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
of that Order whose institution was for the preaching of the Gospel A devout Virgin whose name was Isabella Casalini seeing him at the Altar judg'd him to be a Man of God. And was led by some interiour motion to speak to this Stranger Priest when his Mass was ended She was so much edify'd and so satisfy'd with the discourse of Xavier that she immediately inform'd her Uncle at whose House she lodg'd of this treasure which she had discover'd Ierome Casalini who was a very considerable Clergy-man both in regard of his noble Blood and of his Vertue went in search of this Spanish Priest upon the account which was given of him by his Niece And having found him at the Hospital he importun'd him so much to take a Lodging in his House that Xavier cou'd not in Civility refuse him But the Holy Man wou'd never accept of his Table of whose House he had accepted He begg'd his Bread from Door to Door according to his usual custome and liv'd on nothing but the Alms which was given him in the Town Every day after having celebrated the Divine Mysteries in St. Lucâ—e's Church of which Casalini was Curate he there heard the Confessions of such as presented themselves before him After which he visited the Prisons and the Hospitals Catechiz'd the Children and Preach'd to the People 'T is true he spoke but very ill and his Language was only a kind of Lingua franca a confus'd medley of Italian French and Spanish But he pronounc'd it with so much vehemenco and the matter of his Sermons was so solid that his ill accent and his improper Phrases were past by His Audience attended to him as to a Man descended from above and his Sermon being ended came to cast themselves at his Feet and make Confession These continual labours during a very sharp Winter threw him into a relapse of sickness much more dangerous than the former as it were to verify the Prediction of St. Ierome for he was seiz'd with a Quartan Ague which was both malignant and obstinate insomuch that it cast him into an extreme faintness and made him as meagre as a Skeleton In the mean time lean and languishing aâ— he was he ceas'd not to crawl to thâ— publick places and excite Passengers to Repentance When his Voice â—ail'd him his wan and mortify'd Face the very picture of Death seem'd to speak for him and his presence alone had admirable effects Ierome Casalini profited so well by the Instructions and Example of the holy Man that he arriv'd in a short space to a high degree of Holiness The greater knowledge he had of him he the more admir'd him as he himself related And it is from this vertuous Church-man chiefly that we have this account of Xavier that having labour'd all the day he pass'd the Night in Prayer that on Friday saying the Mass of the Passion he melted into Tears and was often raâ—ish'd in his Soul that he spoke but seldome but that all his words were full of sound Reason and heavenly Grace While Xavier was thus employing his Labours at Bolognia he was recall'd to Rome by Father Ignatius who had already presented himself before the Pope and offer'd him the Service both of himself and his Companions Pope Paul the Third accepted the good Will of these new Labourers enjoining them to begin their Work in Rome and preach under the Authority of the Holy See. The principal Churches were assign'd them and that of St. Laurence in Damaso was allotted to Xavier Being now freed from his Quartan Ague and his strength being again restor'd he preach'd with more vigour and vehemence than ever Death the last Judgment and the pains of Hell were the common Subject of his Sermons He propos'd those terrible truths after a plain manner but withal so movingly that the People who came in Crowds to hear him preach departed out of the Church in a profound silence and thought less of giving Praises to the Preacher than of Converting their own Souls to God. The Famine which laid waste the City of Rome at that time gave opportunity to the ten Stranger-Priests to relieve an infinite number of miserable People oppress'd with want and unregarded Xavier was ardent above the rest to find them places of accommodation and to procure Alms for their Subsistance He bore them even upon his Shoulders to the places which were provided for them and attended them with all imaginable care In the mean time Iames Govea a Portuguese who had been acquainted with Ignatius Xavier and Le Fevre at Paris and who was Principal of the Colledge of Saint Barbe when they liv'd together there being come to Rome on some important business for which he was sent thither by Iohn the Third King of Portugal and seeing the wonderful effects of their Ministry wrote to the King as he had formerly done from Paris on the Reports which were spread of them that such Men as these Knowing Humble Charitable inflam'd with Zeal indeâ—atigable in Labour lovers of the Cross and who aim'd at nothing but the Honour of Almighty God were fit to be employ'd in the East-Indies to plant and propagate the Faith. He adjoin'd That if his Majesty were desirous of these excellent Men he had only to ask them from the Pope who had the absolute disposition of them Iohn the Third the most Religious Prince then living wrote thereupon to his Embassadour Don Pedro Mascaregnas and order'd him to obtain from his Holiness â—ix at least of those Apostolick Men which had been commended to him by Govea The Pope having heard the Proposition of Mascaregnas remitted the whole business to Father Ignatius for whom he had already a great consideration and who had lately presented to his Holiness the model of the new Order which he and his Companions were desirous to establish Ignatius who had propos'd to himself no less a design than the Reformation of the vvhole World and who savv the urgent necessities of Europe infected vvith Heresie on every side return'd this ansvver to Mascaregnas that of ten which vvas their vvhole number he cou'd spare him at the most but tvvo persons The Pope approv'd this ansvver and order'd Ignatius to make the choice himself Thereupon Ignatius nam'd Simon Rodriguez a Portuguese and Nicholas Bobadilla a Spaniard The first of these was at that time employ'd at Sienna and the other in the Kingdom of Naples as they had been Commissioned by the Holy-Father Though Rodriguez vvas languishing under a Quartan Ague when he was recall'd from Sienna yet he fail'd not to obey the Summons and shortly after embarking on a Ship of Lisbonne vvhich vvent off from Civita Vecchia carried with him Paul de Camerin vvho some month before had joyn'd himself to their Society As for Bobadilla he vvas no sooner come to Rome than he fell Sick of a continued Feaver and it may be said that hâ—â— Distemper was the hand of Heaven vvhich had ordain'd another in his
stead for the Mission of the Indies For sometimes that which appears but chance or a purely natural effect in the Lives of men is a disposition of the Divine Providence vvhich moves by secret ways to its own propos'd ends and is pleas'd to execute those designs by means as easy as they are powerful Mascaregnas who had finish'd his Embassy and was desirous to carry with him into Portugal the second Missioner who had been promis'd him was within a day of his departure when Bobadilla arriv'd Ignatius seeing him in no condition to undertake a Voyage apply'd himself to God for his direction in the choice of one to fill his place or rather to make choice of him whom God had chosen For he was immediately enlightned from above and made to understand that Xavier was that Vessel of Election He call'd for him at the same instant and being fill'd with the Divine Spirit Xavier said he I had nam'd Bobadilla for the Indies but the Almighty has nominated you this day I declare it to you from the Vicar of Iesus Christ. Receive an Employment committed to your charge by his Holiness and deliver'd by my mouth as if it were conâ—err'd on you by our blessed Saviour in person And rejoyce for your finding an opportunity to satisfie that â—ervent desire which we all have of carrying the Faith into remote Countries You have not here a narrow Paâ—â—stine or a Province of Asia in prospect but a vast extent of ground and innumerable Kingdoms An entire World is reserv'd for your endeavours and nothing but so large a Field is worthy of your courage and your zeal Go my Brother where the voice of God has call'd you where the Holy See has sent you and kindle those unknown Nations with the flame that burns within you Xavier wholly confounded in himself with these expressions of Ignatius with tears of a tender affection in his eyes and blushing in his Countenance answer'd him that he cou'd not but be astonish'd that he shou'd pitch upon a man so weak and pusilanimous as himself for an enterprise which requir'd no less than an Apostle that nevertheless he was ready to obey the commands of Heaven and that he offer'd himself with the whole power of his Soul to do and suffer all things for the salvation of the Indians After which giving leave to his internal joy to break out and to diffuse it self he more confidently said to Father Ignatius that his desires were now accomplish'd That for a long time he had sigh'd after the Indies without daring to declare it And that he hop'd from those Idolatrous Nations to have the honour of dying for Jesus Christ which had been deny'd him in the Holy-Land He added in the height of these transports that at length he saw that clearly of vvhich God had often given him a glymps under some misterious Figures In effect Xavier had frequently dreamt by night that he carried on his shoulders a Gigantick and very swarthy Indian and opprest with this strong imagination he groan'd and sigh'd in that uneasie slumber as one out of breath and labouring under an intolerable burden insomuch that the noise of his groans and heavings wak'd those vvho were lodg'd in the same Chamber and one night it hapning that Father Laynez being awaken'd by it ask'd him what it vvas that troubled him Xavier immediately told his Dream and added that it put him into a svveat with big drops over all his body Besides this he once beheld either in a dream or in a trance vast Oceans full of Tempests and of Rocks desart Islands barbarous Countries hunger and thirst raging every where nakedness multiplicity of labours with bloody persecution and imminent dangers of death and of destruction In the midst of this ghastly Apparition he cry'd aloud yet more O my God yet more and Father Simon Rodriguez heard these words distinctly but however he importun'd him to declare their meaning he wou'd discover nothing at that time 'till embarking for the Indies he reveal'd the Mystery Such Ideas always present in his imagination fill'd his familiar discourses with notions of a new World and the Conversion of Inâ—idels While he was speaking on that subject his face was on a fire and the tears came into his eyes This was testified of him by Father Ierome Dominec who before he enter'd into the Society had convers'd with him at Bolognia where a strict friendship was made betvvixt them As Xavier vvas advertis'd of this Voyage to the Indies but the day before Mascaregnas departed he had but time enough to piece up his Cassock bid his friends farewell and go to kiss the feet of our Holy Father Paul the third overjoy'd that under his Pontificate a gate shou'd be open'd to the Gospel in the Oriental Indies receiv'd him with a most Fatherly affection and excited him to assume such thoughts as were worthy of so high an undertaking Telling him for his encouragement that the eternal wisdom is never failing to supply us with strength to prosecute the labours to which it has ordain'd us even though they shou'd surpass all humane abilities He must indeed prepare himself for many sufferings but the affairs of God succeeded not but by the ways of suffering and that none cou'd pretend to the honour of an Apostleship but by treading in the steps of the Apostles whose Lives were but one continual cross and a daily death That Heaven had employ'd him in the mission of St. Thomas the Apostle of the Indies for the Conquest of Souls That it became him to labour generously in reviving the Faith in those Countries where it had been planted by that great Apostle and that if it were necessary for him to shed his blood for the glory of Christ Jesus he shou'd account it his happiness to die a Martyr It seem'd that God himself had spoken by the mouth of his Vicâ—-gerent such impression had these words on the mind and heart of Xavier They inspir'd into him a divine vigour and in his answer to His Holiness there shone through a profound humility such a magnanimity of Soul that Paul the third had from that very minute a certain presage of those wonderful events which afterwards arriv'd Therefore the most Holy Father having wish'd him the special assistance of God in all his Labours tenderly embrac'd him more than once and gave him a most ample Benediction Xavier departed in the company of Mascaregnas the 15th of March in the year 1540 without any other equipage besides his Breviary In giving his last adieu to Father Ignatius he cast himself at his feet and with all humility desir'd his blessing And in taking leave of Laynez he put into his hands a small Memorial which he had written and sign'd This Memorial which is still preserv'd at Rome contains that he approves as much as depends on him the Rules and Constitutions which shall be drawn up by Ignatius and his Companions that he elects
King told him he shou'd be very glad that all the Members of our Company might be gather'd together and establish'd here tho' on that condition he employ'd a good part of his Revenue for our entertainment This Pious Prince says Xavier in another of his Letters who has so tender an inclination for our Society and who wishes our advancement as much as if he were one of us has thereby engag'd us for ever to his service And we shou'd be guilty of a most horrible ingratitude even to be unworthy of Life if we made not a publick profession of our Service to him and if every day of our Lives we endeavour'd not to acknowledge by our Prayers as far as our weakness will give us leave all the favours of so generous a Protector and so magnificent a 〈◊〉 The Prince Don Henry who was nominated Cardinal not long after and in process of time came to the Crown by the death of Don Sebastian had not less affection for them than the King his Brother Being grand Inquisitor he gave the Fathers an absolute power in his Tribunal and permitted them to disourse freely with all the Prisoners of the Inquisition Some of the Greatest Quality in the Court were so much edify'd with the Apostolique Life of Xavier and Rodriguez that they were desirous to embrace their Institute as some Learned persons of the City had already done In short every thing succeeded with them so that Xavier had some apprehensions concerning this tide of happiness he bemoan'd it sometimes to himself and said that Prosperity was always â—ormidable even in the most pious undertakings that Persecution was more desirable and a much surer mark of Christ's Disciples The two Missioners appointed for the Indies liv'd in this manner and impatiently waited for the proper season of Navigation But the King weighing in his mind the great good which they had done in so short a time both amongst the Nobility and the Common people was desirous to retain them still in Portugal It seem'd reasonable to him that the interest of his own Kingdom ought to be dearer to him than that of foreign Nations and that these new Labourers would produce a larger increase in Catholique Countries than amongst Barbarians Yet that he might undertake nothing without mature deliberation he call'd a Council and himself propos'd it to them All of them approv'd the Kings Opinion excepting only the Prince Don Henry who strongly urg'd that Xavier and Rodriguez having been nominated for the new World by the Vicar of our Saviour it was in a manner to disturb the Order of Providence if he thwarted their intended Voyage that the Indies were equally to be consider'd with Portugal it self since they had been Conquer'd by the Portuguese and were annex'd to the Imperial Crown That those Idolaters had better inclinations towards Christianity than was generally thought and that they wou'd come over to the faith of their own accord when they shou'd see amongst them disinterested Preachers free from Avarice and Ambition As the Opinions of Kings are always prevalent the Reasons of Don Henry were slighted and it was concluded in Council that the two Missioners shou'd not depart the Realm This resolution afflicted them the more sensibly because they both breath'd after those eastern Countries their last recourse was to write to Rome and interpose the mediation of Father Ignatius He accordingly mov'd the Pope in their behalf but His Holiness refus'd to make an absolute decision and remitted the whole affair to Portugal Insomuch that Ignatius sent word to the two Fathers that the King was to them in the place of God and that it was their duty to pay him a blind obedience At the same time he also wrote to Don Pedro Mascaregnas that Xavier and Rodriguez were wholly at the King's Command And that they shou'd always remain in Portugal in case his Majesty desir'd it Notwithstanding which he thought a temperament might be found which was that Rodriguez might be retain'd in Portugal and Xavier permitted to go for India The King was satisfied with this proposal of Ignatius and believ'd it to be inspir'd by God himself Xavier transported with joy at the news of it gave thanks to the Divine Goodness which had chosen him anew for the Mission of the Oriential Parts or rather which had executed its eternal purpose notwithstanding humane opposition The time of embarquement being come he was call'd one day to the Palace The King discours'd fully with him concerning the present condition of the Indies and recommended particularly to him the affairs of Religion He likewise gave him in charge to visit the Fortresses of the Portuguese and take notice how God was serv'd in them and withal to give him an account of what more was requisite to be done for the establishment of Christianity in those new Conquests and to write frequently on that Subject not onely to his Ministers but to his own person After this he presented him the four Briefs which had been expedited from Rome the same year in two of which our Holy Father had constituted Xavier Apostolical Nuncio and endued him with ample power for the extending and maintenance of the Faith throughout the East In the third his Holiness recommended him to David Emperour of Ethiopia and in the fourth to all the Princes who possess'd the Isles of the Sea or the Continent from the Cape of Good-Hope even beyond the Ganges Iohn the Third had requested these Briefs and the Pope had freely granted them with design thereby to make the Mission of Father Francis the more Illustrious and Authentique The Father receiv'd them from the hands of the King with profound respect saying that as much as his weakness was capable of performing he shou'd endeavour to sustain the burden which God and Man had laid upon him Some few days before he went to Sea Don Antonio d' Ataida Count of Castagnera who supervis'd the Provisions of the Naval Army advertis'd Xavier to make a Note of what things were necessary for him in order to his Voyage assuring him from his Majesty that he shou'd be furnish'd to his own desire They want nothing reply'd the Father with a smile who have occasion for nothing I am much oblig'd to the King for his Liberality and to you for your care of me but I owe more to the Divine Providence and you wou'd not wish me to distrust it The Count of Castagnera who had an express Order from the King to make a large Provision for Father Xavier was very urgent with him and importun'd him so strongly to take something for fear said he of tempting Providence which does not every day work Miracles that Xavier not to appear either obstinate or presumptuous demanded some few little Books of Devotion for which he foresaw he shou'd have occasion in the Indies and a thick Cloath Habit against the excessive colds which are to be endur'd in doubling the Cape The Count amaz'd that
hidden Misteries which are never intrusted by the Brachmans but to a certain select number of their Wise men Xavier who had heard speak of him was desirous to see him and he on his side was as desirous to see Xavier The intention of the Saint was to try in bringing over this Brachman if he cou'd gain the rest who were proud of being his Disciples After the first civilities which commonly pass betwixt two men who mutually covet an acquaintance and know each other by reputation the discourse â—ell upon Religion and the Brachman found in himself at the very first so great an inclination for Xavier that he cou'd not conceal from him those secrets which a religious Oath had bound him never to disclose to any He confest plainly to him that the Idols were Devils and that there was only one God Creatour of the world and that this God alone deserv'd the adoration of men that those who held the rank of wisdom amongst the Brachmans solemniz'd the Sunday in his honour as a holy-day and that day they only said this Prayer O God I adore thee at this present and for ever That they pronounc'd those words softly for fear of being over-heard and to preserve the Oath which they had made to keep them secret In â—inâ— said he 't is to be read in our ancient Writings that all the false Religions shou'd one day cease and the whole world shou'd observe one only Law. The Brachman having disclos'd these Mysteries to Father Xavier desir'd him in his turn to reveal to him what was most mysterious in the Christian Law and to engage him to deal the more freely with him and without the least disguise swore that he wou'd inviolably and for ever keep the secret I am so far said the Father from obliging you to silence that I will inform you of nothing you desire to know but on condition that you shall publish in all places what I tell you The Brachman having given him his word he began to instruct him by these words of Iesus Christ He who will believe and be baptis'd shall be sav'd This he expounded to him at large at the same time declaring to him how Baptism was necessary to Salvation and passing from one Article of Faith to another he plac'd the truth of the Gospel in so advantageous a light before him that the Brachman declar'd upon the place he wou'd become a Christian provided he might be so in secret and that he might have a Dispensation from some certain duties of Christianity This so wicked a disposition made him unworthy of the Grace of Baptism he remain'd unconverted Notwithstanding which he desir'd to have in writing the Apostles Creed together with our Saviour's words which had beeen expounded to him He saw Father Xavier a second time and told him he had dreamt he was baptis'd and that afterwards he became his Companion and that they travell'd together preaching the Gospel in far Countries but this Dream had no effect and the Brachman wou'd never promise to teach the people that there was one only God Creatour of the World for fear says he that if he broke that Oath which oblig'd him to secrecy the Devil shou'd punish him with death Thus the Master though convinc'd yet not submitting though Scholars all stood out and in the sequel of so great a multitude of Idol-Priests not one embrac'd the Christian Doctrin from the Heart Nevertheless Xavier in their presence wrought many Miracles which were capable of converting them Having casually met a poor Creature all naked and full of Ulcers from Head to Foot he wash'd him with his Hands drank part of the Water wherewith he had wash'd him and pray'd by him with wonderful â—ervency when he had ended his Prayer the Flesh of the diseas'd person was immediately heal'd and appear'd as clean as that of an Infant The process of the Saints Canonization makes mention of four dead persons to whom God restor'd their life at this time by the Ministry of his Servant The first was a Catechist call'd Antonio Mirandâ— who had been slung in the night by one of those venemous Serpents of the Indies whose Stings are always mortal The second was a Child who fell into a Pit and was drown'd The two others were a young Man and a Maid whom a pestilential Fever had carry'd off after a short sickness But these Miracles which gave to the Father the name of Saint amongst the Christians and caus'd him to be call'd The God of Nature amongst the Gentils had no other effect upon the Brachmans than to harden their Hearts and blind their Understandings Xavier despairing of their Conversion thought himself bound to publish all their wicked Actions and bring them into disrepute And he perform'd it so successfully that those Men who were had in veneration by the people came to be despis'd by all the World insomuch that even the Children laught at them and publickly upbraided them with their Cheats They began at first to threaten the People according to their custom with the anger of their Pagods but seeing their menaces turn'd to scorn they made use of another Artiâ—ice to regain their Credit What malice soever they harbour'd in their Hearts against Father Xavier they manag'd it so well that to see their conduct they might have been taken for his Friends They made him visits desir'd him to have some kindness for them they gave him many Commendations they presented him sometimes with Pearls and Money But the Father was inexâ—rable exorable and for their Presents he return'd them without so much as looking on them The decrying of those Idol-Priests contributed not a little to the destruction of Idolatry through all that Coast. The life which Xavier led contributed full as much His Food was the same with that of the poorest people Rice and Water His Sleep was but three hours at the most and that in Fishers Cabin on the Ground for he had soon made away with the Matteress and Coverlet which the Vicâ—roy had sent him from Goâ— The remainder of the night he pass'd with God or with his Neighbour He owns himself that his labours were without intermission and that he had sunk under so great hardships if God had not supported him For to say nothing of the Ministry of Preaching and those other Evangelical Functions which employ'd him day and night no quarrel was stirring no difference on foot of which he was not chosen Umpire And because those Barbarians naturally choleâ—ick were frequently at odds he appointed certain hours for clearing up their misunderstandings and making Reconciliations There was not any Man fell sick who sent not for him and as there were always many and for the most part distant from each other in the scattering Villages his greatest sorrow was that he could not be present with them all In the midst of all this hurry he enjoy'd those Spiritual Refreshments and Sweets of Heaven which God only bestows on Souls
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
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
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
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
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
answer he wou'd return the King in case he shou'd command him to renounce his Faith I wou'd boldly answer him said he in this manner Sir You are desirous I am certain that being born your Subject I shou'd be faithful to you you wou'd have me ready to hazard my Life in your interests and to dye for your Service Yet farther you wou'd have me moderate with my Equals gentle to my Inferiours obedient to my Superiours equitable towards all and for these Reasons command me still to be a Christian for a Christian is oblig'd to be all this But if you forbid me the Profession of Christianity I shall become at the same time Violent Hard-hearted Insolent Rebellious Vnjust Wicked and I cannot answer for my self that I shall be other As to what remains Xavier when he took leave of the Old Steward whom he constituted Superiour of the rest left him a Discipline which himself had us'd formerly The Old man kept it Religiously as a Relique and wou'd not that the Christians in the Assemblies where they chastis'd themselves shou'd make a common use of it At the most he suffer'd not any of them to give themselves above two or three stroaks with it so fearful he was of wearing it out and he told them that they ought to make use of it the less in chastising their flesh that it might remain for the preservation of their health And indeed it was that Instrument which God commonly employ'd for the Cures of sick Persons in the Castle The Wise of Ekandono being in the Convulsions of death was instantly restor'd to health after they had made the sign of the Cross over her with the Discipline of the Saint Xavier at his departure made a Present to the same Lady of a little Book wherein the Litanies of the Saints and some Catholiquâ— Prayers were written with his own hand This also in following times was a Fountain of Miraculous Cures not only to the Christians but also the Idolaters And the Tonâ— himself in the height of a mortal sickness recover'd his health on the instant that the Book was applied to him by his Wife So that the People of the Fortress said that their Prince was rais'd to life and that it cou'd not be perform'd by humane means The Saint and his Companions being gone from thence pursu'd their Voyage sometimes by Sea and sometimes travel'd by Land. After many labours chearfully undergone by them and many dangers which they pass'd they arriv'd at the Port of Firando which was the end of their undertaking The Portuguese did all they were able for the honourable reception of Father Xavier All the Artillery was discharg'd at his arrival all the Ensigns and Streamers were display'd with sound of Trumpets and in fine all the Ships gave shouts of joy when they beheld the man of God. He was conducted in spight of his repugnance with the same pâ—mp to the Royal Palace and that magnificence was of no small importance to make him consider'd in a Heathen Court who without it might have been despis'd since nothing was to be seen in him but simplicity and poverty The King of Firando whom the Portugueses gave to understand how much the man whom they presented to him was valued by their Master and what credit he had with him receiv'd him with so much the greater favour because he knew the King of Cangoxima had forc'd him to go out of his Estates for to oblige the Crown of Portugal and do a despight to that of Cangoxima he presently impower'd the three Religious Christians to publish the Law of Iesus Christ through all the extent of his Dominions Immediately they fell on preaching in the Town and all the People ran to hear the European Bonza's The first Sermons of Xavier made a great impression on their Souls and in less than twenty days he baptis'd more Insidels at Firando than he had done in a whole year at Cangoxima The facility which he found of reducing those people under the obedience of the Faith made him resolve to leave with them Cosmo de Torrez to put the finishing hand to their Conversion and in the mean time to go himself to Meaco which he had design'd from the beginning That Town being the Capital of the Empire from whence the knowledge of Christ Iesus might easily be spread through all Iapan Departing with Fernandez and the two Iaponian Christians Matthew and Bernard for this great Voyage at the end of October in the year 1550 they arriv'd at Facata by Sea which is twenty Leagues distant from Firando and from thence Embark'd for Amanguchi which is an hundred Leagues from it Amanguchi is the Capital of the Kingdom of Naugato and one of the richest Towns of all Iapan not only by the Traffick of Strangers who come thither from all parts but also by reason of Silver Mines which are there in great abundance and by the fertility of the Soyâ—l but as Vices are the inseparable Companions of wealth it was a place totally corrupted and full of the most monstrous debaucheries Xavier took that place but the strange corruption of Manners gave him so much horrour and withal so great compassion that he cou'd not resolve to pass farther without publishing Christ Iesus to those blind and execrable Men nor without making known to them the purity of the Christian Law. The Zeal which transported him when he heard the abominable Crimes of the Town suffer'd him not to ask permission from the King as it had been his Custom in other places He appear'd in publick on the sudden burning with an inward Fire which mounted up into his Face and boldly declar'd to the people the eternal truths of Faith. His Companion Fernandez did the same in another part of the Town People heard them out of Curiosity and many after having enquir'd who they were what dangers they had run and for what end admir'd their Courage and their procedure void of Interest according to the humour of the Iaponians whose Inclinations are naturally noble and full of esteem for Actions of Generosity From publick places they were invited into Houses and there desir'd to expound their Doctrine more at large and at greater leisure For if your Law appear more reasonable to us than our own said the principal of the Town we ingage our selves to follow it But when once a man becomes a Slave to shameful Passions 't is difficult to follow what he thinks the best and even to judge reasonably what is the best Not a man amongst them kept his word Having compar'd together the two Laws almost all of them agreed that the Christian Doctrine was most conformable to good sence if things were only to be taken in the Speculation but when they came to consider them in the Practise and saw how much the Christian Law discourag'd Vengeance and forbad Polygamy with all Carnal Pleasures that which had appear'd just and reasonable to them
in favour of the dead since the Rich found their accompt in them and that they had their return of their money with Usury in Heaven The Father answer'd that the right we had to a better world was founded not on those deceitful Letters but on the good works which are practis'd with the Faith and Doctrine which he preach'd That he who inspir'd it into our Souls was Iesus Christ the true and only Son of God who was Crucify'd for the Salvation of Sinners and that they who preserv'd that living Faith 'till death shou'd certainly obtain Eternal happiness that for what remain'd this holy Law was free from worldly interest and that it excluded not from Heaven either the poor or Women that even poverty which is patiently endur'd was a means of gaining the Kingdom of Heaven and that the weaker Sex had greater advantages than ours by reason of that modesty and piety which is almost inherent in their nature The applause which follow'd this discourse was general only Fucarandono and his Companions who had not wherewith to reply and yet were too obstinate to recant kept a discontented silence It was judg'd that Xavier's Opinion was the more reasonable and the dispute adjourn'd to the day following These ill successes wou'd have driven the Bonza to despair if his presumption had not kept up his Spirits he return'd at the time appointed but as if he distructed his own strength as presuming as he was he brought with him six other Bonza's the most learned amongst them and chosen out of all their Sects not to be bare Spectatours of the Combat but to relieve each other and to charge every one in his turn At the first they propounded very subtile questions concerning the Mysteries of our Faith Father Xavier was surpris'd at the hearing of them and as those questions which are not reported by the Portuguese particularly were in all likelihood above the knowledge of the Pagans he was almost induc'd to think the Devil had suggested them at the least he acknowledg'd that to solve them he needed an extraordinary assistance from above and desir'd the Portugueses to second him with their Prayers during the disputation whether he receiv'd that supernatural assistance or that those difficulties did not so much surpass his knowledge as he had thought he answer'd to the satisfaction of the whole Assembly When Judgment was pass'd that those questions were fully decided one of the Bonza's whose heart was wholly set on riches and who believ'd that there was nothing more charming in the World than Gold and Silver undertook to prove that God was an Enemy to the Poor For said the Bonza since he denys them those blessings which he bountifull gives the Rich and in causing them to be born in a mean condition exposes them to all the Miseries and ignominy of life is it not a sign that he has neither kindness nor value for them Xavier deny'd the Consequence of that proposition and argu'd both from the Principles of Morality which look on Riches as false goods and out of the grounds of Christianity which in respect of Salvation count them true evils he reason'd thereupon so justly and withal so clearly that his Adversaries were forc'd to give up the cause according to the Relation of the Portuguese who was witness of it After this they advanc'd such extravagant and mad Propositions that they cost the Father no trouble to confute for they destroy'd themselves But the most pleasant part of this days work was that the seven Bonza's not being able to agree on some points of Doctrine fell â—oul on each other and wrangled with so much heat and violence that at last they came to down-right railing and had proceeded to blows if the King had not interpos'd his Authority which frighten'd them into quiet This was the end of that days disputation and nothing more confirm'd the minds of the Auditors on the side of Xavier than to see his Adversaries at Civil Wars amongst themselves The King going out of his Palace the next morning with a great attendance to walk in the Town according to his custom and passing by the house where the Portugueses lodg'd sent a message to the holy man desiring him to come to his Gardens where he wou'd shew him sport provided he came well arm'd for he was to kill with one blow two Kites or Puttocks at the least out of those seven which yesterday endeavour'd to have pull'd out his eyes Xavier who easily understood his meaning came out to pay him his respects and to acknowledge the honour which was done him The King took him by the hand and led him to the Palace amidst the acclamations of the People The seven Bonza's represented by the seven Kites were already in the Hall with a confirm'd impudence and so much the more haughty as they had the less reason so to be according to the usual character of vain and self-opinion'd men The first step they made in order to a new dispute was to enter a protestation in writing against the judgment and proceedings of the former day wherein they declar'd void the sentence of the Umpires appeal'd from them and set forth new objections and difficulties upon the questions formerly debated The King answer'd himself that those Points which had been decided had no need of any further explanation and that they were already ty'd up by the Conditions of the Conference which both Parties had accepted He added that Father Xavier was ready to go on Ship-board and that it was not reasonable to lose time by fruitless repetitions but if they had any nâ—w questions to propose let them begin and they shou'd be heard if not they had free licence to depart This positive answer constrain'd them to supersede their writing and to pitch on other matters Fucarandono affecting an air of devotion and modest ask'd Why the Christians gave obsceâ—e names tâ— the Saints in Paradise whensoever theâ— invok'd them in their publick Prayers giving him to understand that Sancte in the Japonian Language signify'd something too dishonest to be spoken The Father declar'd that the word in Latine had only a pure and pious meaning Nevertheless that it might not give scandal nor pollute the imagination of the Iapâ—nians by an equivocal sound he order'd the new Christians from thenceforward to use the word Beate instead of it and to say Beate Petre Beate Paule in the room of Sancte Petre Sancte Paule Concerning the name of God the Bonza's wou'd also have fastned a quarrel on the Father because Dajus in their Tongue signifies a Lie. He laugh'd at this ridiculous exception which was in effect a meer jingle and the Judges and Audience concluded it to be no more Three other points on which the Boza's more insisted were thought to be more solid and of greater consequence The first was propos'd on this manner Either God foresaw that Lucifer and his Accomplices wou'd revolt and be
God he related to the Company that Prediction which was now accomplish'd and arose from the Table with the thoughts of a Christian who is disposing himself for death Having distributed his Goods betwixt his Children and the Poor he went to see his Friends and to give and take the last farewel Notwithstanding his great age he was in perfect health It was thought he doted and they endeavour'd to perswade him out of his melancholly apprehensions But their Arguments prevail'd so little on his mind that he gave orders for his own Funeral and invited his Friends to do him the last kind Office of accompanying his Corps to burial To content him and to make themselves merry at his folly they attended him into the Church In their presence he receiv'd the Viaticum and the Extream Vnction without being sick afterwards he laid himself upon the Beer and caus'd them to sing the Mass for the Dead The people gather'd in a crowd at the strangeness of the report some drawn by the novelty of the sight the rest to be Eyâ—witnesses how the Prediction of Father Xavier wou'd succeed Mass being ended the Priest attended by his Inferiours perform'd all the Ceremonies of the Church about the Grave and at length sung the last words belonging to a Christian burial over the old man who was alive and bore his part in the Responses There now remaining no more to do the Servant of Veglio coming to help his Master off the Beer he found him dead All the Assistants were witnesses of the matter of fact and evâ—ry one went home full of admiration of Gods Mercy towards this Merchant who had been so charitable and blessing the Memory of the holy Apostle of the Indies This was not the only Prophetical Light which Xavier had in the â—sle of Sâ—ncian A Ship which went from Macao to Iapan appear'd in sight of Sancian to be overtaken by a dreadful Hurricane The Portugueses who had great concernments in that Vessel being allarm'd at so inevitable a danger came running for comfort to Father Xavier But the Father assur'd them they had no cause of fear and that the Ship was safely arriv'd at her Port. They kept themselves quiet upon the assurance of his word till finding that the Ship made no return which was to stay at Iapan but some few days they gave her for lost Xavier reprov'd their want of Faith and positively told them that she shou'd come back before the week were ended In effect she return'd two days afterwards laden with rich Merchandises and proud of her escape from the fury of the Hurricane At the same time Xavier was inspir'd with the knowledge of the quarrel betwixt Don Alvarez de Atâ—yda Governour of Malacca and Don Bernard de Sosa who was newly arriv'd from the Molucca's and told the Circumstances of it to the Portugueses who having afterwards the particulars of it from some of Malacca were astonish'd to find them the very same which the Father had related This miraculous foreknowledge was accompany'd by actions as surprising and without speaking of a dead Infant which Xavier restor'd to life but whose Resurrection is without Circumstances in the Acts of the Saints Canonization he clear'd the Country of the Tygers which laid it waste These furious Beasts came in Herds together out of the Forrests and devour'd not only the Children but the Men also whom they found scatter'd in the Fields and out of distance from the Retrenchments which were made for their defence One night the Servant of God went out to meet the Tygers and when they came near him threw holy Water upon them commanding them to go back and never after to return The Commandment had its full effect the whole Herd betook themselves to flight and from that time forward no Tygers were ever seen upon the Island The joy which the Portugueses had conceiv'd at the arrival of Father Xavier was immediately changd to sadness when they understood that he had only taken Sancian in his way to China They all endeavour'd to dissuade him from it and set before his Eyes the rigorous Laws of that Government That the Ports were narrowly observ'd by vigilant and faithful Officers who were neither to be circumvented nor brib'd with Presents That the Mandarins were cruel to all strangers that the year before some Portuguese Sea-men being cast by Tempest on the Coast of Canton had been severely whip'd and afterwards inclos'd in dark Dungeons where if they were not already dead they were still exercis'd with new punishments that for himself the least he cou'd expect was perpetual imprisonment which was not the business of an Apostle who design'd to run from place to place and propagate the Faith through all the East These Arguments made no impression on the Saint He had fortify'd his Resolution with more potent Reasons and answer'd the Merchants in the same tenour in which he had written to Father Francis Perez That he cou'd not distrust the Divine Goodness and that his distrust wou'd be so much the more Criminal because the powerful inspiration of the holy Spirit push'd him forward to teach the Chineses the Gospel of the living God. I am elected said he for this great enterprise by the special Grace of Heaven If I shou'd demur on the execution or be terrify'd with the hardships and want courage to attempt those difficulties wou'd it not be incomparably worse than all the Evils with which you threaten me But what can the Demons and their Ministers do against me surely no more than what is permitted them by the Soveraign Lord of all the World. Add that in giving up my self in this manner I shall obey my Lord Jesus who declares in his Gospel That whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whoever will lose it for my sake shall find it Our Saâ—iour also says That he who having put his hand to the Plough shall look behind him is not sit for the Kingdom of Heaven The loss of the Body being then without comparison less to be fear'd than that of the Soul according to the Principles of eternal Wisdom I am resolv'd to sacrifice a frail and miserable life for everlasting happiness In fine I have set up my rest I will undertake this Voyage and nothing is capable of altering my resolution Let all the Powers of Hell break loose upon me I despise them provided God be on my side for if he be for us who shall be against us The Portugueses being of Opinion that this fix'd intention of the Man of God was partly grounded on his ignorance of the dangers which he believ'd they magnify'd to him beyond their natural proportion sent some Chinese Merchants with whom they traded to discourse the business calmly with him but the matter went otherwise than they had imagin'd Those Chineses to whom Xavier fail'd not to speak of Christianity and who were men of understanding advis'd him to the Voyage instead of disswading him they
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
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
shall put us in possession of an eternal happiness So that we are resolv'd to Preach the truth amongst them in despight of all their threatnings and encourag'd by the hopes of Divine assistance obeâ— the precept of our Saviour who commands us to preserr the Salvation of others above our lives In the most hazardous undertakings he hop'd all things from God and from thence drew his assurance of daring all things Behold what he says himself concerning his Voyage of Iapan We set out full of confidence in God and hope that having him for our Conductor we shall Triumph over all his Enemies As to what remains we fear not to enter into the lists with the Doctors of Iapan for what available knowledge can they have who are ignorant of the only true God and of his only Son our Lord Jesus and besides what can we justly apprehend who have no other aim than the Glory of God and Jesus Christ the Preaching of the Gospel and the Salvation of Souls supposing that we were not only in a Kingdom of Barbarians but in the very Dominion of Devils and that naked and disarm'd neither the most cruel barbarity nor the rage of Hell cou'd hurt us without God's permission We are afraid of nothing but ossending God Almighty and provided that we ossend not him we promise our selves through his assistance an assur'd Victory over all our Enemies Since he aâ—â—ords sufficient strength to every man for his service and for avoiding sin we hope his mercy will not be wanting to us But as the sum of all consists in the good or evil use of his benefits we also hope he will give us grace to employ our selves for his glory by the prayers of his Spouse and our holy Mother the Church and particularly by the intercession of our Society and those who are well affected to it Our greatest comfort proceeds from this that God beholds the scope of this our Voyage that our only aim is to make known the Creatour of the Universe to Souls which are made after his own Image to bring those Souls to give him the Worship due to him and to spread the Christian Religion through all Regions With these encouragements we doubt not but the issue of our Voyage will be prosperous and two things especially seem to assure us that we shall vanquish all the opposition of Hell the one is the greatness of our holy enterprise the other is the care of Divine Providence whose Dominion is of no less extent over Devils than over men I acknowledge that in this Voyage I foresee not only great labours but also dangers of almost inevitable death and this imagination is frequently presented to my thoughts that if those of our Society who are endu'd with the greatest stock of knowledge shou'd come into the Indies they wou'd certainly accuse us of too much rashness and wou'd be apt to think that in exposing our selves to these manifest dangers we tempted God. Nevertheless upon a more serious reflection I cease to fear and hope that the Spirit of our Lord which animates our Society will regulate their judgements concerning it For my own particular I think continually on what I have heard our good Father Ignatiâ—s often say that those of our Society ought to exert their utmost force in vanquishing themselves and banish from them all those fears which usually hinder us from placing our whole confidence in God. For though Divine hope is purely and simply the grace of God and that he dispenses it according to his pleasure nevertheless they who endeavour to overcome themselves receive it more frequently than others As there is a manifest difference betwixt those who abounding with all things trust in God and those who being sufficiently provided with all necessaries yet bereave themselves of them in imitation of Iesus Christ so is there also in those who trust in Gods providence when they are out of danger and those who with the assistance of his grace dare voluntarily expose themselves to the greatest hazards which are in their proper choice and power to shun It was in the Spirit of this holy confidence that the Saint writing to Simon Rodriguez speaks in this manner to him Our God holds in his hand the Tempests which infest the Seas of China and Japan the Rocks the Gulphs and Banks of Sands which are formidably known by so many Shipwracks are all of them under his Dominion He is Soveraign over all those Pyrates which cruise the Seas and exercise their cruelties on the Portugueses And for this reason I cannot fear them I only fear lest God should punish me for being too pusillanimous in his service and so little capable through my own frailty of extending the Kingdom of his Son amongst those Nations who know him not He speaks in the same Spirit to the Fathers of Goa in giving them an account of his arrival at Iapan We are infinitely oblig'd to God for permitting us to enter into these Barbarous Countries where we are to be regardless and in a manner forgetful of our selves for the Enemies of the true Religion being Masters every where on whom can we rely but on God alone and to whom can we have recourse besides him In our Countries where the Christian Faith is flourishing it happens I know not how that every thing hinders us from reposing our selves on God The love of our Relations the Bonds of Friendship the Conveniences of life and the Remedies which we use in sickness but here being distant from the place of our Nativity and living amongst Barbarians where all humane succouâ—s are wanting to us 't is of absolute necessity that our confidence in God alone shou'd be our aid But the Saint perhaps never discours'd better on this Subject than in a Letter written at his return from the Molucca's after a dangerous Navigation His words are these It has pleas'd God that we shou'd not perish it has also pleas'd him to instruct us even by our dangers and to make us know by our own experience how weak we are when we rely only on our selves or on humane succours For when we come to understand the deceitfulness of our hopes and are intirely diffident of humane helps we rely on God who alone can deliver us out of those dangers into which we have ingag'd our selves on his account we shall soon experiment that he governs all things and that the heavenly pleasureâ— which he confers on his Servants on such occasions ought to make us despise the greatest hazards even death it seâ—f has nothing in it which is dreadful to them who have a â—ast of those divine delights and though when we have escap'd those perils of which we speak we want words to express the horrour of them there remains in our heart a pleasing memory of the favours which God has done us and that remembrance excites us day and night to labour in the service of so good a Master we are also enliven'd by it to
of Xavier But no one in process of time sollicited with more splendour than the King of Bungâ— This Prince who was upon the point of being converted when Xavier left Iapan had no sooner lost the holy man but he was regain'd by the Bonza's and fell into all the disorders of which a Pagan can be capable He confess'd the Christian Law to be the better but said it was too rigorous and that a young Prince as he was born in the midst of pleasures cou'd not brook it His Luxury hinder'd him not from the love of Arms nor from being very brave and he was so fortunate in War that he reduc'd four or five Kingdoms under his Obedience In the course of all his Victories the last words which Father Francis had said to him concerning the vanity of the World and the necessity of Baptism came into his remembrance he made serious reflections on them and was so deeply mov'd by them that one day he appear'd in publick with a Chaplet about his neck as it were to make an open profession of Christianity The effects were correspondent to the appearances he had tow Idols in his Palace of great value which he worshipped every day prostrating himself before them with his forehead touching the ground these Images he commanded to be thrown into the Sea. After this applying himself to the exercises of Piety and Penitence he totally renounc'd his sensual pleasures and was finally Baptis'd by Father Cabira of the Society of Iesus At his Baptism he took the name of Francis in memory of the holy Apostle Francis Xavier whom he acknowledg'd for the Father of his Soul and whom he call'd by that title during the remainder of his life The King of Bungo had hitherto been so fortunate that his Prosperity pass'd into a Proverb But God was pleas'd to try him Two Months after his Baptism the most considerable of his Subjects entring into a. Solemn League and Covenant against him out of hatred to Christianity and joyning with his neighbouring Princes defeated him in a pitch'd Battle and despoyl'd him of all his Estates He endur'd his ill fortune with great constancy and when he was upbraided by the Gentiles that the change of his Religion had been the cause of his ruine he made a Vow at the foot of the Altar to live and dye a Christian adding by a holy transport of Zeal that if all Iapan and all Europe if the Fathers of the Society and the Pope himself shou'd renounce our Saviour Iesus Christ yet for his own particular he wou'd confess him to the last gasp and be always ready with God's assistance to shed his Blood in testimony of his Faith. As the Piety of this Prince diminish'd nothing of his Valour nor of his Conduct having gather'd up the remainder of his Troops he restor'd himself by degrees partly by force of Arms and partly by amicable ways of Treaty His principal care after his re-establishment was to banish Idolatry out of his Estates and to restore the Catholick Religion His Devotion led him to send a solemn Embassy to Pope Gregory the Thirteenth who at that time govern'd the Church Don Manciâ— his Embassadour being arriv'd at Rome with those of the King of Arima and the Prince of Omura was not satisfy'd with bringing the Obedience of the King his Master to the Vicar of Iesus Christ by presenting him the Letters of Don Francis full of submission and respect to the holy See but he also petition'd him in the name of his Sovereign to place the Apostle of Iapan amongst those Saints whom the Faithful honour and declar'd to his Holiness That he cou'd not do a greater favour to the King of Bungo In the mean time the Memory of Xavier was venerated more than ever through all Asia An Embassadour from the great Mogul being come to Goa to desire some Fathers of the Society might be sent to explain the Mysteries of Christianity to that Emperour ask'd permission to see the Body of Father Francis but he durst not approach it till first himself and all his train had taken off their Shoes after which Ceremony all of them having many times bow'd themselves to the very ground pay'd their respects to the Saint with as much devotion as if they had not been Mahometans The Ships which pass'd in sight of Sancian saluted the place of his death with all their Cannon sometimes they landed on the Island only to view the spot of Earth where he had been buried for two months and a half and to bear away a turff of that holy ground Insomuch that the Chineses entring into a belief that there was some hidden treasure in the place set guards of Souldiers round about it to hinder it from being taken thence One of the new Indian Converts and of the most devoted to the Man of God not content with seeing the place of his death had also the curiosity to view that of his Nativity Insomuch that travelling through a vast extent of Land and passing through immense Oceans he arriv'd at the Castle of Xavier Entring into the Chamber where the Saint was born he fell upon his Knees and with great devotion kiss'd the Floor which he water'd also with his tears After this without farther thought or desire of seeing any thing besides in Europe he took his way backwards to the Indies and counted for a mighty treasure a little piece of Stone which he had loosen'd from the Walls of the Chamber and carry'd away with him in the nature of a Relick For what remains a series of Miracles was blaz'd abroad in all places Five or six passengers who had set sail from Malacca towards China in the Ship of Benedict Coeglio fell sick even to the point of death So soon as they were set on shore at Sancian they caus'd themselves to be carried to the Meadow where Xavier had been first interr'd and there having cover'd their heads with that Earth which once had touch'd his holy Body they were perfectly cur'd upon the spot Xavier appear'd to divers people on the Coast of Travancor and that of Fishery sometimes to heal them or to comfort them in the agonies of death at other times to deliver the Prisoners and to reduce Sinners into the ways of Heaven His name was propitious on the Seas in the most evident dangers The Ship of Emanuel de Sylva going from Cochin and having taken the way of Bengala in the midst of the Gulph there arose so furious a Tempest that they were constrain'd to cut the Mast and throw all the Merchandises over-board when nothing less than Shipwrack was expected they all implor'd the aid of the Apostle of the Indies Francis Xavier At the same instant a Wave which was rolling on and ready to break over the Ship like some vast Mountain went backward on the sudden and dissipated into Foam The Seamen and Passengers at the sight of so manifest a Miracle invok'd the Saint with loud
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