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
had to hear him preach and told him That the Bishop of Lisbonne was of Opinion that he ought not any longer to deferr his publick Exhortations Father Simon Rodriguez labour'd also on his part in the Service of his Neighbour according to the same Method and with the same Spirit In the mean time Martin d' Azpilcueta surnam'd the Doctor of Navarre who was Uncle to Xavier on the Mother's side and who was chief Professour oâ— Divinity in the University of Coimbra having heard the news of his Nephew's arrival wrote earnestly to the King That it wou'd please him to send Father Francis to him He added That in case the Father might have leave to remain with him till the departure of the Fleet he wou'd oblige himself to make two new Lectures at his own expence the one in Canon-Law the other in Mystical Divinity And farther That in few years afterwards he wou'd follow Xavier to the Indies and preach the Gospel in conjunction with him to the Eastern Idolaters These Letters prevail'd nothing the Man who had refus'd so much as to turn out of his way to see his Mother was bent against the taking of a Journey and forsaking his important business to visit one of his Relations The King retain'd Xavier at Lisbonne at the request of Xavier himself And the Father wrote a Letter of excuse to the Doctor of Navarre who had written two to him full of tenderness and friendship As that Doctor was unsatisfy'd with that kind of Life which his Nephew had embrac'd so Xavier resolv'd him on that point in this manner For what concerns our Institute of which so many reports are now rais'd I have but one word at present to say of it 'T is of little consequence Illustrious Doctor to be judg'd by Men especially by such who will needs be judging before they understand the matter and know the merits of the cause As to his intention of going to the Indies he desir'd him to think no farther of it for thus Navarre relates that passage in his Manual I had resolv'd to have ended my days in those parts if Xavier in consideration of my great Age had not thought me uncapable of those labours which attend his Mission and if he had not written to me at his departure that I shou'd comfort my self for his absence by the hope of seeing each other in the Celestial Kingdom Our two Missioners labour'd not in vain at Lisbonne From the very beginning of their Ministry Devotion began to spread amongst the people All Men ran to the blessed Sacrament which before was never thought on but in Lent And this holy Custom diffus'd it self insensibly through all the Towns of Portugal Many who had deferr'd their Conversion from time to time now on the sudden gave themselves up to God and even renounc'd the World. The most inveterate Enemies were sincerely reconcil'd and the most impudent Harlots abandon'd their prostitute way of living But this change of Manners was most particularly apparent at the Court the King who was truly Religious and full of goodness was the first to declare himself against those Vices which usually inâ—ect the Palaces of Princes And that he might introduce a Reformation by degrees not only into his House but also dilate it through his whole Kingdom he oblig'd all the young Courtiers to confess themselves once a week for he said That if the Lords and Gentlemen wou'd accustom themselves from their tender years to the service and fear of God they wou'd live with greater Christianity in their riper age and if Persons of Quality came once to give good examples of Religion the Commonalty who form themselves according to their Model wou'd not fail to regulate their manners and therefore the reformation of all degrees in the Kingdom consisted chiefly in the vertuous education of young Noblemen The example of the Prince and the young Courtiers drew the rest and thereupon Xavier writes to Ignatius in these terms Nothing can be more regular than the Court of Portugal it resembles rather a Religious Society than a Secular Court. The number of Courtiers who come to Confession and are afterwards communicated every eight days is so very great that we are in admiration of it and are in perpetual thanksgiving for it We are so taken up with hearing Confessions that if we were twice so many as we are there wou'd be employment more than enough for us We are sitting on the Confession-Seat all the day long and part of the night though none but Courtiers are permitted to come to us I remember that I observ'd when the King was at Almerin those who waited on him from all parts of the Kingdom about their own Affairs as the custom is were in great admiration at this new Court-mode and when they beheld the young Gentlemen at the Sacrament of the Altar every Sunday and Holiday with great reverence they thought themselves in another World. But the greatest part of them imitating that which they admir'd drew near to the Tribunal of Penance and the Holy Table Had we Confessours â—now to attend the Crowds that come to Court no Man wou'd venture to apply himself to the King for any business before he had been first with God and were well with him The two labourers in God's Harvest were so exhausted with their pains that at length they were constrain'd to accept of the Diet which was provided for them by the Kings appointment For they judg'd their time was better employ'd in the service of Souls than in begging their daily Bread about the Streets Yet they omitted not to ask Alms once or twice a week that they might not difuse themselves from the Spirit of Mortification and Poverty With these considerations they reserv'd but little of what was sent them from the Palace and distributed the rest among the poor On the other side the perpetual labour of Confessions reduc'd them to preach but very seldom for want of leisure But all things duly examin'd they thought it of more consequence to Gods Service to administer the Sacrament of Penance than to preach the Word because the Court of Portugal was furnish'd with able Preachers but was much wanting in judicious Confessors which was the very observation that Xavier made in the Letter above cited These visible and wonderful Operations caus'd the two Missioners to be respected as Men sent down from Heaven and replenish'd with the Spirit of the Most High Insomuch that all men gave them the Surname of Apostles which glorious Title still remains with their Successours in Portugal The King on all occasions shew'd them a most particular affection And Xavier ravish'd with so many expressions of his goodness to them gives this account of it to Father Ignatius Our whole Society stands oblig'd to his Majesty for his singular favour to us as well the rest of you at Rome as we in Portugal I am given to understand from the Ambassadour Mascaregnas that the
mix'd with saving hope After this the Father kept the promise which he had made to the Physitian and took a greater care of his own preservation insomuch that his Fever abated by degrees and at length left him of it self but his strength was not yet recover'd when the Navy put to Sea again The Viceroy who began to find himself indispos'd wou'd make no longer stay upon a place so much infected nor attend the recovery of his People to continue his Voyage He desir'd Xavier to accompany him and to leave Paul de Camerino and Francis Mansilla to attend the Sick in the Hospital where indeed they both perform'd their duty as became them Thus having made a six months residence on Mozambique they embarqu'd once more on the 15th of March and in the year 1542. But they went not aboard the St. Iames in which they came thither changing her for a lighter Vessel which made better Sail. 'T is here proper to observe that the Father according to the report of the Passengers who came vvith him from Portugal to Mozambique began to manifest that Spirit of Prophecy which he had to the end of his days in so eminent a degree For hearing those of the St. Iames commend that Ship as a Vessel of the strongest built and the best equip'd of all the Fleet he said in express words that she vvou'd prove unfortunate And in effect that Ship which the Viceroy left behind him at Mozambique in the Company of some others pursuing her course afterwards to the Indies was driven against the Rocks and dash'd in pieces towards the Island of Salseta The Galeon which carried Sosa and Xavier had the wind so favourable that in tvvo or three days she arriv'd at Melinda on the Coast of Affrick tovvards the Equinoctial Line 'T is a Town of Saracens on the Sea side in a flat Country well cultivated planted all along with Palm-trees and beautified with fair Gardens It has a large enclosure and is fortify'd with Walls after the European fashion Tho the building is Moresque the Houses notwithstanding are both pleasant and convenient The Inhabitants are warlike they are black and go naked excepting only that they are cover'd with a kind of an Apron of Cotton or Linnen from the wast to the mid thigh And indeed the heat of their Clymat will permit them to wear no more Melinda being distant from the Line but three degrees and some few minutes They have always maintain'd a good correspondence with the Portuguese by reason of the Commerce establish'd betwixt them The Flag of Portugal was no sooner seen but the Saracen King came down to the Port attended by the most honourable Persons of his Court to receive the new Governour of the Indies The first object which presented it self to Father Francis when he stept ashore drew tears from his eyes but they were tears of joy and pity mingled together The Portuguese having there a constant trade and now and then some of them hapning to dye are allow'd a Burying-place near the Town full of Crosses set upon their Graves according to the custome of the Catholiques And above the rest there was a very large one of hewn stone plac'd in the middle and all over gilded The Saint ran to it and ador'd before it receiving an inward consolation to behold it rais'd so high and as it were triumphing amongst the Enemies of Iesus Christ. But at the same time he was sensibly afflicted that this sign of our Salvation serv'd less to â—diâ—iâ— the Living than to honour the memory of the Dead And lifting up his hands to Heaven he besought the Father of all Mercies to imprint in the hearts of the Infidels that Cross which they had suffer'd to be planted on their ground His next thoughts prompted him to conâ—er of Religion with the Moors that he might endeavour to shew them the extravagancies of the Mahometan Belief and gain an opportunity of revealing to them the eternal truths of Christian faith One of the Principal Inhabitants and wonderâ—ully bigotted to his Sect prevented him and immediately demanded of him if Piety were not wholly extinguish'd in the Towns of Europe as it was in Melinda For to confess the truth said he of seventeen Mosques which we have fourteen are quite forsaken there are but three remaining at which we pay our Devotions and even those three are but little visited and by few Persons This proceeds without all question added the Mahometan from some enormous sin but what it is I know not and whatsoever reflections I can make I am not able to find what has drawn upon us so dreadful a misfortune There is nothing more clear reply'd Xavier God who detests the Prayer of Insidels has permitted a worship to moulder away which is displeasâ—ng to him and gives you thence to understand that he condemns your Sect. The Sacraâ—en was not satisfy'd with this reason nor with any other argument which Xavier us'd against the Alcoran While they were thus disputing a Caciz or Doctour of the Law join'd company with them having made the same complaint concerning the Mosquees how little they were frequented and how cold was grown the devotion of the People I have taken my measures said he and if in two years Mahomet comes not in Person to visit the Congregations of the Faithful who acknowledge him for God's true Prophet I will certainly look out for some other Religion Xavier took pity on the folly of the Caciz and endeavour'd all he cou'd to convert him at that instant from Mahometanism but he cou'd not prevail upon an obstinate mind blinded with the opinion of its own reason and therefore the Father acquies'd in the Decrees of that Providence which hasfix'd the times and revolutions for the conversion of Inâ—idels and Sinners Having left Melinda where they continued but few days and still coasting Affrica they cast Anchor at Socotora which is beyond Cape Guardafu and over against the Streight of Mecca The Moors of that Country call it the Isle of Amazons and the reason they alledge is because it is govern'd by Women The Inhabitants believe their Isle to be the Earthly Paradise which notwithstanding there is scarcely to be found in all the World a spot of ground less deserving that glorious Title The Air is in a perpetual â—ultry heat the Soyl is dry and barren and excepting only for the Aloes which is there produc'd and is indeed the best which grows in those Eastern Parts even the name of Socotora wou'd not be mention'd 'T is not certainly known what Religion they prosess so monstrous is their Belief They hold from the Saracens the Worship of Mahomet from the Iews the use of Circumcision and Sacrifices and yet give themselves the name of Christians The Males bear the name of some or other of the Apostles the most part of the Women are call'd Mary and yet they have no knowledge of Baptism They adore the Cross and hang it in
resign their Will to that of God Xavier wholly abandon'd the Enterprize of Iafanatapan and thought only of returning to the Kingdom of Travancor Being now on Sea he cast back his eyes on the Isle of Ceylan which he saw from far and cry'd out lamenting for it Ah! unhappy Island with how many Carcasses do I behold thee cover'd and what Rivers of blood are making inundations on all sides of thee These words were Prophetical of what happen'd afterwards when Don Constantine de Braganza at one time and Don Hurtado de Mendoça at another destroy'd all those Islanders with the Sword and the King of Iafanatapan being himself taken together with his eldest Son was put to death in his own Pallace As if the Divine Justice had not deferr'd the death of this Persecutor but only to render it more terrible and more memorable Father Xavier was very desirous of returning to Travancor but the Winds blew so contrary that they always drove him from the Coast. By this he judg'd that God had call'd him to some other place and thereupon form'd a resolution of carrying the light of the Gospel from Isle to Isle and from Kingdom to Kingdom even to the utmost limits of the East The news he heard during his Navigation caus'd him suddenly to cast his thoughts on an Island situate under the Equinoctial betwixt the Molucca's and Borneo stretch'd in length two hundred Leagues from North to South and divided into sundry Kingdoms call'd by the Geographers Celebes by the Historians Macassar from the names of the two Capital Cities of the two Principal Kingdoms as to the rest well peopled and abounding in all sorts of Riches It was related to him that about the year 1531 two Brothers both Idolaters as were all the Inhabitants of Macassar going on their private business to Ternate the chief of the Molucca's had some conference relating to Religion with the Governour Antonio Galvan a Portuguese one of the most famous Warriours of his age and celebrated in History both for his Piety and Valour That having learnt from him the Vanity of their Idols they embrac'd the Christian Faith and at their Baptism took the names of Antonio and Michael That being return'd into their Country they themsâ—lves taught publickly the Faith of Iesus Christ That all their Countrey-men with one accord sent their Embassadours to the Governour of Ternate desiring him to send them some to instruct them in the Principles of Faith and that the Heads of this Embassy were the two Brothers known to Galvan that these Embassadours found a very kind reception and that for want of a Priest Galvan gave them a Souldier for their Teacher whose name was Francis de Castro a Man knowing in Religion and of exemplary Piety In conclusion that Castro who was thus chosen to instruct that people imbarking for Macassar was driven by a Tempest another way Besides this Xavier was likewise inform'd that not long before a Portuguese Merchant call'd Antonio Payva going to Macassar in the name of Râ—ys Vaz Pereyra Captain of Malacca for a Ships lading of Sandal a pretious Wood growing in that Island the King of Supa which is one of the Kingdoms of Macassar came in person to see him and ask'd divers questions relating to the Christian Faith that this honest Merchant better acquainted with his Traffick than his Relâ—gion yet answer'd very pertinently and discours'd of the Mysteries of Faith after so reasonable a manner that the King then threescore years of age was converted with all his Family and Court. That another King of the same Island call'd the King of Sion follow'd his Example and that these two Princes who were solemnly baptis'd by the hand of Payva not being able to retain him with them desir'd him to send them some Priests who might administer the Sacraments and baptise their Subjects These pious inclinations appear'd to Father Xavier as an excellent ground-work for the planting of the Gospel He wept for joy at the happy news and ador'd the profound judgments of the Divine Providence which after having refus'd the Grace of Baptism to the King of Travancor when all his Subjects had receiv'd it began the Conversion of Sion and of Supa by that of their Sovereigns He even believ'd that his Evangelical Ministry exacted from him to put the last hand to the Conversion of those Kingdoms In the mean time he thought it his duty that before he resolv'd on the Voyage of Macassar he shou'd ask advice from Heaven concerning it and to perform it as he ought it came into his mind to implore the enlightnings of Gods Spirit at the Sepulchre of St. Thomas the ancient Founder and first Father of Christianity in the Indies whom he had taken for his Patron and his guide in the course of all his Travels He therefore resolv'd to go in Pilgrimage to Meliapor which is distant but fifty Leagues from Negatapan where the Wind had driven him back And imbarking in the Ship of Michael Pereyra on Palm-Sunday which fell that year 1545 on the 29th of March they shap'd their Course along the Coasts of Coromandel having at first a favourable Wind but they had not made above twelve or thirteen Leagues when the Weather chang'd on a sudden and the Sea became so rough that they were â—orc'd to make to Land and cast Anchor under covert of a Mountain to put their Ship into some reasonable security They lay there for seven days together in expectation of a better Wind and all that time the holy Man pass'd in Contemplation without taking any nourishment either of Meat or Drink as they observ'd who were in the Vessel with him and as Iames Madeira who was a Witness of it has depos'd in form of Law. He only drank on Easter-Eve and that at the request of the said Madeira a little Water in which an Onyon had been boil'd according to his own direction On that very day the Wind came about into a favourable quarter and the Sea grew calm so that they weigh'd Anchor and continued their Voyage But Xavier to whom God daily imparted more and more of the Spirit of Prophecy foreseeing a furious Tempest which was conceal'd under that fallacious Calm ask'd the Pilot If his Ship were strong enough to endure the violence of bad Weather and ride out a Storm The Pilot confess'd she was not as being an old crazy Vessel Then said Xavier it were good to carry her back into the Port. How Father Francis said the Pilot are you fearful with so fair a Wind You may assure your self of good Weather by all manner of signs and any little Bark may be in safety 'T was in vain for the Saint to press him farther not to believe those deceitful appearances neither wou'd the Passengers follow his advice but they soon repented of their neglect For far they had not gone when a dreadful Wind arose the Sea was on a Foam and mounted into Billows The Ship was not able
they shew'd him a young Man a Native of the Country who having imbark'd in company of a Portuguese had been cast by Tempest on the Coast of Malabar The Saracens who inhabit that place having murther'd the Portuguese wou'd have forc'd his Companion to renounce his Faith Thereupon they brought him into a Mosquee where they promis'd him great store of Money and Preferments in case he wou'd forsake the Law of Iesus Christ and take up that of their Prophet Mahomet But seeing their Promises cou'd not prevail they threatn'd him with Death and held their naked weapons over his Head to fright him But neither cou'd they shake his Resolution with that dreadful spectacle then they loaded him with Irons and us'd him with extraordinary cruelty till a Portuguese Captain inform'd of it came suddenly upon them with a Troop of Souldiers and rescu'd the young Man out of their hands Xavier imbrac'd him many times and bless'd Almighty God that his Faith was imprinted so lively in the Heart of a Barbarian He heard also with great satisfaction of the constancy of some Slaves who having fled from the Houses of their Portuguese Masters and living amongst Gentils far from being corrupted with the superstitions of the Infidels comply'd exactly with the obligations of their Baptism and liv'd in a most religious manner It was reported to him of these Slaves that when any of them died they suffer'd not his Body to be burnt according to the custom of the Pagans neither wou'd they leave it without Sâ—pulture but buried it according to the Ceremonies of the Church and set up a Cross over the Grave Though these Infidels whom they serv'd did not hinder them from continuing in Christianity and that every one of them in particular was resolv'd to persevere in his Faith even in the midst of Idolatry yet they had a longing desire to return into the company of the Faithful where they might be supply'd with those Spiritual Succours which they wanted and lead a life yet more conformable to their Belief So that as soon as they had the news of Father Xavier's return who had baptis'd the greatest part of them they came to desire him That he wou'd make their peace with their Masters whom they had left to free themselves from slavery and declar'd that they were content once more to lose their Liberty in prospect of the Salvation of their Souls Xavier receiv'd them with open Arms as his well-belov'd Children and afterwards obtain'd their Pardon After he had visited all the Villages he made some stay at Manapar which is not far distant from Cape Comorine As the only end which he propos'd to himself was to plant the Gospel in the Indies and that in order to it he must there establish the Society he began to regulate all things according to the Principles and in the Spirit of Father Ignatius General of the Order Having reassembled all the Labourers in the Gospel of that Coast he examin'd their several Talents and Vertues in familiar conversation with them by causing them to give an account of what pass'd betwixt God and them in their own Hearts After he had assign'd to each of them the places which were most convenient for them both in regard of their bodily strength and of their spiritual endowments He constituted Father Antonio Criminal superiour of all the rest And to the end they might be more capable of serving that people he order'd every one of them with all possible care to apply himself to the study of the Malabar Language which obtains through all that Coast. Upon this account he commanded Father Francis Henriquez to reduce that Tongue into the Rules of Art and to compose an exact Grammar of it according to the method of the Greek and Latin Grammars The work seem'd impossible especially to one who was newly come from Europe and who had little knowledge in the Indian Tongues Nevertheless Henriquez compass'd it in a small time which was apparently a Miracle of Obedience In the mean while Xavier judging that the Exposition of the Christian Doctrine which he had made for those of Molucca might be of use to his dear Paravas order'd a Malabar Priest who was well vers'd in the Portuguese to translate it into his own Language But to the end that the conduct of the Missioners might be Uniform and that the same Spirit might animate all of them besides the instructions which he gave them by word of Mouth he gave them the following Rules in writing In the first place Where ever the lot of your Ministry shall fall be mindful of baptising Infants newly born and perform it your selves without trusting the care of it to any other person There is nothing at present of more importance Do not wait till the Parents bid you come as they may easily neglect it it behoves you to run through all the Villages to enter into the Houses and to Christen all the Infants you can find After the great concernment of giving Baptism you ought to be careful of nothing more than of entring those little Children into the principles of Faith who are grown capable of Instruction Not being able to be in all places you shall cause the Canacapoles and the Teachers of the Catechism to perform their duty and religiously to observe the Customs establish'd To which purposes when you visit the Villages to take an account of what passes there assemble the Masters with their Scholars and know from the Children in the presence of those who are accustom'd to instruct them what they have learnt or forgotten since your last visit this will double the ardency of the Scholars and the diligence of their Teachers On Sundays gather the Men together in the Church to repeat their Prayers and observe well whether the Pantagatins or chief of the people are there present You are to expound the Prayers which they repeat and reprove them for the Vices then in fashion which you are to make them comprehend by using familiar Examples In fine you are to threaten the more stubborn sinners with the wrath of God and tell them that if they do not reform their lives their days shall be shorten'd by all manner of Diseases that the Pagan Kings shall inslave them and that their immortal Souls shall become fuel to the everlasting flames of Hell. When you come to any place you shall inform your selves what quarrels are stirring in it and who are the parties after which you shall endeavour to reconcile them These Reconciliations are to be made in the Church where it will be fitting to assemble all the Women on Saturdays as the Men on Sundays When the Malabar Priest shall have translated the Exposition of the Creed you shall take Copiâ—s of it which you shall cause to be carefully read to the Women on Saturdays to the Men on Sundays If you are there present you shall read it your selves and add to the Exposition what you think convenient for the farther
somewhat that was great and of suffering all things for the glory of Iesus Christ he found the Institute of Ignatius so conformable to the present dispositions of his Soul that without farther ballancing the matter he was resolv'd to go through the Spiritual Exercises to â—it himself for the change of his condition From the second day he receiv'd such light and so much comfort from above that he believ'd himself in Heaven already He cou'd not sufficiently admire that those plain and easy truths which he had often read without any taste of them shou'd make such lively impressions in him as now they did And he discover'd this to Lancilotti with expressions full of astonishment Nevertheless being assrighted at the prospect of a perpetual ingagement and perhaps tempted by the Devil he cou'd not settle to it and was every day more and more irresolute Xavier arriv'd just at that point of time He had scarcely seen Torrez when behold a man fix'd on the sudden and resolv'd and pressing to be receiv'd amongst the Children of Ignatius The Apostle receiv'd him and took pains himself to form him according to the spirit of the Society He also admitted some Portugueses who had great Talents for the Mission and were inflam'd with the zeal of Souls They liv'd together in the Colledge of St. Paul where that â—ervour reign'd not only amongst the Iesuites but also amongst those of the Seminary whose numbers increas'd daily The Iaponnese Anger was amongst them leading a most regular life and breathing after that Baptism which had been deferr'd 'till the return of the Holy man. Xavier did not satisfie himself with having instructed him anew he consign'd over to the care of Torrez who fully explain'd to him all the Mysteries of Faith. Anger with his two Servants who receiv'd the same instruction were at length solemnly Baptis'd on Whit-Sunday by the Bishop of Goa Don Iohn d' Albuquerque so that the Church began to take possession of the most remote Nation in the World on the same day of Pentecost when the holy Spirit descending on the Apostles gave them their Mission to carry the Gospel to all the People of the Earth Anger was desirous to be nam'd Paul de Sainte Foy in memory of the Colledge belonging to the Society of Iesus where he had receiv'd the particular knowledge of the Divine Law which was sometimes call'd the Colledge of St. Paul and sometimes the Seminary of the Holy Faith. One of his Servants took the Name of Iohn and the other of Anthony In receiving Baptism he receiv'd the peace of Soul which he never cou'd obtain before and writ word of it to Rome the same year in a Letter to Father Ignatius dated November the 25th But to the end that the new Converts might have the true Principles of Christian Morality and that their behaviour might be answerable to their Belief Father Xavier intrusted Torrez with giving them the spiritual Exercises of the Society During the thirty days that these Iaponians were in retirement 't is not to be express'd what Coelestial illuminations what holy thoughts what interiour delights the Holy Spirit infus'd into them Anger cou'd speak of nothing but of God and spoke of him with so much servency that it seem'd even to burn him up The Mystery of the Passion mov'd him above all the rest and he was so ravish'd with the goodness of God so possess'd with love in considering a God Crucify'd that he breath'd nothing but Martyrdom and the Salvation of his Brethren So that he was often heard to cry out in the midst of his Devotions How glad shou'd I be to dye for thee O my God. O my dear Japonians how much are you to be lamented and what Compassion do you raise in me The Master and Servants came out of their retirement with so much ardour that Xavier wrote into Europe that he was animated by their Example to the service of God and that he cou'd not look on them without blushing at his own Cowardise In conversing with them he understood what he had formerly learnt by hear say from George Alvarez and other Portugueses that the Empire of Iapan was one of the most populous in the World That the Iaponneses were naturally curious and covetous of Knowledge and withall docible and of great Capacity That being generally ingenious and very rational if they were instructed in the Morals of Christianity they wou'd easily submit to them and that if the Preachers of the Gospel liv'd according to Gospel Rules the whole Nation wou'd subject it self to the yoke of Iesus Christ not perhaps so readily at first but in process of time and after clearing of their doubts There needed no more to induce Xavier to carry the Faith into Iapan the mildness the civility and the good parts of the three Baptis'd Iaponians made him conceive a high opinion of all the rest And the Portuguese Merchants newly return'd from Iapan confirm'd it so fully to him that in these three he had the pattern of the whole Nation that he doubted not but that the Christian Religion wou'd make an admirable progress there But that which Anger told him that there were in his Country many Monasteries of Heathen Priests that some of them led their lives in solitude and contemplation that every Monastery had its Superiour who was a Person venerable for his Age and Learning that they came abroad from their lonely abode once a week with mortiâ—i'd looks and uncouth habits to Preach to the People that in their Sermons they drew such lively Figures of Hell that the Women wept and cry'd out at those dismal representations All this I say appear'd to Xavier as so many doors and in-letts for the Faith and he prais'd God that by the admirable conduct of his Providence which secretly manages the Salvation of men the Spirit of Lyes had thus prepar'd the ways for the Spirit of Truth He ador'd also the wisdom of the same Providence which taking the occasion of a man who fled from Justice and sought repose for his troubled Conscience had led three Iaponians from their native Country and brought them to Goa that they might serve for Guides to a Missioner But that these Guides might be the more serviceable he thought fit they shou'd learn to Read and Write in the Portuguese Language Anger whom from henceforth we shall name Paul de Sainte Foy was easily instructed in all they taught him for besides that he was of a quick and lively apprehension he had so happy a memory that he got by heart almost all the Gospel of St. Matthew which Father Cosmo de Torrez had Expounded to him before his Baptism In the mean time Don Iohn de Castro was rigging out a Fleet with design to possess himself of Aden one of the strongest Towns of Arabia Felix and scituate at the foot of a high Mountain which reach'd even to the Sea by a narrow tongue of Earth This Port is of great importance