Confession these many years And what do you imagine wou'd become of you said the holy man supposing you shou'd be kill'd in this action and in the condition you now are I wou'd once have Confess'd my self reply'd the Souldier at least for fashion and decency but the Vicar of Goa wou'd not so much as hear me but told me I was a Reprobate and deserv'd nothing but Hell-Fire The Vicar was in my Opinion said Xavier somewhat too severe to treat you in that manner He had perhaps his Reasons for that usage and I have mine to treat you otherwise For indeed the Mercies of our Lord are infinite and God wou'd have us as indulgent to our Brethren as he himself is to us Thus when the Sins of which you find your self guilty were a thousand times more numerous and more crying than they are I shall have the patience to hear them all and shall make no difficulty of giving you absolution provided you take those thoughts and resolutions which I shall endeavour to inâ—uâ—e into you By these words he brought the Souldier to a general Confession he dispos'd â—im for it by causing him to recall into his memory his past life and drawing him into the particulars of those Sins which a man of his Character and Profession might possibly have committed While they were upon these terms the Ship cast Anchor at the Port of Ceyâ—an for refreshment Many of the Fleet went on shore and amongst the rest the Father and the Souldier they went together to a wild solitary place there the Souldier made his Confession with abundance of tears resolv'd to expiate his Crimes with whatsoever Penance the Father shou'd enjoyn him were it never so rigorous Buâ— his Confessour gave him only a Pâ—ter Noster and an Ave to say Whereat the Penitent being much amaz'd from whence proceeds it my Father said he that being so great a Sinner as I am you have given me so light a Penance Be content answer'd Xavier O my Son we shall appease the Divine Justice and at the same instant he withdrew into a Wood while the Souldier perform'd his Penance There he did what he had formerly done on the like occasion he bar'd his Shoulders and disciplin'd himself so rigorously that the Souldier heard the noise of the strokes and came running to him beholding the Father all in blood and rightly judging what was the motive of so strange an action he snatch'd the Discipline out of his hands and crying out it was the Criminal who ought to endure the punishment and not the innocent to bear the pains of Sin he immediately strip'd himself and chastis'd his body with all his strength Xavier often-times embrac'd him and declar'd that it was for his sake alone that he came on Ship-board So having given him wholsome Admonitions to confirm him in the Grace of God he left him and return'd to Goa on the first Vessel which went out of the Port where they made the stay As for the Souldier he follow'd the Fleet and after the Expedition of Aden was ended he enter'd into Religion chusing one of the most austere Orders where he liv'd and dy'd in extraordinary holiness Not long after the Father was return'd to Goa the Governour Don Iohn de Castro return'd also but very ill of a Hectick Fever which had been consuming him for some months before Finding himself in a daily decay
Holiness of Xavier to give credence to such improbable stories as were rais'd of him and all the Bonza's cou'd say against him serv'd only to increase the publick hatred against themselves Thus despairing of success amongst the multitude they were forc'd to take another course to destroy him in the good Opinion of the King. About twelve Leagues distant from the Town there was a famous Monastery of the Bonza's the Superiour of which was one Fucarandono esteem'd the greatest Scholar and most accomplish'd in all the Learning of Iapan He had read Lectures of the Mysteries of their Divinity for the space of thirty years in the most renown'd University of the Kingdom But however skill'd he was in all Siences his Authority was yet greater than his Knowledge Men listen'd to him as to the Oracle of Iapan and an implicit Faith was given to all he said The Bonza's of Fucheo were perswaded that if they cou'd bring him to the Town and set him up against Xavier in presence of the Court they shou'd soon recover their lost Honour such confidence they had of a certain Victory over the European Doctor On this account they writ to Fucarandono with all the warmness of an earnest Invitation and sent him word That if he wou'd give himself the trouble of this little Journey to revenge the injury they had receiv'd they wou'd carry him back in triumph on their Shoulders to his Monastery The Bonza who was full as vain as he was learn'd came speedily attended by six Bonza's all Men of Science but his inferiours and Scholars He enter'd the Palace at that point of time when Xavier and the Portugueses had Audience of the King for their last farewel being to embark the next morning Before the King had dismiss'd them he was inform'd that Fucarandono desir'd to kiss his Hand in presence of the Portuguese Bonza At the name of Fucarandono the King was a little nonplus'd and stood silent for some time suspecting that he came to challenge Father Xavier to a Disputation and devising in himself some means of breaking off this troublesome affair as he afterwards acknowledg'd For what ever good Opinion he had of the Saints Ability Yet he cou'd not think him strong enough to encounter so formidable an Adversary and therefore out of his kindness to him was not willing to expose him to a disgrace in publick Xavier who perceiv'd the Kings perplexity and imagin'd from whence it might proceed begg'd earnestly of his Majesty to give the Bonza leave of entrance and also free permission of speaking For as to what concerns me said the Father you need not give your self the least disquiet The Law I preach is no earthly Science taught in any of your Vniversities nor a Humane Invention 't is a Doctrine altogether Heavenly of which God himself is the only teacher Neither all the Bonza's of Japan nor yet all the Scholars extant in the World can prevail against it any more than the shadows of the night against the Sun-beams of the rising-Sun The King at the request of Xavier gave entrance to the Bonza Fucarandono after the three usual reverences to the King seated himself by Xavier and after he had fix'd his Eyes earnestly upon him I know not said he with an overweening look if thou knowest me or to speak more properly if thou remembrest me I remember not said Xavier that I have ever seen you Then the Bonza breaking out into a forc'd laughter and turning to his fellows I shall have but little difficulty in overcoming this Companion who has convers'd with me an hundred times and yet wâ—u'd make us believe he had never seen me Then looking on Xavier with a scornful smile Hast thou none of those Goods yet remaining continu'd he which thou soldest me at the Port of Frenajoma In truth reply'd Xavier with a sedate and modest Countenance I have never been a Merchant in all my life neither have I ever been at the Port of Frenajoma What a beastly forgetfulness is this of thine Pursu'd the Bonza with an affected wonder and keeping up his bold laughter how canst thou possibly forget it Bring it back to my remembrance said Xavier mildly you who have so much more Wit and a Memory happier than mine That shall be done rejoin'd the Bonza proud of the Commendations which the Saint had given him 'T is now just fifteen hundred years since thou and I who were then Merchants traded at Frenajoma and where I bought of thee an hundred Bales of Silk at an easy pennyworth dost thou yet remember it The Saint who perceiv'd whither the discourse tended ask'd him very civilly of what age he might be I am now two and fifty said Fucarandono How can it then be reply'd Xavier that you were a Merchant Fifteen hundred years ago that is fifteen Ages when yet you have been in â— the World by your own confession but half an Age And how comes it that you and I then traffick'd together at Frenajoma since the greatest part of you Bonza's maintain that Japan was a Desart and uninhabited at that time Hear me said the Bonza and listeâ— to me as an Oracle I will make theâ— confess that we have a greater 〈◊〉 of things past than thou and thy fellows have â—f the present Thou art then to understand that the World had no beginning and that Men Properly speaking never die The Soul only breaks loose from the Body in which it was confin'd and while that Body is rotting under ground is looking out for another fresh and vigorous Habitation wherein we are born again sometimes in the nobler sometimes in the more imperfect Sex according to the various Constellations of the Heavens and the different Aspects of the Moon These alterations in our Birth produce the like changes in our Fâ—rtune Now it is the recompense of those who have liv'd virtuously to preserve a constâ—nt memory of all the lives which they have pass'd through in so many Ages and to represent themselves to themselves entirely such as they have been from all Eternity under the figure of a Prince of a Merchant of a Scholar of a Souldier and so many other various forms On the contrary they who like thee are so ignorant of their own Affairs as not to understand who or what they have been formerly during thâ—se infinite revâ—lutions of Ages shew that their Crimes have deserv'd death as often as they hâ—ve lost the remembrance of their lives in every change The Portuguese from whose relation we have the knowledge of what is above written and who was present at the Dispute as himself informs us in his Book of Travels gives us no account of the Answers which were made by Xavier I have neither Knowledge nor Presumption enough says he to relate those subtile and solid Reasons with which he confuted the mad imaginations of the Bonza We only have learnt from this Portuguese that Fucarandono was put to silence upon the point
apt to receive the instructions which vvere given him by Father Antonio Heredia who endeavour'd his Conversion with great Zeal But his fear of farther exasperating his Rebellious Subjects in case he chang'd his Religion caus'd him to defer that change from time to time and perhaps he had never forsaken the Law of Mahomet if Father Francis had not arriv'd to compleat that work which Heredia had begun The holy Apostle preach'd the word vvith so much eâ—â—icacy to the King of the Maldivia's that at length he reduc'd him to the obedience of Christ notwithstanding all the motives of worldly interest to the contrary Having instructed him anew in the Mysteries of Christianity he solemnly baptis'd him In sequel of which he excited the Portugueses to replace him on the Throne and nominated some of the Fathers to accompany the Naval Army which shou'd be sent to the Maldivia's His intention was that they shou'd labour in the Conversion of the whole Kingdom when once the King shou'd be establish'd But because it was of small importance to the Crown of Portugal that those Islands which produce neither Gold nor Spices nor Perfumes shou'd be made tributary to it the Governours did nothing for that exil'd Prince who despairing to recover his Dominions marri'd a Portuguese and liv'd a private life till the day of his death Happy only in this that the loss of his Crown was made up to him by the gift of Faith and the Grace of Baptism When the holy Man was ready to depart an opportunity was offer'd him of writing into Europe which he laid hold on thereby to render an account of his Voyage to Iapan both to the King of Portugal and to the General of his Order Then imbarking for Goa he had a speedy Voyage and arriv'd there in the beginning of February So soon as he was come on shore he visited the sick in the Town-Hospitals and then went to the Colledge of St. Paul which was the House of the Society After the ordinary embracements which were more tender than ever he enquir'd if none were sick within the Colledge He was answer'd there was only one who was lying at the point of death Immediately Xavier went and read the Gospel over him At the sight of the Father the dying man recover'd his Spirits and was restor'd to health The Physicians had given him over and all things had been order'd for his burial But he himself had never despair'd of his recovery and the day when Xavier arriv'd he said with a dying voice That if God wou'd grant him the favour of beholding their good Father he shou'd infallibly recover The Relation which Xavier made to the Fathers of Goa concerning the Church of Iapan was infinitely pleasing to them And he himself was fill'd with equal consolation in learning from them the present condition of Christianity in the Indies The Missioners whom he had dispers'd before his departure were almost all of them united at his return Some of them were come by his command and others of their own motion concerning urgent business as if the holy Spirit had re-assembl'd them expresly that the presence of the Man of God might redouble in them their Apostolick Zeal and Religious Fervour God had every where blest their labours The Town of Ormus which fell to the lott of Father Gaspar Barzaeus had wholly chang'd its Countenance Idolaters Saracens and Iews ran in multitudes to Baptism The Temples of Idols were consecrated to Christ the Mosques and Synagogues were dispeopled ill Manners were reform'd and ill Customs totally abolish'd Christianity flourish'd more than ever in the Coast of Fishery since the death of Father Antonio Criminal who had cultivated it with care and in that cultivation was massacred by the Badages The blood of the Martyr seem'd to have multiply'd the Christians they were reckon'd to be more than â—ive hundred thousand all Zealous and ready to lay down their lives for their Religion The Gospel had not made less progress at Cochin and at Coulan at Bazain and at Meliapore at the Molucca's and in the Isles del Moro. Put it is almost incredible with what profit the Gospel Labourers preach'd at Goa All the Priests of Idols had been driven out of the Isle of Goa by Order from the Governour and at the solicitation of one of the Fathers belonging to the Colledge of St. Paul. It was also prohibited under severe Penalties to perform any publick action of Idolatry within the District of Goa and those Ordinances by little and little reduc'd a multitude of Gentils As for the Portugueses their lives were very regular amidst the liberty of doing whatsoever pleas'd them they refrain'd from all dishonest actions and Concubines were now as scarce as they had been common The Souldiers liv'd almost in the nature of men in Orders and even their Piety edify'd the People But nothing was more pleasing to Xavier than the Conversion of two Princes who during his absence had been at Goa The first was King of Tanor a Kingdom scituate along the Coasts of Malabar betwixt Cranganor and Calecuâ— This Prince who was party-per-pale Mahometan and Idolater but prudent a great Warriour of a comely shape and more polite than was usual for a Barbarian had â—â—om his youth a tendency to Christianity without being well instructed in it He was enamour'd of it after he had been inform'd to the full concerning the Mysteries of our Faith by a Religious of the Order of St. Francis who frequented his Palace In the mean time the wars which he had with other Princes for ten years together hinder'd him from receiving Baptism At length he was Christen'd but very secretly so that in appearance he remain'd an Infidel to keep the better correspondeâ—ce with his People Yet he was not without some scruple concerning the manner of his Life and in order to satisfie his Conscience on so nice a Point he desir'd the Bishop of Goa to sâ—nd him an Apostle for by that name the Fathers of the Society were call'd by the Indiâ—ns as well as by the Portâ—gueses Father Gomez who was sent to the King of Tanor told him positively that God wou'd be serv'd in spirit and in truth that dissembling in Religion was worse than irreligion and that Iesus wou'd disown before his Angels those who disown'd him before men The King who preferr'd his Salvation before his Crown believ'd Gomez and resolv'd to declare himself solemnly a Christian as soon as he had made a Treaty with his Enemies Having concluded a Peace through the mediation of the Father who had advis'd him to it he came to Goa in despight of all his Subjects who not being able to gain upon him either by their reasons or their desires had seiz'd upon his Person and shut him up in one of the strongest Citadels of the Kingdom He escap'd out of his Prison swam a River and having found eight Foysts or half Galleys belonging to Goa which were purposely sent
fourteenth day of April The Sea was calm enough till they came to the height of the Islands of Nicubar which are somewhat above Sumatra towards the Nortâ— Thereabouts the Waves began to swell and presently after there arose so furious a Tempest that there scarcely remain'd any hopes of saâ—ety That which doubled their Apprehension was that two Foysts which bore them company unable to sustain the fury of the Waves sunk both by one another The â—hip which carry'd Xavier and his Companians was a Royal Vessel very large and deep laden so that her unwâ—ldy bulk and heavy fraight hinder'd hâ—r â—ailing and her steering It was tâ—ought necessary to ease her and the Merchandises were ready to be cast over-board when Father Francis desir'd the Captain not to be too hasty But the Sailours saying that the Tempest increasing as usually it does towards evening the Vessel cou'd not so conveniently be disburden'd in the dark he bid them not disturb themselves about it for the storm shou'd cease and they shou'd make Land before Sun-set The Captain who knew how certain the Predictions of Xavier were made not the least scruple of believing him and the event verify'd the Prophecy The Sea grew calm and Land appear'd before the setting of the Sun. But while every one was rejoicing at the nearness of the Port the holy Man had sadness in his Countenance and often sigh'd Some of them enquir'd the cause and he bade them pray to God for the City of Malacca which was visited with an Epidemical disease Xavier said true for the sickness was so general and so contagious that it seem'd the beginning of a Pestilence Malignant Fevers rag'd about the Town which carry'd off the strongest Constitutions in a little space and the infection was caught almost at sight In this condition the Ship sound Malacca and never was the sight of the holy Man more pleasing to the Inhabitants Every one promis'd himself ease of Body and consolation of Mind from him and they were not deceiv'd in their expectation So soon as he was set on shore he went in search of the Sick and found employment enough amongst them for the exercise of his Charity Not a man of them but desir'd to confess to Father Francis and to expire in his Arms according to the popular opinion that whoever dy'd in that manner cou'd not fail of being sav'd He ran from Street to Street with his Companions to gather up the poor who lay languishing on the ground for want of succour He carry'd them to the Hospitals and to the Colledge of the Society which on this occasion he chang'd into an Hospital And when both the Colledge and the Hospitals were full he order'd Cabins to be built along the Shore out of the remainders of rotten Vessels for Lodgings and necessary uses of those distress'd Creatures After which he procur'd them Food and Medicines which he begg'd from the devouter sort and himselâ— attended them both day and night That which appear'd most wonderful was that though the sick cou'd not be serv'd nor the dying assisted nor the dead bury'd without taking the infection and it was death to take it yet Xavier and his Companions enjoy'd their perfect health in tâ—e midst of such dangerous employments This indeed was wonderful but there was also an undoubted miracle which it pleas'd Almighty God to work by the Ministry of his Servant on a young man whom at that time he restor'd to liâ—e This young mâ—n nam'd Francis Ciavus the only Son of a devout Woman who had long been under the conduct of Xavier having put into his mouth without thinking of it a poison'd Arrow such as are us'd in those Eastern parts dy'd suddenly so subtile and so mortal was the venome They were already burying him when Xavier came by chance that way He was so mov'd with the cries and lamentations of the Mother that taking the dead by thâ— hâ—nd he reviv'd him with these words Francis in 〈◊〉 name of Jesus Christ arise The youth thus rais'd believ'd from that moment that he was no more his own and that he was oblig'd to consecrate that liâ—e to God which was so miraculâ—usly restor'd In effect he did it and out of acknowledgment to Xavier took the Habit of the Society When the Mortality was almost ceas'd the Saint pursu'd his design of the Embassy to China and treated with Don Alvarez'd Atayda the Governour of Malacca on whom the Viceroy had repos'd the trust of so important an Affair Don Alvarez had much approv'd this enterprise when Xavier had first open'd it at his return from Iapan and had even promis'd to favour it with all his power But Envy and Interest are two passions which stiflxse the most reasonable thoughts and make men forget their most solemn Protestations The Governour had a grudging to Pereyra who the year before had refus'd to lend him ten thousand Crowns and cou'd not endure that a Merchant shou'd be sent Ambassadour to the greatest Monarch in the World. He said That certainly that Pereyra whom the Viceroy had impower'd by his Letters was some Lord of the Court of Portugal and not James Pereyra who had been Domestick Servant to Don Gonsalvo de Cotigno But that which most disturb'd him was that besides the honour of such an Embassy the Merchant shou'd make so vast a proâ—it of his Wares which he wou'd sell off at an excessive rate in China The Governour said That in his own person were to be consider'd the services of the Count his Father and that those hundred thousand Crowns which wou'd be gain'd at least by Pereyra were a more suitable reward for the Son of Atayda than for the Valet de Chambre of Cotigno With such grating thoughts as these he sought occasions to break off the Voyage yet he wou'd not declare himself at first and the better to cover his design or not to seem unthankful to Father Xavier he fed him with fair promises For the holy Man had procur'd him the command of Captain Major of of the Sea and himself had brought him the provisions for that place because when first the Father had open'd his purpose of going into China Atayda seem'd to have espous'd the project with great affection and ingag'd himself to make it succeed in case the Ports and Navigations of the Portuguâ—ses were once depending on him To oblige him yet farther the Saint had procur'd from the Viceroy and brought along with him certain extraordinary priviledges which had not been compris'd in the provisions of the Command And lastly That he might wholly gain him at his arrival finding the Governour very sick he attended him with great diligence and made himself at once both his Nurse and his Chaplain watching by him all the night and saying Mass for him in the morning But all these Offices of friendship wrought nothing on a heart where Jealousy and Avarice were predominant What care soever Don Alvarez took to
counsel'd him only to carry Books which contain'd the Christian Doctrine and added that not long since the Emperour had sâ—nt some learned men into the neighbouring Kingdoms to inform themselves of such Religions as were different from the receiv'd opinions of the Chineses That they believ'd the Christian Doctrine wou'd be well receiv'd at Court and that it seem'd probable to them that the novelty of so reasonable a belief wou'd make his way who was the first bearer of it Xavier was overjoy'd to find a passage open'd for the Gospel to the most polite Nation of the World and doubted not but that the Christian Religion coming to be compar'd by judicious men with the other Opinions of the East wou'd have the advantage Being thus encourag'd to pursue his purpose his first business was to provide himself of a good Interpreter For Antonio the Chinese whom he had brought from Goa was wholly ignorant of the Language which is spoken at the Court and had almost forgotten the common Idiome of the vulgar He found out another Chinese who had a perfect knowledge of the Language of the Mandarins and who cou'd also write excellently well in which consists the principal knowledge of China For the rest he was a man well shap'd of a good presence of great natural parts of a pleasing conversation and which was above all he seem'd entirely devoted to the Christians he promis'd all possible good Offices whether he hop'd to make his fortune by presenting to the Emperour one who publish'd a new Law or that God had inspir'd him with those pious thoughts There was more difficulty in finding Sea-men to transport the Father for there was no less venture than that of life for any one who undertook that business But interest gives him courage to hazard all who values money more than life it self A Chinese Merchant call'd Capoceca offer'd himself to carry Xavier into the Province of Canton provided he might be well pay'd and ask'd the value of two hundred Pardo's in Pepper The Chinese promis'd to take Xavier into his Barque by night and to land him before day on some part of the Coast where no houses vere in view and if this way was thought uncertain he engag'd to hide the Father in his own house and four days after to conduct him early in the morning to the Gates of Canton But he wou'd have Xavier oblige himself also on his side to go immediately to the Mandarin with the Letters which the Viceroy of the Indies and the Bishop of Goa had written to the Emperour for the Father had still reserv'd by him those Letters which related to the Embassy though the design had been ruin'd by the Governour of Malacca The Chinese also exacted an Oath of secrecy from the Saint that no torments how ever cruel shou'd bring him to confess either the name or the house of him who had set him on shore Xavier made as solemn an engagement as he cou'd desire not without knowledge of the hazard which he ran as himself related to one of his dearest friends I perceive said he two dangers which are almost inevitable in this affair on the one side there is great cause of apprehension lest the Idolatrous Merchant having receiv'd the price of my passaâ—â— shou'd throw me over-board or leave me on some desart Isle on the other side lest the Governour of Canton shou'd discharge his fury upon me and make me an example to all Strangers by putting me to a câ—uel death or condemning me to perpetual Imprisonment But in case I follow the voice which calls me and obey my Lord I count my life and liberty at nothing When the Voyage of China was on these terms and that all things seem'd to favour it the Portugueses of Sancian put an obstacle in the way of which Xavier had never thought The appetite of gain made them apprehend lest his Zeal shou'd bring them into trouble and they said to one another that the Mandarin Governour of Canton wou'd certainly revenge on them the boldness of their Countreyman That he wou'd Commission his Officers to pillage their Ships and conâ—iscate their effects and that their lives were not in safety In this general aâ—â—rightment which was not ill grounded and which increas'd daily the wealthieâ— sort address'd themselves to Father Xavier and desir'd him to take compassion on them and on their Wives and Children if he wou'd have no compassion on himself Xavier who was no less careful for the interests of others than he was nâ—gligent of his own found an expedient to satisfy them He ingag'd his word that he wou'd not pass over into China 'till they had ended all their business and were gone from Sancian This gave opportunity to the Chinese Merchant with whom he had treated to make a short Voyage under promise notwithstanding to return at a time which was prefix'd While these things were thus manag'd the Father fell sick of a violent Fever which continu'd on him fifteen days The Portugueses took occasion from thence to tell him that Heaven had declar'd against the Voyage of China but being recover'd he follow'd his design with more warmth than ever while the Merchants were lading their Ships he entertain'd himself day and night with the prospect of Converting China and all his pleasure was to think how happy he shou'd be in dispossessing the Devil of the largest Empire in the world If yet said he it shaâ—l please Almighty God to employ so vile an Instrument as I am in so glorious an undertaking Taken up with these and such like meditations he often took his walk along the shore and turning his eyes towards that desir'd Country sent out ardent sighs He said sometimes amongst his friends that his only wish was to be set down at the Gates of Canton and troubled not himself with what might happen afterwards happy he if he cou'd once declare the Son of God to the Chineses and more happy if for his sake he might suffer Martyrdom In the mean time all the Portuguese Vessels excepting only the Santa Cruz which had not yet her whole lading set sail from Sancian for the Indies Xavier gave many Letters to the Merchants to be deliver'd both at Malacca and at Goa He writ to his friend Iames Pereyra in terms which were full of acknowledgement and charity Almighty God said he in his Letter abundantly reward you since I am not able of my self to do it at least while I continue in this world I shall not fail to implore the Divine Goodness to conferr on you during your life his holy grace accompany'd with perfect health and after your death Eternal Happiness But as I am perswaded that I cannot acquit my self by these my Prayers of the great obligements which I have to you I beg all those of our Society in the Indies to desire of God the same blessings in your behalf For what remains if I compass my entrance into China
and if the Gospel enter with me 't is to you next to Almighty God to whom both the Chineses and my self shall be owing for it You shall have the merit of it in the sight of God and the glory in the sight of men Thus both the Chineses who shall embrace the Faith and those of our Society who shall go to China shall be oblig'd to offer without ceasing their Vows to Heaven in favour of you God grant us both the happiness once to meet in the Court of China As for my self I am of opinion if I get into that Kingdom and that you come thither you will either find me a Prisoner at Canton or at Pequin which is the Capital City of that Empire and I beseech the Lord out of his infinite mercy that we may be joyn'd together either in the Kingdom of China or at least in the Kingdom of Immortal Glory He wrote by the same conveyance to Father Francis Perez Superiour of Malacca He commanded him in vertue of holy obedience to depart with the soonest out of that unhappy Town and to conduct his inferiours to Cochin where he establish'd him Rectour of the Colledge in the place of Antonio Heredia whom he sent to Goa Though Father Xavier deplor'd a-new the wrâ—tâ—hed condition of Don Alvarez it hinder'd him not from enjoyning Father Barzaeus in his Letter to him that he shou'd work the Bishop to send his Orders to the Grand Vicar of Malacca therein declaring the Governour to be Excommunicated And he took this way not only because harden'd and scandalous Offendours such as Don Alvarez ought to incurr a publick dishonour by that means to induce them to a serious consideration of their own estate and that others might take warning by them but also that succeeding Governours might fear by the example of his punishment to set themselves in opposition to any intended Voyage of the Missioners who shou'd be sent hereafter to the Molucca's Iapan or any other places He desir'd Father Barzaeus in the same Letter to receive few persons into the Society and to make an exact trial of those whom he shou'd receive For I fear said he that many of them who have been admitted and daily are admitted were better out of our walls than within them You ought to deal with such people as you have seen me deal with many at Goa and as I have lately treated my Companion whom I have dismiss'd from the Society not having found him proper for our business He meant Alvarez Pereyra whom he had brought with him from the Indies and whom he sent back from Sancian with the Portuguese Vessels Amongst those Merchants who went off from Sancian there was one who made more haste than any of the rest without giving notice of his departure to the Father whom he had lodg'd in his Cabin or without waiting for a Chinese Vessel which he had bought at the Port of Canton One morning while the Father was saying Mass very early this Merchant had put off from shore and fled with as much precipitation as if the Island was ready to be swallow'd by the Sea. After Mass was ended he look'd round him and not seeing him for whom he search'd What is become of my Host said he with the looks and gesture of a man inspir'd Being answer'd that he was already in open Sea what cou'd urge him continu'd he to so prompt a resolution why did he not expect the Ship which comes from Canton and whither is he dragg'd by his unhappy destiny That very evening the Chinese Vessel was seen to arrive as for the â—ugitive Merchant he was no sooner landed at Malacca when going into a wood to seek materials for the refitting of his Ship he was ponyarded by Robbers All the Portuguese Vessels being gone saving only that which belong'd to the Governour of Malacca or rather of which the Governour had possess'd himself by violence Xavier was reduc'd to so great a want of all necessaries that he had scarcely wherewithal to sustain Nature 'T is certainly a matter of amazement that they whose lives he had preserv'd by changing the salt Sea-water into fresh shou'd be so hard-hearted as to abandon him to dye of hunger Some have thought that Don Alvarez had given Orders that all things shou'd be refus'd him but I rather think that Providence wou'd try him in the same manner as sometimes God is pleas'd to prove those whom he loves the best and permitted that dereliction of him for the entire perfection of the Saint That which most afflicted him was that the Chinese Interpreter who had made him such advantageous offers recall'd his word either of himself for fear of danger or at the sollicitation of those who were devoted to the Governour of Malacca Yet the Father did not lose his courage he still hop'd that God wou'd assist him some other way and that at the worst Antonio de Sainte Foy might serve his turn for an Interpreter But for the last load of his misfortunes the Merchant who had ingag'd to land him on the Coast of China return'd not at the time appointed and he in vain expected him for many days Despairing of any thing on that side he still maintain'd his resolution and another expedient seem'd to promise him success News was brought him that the King of Siam whose Dominions are almost bordering on Malacca and who also was in league with Portugal was preparing a magnificent Embassy to the Emperour of China for the year following Whereupon Xavier resolv'd on returning to Malacca by the first opportunity and to use his best endeavours that he might accompany the Ambassadour of Stam to China But the Eternal Wisdom which sometimes inspires his Servants with great designs does not always will the performance of them though he wills that on their side nothing be omitted for the execution God was pleas'd to deal with Xavier as formerly he had dealt with Moses who dyed in view of that very Land whither he was commanded to conduct the Israelites A Fever seiz'd on Father Francis on the 20 th of November and at the same time he was endu'd with a clear knowledge of the day and hour of his death as he openly declar'd to the Pilot of the Vessel Francis d' Aghiar who afterwards made an authentique deposition of it by solemn Oath From that moment he perceiv'd in himself a strange disgust of all earthly things and thought on nothing but that Coelestial Country whither God was calling him Being much weaken'd by his Fever he retir'd into the Vessel which was the common Hospital of the sick that there he might die in Poverty and the Captain Lewis Almeyda receiv'd him notwithstanding all the Orders of his Master Don Alvarez But the tossing of the Ship giving him an extraordinary head-ach and hindring him from applying himself to God as he desir'd the day ensuing he requested that he might be set on shore again He was
landed and leâ—t upon the Sands expos'd to the injury of the air and the inclemency of the season especially to the blasts of a piercing North-wind which then arose He had there dy'd without relief had not a Portuguese more charitable than the rest whose name was George Alvarez caus'd him to be carry'd into his Cabin which yet was little different from the naked shore as being open on every side The Indications of his disease being an accute pain in his side and a great oppression Alvarez was of opinion that they ought to breathe a Vein and the Father was consenting to it by a blind submission to the Judgment of his Host though he knew before hand that all manner of Remedies were in vain A Chirurgeon of the Ship who was awkward at his work and of small experience in his Art bled him so unluckily that he hurt the Nerves and the Patient fell immediately into swooning Convulsions Yet they drew Blood from him a second time and that operation had all the ill accidents of the former Besides which it was attended with a horrible nauseousness insomuch that he cou'd take no nourishment at least the little which he took consisted only of some few Almonds which the Captain of the Vessel sent him out of Charity The disease encreas'd hourly and he grew weaker every day But his Countenance was still serene and his Soul enjoy'd a perpetual calmness Sometimes he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven and at other times six'd them on his Crucifix entertaining Divine Conversations with his God and not without shedding abundant tears He remain'd in this condition till the twenty eighth of November when the Fever mounted into his Head. During this delirium he talk'd of nothing but of God and of his passage into China but in terms more tender and ardent than ever formerly At length he lost his Speech and recover'd not the use of it till three days afterwards His strength then left him all at once so that it â—as expected every moment that he wou'd pass away Which notwithstanding he once more recover'd and having the free exercise both of his Reason and his Speech he renew'd his Entertainments with his Saviour in an audible manner Nothing was to be heard from him but devout Aspirations and short Ejaculations of Prayer but those full of life and of affect on The Assistants understood not all he said because he continually spoke in Latin And Antonio de Sainte Foy who never 〈◊〉 him has only reported That the man of God made frequent Repetition of these words Iesu fili David miserere mei and these also which were so familiar to him O sanctissima Trinitas Besides which invoking the blessed Virgin he wou'd say Monstra teesse Matrem He pass'd two days without taking any food and having order'd his Priestly 〈◊〉 and the other Church-stuff which 〈◊〉 in saying Mass to be carry'd aboard â—he Ship together with those Books 〈◊〉 he had compos'd for the instruction of the Eastern people he dispos'd himselâ— for his last hour which was near approaching Besides Antâ— nio de Sainte Foy he had near his person a young Indian whom he had brought with him from Goa The Saint dying as he was cast his Eyes on the young man and appear'd discompos'd in looking on him afterwards with a compassionate regard he twice pronounc'd these words Ah miserable man and afterwards shed tears God at that moment was pleas'd to reveal to Xavier the unhappy death of this young Indian who five or six months afterwards falling into most horrible debauches was kill'd on the place by the shot of an Arquebuse So that the Spirit of Prophecy accompany'd the holy Man even to his last breath At last on the second of December which fell on Friday having his Eyes all bath'd in tears and fix'd with great tenderness of Soul upon his Crucifix he pronounc'd those words In te Domine speravi non confundar in aeternum and at the same instant transported with Coelâ—stial joy which appear'd upon his Countenance he sweetly gave up the Ghost towards two of the Clock in the afternoon and in the year of God 1552. He was six and forty years of age and had pass'd ten and a half of them in the Indies His stature was somewhat above the middle size his Constitution strong his Air had a mixture of pleasingness and Majesty He was fresh colour'd had a large Forehead a well proportion'd Nose his Eyes were blew but piercing and lively his Hair and Beard of a dark Chesnut his continual labours had made him gray betimes and in the last year of his life he was grizzled almost to whiteness This without question gave occasion to his first Historians to make him five and fifty years old before the certain proofs of his age came at length to be discover'd When it was known that Father Francis was expir'd many of the Ship and even the most devoted to the Governour ran to the Cabin They found the same fresh colour on his Face as he had when living and at the first sight cou'd hardly perswade themselves that he was dead When they had look'd on him at a nearer distance Piety began to be predominant over all their other thoughts they kneel'd down by him and kiss'd his Hands with reverence recommending themselves to him with tears in their Eyes as nothing doubting but that his happy Soul was perfectly enjoying God in Heaven His Corps was not laid into the ground till Sunday towards noon His Funerals were made without any Ceremony and besides Antonio de Sainte Foy Francis d'Aghiar and two others there were not any more Assistants An Historian of the Indies has written That the insupportable coldness of that day was the occasion of it But in all probability the apprehension which the Ships Company had of drawing on themselves the displeasure of the Governour Don Alvarez had at least as great a share in it as the sharpness of the season They took off his Cassock which was all in tatters and the four who had pay'd him those last duties divided it amongst them out of devotion after which they array'd him in his Sacerdotal Habits George Alvarez took upon himself the care of bestowing the Body in a large Chest made after the Chinese fashion he caus'd this Chest to be fill'd up with unslak'd Lime to the end that the Flesh being soon consum'd they might carry the Bones in the Vessel which within some few months was to return to India At the point of the Haven there was a little spot of rising ground and at the foot of this Hillock a small piece of Meadow where the Portugueses had set up a Cross. Near that Cross they interr'd the Saint they cast up two heaps of Stones the one at his Head the other at his Feet as a mark of the place where he was buried In the mean season God made manifest the holiness of his Servant
of them than that they were holy and Misterious Even sleep it self had not the power to interrupt those tender aspirations and all the night long he was heard to say O my Iesus my Souls delight or other expressions as full of tenderness which shew'd the inclination of his heart Being out of his sences by the violence of a burning Feaver both at Mozambique and at Sancian he spoke of God and to God with more â—ervency than ever insomuch that his Delirium seem'd only to be a redoubling of his love He was so sensible of the interests of the Divine Majesty that being touch'd to the quick with the enormity of those crimes that were committed in the new World he writ to a Friend of his in these very terms I have sometimes an abhorrence of my life and wâ—u'd rather chuse to dâ—e than to behâ—ld so many outrages done to Jesus Christ without being able either to hinder or to repair them For the rest that he might always keep alive the fire of Divine Love he had incessantly before his eyes the sufferings of our Lord. At the sight of the wounds and of the blood of a Crucify'd God he fell into sighs and tears and languishments and extasies of love He was consum'd with the zeal of returning his Saviour life for life for Martyrdom was his predominant passion and his sentiments are a continâ—al proof of it It sometimes happens through a singular favour of the Divine Goodness says he â—n one of his Letters that for the service of God we run our selves into the â—â—zâ—rd of death But we ought to bear in mind that we are born mortal and that a Christian is bound to desire nothing more than to lay down his Life for Jesus Christ. From thence proceeded that abundant joy which he conceiv'd when the faithful pour'd out their blood for Faith and he wrote to the Fathers at Rome on occasion of the Massacre of the Baptis'd Mâ—narois We are oblig'd to rejoyce in Jesus Christ that Martyrs aâ—e not wanting not even in our decaâ—ing times and to give him thanks that seeing so few pâ—rsâ—ns make the right use â—f his grace for their Salvation he permits that the number of the happy shall be compleated through the cruelty of men Admirable nâ—ws says he elâ—ewhere is lately come from the Molucca's they who labour there in the Lords Vineyard suffer exceedingly and are in continual hazard of their lives I imagine that the Isles del Moro will give many Martyrs to our Society and they will soon be call'd the Isles of Martyrdom Let our Brethren then who desire to shed their blood for Jesus Christ be of good courage and anticipate their future joy For behold at length a Seminary of Martyrdom is ready for them aâ—d they will have wherewithal to satisfie their longings The same love which inspir'd him with the desire of dying for our Saviour made him breath after the sight and the possession of God. He spoke not but of Paradise and concluded almost all his Letters with wishing there to meet his Brethren But his Charity was not confin'd to words and thoughts it shone out in his works and actions and extended it self to the service of his Neighbour Xavier seem'd to be onely born for the relief of the distress'd He lov'd the sick with tenderness and to attend them was what he call'd his pleasure He sought out not only wherewithal to feed them but to feast them And for that purpose begg'd from the Portugueses the most exquisite Regalio's which were sent them out of Europe He was not asham'd of going round the Town with a Wallet on his back begging linnen for the wounded Souldiers he dress'd their hurts and did it with so much the more affection when they were the most putrifi'd and loathsome to the smell If he happen'd to meet with any Beggar who was sinking under sickness he took him in his arms bore him to the Hospital prepar'd his Remedies and dress'd his meat with his own hands Though all the miserable were dear to him yet he assisted the Prisoners after a more particular manner with the Charities which he gather'd for them And in Goa which was the common Tribunal of the Indies he employ'd one day in the week in doing good to such who were overwhelm'd with Debts If he had not wherewithal to pay off their Creditors entirely he mollify'd them at least with his civilities and oblig'd them sometimes to release one moyety of what was owing to them The poor with one common voice call'd him their Father and he also regarded them as his Children Nothing was given him but what pass'd through his hands into theirs who were members of Iesus Christ even so far as to deprive himself of necâ—ssaries He heap'd up as I may call it a Treasury of Alms not onely for the subsistance of the meaner sort who are content with little but for the maintenance of honourable Families which one or two Shipwracks had ruin'd all at once and for the entertainment of many Virgins of good parentage whom poverty might necessitate to an infamous course of living The greatest part of the miracles which on so many occasions were wrought by him was onely for the remedy of publick calamities or for the cure of particular persons and it was in the same Spirit that being one day greatly busied in hearing the Confessions of the faithful at Goa he departed abruptly in appearance out of the Conâ—essional and from thence out of the Church also transported with some inward motion which he cou'd not possibly resist after he had made many turns about the Town without knowing whither he went he happen'd upon a Stranger and having tenderly embrac'd him conducted him to the Colledge of the Society There that miserable creature whom his despair was driving to lay violent hands upon himself having more seriously reflected on his wicked resolution pull'd out the Halter which he had secretly about him and with which he was going to have hang'd himself and gave it into the Father's hands The Saint to whom it was reveal'd that extream misery had reduc'd the unhappy wretch to this dismal melancholly gave him comfort retain'd him in the Colledge for some time and at length dismiss'd him with a round sum of money sufficient for the entertainment of his Family He recommended without ceasing his Friends and Benefactours to our Lord he pray'd both day and night for the prosperity of King Iohn the third of Portugal whom he call'd the true Protectour of all the Society But the Persecutors of the Saint had a greater share in his devotions than any others and at the same time when he was treated so unworthily by the Governour of Malacca he daily offer'd for him the Sacrifice of the Mass. He was us'd to say that to render good for evil was in some sort a Divine Revenge and he reveng'd himself in that very sort on the Governour of Comoriâ—e which in one of his
â—olledge of Goa to read frequently the Instructions which I have left with you particularly those which concern Humility and take an especial care in considering what God has done by you and by all the Labourers of the Society that you do not forget your self For my own particular I shou'd he glad that all of you wou'd seriously think how many things God leaves undone because you are wanting to him in your Fidelity and I wou'd rather that consideration shou'd employ your thoughts than those great works which it has pleas'd our Lord to accomplish by your Ministry for the first reflection will cover you with Confusion and make you mindful of your weakness but instead of that the second will puff you up with Vanity and expose you to the danger of having thoughts of Arrogance This well grounded humility in Xavier was the Principle of a perfect submission to the Will of God. He never undertook any thing without consulting him before-hand and the Divine Decrees were his only Rule I have made continual Prayers says he speaking of his Voyage to Macassar to know what Heaven requires of me for I was firmly resolv'd not to be wanting on my part to fulfil the Will of God whensoever it shou'd be made known to me May it please our Lord said he on the same subject that out of his goodness we might understand what he designs by us to the end we might entirely conform our selves to his holy Will so soon as it shall be discover'd to us For he commands us to be always in a readiness to obey him at the first signal and it becomes us to be as strangers in this World always prepar'd to follow the voice of our Conductor I wish said he in another place that God wou'd declare to us his most holy Will concerning the Ministries and Countries where I may best employ my labours for his glory I am ready by his Grace to execute those things which he makes me understand to be most pleasing to him of whatsoever nature they may be and undoubtedly he has admirable means of signifying his good pleasure to us such as are our inward Sentiments and heavenly Illuminations which leave no remaining scruple concerning the place to which he has design'd us nor what we are to undertake for his Service For we are like Travellers not fix'd to any Country through which we pass 'T is our duty to be prepar'd to fly from one Region to another or rather into opposite Regions where the Voice of Heaven shall please to call us East and West North and South are all indifferent to me provided I may have an opportunity of advancing the Glory of our Lord. He says elsewhere I cou'd wish that you had ever in your mind this Meditation that a ready and obedient Will which is entirely devoted to Gods service is a more pleasing sacrifice to the Divine Mâ—jesty than all the pomp and glitter of our noisy actions without that interiour disposition Being throughly convinc'd that the perfection of the Creature consists in willing nothing but the Will of the Creator he spoke incessantly of God's good pleasure and concluded almost all his Letters with his desires of knowing and fulfilling it He sacrifiâ—'d all to that Principle even his ardent wishes to die for Iesus by the hands of thâ— Barbrians for though he breath'd after Mâ—â—tyrdom he well understood tha◠〈◊〉 tender of our life is not 〈◊〉 to God when he requires it not and he was more fearful of displeasing him than desirous of being a Martyr for him So that he dy'd satisfy'd when he expir'd in a poor Cabin of a natural death though he was at that very time on the point of carrying the Faith into the Kingdom of China Anâ— it may be therefore said That he sacrifis'd not only his own Glory but even that of Iesus Christ to the good pleasure of God Almighty A man so submissive to the Orders of Heaven cou'd not possibly want submission in regard of his Superiour who was to him in the place of God. He had for Father Ignatius General of the Society of Iesus a Veneration and Reverence mix'd with Tenderness which surpass Imagination He himself has express'd some part of his thoughts on that Subject and we cannot read them without being edify'd In one of his Letters which begins in this manner My only dear Father in the Bowels of Jesus Christ he says at the Conclusion Father of my Soul for whom I have a most profound respect I write this to you upon my Knees as if you were present and that I beheld you with my Eyes It was his Custom to write to him in that posture so high was the place which Ignatius held within his heart God is my witness my dearest Father says he in another Letter how much I wish to behold you in this life that I might communicate to you many matters which cannot be remedy'd without your aid for there is no distance of places which can hinder me from obeying you I conjure you my best Father to have some little consideration of us who are in the Indies and who are your Children I conjure you I say to send hither some holy Man whose fervour may excite our lazy faintness I hope for the rest that as you know the bottom of our Souls by an illumination from Heaven you will not be wanting to supply us with the means of awakening our languishing and drowzy Vertue and of inspiring us with the love of true perfection In another of his Letters which is thus superscrib'd To Ignatius my holy Father in Jesus Christ he sends him word That the Letter which he receiv'd from his holy Charity at his return from Iapan had replenish'd him with joy and that particularly he was most tenderly affected with the last words of it I am all yours yours even to that degree that it is impossible for me to forget you Ignatius When I had read those words said he the tears came flowing into my Eyes and gushing out of them which makes me that I cannot forbear writing them and recalling to my Memory that sincere and holy Friendship which you always had and still have for me nothing doubting but that if God has deliver'd me from so many dangers it has principally proceeded from your fatherly intercessions for me He calls himself his Son in all his Letters and thus subscribes himself in one The least of your Children and most distant from you Francis Xavier But the high Idea's which Francis had of Ignatius caus'd him frequently to ask his advice in relation to his own conduct You will do a charitable work said he in writing to me a Letter full of spiritual Instructions as a Legacy bequeath'd to one who is the least of all your Children at the farthest distance from you and who is as it were banish'd from your presence by which I may partake some part of those abundant treasures which Heaven has heap'd
upon you I beseech you not to be too niggardly in the accomplishment of my desires I conjure you says he elsewhere by the tender love of Iesus Christ to give me the method which I ought to keep in admitting those who are to be Members of our Society and write to me at large considering the smallness of my Talent which is well known to you for if you give me not your assistance the poor ability which I have in these matters will be the occasion of my losing many opportunities for the augmentation of God's Glory In prescribing any thing that was difficult to his Inferiours he frequently intermix'd the name of Ignatius I pray you by our Lord and by Ignatius the Father of our Society I conjure you by the Obedience and by the Love which you owe to our Father Ignatius I require this of you in the name of the beatify'd Father Ignatius Remember said he farther to what degree both great and small respect our Father Ignatius With these Sentiments both of affecton and esteem he depended absolutely on his Superiour If I believ'd says he writing from the Indies to Father Simon Rodriguez that the strength of your Body were equal to the vigour of your Mind I shou'd invite you to pass the Seas and desire your company in this new World I mean if our Father Ignatius shou'd approve and counsel such a Voyage For he is our Parent it behoves us to obey him and it is not permitted us to make one step without his Order In this manner Xavier had recourse to Ignatius on all occasions as much as the distance of places wou'd permit and the Orders which he receiv'd were to him inviolable Laws You shall not suffer any one so he writ to Gasper Barzaeus Rectour of the Colledge of Goa to receive the Orders of Priesthood who is not sufficiently learn'd and who has not given for the space of many years sufficient examples of his good life in our Society because our Father Ignatius has expresly forbidden it For the same reason he exactly observ'd the Constitutions of the Society Make not haste writes 〈◊〉 in the same Letter to Barzaeus to receive Children which are too young And totally reject such sorts of people whom Father Ignatius wou'd have for ever excluded from our Order But nothing perhaps can more cleaâ—ly discover how perfect the submission ofXavier was than 〈◊〉 his Superiour himself thought of it At the time when Xavier dy'd Ignatius had thoughts of recalling him from the Indies not doubting but at the first notice of his Orders this zealous Missioner wou'd leave all things out of his Obedience And on this occasion he wrote to him a Letter bearing date the 28th of Iune in the year 1553. Behold the passage which conceâ—ns the business of which we are speaking I add says Ignatius in his Letter that having in prospect the Salvation of Souls and the greater service of our Lord I have resolv'd to command you in vertue of holy Obedience to return into Portugal with the first opportunity and I command you this in the name of Christ. But that you may more easily satisfy those who are desirous of retaining you in the Indies for the good of those Countries I will present you with my reasons You know in the first place of what weight are the Orders of the King of Portugal for the confirmation of Religion in the East for the propagation of it in Guinea and Brasile and you can rightly judge that a Prince so Religious as he will do all things necessary for the advancement of Gods Honour and the conversion of People if one of your Ability and Experience shall personally instruct him And besides 't is of great importance that the holy Apostolical See shou'd be inform'd of the present state of India by some authentick Witness to the end that Popes may issue out spiritual supplies as well to the new as to the ancient Christianity of Asia without which neither the one nor the other can subsist or cannot subsist without much trouble and no body is more proper than your self for this both in respect of your knowledge in the Affairs of the new World and of your Reputation in these parts You know moreover of what consequence it is that the Missioners who are sent to the Indies shou'd be proper for the end propos'd and 't is convenient on that account that you come to Portugal and Rome For not only many more will be desirous of going on those Missions but you will make a better choice of Missioners and will see more clearly to what parts such and such are proper to be sent You judge your self of what consideration it is not to be mistaken in these Affairs And whatsoever relation you can send us your Letters are not sufficient to give us a true notion of what â— abourers are fitting for the Indies 'T is necessary that you or some one as intelligent as you shou'd know and practice those who are design'd for those Countries Besides what it will be in your power to do for the common benefit of the East you will warm the Zeal of the King of Portugal in relation to Ethiopia which has been under consideration for so many years but nothing yet perform'd You will also be of no little use to the Affairs of Congo and Brasile on which you can have no influence in India for want of Commerce betwixt them and you But if you think your presence may be necessary for the Government of those of the Society who are in the Indies you may govern them more easily from Portugal than you can from China or Japan For what remains I remit you to the Father Master Polanque and recommend my self most cordially to your good Prayers beseeching the Divine Goodness to multiply his favours on you to the end that we may understand his most holy Will and that we may perfectly perform it Father Polanque who was Secretary to Father Ignatius and Confident to all his purposes has given testimony That the intention of the holy Founder was to make Xavier General of the Society The Letter of Ignatius found Xavier dead But we may judge of what he wou'd have done by what he writ before his death to Ignatius himself who had testify'd so earnest a desire to see him Your holy Charity says he in his Letter tells me that you have an earnest desire to see me once again in this present life God who looks into the bottom of my Heart can tell how sensibly that mark of your tendeâ—ness has touch'd me Truly whenever that expression of yours returns to my remembrance and it frequently returns the tears come dropping from my Eyes and I cannot restrain them while I revolve that happy thought that once yet once again it may be given me to embrace you I confess it appears difficult to compass my desires but all things are possible to holy Obedience Undoubtedly if the Letter of Ignatius
Society The Saint was one day publickly expos'd with his Feet bare at the importunity of the people who through Devotion petition'd to kiss them A Woman who passionately desir'd to have a Relick of Xavier drawing near as if it were to have kiss'd his Foot. fasten'd her Teeth in it and bit off a little piece of Flesh. The Blood immediately ran in great abundance out of it and of so pure a Crimson that the most healthful Bodies cou'd not send out a more living colour The Physicians who visited the Corps from time to time and who always depos'd that there cou'd be nothing of natural in what they saw judg'd that the Blood which came from a Body depriv'd of heat and issu'd from a part so distant from the heart as is the Foot cou'd be no other than the effect of a Celestial Vertue which not only preserv'd all parts of it from putrefaction but also caus'd the humours to flow and maintain'd them in the motion which only life infuses in them So many wonders which spread through all the East and were transmitted into every part of Europe so mov'd the Heart of Paul the Fifth that he finally perform'd what his Predecessour had design'd After a Juridical Examen of the Virtues and Miracles above mention'd he declar'd Beatify'd Francis Xavier Priest of the Society of Iesus by an express Bull dated the 25th of October in the year 1619. Gregory the Fifteenth who immediately succeeded Pope Paul the Fifth Canoniz'd him afterwards in all the forms and with all the procedures which the Church observes on the like occasions The Ceremony was perform'd at Rome on the 12th of March in the year 1622. But as death prevented him from making the Bull of the Canonization it was his Successour Vrban the Eighth who finally accomplish'd it This Bull bearing date the sixth of August in the year 1623 is an Epitome and Panegyrick of the miraculous life of the Saint It is there said That the new Apostle of the Indies has spiritually receiv'd the Blessing which God vouchsafed to the Patriarch Abraham that he was the Father of many Nations and that he saw his Children in Jesus Christ multiply'd beyond the Stars of Heaven and the Sands of the Sea. That for the rest his Apostleship has had the signs of a Divine Vocation such as are the gift of Tongues the gift of Prophecy the gift of Miracles with the Evangelical vertues in all perfection The Bull reports almost all the Miracles which we have seen in his Life particularly the Resurrections of the Dead and amongst other miraculous Cures which were wrought after his decease it observes those of Gonsalvo Fernandâ—z Mary Diaz and Emanuel Rodriguez Figheredo It also mentions two famous Cures of which we have said nothing One is of a blind man who having pray'd to God nine days successively by the order of Xavier who appear'd to him instantly recover'd his sight The other was of a Leper who being anointed and rub'd over with the Oyl of a Lamp which burn'd before the Image of Xavier was entirely cur'd The Pope has added in his Bull That the Lamps which hung before the Image which was venerated at Cotata often burn'd with Holy-water as if they had been full of Oyl to the great astonishment of the Heathens The other Miracles which we have related and which are omitted in the Bull are contain'd in the Acts of the process of the Canonization Since the time that the holy See has plac'd the Apostle of the Indies in the number of the Saints 't is incredible how much the publick Devotion has every where been augmented towards him Cities have taken him for their Patron and Protectour Altars have been erected and incessant Vowa have been made to him Men have visited his Tomb with more devotion than ever and the Chamber wherein he was born has been converted into a Chappel to which Pilgrims have resorted in great crowds from all the quarters of the World. For the rest it was not in vain that they invok'd him and if I shou'd take upon me to relate the Miracles which have been lately done through his Intercession they wou'd take up another Volume as large as this Neither shall I go about to make a recital of what things were wrought in succeeding years at Poâ—amo and Naples but shall content my self to say that in those places God was pleas'd to honour his Servant by the performance of such wonders as might seem incredible if those which preceded had not accustom'd us to believe all things of St. Xavier I shall even forbear to speak of the famous Father Mastrilli who being in the agony of death was cur'd on the instant by the Saint and who going to Iapan by the Ordâ—r of the Saint himself to be there Martyr'd built him a magnificent Sepulcher at Goa 'T is enough for us to know that never Saint has been perhaps more honour'd nor more lov'd in the Church than St. Francis Xavier and that even the Enemies of the Society of Iesus have had a veneration and tenderness for him But these Opinions are not conâ—in'd to Catholicks alone the very Hereticks revere Xavier and Baldeus speaks of him in these terms in his History of the Indies If the Religion of Xavier agree'd with ours we ought to esteem and reverence him as another St. Paul yet notwithstanding the difference of Religion his zeal his vigilance and the sanctity of his manners ought to stir up all good men not to do the work of God negligently for the gifts which Xavier had receiv'd to execute the Office of a Minister and Ambassadour of Jesus Christ were so eminent that my Soul is not able to express them If I consider the patience and sweetness wherewith he presented both to great and small the holy and living waters of the Gospel if I regard the courage wherewith the suffer'd injuries and affronts I am forc'd to cry out with the Apostle Who is capable like him of these wonderful things Baldeus concludes the Panegyrick of the Saint with an Apostrophe to the Saint himself Might it please Almighty God says he that being what you have been you had been or wou'd have been one of ours Richard Hackluyt also a Protestant and which is more a Minister of England commends Xavier without restriction Sancian says he is an Island in the confines of China and near the Port of Canton famous for the death of Francis Xavier that worthy Preacher of the Gospel and that divine Teacher of the Indians in what concerns Religion who after great labours after many injuries and infinite crosses undergone with great patience and joy dy'd in a Cabin on a desart Mountain on the 2d of September in the year 1552 destitute of all worldly conveniences but accumulated with all sorts of spiritual blossings having first made known Jesus Christ to many thousands of those Eastern People The modern Histories of the Indies are fill'd with
sent him 〈…〉 He foreâ—nows and foretels the ruin of Malacca 〈…〉 He arrives at Amboyna What he performs there He 〈◊〉 the Idolâ—terâ— and Moors of Amboyna A Spanish Fleet arrives at Amboyna 〈…〉 the Spanish 〈◊〉 during the 〈…〉 them He passes into divers Iâ—lands He recovers his Crucifix which was fallen into the Sea. He foretells the holy death of a new Convert He goes to the Iâ—land of Ulate and the Miracle there wrought by him He goes to the Molucca's What happens tâ— him in his way He 〈…〉 John Arâ—â—s He makes many Converts at Ternate Conveâ—siâ—n of a Queen at Ternate H◠〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 del Moro. Great endeavours are us'd to dissuade the Saint from going to the Isles del Mâ—ro He complains of those who make opposition to his Voyage to the Iâ—le del Moro. He goes for the Iâ—le del Moro and wrâ—tes to Rome God reveals to to him what is doing in a distant Iâ—land H◠〈◊〉 at del Moro 〈…〉 it He gains the Inhabitants of the Isle del Moro. * 〈…〉 〈…〉 He exhorts them to repentâ—nâ—e He says Mass in the midst of an Earthquake 〈…〉 He is persecuted by a cruel and salvage People His sufferings in the Iâ—le dâ—l Moro and the consolations which he there receiv'd He goes for Goa and the reason that induc'd him He returns to Ternate His proceedings at Ternate He endeavours the Conversion of the King of Ternate What hinder'd the King of Ternata's Conversion He labours with great fruit in the Court of Ternate He leaves to the Islanders a Christian Instruction written with his own Hand 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 A Cross erected by Xavier becomes famous 〈…〉 He arrives at Malacca and there meets three Missioners of the Company His conduâ—t with John Deyro Deyro has a Vision which God reveals to Xavier The Actions of the Saâ—nt at Malacca The occasion of the King of Achen's enterprise against Malacca The preparation of the Barbariâ—ns for the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Army of Achen comes befâ—re Malacca its landing and reâ—â—eat The Letter of the General of Achen to the Governour of Malacca Xavier's advice to the Governour of Malacca They fâ—â—lâ—w his Câ—unsel They prepare to Engâ—ge the Enemy He exhorts the Souldiers and Captains to do their duty The Fleet set out and what â—appen'd at that time He upbraids the Governour with his dissidence He foretells what is suddenly accomplish'd The Portuguese Fleet goes in search of the Enemy Troubles in Malacca concerning their Fleet. A new cause of Consâ—ernation 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 The Achenois defeated The Saint declares the Victory to the people of Malacca The certain news of the Victory is brought The return of the victorioâ—s Fleet. Anger arrives at Malacca when the Saint wâ—s reâ—dyâ— to â— paâ—â— frâ—m it Divers adventures of Anger Anger is brought to the Father who sends him to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 He writes to the King of Portugal 〈…〉 〈…〉 He writes t◠〈◊〉 Simon Rodrig 〈◊〉 He sends an account to the Fathers at Rome of his Voyages He receives great comfort from the ferâ—ency of the 〈◊〉 Converts He stays at Manapar and what he perform'd there The Ruleâ— which he prescribes to the 〈◊〉 of the Fâ—â—hing Coast. 〈…〉 He departâ— for Goâ— and â—inds the Viceâ—â—y at Baâ—ain He obtains whatever he demands of the Viceroy He converts a young Gentleman who was very much debauch'd He 〈…〉 He instructs Anger a new and causes him to be farther taught by Torrez He hears news from â—apan and designs a 〈◊〉 thither to 〈◊〉 the Gospel He undertakes the Conversion of a Souldier He 〈…〉 He assists the Vicerâ—y of the Indies at his death He applies himself more than ever to the exercises of an interiour Life 〈…〉 〈…〉 He goes 〈◊〉 the Fishing Coast hiâ— Actiâ—ns there He speaks to the Deputy Gâ—vernour of the Indies concerning his Voyage to Japan All endeaâ—â—uâ—s are us'd 〈◊〉 break the Fatherâ— intended Voyage 〈◊〉 Japan He slights the reasons alledg'd against his Voyage to Japan 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 He recommends to him the perfecting of himself He charges him to instruct the Children himself He recommenâ—s the poor to him 〈…〉 〈…〉 He prescribes him sâ—me precautions in his dealings with his Friends He recommends to him the practice of the particulâ—r Examen H◠〈◊〉 him to preâ—â—â— anâ— givâ—s him Rules for preaching He institutes him in the way of correcting Sinners He prescribes him a method for administrating the Sacrament of Penance He continues to instruct him on the Subâ—ect of Confession He instructs him how to deal with those who want faith concerning the blessed Saâ—rament He instructs how to deal with Penitents He recommends to him the obedience due to Ecclesiastical Superiâ—urs 〈…〉 He giâ—es him advice concerning his 〈◊〉 Functions 〈…〉 He counsels him to inform himself of the manner of the Town at his arrival He recommends to his Prayers the Sâ—uls in Purgatory He exhorts him not to shew either sadness or anger 〈…〉 He gives him instructions touching the conduct of such as shall be receiv'd into the Society He teaches him the methods of reducing obstinate Sinners He advises him to find out the Dispositions of the people before he treats with them 〈…〉 He giâ—es him Couâ—sel câ—ncerning Reconciliations He instracts him in the way of preaching well What he orders him concerning his subsistance and touching Presents 〈…〉 He 〈◊〉 fâ—â— Japan He arrives at Malacca and what he performs there His 〈◊〉 for the success of his Brethâ—en in their Fâ—â—â—â—â—ions He receives a young Gentleman into the Society The instructions which he gives to Bravo Tâ—e nâ—ws which 〈◊〉 â—â—aâ—s from Japan He disposes himself for the Voyage of Japan more earnestly than ever He goes from Malacca to Japan and whâ—â—â— happens to him in the way The Situation of Japan and the nature of the Country 〈…〉 The Religion of the Japonneses when the Father arriv'd in that Country The Six Iesuites who were sent to Siam in 1685 in their relation of the Religion of the Siamois which much resembles this of Japan guess with more probability that these Opinions were the Corruptions of the Doctrine preach'd in the Indies by St. Thomas Paul de sainte Foy goes to waâ—t on the King of Saxuma That which pass'd at the Court of Saxuma The Saint applyes himself to the study of the Japonian Tongue He baptizes the whole Family of Paul de Sainte Foy. He goes to the Court of Saxuma and is well receiv'd He begins to preach at Cangoxima and coâ—verts many He visits the Bâ—nza's and endeaâ—â—â—â—s to gaâ—n theâ— He 〈◊〉 the Sâ—â—â—s â—wordsâ— the chief of the Bonza's The Bonza's â—ise against him The Bonza's succeed not in their Vndertaking He leads a most ausâ—ere Life He wâ—â—â—s divers Miâ—acles He raises a Maid from Death God avenges the Saint A new Persecution rais'd against Xavier by the Bonza's The King of Saxuma is turn'd against Xavier and the Christians The Saint forâ—â—ties the Christians before he leaâ—es them He causes his Catechism to be Printed before
Intrigues the three Princes her Sons lost the Crown their Liberty and their Lives Her unhappy fortune constrain'd her to lead a wandring life from Isle to Isle But Providence which wou'd accomplish on her its good designs brought her back at last to Ternate about the time when Xavier came thither She liv'd there in the condition of a private person without Authority yet with Splendour and retaining still in her Countenance and Behaviour somewhat of that haughty Air which the Great sometimes maintain even in their Fetters The Saint gain'd access to her and found an opportunity of conversing with her In his first discourse he gave her a great Idea of the Kingdom of God yet withal inform'd her That this Kingdom was not difficult to obtain and that being once in possession of it there was no fear of being after dispossess'd Insomuch that the Saracen Princess who had no hopes remaining of ought on Earth turn'd her thoughts and her desires towards Heaven 'T is true that as she was indu'd with a great Wit and was very knowing in the Law of Mahomet there was some need of Argumentation but the Father still clearing all her doubts the dispute only serv'd to make her understand more certainly the falseness of the Alcoran and the truth of the Gospel She submitted to the Saints Reasons or rather to the Grace of Iesus Christ and was publickly baptis'd by the Apostle himself who gave her the name of Isabella He was not satisfy'd with barely making her a Christian. He saw in her a great stock of Piety an upright Heart a tenderness of Mind inclinations truly great and noble which he cultivated with admirable care and set her forward by degrees in the most sublime and solid ways of a spiritual life So that Neachile under the conduct of Father Xavier arriv'd to a singular Devotion that is to say she grew humble and modest from disdainful and haughty as she was mild to others and severe to her self suffering her Misfortunes without complaint of Injuries united to God in her Retirements and not appearing publickly but to exercise the deeds of Charity to her Neighbour but more esteem'd and honour'd both by the Indians and Portugueses than when she sat upon the Throne in all the pomp and power of Royalty During the abode which Xavier made in Ternate he heard speak of certain Isles which are distant from it about sixty Leagues Eastward and which take their name from the Principal commonly call'd the Isle del Moro. It was reported to him that those Islanders Barbarians as they were had been most of them baptis'd but that the Faith had been abolish'd there immediately after it was introduc'd and this account he heard of it The Inhabitants of Momoya which is a Town in the Isle del Moro wou'd never embrace the Law of Mahomet though all the neighbouring Villages had receiv'd it And the Prince or Lord of that Town who chose rather to continue an Idolater than to become a Mahometan being molested by the Saracens had recourse to the Governour of Ternate who was call'd Tristan d' Atayda promising that himself and his Subjects wou'd turn Christians provided the Portugueses wou'd take them into their protection Atayda receiving savourably those Propositions of the Prince of Momoya the Prince came in person to Ternate and desir'd Baptism taking then the name of Iohn in honour of Iohn the Third King of Portugal At his return to Momoya he took along with him a Portuguese Priest call'd Simon Vaz who converted many Idolaters to the Faith. The number of Christians thus daily increasing more and more another Priest call'd Francis Alvarez came to second Vaz and both of them labour'd so happily in conjunction that the whole people of Momoya renounc'd Idolatry and profess'd the Faith of Iesus Christ. In the mean time the Portuguese Souldiers whom the Governour of Ternate had promis'd to send came from thence to defend the Town against the Enterprises of the Saracens But the cruelty which he exercis'd on the Mother of Cacil Aerio Bastard Son to King Boliefe so far exasperated those Princes and the neighbouring People that they conspir'd the death of all the Portugueses who were to be found in those quarters The Inhabitants of Momoya naturally changeable and cruel began the Massacre by the murther of Simon Vaz their first Pastor and had kill'd Alvarez whom they pursu'd with flights of Arrows to the Sea-side if accidentally he had not found a Bark in readiness which bore him off all wounded as he was and sav'd him from the fury of those Christian Barbarians The Saracens made their advantage of these disorders and Mastering Momoya chang'd the whole Religion of the Town The Prince himself was the only Man who continu'd firm in the Christian Faith notwithstanding all their threatning and the cruel usage which he receiv'd from them Not long after this Antonio Galvan that Portugâ—ese who was so illustrious for his Prudence his Valour and his Piety succeeding to Tristan d' Atayda in the Government of Ternate sent to the Isle del Moro a Priest who was both able and zealous by whose Ministry the people were once more reduc'd into the Fold of Christ and the Affairs of the Infidels were ruin'd But this Priest remain'd not long upon the Island and the people destitute of all Spiritual Instructions return'd soon after through their natural inconstancy to their original Barbarism In this condition was the Isle del Moro when it was spoken of to Father Xavier and for this very reason he determin'd to go and preach the Gospel there after he had stay'd for three Months at Ternate When his design was known all possible endeavours were us'd to break it His Friends were not wanting to inform him that the Countrey was as hideous as it was barren That it seem'd accurs'd by Nature and a more â—itting Habitation for Beasts than Men. That the Air was so gross and so unwholesome that Strangers cou'd not live in the Countrey That the Mountains continually vomited flakes of Fire and Ashes and that the ground it self was subject to terrible and frequent Earthquakes And besides it was told him that the people of the Countrey surpass'd in cruelty and faithlessness all the Barbarians of the World. That Christianity had not softned their Manners that they poyson'd one another that they fed themselves with Humane Flesh and that when any of their Relations happen'd to die they cut off his Hands and Feet of which they made a delicate Ragou That their Inhumanity extended so far that when they design'd a sumptuous Feast they begg'd some of their Friends to lend them an old unprofitable Father to be serv'd up to the Entertainment of their Guests with promise to repay them in kind on the like occasion The Portugueses and Indians who lov'd Xavier added that since those Salvages spar'd not their own Countreymen and their Parents what wou'd they not do to a Stranger and an unknown person That
of health and strength and doubting not the end of his life was near approaching he quiet laid aside all business and substituted others to supply his place After which his thoughts were wholly employ'd on death and the great concernments of Eternity He had many long conversations with Father Xavier on that Subject and refus'd to see any one but him During these Transactions a Ship which came from Lisbonne brought Letters to the Viceroy from the King of Portugal who gave great praises to his management and continu'd him for three years longer in the Government of the Indies As Don John was much belov'd so on this occasion publick rejoycings were made over all the Town But the Sick Viceroy hearing the discharge of the Artillery and seeing almost from his Bed the Bonefires that were made cou'd not forbear laughing at it though he was almost in the agonies of death How deceitful and ridiculous is this World said he to present us with honours of three years continuance when we have but a moment more to live The Father assisted him even to the last drawing of his breath and had the consolation to behold a great man of this world expiring with the thoughts of a Saint in Holy Orders Xavier being Master of himself in some manner after the decease of Don Iohn de Castro who had desir'd him not to stir from Goa during the Winter had thoughts of visiting once more the Coast of Fishery before his Voyage to Iapan his resolutions of which he had not hitherto declar'd But the incommodities of the season hinder'd him for at one certain time the Sands so choke up the Channels of the Isle that no Ship can either go out of the Port or enter into it In waiting 'till the Navigation became free the Saint apply'd himself particularly to the exercises of a Spiritual Life as it were to recover new strength after his past Labours according to the custom of Apostolical men who in the communications which they have with God refresh themselves after the pains which they have taken with their Neighbour Then it was that in the Garden of Saint Paul's Colledge sometimes in walking at other times in retiring into a little Hermitage which was there set up he cry'd out 'T is enough O my Lord it is eâ—ough And that he open'd his Cassock before his Breast to give a little Air to those â—lames which burnt within him by which he declar'd that he was not able to support the abundance of heavenly Consolations and at the same time gave us to understand that he wou'd have rather chosen to suffer any Torments for the service of God than to have enjoy'd all those spiritual delights so that his â—rue meaning was a Prayer to God that he wou'd please to reserve for him those pleasures in another life and in the mean time wou'd not spare to inflict on him any pains or sufferings in this present World. These interiour Employments did not hinder him from the labours of his Ministerial Vocation nor from succouring the distrest in the Hospitals and Prisons On the contrary the more lively and ardent the love of God was in him the more desirous he was to bring it forth and kindle it in others His Charity caus'd him often to relinquish the quiet of Solitude and the delights of Prayer therein following the Principle of his Father Ignatius that it was necessary to forsake God for God. The Season â—egan to be more moderate and Xavier was disposing himself to set Sail for the Cape of Comorine when a Portuguese Vessel arriv'd from Mozambique which brought in her five Missioners of the Society The most considerable of these Missioners and of five others which came along with the Fleet was Gaspar Barzeus a Flemming by Nation Father Francis had already heard speak of him as an excellent Labourer and a famous Preacher but his Presence and the Testimony of all the Ship gave the Saint such great Idea's of his Merit that he look'd on him from thence forward as an Apostle of the Eastern Countries He pass'd five days with these new Companions on the fourth of which he caus'd Father Gaspar to preach before him that he might see his Talent for the Pulpit and discover'd in him all the Qualities of a perfect Preacher Many Portuguese Gentlemen who had been much edify'd by the Vertues and Conversation of Barzeus during all the Navigation which had been exceeding dangerous came and fell at the Feet oâ— Xavier desiring that he wou'd please to receive them into the Society The Captain of the Ship and the Governour of one of the chief Citadels which the Portuguese enjoy in India were of the number He admitted some of them before his departure and deferr'd the rest till his return but he wou'd that all of them shou'd perform the Spiritual Exercises of Father Ignatius At length Xavier embark'd on the ninth of September for the Fishing Coast There he comforted and confirm'd the Faithful who were continually persecuted by the Badages those mortal and irreconcileable Enemies of the Christian name He also encourag'd the Gospel Labourers of the Society who for the same reason went in daily hazard of their lives Having understood that Father Francis Henriquez who cultivated the Christianity of Travancor was somewhat dissatisfy'd and believ'd he lost his time because some of those new Converts shaken either by the Promises or Threatnings of a new King who hated the Christians had return'd to their former Superstitions he writ him Letters of Consolation desiring him to be of good courage and assuring him that his Labours were more profitable than he imagin'd that when all the Fruit of his Zeal shou'd be reduc'd to the little Children who dy'd after Baptism God wou'd be well satisfy'd of his endeavours and that after all the Salvation of one only Soul ought to comfort a Missioner for all his pains that God accounted with us for our good intentions and that a Servant of his was never to be esteem'd unprofitable who labour'd in his Vineyard with all his strength whatever his success might prove Father Xavier was not content to have fortify'd the Missioners both by word and writing in his own person he desir'd of Father Ignatius that he wou'd also encourage them with his Epistles and principally that he wou'd have the goodness to write to Henry Henriquez a Man mortify'd to the World and laborious in his Ministry Having order'd all things in the Coast of Fishery he return'd by Cochin where he stay'd two Months employing himself without ceasing in the instruction of little Children administring to the sick and regulating the manners of that Town After which he went to Bazain there to speak with the Deputy Governour of the Indies Don Garcia de Saa whom Don Iohn de Castro had nam'd upon his Death-bed to supply his place The Father was desirous to obtain his Letters of Recommendation to the Governour of Malacca that in vertue