The Noblemens children make reuerence to Xauerius What kind of eloquence the Japonians haue The King of Bungo standing vp expecteth Francis his comming Xauerius maiesticall couÌ„tenance The King of Bungo his testimony of the Christian fayth A Bonzies arrogancy The Bonzies fooleries The Kings temper The pride inteÌ„perate tongue of a Bongy The King inuiteth Xauerius to dinner The King giueth to Xauerius from his owne table The King by Xauerius persuasion reformeth both his owne his subiects maÌ„ners Not minding his meate he attends to the sauing of soules A noble Bonzie being conuinced and conuerted to Christ professeth his fayth in in the market place 500. Iaponians wonne to Christ in one day Xauerius prudence Pouerty a disgrace amoÌ„g the Iaponians A crafty deuise of the Bonzies The pride of a Bonzy The Bongies PythagoreaÌ„ fooleries concerning the transmigration of soules He conuinceth the Pythagoricall fables The peeuish pertinacy of a Bonzie The King of Bungo his prudeÌ„ce Xauerius couragious spirit By the Gouernours meanes the Portugheses vndergo the danger with Xauerius The CoÌ„ditions of the disputation The Portugheses new affections to Xauerius The Bonzies bills of Exchange The Bonzies shut out of heauen poore people and women New disputation with other Bonzies The King leadeth Xauerius to his lodging The Bonzies rage The King of Bungo giueth an house to the Society of IESVS The King weeping at Xauerius departure Francis his exhortatioÌ„ to the King The King of Bungo his desire to protect and propagate the ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ When the King of Bungy was baptised he would be called Francis Why he determined to go into China The descripâ—ion manners of the Chineses The couÌ„try of China shut vp against Christs Ghospel His care of the Society Francis imployeth himselfe to help the ship being in danger He deliuereth out of danger the ship almost cast away A prediction of the boates returne to the ship The boate of her selfe cometh to the ship side Francis being in the ship was seene at the same time also in the boate He foretels a calme sea Iames Pererias notable bounty Peter Vellius his great liberality A notable Prophecy A double Prophecy The Hauen Sincapura A Prophecy At Malaca he is receiued with great ioy gratulation of all As soone as he came to Goa he visiteth the sicke He recouers one of the Society ready to dye The FraÌ„ciscans Dominicans industry The King of Tanoris baptized In the PromoÌ„tory of ComorinuÌ„ there are numbred 400000 ChristiaÌ„s A memorable fact of Father Gaspar Barzaeus The force of the Crosse The Dominicans commended Cyprians notable vertue An IndiaÌ„ like another Simeon dyeth after he had imbraced Christ The piety and liberality of James Perera Gaspar the low countryman FraÌ„cis his vicar The Towne Diu. The summe of Francis his letters to the King of Portugall An exaÌ„ple of ChristiaÌ„ humility A triple Prophecy A teÌ„pest by Xauerius is calmed through Gods helpâ— Francis notable moderatioÌ„ when he was iniured His moderation in excoÌ„municating He dealeth with the Gouernour by a third per son as the Iapouians vse to do The Embassage into China hindred Xauerius opinion of excoÌ„municated persons A grieuous prophecy He by his prayers obteyneth of God paÌ„nance for the Gouernour of Malaca His desire to propagate the faith He shaketh of the dust of his shooes A denouncing of calamities He auoideth by all meanes speaking with an excommunicated person CoÌ„forts in sadnes and miseries are to be obtained of God by the Sacraments The description of China The customes of the Chineses The IlaÌ„d SaÌ„ciana The Chineses exclude strangers Francis his inuincible courage in time of daÌ„ger The Magistrates of China's cruelty towards strangers His zeale of soules The loue of the Crosse Math. 10. Xauerius humanity towards the Portugheses Francis being left by his host falleth sicke A double Propheâ—ey Xauerius liues by begging He agayne falleth into his former sicknes He is entertained by a Portughese in a cottage He promptyly obeyeth the Physitian The grieuous paines of his sicknes His Ioathing of his meate His excellent patience He departteh this lyfe When he was dead he opened away into China The Portugheses feeling of Xauerius death He is pur into the ornameÌ„ts of a Priest vnsleâ—kt Lime is put into the Coffin Francis his body is found entier 4. monthes after The Malacensians zeale in receauing Xauerius body Xauerius funerals at Malaca A sick-man is healed by touching his body Bloud floweth out of Xauerius dead body the 5. month after Francis his body intier the 9 month after his death The veile died with fresh bloud The zeale which the Cocinensians shewed in going to visit Xauerius body Honour giuen to Xauerius by the mariners others Francis his body is intier 16. monthes after his death Francis his shirt also nothing the worse after so many monthes buriall His funerall at sea A great concourse to Xauerius body His land funerall An incredible coÌ„course to Xauerius body By order from the Viceroy a Physitian examineth the integrity of his body The Bishops Vicar againe examineth the matter The King of Portugall maketh meanes to haue Francis Canonized The King of Portugal letters to the Viceroy of India The Viceroyes Inquisition after Xauerius acts He being at Malaca foreseeth a danger which the Society vnderwent in Portugall A Prophecy of fayre weather in the feare of shipwracke He foretels the speedy death of theÌ„ that were in good health A prophecy of a ship to perish in the haueÌ„ By diuine light he seeth his frieÌ„ds sinnes how loÌ„g he had abstained from coÌ„fession He seeth that his friend was in his hart plotting a great sinne He being ready to dy foretelleth destruction of one that accompanied him He miraculously cureth the stone By miraculously repreheding a very wicked man he makes him become a Francisciscan He with one answere satisfyeth many of the Iaponian questions He giueth gould which he had miraculously receiued to one that had suffered shipwracke He vseth strange meanes to make a gamester at dice detest that play The oyle vessell which was emptyed was miraculously filled agayne He by his prayers curreth a childfull of vlcers The Inquisitors and Vicars testimony of Xauerius sanctity His testimony also of them tegrity of his body An excellent PhisitiaÌ„s testimony of the integrity of his body A sick woman by doing reuereÌ„ce to FraÌ„cis his body is cured Xaâ—erius girdle cureth many great diseases A GeÌ„tle man recouereth his sight by applying Francis his haÌ„ds to his eyes The key of his shrine driueth away the rheume A principal woman desiring to visit Xauerius is recouered of a great sicknes Francis his discipline restoreth many to their health Two Fathers in Europe recouer their health by calling vpon Francis Being called vpon at Paris he obteineth an easy deliuery for a woman in child-birth His night prayer As often as opportunity serued he prayed in the Church He goeth into solitary places to pray His prayer in the ship His feruour in prayer
the Catechisme There was at the same time in that Towne a great mortality and sicknes among the people so as very many came daily vnto him froÌ„ all places requesting him to visit their houses say some prayers ouer the sicke And many also who had none to sollicite for them being extremely sick crept vnto him as well as they could for the same cause Xauerius being moued as well out of his owne compassionate nature as by that pittyful spectacle had a scruple to deny those poore soules so iust requests fearing lost if he should be â—lacke therin the Christian Religion might receiue some detriment therby Therfore he spent much time and tooke great paines in visiting them reading the holy Gospell ouer the sick not in vayne For it is well knowne that very many sick in that sea coast were by him cured many possessed persons deliuered And it is certainly reported that he there restored three dead men to life besides a yong maide of Cangoxima of whome I will speake in her proper place Pun call as we said is a towne of good note in the coast of Comorinum In this towne there dyed a certaine yong man of a good family who being by his frinds brought to Francis and layd at his feete with great lamentation the good Father tooke him by the hand and commanded him in the name of Christ to aryse wherupoÌ„ he presently rose vp aliue This act Xauerius out of his true humility suppressed as much as possibly he could by dissembling the matter but all in vaine For there wanted not witnesses therof nor men to spread it abroad although it were a matter of great moment wherof they were to be the authors And this miracle was afterward confirmed by another the like In the same towne a Christian woman went to Francis and with teares bewayling her misfortune of being left desolate most humbly besought him that he would be pleased to go to her little sonne who had bin lately drowned in a well He bad the woman be of good courage for her child was not dead and presently goeth along with her as she desired As soone as he came to the house he fell downe vpon his knees and hauing prayed a while he made the signe of the crosse vpon the dead body wherupon the child presently start vp from the beere wheron he lay not only aliue but also sound and in perfect health At which miraculous accident the Christians who stood about were all astonished and cryed out for ioy But Xauerius earnestly intreated them by al meanes possible to make no words therof so secretly retyred himselfe from thence They people could not ouercome theÌ„selues as he requested to keep silent so miraculous an euent and besides that Xauerius his dissembling the matter made his sanctity the more to appeare Moreouer to speake nothing of others Iohn Triaga a Portughese a deuout and graue man very familiar with Xauerius being demanded iuridically by the Bishop of Goa his Vicar after the Fathers death testified that himselfe was present at Punicall when Francis raysed to life a certaine boy and also a little girle And withall testified that he had vnderstood by many that Xauerius had restored another to life in â— village called Bembari wherof himselfe had sometymes asked Xauerius although out of humility he seemed so suppresse the matter yet he might easily perceaue it was true which he went about to coÌ„ceale And all this is very sufficiently testified vnder the deposition and seale of the Viceroy of India by the King of Portugals command Now whilest Xauerius thus laboureth about the sick and the dead there wanted not other many and dayly imployments to instruct children conuert the Ethnickes baptize those that were conuerted bury the dead and satisfy those who asked his aduice But the cumbersomnes of the sick by reason of their great â—umber and the bruit which was now spread abroad of those that were cured did so greatly increase daily that it was not possible for one to satisfy all Moreoâ—er as many times it hapneth there arose contentions among the people whilst euery one did striue to get Francis first to their house Therfore to condescend to their iust demaunds without any breach of peace he found out an inuention which was as profitable as necessary to send in his place certaine Christian childreÌ„ fit for that purpose These children by Xauiers appointment going about to the houses first called togeather those of the family and their neighbours then â—auing recited the Creed all togeather they exhorted the sick to haue an assured hope and confidence in God by whose help they were to recouer their health all last when they had stirred vp all that were present to deuotion then they added certaine pious and godly prayers This inuention of his was not in vayne For what by the fayth of the children of the standers by and the sicke and of Francis Author thereof it caused in the diseased health both of body and soule In so much that very many Neophites were therby confirmed in their beliefe many Ethnickes brought to the faith of Christ the force whereof they had experienced by the recouery of their health But if any of the said children could get Xauerius Beades he thought himselfe highly honoured for that infallibly they cured all the sick who were touched therwith wherfore as iewels famous for the wonders wrought by theÌ„ euery one did striue to get them so as being carryed about continually to the sicke they seldome brought them backe to Francis seruing rather to worke miracles theÌ„ to pray vpon And by the meanes of these children he did not only help those who were sicke but assisted also possessed and obsessed persons There was one who being possest was wonderfully tormented by the Deuill to whome Francis being requested to go but could not by reason of other employments sent in his place certayne Children who assisted him in teaching the Christian doctrine with a crosse and tould them what they should do The children went to the possest man and as Xauerius had instructed them gaue him the crosse to kisse and they themselues recited certayne prayers which they knew by hart Whereupon presently to the astonishment of all that were present the possest man was deliuered not so much by the fayth and sanctity of the children as of Francis himselfe The report heereof being spread far and neere with great applause to Xauerius his fame became more remarkable by his humility For these miracles which he wrought by diuine power by sending children vp downe he would not acknowledge as done by himselfe but ascribed them to the faith of the children of the sick persons so as endeauouring by all meanes to debase himselfe and to hide his owne vertue he made the splendour of his sanctity the more appeare Wherfore shining as he did not only with that eminency of
or crazed in the braine wherein they were absolutly confirmed when they heard it reported that Peter Vellius hauing gotten a Masse sayd for his soule had shut himself vp in his house there expected deaths comming They therfore came vnto his house by troupes endeauoured one after another to draw him from that melancholy cogitation But he carrying himselfe with a cheerfull contenance shewed manifestly that he had no griefe of mynd and withall very ioyfully openeth to his friends Xauerius his prediction and the euent thereof At last when he had tould them the whole matter he intreated that they would euen that very day keep the funeralls of Peter Vellius who was presently to dye It so fell out indeed for being well stroken in yeares he was presently taken away by suddayn death and the very same day his friends accompanied his Corpes to Church being greatly astonished and amazed partly at his departure and partly at Xauerius prediction In the meane tyme as Francis was going to imbarke himselfe in Perera's ship turning vpon a suddayne to those that accompanied him who were many in nuÌ„ber Let vs quoth he pray to God for the Citty of Malaca which is pressed by the Enemy that besiegeth it if any one can affoad any help to it in this distresse let them make hast least they come to late when all is lost This fearefull saying wrought much in them all â—ither by reason of the Malacensians daÌ„ger or els for the â—iraculous prophecy it selfe for Malaca was distant â—rom thence 900. leagues or thereabout Through this â—each of Francis they all fell together to their praiers â—or was it in vayne For whilst the marriners were â—reparing for this their iourney Iames Perera aforeaid being much moued by what Xauerius had spoken â—ade prouision both of armour and souldiars to assist â—he besieged Whome when Xauerius perceyued to be 〈◊〉 such care through feare of danger wherein the Maâ—censians were Away Iames quoth he with this feare â—nd preparation for warre and giue God thankes toâ—eather with vs For now Malaca is by the diuine Goodnes freed from the siege wherby all might perâ—eaue that the Malacensians were succoured by the â—rayers which were lately made for them vnto God Now Xauerius imbarking in Perera his shippe â—hey arriued vpon the fortith day after their deparâ—ure froÌ„ Iaponia at Sincapura a hauen Towne 120. miâ—es distant from Malaca and where they remayned â—ome few dayes From thence Xauerius least any thing â—ight peraduenture hinder his iourney at Malaca â—rote letters to the Society there aduertising them of â—is returne warning them to prouide him with all â—peed of all things necessary for his voyage into India â—or that he was in very great hast The chiefe season â—or commodious passage into India was now a good while past when they departed from Sincapura towards Malaca intending from thence to passe into India Wherfore Perera was very anxious doubting that there was not at that tyme of the yeare any ship to be gotten at Malaca to transport Francis vnto Goa Then Xauerius Iames quoth he be not afrayd but cast away this care For Anthony Perera hath now stayed for vs a good while with a shippe ready for our iorney The euent shewed presently after that what he said was true As soone therfore as they came to Malaca they find Anthony who had now three dayes expected the comming of Xauerius with a ship fraught and ready to set forth And withall they vnderstood that Malaca had byn lately straitly besieged by those of Iaua a barbarous people that border vpon them and that it was freed from the siege danger at the very same time that Francis had foretold As soone as it was reported abroad that Xauerius was returned out of Iaponia to Malaca presently there came vnto him great concourse of al sorts to congratulate with him for his safe returne For when he departed for Iaponia he had coÌ„mitted himself to so long dangerous a nauigatioÌ„ euen against their wils to their great griefe and sorrow But as soone as newes was brought that he was safely returned agayne at Malaca the whole Citty presently making a procession to the Church of the Society gaue there publike thankes to Almighty God demonstrating thereby the great affection which they bare vnto him Wherfore his safe returne togeather with the good newes of the conuersions he had made in Iaponia brought aboundance of ioy vnto the whole Citty CHAP. IIII. At Goa he cureth one that vvas ready to dye and taketh account of vvhat the Society had done since his departure FRANCIS hauing stayed at Malaca some few dayes for the comfort of the Society which there resided imbarketh himselfe in the shippe which had now byn there a â—â—od while ready and with a prosperous gale arriâ—â—eth at Cocinum where he is receiued with the geneâ—â—all ioy and gratulation of all the Citty Now at the â—â—ery same time that Francis arriued at Cocinum there â—â—ere shippes ready bound for Goa Wherfore making â—â—se of the benefit which was at haÌ„d he presently with â—â—ll speed maketh hast thither As â—oone as he was lanâ—â—ed he went as his custome was to the hospitall of the â—â—cke before he would go to his owne house of the Society After he had in a sweet manner comforted the â—â—ck he went vnto the Colledge being earnestly expeâ—â—ted there by all his Society Where after he had most â—â—ouingly tenderly saluted imbraced them all one â—fter another that he might not seeme more courteâ—â—us vnto externes then to those of his owne family â—â—e asketh whether there was any sick in the house To whome it was answered that there was only one Wherupon he goeth presently vnto him before he went to his owne chamber The Patient at that present lay in great extremity and was watched day and night by some of the Society who had care of his soule All things were now prepared for his buriall yet the sickeman himselfe although he was then euen ready to giue vp the ghost was not out of all hope of life saying oftentimes with a broken and dying voice that if Xariuss would come before he were dead for he was euery day expected he should certainly by his merits prayers recouer his health although euen then despayred of Francis failed not to answere to the sicke mans hope and assoone as he entred the chamber he saluteth him as he lay euen a dying reciteth the Ghospell ouer him and deliuers him from death so as being instantly eased of his paynes not long after perfectly recouered his health One would haue thought that God had so disposed the matter that both the sick man should expect the comming of Xauerius and Xauerius make hast on his iorney to come to him After this incredible ioy was conceyued not only by those of the Society but also by the principall of the Citty for Francis his safe returne who greatly longed to heare how matters
reason of their most exact manner of discipline and gouernement And as it is doubtful whether my endeauor may haue prosperous successe or no so is it certayne that my seruice will be gratefull to God For fetters tormeÌ„ts and death it selfe for Christs sake ought to be to me as a beatitude and immortality He had now put his friends to silence with these and the like speaches when as being much troubled with cares he was taken some what suddainly with â—an ague which held him 15. dayes but by Gods fauourable assistance soone cured yet in such maÌ„ner as that the same seemed the forerunner of his death which was so neere at hand As soone as he was recouered he returned presently to his former exercyses hating nothing more then idlenesse and rest CHAP. IX He agreeth vvith a Chinese to carry him priuately to Cantona NOtwithstanding all that could be alleaged against his going he neuertheles diligeÌ„tly sought how he might be transported into China And first he began by all the art he could inuent to try the Portugheses and afterwards the Chineses propounding many wayes vnto them how they might conceale the businesse intreating them to pleasure him in so reasonable a request But they being absolutly resolued to take heed of themselues could not be wonne therto by any meanes or intreaties since Feare had wholy shut vp their eares against the same being not willing to expose their fortunes and liues to so manifest a danger Francis therfore being not only depriued of all help but also not knowing what to resolue vpon had many different cogitations in his mind And that no mortification might be wanting vnto him both his companions lay very sicke Besides Anthony of the holy Faith a Chinese borne and Schollar of the Colledge of Goa whome he had brought with him from India for his Interpreter hauing through want of vse almost forgotten the Chinese language could now staÌ„d him in little steed especially seing he was wholy ignorant and vnskilfull of that ciuill and gentile language which the Gouernours there are wont to vse But Xauerius hauing an inuincible hart courage thinking with himselfe that he was bound to leaue nothing vnattempted persisted neuerthelesse to follow on the busines very hard hoping that yet at last he might through Gods assistance ouercome the difficulty In the meane time there fell out no small accident which set on fire and inflamed his hope desire For he vnderstood that he King of China at that very tyme had sent abroad Embassadours vnto all places round about to make diligent inquiry after the Lawes and Customes of other Kingdomes Wherefore there was great hope that it would be a gratefull and comfortable thing vnto his Maiesty to vnderstand also of the Christians Lawes manner of lyfe There were also some of the Chineses men of good worth and Fracis his familiar friends who did earnestly persuade him to go to China thinking very wel of the Christian Reâ—â—gion by the sanctity of his life persuading themselâ—â—s that there was conteyned in those Bookes which 〈◊〉 carryed with him some excellent Law and far betâ—r then theirs Heerupon Xauerius being more stirred 〈◊〉 then before vnto this noble enterprize thought â—â—erily that God had thus disposed the Chineses their â—ings mind to the end the Ghospell might at last â—eceaue entrance into that Kingdome and spread it â—lfe ouer those most populous Citties Wherfore ful 〈◊〉 hope and confidence in God he determined to try 〈◊〉 manner of wayes to hasten on the matter For he â—oubted not but that either without much danger â—nd with great aduancement to the Christian cause â—e should get accesse vnto the King or els if any hard â—ishap should fall vnto him he would esteeme it for â—n extraordinary gayne For to be tormented and â—aine for Christ which seemed was the greatest danâ—er that could befall him he thought it indeed the â—reatest benefit that God could euer bestow vpon â—im But all these difficulties giuing way at last vnto â—is Constancy as commonly it happeneth within a â—ittle while there was another who offred himselfe for â—â—s interpreter Then finding out a merchant of China who seemed a couragious man he solliciteth drawâ—th him on by hopes and promises to vndertake that â—ardy enterprize And when as nothing could be â—ffected without present money he beggeth of the Portughese merchants and for a certaine quantity of Pepper to the valew of about 300 crownes agreeth with the merchant to carry him with his interpreter and his bookes very secretly in the night and to set him a land in China neere to the Port of Cantona This Cantona is a famous port Towne standing in the Continent about 80. miles from Sanciana The merchant therfore to keep the matter secret least he shold venture his life vpon the fidelity of his marriners of whome he was not secure had thought to haue vsed his owne children and the most trusty of his seruants for that purpose and to transport Xaueriuâ—â— the night in a small vessell Moreouer he had of his owne accord promised to harbour him in his howâ—â— and keepe him secret for the space of two or three daies till he might by some meanes or other declare to the Gouernour of Cantona the cause of his comming into China Now there were in this businesse two dangers obiected vnto Xauerius by his friends The one least the merchaÌ„t hauing fraudulently taken the money should breake his promise to conceale the matter might either expose him vpon some desart Iland or els caâ—â— him ouer board into the Sea The other was thaâ— though the Barbarian should keep his word and seâ— him a shore neere the Port of Cantona the Gouernouâ— of the Citty finding he had gotten in thither being 〈◊〉 stranger against the Kings Edict without any publike warrant might to make him an example vntâ— others cruelly whippe murder him or els cast hiâ— into perpetuall prison Against these obiections Xauerius opposed farre greater dangers which they werâ— not aduised of First said he it was rather to be feareâ— least his owne diffidence more truly then his wariâ—â— â—esse might be iniurious to the Goodnes and Prouiâ—ence of God if the fearefulnesse of mortall men â—â—ould cause him to leaue off that which he had vnâ—ertaken by diuine instinct and motion Secondly 〈◊〉 quoth he I should proue my selfe an vnworthy Disciple of Christ if I did not heare him denouncing â—nto me Who so looseth his life for me shall find it Wherâ—ore seeing that the daungers of the body were farre â—ghter then those of the soule he thought it more seâ—ure to breake through those which might put his â—yfe in hazard then to hazard the saluation of his â—oule seeing that to go to the Chineses and to subdew â—hem to the faith of Christ maugre the enuy of those â—hat went about to hinder it carryed not by Gods grace more difficulty with it then Glory At the same time also there hapned
After the Portughese ships were gone Francis as the property of hope is neuer to giue ouer still expecting the Chinese merchant employed himselfe with neuerthelesse diligence in his accustomed exercises of Charity to gayne thereby by Gods holy assistance the victory ouer Sathan who as he perceyued vsed all the stratagemes he could to defeate his endeauours But God whose counsayles are vnsearchable wayes incomprehensible had otherwise determined of the busines and being content with Francis his endeauour reserued the glory of conuerting the Chineses vnto others who were to come after God being therefore greatly delighted with the inflamed hart and desyre which Xauerius had both to labour and suffer pleased to bestow vpon him rather the reward of all his trauayles formerly taken for his sake which were both many and great then to open the way for him to new And so vpon the very same day which was appointed for his passing ouer into China he fell into a sicknes whereof soone after he dyed His disease was caused by themhumanity of his Host For when the ships departed towards India Francis his Host also changing his mynd and violating the right of Hospitality being eytheâ— taken with some toy the head or prickt forward with desire to be gone departed in all hast without euer taking his leaue of Xauerius his old friend and guest nâ— not expecting a ship which himselfe had lately boughâ— in another Iâ—and of China For Francis according tâ— â—â—is custome going to say Masse was accompanied with â—â—is said Host who leauing that sacred mystery wherat â—e was present and forsaking his guest departed the â—land more like a fugitiue then a friend Xauerius as soone as he had done Masse and made â—â—is accustomed recollection sayd the prayer for the â—ead looking about perceyued that his Host was abâ—ent and inquiring what was become of him anâ—were was made that he was shipt in all hast with the â—est for Malaca Then Xauerius Verily quoth he I am â—frayd that his conscience being guilty of some heiâ—ous sinne suffereth him not to rest in quiet through â—he wrath of God towards him For what meaneth â—his ouerhasty speed Behould the ship which he hath â—ately procured to be bought is hourly looked for yet â—s he loath to expect her But let him go in Gods name â—o Malaca from whence he shal neuer depart for there â—he wretch will soone end his dayes Of these two Prophecies the one was presently verified and the other not long after For they who were present were scarcâ—â—y come out of Church when the ship he had bought vpon a suddayne appeared in sight wherat they were all stroken into admiration and esteemed Xauerius as a â—man sent from God And his Host as was afterward verifyed a few dayes after his ariuall at Malaca goâ—ng into the forrest to prouide himselfe of wood was murdered there by theeues and so made a miserable â—â—nd for that he had byn the cause of Francis his vntimely death But Xauerius knowing he was not long to liue fortold the same to some familiar friends yet after a manner no lesse profitable then admirable As he was one day in an assemby of Portugheses Let vs see sayd he how many we are heere for within a yeare most of vs shall dye This Prophecy was more true then ioyfull For of seauen who were then present fiue dyed that very yeare whereof Xauerius himselfe was one who certaynely both foresaw and foretould that his owne death was at hand For that about the same tyme also he by diuine instinct no doubt 〈◊〉 forgetting all humane things began to haue a great desire to see God which was no small token of theâ— beatitude wherunto he was now approaching Wherupon he wrote in a certayne Epistle That although he had vntill that tyme desired to haue lyfe graunted him for the seruice of Christ and the propagation oâ— his Ghospell yet now those liuely sparkes were grow 〈◊〉 en but cold in him through a burning desire he had oâ— seeing and inioyning the diuine Maiesty CHAP. XI He endeth his life in a most holy manner THE suddayne and vnfriendly departurâ—â— of Xauerius Host constrained him to beggâ— his victuals And so much the more 〈◊〉 his pouerty afflict him by how much 〈◊〉 more scarse all things were made by reason of thâ— strict watch which the Manderino's made who peâ—mitted no man to transport any victualls out of Châ—◠〈◊〉 Which incommodity he most patiently indured â—auing his mynd fixed more vpon Euangelicall poâ—â—erty then vpon his owne necessity wherefore he â—â—ought good not to seek out any new Host but heerâ—fter to prouide his victualls by begging But now alâ—â—ough his mynd being wholy desirous to suffer did â—â—aliantly encounter with so great difficultyes disâ—ommodities of all things yet his body could not â—hoose but be much broken therby being euen worne â—ut as well with age and continuall labours as with â—is late sicknes also whereof he was not as yet perâ—ectly recouered Besides this he was greatly afflicted 〈◊〉 mynd through the care and sollicitude which his â—esire of going into China caused in him Being therefore sicke not in body only but alâ— in mynd earnestly wishing his soule might by â—eath be freed of all her anxietyes about the twelfth â—f Nouember he fell agayne into his former sickâ—es He had scaresly made an end of saying Masse for â—he dead when as a mortall feuer came vpon him to â—pen him the way to lyfe eternall Wherfore sicke â—s he was he withdrew himselfe into the same ship which brought him thither partly to visit the sicke â—herein as his custome was and partly also to take vp â—is lodging there among them yet some few daies afâ—er his sicknes grew so violent that being not able to â—ndure the tossing of the ship he was constrained to â—o agayne to land A Portughese Merchant therefore â—â—eing such a man as he so pittifully tormeÌ„ted with an â—oat burning feuer and lying abroad in the open ayre â—moued to compassion towards him inuiteth him presently in a courteous manner to take a lodging with him and bringing him home to his house which stood alone vpon a litle hill being indeed more turly a cottage then an house vsed him very liberally considering the want of all things at that present And taking a great care of his health he intreated him to suffer himselfe to be let bloud Xauerius although he knew well inough what kind of Phisitians that desert Iland could affoard sayd notwithstanding that for all things which belonged to the cure of his body he would most willingly put himselfe into the Phisitians hands And this he performed with all alacrity and resignation seeking all occasions whereby to exercise his obedience He therfore was let bloud not without great paine and conuulsion of his nerues After which there followed in him a certayne loathing of all meates although indeed there was not any meate to be gotten in the
met with three of the habitants of that country who asked him what was become of Francis Xauerius At which suddaine question he at the first stood a little astonished then pawsing a while vpon the matter he found that Xauerius had sometimes bin there amongst them and had conuerted many of the inhabitants to the faith of Christ had also built them a Church and so diligently instructed the Neophytes that Christian discipline continued stil amongst them without any other Maister For Xauerius being to depart from Iaponia had prouided for them for time to come giuen them written in their owne language the life of Christ and a briefe Summe of the Ecclesiasticall history as also the Roman Kalendar with a table of the moueable feasts a forme also for the inuocation of the Saints which we call the Litanies the Seauen Psalmes togeather with the forme and manner of Baptisme aduising thē to assemble themselues all togeather vpon holy Dayes and there to read something of the life of Christ and out of the holy Scripture to obserue the Festiuall dayes to inuocate the intercession of the Saints and to recite the seauen Psalmes Moreouer he ordayned that the clarke of their chiefe Guide should baptize the little infantes vnlesse some necessity otherwise dissuaded And the Neophytes hauing kept these precep◠which Francis had giuen them in memory were so throughly instructed in matters of Christian Religion that they came not farre short of those of Europe Wherupon Froes concluded that he had no more to say but that by Xauerius example Religion ought so to be sowen and planted euery where that it might be able to vphold it selfe by its owne proper forces And although Xauerius as much as in him lay ceased not at any tyme to aduance his Neophytes by those of the Society yet his Charity was not so imployed in helping of whole Cittyes Nations as that he neglected particular persons how peruerse and obstinate soeuer they were At his departure frō the Iland of Ternate of an exceeding great number of Christians that inhabited therin he left only two whome he could not draw to forsake their cōcubins Wherfore when he came backe to Amboynum compassion succeeding in place of indignation he wrote vnto a certaine Ternatian a friend of his intreating him to salute those two persons in his name in the most friendly manner he could deuise and signify vnto them that if they would at last resolue to arise out of the sincke of sinne he would presently make all hast thither in the meane time he would not cease to pray to God our cōmon Father for their saluation At Malaca also as he preached vnto the people there was oftentimes present at his sermons a certaine Iew a man of sufficient learning but as the property of that nation is most obstinate and who scoffed no lesse at Xauerius then at the truth it selfe He being intangled both in vices and errours stifly opposed the Ghospell and his authority kept back many other Iewes from the faith of Christ Francis therfore treating this man sweetly by all kind of obsequiousnesse and vsing to suppe with him in a friendly manner so wrought with him at last that being quite altered frō what he was became of an obstinate Iew a vertuous and deuout Christian And this Charity of his to his Neyghbours was not more forcible thē industrious There standeth betweene Goa and Cocinum a fortresse belonging to the Portugheses called Canonora much frequented by reason of a good hauen in that place Xauerius comming thither endeauoured by the way to draw a certaine person to make his Confessiō but in vayne wherupon he desisted for a while frō his intreaty that when the other thought himself secure he might at vnawares more forcibly set vpon him For being pressed hard therto as one most obstinatly bent he had passionatly sworne neuer to yield therein to Francis Therfore as soone as they came to land Xauerius resolued to try all the remedies he could deuise against so desperate a disease so faygning as though his mind were set on other matters got this obstinate man into a wood in a courteous manner vnder pretence of recreation beset according to the Nature of that Country with many Palme-trees As soone as they came into a priuy place where none could see them Xauerius suddainely casting of his clothes and baring his backe falleth downe vpon his knees presently the other standing amazed expecting to see the issue of so suddaine an alteration pulleth out a very sharpe discipline full of iron pricks and beating his owne backe extremely before the others face cryeth out that he willingly suffred that torment for his sake thereby to turne away Gods indignatiō from him In the meane time the Wood runge againe with the mighty stripes of the discipline and he that stood looking on in that amazement like one out of himselfe was all besprinkled with Xauerius his bloud Wherfore turning his admiration into compassion of hart he instantly casteth himselfe at Xauerius feete and beseecheth him to leaue off reuenging anothers fault vpon his owne backe for now he was ready to purge himselfe of his sinnes by Confession Xauerius being glad he had thus wonne the victory presently apparelleth himselfe hearing his Confession bringeth that wretched man backe againe into the right way and hope of saluation But now his Prudence industry was farre more seene in curing the diseases of the Citty of Malaca which was almost brought therby vnto a desperate state For when he perceiued the Malacensians minds to be so inueterate and drowned in the corruption of all wickednesse that they would by no meanes heare of remedy he being an exquisite Physitian of soules found out a new soueraigne antidote wherby to cure them Wherfore setting vpon them in a secret and couert manner he vsed to insinuate himselfe into the company of the souldiars when they were at their wanton sportes comming oftentimes vpon them as they were at play seeming as though he tooke delight in their game and conuersation and if any one vpon his presence or otherwise through shame-fastnesse absteyned from playing he in a sweet and friendly manner would exhort him to be merry for he also loued the like pastime and that souldiars ought not to liue like Monkes and if it were vsed without offence to God it was better to play and be merry then to speake ill of other men or to commit any other wickednesse Then hauing wonne their affections by this his gentle behauiour he would by all manner of obsequiousnesse insinuate himselfe into the greatest familiarity with them that was possible that so he might find out their secret inclinations thereby take some occasion to apply fit remedies to their diseases Now for others who were intangled with dishonest loue and kept Concubines he would oftentymes himselfe appoint certayne daies to dine or suppe with them where sitting at table and by bringing in