THE WORKS OF JOHN DRYDEN, _NOW FIRST COLLECTED IN EIGHTEEN VOLUMES_. 

ILLUSTRATED WITH NOTES, HISTORICAL, CRITICAL, AND EXPLANATORY, AND A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, BY WALTER SCOTT, ESQ. 

 * * * * *

VOL. XVI. 

LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM MILLER, ALBEMARLE STREET, BY JAMES BALLANTYNE AND CO. EDINBURGH. 

1808. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME SIXTEENTH. 

 PAGE. The Life of St Francis Xavier, of the Society of Jesus, Apostle of the Indies, and of Japan, . . . 1 Dedication to the Queen, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Author's Advertisement to the Reader, . . 8 Book I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Book II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Book III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Book IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Book V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 Book VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER, OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS, APOSTLE OF THE INDIES, AND OF JAPAN. 

TO THE QUEEN. [1]

MADAM, The reverend author of this life, in his dedication to his Most ChristianMajesty, affirms, that France was owing for him to the intercession of StFrancis Xavier. That Anne of Austria, his mother, after twenty years ofbarrenness, had recourse to heaven, by her fervent prayers, to draw downthat blessing, and addressed her devotions, in a particular manner, tothis holy apostle of the Indies. I know not, madam, whether I may presumeto tell the world, that your majesty has chosen this great saint for oneof your celestial patrons, though I am sure you will never be ashamed ofowning so glorious an intercessor; not even in a country where thedoctrine of the holy church is questioned, and those religious addressesridiculed. Your majesty, I doubt not, has the inward satisfaction ofknowing, that such pious prayers have not been unprofitable to you; andthe nation may one day come to understand, how happy it will be for themto have a son of prayers ruling over them. [2] Not that we are wholly todepend on this particular blessing, as a thing of certainty, though wehope and pray for its continuance. The ways of Divine Providence areincomprehensible; and we know not in what times, or by what methods, Godwill restore his church in England, or what farther trials andafflictions we are yet to undergo. Only this we know, that if a religionbe of God, it can never fail; but the acceptable time we must patientlyexpect, and endeavour by our lives not to undeserve. I am sure if we takethe example of our sovereigns, we shall place our confidence in Godalone; we shall be assiduous in our devotions, moderate in ourexpectations, humble in our carriage, and forgiving of our enemies. Allother panegyrics I purposely omit; but those of Christianity are such, that neither your majesty, nor my royal master, need be ashamed of them, because their commemoration is instructive to your subjects. We may beallowed, madam, to praise Almighty God for making us happy by your means, without suspicion of flattery; and the meanest subject has the privilegeof joining his thanksgiving with his sovereigns, where his happiness isequally concerned. May it not be permitted me to add, that to beremembered, and celebrated in after ages, as the chosen vessel, by whichit has pleased the Almighty Goodness to transmit so great a blessing tothese nations, is a secret satisfaction, which is not forbidden you totake; the blessings of your people are a prelibation of the joys inheaven, and a lawful ambition here on earth. 

Your majesty is authorized, by the greatest example of a mother, torejoice in a promised son. The blessed Virgin was not without as great aproportion of joy, as humanity could bear, when she answered thesalutation of the angel in expressions, which seemed to unite thecontradicting terms of calmness, and of transport: "Be it to thyhand-maid, according to thy word. "

It is difficult for me to leave this subject, but more difficult topursue it as I ought; neither must I presume to detain your majesty by along address. The life of Saint Francis Xavier, after it had been writtenby several authors in the Spanish and Portuguese, and by the famous PadreBartoli in the Italian tongue, came out at length in French, by thecelebrated pen of Father Bohours, from whom I have translated it, andhumbly crave leave to dedicate it to your patronage. I question not butit will undergo the censure of those men, who teach the people, thatmiracles are ceased. Yet there are, I presume, a sober party of theProtestants, and even of the most learned among them, who beingconvinced, by the concurring testimonies of the last age, by thesuffrages of whole nations in the Indies and Japan, and by the severescrutinies that were made before the act of canonization, will notdispute the truth of most matters of fact as they are here related; nay, some may be ingenuous enough to own freely, that to propagate the faithamongst infidels and heathens, such miraculous operations are asnecessary now in those benighted regions, as when the Christian doctrinewas first planted by our blessed Saviour and his apostles. 

The honourable testimonies which are cited by my author, just before theconclusion of his work, and one of them in particular from a learneddivine of the church of England, [3] though they slur over the mention ofhis miracles, in obscure and general terms, yet are full of venerationfor his person. Farther than this I think it needless to prepossess areader; let him judge sincerely, according to the merits of the cause, and the sanctity of his life, of whom such wonders are related, andattested with such clouds of witnesses; for an impartial man cannot butof himself consider the honour of God in the publication of his gospel, the salvation of souls, and the conversion of kingdoms, which followedfrom those miracles; the effects of which remain in many of them to thisday. 

But that it is not lawful for me to trespass so far on the patience ofyour majesty, I should rather enlarge on a particular reflection, which Imade in my translation of this book, namely, that the instructions of thesaint, which are copied from his own writings, are so admirably useful, so holy, and so wonderfully efficacious, that they seem to be little lessthan the product of an immediate inspiration. So much excellent matter iscrowded into so small a compass, that almost every paragraph contains thevalue of a sermon. The nourishment is so strong, that it requires butlittle to be taken at a time. Where he exhorts, there is not anexpression, but what is glowing with the love of God; where he directs amissioner, or gives instructions to a substitute, we can scarcely have aless idea than of a St Paul advising a Timothy, or a Titus. Where hewrites into Europe, he inspires his ardour into sovereign princes, andseems, with the spirit of his devotion, even to burn his colleagues atthe distance of the Indies. 

But, madam, I consider that nothing I can say is worthy to detain youlonger from the perusal of this book, in which all things are excellent, excepting only the meanness of my performance in the translation. Such asit is, be pleased, with your inborn goodness, to accept it, with theoffer of my unworthy prayers for the lasting happiness of my gracioussovereign, for your own life and prosperity, together with thepreservation of the son of prayers, and the farther encrease of theroyal family; all which blessings are continually implored from heaven, by, MADAM, Your Majesty's most humble, And most obedient subject and servant, JOHN DRYDEN. 

[Footnote 1: Mary of Este, wife of James II. ]

[Footnote 2: The superstitious and, as it proved, fatal insinuation, thatthe birth of the Chevalier de St George was owing to the supernaturalintercession of St Francis Xavier, was much insisted on by theProtestants as an argument against the reality of his birth. See theIntroduction to "Britannia Rediviva, " Vol. X. P. 285. In that piece, ourauthor also alludes to this foolery: Hail, son of prayers, by holy violence Drawn down from heaven!--]

[Footnote 3: The Reverend Richard Hackluyt, editor of the largecollection of voyages to which Purchas' Pilgrim is a continuation. ]

THE AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER. 

Having already presented you with the Life of St Ignatius, I thoughtmyself obliged to give you that of St Francis Xavier. For, besides thatit was just that the son should attend the father, it seemed to me, thatthese two saints being concerned so much together, the history of theapostle of India and Japan would give you a clearer knowledge of himwho was founder of the Jesuits. I may add likewise, that manyconsiderable persons, and particularly of the court, have testified sogreat a desire to see a complete history of St Xavier in our language, that I thought my labour would not be unacceptable to them; and that insatisfying my own private devotion, I might at the same time content thecuriosity of others. 

The writings out of which I have drawn this work, have furnished me withall I could desire for the perfection of it, in what regards the truthand the ornaments of this history: for without speaking of Turselline andOrlandino, I have diligently read Lucena and Bartoli; the first of whichWrote in Portuguese with this title, "The History of the Life of FatherFrancis Xavier, and of what was done in the Indies by the Religious ofthe Society of Jesus. " He informs us, that he had in his hands theauthentic copies of the informations which were made by order of JohnIII. King of Portugal, concerning the actions of the blessed FatherXavier, and the originals of many letters, written from the Indies onthat subject, which are to this day deposited in the archives of theuniversity of Coimbra. As for Bartoli, who is so famous by his writings, and who is accounted amongst the best of the Italian authors, he hasextracted from the archives of the Casa Professa at Rome, and from theacts of the canonization, what he relates of our saint in the first partof the History of the Society, intitled, Asia. 

Though these two historians have in some sort collected all that can besaid concerning St Francis Xavier, I omitted not to take a view of whatothers have written on that subject; and chiefly the book of Nieremberg, which bears for title, "_Claros Varones_, or Illustrious Men;" theHistory of India, by Maffeus, and that of Jarrio; the Church History ofJapan, by Solia; the Castilian History of the Missions, which the Fathersof the Society have made to the East Indies, and the kingdoms of Chinaand Japan, composed by Lewis de Gusman; and, lastly, the PortugueseHistory of the Travels of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto. 

But seeing St Francis Xavier himself has written some parts of thoseaccidents which have befallen him in India and Japan, I have faithfullycopied his letters, and from thence have drawn those particulars whichhave much conduced to my information, and clearing of the truth. Theseletters have also furnished me with materials to make the narrationappear more lively and moving, when you hear the saint himself speakingin his proper words, and mixing his own thoughts and reflections with hisactions. I had almost finished this my work, when I received from Spainand Italy two other lives of St Francis Xavier, which before that time Ihad not seen: the one very new, which was written in Italian by FatherJoseph Massei; the other more ancient, written in Spanish by FatherFrancis Garcia. I found nothing in those two books which I had notobserved in others; but read them with great pleasure, as being mostexactly and elegantly written, each in their several tongue. 

For what remains, amongst all those historians which I have cited, thereis only the author of the new Italian Life, who has not followed thecommon error, in relation to the age of St Francis Xavier: for the restof them not precisely knowing the year and day of his birth, have madehim ten years older than he was; placing his nativity about the timewhen the passage to the East Indies was discovered by Vasco de Gama. 

But Father Massei has taken his measures in that particular, from FatherPoussines, that judicious person to whom we are owing for the new lettersof St Xavier, and who has composed a dissertation in Latin, touching theyear of our apostle's birth. 

He produces, in the said treatise, a Latin paper, written in allappearance in the year 1585, and found in the records of the house of DonJuan Antonio, Count of Xavier. That paper, --wherein is treated of theancestors and birth of the saint, and which very probably, as Poussinesjudges, is the minute of a letter sent to Rome, where Dr Navara thenresided, to whom it refers you, --that paper, I say, has these words init: _Non scitur certò annus quo natus est P. Franciscus Xaverius. Vulgotamen invaluit, a quibusdam natum cum dici anno millesimo quadragintesimononagesimo-sexto_: which is to say, the year is not certainly known, inwhich Father Francis Xavier was born; but it is generally held, that somehave reported he was born in the year 1496. 

But it is to be observed, that these words, _Non scitur certò annus quonatus est P. Franciscus Xaverius_, are dashed out with the stroke of apen. There is also a line drawn over these other words, _Natum eum dicimillesimo, quadragintesimo, nonagesimo-sexto_: and this is written overhead, _Natus est P. Franciscus Xaverius anno millesimo quingentesimosexto_. Father Francis Xavier was born in the year 1506. There is alsowritten in the margin, _Natus est die 7 Aprilis, anni 1506_. He was bornon the 7th of April, 1506. 

That which renders this testimony more authentic, is, that at the bottomof the letter, these words, in Spanish, are written by the same handwhich corrected those two passages of which I spoke: _Hallo se la razondel tiempo que el S. P. Francisco Xavier naciò, en un libro manual de suhermano el Capitan Juan de Azpilcueta: la qual sacò de un libro, de supadre Don Juan Jasso; viz_. "The time when the blessed Father FrancisXavier was born, is found in the journal of his brother Don Juan deAzpilcueta, who extracted it from the journal or manual of his father DonJuan Jasso. " 'Tis on this foundation, that, before I had read the Lifewritten by Father Massei, I had already closed with the opinion of FatherPoussines. 

As to the precise day of the father's death, I have followed the commonopinion, which I take to be the most probable, in conformity to the bullof his canonization. For the historians who have mentioned it, agree notwith each other, on what clay he died. 'Tis said in Herbert's Travels tothe Indies and Persia, translated out of the English, "St Francis Xavier, the Jesuit of Navarre, died the 4th of December, 1552. " Ferdinand MendezPinto, the Portuguese, affirms, that he died at midnight, on Saturday the2d of December, the same year. A manuscript letter, pretended to bewritten by Anthony de Sainte Foy, companion to Xavier for the voyage ofChina, the truth of which I suspect, relates, that the Saint died on aSunday night at two of the clock, on the 2d of December, 1552. Now 'tismost certain, that in the year 1552, the 2d of December fell on a Friday;so that it is a manifest mistake to say, that St Xavier died that yeareither on Saturday or Sunday the 2d of December. 

I should apprehend, lest a life so extraordinary as this might somewhatshock the profaner sort of men, if the reputation of St Francis Xavierwere not well established in the world, and that the wonderful things hedid had not all the marks of true miracles. As the author who made thecollection of them has well observed, the mission of the saint gives theman authority, even in our first conceptions of them: for being sent fromGod for the conversion of infidels, it was necessary that the faithshould be planted in the East, by the same means as it had been throughall the world, in the beginning of the church. 

Besides which, never any miracles have been examined with greater care, or more judicially than these. They were not miracles wrought in private, and which we are only to believe on the attestation of two or threeinterested persons, such who might have been surprised into an opinion ofthem; they were ordinarily public matters of fact, avowed by a whole cityor kingdom, and which had for witnesses the body of a nation, for themost part Heathen, or Mahometan. Many of these miracles have been of longcontinuance; and it was an easy matter for such who were incredulous, tosatisfy their doubts concerning them. All of them have been attended bysuch consequences as have confirmed their truth, beyond dispute: such aswere--the conversions of kingdoms, and of kings, who were the greatestenemies to Christianity; the wonderful ardency of those new Christians, and the heroical constancy of their martyrs. But after all, nothing cangive a greater confirmation of the saint's miracles, than his saint-likelife; which was even more wonderful than the miracles themselves. It wasin a manner of necessity, that a man of so holy a conversation shouldwork those things, which other men could not perform; and that, resigninghimself to God, with an entire confidence and trust, in the mostdangerous occasions, God should consign over to him some part of hisomnipotence, for the benefit of souls. 

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER. 

BOOK I. 

_His birth. His natural endowments, and first studies. His fatherpurposes to recal him from his studies, and is diverted from thatresolution. He continues his studies, and sets up a philosophy lecture. He is preserved from falling into heresy. His change of life. Hisretirement, and total conversion. He consecrates himself to God, by avow. What happened to him in his journey to Venice. What he did atVenice. He goes to Rome, and from thence returns to Venice. He prepareshimself to celebrate his first mass. He celebrates his first mass, andfalls sick after it. St Jerome appears to him. He goes to Bolognia, andlabours there with great success. He relapses into his sickness, and yetcontinues preaching. He is recalled to Rome by Father Ignatius, andlabours there with great success. The occasion of the mission into theIndies. He is named for the mission of the Indies. God mysteriouslyreveals to him his intended mission to the Indies. He takes his leave ofthe Pope, and what his Holiness said to him. He departs from Rome. How heemployed himself during his journey. His letter to Ignatius. Someremarkable accidents in his journey to Lisbon. He passes by the castle ofXavier without going to it. He arrives at Lisbon, and cures Rodriguezimmediately after his coming. He is called to court. The manner of hislife at Lisbon. He refuses to visit his uncle, the Duke of Navarre. Thefruit of his evangelical labours. The reputation he acquired at Lisbon. They would retain him in Portugal. He is permitted to go to the Indies, and the king discourses with him before his departure. He refuses theprovisions offered him for his voyage. He goes for the Indies, and whathe said to Rodriguez at parting_. 

I have undertaken to write the life of a saint, who has renewed, in thelast age, the greatest wonders which were wrought in the infancy of thechurch; and who was himself a living proof of Christianity. There will beseen in the actions of one single man, a new world converted by the powerof his preaching, and by that of his miracles: idolatrous kings, withtheir dominions, reduced under the obedience of the gospel; the faithflourishing in the very midst of barbarism; and the authority of theRoman church acknowledged by nations the most remote, who were utterlyunacquainted with ancient Rome. 

This apostolical man, of whom I speak, is St Francis Xavier, of thesociety of Jesus, and one of the first disciples of St Ignatius Loyola. He was of Navarre; and, according to the testimony of Cardinal AntoniaZapata, who examined his nobility from undoubted records, he derived hispedigree from the kings of Navarre. 

His father was Don Juan de Jasso, a lord of great merit, well conversantin the management of affairs, and who held one of the first places in thecouncil of state, under the reign of King John III. The name of hismother was Mary Azpilcueta Xavier, heiress to two of the most illustriousfamilies in that kingdom; for the chief of her house, Don MartinAzpilcueta, less famous by the great actions of his ancestors, than byhis own virtue, married Juana Xavier, the only daughter and remaininghope of her family. He had by her no other child but this Mary of whom wespoke, one of the most accomplished persons of her time. 

This virgin, equally beautiful and prudent, being married to Don Jasso, became the mother of many children; the youngest of whom was Francis, thesame whose life I write. He was born in the castle of Xavier, on the 7thof April, in the year 1506. That castle, situated at the foot of thePyrenean Mountains, seven or eight leagues distant from Pampeluna, hadappertained to his mother's house for about two hundred and fifty years;his progenitors on her side having obtained it in gift from King Thibald, the first of that name, in recompence of those signal services which theyhad performed for the crown. 'Tis from thence they took the name ofXavier, in lieu of Asnarez, which was the former name of their family. This surname was conferred on Francis, as also on some of the rest ofhis brothers, lest so glorious a name, now remaining in one only woman, should be totally extinguished with her. 

That Providence, which had selected Francis for the conversion of suchmultitudes of people, endued him with all the natural qualities which arerequisite to the function of an apostle. He was of a strong habit ofbody, his complexion lively and vigorous, his genius sublime and capableof the greatest designs, his heart fearless, agreeable in his behaviour, but above all, he was of a gay, complying, and winning humour: thisnotwithstanding, he had a most extreme aversion for all manner ofimmodesty, and a vast inclination for his studies. 

His parents, who lived a most Christian life, inspired him with the fearof God from his infancy, and took a particular care of his education. Hewas no sooner arrived to an age capable of instruction, than, instead ofembracing the profession of arms, after the example of his brothers, heturned himself, of his own motion, on the side of learning; and, as hehad a quick conception, a happy memory, and a penetrating mind, headvanced wonderfully in few years. 

Having gained a sufficient knowledge in the Latin tongue, and discovereda great propensity to learning, he was sent to the university of Paris, the most celebrated of all Europe, and to which the gentlemen of Spain, Italy, and Germany, resorted for their studies. 

He came to Paris in the eighteenth year of his age, and fell immediatelyon the study of philosophy. 'Tis scarcely credible with how much ardourhe surmounted the first difficulties of logic. Whatsoever hisinclinations were towards a knowledge so crabbed and so subtle, he tuggedat it with incessant pains, to be at the head of all his fellow students;and perhaps never any scholar besides himself could join together so muchease, and so much labour. 

Xavier minded nothing more, than how to become an excellent philosopher, when his father, who had a numerous family of children, and who was oneof those men of quality, whose fortunes are not equal to their birth, wasthinking to remove him from his studies, after having allowed him acompetent maintenance for a year or two. He communicated these histhoughts to Magdalen. Jasso, his daughter, abbess of the convent of StClare de Gandia, famous for the austerity of its rules, and establishedby some holy Frenchwomen of that order, whom the calamities of war hadforced to forsake their native country, and to seek a sanctuary in thekingdom of Valencia. 

Magdalen, in her younger days, had been maid of honour and favourite tothe Catholic queen Isabella. The love of solitude, and of the cross, hadcaused her to forsake the court of Arragon, and quit for ever thepleasures of this world. Having chosen the most reformed monastery ofSpain for the place of her retreat, she applied herself, Avith fervour, to the exercises of penitence and prayer; and became, even from hernoviciate, a perfect pattern of religious perfection. 

During the course of her life, she had great communications with God; andone day he gave her to understand, that she should die a sweet and easydeath; but, on the contrary, one of her nuns was pre-ordained to die instrange torments. The intention of God was not thereby to reveal to theabbess what was really to happen, but rather to give her an opportunityof exercising an heroic act of charity. She comprehended what herheavenly Father exacted from her, and petitioned him for an exchange. 

God granted to her what himself had inspired her to demand; and waspleased to assure her, by a new revelation, that he had heard herprayers. She made known to her ghostly father what had passed betwixt Godand her, and time verified it: for the sister above mentioned diedwithout sickness, and appeared in dying to have had a foretaste of thejoys to come. On the other side, the abbess was struck with a terribledisease, which took all her body, as it were, in pieces, and made hersuffer intolerable pains; yet even those pains were less cruel to her, than those inward torments which God at the same time inflicted on her. She endured all this with wonderful patience and resignation; being wellassured, that in the whole series of these dispensations there wassomewhat of divine. 

For what remains concerning her, from the first years of her entry into areligious life, the gift of prophecy shone so visibly in her, that nonedoubted but that she was full of the spirit of God; and 'tis alsoprobable, that she left a legacy of her prophetic gifts to her spiritualdaughters. For, after her decease, the nuns of Gandia foretold manythings, which afterward the event confirmed; as, amongst others, theunhappy success of the expedition to Algier; of which the Duke of Borgia, viceroy of Catalonia, gave the advertisement from them to Charles V. Whenhe was making his preparations for that enterprize. 

It was six years before the death of Magdalen, that Don Jasso, herfather, writ to her concerning Xavier. After she had received the letter, she was illuminated from above; and, according to the dictates of thatdivine light, she answered Don Jasso, that he should beware of recallingher brother Francis, whatsoever it might cost him for his entertainmentin the university of Paris. That he was a chosen vessel, pre-ordained tobe the apostle of the Indies, and that one day he should become a greatpillar of the church. 

These letters have been preserved for a long time afterwards, and havebeen viewed by many persons, who have deposed the truth judicially in theprocess of the canonization of the saint. 

Don Jasso received this answer from his daughter as an oracle fromheaven; and no longer thought of recalling his son from his studies. 

Xavier, thereupon, continued his philosophy; and succeeded so well in it, that having maintained his thesis, at the end of his course, with ageneral applause, and afterwards taking his degree of master of arts, hewas judged worthy to teach philosophy himself. His parts appeared morethan ever in this new employment; and he acquired an high reputation inhis public lectures on Aristotle. The praises, which universally weregiven him, were extremely pleasing to his vanity. He was not a littleproud to have augmented the glory of his family by the way of learning, while his brothers were continually adorning it by that of arms; and heflattered himself, that the way which he had taken, would lead him onwardto somewhat of greater consequence. 

But God Almighty had far other thoughts than those of Xavier; and it wasnot for these fading honours that the Divine Providence had conducted himto Paris. 

At the same time, when this young master of philosophy began his course, Ignatius Loyola, who had renounced the world, and cast the model of alearned society, wholly devoted to the salvation of souls, came intoFrance to finish his studies, which the obstacles he found in Spain, after his conversion, had constrained him to interrupt. 

He had not continued long in the university of Paris, before he heardtalk of Xavier, and grew acquainted with him. Our new professor, whotaught at the college of Beauvois, though he dwelt in the college of StBarbe, with Peter le Fevre, a Savoyard, was judged by Ignatius to be veryproper for the preaching of the gospel, as well as his companion. To gainthe better opportunity of insinuating himself into their acquaintance, hetook lodgings with them, and was not wanting to exhort them to live up tothe rules of Christianity. 

Le Fevre, who was of a tractable nature, and was not enamoured of theworld, resigned himself without opposition. But Xavier, who was of ahaughty spirit, and whose head was filled with ambitious thoughts, made afierce resistance at the first. The discipline and maxims of Ignatius, who lived in a mean equipage, and valued nothing but that poverty, madehim pass for a low-minded fellow in the opinion of our young gentleman. And accordingly Xavier treated him with much contempt; rallying him onall occasions, and making it his business to ridicule him. 

This notwithstanding, Ignatius omitted no opportunities of representingto him the great consequence of his eternal welfare, and urging the wordsof our blessed Saviour, "What profit is it to a man to gain the wholeworld, and to lose his own, soul?" but perceiving that he could make noimpression on a heart where self-conceit was so very prevalent, and whichwas dazzled with vain-glory, he bethought, himself of assaulting him onthe weaker side. 

When he had often congratulated with him for those rare talents ofnature with which he was endowed, and particularly applauded his greatwit, he made it his business to procure him scholars, and to augment hisreputation by the crowd of his auditors. He conducted them even to hischair; and in presenting them to their master, never failed to make hispanegyric. 

Xavier was too vain, not to receive, with a greedy satisfaction, whateverincense was given him of that kind: applause was welcome from whateverhands it came; and withal he was too grateful, not to acknowledge thosegood offices which were done him, by a person whom he had used so veryill: he was the more sensible of such a kindness, by being conscious tohimself how little he had deserved it. He began to look with other eyeson him who had the appearance of so mean a creature; and at the same timewas informed, that this man, of so despicable a presence, was born of oneof the noblest families in Guypuscoa; that his courage was correspondentto his birth; and that only the fear of God had inspired him with thechoice of such a life, so distant from his inclination, and his quality. 

These considerations, in favour of Ignatius, led him to hearken, withoutrepugnance, to those discourses which were so little suitable to hisnatural bent; as if the quality and virtue of him who made them, hadgiven a new charm and weight to what he said. 

While things were passing in this manner, Xavier's money began to failhim, as it frequently happens to foreigners, who are at a great distancefrom their own country; and Ignatius, who was newly returned from thevoyages which he had made into Flanders and England, from whence he hadbrought back a large contribution of alms, assisted him in so pressingan occasion, and thereby made an absolute conquest of his affections. 

The heresy of Luther began to spread itself in Europe: and it was anartifice of those sectaries, to procure proselytes in the Catholicuniversities, who, by little and little, might insinuate their newopinions into the scholars, and their masters. Many knowing men ofGermany were come on that design to Paris, though under the pretence ofseconding the intentions of Francis the First, who was desirous torestore learning in his kingdom. They scattered their errors in sodexterous a manner, that they made them plausible; and principallyendeavoured to fasten on young scholars, who had the greatest reputationof wit. Xavier, who was naturally curious, took pleasure in thesenovelties, and had run into them of his own accord, if Ignatius had notwithdrawn him. He gave an account of this very thing not long afterwardsin a letter to his elder brother, Don Azpilcueta, of which Ignatiushimself was the bearer; who made a voyage into Spain, for those reasonswhich I have set down in another place. And these are his words, whichwell deserve to be related. 

"He has not only relieved me, by himself, and by his friends, in thosenecessities to which I was reduced; but, which is of more importance, hehas withdrawn me from those occasions which I had to contract afriendship with young men of my own standing, persons of great wit, andwell accomplished, who had sucked in the poison of heresy, and who hidthe corruptions of their heart under a fair and pleasing outside. Healone has broken off that dangerous commerce in which my own imprudencehad engaged me; and has hindered me from following the bent of my easynature, by discovering to me the snares which were laid for me. If DonIgnatius had given me no other proof of his kindness, I know not how Icould be able to return it, by any acknowledgments I could make: for, inshort, without his assistance, I could not have defended myself fromthose young men, so fair in their outward carriage, and so corrupt in thebottom of their hearts. "

We may conclude, from this authentic testimony, that Xavier, far fromcarrying the faith to the remotest nations of idolaters, was in danger tomake shipwreck of his own; had he not fallen into the hands of such afriend as was Ignatius, who detested even the least appearance of heresy, and whose sight was sharp enough to discover heretics, how speciouslysoever they were disguised. 

It was not sufficient to have only preserved Xavier from error, but itwas farther necessary to wean him altogether from the world: thesefavourable dispositions which appeared in him, encouraged Ignatius topursue his design, and gave him hope of a fortunate success. Having oneday found Xavier more than ordinarily attentive, he repeated to him thesewords more forcibly than ever: "What will it profit a man to gain thewhole world, and to lose his own soul?" After which he told him, that amind so noble and so great as his, ought not to confine itself to thevain honours of this world; that celestial glory was the only lawfulobject of his ambition; and that right reason would require him to preferthat which was eternally to last, before what would vanish like a dream. 

Then it was that Xavier began to see into the emptiness of earthlygreatness, and found himself touched with the love of heavenly things. But these first impressions of grace had not all their effectimmediately: he made frequent reflections within himself, of what the manof God had said to him; and it was not without many serious thoughts, andafter many a hard struggling, that, being overcome at length by the powerof those eternal truths, he took up a solid resolution, of livingaccording to the maxims of the gospel, and of treading in his footsteps, who had made him sensible of his being gone astray. 

He resigned himself therefore to the conduct of Ignatius, after theexample of Le Fevre, who had already reformed his life, and was inflamedwith the zeal of edifying others. The directions of a guide so wellenlightened, made easy to Xavier the paths of that perfection which werehitherto unknown to him. He learnt from his new master, that the firststep which a sincere convert is to make, is to labour in the subduing ofhis darling passion. As vainglory had the greatest dominion over him, hismain endeavours, from the very beginning, were to humble himself, and toconfound his own pride in the sense of his emptiness, and of his sins. But well knowing that he could not tame the haughtiness of the soulwithout mortifying the flesh, he undertook the conquest of his body, byhaircloth, by fasting, and other austerities of penance. 

When his time of vacancies was come, he performed his spiritualexercises, which his lectures of philosophy had till then hindered. Thosevery exercises I mean, which Ignatius, inspired of God, had composed atManreze; and of which I have drawn the model, in the life of that holyfounder of the society of Jesus. 

He began his retirement with an extraordinary fervour, even to thepassing of four days entire without taking any nourishment. Hiscontemplations were wholly busied, day and night, on divine matters. Andan ancient memorial assures us, that he went to his devotions with hishands and feet tied; either to signify, that he was desirous to donothing, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, or to give himselfthe same usage which was given to the man in the parable of the gospel;"who dared to appear in the wedding-room, without cloathing himself inwedding-garments. "

By meditating at his leisure on the great truths of Christianity, andespecially on the mysteries of our Saviour, according to the method ofIgnatius, he was wholly changed into another man; and the humility of thecross appeared to him more amiable than all the glories of the world. These new insights caused him, without the least repugnance, to refuse acanonry of Pampeluna, which was offered him at that time, and was veryconsiderable, both in regard of the profits and of the dignity. He formedalso, during his solitude, the design of glorifying God by all possiblemeans, and of employing his whole life for the salvation of souls. 

On these foundations, having finished the course of philosophy which heread, and which had lasted three years and a half, according to thecustom of those times, he studied in divinity, by the counsel ofIgnatius, whose scholar he openly declared himself to be. 

In the mean time, Ignatius, who found in himself an inward call to theHoly-Land, for the conversion of Jews and Infidels, discovered hisintentions to Xavier, which he had already communicated to Le Fevre, andfour other learned young men, who had embraced his form of life. 

All the seven engaged themselves, by promise to each other, and by solemnvows to God Almighty, to forsake their worldly goods, and undertake avoyage to Jerusalem; or in case that, in the compass of a year, theycould not find an accommodation of passing the seas, that they would castthemselves at the feet of our holy Father, for the service of the church, into whatever part of the world he would please to send them. 

They made these vows at Montmartre, on the day of our Lady's assumption, in the year 1534. That holy place, which has been watered with the bloodof martyrs, and where their bodies are still deposited, inspired aparticular devotion into Xavier, and possessed him with a fervent desireof martyrdom. 

Towards the end of the year following, he went from Paris, in the companyof Le Fevre, Laynez, Salmeron, Rodriguez, Bobadilla, and three otherdivines, whom Le Fevre had gained in the absence of Ignatius, who, forimportant reasons, was obliged to go before, and who was waiting for themat Venice. 

Somewhat before their departure, Xavier, who was sometimes too fartransported by the fervency of his soul, had tied his arms and thighswith little cords, to mortify himself, for some kind of vain satisfactionwhich he took in out-running and over-leaping his young companions; forhe was very active; and, amongst all the recreations used by scholars, he liked none but the exercises of the body. 

Though the cords were very straight about him, yet he imagined they wouldnot hinder him from travelling on foot. But he had scarcely begun hisjourney, when he was taken with extreme pains. He bore them as well as hewas able; and dissembled them, till his strength failed him. His motionhad swelled his thighs, and indented the cords so deep into his flesh, that they were hardly visible; insomuch that the chirurgeons, to whom hisfellows discovered them, plainly said, that any incisions which could bemade, would serve only to increase his pains, and that the ill wasincurable. 

In this dangerous conjuncture, Le Fevre, Laynez, and the rest, hadrecourse to Almighty God, and not in vain. Xavier waking the nextmorning, found the cords fallen down, the swelling wholly taken away fromhis thighs, and the marks of the cords only remaining on his flesh. Theyjoined in actions of thanksgiving to the Almighty, for his providentialcare already shewn in their behalf; and though the ways were very rugged, in the inclemency of that season, yet they cheerfully pursued theirjourney. 

Xavier was serviceable to his companions on all occasions, and was alwaysbeforehand with them in the duties of charity; whether it were, that, being naturally officious, and of a warm temper, he was more eager toemploy himself for them; or that his health, miraculously restored, rendered him more obliging and charitable towards those by whose prayersit was recovered. 

When they were arrived at Venice, their breathings were only after theholy places. Ignatius, whom they were ravished to see again, and whomthey acknowledged for their common father, was of opinion, that whilethey were waiting the opportunity of going to receive the Pope's blessingfor their voyage to Jerusalem, each of them should employ himself onworks of charity, in the hospitals of the town. 

Xavier, whose lot fell in the hospital of the incurable, was notsatisfied only with busying himself all day, in dressing sick men'ssores, in making their beds, and doing them more inferior service, butalso passed whole nights in watching by them. But his care and pains werenot confined to the succour of their bodies. Though he was whollyignorant of the Italian tongue, he frequently spoke of God to them; and, above all things, exhorted the greatest libertines to repentance, bycausing them to comprehend, in the best manner he was able, that thoughtheir corporal maladies were incurable, yet the diseases of their soulswere not so; that how enormous soever our offences were, we ought alwaysto rely on God's mercy; and that a desire of being sincerely converted, was only requisite in sinners for obtaining the grace of theirconversion. 

One of these sick alms-men had an ulcer, which was horrible to the sight, but the noisomeness of the stench was yet more insupportable; every oneshunned the miserable creature, not enduring so much as to approach him;and Xavier once found a great repugnance in himself to attend him: but atthe same time, he called to his remembrance a maxim of Ignatius, that wemake no progress in virtue, but by vanquishing ourselves; and that theoccasion of making a great sacrifice, was too precious to be lost. Beingfortified with these thoughts, and encouraged by the example of StCatharine de Sienna, which came into his mind, he embraced the sickperson, applied his mouth to the ulcer, surmounted his natural loathing, and sucked out the corruption. At the same moment his repugnancevanished; and after that, he had no farther trouble in the like cases: ofso great importance it is to us, once to have thoroughly overcomeourselves. 

Two months were passed away in these exercises of charity. After which heset forward on his journey to Rome with the other disciples of Ignatius, who himself stayed behind alone at Venice. They underwent great hardshipsin their way. It rained continually, and bread was often wanting to them, even when their strength was wasted. Xavier encouraged his companions, and sustained himself by that apostolic spirit with which God replenishedhim from that time forwards, and which already made him in love with painand sufferings. 

Being arrived at Rome, his first care was to visit the churches, and toconsecrate himself to the ministry of the gospel, upon the sepulchre ofthe holy apostles. He had the opportunity of speaking more than oncebefore the Pope: for the whole company of them being introduced into theVatican, by Pedro Ortiz, that Spanish doctor whom they had formerlyknown at Paris, and whom the emperor had sent to Rome for the affairconcerning the marriage of Catharine of Arragon, queen of England, Paulthe Third, who was a lover of learning, and who was pleased to beentertained at his table with the conversation of learned men, commandedthat these strangers, whose capacity he had heard so extremely praised, should be admitted to see him for many days successively; and that in hispresence they should discourse concerning divers points ofschool-divinity. 

Having received the benediction of our holy father for their voyage tothe Holy Land, and obtained the permission for those amongst them whowere not in sacred orders, to receive them, they returned to Venice. Xavier there made his vows of poverty and perpetual chastity, togetherwith the rest, in the hands of Jeronimo Veralli, the Pope's nuncio; andhaving again taken up his post in the hospital of the incurable, heresumed his offices of charity, which his journey to Rome had constrainedhim to interrupt, and continued in those exercises till the time of hisembarkment. 

In the mean time, the war which was already kindled betwixt the Venetiansand the Turk, had broken the commerce of the Levant, and stopt thepassage to the Holy Land; insomuch, that the ship of the pilgrims ofJerusalem went not out that year, according to the former custom. 

This disappointment wonderfully afflicted Xavier; and the more, becausehe not only lost the hope of seeing those places which had beenconsecrated by the presence and the blood of Jesus Christ, but wasalso bereft of an occasion of dying for his divine Master. Yet hecomforted himself in reflecting on the method of God's providence; and atthe same time, not to be wanting in his duty to his neighbour, hedisposed himself to receive the orders of priesthood, and did receivethem with those considerations of awful dread, and holy confusion, whichare not easy to be expressed. 

The town appeared to him an improper place for his preparation, in orderto his first mass. He sought out a solitary place, where, being separatedfrom the communication of man, he might enjoy the privacies of God. Hefound this convenience of a retirement near Monteselice, not far fromPadua: it was a miserable thatched cottage, forsaken of inhabitants, andout of all manner of repair. Thus accommodated, he passed forty days, exposed to the injuries of the air, lying on the cold hard ground, rigidly disciplining his body, fasting all the day, and sustaining natureonly with a little pittance of bread, which he begged about theneighbourhood; but tasting all the while the sweets of paradise, incontemplating the eternal truths of faith. As his cabin did not unfitlyrepresent to him the stable of Bethlehem, so he proposed to himselffrequently the extreme poverty of the infant Jesus, as the pattern of hisown; and said within himself, that, since the Saviour of mankind hadchosen to be in want of all things, they who laboured after him for thesalvation of souls, were obliged, by his example, to possess nothing inthis world. 

How pleasing soever this loneliness were to him, yet, his forty daysbeing now expired, he left it, to instruct the villages andneighbour-towns, and principally Monteselice, where the people weregrossly ignorant, and knew little of the duties of Christianity. 

The servant of God made daily exhortations to them, and his penitentaspect gave authority to all his words; insomuch, that only looking onhis face, none could doubt but he was come from the wilderness toinstruct them in the way to heaven. He employed himself during the spaceof two or three months in that manner: for, though there was noappearance that any vessel should set sail for the Holy Land, yetIgnatius and his disciples, who had obliged themselves to wait one yearin expectation of any such opportunity, would not depart from theterritories of the republic till it was totally expired, that they mighthave nothing to upbraid themselves, in relation to the vow which they hadmade. 

Xavier being thus disposed, both by his retirement, and his exterioremployments, at length said his first mass at Vicenza; to which placeIgnatius had caused all his company to resort; and he said it with tearsflowing in such abundance, that his audience could not refrain frommixing their own with his. 

His austere, laborious life, joined with so sensible a devotion, whichoften makes too great an impression on the body, so much impaired thestrength of his constitution, that he fell sick, not long after his firstmass. He was carried into one of the own hospitals, which was so crowded, and so poor, that Xavier had in it but the one half of a wretched bed, and that too in a chamber which was open on every side. His victuals wereno better than his lodging, and never was sick man more destitute ofhuman succours. But, in requital, heaven was not wanting to him. 

He was wonderfully devoted to St Jerome; and had often had recourse tothat blessed doctor of the church for the understanding of difficultplaces in the scripture. The saint appeared to him one night, refulgentin his beams of glory, and gave him consolation in his sickness; yet, atthe same time, declaring to him, that a far greater affliction than thepresent was waiting for him at Bolognia, where himself and one of hiscompanions were to pass the winter; that some of them should go to Padua, some to Rome, others to Ferrara, and the remainder of them to Sienna. 

This apparition fortified Xavier so much, that he recovered suddenly; yetwhether he had some doubts concerning it, or was of opinion that heought to keep it secret, he said nothing of it at that time. But thatwhich then happened to him made it evident, that the vision was of God:for Ignatius, who was ignorant of what had been revealed to Xavier, having assembled his disciples, gave them to understand, that since thegate of the Holy Land was shut against them, they ought not any longer todefer the offering of their service to the Pope; that it was sufficientif some of them went to Rome, while the rest of them dispersed themselvesin the universities of Italy, to the end, they might inspire the fear ofGod into the scholars, and gather up into their number some youngstudents of the greatest parts. Ignatius appointed them their severalstations, just as they had been foreshewn by St Jerome; and that ofBolognia fell to the share of Xavier and Bobadilla. 

After their arrival at Bolognia, Xavier went to say a mass at the tomb ofSt Dominic; for he had a particular veneration for the founder of thatorder, whose institution was for the preaching of the gospel. 

A devout virgin, whose name was Isabella Casalini, seeing him at thealtar, judged him to be a man of God; and was led by some interior motionto speak to this stranger priest when his mass was ended. She was so muchedified, and so satisfied with the discourse of Xavier, that sheimmediately informed her uncle, at whose house she lodged, of thistreasure which she had discovered. 

Jerome Casalini, who was a very considerable clergyman, both in regard ofhis noble blood, and of his virtue, went in search of this Spanishpriest, upon the account which was given of him by his niece; and, havingfound him at the hospital, he importuned him so much to take a lodging inhis house, that Xavier could not in civility refuse him. But the holy manwould never accept of his table, of whose house he had accepted. Hebegged his bread from door to door according to his usual custom; andlived on nothing but the alms which was given him in the town. 

Every day, after having celebrated the divine mysteries in St Lucy'schurch, of which Casalini was curate, he there heard the confessions ofsuch as presented themselves before him: after which he visited theprisons and the hospitals, catechised the children, and preached to thepeople. 

'Tis true, he spoke but very ill; and his language was only a kind ofLingua Franca, a confused medley of Italian, French, and Spanish: but hepronounced it with so much vehemence, and the matter of his sermons wasso solid, that his ill accent and his improper phrases were past by. Hisaudience attended to him, as to a man descended from above, and hissermon being ended, came to cast themselves at his feet, and makeconfession. 

These continual labours, during a very sharp winter, threw him into arelapse of sickness, much more dangerous than the former; as it were toverify the prediction of St Jérome; for he was seized with a quartanague, which was both malignant and obstinate; insomuch that it cast himinto an extreme faintness, and made him as meagre as a skeleton. In themean time, lean and languishing as he was, he ceased not to crawl to thepublic places, and excite passengers to repentance. When his voice failedhim, his wan and mortified face, the very picture of death, seemed tospeak for him, and his presence alone had admirable effects. 

Jerome Casalini profited so well by the instructions and example of theholy man, that he arrived in a short space to a high degree of holiness:the greater knowledge he had of him, he the more admired him, as hehimself related. And it is from this virtuous churchman chiefly, that wehave this account of Xavier, that having laboured all the day, he passedthe night in prayer; that on Friday saying the mass of the passion, hemelted into tears, and was often ravished in his soul; that he spoke butseldom, but that all his words were full of sound reason, and heavenlygrace. 

While Xavier was thus employing his labours at Bolognia, he was recalledto Rome by Father Ignatius; who had already presented himself before thePope, and offered 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 theauthority of the Holy See. The principal churches were assigned them; andthat of St Laurence in Damaso was allotted to Xavier. 

Being now freed from his quartan ague, and his strength being againrestored, he preached with more vigour and vehemence than ever. 

Death, the last judgment, and the pains of hell, were the common subjectof his sermons. He proposed those terrible truths after a plain manner, but withal so movingly, that the people, who came in crowds to hear himpreach, departed out of the church in a profound silence; and thoughtless of giving praises to the preacher, than of converting their ownsouls to God. 

The famine, which laid waste the city of Rome at that time, gaveopportunity to the ten stranger-priests, to relieve an infinite number ofmiserable people, oppressed with want, and unregarded. Xavier was ardentabove the rest, to find them places of accommodation, and to procure almsfor their subsistence. He bore them even upon his shoulders to the placeswhich were provided for them, and attended them with all imaginable care. 

In the mean time, James Govea, a Portuguese, who had been acquainted withIgnatius, Xavier, and Le Fevre, at Paris, and who was principal of thecollege of Saint Barbe, when they lived together there, being come toRome on some in portant business, for which he was sent thither by JohnIII. King of Portugal, and seeing the wonderful effects of theirministry, wrote to the king, as he had formerly done from Paris, on thereports which were spread of them, that such men as these, knowing, humble, charitable, inflamed with zeal, indefatigable in labour, loversof the cross, and who aimed at nothing but the honour of Almighty God, were fit to be employed in the East-Indies, to plant and propagate thefaith. He adjoined, that if his majesty were desirous of these excellentmen, he had only to ask them from the Pope, who had the absolutedisposition of them. 

John III. , the most religious prince then living, wrote thereupon to hisambassador, Don Pedro Mascaregnas, and ordered him to obtain from hisHoliness, six at least of those apostolic men, which had been commendedto him by Govea. The Pope having heard the proposition of Mascaregnas, remitted the whole business to Father Ignatius, for whom he had already agreat consideration, and who had lately presented to his Holiness themodel of the new order, which he and his companions were desirous toestablish. 

Ignatius, who had proposed to himself no less a design than thereformation of the whole world, and who saw the urgent necessities ofEurope, infected with heresy on every side, returned this answer toMascaregnas, that often, which was their whole number, he could spare himat the most but two persons. The Pope approved this answer, and orderedIgnatius to make the choice himself. Thereupon Ignatius named SimonRodriguez, a Portuguese, and Nicholas Bobadilla, a Spaniard. The first ofthese was, at that time, employed at Sienna, and the other in the kingdomof Naples, as they had been commissioned by the Holy Father. ThoughRodriguez was languishing under a quartan ague, when he was recalled fromSienna, yet he failed not to obey the summons; and shortly afterembarking on a ship of Lisbon which went off from Civita Vecchia, carriedwith him Paul de Camerin, who, some months before, had joined himself totheir society. 

As for Bobadilla, he was no sooner come to Rome, than he fell sick of acontinued fever; and it may be said, that his distemper was the hand ofheaven, which had ordained another in his stead for the mission of theIndies. For sometimes that which appears but chance, or a purely naturaleffect in the lives of men, is a disposition of the Divine Providencewhich moves by secret ways to its own proposed ends; and is pleased toexecute those designs, by means as easy as they are powerful. 

Mascaregnas, who had finished his embassy, and was desirous to carry withhim into Portugal the second missioner who had been promised him, waswithin a day of his departure, when Bobadilla arrived. Ignatius seeinghim in no condition to undertake a voyage, applied himself to God for hisdirection, in the choice of one to fill his place, or rather to makechoice of him whom God had chosen; for he was immediately enlightenedfrom above, and made to understand, that Xavier was that vessel ofelection. He called for him at the same instant, and being filled withthe Divine Spirit, "Xavier, " said he, "I had named Bobadilla for theIndies, but the Almighty has nominated you this day. I declare it to youfrom the vicar of Jesus Christ. Receive an employment committed to yourcharge by his Holiness, and delivered by my mouth, as if it wereconferred on you by our blessed Saviour in person. And rejoice for yourfinding an opportunity, to satisfy that fervent desire, which we allhave, of carrying the faith into remote countries. You have not here anarrow Palestine, or a province of Asia, in prospect, but a vast extentof ground, and innumerable kingdoms. An entire world is reserved for yourendeavours, and nothing but so large a field is worthy of your courageand your zeal. Go, my brother, where the voice of God has called you;where the Holy See has sent you, and kindle those unknown nations, withthe 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 hiscountenance, answered him, that he could not but be astonished, that heshould pitch upon a man, so weak, and pusillanimous as himself, for anenterprize which required no less than an apostle: that nevertheless hewas ready to obey the commands of heaven; and that he offered himself, with the whole power of his soul, to do and suffer all things for thesalvation of the Indies. After which, giving leave to his internal joy tobreak out, and to diffuse itself, he more confidently said to FatherIgnatius, that his desires were now accomplished; that for a long time hehad sighed after the Indies without daring to declare it; and that hehoped, from those idolatrous nations, to have the honour of dying forJesus Christ, which had been denied him in the Holy Land. 

He added, in the height of these transports, that at length he saw thatclearly, of which God had often given him a glimpse, under somemysterious figures. In effect, Xavier had frequently dreamed by night, that he carried on his shoulders a gigantic and very swarthy Indian; andopprest with this strong imagination, he groaned and sighed, in thatuneasy slumber, as one out of breath, and labouring under an intolerableburden; insomuch that the noise of his groans and heavings waked thosewho were lodged in the same chamber; and, one night it happening thatFather Laynez being awakened by it, asked him what it was that troubledhim: Xavier immediately told his dream, and added, that it put him into asweat, with big drops over all his body. 

Besides this, he once beheld, either in a dream, or in a trance, vastoceans full of tempests and of rocks, desart islands, barbarouscountries, hunger and thirst raging every where, nakedness, multiplicityof labours, with bloody persecution, and imminent dangers of death and ofdestruction. In the midst of this ghastly apparition, he cried aloud, "yet more, O my God, yet more!" and Father Simon Rodriguez heard thesewords distinctly; but however he importuned him to declare their meaning, he would discover nothing at that time, till embarking for the Indies, herevealed the mystery. 

Such ideas, always present in his imagination, filled his familiardiscourses with notions of a new world, and the conversion of infidels. While he was speaking on that subject, his face was on a fire, and thetears came into his eyes. This was testified of him by Father JeromeDominic, who, before he entered into the Society, had conversed with himat Bolognia, where a strict friendship was made betwixt them. 

As Xavier was advertised of this voyage to the Indies but the day beforeMascaregnas departed, he had but time enough to piece up his cassock, bidhis friends farewell, and go to kiss the feet of our Holy Father. 

Paul III. , overjoyed, that under his pontificate a gate should be openedto the gospel, in the Oriental Indies, received him with a most fatherlyaffection, and excited him to assume such thoughts, as were worthy of sohigh an undertaking; telling him for his encouragement, that the EternalWisdom is never failing to supply us with strength, to prosecute thelabours to which it has ordained us, even though they should surpass allhuman abilities. He must, indeed, prepare himself for many sufferings;but the affairs of God succeeded not but by the ways of suffering, andthat none could pretend to the honour of an apostleship, but by treadingin the steps of the apostles, whose lives were but one continual cross, and a daily death; that heaven had employed him in the mission of StThomas, the apostle of the Indies, for the conquest of souls; that itbecame him to labour generously, in reviving the faith in thosecountries, where it had been planted by that great apostle; and that ifit were necessary for him to shed his blood, for the glory of ChristJesus, he should account it his happiness to die a martyr. 

It seemed that God himself had spoken by the mouth of his vicegerent, such impression had these words on the mind and heart of Xavier. Theyinspired into him a divine vigour; and in his answer to his Holiness, there shone through a profound humility such a magnanimity of soul, thatPaul III. Had from that very minute a certain presage of those wonderfulevents which afterwards arrived. Therefore the most Holy Father, havingwished him the special assistance of God in all his labours, tenderlyembraced him, more than once, and gave him a most ample benediction. 

Xavier departed in the company of Mascaregnas the 15th of March, in theyear 1540, without any other equipage besides his breviary. In giving hislast adieu to Father Ignatius, he cast himself at his feet, and with allhumility desired his blessing; and, in taking leave of Laynez, he putinto his hands a small memorial, which he had written, and signed. 

This memorial, which is still preserved at Rome, contains, that heapproves, as much as depends on him, the rules and constitutions, whichshall be drawn up, by Ignatius and his companions; that he electsIgnatius to be their general, and, in failure of him, Le Fevre; that heconsecrates himself to God, by the three vows, of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in the Society of Jesus, when it shall be raised into areligious order, by the apostolical authority. 

The conclusion of that affair was daily expected; and indeed it washappily finished, before the ending of the year, in that almostmiraculous manner, as is related in the Life of St Ignatius. 

His journey from Rome to Lisbon was all the way by land, and was abovethree months. Xavier had a horse allowed him, by order from theambassador; but they were no sooner on their way, than he made himcommon. The Father often alighted to ease the servants who followed onfoot; or exchanged his horse with others, who were not so well mounted. At the inns he was every man's servant, even to the rubbing of thehorses, by an excess of humility, which, on those occasions, caused himto forget the dignity of his character. He resigned his chamber and hisbed to those who wanted them; and never lodged but either on the ground, or on the litter in the stable. In the rest of his actions, evercheerful, and pleasant in discourse, which made all men desirous of hiscompany; but always mixing somewhat with that gaiety, which was edifyingboth to the masters and the servants, and inspired them alike withthoughts of piety. 

They went by Loretto, where they rested at the least eight days; afterwhich they continued their journey by Bolognia. From thence, Xavier wroteto Ignatius, in this manner:

"I received, on the holiday of Easter, the letter which you wrote andinclosed in the packet of my lord ambassador. God only knows my joy inreceiving it. Believing, as I do, that we shall never entertain eachother in this world, by any other way than that of writing, and that weshall never see each other but in heaven, it concerns us, that littletime we have to live in this place of exile, to give ourselves the mutualconsolation of frequent letters. The correspondence, on my part, shall beexactly kept; for being convinced, by the reasons which you gave me atour parting, that a commerce of this nature ought to be established, in aregular method, betwixt the colonies and the mother country, I haveresolved, that in whatever parts of the world I shall reside, or anymembers of our Society with me, to maintain a strict communication withyou, and with the fathers at Rome, and send you as large an account, aspossibly I can, of any news concerning us. I have taken my opportunity ofseeing the Cardinal of Invrea, as you gave me in command, and havediscoursed at leisure with him. He received me with much goodness, andoffered me, with great civility, his interest, for our common cause. Inthe midst of the discourse, which we had together, I threw myself at hisfeet, and kissed his hand, in the name of all our Society. As much as Ican gather by his words, he extremely approves the manner of our living. 

"As concerning my lord ambassador, he loads me with so many favours, thatI should never conclude, if I began to relate them. And I know nothow I could suffer the many good offices he does me, if I had not somehope of repaying him in the Indies, at the expence of my life itself. OnPalm-Sunday I heard his confession, and after him many of his domesticservants; I communicated them afterwards, in the holy chapel of Loretto, where I said mass. I likewise confessed them, and gave them thecommunion, on Easter Sunday. My lord ambassador's almoner recommendshimself to your good prayers, and has promised to bear me company to theIndies. I am more taken up with confessions here, than I was in Rome, atSt Lewis. I heartily salute all our fathers; and if I name not every oneof them in particular, I desire them to believe, 'tis neither from mywant of memory, or affection. 

"Your brother and servant in Jesus Christ, FRANCIS. "_from Bolognia, March_ 31. 1540. 

The whole town of Bolognia was in motion at the approach of FatherXavier: they were wonderfully affected to him, and in a manner esteemedhim their apostle: both great and small were desirous of seeing him, andmost of them discovered the state of their conscience to him; many ofthem proffered themselves to go along with him to the Indies; all of themshed tears at his departure, as thinking they should never more beholdhim. 

Jerome Casalini, curate of St Lucy, who had lodged him the year before, was most particularly kind to him at his return: he obliged him to acceptof his house once more; and his church became as it were the publicrendezvous, where Xavier heard an infinite number of confessions. 

In the rest of this long journey, there happened two or three passages, which were sufficiently remarkable. A domestic servant to the ambassador, who rode before as harbinger, to take up lodgings for the train, aviolent and brutal man, being reprehended by his lord for having beennegligent in his duty, fell into a horrible fit of passion, as soon as hewas out of Mascaregnas his presence. Xavier heard him, but took no noticeof it at that time, for fear of provoking him to any fartherextravagance. But the next morning, when the same person set out beforethe company, according to his custom, he spurred after him at full speed. He found him lying under his horse, who was fallen with him from aprecipice, the man sorely bruised, and the horse killed outright. "Wretched creature, " said the father to him, "what had become of thee, ifthou hadst died of this fall?" These few words made him sensible of hisfurious expressions, for which he sincerely asked pardon of Almighty God;and Xavier alighting, mounted him on his own horse, and walked on foot byhim, to their lodging. 

Another time, the gentleman of the horse attempting to pass a smallriver, which was very deep and rapid, the current carried away both manand horse, and the whole company gave him for lost. Xavier, moved withcompassion for the danger of his soul, because, having had a call fromheaven to enter into a religious life, he had not followed the motions ofgrace, but remained in the world, began to implore God in his behalf. Theambassador, who had a great kindness for him, joined in that devoutaction, and commanded the whole train to follow their example. They hadscarcely opened their mouths for him, when the man and horse, who wereboth drowning, came again above water, and were carried to the bank. Thegentleman was drawn out, pale in his countenance, and half dead. When hehad recovered his senses, Xavier demanded of him, what thoughts he had, when he was at the point of perishing? He freely acknowledged, that thereligious life, to which God had called him, then struck upon his soul;with dismal apprehensions, for having neglected the means of hissalvation. He protested afterwards, as Xavier himself relates, in one ofhis letters, that, in that dreadful moment, the remorse of hisconscience, and the sense of God's judgments on souls unfaithful to theirvocation, were more terrible to him, than the horrors even of deathitself. He spoke of eternal punishments, with expressions so lively andso strong, as if he had already felt them, and was returned from hell. Hefrequently said, (as the saint has assured us, ) that, by a just judgmentof eternal God, those who, during their life, made no preparations fortheir death, had not the leisure to think on God when death surprisedthem. 

The ambassador, and all his people, doubted not, but the safety of thisgentleman was to be ascribed to the merits of the saint: but Xavierhimself believed it to be the pure effect of the ambassador's devotion;for thus he writes to father Ignatius concerning it--"Our Lord waspleased to give ear to the fervent prayers of his servant Mascaregnas, which he made with tears in his eyes, for the deliverance of the poorcreature, whom he looked upon as lost; and who was taken from the jaws ofdeath by a most evident miracle. "

In passing over the Alps, the ambassador's secretary alighting to walk ina difficult way, which he could not well observe, by reason of the snows, his foot happened to slip on a sharp descent, and he rolled down into aprecipice: he had tumbled to the very bottom, if, in falling, his clotheshad not taken hold on one of the crags of the rock, where he remainedhanging over the depths without ability, either to disengage himself, orget up again. Those who followed, made towards him, but the horror ofthat abyss stopt short the most daring: Xavier only made not the leastdemur; he descended the precipice, and lending his hand to the secretary, by little and little dragged him up. 

Being gotten out of France, and having passed the Pyreneans, on the sideof Navarre, when they were now approaching Pampeluna, Mascaregnasbethought himself, that Father Francis, for by that name Xavier wasusually called, had not spoken one word of going to the castle of Xavier, which was but little distant from their road: he remembered him of it, and was even so importunate with him, as to say, that since he was aboutto leave Europe, and perhaps never more to see it, he could not indecency dispense with giving a visit to his family, and taking his lastleave of his mother, who was yet living. 

But all the arguments of Mascaregnas wrought no effect upon a man, who, having forsaken all things for the love of God, was of opinion, that hehad nothing remaining in this world; and who also was persuaded, thatflesh and blood are enemies to the apostolical spirit. He turned not outof the road, but only said to the ambassador, that he deferred the sightof his relations till he should visit them in heaven; that this transientview would be accompanied but with melancholy and sadness, the commonproducts of a last farewell, but in heaven he should eternally beholdthem with pleasure, and without the least allay of sorrow. 

Mascaregnas had already a high idea of Xavier's virtue; but thiswonderful disengagement from the world yet more increased the esteemwhich he had of him; insomuch, that before they reached Portugal, he sentan express to King John III. With no other errand, than to inform him ofthe holiness of this second missioner to the Indies. 

They arrived at Lisbon towards the end of June; and Xavier retired to thehospital of All Saints, where Rodriguez, who came by sea, had taken uphis lodging. He found him much weakened with a quartan ague, which hadnot left him; and embraced him just at the moment when his fit was comingon him. But whether it were, that the extreme joy which Rodriguez found, so unexpectedly to see him, dissipated the humour which caused hisdisease, or that the embraces of Xavier had from that time an healingvirtue; certain it is that the fit came not, and from thenceforward thesick man entirely recovered of that distemper. 

Three or four days after, they were both called to court. The king andqueen, who were in company together, received Xavier as a saint, on thereport of Mascaregnas, and entertained him with all imaginable shews ofkindness. They asked them diverse questions concerning their way ofliving; by what accident their new Society came to be formed; and whatwas the ground and ultimate design of it; and at last desired to beinformed by them, from whence proceeded that strange persecution, whichwas raised in Rome against their body, which had made so great a noiseover all Europe. Xavier made answer to all these demands in few words, but so very pertinently, as much satisfied both their majesties: theygave great approbation, (as himself relates in his letter from Lisbonto Ignatius, ) to what he said, concerning the discipline of our houses, the quality of our ministry, and the spirit and model of our foundation. 

In the midst of the conversation, the king sent for the Prince ofPortugal, his son Don Juan, and the Infanta Maria, his daughter, that thetwo missioners might see them. And from thence his majesty took occasionof relating to them, how many children he had still living, and how manyhe had lost, which turned the discourse on the education of youth; andbefore the fathers were dismissed, the king recommended to their care, anhundred young gentlemen, who were bred at court. 

Though an officer of the palace had orders to prepare an handsomelodging, with good accommodation, for Xavier and Rodriguez, they returnedto their hospital, and there continued. They would not so much as receivetheir entertainment of diet, which was assigned them from court, but wentthe round of the city begging alms at their appointed hours, and lived inpoverty, according to the manner of life which they had prescribedthemselves. 

The fleet not being to set sail till the next spring, and theseapostolical persons not knowing what it was to live in idleness, Xavierwas not satisfied only to instruct those young gentlemen in piety, whomthe king had committed to his charge; he gave himself an employment, anddid at Lisbon what he had done at Venice, Bolognia, and Rome, for thespace of two years and more. But, besides that he assisted the sick inthe hospital day and night, visited the prisoners every day, andcatechised the children many times in the week, he often discoursedwith the principal persons of the court, and engaged them in thespiritual exercises of Ignatius. 

At first he preached not in the churches, judging, that the ministries ofthe gospel ought to begin with less public actions; and went not into thepulpit, without being first requested by the king, who one day sendingfor him to the palace, acquainted him with the desire he had to hear himpreach; and told him, "That the Bishop of Lisbon was of opinion, thatthey ought not any longer to defer his public exhortations. "

Father Simon Rodriguez laboured also on his part, in the service of hisneighbour, according to the same method, and with the same spirit. 

In the mean time, Martin d'Azpilcueta, surnamed the doctor of Navarre, who was uncle to Xavier, on the mother's side, and who was chiefprofessor of divinity in the university of Coimbra, having heard the newsof his nephew's arrival, wrote earnestly to the king, that it wouldplease him to send Father Francis to him. He added, that in case theFather might have leave to remain with him till the departure of thefleet, he would oblige himself to make two new lectures, at his ownexpence, the one in canon-law, the other in mystical divinity. Andfarther, that in few years afterwards he would follow Xavier to theIndies, and preach the gospel in conjunction with him, to the easternidolaters. 

These letters prevailed nothing; the man, who had refused so much as toturn out of his way to see his mother, was bent against the taking of ajourney, and forsaking his important business to visit one of hisrelations. The king retained Xavier at Lisbon, at the request of Xavierhimself; and the father wrote a letter of excuse to the doctor ofNavarre, who had written two to him full of tenderness and friendship. Asthat doct&r was unsatisfied with that kind of life, which his nephew hadembraced, so Xavier resolved him, on that point, in this manner. "Forwhat concerns our institute, of which so many reports are now raised, Ihave but one word, at present, to say of it. 'Tis of little consequence, illustrious doctor, to be judged by men, especially by such, who willneeds be judging before they understand the matter, and know the meritsof the cause. "

As to his intention of going to the Indies, he desired him to think nofarther of it; for thus Navarre relates that passage in his manual: "Ihad resolved to have ended my days in those parts, if Xavier, inconsideration of my great age, had not thought me incapable of thoselabours which attend his mission: and if he had not written to me at hisdeparture, that I should comfort myself for his absence, by the hope ofseeing each other in the celestial kingdom. "

Our two missioners laboured not in vain at Lisbon. From the verybeginning of their ministry, devotion began to spread amongst the people. All men ran to the blessed sacrament, which before was never thought onbut in Lent: and this holy custom diffused itself insensibly through allthe towns of Portugal Many, who had deferred their conversion from timeto time, now on the sudden gave themselves up to God, and even renouncedthe world. The most inveterate enemies were sincerely reconciled, and themost impudent harlots abandoned 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 firstto declare himself against those vices which usually infect the palacesof princes. And that he might introduce a reformation by degrees, notonly into his house, bat also dilate it through his whole kingdom, heobliged all the young courtiers to confess themselves once a week; for hesaid, "That if the lords and gentlemen would accustom themselves, fromtheir tender years, to the service and fear of God, they would live withgreater Christianity in their riper age: and if persons of quality cameonce to give good examples of religion, the commonalty, who formthemselves according to their model, would not fail to regulate theirmanners; and therefore the reformation of all degrees in the kingdomconsisted chiefly in the virtuous education of young noblemen. "

The example of the prince and the young courtiers drew the rest; andthereupon Xavier writes to Ignatius in these terms:

"Nothing can be more regular than the court of Portugal: it resemblesrather a religious society, than a secular court. The number of courtierswho come to confession, and are afterwards communicated, every eightdays, is so very great, that we are in admiration of it, " and are inperpetual thanksgiving for it. We are so taken up with hearingconfessions, that if we were twice so many as we are, there would beemployment more than enough for us. We are sitting on the confession-seatall the day long, and part of the night, though none but courtiers arepermitted to come to us. 

"I remember, that I observed, when the king was at Almerin, those whowaited on him, from all parts of the kingdom, about their own affairs, asthe custom is, were in great admiration at this new court-mode; and whenthey beheld the young gentlemen at the sacrament of the altar, everySunday and holiday, with great reverence, they thought themselves inanother world. But the greatest part of them imitating that which theyadmired, drew near to the tribunal of penance, and the holy table. Hadwe confessors enow to attend the crowds that come to court, no man wouldventure to apply himself to the king for any business, before he had beenfirst 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 constrained to accept of the diet which wasprovided for them by the king's appointment; for they judged their timewas better employed in the service of souls, than in begging their dailybread about the streets. Yet they omitted not to ask alms once or twicea-week, that they might not disuse themselves from the spirit ofmortification and poverty. With these considerations, they reserved butlittle of what was sent them from the palace, and distributed the restamong the poor. 

On the other side, the perpetual labour of confessions reduced them topreach but very seldom, for want of leisure. But, all things dulyexamined, they thought it of more consequence to God's service, toadminister the sacrament of penance, than to preach the word; because thecourt of Portugal was furnished with able preachers, but was much wantingin judicious confessors; which was the very observation that Xavier madein the letter above cited. 

These visible and wonderful operations caused the two missioners to berespected as men sent down from heaven, and replenished with the spiritof the Most High; insomuch that all men gave them the surname ofapostles, which glorious title still remains with their successors inPortugal. The king, on all occasions, shewed them a most particularaffection; and Xavier, ravished with so many expressions of his goodnessto them, gives this account of it to Father Ignatius. 

"Our whole society stands obliged to his majesty, for his singular favourto us; as well the rest of you at Rome, as we in Portugal. I am given tounderstand, from the ambassador Mascaregnas, that the king told him, heshould be very glad, that all the members of our company might begathered together, and established here; though on that condition heemployed a good part of his revenue for our entertainment. "

"This pious prince, " says Xavier in another of his letters, "who has sotender an inclination for our society, and who wishes our advancement asmuch as if he were one of us, has thereby engaged us for ever to hisservice; and we should be guilty of a most horrible ingratitude, even tobe unworthy of life, if we made not a public profession of our service tohim, and if every day of our lives we endeavoured not to acknowledge, byour prayers, as far as our weakness will give us leave, all the favoursof so generous a protector, and so magnificent a benefactor. "

The Prince, Don Henry, who was nominated cardinal not long after, and inprocess of time came to the crown by the death of Don Sebastian, had notless affection for them than the king his brother. Being grandinquisitor, he gave the fathers an absolute power in his tribunal; andpermitted them to discourse freely with all the prisoners of theInquisition. 

Some of the greatest quality in the court were so much edified with theapostolic life of Xavier and Rodriguez, that they were desirous toembrace their institute; as some learned persons of the city had alreadydone. In short, every thing succeeded with them so, that Xavier had someapprehensions concerning this tide of happiness: He bemoaned it sometimesto himself, and said, that prosperity was always formidable, even in themost pious undertakings; that persecution was more desirable, and a muchsurer mark of Christ's disciples. 

The two missioners appointed for the Indies lived in this manner; andimpatiently waited for the proper season of navigation. But the kingweighing in his mind the great good which they had done, in so short atime, both amongst the nobility and the common people, was desirous toretain them still in Portugal. It seemed reasonable to him, that theinterest of his own kingdom ought to be dearer to him than that offoreign nations; and that these new labourers would produce a largerincrease in Catholic countries, than amongst barbarians. 

Yet that he might undertake nothing without mature deliberation, hecalled a council, and himself proposed it to them. All of them approvedthe king's opinion, excepting only the Prince Don Henry; who stronglyurged, 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 ofProvidence, if he thwarted their intended voyage; that the Indies wereequally to be considered with Portugal itself, since they had beenconquered by the Portuguese, and were annexed to the imperial crown; thatthose idolaters had better inclinations towards Christianity than wasgenerally thought; and that they would come over to the faith of theirown accord, when they should see amongst them disinterested preachers, free from avarice and ambition. 

As the opinions of kings are always prevalent, the reasons of Don Henrywere slighted; and it was concluded in council, that the two missionersshould not depart the realm. This resolution afflicted them the moresensibly, because they both breathed after those eastern countries; theirlast recourse was to write to Rome, and interpose the mediation ofFather Ignatius. He accordingly moved the Pope in their behalf; but hisHoliness refused to make an absolute decision, and remitted the wholeaffair 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 dutyto pay him a blind obedience. At the same time he also wrote to Don PedroMascaregnas, that Xavier and Rodriguez were wholly at the king's command;and that they should always remain in Portugal, in case his majestydesired it. Notwithstanding which, he thought a temperament might befound, which was, that Rodriguez might be retained in Portugal, andXavier permitted to go for India. 

The king was satisfied with this proposal of Ignatius; and believed it tobe inspired by God himself. Xavier, transported with joy at the news ofit, gave thanks to the Divine Goodness, which had chosen him anew for themission of the Oriental parts, or rather which had executed its eternalpurpose, notwithstanding human opposition. 

The time of embarkment being come, he was called one day to the palace:the king discoursed fully with him concerning the present condition ofthe Indies, and recommended particularly to him the affairs of religion. He likewise gave him in charge, to visit the fortresses of thePortuguese, and take notice how God was served in them; and withal togive him an account of what more was requisite to be done for theestablishment of Christianity in those new conquests; and to writefrequently on that subject, not only to his ministers, but to his ownperson. 

After this he presented him the four briefs, which had been expeditedfrom Home the same year; in two of which, our Holy Father had constitutedXavier apostolical nuncio, and endued him with ample power for theextending and maintenance of the faith throughout the East; in the third, his Holiness recommended him to David Emperor of Ethiopia; and in thefourth, to all the princes who possessed the isles of the sea, or thecontinent from the Cape of Good Hope, even beyond the Ganges. 

John III. Had requested these briefs, and the Pope had freely grantedthem, with design thereby to make the mission of Father Francis the moreillustrious and authentic. The father received them from the hands of theking with profound respect; saying, that as much as his weakness wascapable of performing, he should endeavour to sustain the burden, whichGod and man had laid upon him. 

Some few days before he went to sea, Don Antonio d'Ataida, count ofCastagnera, who supervised the provisions of the naval army, advertisedXavier to make a note of what things were necessary for him in order tohis voyage; assuring him from his majesty, that he should be furnished tohis own desire. They want nothing, replied the father with a smile, whohave occasion for nothing. I am much obliged to the king for hisliberality, and to you for your care of me; but I owe more to the DivineProvidence, and you would not wish me to distrust it. 

The count of Castagnera, who had an express order from the king, to makea large provision for Father Xavier, was very urgent with him, andimportuned him so strongly to take something, for fear, said he, oftempting Providence, which does not every day work miracles, that Xavier, not to appear either obstinate or, presumptuous, demanded some few littlebooks of devotion, for which he foresaw he should have occasion in theIndies, and a thick eloth habit against the excessive colds, which are tobe endured in doubling the Cape. 

The count, amazed that the father asked for nothing more, besought him tomake a better use of the king's offers; but seeing that all hisintreaties prevailed nothing, "you shall not be master in every thing, "said he, with some kind of heat, "and at the least you cannot possiblyrefuse a servant to attend you, because I am sure you cannot be withoutone. " "So long as I have the use of these two hands, " replied Xavier, "Iwill have no other servant. " "But decency, " rejoined the count, "requires, that you should have one, if it were but to maintain thedignity of your character. How shameful would it seem to behold anapostolical legate washing his own linen on the deck, and dressing hisown victuals?" "I will take upon me for once, " said Xavier, "to servemyself, and others too, without dishonouring my character. So long as Ido no ill, I am in no fear of scandalizing my neighbour; nor of debasingthat authority with which I am entrusted by the Holy See. They are thesehuman considerations, and false notions of decencies and punctilios, which have reduced the church to that condition in which we now see it. "

This positive answer stopped Castagnera's mouth; but afterwards, he gavegreat commendations of Xavier, and publicly said, "that he found it muchmore difficult to combat the denials of Father Francis, than to satisfythe craving desires of other men. "

The day of his departure being come at length, and all things in areadiness to set sail, Xavier went to the port, with his two companions, whom he carried with him to the Indies; namely, Father Paul de Camerino, an Italian, and Francis Mansilla, a Portuguese, who was not yet inpriests orders. Simon Rodriguez bore him company to the fleet; and thenit was, that, embracing each other with much tenderness, "My brother, "said Xavier, "these are the last words which I shall ever say to you:we shall see each other no more in this present world; let us endure ourseparation with patience; for most certain it is, that, being well unitedwith our Lord, we shall be united in ourselves; and that nothing shall beable to divide us from the society which we have in Jesus Christ. 

"As to what remains, I will, for your satisfaction, " added he, "discoverto you a secret, which hitherto I have concealed from your knowledge: Youmay remember, that when we lodged as chamber-fellows, in the hospital atRome, you heard me crying out one night, 'yet more, O my Lord, yet more!'you have often asked what that exclamation meant; and I have alwaysanswered you, that you should not trouble yourself about it: I must nowtell you, that I then beheld, (but whether sleeping or waking, God onlyknows, ) all I was to suffer for the glory of Jesus Christ; our Lordinfused into me so great a delight for sufferings, that not being able tosatiate, myself with those troubles which he had presented to myimagination, I begged of him yet more; and that was the sense of what Ipronounced with so much fervency, 'yet more, yet more!' I hope the DivineGoodness will grant me that in India, which he has foreshewn to me inItaly, and that the desires which he inspired into me shall be shortlysatisfied. "

After these words they embraced each other anew, and parted both of themin tears. When Rodriguez was returned on shore, they gave the signal ofdeparture, and set sail. This was on the 7th of April, in the year 1541, under the command of Don Martin Alphonso de Sosa, viceroy of the Indies;a man of known integrity, and consummate experience in what related tothose parts, where he had formerly lived for many years. He was desirousof Xavier's company, in the Admiral, which was called the St James. Xavier went aboard on his own birth-day, entering then on hissix-and-thirtieth year. He had resided eight months entire at Lisbon; andforseven years, and somewhat more, had been the professed disciple ofIgnatius Loyola. 

 * * * * *

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER. 

BOOK II. 

_By what way he passes to the Indies. His employment in the ship. Hearrives at Mozambique, and what he does there. He falls sick himself, andyet continues to serve the sick. His first prediction Verified by thesuccess. He arrives at Melinda, and there confers with the Mahometans. Hepasses over to Socotora; his opinion concerning that people. He arrivesat Goa. He visits the Bishop of the Indies. The estate of religion in theIndia at his arrival. His first work at Goa. The first fruits of hislabours. His industry to gain the Concubinarians. He is told of the coastof Fishery, and goes thither. This coast is called in the maps LaPescaria. He works a miracle at Cape Comorin. He labours in the salvationof the Paravas. His manner of teaching the Christian faith. Heestablishes catechists and teachers of the faith to supply ids place. Thefruit of his labours on the coast of Fishery. He makes use of children tocure the sick. The zeal of the children against idols and idolaters. Thepunishment of a pagan, who had despised the admonitions of Father Xavier. The original and character of the Brachmans. He treats with theBrachmans. The conference of Xavier with a famous Brachman. He worksdivers miracles. He declares himself against the Brachmans. The meanswhereby he destroyed idolatry. He returns to Goa, and for what reason. The beginning and establishment of the seminary of holy faith. Theseminary of holy faith new named the College of St Paul. He returns tothe coast of Fishery; his actions there. He goes to the relief of theChristians, on the coast of Fishery. He goes to the kingdom ofTravancore, and there labours with great success. God communicates to himthe gift of tongues. He is persecuted by the Brachmans. He goes to meetthe army of the Badages, and puts them to flight. He prevails upon theking of Travancore to favour the gospel. He raises two from death. _

While the Christian religion flourished in Asia, under the emperors ofConstantinople, there were two ordinary passages, and both of them shortenough towards the Indies: the one by Syria, over the Euphrates and thePersian Gulph; the other by Egypt, over the Arabian Gulph, commonlycalled the Red Sea. But after the Saracens had possessed themselves ofthose places, the European Christians finding those passages unsecure fortravelling, sought out ways of a larger circuit, to avoid falling intothe hands of their most mortal enemies. 

The Portuguese were the first who bethought themselves of coasting allAfrica, and one part of Arabia and Persia; by taking this compass, theIndies are distant from Portugal about four thousand leagues, and thepassengers are constrained to suffer twice the scorching heats of thetorrid zone, in going under the equinoctial line, which divides Africaalmost in two equal parts. 

Don Henry, son of King John I. , the most skilful prince of that age inthe mathematics, was he who attempted the discovery of those seas, andundertook to double the Cape of Good Hope, upon the account of traffic, which he desired to establish betwixt the crown of Portugal and theemperor of Ethiopia, commonly called Prester John. This enterprise havingsucceeded, the kings of Portugal, Alphonso V. , John II. , and Emanuel I. , followed it so happily, that, by little and little, they completed thepassage to the Indies. 

This was the course that Father Xavier held with the fleet of Portugal. He found himself sufficient employment, during the time of thenavigation: his first study was to put a stop to those disorders whichare commonly occasioned by an idle life on ship-board; and he began withgaming, which is the only recreation, or rather the whole employment, of the seamen. 

That he might banish games of chance, which almost always occasionquarrels and swearing, he proposed some little innocent diversions, capable of entertaining the mind, without stirring up the passions. Butseeing that, in spite of his endeavours, they were bent on cards anddice, he thought it not convenient to absent himself, but became alooker on, that he might somewhat awe them by his presence; and when theywere breaking out into any extravagance, he reclaimed them by gentleand soft reproofs. He shewed concernment in their gains, or in theirlosses, and offered sometimes to hold their cards. 

There were at least a 'thousand persons in the Admiral, men of allconditions: the father made himself all to all, thereby to gain some toJesus Christ; entertaining every man with such discourse as was mostsuitable to his calling. He talked of sea affairs to mariners, of war tothe soldiery, of commerce to merchants, and of affairs of state to men ofquality. His natural gaiety, and obliging humour, gained him a generalesteem; the greatest libertines, and most brutal persons, sought hisconversation, and were even pleased to hear him speak of God. 

He instructed the seamen daily in the principles of religion, of whichthe greater part were wholly ignorant, or had at the best but asmattering of it; and preached to them on every holiday, at the foot ofthe main mast. All of them profited by his sermons, and in little timenothing was heard amongst them, which was offensive to the honour of God, or that wounded Christian charity; or touched upon obsceneness, or illmanners. They had a profound veneration for him; with one word only, heappeased their quarrels, and put an end to all their differences. 

The viceroy, Don Martin Alphonso de Sosa, invited him from the very firstclay to eat at his table; but Xavier humbly excused it, with greatacknowledgments, and during all the voyage lived only on what he beggedabout the ship. 

In the mean time, the insufferable colds of Cabo Verde, and the excessiveheats of Guinea, together with the stench of the fresh waters, andputrifaction of their flesh provisions under the line, produced manydangerous distempers. The most common was a pestilential fever, accompanied with a kind of cancer, which bred in the mouth, andulcerated all the gums; the sick being crowded together, spread theinfection amongst themselves; and as every one was apprehensive ofgetting the disease, they had been destitute of all succour, if FatherFrancis had not taken compassion on them. He wiped them in their sweats, he cleansed their ulcers, he washed their linen, and rendered them allthe most abject services; but, above all things, he had care of theirconsciences, and his principal employment was to dispose them to aChristian death. 

These were his perpetual employments; being at the same time himselfseized with continued fits of vomiting, and extreme languishments, whichlasted two whole months. For his ease and refreshment, Sosa caused him tobe accommodated with a larger cabin than was first appointed for him: heaccepted of it, but it was only to lodge in it those who were mostdesperately ill; as for himself, he lay bare upon the deck, without otherpillow than the tackling. 

He received also the dishes which the viceroy sent him from his table, and divided them amongst those who had most need of nourishment. Somany actions of charity gained him the surname of the Holy Father fromthenceforward, which continued to him all his life, even, amongstMahometans and idolaters. 

While Xavier employed his time in this manner, the navy following itscourse, met with rocks and tempests, and contrary tides. After fivemonths of perpetual navigation, it arrived at Mozambique, towards the endof August. 

Mozambique is a kingdom situated on the eastern coasts of Africa, inhabited by negroes; a barbarous people, but less savage than theirneighbours the Cafres, by reason of the trade which they continuallymaintain with the Ethiopians and Arabs. There is no port on all the shoreto secure shipping from the winds; only one little island is shaped intoa haven, both convenient and safe. 

This isle, which is but a mile distant from the main land, bears the nameof Mozambique, together with the whole kingdom. It was formerly subjectto the Saracens, and a Xeriffe Moor commanded it; but since, thePortuguese have made themselves masters of it, and built a fort, tosecure the passage of their vessels, and refresh their sea-beaten men, who commonly stay there for some time. 

The army under Sosa was constrained to winter in this island, not onlybecause the season was far spent, but also because the sick passengerscould no longer support the incommodities of the sea. The placenotwithstanding was not very proper for infirm persons, for the air isunwholesome; which proceeds from hence, that the sea overflowing thelow-lands of the isle, at the spring tides, the mass of waters theregathered and inclosed is corrupted by the heats; for which reason, theinhabitants are commonly short-lived, but more especially strangers;upon which occasion, Mozambique is generally called the sepulchre of thePortuguese. Besides the intemperance of the air, at the same time, aninfectious disease was raging in the country. 

Being come ashore, Sosa gave immediate orders to carry the sick of everyship to the hospital, which is in the island, of which the kings ofPortugal are founders. Father Xavier followed them; and, with theassistance of his two companions, undertook to attend them all. Theundertaking was beyond his strength; but the soul sustains the body ofapostolical men, and charity can do all things. 

Animated with this new fervour, he went from chamber to chamber, and frombed to bed, giving remedies to some, and administering the last sacramentto others. Every one desired to have him by him; and all acknowledged, that only the sight of his countenance availed them more than a thousandmedicines. 

Having passed the day in continual labour, he watched all night withdying men, or laid himself down by those who were in most danger, tosteal a short unquiet slumber, which was interrupted almost every moment:at the least complaint, or even at a sigh, he was awake, and ran to theirrelief. 

So many fatigues at the length overwhelmed nature, and he fell sickhimself of a fever, so violent, and so malignant, that he was bloodedseven times in a little space, and was three days in a delirium. At thebeginning of his sickness, many were desirous to have withdrawn him fromthe hospital, where the contagion was frightful, and offered him theirown lodgings. He constantly refused their offers, and told them, "That, having made a vow of poverty, he would live and die amongst the poor. "

But when the violence of his distemper was somewhat abated, the saintforgot himself to think on others. Sometimes, not being able to sustainhis body, and burning with his fever, he visited his dear patients, andattended them as much as his weakness would permit him. The physicianhaving one day met him, going hither and thither as his charity calledhim, in the middle of his fit, after having felt his pulse, plainly toldhim, that in all the hospital, there was not one man in more danger thanhimself, and prayed him that he would take some small repose, and butgive himself a breathing time until his fever were on the declension. 

"I will punctually obey you, " replied the father, "when I have satisfiedone part of my duty which calls upon me; it concerns the salvation or asoul, and there is no time to be lost on such an occasion. " Immediatelyhe ordered to be carried to his own bed a poor ship-boy, who laystretched out on a little straw, with a burning fever upon him, withoutspeech or knowledge. The youth was no sooner placed upon the saint's bed, but he came to himself: Xavier made use of the opportunity, and layinghimself by the sick person, who had led a most dissolute life, exhortedhim so strongly all that night to abominate his sins, and to rely on themercy of Almighty God, that he saw him die in great contrition, mixedwith saving hope. 

After this, the father kept the promise which he had made to thephysician, and took a greater care of his own preservation; insomuch thathis fever abated by degrees, and at length left him of itself; but hisstrength was not yet recovered, when the navy put to sea again. Theviceroy, who began to find himself indisposed, would make no longer stayupon a place so much infected, nor attend the recovery of his people, tocontinue his voyage. He desired Xavier to accompany him, and to leavePaul de Camerino, and Francis Mansilla, to attend the sick in thehospital; where indeed they both, performed their duty as became them. 

Thus having made a six months residence on Mozambique, they embarked oncemore on the 15th of March, and in the year 1542. But they went not aboardthe St James, in which they came thither, changing her for a lightervessel, which made better sail. 

It is here proper to observe, that the father, according to the report ofthe passengers who came with him from Portugal to Mozambique, began tomanifest that spirit of prophecy, which he had to the end of his days inso eminent a degree. For hearing those of the St James commend that ship, as a vessel of the strongest built, and the best equipped of all thefleet, he said in express words, that she would prove unfortunate. And ineffect, that ship, which the viceroy left behind him at Mozambique, inthe company of some others, pursuing her course afterwards to the Indies, was driven against the rocks, and dashed in pieces towards the island ofSalseta. 

The galeon, which carried Sosa and Xavier, had the wind so favourable, that in two or three days she arrived at Melinda, on the coast of Africa, towards the equinoctial line. It 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 isfortified with walls, after the European fashion. Though the building isMoresque, the houses notwithstanding are both pleasantand convenient. Theinhabitants are warlike, they are black, and go naked; excepting onlythat they are covered with a kind of an apron of cotton or linen, fromthe waist to the mid thigh. And indeed the heat of their climate willpermit them to wear no more; Melinda being distant from the line butthree degrees and some few minutes. 

They have always maintained a good correspondence with the Portuguese, byreason of the commerce established betwixt them. The flag of Portugal wasno sooner seen, but the Saracen king Came down to the port, attended bythe most honourable persons of his court, to receive the new governor ofthe Indies. The first object which presented itself to Father Franciswhen he stept ashore, drew tears from his eyes; but they were tears ofjoy and pity mingled together. The Portuguese having there a constanttrade, and now and then some of them happening to die, are allowed aburying-place near the town, full of crosses set upon their graves, according to ihe custom of the Catholics: and above the rest there was avery large one of hewn stone placed in the middle, and all over gilded. 

The saint ran to it, and adored before it; receiving an inwardconsolation, to behold it raised so high, and, as it were, triumphingamongst the enemies of Jesus Christ. But at the same time, he wassensibly afflicted, that this sign of our salvation served less to edifythe living, than to honour the memory of the dead. And lifting up hishands to heaven, he besought the Father of all mercies to imprint in thehearts of the infidels, that cross, which they had suffered to be plantedon their ground. 

His next thoughts prompted him to confer of religion with the Moors, that he might endeavour to shew them the extravagances of the Mahometanbelief, and gain an opportunity of revealing to them the eternal truthsof Christian faith. One of the principal inhabitants, and wonderfullybigotted to his sect, prevented him, and immediately demanded of him, ifpiety were not wholly extinguished in the towns of Europe, as it was inMelinda. "For, to confess the truth, " said he, "of seventeen mosqueswhich we have, fourteen are quite forsaken; there are but threeremaining, at which we pay our devotions; and even those three are butlittle visited, and by few persons. 

"This proceeds, without all question, " added the Mahometan, "from someenormous sin, but what it is, I know not: and whatsoever reflections Ican make, I am not able to find what has drawn upon us so dreadful amisfortune. " "There is nothing more clear, " replied Xavier; "God, whodetests the prayer of infidels, has permitted a worship to moulder away, which is displeasing to him; and gives you thence to understand, that hecondemns your sect. " The Saracen was not satisfied with this reason, norwith any other argument which Xavier used against the Alcoran. While theywere thus disputing, a Caciz, or doctor of the law, joined company withthem, having made the same complaint concerning the mosques, how littlethey 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 comesnot in person to visit the congregations of the faithful, who acknowledgehim for God's true prophet, I will certainly look out for some otherreligion. " Xavier took pity on the folly of the Caciz, and endeavouredall he could to convert him at that instant from Mahometanism; but hecould not prevail upon an obstinate mind, blinded with the opinion of itsown reason; and therefore the father acquiesced in the decrees of thatProvidence, which has fixed the times and revolutions for the conversionof infidels and sinners. 

Having left Melinda, where they continued but few days, and stillcoasting Africa, they cast anchor at Socotora, which is beyond CapeGuardafu, and over against the Strait of Mecca. The Moors of that countrycall it the Isle of Amazons; and the reason they allege is, because it isgoverned by women. The inhabitants believe their isle to be the earthlyparadise; which notwithstanding, there is scarcely to be found in all theworld, a spot of ground less deserving that glorious title. The air is ina perpetual sultry heat, the soil is dry and barren, and, excepting onlyfor the aoes which is there produced, and is indeed the best which growsin those eastern parts, even the name of Socotora would not be mentioned. It is not certainly known what religion they profess, so monstrous istheir belief. They hold from the Saracens the worship of Mahomet, fromthe Jews the use of circumcision and sacrifices, and yet give themselvesthe name of Christians. The males bear the name of some or other of theapostles, the most part of the women are called Mary, and yet they haveno knowledge of baptism. They adore the cross, and hang it in littleabout their necks. They chiefly venerate St Thomas; and it is an ancienttradition amongst them, that this holy apostle, in going to the Indies, was cast by a tempest on their coast; that being come ashore, he preachedJesus Christ to those of Socotora; and that from the wreck of that shipwhich brought him thither, they built a chapel in the middle of theirisland. 

The condition of these islanders sensibly afflicted Father Xavier; yet hedespaired not of reducing them to a right understanding of the faith, because, as barbarous as they were, they still preserved some footstepsof Christianity amongst them. Having no knowledge of their tongue, whichbears not the least resemblance to any of our European languages, and isalso wholly different from the Ethiopian and Arabic, at the first he wasconstrained to testify his sorrow to them by dumb signs, for theirignorance and errors. Afterwards, whether it were that some one amongstthem understood the Portuguese, and served as interpreter to all therest, or that counting from this very time he began to receive fromabove, the first fruits of the gift of tongues, which was so abundantlybestowed on him in the Indies on sundry occasions, he spoke to themconcerning the necessity of baptism, and let them know, that there was nopossibility of salvation without a sincere belief in Jesus Christ: butthat the faith allowed of no mixture, and that to become Christians, theymust of necessity cease to be Jews or Mahometans. 

His words made a wonderful impression on the souls and hearts of thosebarbarians: some of them made him presents of their wild fruits, in tokenof their good will; others offered him their children to be baptised; allpromised him to receive baptism themselves, and to lead the life of trueChristians, on condition he would remain with them. But when they beheldthe Portuguese galleon ready to depart, they ran in crowds to thewater-side, and besought the holy man, with tears in their eyes, not toforsake them. 

So moving a spectacle wrought compassion in Xavier; he was earnest withthe viceroy for leave to stay upon the isle, at least till the arrival ofthe vessels, which he had left at Mozambique, But he could obtain no partof his request: and Sosa told him, that heaven having designed him forthe Indies, it was to be wanting to his vocation if he endeavoured thisexchange, and stopped in the beginning of his race; that his zeal wouldfind a more ample field, wherein to exercise itself, than in Socotora, and people of better inclination than those islanders, naturallyinconstant, and as ready to forsake the faith, as they were easy toreceive it. 

Xavier submitted to these reasons of the viceroy, which on this occasionseemed to interpret to him the good pleasure of Almighty God. Instantlythey hoisted sail; but the saint was pierced with sorrow to behold thosepoor creatures, who followed him with their eyes, and held up their handsfrom afar to him; while the vessel was removing into the deep, he turnedhis head towards them, breathing out profound sighs, and lookingmournfully upon them. But that he might leave nothing upon his conscienceto upbraid him concerning the Socotorins, he engaged himself solemnlybefore Almighty God to return to them, so soon as possibly he could; orin case he could not, to procure for them some preachers of the gospel, to instruct them in the way of their salvation. 

This last part of his navigation was not long. After having crossed thesea of Arabia, and part of that which belongs to India, the fleet arrivedat the port of Goa, on the 6th of May, in the year 1542, being thethirteenth month since their setting out from the port of Lisbon. 

The town of Goa is situated on this side of the Ganges, in an islandbearing the same name. It is the capital city of the Indies, the seat ofthe bishop and the viceroy, and the most considerable place of all theEast for traffic. It had been built by the Moors forty years before theEuropeans had passed into the Indies; and in the year 1510, Don Alphonsode Albuquerque, surnamed the Great, took it from the infidels, andsubjected it to the crown of Portugal. 

At that time was verified the famous prophecy of St Thomas the apostle, that the Christian faith, which he had planted in divers kingdoms of theEast, should one day flourish there again; which very prediction he leftgraven on a pillar of living stone, for the memory of future ages. Thepillar was not far distant from the walls of Meliapore, the metropolis ofthe kingdom of Coromandel; and it was to be read in the characters of thecountry, that when the sea, which was forty miles distant from thepillar, should come up to the foot of it, there should arrive in theIndies white men and foreigners, who should there restore the truereligion. 

The infidels had laughed at this prediction for a long time, notbelieving that it would ever be accomplished, and indeed looking on it asa kind of impossibility that it should; yet it was accomplished, and thatso justly, that when Don Vasco de Gama set foot on the Indies, the sea, which sometimes usurps upon the continent, and gains by little and littleon the dry land, was by that time risen to the pillar, so as to bathe itslower parts. 

Yet it may be truly said, that the prophecy of St Thomas had not its fulleffect, till after the coming of Father Xavier; according to anotherprediction of that holy man Peter de Couillan, a religious of theTrinity, who, going to the Indies with Vasco de Gama, in quality of hisghostly father, was martyred by the Indians on the seventh of July 1497, forty-three years before the beginning of the Society of Jesus, who beingpierced through with arrows, while he was shedding his blood for Christ, distinctly pronounced these following words: "In few years there shall beborn in the church of God, a new religious order of clergymen, whichshall bear the name of Jesus: and one of its first fathers, conducted bythe Spirit of God, shall pass into the most remote countries of the EastIndies, the greatest part of which shall embrace the orthodox faith, through the ministry of this evangelical preacher. "

This is related by Juan de Figueras Carpi, in his history of the order ofthe redemption of captives, from the manuscripts of the Trinity Conventin Lisbon, and the memoirs of the king of Portugal's library. 

After Xavier was landed, he went immediately to the hospital, and theretook his lodging, notwithstanding the instances of the viceroy, who wasdesirous to have had him in his palace. But he would not begin hismissionary function, till he had paid his respects to the Bishop of Goa;whose name was Juan d'Albuquerque, of the order of St Francis, a mostexcellent person, and one of the most virtuous prelates which the churchhas ever had. 

The father having informed him of the reasons for which his Holiness andthe king of Portugal had sent him to the Indies, presented to him thebriefs of Pope Paul III. , at the same time declaring to him, that hepretended not to use them without his approbation and good-liking: afterthis, he cast himself at his feet, and desired his blessing. 

The prelate, edified with the modesty of the father, and struck with thatvenerable air of sanctity which appeared in his countenance, took him upimmediately, and embraced him with great tenderness. Having often kissedthe briefs, he restored them to the father, with these words: "Anapostolical legate, sent from the vicar of Jesus Christ, has no need ofreceiving his mission from any other hand; use freely that power, whichthe holy seat has conferred upon you; and rest assured, that if theEpiscopal authority be needful to maintain, it shall never be wanting toyou. "

From that moment they contracted a most sacred friendship, whose unionwas so strict, that ever after they seemed to have but one heart and onesoul: insomuch that Father Xavier undertook not any thing withoutconsulting the bishop first; and the bishop, on his side, imparted allhis designs to Father Xavier: and it is almost incredible, how much thisholy correspondence contributed to the salvation of souls, and exaltationof the faith. 

Before we pass farther, it is of consequence to know the estate ofreligion at that time in the Indies. It is true, that, according to theprophecy of St. Thomas, they who discovered the East Indies, had newplanted Christianity in some parts of them, where all was in a mannerquite forgotten. But ambition and avarice, in short time after, cooledthe zeal of these new conquerors; instead of extending the kingdom ofJesus Christ, and of gaining souls to him, they thought of nothing morethan of enlarging their dominion, and enriching themselves. It happenedalso, that many Indians newly converted to the faith, being neithercultivated by wholesome instructions, nor edified by good examples, forgot insensibly their baptism, and returned to their ancientsuperstitions. 

And if any amongst them kept constant to his Christianity, and declaredhimself a believer, the Mahometans, who were uppermost in many placesalong the coast, and very wealthy, persecuted him with great cruelty, without any opposition on the part of the Portuguese governor ormagistrates. Whether the power of Portugal were not yet sufficientlyestablished, or that interest was predominant over justice and religion, this cruel usage deterred the new Christians fom professing Jesus Christ, and was the reason, that, amongst the infidels, all thoughts ofconversion were laid aside. 

But what yet appears more wonderful, the Portuguese themselves lived morelike idolaters than Christians. For, to speak somewhat more particularlyof their corrupt manners, according to the relation which was sent toKing John III. Of Portugal from the Indies, by a man in power, and worthyof belief; some few months before the arrival of Father Xavier, every mankept as many mistresses as he pleased, and maintained them openly in hisown house, even in the quality of lawful wives. They bought women, ortook them away by force, either for their service, or to make money ofthem. Their masters taxed them at a certain sum by the day, and, forfault of payment, inflicted on them ail sorts of punishment; insomuch, that those unhappy creatures, not being able sometimes to work out thedaily rate imposed on them, were forced upon the infamous traffic oftheir bodies, and became public prostitutes, to content the avarice oftheir masters. 

Justice was sold at the tribunals, and the most enormous crimes escapedfrom punishment, when the criminals had wherewithal to corrupt theirjudges. 

All methods for heaping up money were accounted lawful, how indirectsoever, and extortion was publicly protest. Murder was reckoned but avenial trespass, and was boasted as a piece of bravery. 

The Bishop of Goa, to little purpose, threatened them with the wrath ofheaven, and the thunder of excommunications. No dam was sufficient forsuch a deluge; their hearts were hardened against spiritual threateningand anathemas; or, to speak more properly, the deprivation of sacramentswas no punishment to such wicked wretches, who were glad to be rid ofthem. 

The use of confessions, and the communion, were in a manner abolished;and if any one by chance was struck with a remorse of conscience, anddesired to reconcile himself to God, at the foot of a priest, he wasconstrained to steal to his devotions by night, to avoid the scandal tohis neighbour. 

So strange a depravation of manners proceeded from these causes. Its risewas taken from the licence of arms, which permit, and almost authorize, the greatest disorders in a conquered country. The pleasures of Asia, andthe commerce of infidels, aided not a little to debauch the Portuguese, as starched and regular as they naturally are. The want of spiritualdirectors contributed largely to this growing mischief. There were notfour preachers, in all the Indies, nor any one priest without the wallsof Goa; insomuch, that in many fortified places whole years were passedwithout hearing a sermon or a mass. 

Behold a draught, not unresembling the face of Christianity in this newworld, when Father Xavier arrived in it. 

The author of the relation from whence mine is copied, seems to have hadsome kind of foresight of his coming; for, in the conclusion of hismemorial, he prays Almighty God, and earnestly desires the king ofPortugal, to send some holy man to the Indies, who might reform themanners of the Europeans, by his apostolic instructions, and hisexemplary virtues. 

As for the Gentiles, the life they led resembled that of beasts ratherthan of men. Uncleanness was risen to the last excess amongst them; andthe least corrupt were those who had no religion. The greatest part ofthem adored the devil under an obscene figure, and with ceremonies whichmodesty forbids to mention. Some amongst them changed their deity everyday; and the first living creature which happened to meet them in themorning was the object of their worship, not excepting even dogs orswine. In this they were uniform, that they all offered bloody sacrificesto their gods; and nothing was more common, than to see bleeding infantson the altars, slaughtered by the hands of their own parents. 

Such manifold abominations inflamed the zeal of Father Xavier. He wishedhimself able at the same time, to have applied remedies to them all; yetthought himself obliged to begin with the household of faith, accordingto the precept of St Paul; that is to say, with the Christians: andamongst them he singled out the Portuguese, whose example was like to bemost prevalent with the baptised Indians. Behold in what manner heattempted this great enterprise of reformation. 

To call down the blessing of heaven on this difficult employment, heconsecrated the greatest part of the night to prayers, and allowedhimself at the most but four hours of sleep; and even this little reposewas commonly disturbed: for, lodging in the hospital, and lying alwaysnear the sick, as his custom had been at Mozambique, his slumber wasbroken by their least complaint, and he failed not to rise to theirrelief. 

He returned to his prayers at break of day, after which he celebratedmass. He employed the forenoon in the hospitals, particularly in that ofthe lepers, which is in one of the suburbs of Goa. He embraced thosemiserable creatures one after the other, and distributed amongst themthose alms which he had been begging for them from door to door. Afterthis he visited the prisons, and dealt amongst them the same effects ofcharity. 

In coming back, he made a turn about the town, with his bell in his hand, and gave a loud summons to the fathers of families, that, for the love ofGod, they would send their children and their slaves to catechism. 

The holy man was convinced in his heart, that if the Portuguese youthwere well instructed in the principles of religion, and formed betimes tothe practice of good life, Christianity, in a little time, would be seento revive in Goa; but in case the children grew up without instruction ordiscipline, there was no remaining hope, that they who sucked in impietyand vice, almost with their milk, should ever become sincere Christians. 

The little children gathered together in crowds about him, whether theycame of their own accord, through a natural curiosity, or that theirparents sent them, out of the respect which they already had for the holyman, howsoever vicious themselves. He led them to the church, and thereexpounded to them the apostles' creed, the commandments of God, and allthe practices of devotion which are in use amongst the faithful. 

These tender plants received easily the impressions which the father madeon them, and it was through these little babes that the town began tochange its face. For, by daily hearing the man of God, they became modestand devout; their modesty and devotion was a silent censure of thatdebauchery which appeared in persons of riper age. Sometimes they evenreproved their fathers, with a liberty which had nothing of childish init, and their reproofs put the most dissolute libertines to the blush. 

Xavier then proceeded to public preaching, whither all the peopleflocked; and to the end that the Indians might understand, as well as thePortuguese, he affected to speak that language in a gross and clownishdialect, which passed at that time amongst the natives of the country. Itwas immediately seen what power a preacher, animated by the spirit ofGod, had over the souls of perverted men. The most scandalous sinners, struck with the horror of their crimes, and the fear of eternalpunishment, were the first who came to confession. Their example tookaway from others the shame of confessing; insomuch, that every one nowstrove who should be foremost to throw himself at the father's feet, knocking their breasts, and bitterly lamenting their offences. 

The fruits of penitence accompanying these tears, were the certain proofsof a sincere conversion. They cancelled their unlawful bonds andcovenants of extortion; they made restitution of their ill-gotten goods;they set at liberty their slaves, whom they had opprest, or had acquiredunjustly; and lastly, turned away their concubines, whom they wereunwilling to possess by a lawful marriage. 

The saint acted with the concubinarians almost in the same manner as ourSaviour dealt with the publicans and harlots. Far from treating themseverely, the deeper they were plunged in that darling vice, the moretenderly he seemed to use them. On all occasions he declared himselftheir friend; he made them frequent visits, without fear of beingupbraided with so infamous a conversation. He invited himself sometimesto eat with them; and then, assuming an air of gaiety, he desired themaster to bring down the children to bear him company. When he had alittle commended their prettiness, he asked to see their mother, andshewed her the same countenance, as if he had taken her for an honestwoman. If she were beautiful or well shaped, he praised her, and said"she looked like a Portuguese:" after which; in private conversation, "you have, " said he to her master, "a fair slave, who well deserves to beyour wife. " But if she were a swarthy, ugly Indian, "Good God!" he criedout, "what a monster do you keep within your doors! and how are you ableto endure the sight of her?" Such words, spoken in all appearance withoutdesign, had commonly their full effect: the keeper married her whom thesaint had commended, and turned off the others. 

This so sudden a change of manners was none of those transient fits ofdevotion, which pass away almost as soon as they are kindled; piety wasestablished in all places, and they who formerly came to confession oncea year, to speak the best of it, now performed it regularly once a month. They were all desirous of confessing themselves to Father Xavier; sothat, writing from Goa to Rome on that subject, he said, "That if it hadbeen possible for him to have been at once in ten places, he should nothave wanted for employment. " His catechising having had that wonderfulsuccess which we have mentioned, the Bishop Don John d'Albuquerqueordained, that, from thenceforward, the children should be taught theChristian doctrine, in all the churches of the town. The gentlemen andmerchants applied themselves to the regulation of their families, andbanishment of vice. They gave the father considerable sums of money, which he distributed in their presence, in the hospitals and prisons. The viceroy accompanied the saint thither once a week, to hear thecomplaints of the prisoners, and to relieve the poor. This Christianpractice was so pleasing to the king of Portugal, John III, thatafterwards he writ to Don John de Castro, governor of the Indies, expressly ordering him to do that once a month, which Don Martin Alphonsode Sosa never failed of doing every week; in short, the Portuguese of Goahad gained such an habitude of good life, and such an universal change ofmanners had obtained amongst them, that they seemed another sort ofpeople. 

This was the state of affairs, when Michael Vaz, vicar general of theIndies, a man of rare virtue, and wonderful zeal for the propagation ofthe faith, gave Xavier to understand, that on the Oriental coast, whichlies extended from Cape Comorin to the Isle of Manar, and is called thecoast of Fishery, there were certain people called Paravas, that is tosay, fishers, who had caused themselves to be baptized some time since, on occasion of succours which had been given them by the Portugueseagainst the Moors, by whom they were cruelly opprest; that these peoplehad nothing more of Christianity than baptism, and the name, for want ofpastors to instruct them; and that it would be a work well-pleasing inthe sight of God to accomplish their conversion. He concealed not fromhim, that the land was barren, and so destitute of the conveniences oflife, that no stranger was willing to settle there; that interest alonedrew the merchants thither, in the season of pearl-fishing, and otherwisethe heats were insupportable. 

There could not have been made to Xavier a proposition more according tohis heart's desire. He offered himself, without the least hesitation, togo and instruct that people; and he did it so much the more freely, because his presence was no longer so necessary at Goa, where piety wasnow grown into a habit, by a settled form of five months standing. 

Having received the benediction of the bishop, he embarked about themidst of October, in the year 1542, in a galiot, which carried the newcaptain of Comorin; and took with him two young ecclesiastics of Goa, whohad a tolerable insight into the language of the Malabars, which isspoken in the coast of Fishery. Sosa offered to have furnished him withmoney for all his occasions; but apostolic men have no greater treasuresthan their poverty, nor any fund more certain than that of Providence. Heaccepted only a pair of shoes, to defend him in some measure from theburning sands upon the coasts; and, at parting, desired the viceroy tosend him his two companions, who were left behind at Mozambique, so soonas they should arrive at Goa. 

The Cape of Cornorin is at the distance of about six hundred miles fromGoa. It is a high promontory, jutting out into the sea, and facing theisle of Ceylon. The Father being there arrived, immediately fell in witha village of idolaters. He could bear to go no farther without preachingthe name of Jesus to the Gentiles; but all he could declare, by the mouthof his interpreters, signified nothing; and those pagans plainly toldhim, that they could not change their faith without consent of the lordof whom they held. Their obstinacy, however, was of no long continuance;and that Omnipotence, which had pre-ordained Xavier to the conversionof idolaters, would not that his first labours should be unsuccessful. 

A woman of the village had been three days in the pains of childbirth, and had endured great torments, without being eased, either by theprayers of the Brachmans, or any natural remedies. Xavier went to visither, accompanied by one of his interpreters; "and then it was, " says he, in one of his letters, "that, forgetting I was in a strange country, Ibegan to call upon the name of the Lord; though, at the same time, Icould not but remember, that all the earth is equally his, and all itsinhabitants are belonging to him. "

The Father expounded to the sick woman the principles of our faith, andexhorted her to repose her trust in the God of the Christians. The HolyGhost, who, by her means, had decreed to save that people, touched herinwardly; insomuch, that being asked if she believed in Jesus Christ, andif she desired to be baptized? she answered, yes; and that she spake fromthe bottom of her heart. Xavier then read the gospel to her, and baptizedher:--she was immediately delivered of her child, and perfectlyrecovered. This visible miracle immediately filled that poor cabin withastonishment and gladness: The whole family threw themselves at theFather's feet, and asked to be instructed; and, being sufficientlytaught, not one amongst them but received baptism. This news being blownabroad through all the country, the chief of the place had the curiosityto see a person so wonderful in his works and in his words. He preachedto them the words of eternal life, and convinced their reason of thetruth of Christianity; but convinced though they were, they durst not, asthey said, become Christians, without the permission of their prince. 

There was at that time in the village an officer, sent expressly from theprince to collect a certain annual tribute. Father Xavier went to seehim, and expounded so clearly to him all the law of Jesus Christ, thatthe pagan presently acknowledged there was nothing in it which was ill;and after that gave leave to the inhabitants to embrace it. There neededno more to a people, whom nothing but fear withheld from it; they alloffered themselves to be baptized, and promised thenceforth to live inChristianity. 

The holy man, encouraged by so happy a beginning, followed his way withmore cheerfulness, and came to Tutucurin, which is the first townbelonging to the Paravas. He found, in effect, that this people, excepting only their baptism, which they had received, rather to shakeoff the Moorish yoke than to subject themselves to that of Jesus Christ, were wholly infidels; and he declared to them the mysteries of our faith, of which before they had not received the least tincture. The twochurchmen who accompanied him served him in the nature of interpreters;but Xavier, reflecting within himself, that these churchmen frequentlyaltered those things which passed through their mouths, and that our ownwords, when spoken by ourselves, have more vigour in them, bethoughthimself of finding some expedient, whereby to be understood without theassistance of another. The way he took, was to get together some peopleof the country, who understood the Portuguese language, and to join themwith the two ecclesiastics who were knowing in the Malabar. He consultedboth parties for many days together, and, drudging at his business, translated into the Paravas tongue, the words of the sign of the cross, the apostles' creed, the commandments, the Lord's prayer, the salutationof the angel, the confiteor, the salve regina, and, in fine, the wholecatechism. 

The translation being finished, the Father got, without book, what hecould of it, and took his way about the villages of the coast, in numberthirty, about half of which were baptized, the rest idolaters. 

"I went about, with my bell in my hand, " says he himself, "and gatheringtogether all I met, both men and children, I instructed them in theChristian doctrine. The children learnt it easily by heart in the compassof a month; and when they understood it, I charged them to teach it theirfathers and mothers, all of their own family, and even their neighbours. 

"On Sundays I assembled the men and women, little boys and girls, in thechapel; all came to my appointment with an incredible joy, and mostardent desire to hear the word of God. I began with the confessing God tobe one in nature, and trine in Persons; I afterwards repeated distinctly, and with an audible voice, the Lord's prayer, the angelical salutation, and the apostles' creed. All of them together repeated after me; and itis hardly to be imagined what pleasure they took in it. This being done, I repeated the creed singly; and, insisting on every particular article, asked, if they certainly believed it? They all protested to me, with loudcries, and their hands across their breasts, that they firmly believedit. My practice is, to make them repeat the creed oftener than the otherprayers; and I declare to them, at the same time, that they who believethe contents of it are true Christians. 

"From the creed I pass to the ten commandments, and give them tounderstand, that the Christian law is comprised in those ten precepts;that he who keeps them all according to his duty is a good Christian, andthat eternal life is decreed to him; that, on the contrary, whoeverviolates one of these commandments is a bad Christian, and that he shallbe damned eternally in case he repent not of his sin. Both the newChristians and the pagans admire our law as holy, and reasonable, andconsistent with itself. 

"Having done as I told you, my custom is, to repeat with them the Lord'sprayer, and the angel's salutation. Once again we recite the creed; andat every article, besides the Paternoster and the Ave Maria, weintermingle some short prayer; for having pronounced aloud the firstarticle, I begin thus, and they say after me, --' Jesus, thou son ofthe living God, give me the grace to believe firmly this first article ofthy faith, and with that intention we offer thee that prayer of whichthou thyself art author. ' We add, --' Holy Mary, mother of our Lord JesusChrist, obtain for us, from thy beloved Son, to believe this article, without any doubt concerning it. ' The same method is observed in all theother articles; and almost in the same manner we run over the tencommandments. When we have jointly repeated the first precept, which is, to love God, we pray thus: 'O Jesu Christ, thou Son of the living God, grant us thy grace to love thee above all things!' and immediately afterwe say the Lord's prayer; then immediately we subjoin: 'O holy Mary, mother of Jesus, obtain for us, from thy Son, that we may have the graceto keep this first commandment. ' After which we say the Ave Maria. Weobserve the same method through the other nine commandments, with somelittle variation, as the matter requires it. 

"These are the things which I accustom them to beg of God in the commonprayers; omitting not sometimes to assure them, that if they obtainthe thing for which they pray, even that is a means for them to obtainother things more amply than they could demand them. 

"I oblige them all to say the confiteor, but principally those who are toreceive baptism, whom I also enjoin to say the belief. At every article, I demand of them, if they believe it without any scruple; and when theyhave assured me, that they do, I commonly make them an exhortation, whichI have composed in their own language, --being an epitome of the Christianfaith, and of the necessary duties incumbent on us in order to oursalvation. In conclusion, I baptize them, and shut up all in singing thesalve regina, to implore the assistance of the blessed Virgin. "

It is evident, by what we have already said concerning the instruction ofthe Paravas, that Xavier had not the gift of tongues when he began toteach them: But it appears also, that, after he had made the translation, which cost him so much labour, he both understood and spoke the Malabartongue, whether he had acquired it by his own pains, or that God hadimprinted the species of it in his mind after a supernatural manner. Itis at least probable, that, being in the Indies when he studied anytongue, the Holy Spirit seconded his application, and was in some sorthis master; for it is constantly believed, that in a very little time helearnt the most difficult languages, and, by the report of many persons, spoke them so naturally, that he could not have been taken for aforeigner. 

Father Xavier having, for the space of a month, instructed theinhabitants of one village, in the manner above said, before he wentfarther, called together the most intelligent amongst them, and gave themin writing what he had taught, to the end, that as masters of the rest, on Sundays and Saints-days, they might congregate the people, and causethem to repeat, according to his method, that which they had learntformerly. 

He committed to these catechists, (who in their own tongue are calledCanacopoles, ) the care of the churches, which he caused to be built inpeopled places; and recommended to them the ornament of those sacredbuildings, as far as their poverty would allow. But he was not willing toimpose this task on them, without some kind of salary; and thereforeobtained from the viceroy of the Indies, a certain sum for theirsubsistence, which was charged upon the annual tribute, payable to thecrown of Portugal, from the inhabitants of that coast. 

It is hardly to be expressed, what a harvest of souls was reaped from hisendeavours; and how great was the fervour of these new Christians. Theholy man, writing to the fathers at Rome, confesses himself, that hewanted words to tell it. He adds, "That the multitude of those who hadreceived baptism, was so vast, that, with the labour of continualchristenings, he was not able to lift up his arms; and that his voiceoften failed him, in saying so many times over and over, the apostles'creed, and the ten commandments, with a short instruction, which healways made concerning the duties of a true Christian, before he baptizedthose who were of age. "

The infants alone, who died after baptism, amounted, according to hisaccount, to above a thousand. They who lived, and began to have the useof reason, were so affected with the things of God, and so covetous ofknowing all the mysteries of faith, that they scarcely gave the fathertime to take a little nourishment, or a short repose. They sought afterhim every minute; and he was sometimes forced to hide himself from them, to gain the leisure of saying his prayers, and his breviary. 

By the administration of these children, who were so fervently devout, heperformed divers extraordinary works, even many of those miraculouscures, which it pleased God to perate by his means. The coast of Fisherywas never so full of diseases, as when the father was there. It seemed, as he himself has expressed it in a letter, that God sent thosedistempers amongst that people, to draw them to him almost in their owndespite. For coming to recover on an instant, and against all humanappearance, so soon as they had received baptism, or invoked the name ofJesus Christ, they clearly saw the difference betwixt the God of theChristians and the pagods, which is the name given in the Indies, both tothe temples and the images of their false gods. 

No one fell sick amongst the Gentiles, but had immediate recourse toFather Xavier. As it was impossible for him to attend them all, or to bein many places at the same time, he sent there Christian children wherehe could not go himself. In going from him, one took his chaplet, anotherhis crucifix, a third his reliquiary, and all being animated with alively faith, dispersed themselves through the towns and villages. Theregathering about the sick as many people as they could assemble, theyrepeated often the Lord's prayer, the creed, the commandments, and allthey had learnt by heart of the Christian faith; which being done, theyasked the sick, "If he believed unfeignedly in Jesus Christ, and if hedesired to be baptized?" When he had answered "Yes, " they touched himwith the chaplet, or crucifix belonging to the father, and he wasimmediately cured. 

One day, while Xavier was preaching the mysteries of faith to a greatmultitude, some came to bring him word from Manapar, that one of themost considerable persons of that place was possessed by the devil, desiring the father to come to his relief. The man of God thought itunbecoming of his duty to break off the instruction he was then making. He only called to him some of those young Christians, and gave them across which he wore upon his breast; after which he sent them to Manaparwith orders to drive away the evil spirit. 

They were no sooner arrived there, than the possessed person fell into anextraordinary fury, with, wonderful contortions of his limbs, and hideousyellings. The little children, far from being terrified, as usuallychildren are, made a ring about him, singing the prayers of the church. After which they compelled him to kiss the cross; and at the same moment, the devil departed out of him. Many pagans there present, visiblyperceiving the virtue of the cross, were converted on the instant, andbecame afterwards devout Christians. 

These young plants, whom Xavier employed on such occasions, were inperpetual disputations with the Gentiles, and broke in pieces as manyidols as they could get into their power; and sometimes burnt them, throwing their ashes into the air. When they discovered any bearing thename of Christianity, and yet keeping a pagod in reserve to adore insecret, they reproved them boldly; and when those rebukes were of noeffect, they advertised the holy man, to the end, he might apply somestronger remedy. Xavier went often in their company, to make a search inthose suspected houses; and if he discovered any idols, they wereimmediately destroyed. 

Being informed, that one who was lately baptized, committed idolatrysometimes in private, and that the admonitions which he had received wereuseless, he bethought himself to frighten him; and in his presencecommanded the children to set fire to his house, that thereby he might begiven to understand, how the worshippers of devils deserved eternalburning like the devils. They ran immediately to their task, taking thecommand in a literal sense, which was not Xavier's intention. But theeffect of it was, that the infidel, detesting and renouncing hisidolatry, gave up his pagods to be consumed by fire, which was all thedesign of the holy man. 

Another infidel was more unhappy; he was one of the first rank inManapar; a man naturally violent and brutal. Xavier one day going tovisit him, desired him, in courteous words, that he would listen to whathe had to say to him concerning his eternal welfare. The barbarianvouchsafed not so much as to give him the hearing, but rudely thrusthim out of his house, saying, "That if ever he went to the Christians'church, he was content they should shut him out. " Few days after, he wasassaulted by a troop of armed men, who designed to kill him: all he coulddo was to disengage himself from them, and fly away. Seeing at a distancea church open, he made to it as fast as he could run, with his enemies athis heels pursuing him. The Christians, who were assembled for theirexercises of devotion, alarmed at the loud cries they heard, and fearingthe idolaters were coming to plunder the church, immediately shut theirdoors, insomuch that he, who hoped for safety in a holy place, fell intothe hands of murderers, and was assassinated by them, without question bya decree of the divine justice, which revenged the saint, and sufferedthe wretch to be struck with that imprecation which he had wished uponhimself. 

These miracles, which Xavier wrought by the means of children, raised anadmiration of him, both amongst Christians and idolaters; but soexemplary a punishment caused him to be respected by all the world: andeven amongst the Brachmans there was not one who did not honour him. Asit will fall in our way to make frequent mention of those idol-priests, it will not be from our purpose to give the reader a description of them. 

The Brachmans are very considerable amongst the Indians, both for theirbirth and their employment. According to the ancient fables of theIndies, their original is from heaven. And it is the common opinion, thatthe blood of the gods is running in their veins. But to understand howthey were born, and from what god descended, it is necessary to know thehistory of the gods of that country, which in short is this:

The first, and lord of all the others, is Parabrama; that is to say, amost perfect substance, who has his being from himself, and who givesbeing to the rest. This god being a spirit free from matter, anddesirous to appear once under a sensible figure, became man; by the onlydesire which he had to shew himself, he conceived a son, who came out athis mouth, and was called Maiso. He had two others after him, one of themwhose name was Visnu, was born out of his breast, the other called Brama, out of his belly. Before he returned to his invisibility, he assignedhabitations and employments to his three children. He placed the eldestin the first heaven, and gave him an absolute command over the elementsand mixed bodies. He lodged Visnu beneath his elder brother, andestablished him the judge of men, the father of the poor, and theprotector of the unfortunate. Brama had for his inheritance the thirdheaven, with the superintendance of sacrifices, and other ceremonies ofreligion. These are the three deities which the Indians represent by oneidol, with three heads growing out of one body, with this mysterioussignification, that they all proceed from the same principle. By which itmay be inferred, that in former times they have heard of Christianity;and that their religion is an imperfect imitation, or rather a corruptionof ours. 

They say that Visnu has descended a thousand times on earth, and everytime has changed his shape; sometimes appearing in the figure of a beast, sometimes of a man, which is the original of their pagods, of whom theyrelate so many fables. 

They add, that Brama, having likewise a desire of children, made himselfvisible, and begot the Brachmans, whose race has infinitely multiplied. The people believe them demi-gods, as poor and miserable as they are. They likewise imagine them to be saints, because they lead a hard andsolitary life; having very often no other lodging than the hollow of atree, or a cave, and sometimes living exposed to the air on a baremountain, or in a wilderness, suffering all the hardships of the weather, keeping a profound silence, fasting a whole year together, and makingprofession of eating nothing which has had life in it. 

But after all, there was not perhaps a more wicked nation under thecanopy of heaven. The fruit of those austerities which they practice inthe desart, is to abandon themselves in public to the most brutalpleasures of the flesh, without either shame or remorse of conscience. For they certainly believe, that all things, how abominable soever, arelawful to be done, provided they are suggested to them by the light whichis within them. And the people are so infatuated with them, that theybelieve they shall become holy by partaking in their crimes, or bysuffering any outrage from them. 

On the other side, they are the greatest impostors in the world; theirtalent consists in inventing new fables every day, and making them passamongst the vulgar for wonderful mysteries. One of their cheats is topersuade the simple, that the pagods eat like men; and to the end theymay be presented with good cheer, they make their gods of a giganticfigure, and are sure to endow them with a prodigious paunch. If thoseofferings with which they maintain their families come to fail, theydenounce to the people, that the offended pagods threaten the countrywith some dreadful judgment, or that their gods, in displeasure, willforsake them, because they are suffered to die of hunger. 

The doctrine of these Brachmans is nothing better than their life. One oftheir grossest errors is to believe that kine have in them somewhat ofsacred and divine; that happy is the man who can be sprinkled over withthe ashes of a cow, burnt by the hand of a Brachman; but thrice happy be, who, in dying, lays hold of a cow's tail, and expires with it betwixt hishands; for, thus assisted, the soul departs out of the body purified, andsometimes returns into the body of a cow. That such a favour, notwithstanding, is not conferred but on heroic souls, who contemn life, and die generously, either by casting themselves headlong from aprecipice, or leaping into a kindled pile, or throwing themselves underthe holy chariot wheels, to be crushed to death by the pagods, while theyare carried in triumph about the town. 

We are not to wonder, after this, that the Brachmans cannot endure theChristian law; and that they make use of all their credit and theircunning to destroy it in the Indies. Being favoured by princes, infinitein number, and strongly united amongst themselves, they succeed in allthey undertake; and as being great zealots for their ancientsuperstitions, and most obstinate in their opinions, it is not easy toconvert them. 

Father Xavier, who saw how large a progress the gospel had made amongstthe people, and that if there were no Brachmans in the Indies, therewould consequently be no idolaters in all those vast provinces of Asia, spared no labour to reduce that perverse generation to the true knowledgeof Almighty God. He conversed often with those of that religion, and oneday found a favourable occasion of treating with them: Passing by amonastery, where above two hundred Brachmans lived together, he wasvisited by some of the chiefest, who had the curiosity to see a man whosereputation was so universal. He received them with a pleasingcountenance, according to his custom; and having engaged them by littleand little, in a discourse concerning the eternal happiness of the soul, he desired them to satisfy him what their gods commanded them to do, inorder to it after death. They looked a while on one another withoutanswering. At length a Brachman, who seemed to be fourscore years of age, took the business upon himself, and said in a grave tone, that two thingsbrought a soul to glory, and made him a companion to the gods; the onewas to abstain from the murder of a cow, the other to give alms to theBrachmans. All of them confirmed the old man's answer by theirapprobation and applause, as if it had been an oracle given from themouths of their gods themselves. 

Father Xavier took compassion on this their miserable blindness, and thetears came into his eyes. He rose on the sudden, (for they had been allsitting, ) and distinctly repeated, in an audible tone, the apostles'creed, and the ten commandments, making a pause at the end of everyarticle, and briefly expounding it, in their own language; after which hedeclared to them what were heaven and hell, and by what actions the oneand other were deserved. 

The Brachmans, who had never heard any thing of Christianity before, andhad been listening to the father with great admiration, rose up, as soonas he had done speaking, and ran to embrace him, acknowledging, that theGod of the Christians was the true God, since his law was so conformableto the principles of our inward light. Every one of them proposed diversquestions to him; if the soul were immortal, or that it perished with thebody, and in case that the soul died not, at what part of the body itwent out; if in our sleep we dreamed we were in a far country, orconversed with an absent person, whether the soul went not out of thebody for that time; of what colour God was, whether black or white; theirdoctors being divided on that point, the white men maintaining he was oftheir colour, the black of theirs: the greatest part of the pagods forthat reason being black. 

The father answered all their questions in a manner so suitable to theirgross understanding, which was ignorant alike of things divine andnatural, that they were highly satisfied with him. Seeing them instructedand disposed in this sort, he exhorted them to embrace the faith of JesusChrist, and gave them to understand, that the truth being made known tothem, ignorance could no longer secure them from eternal punishment. 

But what victory can truth obtain over souls which find their interest infollowing error, and who make profession of deceiving the common people?"They answered, " said the saint in one of his letters, "that which manyChristians answer at this day, what will the world say of us if they seeus change? And after that, what will become of our families, whose onlysubsistence is from the offerings which are made to the pagods? Thus, human interest, and worldly considerations, made the knowledge of thetruth serve only to their greater condemnation. "

Not long afterwards, Xavier had another conference with a Brachman, wholived in the nature of an hermit. He passed for the oracle of thecountry, and had been instructed in his youth at one of the most famousacademies of the East. He was one of those who was knowing in their mosthidden mysteries, which are never intrusted by the Brachmans, but to acertain select number of their wise men. Xavier, who had heard speak ofhim, was desirous to see him; and he, on his side, was as desirous to seeXavier. The intention of the saint was to try, in bringing over thisBrachman, if he could gain the rest, who were proud of being hisdisciples. 

After the first civilities which commonly pass betwixt two men, whomutually covet an acquaintance, and know each other by reputation, thediscourse fell upon religion; and the Brachman found in himself, at thevery first, so great an inclination for Xavier, that he could not concealfrom him those secrets which a religious oath had bound him never todisclose to any. He confest plainly to him, that the idols were devils, and that there was only one God, creator of the world, and that thisGod alone deserved the adoration of men: that those who held the rank ofwisdom amongst the Brachmans, solemnized the Sunday in his honour as aholiday; and that day they only said this prayer, "O God, I adore thee atthis present, and for ever:" that they pronounced those words softly, for fear of being overheard, and to preserve the oath which they hadmade, to keep them secret. "In fine, " said he, "it is to be read in ourancient writings, that all the false religions should one day cease, andthe whole world should observe one only law. "

The Brachman having disclosed these mysteries to Father Xavier, desiredhim, in his turn, to reveal to him what was most mysterious in theChristian law; and to engage him to deal the more freely with him, andwithout the least disguise, swore, that he would inviolably, and forever, keep the secret. "I am so far, " said the father, "from obligingyou to silence, that I will inform you of nothing you desire to know, buton condition that you shall publish in all places what I tell you. " TheBrachman having given him his word, he began to instruct him by thesewords of Jesus Christ; "He who will believe, and be baptized, shall besaved. " This he expounded to him at large; at the same time, declaring tohim how baptism was necessary to salvation: and passing from one articleof faith to another, he placed the truth of the gospel in so advantageousa light before him, that the Brachman declared upon the place he wouldbecome a Christian, provided he might be so in secret; and that he mighthave a dispensation from some certain duties of Christianity. 

This so wicked a disposition made him unworthy of the grace of baptism;he remained unconverted. Notwithstanding which, he desired to have inwriting the apostles' creed, together with our Saviour's words, which hadbeen expounded to him. 

He saw Father Xavier a second time, and told him he had dreamed he wasbaptized, and that afterwards he became his companion, and that theytravelled together preaching the gospel in far countries; but this dreamhad no effect, and the Brachman would never promise to teach the people, that there was one only God, creator of the world, "or fear, " says he, "that if he broke that oath which obliged him to secrecy, the devilshould punish him with death. "

Thus the master, though convinced, yet not submitting, the scholars allstood out; and in the sequel, of so great a multitude of idol-priests, not one embraced the Christian doctrine from the heart. Nevertheless, Xavier, in their presence, wrought many miracles which were capable ofconverting them. Having casually met a poor creature all naked, and fullof ulcers from head to foot, he washed him with his hands, drank part ofthe water wherewith he had washed him, and prayed by him with wonderfulfervency; when he had ended his prayer, the flesh of the diseased personwas immediately healed, and appeared as clean as that of an infant. 

The process of the saint's canonization makes mention of four deadpersons, to whom God restored their life, at this time, by the ministryof his servant. The first was a catechist, called Antonio Miranda, whohad been stung in the night by one of those venomous serpents of theIndies, whose stings are always mortal. The second was a child, who fellinto a pit, and was drowned. The two others were a young man and a maid, whom a pestilential fever had carried off after a short sickness. 

But these miracles, which gave to the father the name of saint among theChristians, and caused him to be called the God of Nature amongst theGentiles, had no other effect upon the Brachmans than to harden theirhearts, and blind their understandings. Xavier, despairing of theirconversion, thought himself bound to publish all their wicked actions, and bring them into disrepute. And he performed it so successfully, thatthose men, who were had in veneration by the people, came to be despisedby all the world; insomuch, that even the children laughed at them, andpublicly upbraided them with their cheats. They began at first tothreaten the people, according to their custom, with the anger of theirpagods; but seeing their menaces turned to scorn, they made use ofanother artifice, to regain their credit. 

What malice soever they harboured in their hearts against Father Xavier, they managed it so well, that, to see their conduct, they might have beentaken for his friends. They made him visits; desired him to have somekindness for them; they gave him many commendations; they presentedhim sometimes with pearls and money. But the father was inexorable; andfor their presents, he returned them without so much as looking on them. 

The decrying of those idol-priests contributed not a little to thedestruction of idolatry through all that coast. The life which Xavierled, contributed full as much. His food was the same with that ofthe poorest people, rice and water. His sleep was but three hours at themost, and that in a fisher's cabin on the ground: for he had soon madeaway with the mattress and coverlet, which the viceroy had sent him fromGoa. The remainder of the night he passed with God, or with hisneighbour. 

He owns himself, that his labours were without intermission; and that hehad sunk under so great hardships, if God had not supported him. For, tosay nothing of the ministry of preaching, and those other evangelicalfunctions, which employed him day and night, no quarrel was stirring, nodifference on foot, of which he was not chosen umpire. And because thosebarbarians, naturally choleric, were frequently at odds, he appointedcertain hours, for clearing up their misunderstandings, and makingreconciliations. 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 eachother, in the scattering villages, his greatest sorrow was, that he couldnot be present with them all. In the midst of all this hurry, he enjoyedthose spiritual refreshments and sweets of heaven, which God only bestowson souls, who regard nothing but the cross; and the excess of thosedelights was such, that he was often forced to desire the Divine Goodnessto moderate them; according to what himself testifies in a letter to hisfather Ignatius, though written in general terms, and in the thirdperson. 

Having related what he had performed in the coast of the Fishery, "I haveno more to add, " says he, "concerning this country, but only that theywho come hither to labour in the salvation of idolaters, receive so muchconsolation from above, that if there be a perfect joy on earth, it isthat they feel. " He goes on, "I have sometimes heard a man saying thus toGod, O my Lord, give me not so much comfort in this life; or if, by anexcess of mercy, thou wilt heap it on me, take me to thyself, and make mepartaker of thy glory, for it is too great a punishment to live withoutthe sight of thee. "

A year and more was already past since Xavier had laboured in theconversion of the Paravas; and in all this time, his two companions, Paulde Camerine, and Francis Mansilla, were not come to his assistance, though they had been arrived at Goa some months since. The number ofChristians daily multiplying to a prodigy, and one only priest not beingsufficient to cultivate so many new converts in the faith, or advancethem in Christian piety, the saint thought it his duty to look out forsuccour. And besides, having selected some young men, well-natured, andof a good understanding, qualified for the studies of divinity, and humansciences, who being themselves well modelled, might return with him toinstruct their countrymen; he was of opinion, that he ought to conductthem himself, without deferring his voyage any longer. 

On these considerations he put to sea, on his return, about theconclusion of the year 1543; and having got to Cochin by mid-January, hearrived at Goa not long after. For the better understanding of whatrelates to the education of those young Indians, whom Xavier brought, itwill be necessary to trace that matter from its original. 

Before the coming of Father Francis to the Indies, Christianity had madebut little progress in those countries; and of an infinite number ofPagans, inhabiting the isle of Goa, and the parts adjoining, scarce anyman thought of forsaking his idolatry. In the year 1541, James de Borba, a Portuguese preacher and divine, whom king John III. Had sent to India, searching out the cause of so great a misfortune, found, that it was notonly because the Europeans could not easily learn the Indian tongue, butalso, because if an Indian happened to be converted, they exercised nocharity towards him; and that the children of the faithful, who diedpoor, were destitute of succour in their wants. 

He gave notice of this to the grand vicar, Michael Vaz, to the auditorgeneral, Pedro Fernandez, to the deputy-governor, Rodriguez de CastelBlanco, and to the secretary of state, Cosmo Annez, who were all of themhis particular friends, and virtuous men. These being in the government, considered of the means to remedy the growing evil, the foundation ofwhich had been discovered to them by Borba; and he himself excited thepeople to be instrumental in so good a work. For, one day preaching, hepassionately bemoaned the damnation of so many Indians, and charged it onthe conscience of his auditory, that the salvation of that idolatrouspeople depended, in some sort, on them. "I pretend not, " said he, "thatyou should go yourselves to the conquest of souls, nor learn barbarouslanguages on purpose, to labour in the conversion of Gentiles. What I begof you, in the name of Jesus Christ, is, that each of you wouldcontribute something towards the maintenance of the new Christians. Youwill perform by that, what it is not in your power to do by the preachingof the gospel; and gain, by your temporal goods, those immortal souls, for which the Saviour of the world has shed his blood. "

The Holy Spirit, who had inspired his tongue, gave efficacy to his words, by touching the hearts of those who heard them. Many of them being joinedtogether, it was resolved to form a company, which should provide for thesubsistence of those young Indians newly converted; and that society atfirst was called, the Brotherhood of St Mary of the Light, (orIllumination, ) from the name of that church where the fraternityassembled, to regulate that new establishment. 

It is true, that, as great works are not accomplished all at once, in thebeginning of this, there was only founded a small seminary, for thechildren of Goa, and those of the neighbourhood; but the revenues wereincreased so much afterwards by the liberality of Don Estevan de Gama, governor of the Indies, and by the bounty of John III. , king of Portugal, that all the idolatrous children, who turned Christians, of what countrysoever, were received into it. 

There was also a fund sufficient for the building a fair house and amagnificent church in a larger plot: and the seminary, over which Borbapresided, was then called, the Seminary of Holy Faith. 

Matters being thus disposed, above threescore children, of diverskingdoms, and nine or ten different languages, were assembled, to beeducated in piety and learning. But it was soon perceived, that thesechildren wanted masters, capable of instructing and forming them, according to the intention of the institute. God Almighty hadpre-ordained the seminary of holy faith, for the Society of Jesus; and itwas by a particular disposition of the Divine Providence, that the sameyear, wherein the seminary was established, brought over the sons ofIgnatius to the Indies. 

Accordingly, when Xavier first arrived at Goa, Borba offered him theconduct of this new establishment, and used his best endeavours to engagehim in it. Xavier, who found an inward call to something more important, and who already was conceiving in his mind the conversion of a heathenworld, would not coop himself up within a town, but in his secretintentions, designed one of his companions for that employment, which waspresented to himself. In the meantime, Borba wrote into Portugal, toSimon Rodriguez, and earnestly desired from him some fathers of the newsociety, "for whom" he said, "the Almighty had prepared a house in thenew world, before their coming. "

During these transactions, Paul de Camerin and Francis Mansilla arrivedat Goa, from Mozambique: Borba retained them both in the seminary, bypermission from the viceroy; and that was the reason why they followednot Father Xavier to the coast of Fishery. 

Xavier put into the seminary those young Indians whom he had broughtalong with him; and whatever want he had otherwise of his companions, he gave the charge of the Seminarists to Father Paul de Camerin, at therequest of Borba, who had the chief authority in the seminary. For it wasnot till the year 1548, after the death of Borba, that the companypossest it in propriety, and without dependence. It then received thename of a college, and was called the college of St Paul, from the titleof the church, which was dedicated to the conversion of the apostle ofthe Gentiles. From thence it also proceeded, that the Jesuits were calledin that country, the fathers of St Paul, or the fathers Paulists, as theyare called in that country even at this day. 

Father Xavier remained but a little time at Goa; and returned with allexpedition to his Paravas, with the best provision of gospel labourers, which he could make. He was then desirous of sending a missioner of thecompany to the isle of Socotora, not being in circumstances of goingthither in person; for he had not forgotten the promise, which he made toGod in behalf of that people, when he left them. But the small number ofcompanions which he had, was not sufficient for the Indies; and it wasnot till three or four years afterwards that he sent Father AlphonsoCiprian to Socotora. 

Besides Mansilla, who had not yet received the order of priesthood, hecarried with him to the coast of Fishery two priests, who were Indians bynation, and one Biscayner, called John Dortiaga. When they were arrivedthere, he visited all the villages with them; and taught them the methodof converting idolaters to the faith, and of confirming those who werealready Christians, in it. After which, having assigned to each of them adivision at his particular province in the coast, he entered farther intothe country; and, without any other guide than the spirit of God. Penetrated into a kingdom, the language of which was utterly Unknown tohim, as he wrote to Mansilla in these, terms. 

"You may judge, what manner of life Head here, by what I shall relate toyou. I am wholly ignorant of the language of the people, and theyunderstand as little of mine; and I have no interpreter. All I canperform, is to baptize children, and serve the sick, an employment easilyunderstood, without the help of an interpreter, by only minding what theywant. "

This was the preaching by which he declared Jesus Christ, and made theChristian law appear amiable in that kingdom. For amongst thosebarbarians, who reduce all humanity to the notion of not being inhuman, and who acknowledge no other duties of charity, than forbearing to doinjuries, it was a thing of admiration, to see a stranger, who, withoutany interest, made the sufferings of another man his own; and performedall sorts of services to the poor, as if he had been their father, ortheir slave. The name of the country is neither known, nor the fruitswhich these works of charity produced. It is only certain, that the saintcontinued not there any long time; and that a troublesome affair recalledhim to the coast of Fishery, when it was least in his intentions toreturn. 

The Badages, who are a great multitude of robbers, in the kingdom ofBisnagar, idolaters, and enemies of the Christian name, naturally fierce, always quarrelling amongst themselves, and at war with their neighbours, after they had seized, by force of arms, on the kingdom of Pande, whichis betwixt Malabar and the coasts of Fishery, made an irruption into thesaid coast, in the absence of Xavier. The Paravas were under a terribleconsternation at the sight of those robbers, whose very name wasformidable to them, not daring so much as to gather into a body, nor tohazard the first brunt of war. They took flight, and abandoned theircountry, without any other thought than of saving their lives. In orderto which, they threw themselves by heaps into their barks, some of themescaping into little desart islands, others hiding amongst the rocks andbanks of sand, betwixt Cape Comorin, and the Isle of Ceylon. These werethe places of their retreat, together with their wives and children, while the Badages overran the coast, and destroyed their country. 

But what profits it to have escaped the sword, when, they must die ofhunger? Those miserable creatures, exposed to the burning heats of thesun, wanted nourishment in their isles, and on their rocks, and numbersof them daily perished. 

In the mean time, the news of this excursion of the robbers, and theflight of the Christians, was spread about, and Xavier heard it in thecountry where he then resided. The misfortunes of his dear Paravastouched him in the most tender part. He made haste to their relief; and, having been informed that they were pressed with famine, he passedspeedily to the western coast, and earnestly solicited the Portuguese tosupply them in this their extreme necessity. He obtained twenty barks, laden with all manner of provision, and himself brought it to theirplaces of retreat, where the poor Paravas, as many as were left alive ofthem, were languishing without hope of comfort, and expecting death toend their misery. 

The sight of the holy man, whom all of them regarded as their commonfather, caused them to forget some part of their misfortune, and seemedto restore them to life. He gave them all imaginable consolation; and, when they had somewhat recovered their strength, he brought them back totheir habitations, from whence the Badages were retired. Those plunderershad swept all away, and the Christians were more poor than ever; hetherefore procured alms for them, and wrote a letter earnestly to theChristians of another coast, to supply their brethren in distress. 

The Paravas being resettled by degrees, Xavier left them under theconduct of the missioners, whom he had brought for them, and turned histhoughts elsewhere. He was desirous to have carried the sound of thegospel into the more inland countries, which had never heard of JesusChrist; yet he forbore it at that time, upon this account, that inthose kingdoms where there were no Portuguese to protect the newChristians, the idolaters and Saracens would make war on them, orconstrain them to renounce their Christianity to buy their peace. 

Returning therefore by the western coasts, which were in the possessionof the Portuguese, he travelled by land, and on foot, according to hiscustom, towards the coast of Travancore, which beginning from the pointof Comorin, lies extended thirty leagues along by the sea, and is full ofvillages. 

Being come thither, and having, by the good offices of the Portuguese, obtained permission from the king of Travancore to publish the law of thetrue God, he followed the same method which he had used at the Fishery;and that practice was so successful, that all that coast was converted toChristianity in a little space of time, insomuch, that forty-fivechurches were immediately built. He writes himself, "That in one monthhe baptized, with his own hand, ten thousand idolaters; and that, frequently, in one day, he baptized a well peopled village. " He saysalso, "that it was to him a most pleasing object, to behold, that sosoon as those infidels had received baptism, they ran, vying with eachother to demolish the temples of the idols. "

It was at that time, properly speaking, when God first communicated toXavier the gift of tongues in the Indies; according to the relation of ayoung Portuguese of Coimbra, whose name was Vaz, who attended him in manyof his travels, and who being returned into Europe, related thosepassages, of which himself had been an eye witness. The holy man spokevery well the language of those barbarians, without having learnt it, andhad no need of an interpreter when he instructed. There being no churchwhich was capable of containing those who came to hear him, he led theminto a spacious plain, to the number of five or six thousand persons, andthere getting up into a tree, that he might the farther extend his voice, he preached to them the words of eternal truth. There it was also, thatto the end the compass of the plain might serve in the nature of achurch, he sometimes celebrated the divine mysteries under the sails ofships, which were spread above the altar, to be seen on every side. 

The Brachmans could not suffer the worship of the pagods to be abandonedin this manner; but were resolved to be revenged on the author of sostrange an alteration. In order to execute their design, they secretlyengaged some idolaters to lie in wait for him, and dispatch himprivately. The murderers lay in ambush more than once, and in the silenceof the night endeavoured to shoot him with their arrows. But divineProvidence would not suffer their malice to take place; of all theirarrows, one only wounded him, and that but slightly; as it were rather togive him the satisfaction of shedding some blood in testimony of thefaith, than to endanger his life. 

Enraged and desperate for having missed their aim, they sought himeverywhere; and not finding him, they set fire on three or four houses, where they thought he might possibly be lodged. The man of God wasconstrained one day to hide in the covert of a forest, and passed thefollowing night upon a tree, to escape the fury of his enemies, whosearched the whole forest to have found him. There was a necessitysometimes that the faithful should keep guard about him day and night, and to that purpose they placed themselves in arms about the house wherehe was retired. 

In the meantime, the Badages, who had ravaged the coast of Fishery theyear before, animated of themselves against the Christians, and perhapspushed forward by the devils, who saw their empire decaying day by day, excited also by the desire of glory, and above all things by the hope ofbooty, entered into the kingdom of Travancore, on the side of one ofthose mountains-which confine on the cape of Comorin. Their formersuccess had rendered them so haughty and so insolent, that they flatteredthemselves with an imagination that every thing would bend before them. But not having now to do, as they had before, with simple fishers, theywere come in good order, and well armed, under the conduct of the Naiche, or lord of Modure, a valiant and experienced captain. 

The inhabitants of the maritime villages took fright at the noise of anhostile army; and retiring, for the most part with great haste andconfusion into the inland country, carried even to the court the news ofthe invasion. 

The king of Travancore, whom the Portuguese call the Great Monarch, because indeed he is the most powerful of all the kings of Malabar, collecting his army with all speed, put himself at the head of it, andmarched towards the enemy. The battle, in all appearance, was likely tobe bloody, and the victory seemed assured to those vagabond robbers, whowere more in number, and better disciplined. 

Father Xavier, so soon as he understood that the Badages were drawingnear, falling prostrate on the ground, "O Lord, " said he; "remember thatthou art the God of mercies, and protector of the faithful: give not upto the fury of these wolves that flock, of which thou hast appointed methe pastor; that these new Christians, who are yet so feeble in thefaith, may not repent their embracing it, and that the infidels may nothave the advantage of oppressing those, who repose their confidence innone but thee. "

His prayer being ended, he arose, and inspired with a more than humancourage, which made him incapable of fear, he takes a troop of fervantChristians, and, with a crucifix in his hand, runs with them towards theplain, where the enemies were marching in battalia. When he arrivedwithin distance of being heard, he stopped and said to them, in athreatening voice, "I forbid you, in the name of the living God, to passfarther, and on his part, command you to return the way you came. "

These few words cast a terror into the minds of those soldiers who wereat the head of the army; they remained confounded, and without motion. They, who marched after them, seeing the foremost advanced not, asked thereason of it; answer was returned from the first ranks, that they hadbefore their eyes an unknown person habited in black, of a more thanhuman stature, of a terrible aspect, and darting fire from his eyes. Themost hardy were desirous to satisfy themselves concerning what was toldthem; they were seized with amazement at the sight, and all of them fledwith a precipitate confusion. 

The new Christians who had followed Xavier, ran to declare to theneighbouring villages this wonderful event. The fame of it was suddenlyspread abroad, and the king, who was marching towards the enemy withgreat speed, heard the report of it on his way. He caused Xavier to bebrought into his presence, and embraced him as the redeemer ofTravancore; and after he had publicly thanked him for so eminent aservice, he said thus to him: "I am called the Great Monarch; and, fromhenceforth, you shall be called the Great Father. "

The saint gave the king to understand, that it was only Jesus Christ towhom he ought to pay his acknowledgments; and, as for himself, he oughtonly to be regarded as a weak instrument, who could do nothing of his ownpower. The Pagan king comprehended nothing of his meaning; and the twovices which are the common obstacles to the conversion of the great, thatis to say, the concupiscence of the flesh, and pride of heart, hinderedhim afterwards from embracing of the faith; which notwithstanding, hecaused an edict to be published throughout his kingdom, whereby all menwere commanded to obey the Great Father, as they would his proper person;and that whoever desired to be a Christian, might be so without anyapprehension of danger to ensue. He went so far as even to call Xavierhis brother; and bestowed on him large sums of money, all which theservant of God employed in charities on the poor. 

An edict so favourable to the law of our belief, made many Christianseven in the court, though contrary to the example of the prince. But themiraculous actions of Xavier finished the conversion of the wholekingdom. Besides his curing all sorts of diseases, he raised four personsfrom the dead, two women and two men. The act of canonization relates nomore of the resurrection of the women, but the bare matter of fact, without any circumstances; but the resurrection of the men is related atlarge, of which the substance is in the ensuing account. 

Xavier preached in one of the maritime villages of Travancore, calledCoulan, near Cape Comoriu. Some were converted by his first sermons; butthe greater party remained in their ancient superstition, after havingoften heard him. The most obstinate, it is true, listened to him withdelight, and found the maxims of the gospel to be most conformable to thelight of reason: but the pleasure which they took in hearing, producednothing; and they satisfied themselves with admiring the Christian law, without troubling themselves to follow it. 

The father one day finding, that he spoke to them of God without workingany thing upon their hearts, prayed fervently to the Almighty in theirbehalf; and, with his eyes lifted up to heaven, his countenance more thanordinarily inflamed, and with abundance of tears, besought him to takepity on those obstinate idolaters. "O Lord, " said he, "all hearts are inthy hands; thou canst bend, as it pleases thee, the most stubborn, andsoften the most obdurate; do that honour, on this day, to the blood andthe name of thy beloved Son. " Scarcely had he ended his prayer, when hewas assured it was answered: turning himself to his audience, with theair of one inspired, "Well, " said he, "since you will not believe me onmy word, behold that which will make me be believed. What testimony doyou desire from me, of those truths which I have declared to you?" At thesame instant he recalled to his remembrance, that a man had been thereburied the day before. Then resuming his discourse in the same tone thathe began it, "Open, " said he, "the sepulchre which you closed yesterday, and bring out the body; but observe carefully, whether he who was buriedbe truly dead. "

The most incredulous ran hastily to take up the corpse; far from findingany the least sign of life, they perceived it began to putrify with anoisome scent. They took off the linen in which he was wrapped, and laidthe dead man at the feet of the father, who was come to the place ofburial. The barbarians gazed with astonishment on the dead body, andimpatiently expected the event. The saint fell upon his knees, and, aftera short prayer, addressing himself to the dead, "I command thee, " saidhe, "in the holy name of the living God, to arise, for the confirmationof that religion which I preach. " At these words, the dead arose ofhimself, and appeared not only living, but vigorous, and in perfecthealth. All who were present cried out, with a loud voice, "That the Godof the Christians was omnipotent; and that the law which the great Fatherpreached was true. " In consequence of which, they threw themselves at hisfeet, desired baptism, and received it on the place. 

The other dead person whom the apostle raised to life, was a young man, and a Christian, who died at Mutan, on the same coast, betwixt Carjapatanand Alicale. He had been dead above four-and-twenty hours, of apestilential fever. Xavier met the corpse by chance, as they werecarrying it to the grave. The parents of the dead man, who were of thegreatest quality in all the country, accompanied the funeral pomp, withall their kindred, according to the custom of that nation. As comfortlessas they were, yet upon sight of the saint, they recovered courage, and, embracing his knees, implored him to restore their son to life; beingpersuaded, that what was not to be effected by the power of nature, wouldcost him only a word speaking. Xavier, moved by their affliction, andexcited by their faith, begged the assistance of the Most High, made thesign of the cross, and threw holy water on the dead, after which he tookhim by the hand, raised him up in the name of the Lord, and restored himliving to his father and mother. 

To preserve the memory of an action so wonderful and so authentic, theparents of the man they raised erected a great cross on the place wherethe miracle was done; and were accustomed afterwards to go often thither, and pray to God before it. These resurrections were so famous through allthe country, and made so great impressions on the souls of theinhabitants, that the people came thronging from all parts to behold thegreat Father, and to receive baptism from his hands; insomuch, that thewhole kingdom of Travancore was Subjected to Christ Jesus in few months;and the king, with some few of his chief courtiers, were the onlyremaining idolaters in the land, by a terrible judgment of Almighty God, who sometimes abandons princes to their unruly passions, and departs fromthe great, while he communicates himself to those of the lowest quality. 

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER. 

BOOK III. 

_He writes into Europe for a supply of missioners. The saint's letter tothe doctors of Sorbonne. Ambassadors from the isle of Manar to the saint. He sends a missioner to the isle of Manar. The constancy of theChristians of Manar. A miraculous cross, and its effects. The enterpriseof Xavier against the persecutor. New motives for his journey to Cambaya. He persuades Michael Vaz to go to Portugal. His letter to the king ofPortugal. The success of the voyage undertaken by Michael Vaz. Heconverts a debauched Portuguese. He engages the viceroy of the Indies tomake war on the king of Jafanatapan. Divers predictions of the saint. Hegoes to join the Portuguese fleet, and raises one from the dead. He freesthe island of Manar from the plague. The enterprise of Jafanatapandefeated. He designs the voyage of Macassar, and the conversion of manykingdoms. He goes to the sepulchre of St Thomas, to consult Godconcerning his voyage to Macassar. What happened to him in his passage toMeliapor. He comes to Meliapor; the monuments which he there finds of theapostle St Thomas. He is threatened by devils, and afterwards beaten bythem. He learns the will of God concerning his design. The conversionswhich he makes at Meliapor. He brings a great sinner to repentance. Divers wonderful events which encrease his fame. He persuades a richmerchant to evangelical perfection. The new convert falls from grace, andbecomes suspected to the Saint. His charity to a soldier, who had lostall his money at play. He arrives at Malacca; a digression concerning it. In what condition he found the town, and what he did in order to reformit. He labours with success at Malacca. He revives a dead maid. Hereceives letters from Europe by the new missioners who are sent him. Hedefers the voyage to Macassar, and designs another. He foreknows, andforetels the ruin of Malacca. He goes to Amboyna, and what happens to himin his voyage. He arrives at Amboyna: What he performs there. He convertsthe idolaters and Moors of Amboyna. A Spanish fleet arrives at Amboyna. He assists the Spanish fleet during the contagion amongst them. He passesinto divers islands. He recovers his crucifix, which was fallen into thesea. He foretels the holy death of a new convert. He goes to the islandof Ulate, and the miracle there wrought by him. He goes to the Moluccas. What happens to him in his way. He declares to the people the death ofJohn Araus. He makes many converts at Ternate. Conversion of a queen atTernate. He hears of the isles del Moro. Great endeavours are used todissuade the saint from going to the isles del Moro. He complains ofthose who make opposition to his voyage to the isle Del Moro. He goes forthe isle Del Moro, and writes to Rome. God reveals to him what is doingin a distant island. He arrives at Del Moro; the condition in which hefound it. He gains the inhabitants of the isle Del Moro. He speaks tothem of hell. He exhorts them to repentance. He says mass in the midst ofan earthquake. He is admired by the barbarians. He is persecuted by acruel and savage people. His sufferings in the isle Del Moro; and theconsolations which he there received. He goes for Goa; and the reasonthat induced him. He returns to Ternate. His proceedings at Ternate. Heendeavours the conversion of the king of Ternate. What hindered the kingof Ternate's conversion. He labours with great fruit in the court ofTernate. He leaves to the islanders a Christian instruction written withhis own hand. The counsel he gave the Ternatines at parting. He renewshis labours at Amboyna. He is endued with the supernatural knowledge ofsome things. A cross, erected by Xavier, becomes famous. The constancy ofthe Christians in Amboyna_. 

The reputation of Xavier was not confined to the kingdom of Travancore;it was spread abroad through all the Indies; and the God of theChristians, at the same time, was had in so great veneration, that themost idolatrous nations sent to desire the saint, that he would come andgive them baptism. His joy was infinite, to find the Gentiles, of theirown free motion, searching after the way of eternal life; but, on theother side, he was afflicted that he was not sufficient alone to instructso many vast countries as were gone astray from it. 

Seeing the harvest so great, and the labourers so few, he wrote earnestlyto Father Ignatius in Italy, and to Simon Rodriguez in Portugal, for asupply of missioners. He had such transports of zeal on that occasion, asto say, in one of his letters, "I have often thoughts to run over all theuniversities of Europe, and principally that of Paris, and to cry aloudto those who abound more in learning than, in charity, Ah, how many soulsare lost to heaven through your default! It were to be wished, that thosepeople would apply themselves as diligently to the salvation of souls, asthey do to the study of sciences; to the end they might render toAlmighty God a good account of their learning, and the talents which hehas bestowed on them. Many, without doubt, moved with thoughts likethese, would make a spiritual retreat, and give themselves the leisure ofmeditating on heavenly things, that they might listen to the voice ofGod. They would renounce their passions, and, trampling under foot allworldly vanities, would put themselves in condition of following themotions of the divine will. They would say, from the bottom of theirhearts, behold me in readiness, O my Lord; send me wheresoever thou shaltplease, even to the Indies, if thou commandest me. 

"Good God, how much more happily would those learned men then live, thannow they do! with how much more assurance of their salvation! and, in thehour of death, when they are ready to stand forth before the dreadfuljudgment-seat, how much greater reason would they have, to hope well ofGod's eternal mercy, because they might say, O Lord, thou hast given mefive talents, and behold I have added other five. 

"I take God to witness, that, not being able to return into Europe, Ihave almost resolved to write to the university of Paris, and namely toour masters, Cornet and Picard, that millions of idolaters might beeasily converted, if there were more preachers, who would sincerely mindthe interests of Jesus Christ, and not their own concernments. "

It is pity that his letter to the doctors of Sorbonne is irrecoverablylost; 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 thetestimony of Don John Derada, one of the chief magistrates of the kingdomof Navarre, who, studying at Paris, saw the letter sent from FatherXavier, admired the apostolical charity with which it was replenished, and took a copy of it, as did also many divines, to whom it was directed. 

Amongst those idolatrous nations, which breathed after baptism, anddesired to be instructed, the Manarois were the first, who made adeputation to the saint. 

The isle of Manar is situate towards the most northern point of Ceylon, and at the head of the sands of Remanancor. It has a very convenientport, and is a place of great traffic. But the soil is so sandy and sodry, that it produces nothing, unless in some few places, which also arecultivated with much care and labour. For Manar has no resemblance toCeylon, though placed so near it: Ceylon being the most delicious andmost fruitful part of all the East; where the trees are always green, andbear fruits and flowers in every season; where there are discovered minesof gold and silver, crystal, and precious stones; which is encompassedwith forests of ebony, cinnamon, and cocoa; and where the inhabitantslive to an extreme old age, without any of the incommodities which attendit, The wonder is, that, being distant from the equinoctial but sixdegrees, the air is temperate and pure, and the rains, which water itfrom heaven regularly once a month, joined with the springs and riverswhich pass through it, refresh the ground in a greater measure than thescorching heats can parch it. 

Father Xavier was employed in establishing Christianity in Travancore, when he received this embassy from Manar. As he could not forsake aninfant church without a reasonable apprehension of its ruin, he sent toManar one of the priests whom he had left on the coast of Fishery. AndGod so blessed the labours of that missioner, that the Manarois not onlybecame Christians, but died generously for the faith; and this was theoccasion of their martyrdom. 

The isle of Manar was at that time under the dominion of the king ofJafanatapan; for by that name the northern part of Ceylon is called. Thisprince had usurped the crown from his elder brother, and enslaved hissubjects. Above all things, he was an implacable enemy of the Christianfaith; though in appearance he was a friend to the Portuguese, whoseforces only could set bounds to his tyranny. When he understood that theManarois were converted to Christianity, he entered into that fury ofwhich tyrants only can be capable; for he commanded, that his troopsshould immediately pass over into the island, and put all to the sword, excepting only the idolaters. His orders were punctually executed; andmen, women, and children, were all destroyed, who had embraced theChristian faith. 

It was wonderful to behold, that the faithful being examined, one by one, concerning their religion, and no more required for the saving of theirlives, than to forsake their new belief, there was not one amongst them, who did not openly declare himself a Christian. The fathers and mothersanswered for the newly baptized infants, who were not able to givetestimony of their faith; and offered them to the death, with aresolution, which was amazing to their executioners. Six or sevenhundred of these islanders gave up their lives for the name of JesusChrist; and the principal place which was consecrated by so noble blood, from Pasim, which it was called before, now took the name of the Field ofMartyrs. 

This dreadful massacre, far from abolishing the Christian law, servedonly to render it more flourishing. The tyrant had even the shame ofseeing his officers and domestic servants forsake their ancientsuperstition in despite of him. But what most enraged him, was theconversion of his eldest son. This young prince, inspired of God, causedhimself to be instructed by a Portuguese merchant, who had dealings atthe court; which yet could not be so secretly performed, but that theking had notice of it. At the first news, he cut his throat, and threwthe body into the fields, to serve for food to savage beasts. 

But Heaven permitted not, that a death which was so precious in the sightof God, should be without honour in the sight of men, The Portuguesemerchant buried his disciple by night; and on the next morning, thereappeared a beautiful cross, printed on the ground, which covered the bodyof the martyr. The spectacle extremely surprised the infidels. They didwhat they were able, to deface, and (if I may so say) to blot out thecross, by treading over it, and casting earth upon it. It appeared againthe day following, in the same figure, and they once more endeavoured totread it out. But then it appeared in the air, all resplendent withlight, and darting its beams on every side. The barbarians who beheld it, were affrighted; and, being touched in their hearts, declared themselvesChristians. The king's sister, a princess naturally virtuous, havingprivately embraced the faith, instructed both her own son, and hernephew, who was brother to the martyr. But, while she directed them inthe way of heaven, she took care to preserve them from the cruelty of thetyrant. To which purpose she addressed herself to the merchant abovementioned, and intrusting him with the lives of the two princes, orderedhim to convey them to the seminary of Goa. 

This Portuguese managed all things so discreetly, with the concurrence ofthe princess, that he escaped out of the island, with the two princes, undiscovered. He took his way by the kingdom of Travancore, that he mightbehold Father Xavier, and present to him these two illustrious newconverts. The father received them as angels descended from above, andgave immortal thanks to God, for so noble a conquest. He fortified themin the faith, gave them excellent instructions, and promised so tomediate in their favour, with the viceroy of the Indies, that they shouldhave no occasion of repenting themselves for having abandoned all thingsfor the sake of Jesus Christ. 

When the king of Jafanatapan had notice of the flight of his son andnephew, he broke out into new fury against the Christians, and put todeath great numbers of them. Being apprehensive that his brother, fromwhom he had usurped the crown, and who now led a wandering life, mightpossibly change his religion also, and beg protection from thePortuguese, he sent officers round about, with orders to bring him intohis hands, or, at the least, to bring back his head. But he failed ofgetting him in his power either alive or dead; for this unhappy prince, attended by ten horsemen, having passed to Negapatan, came by land toGoa, after having suffered extreme hardships, in a journey of more thantwo hundred leagues. 

Father Xavier, who was informed of all these proceedings, thought itnecessary to make advantage of these favourable opportunities withoutloss of time. He considered with what perfection Christians might live ina kingdom where they died so generously for the faith, with so imperfecta knowledge of it. On the other side, he judged, that if the injusticeand cruelty of the tyrant remained unpunished, what an inducement itmight be to other idolatrous kings, for them to persecute the newconverts in their turn; that the only means for repairing the past, andobviating future mischiefs, was to dispossess the tyrant of the crown, which he so unjustly wore, and restore it to his brother, to whom itrightfully belonged; that, for these considerations, recourse ought to behad to the Portuguese to engage them, by a principle of religion, to takearms against the usurper of the kingdom, and the persecutor of theChristians. 

In order to this, the father caused Mansilla to be recalled from thecoast of Fishery; and having intrusted him with the care of christianityin Travancore, took his way by land to Cambaya, where the viceroy of theIndies then resided. 

Besides these reasons, relating to the king of Jafanatapan, the saint hadother motives which obliged him to take this journey. The greatest partof the Europeans, who were in the Indies, and chiefly the officers of thecrown of Portugal, lived after so infamous a manner, that they made theChristian faith appear odious, and scandalised alike both the idolatersand the faithful. 

The public worship of the pagods was tolerated at Goa, and the sect ofthe Brachmans daily increased in power; because those Pagan priests hadbribed the Portuguese officers. The people professed heathenism freely, provided they made exact payments of their tribute, as if they had beenconquered only for the sake of gain. Public offices were sold toSaracens, and the Christian natives stood excluded, for want of money, which does all things with corrupt ministers. The receivers of the king'srevenues, who were to pay the Paravas of the coast of Fishery, constrained those poor fishers to deliver their pearls almost fornothing; and thus the exaction of a lawful tribute, in the constitution, became tyranny and oppression in the management. Men were sold likebeasts, and Christians enslaved to Pagans at cheap pennyworths. Toconclude, the king of Cochin, an idolater, but tributary to the crown ofPortugal, was suffered to confiscate the goods of his subjects, who hadreceived baptism. 

Father Francis was wonderfully grieved to perceive, that the greatesthindrance to the growth of Christianity, in those vast dominions of Asia, proceeded only from the Christians. He bewailed it sometimes to God, inthe bitterness of his heart; and one day said, "That he would willinglyreturn to Portugal to complain of it to the king, not doubting, but soreligious and just a prince would order some remedy for this encroachingevil, if he had notice how it spread. "

Xavier had taken the way of Cochin, along by the sea coast. He arrivedthere the 16th of December, 1544, where he happened to meet with MichaelVaz, vicar-general of the Indies. In acquainting him with the reasons ofhis journey, he made him sensible, that the weakness of the governmentwas the principal cause of the avarice and violence of the officers; thatDon 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, hedid not strongly oppose ill ones; in a word, that it was absolutelynecessary for the king of Portugal to be informed of all the disordersin the Indies, by a person who was an eye-witness of them, and whoseintegrity was not liable to suspicion. Vaz immediately entered into theopinions of the father, and his zeal carried him to pass himself intoPortugal, in a vessel which was just ready to set sail. Xavier praisedGod for those good intentions; and wrote a letter by him to King Johnthe Third, the beginning of which I have here transcribed:--

"Your Majesty ought to be assured, and often to call into your mind, thatGod has made choice of you, amongst all the princes of the world, forthe conquest of India, to the end he may make trial of your faith, andsee what requital you will make to him for all his benefits. You oughtalso to consider, that, in conferring on you the empire of a new world, his intention was, not so much that you should fill your coffers with theriches of the East, as that you should have an opportunity of signalizingyour zeal, by making known to idolaters, through the means of those whoserve you, the Creator and Redeemer of mankind. "

The saint, after this beginning, gave the king to understand the goodintentions of Michael Vaz, and the ill conduct of the Portuguese, whowere in the government of the Indies. He suggested to him the means ofputting a stop to those disorders, and advised him, above all things, notonly to recommend, by letters, the interest of religion, but rigorouslyto punish all those officers, who were wanting to their duty in thatrespect; "for there is danger, " said he, "that when God shall summon yourMajesty to judgment, that will then come to pass which you least expect, and which is not to be avoided; there is danger, great Prince, that youmay then hear these words of an offended God. Why have you not punishedthose who, under your authority, have made war against me in the Indies, you who have punished them so severely, when they were negligent ingathering your revenues? Your cause will be little helped by your returnof this answer to Jesus Christ;--Lord, I have not wanted yearly torecommend, by letters to my subjects, all that concerns thy honour andthy service. For, doubt not, it will be thus answered;--But your orderswere never put in execution, and you left your ministers, at their owndisposal, to do whatever they thought good. 

"I therefore beg your Majesty, by that fervent zeal which you have forthe glory of our Lord, and by the care which you have always testified ofyour eternal salvation, to send hither a vigilant and resolute minister, who will bend his actions to nothing more than to the conversion ofsouls; who may act independently to the officers of your treasury; andwho will not suffer himself to be led and governed by the politics ofworldly men, whose foresight is bounded with the profit of the state. Mayyour Majesty be pleased a little to inspect your incomes from the Indies, and, after that, look over the expences which are made for theadvancement of religion; that, having weighed all things equally oneither side, you may make a judgment, if that which you bestow bears anyproportion with that which you receive; and then, perhaps, you will finda just subject to apprehend, that, of those immense treasures, which theDivine Goodness has heaped upon you, you have given to God but aninconsiderable pittance. 

"For what remains, let not your Majesty defer any longer the payment ofso just a debt, to so bountiful a giver, nor the healing of so manypublic wounds. What remedy soever you can apply, what diligence soeveryou can make, all will be too little, and of the latest. The sincere andardent charity of my heart, towards your Majesty, has constrained me towrite to you in this manner, especially when my imagination represents tome, in a lively sort, the complaints which the poor Indians send up toheaven, that out of so vast a treasure, with which your estate isenriched by them, you employ so little for their spiritual necessities. "The letter ended, in begging this favour of Almighty God, "that the king, in his lifetime, might have those considerations, and that conduct, whichhe would wish to have had when he was dying. "

Michael Vaz negotiated so well with King John the Third, pursuant to theinstructions of Father Xavier, that he obtained another governor of theIndies, and carried back such orders and provisions, signed by hisMajesty's own hand, as were in a manner the same which the father haddesired. 

These orders contained, That no toleration should be granted for thesuperstition of the infidels in the isle of Goa, nor in that of Salseta;that they should break in pieces all the pagods which were there, andmake search, in the houses of the Gentiles, for concealed idols, andwhosoever used or made them should be punished according to the qualityof his crime; that as many of the Brachmans as were found to oppose thepublication of the gospel, should be banished; that out of a yearly rentof three thousand crowns, charged on a mosque at Bazain, a subsistenceshould be made for the poor, newly converted from idolatry; thathereafter no public employment should be given to Pagans; that noexaction should remain unpunished; that no slaves should henceforth besold, either to Mahometans or Gentiles; that the pearl fishing shouldonly be in the hands of Christians, and that nothing should be taken fromthem, without paying them the due value; that the king of Cochin shouldnot be suffered to despoil or oppress the baptized Indians; and, last ofall, that if Sosa had not already revenged the murder of the Christiansin Manar, who were massacred by the king of Jafanatapan's command, Castro, who succeeded in his place, should not fail to see it done. 

To return to Father Xavier;--he put to sea at Cochin, and sailed towardsCambaya. In the ship there was a Portuguese gentleman, much a libertine, and one of those declared atheists who make a boast of their impiety. This was motive enough for the holy man to make acquaintance with him. Hekept him company, and was even so complaisant as to entertain him withpleasant conversation. The Portuguese was much delighted with his goodhumour, and took pleasure in hearing him discourse on many curioussubjects. But if Xavier offered to let fall a word concerning thesalvation of his soul, he laughed at it, and would hear no more. Ifthe father mildly reproved him for his profane and scandalous way ofliving, he flew out into a fury against the holy practice of the church, and swore he would never more come to confession. 

These ill inclinations did not at all discourage Xavier from hisundertaking. He treated this hardened sinner after the manner thatphysicians use a patient raving in his sickness, with all manner ofcompassion and soft behaviour. In the meantime, they came to an anchorbefore the port of Cananor, and, going ashore together, they took a walkinto a wood of palm-trees which was near their place of landing. Afterthey had made a turn or two, the saint stripped himself to the waist, andtaking a discipline, pointed at the ends with wire, struck so hard and sooften on his naked body, that, in a very little time, his back andshoulders were all bloody. "It is for your sake, " said he to thegentleman who accompanied him, "that I do what you see, and all this isnothing to what I would willingly suffer for you. But, " added he, "youhave cost Christ Jesus a much dearer price. Will neither his passion, his death, nor all his blood, suffice to soften the hardness of yourheart?" After this, addressing himself to our blessed Saviour, "O Lord, "said he, "be pleased to look on thy own adorable blood, and not on thatof so vile a sinner as myself. " The gentleman, amazed and confounded, both at once, at such an excess of charity, cast himself at the feet ofXavier, beseeching him to forbear, and promising to confess himself andtotally to change his former life. In effect, before they departed out ofthe wood, he made a general confession to the father, with sincerecontrition for his sins, and afterwards lived with the exemplarybehaviour and practice of a good Christian. 

Being returned to the port, they went again on shipboard, and continuedtheir voyage to Cambaya. When they were arrived at that place, Xavierwent to wait on the viceroy, and easily persuaded him to what he desired, in reference to Jafanatapan; for, besides that Sosa reposed an entireconfidence in Father Xavier, and was himself zealous for the faith, theexpedition, which was proposed to him, was the most glorious that thePortuguese could undertake, since the consequence of it was to punish atyrant, to dispossess an usurper, and to restore a lawful king. 

The viceroy, therefore, wrote letters, and dispatched couriers, to thecaptains of Comorin and of the Fishery, commanding them to assemble allthe forces they could make at Negapatan, and make a sudden irruption intothe tyrant's country, without giving him time to provide for his defence. He gave them also in charge to take the tyrant alive, if possibly theycould, and put him into the hands of Father Francis, who desired hisconversion, not his death, and hoped the blood of the martyrs of Manarmight obtain the forgiveness of his crimes. 

Xavier, encouraged by these hopes, returned towards Cochin, where heproposed to himself to follow his ministerial vocation, while thepreparations of war were making. Coming back by Cananor, he lodged in thehouse of a Christian, who himself was religious, but his son debauched, and subject to all sorts of vices. The good man, sensibly afflicted atthe ill conduct of his graceless son, wept day and night; and Xavierbegan at first to comfort him, saying, those vices were ordinary inyouth, and riper age would reclaim him from them. Having done speaking, he stood mute awhile, and recollected himself; then, suddenly lifting uphis eyes to heaven, "Know, " said he, "that you are the most happy fatherin the world. This libertine son, who has given you so many disquiets, shall one day change his manners, he shall be a religious of the order ofSt Francis, and at last shall die a martyr. " The event verified theprediction. The young man afterwards took the habit of St Francis, andwent to preach the faith in the kingdom of Cande, [1] where he receivedmartyrdom from the barbarians. 

[Footnote 1: Cande is a kingdom in the island of Ceylon. ]

Father Xavier, being come back to Cochin, was very kindly received by thesecretary of state, Cosmo Annez, his intimate friend, who was there onsome important business. Being one day together, and talking familiarly, Xavier asked Annez, if the year had been good for the Portugal merchants?Annez answered him, that it could not have been better: that not longsince, seven vessels had been sent off, which were now in their passageto Europe, and richly laden. He added, that himself had sent the king ofPortugal a rare diamond, which had cost six thousand ducats at Goa, andAvould be worth more than thirty thousand at Lisbon. Xavier had a farthercuriosity to enquire, which of the ships had carried the diamond; andAnnez told him, it was the ship called the Atoghia, and that he hadentrusted the jewel to John Norogna, who was captain of the ship. 

Xavier then entered into a profound meditation; and after he had keptsilence for some time, all on the sudden thus replied; "I could havewished that a diamond of so great value had not been entrusted to thatship. " "And for what reason?" answered Annez; "is it not because theAtoghia has once formerly sprung a leak? but, father, she is now so wellrefitted, that she may be taken for a new vessel. " The saint explainedhimself no farther; and Annez, upon a second consideration, began toconjecture, both from the father's words, and afterwards from, hissilence, that there was some danger in the matter, whereupon he desiredhim to recommend that ship to the protection of almighty God; "for inconclusion, " said he, "the Atoghia cannot be lost without a veryconsiderable damage to me. I have had no order, " said he, "to buy thatdiamond; so that in case it should miscarry, the loss will be whollymine. "

Sitting one day together at the table, and Xavier observing Annez to bein great concernment, "give thanks to God, " said he, "your diamond issafe, and at this very time in the hands of the queen of Portugal. " Annezbelieved Xavier on his word; and understood afterwards, by letters fromNorogna, that the ship opened in the midst of her voyage, and let in somuch water, that being upon the point of sinking, the mariners hadresolved to have forsaken her, and thrown themselves into the sea, butafter having cut down the main mast, they changed their thoughts withoutany apparent reason; that the leak stopped of itself, and the shippursuing her course, with only two sails, arrived safely in the port ofLisbon. 

The man of God remained about three months in Cochin, and towards the endof May set sail for Negapatan, where the Portuguese fleet was now ina readiness. Passing by the Isle of De las Vaccas, which is near theflats of Ceylon, towards the north, he raised to life a Saracen's child, which is all that is known of that miracle. He was desirous in hispassage to see the isle of Manar, where so many Christians had beenmassacred for the faith; and going ashore, he often kissed the ground, which had been sprinkled with the blood of martyrs at Pasim. While herejoiced at the happy destiny of the dead, he had cause to be afflictedfor the misfortune of the living: a contagious disease laid waste theisland, and there died an hundred every day. 

When the Manarois had notice, that the great father, so famous in theIndies, was at Pasim, they assembled together, above three thousand ofthem, for the most part Gentiles, and being come to the village, besoughthim humbly to deliver them from the pestilence. 

Xavier asked three days, wherein to implore of God, for that which theyhad begged from him. During all which time, he only offered up to ourLord, and set before him the merits of those blessed martyrs, who hadsuffered for his name at Pasim. Before those days were ended, his prayerswere heard, the plague ceased, and all the sick were restored to healthat the same moment. So visible a miracle wrought on all of them tobelieve in Jesus Christ; and the apostle baptized them with his own hand. He could make no longer stay with them; for the naval army then expectedhim, and his presence was necessary to encourage the soldiers, and mindthe captains of the performance of their duty. 

He passed over from Manar to Negapatan; but there he found all things ina far different condition from what he hoped. The Portuguese navydiminished daily; and the commanders, who at the beginning had been sozealous for the Holy War, were now the first to condemn it. It was invain for him to set before their eyes the honour of their nation, andthat of God: interest did so blind their understanding, that they forgotthey were either Portuguese or Christians: behold, in short, whatoverthrew so glorious an expedition. 

While they were equipping the fleet, it happened that a Portuguesevessel, coming from the kingdom of Pegu, and laden with rich merchandise, was driven by tempest upon the coast of Jafanatapan. The king madeseizure of it, and possessed himself of all within it, according to thecustom of the barbarians. The captain and the ship's company foreseeing, that if, in this conjuncture, war should be made against the heathenprince, they should never be able to retrieve their wealth out of hishands, corrupted the officers of the fleet with large presents, to desistfrom their undertaking. Thus the tyrant, whom Father Xavier designed todrive out from his ill-gotten kingdom, was maintained in it, by thecovetousness of Christians; or rather by the secret decrees ofProvidence, which sometimes permits the persecutors of the church toreign in peace, to the end a trial may be made of such as dare tocontinue constant in their faith. 

As holy men resign their will to that of God, Xavier wholly abandoned theenterprize of Jafanatapan, and thought only of returning to the kingdomof Travancore. Being now on sea, he cast back his eyes on the Isle ofCeylon, which he saw from far; and cried out, lamenting for it, "Ah!Unhappy island, with how many carcases do I behold thee covered, and whatrivers of blood are making inundations on all sides of thee!" These wordswere prophetical of what happened afterwards, when on Constantine deBraganza at one time, and Don Hurtado de Mendoca at another, destroyedall those islanders with the sword; and the king of Jafanatapan beinghimself taken, together with his eldest son, was put to death in his ownpalace; as if the divine justice had not deferred the death of thispersecutor, but only to render it more terrible, and more memorable. 

Father Xavier was very desirous of returning to Travancore; but the windsblew so contrary, that they always drove him from the coast. By this hejudged that God had called him to some other place; and thereupon formeda resolution of carrying the light of the gospel from isle to isle, andfrom kingdom to kingdom, even to the utmost limits of the East. The newshe heard, during his navigation, caused him suddenly to cast his thoughtson an island situate under the equinoctial, betwixt the Moluccas andBorneo, stretched in length two hundred leagues from north to south, anddivided into sundry kingdoms, called by the geographers Celebes, by thehistorians Macassar, from the names of the two capital cities, of the twoprincipal kingdoms; as to the rest, well peopled, and abounding in allsorts of riches. 

It was related to him, that about the year 1531, two brothers, bothidolaters, as were all the inhabitants of Macassar, going on theirprivate business to Ternate, the chief of the Moluccas, had someconference, relating to religion, with the governor, Antonio Galvan, aPortuguese, one of the most famous warriors of his age, and celebrated inhistory both for his piety and valour: that having learnt from him thevanity of their idols, they embraced the Christian faith, and at theirbaptism took the names of Antonio and Michael: that being returned intotheir country, they themselves taught publicly the faith of Jesus Christ:that all their countrymen, with one accord, sent their ambassadors to thegovernor of Ternate, desiring him to send them some to instruct them inthe principles of faith; and that the heads of this embassy were the twobrothers, known to Galvan: that these ambassadors found a very kindreception; and that for want of a priest, Galvan gave them a soldier fortheir teacher, whose name was Francis de Castro; a man knowing inreligion, and of exemplary piety. In conclusion, that Castro, who wasthus chosen to instruct that people, embarking for Macassar, was drivenby a tempest another way. 

Besides this, Xavier was likewise informed, that not long before, aPortuguese merchant, called Antonio Payva, going to Macassar in the nameof Ruys Vaz Pereyra, captain of Malacca, for a ship's lading of sandal, aprecious wood growing in that island, the king of Supa, which is one ofthe kingdoms of Macassar, came in person to see him, and asked diversquestions relating to the Christian faith: that this honest merchant, better acquainted with his traffic than his religion, yet answered verypertinently, and discoursed of the mysteries of faith after so reasonablea manner, that the king, then threescore years of age, was converted, with all his family and court: that another king of the same island, called the king of Sion, followed his example; and that these twoprinces, who were solemnly baptized by the hand of Payva, not being ableto retain him with them, desired him to send them some priests, who mightadminister the sacraments, and baptize their subjects. 

These pious inclinations appeared to Father Xavier as an excellentgroundwork for the planting of the gospel. He wept for joy at the happynews; and adored the profound judgments of the Divine Providence, which, after having refused the grace of baptism to the king of Travancore, whenall his subjects had received it, began the conversion of Sion and ofSupa by that of their sovereigns. He even believed, that his evangelicalministry exacted from him, to put the last hand to the conversion ofthose kingdoms. 

In the mean time, he thought it his duty, that, before he resolved on thevoyage of Macassar, he should ask advice from heaven concerning it; andto perform it as he ought, it came into his mind to implore theenlightnings of God's spirit at the sepulchre of St Thomas, the ancientfounder, and first father of Christianity in the Indies, whom he hadtaken for his patron and his guide, in the course of all his travels. Hetherefore resolved to go in pilgrimage to Meliapor, which is distant butfifty leagues from Negatapan, where the wind had driven him back. Andembarking in the ship of Michael Pereyra, on Palm-Sunday, which fell thatyear, 1545, on the 29th of March, they shaped their course along-thecoasts of Coromandel, having at first a favourable wind; but they had notmade above twelve or thirteen leagues, when the weather changed on asudden, and the sea became so rough, that they were forced to make toland, and cast anchor under covert of a mountain, to put their ship intosome reasonable security. They lay there for seven days together, inexpectation of a better wind; and all that time the holy man passed incontemplation, without taking any nourishment, either of meat or drink, as they observed who were in the vessel with him, and as James Madeira, who was a witness of it, has deposed in form of law. He only drank onEaster-Eve, and that at the request of the said Madeira, a little water, in which an onion had been boiled, according to his own direction. Onthat very day, the wind came about into a favourable quarter, and the seagrew calm, so that they weighed anchor, and continued their voyage. 

But Xavier, to whom God daily imparted more and more of the spirit ofprophecy, foreseeing a furious tempest, which was concealed under thatfallacious calm, asked the pilot, "If his ship were strong enough toendure the violence of bad weather, and ride out a storm?" The pilotconfessed she was not, as being an old crazy vessel. "Then, " saidXavier, "it were good to carry her back into the port. " "How, FatherFrancis, " said the pilot, "are you fearful with so fair a wind? you mayassure yourself of good weather by all manner of signs, and any littlebark may be in safety. " It was in vain for the saint to press himfarther, not to believe those deceitful appearances; neither would thepassengers 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 afoam, and mounted into billows. The ship was not able to withstand thetempest, and was often in danger of sinking, and the mariners wereconstrained to make towards the port of Negapatan, from whence they setout, which, with much ado, they at length recovered. 

The impatience of Father Xavier to visit the tomb of the apostle StThomas, caused him to make his pilgrimage by land; and he travelled withso much ardour, through the rough and uncouth ways, that in few days hearrived at Meliapor. 

That city is now commonly known by the name of St Thomas; because thatblessed apostle lived so long in it, and there suffered martyrdom. If wewill give credit to the inhabitants, it was once almost swallowed by thesea; and for proof of this tradition, there are yet to be seen underwater, the ruins of great buildings. The new town of Meliapor was builtby the Portuguese; near the walls there is a hill, which they called theLittle Mount, and in it a grotto, wherein they say St Thomas hid himselfduring the persecution. At the entry of this cave there is a cross cut inthe rock; and at the foot of the mountain there arises a spring, thewaters of which are of such virtue, that sick people drinking of them areordinarily cured. 

From this small ascent you pass to a higher and much larger mountain, which seems formed by nature for a lonely contemplative life; for on oneside it looks upon the sea, and on the other is covered with old trees, always green, which at once make a fruitful and a pleasing object. HitherSt Thomas retired to pray with his disciples; and here it was also thathe was slain by a Brachman with the thrust of a spear. 

The Portuguese, who rebuilt Meliapor, found on the top of the mountain alittle chapel, of stonework, all in ruins. They were desirous to repairit, in memory of the holy apostle; and, as they were rummaging all about, even to the foundations of it, they drew out a white marble, whereon wasa cross, with characters graved round about it, which declared, "That Godwas born of the Virgin Mary; that this God was eternal; that the same Godtaught his law to his twelve apostles; and that one of them came toMeliapor with a palmer's staff in his hand; that he built a church there;that the kings of Malabar, Coromandel, and Pandi, with many othernations, submitted themselves to the law preached by St Thomas, a manholy and penitent. "

This marble, of which we make mention, having on it divers stains ofblood, the common opinion is, that the apostle suffered martyrdom uponit. Howsoever it be, the marble was placed upon the altar when the chapelwas rebuilt; and the first time that a solemn mass was said there, thecross distilled some drops of blood, in the sight of all the people;which also happened many times in the following years, on the day whereonhis martyrdom is celebrated. 

When Xavier was come into the town, the vicar of Meliapor, who had heardspeak of him as a successor of the apostles, and a man sent from God, for the conversion of the Indies, came to offer him a lodging in hishouse. The father accepted of it, because it was adjoining to the church, wherein were kept the relicks of St Thomas; and that he could easily stepfrom thence by night, to consult the will of God concerning his intendedvoyage to Macassar. 

In effect, as soon as the vicar was laid to sleep, for they were lodgedin the same chamber, Xavier rose as softly as he could, and went to thechurch, through a church-yard which parted it from the house. The vicarperceived it, and advertised Xavier, that this passage was not over-safeby night, and that horrible phantoms had been often seen in it. The saintbelieved this only said to frighten him, and hinder him from risingbefore day; so he continued his usual prayers; but it was not long beforehe found that the advice was true: for, the nights ensuing, as he passedthrough the church-yard, he saw those dreadful spectres, whichendeavoured to have stopped him; yet he saved himself from them, and evenlaughed at them as vain illusions. 

The demons are too proud to bear contempt without revenge, when Godpermits them. One night, when the saint was at his devotions before theimage of the blessed Virgin, they assaulted him in great numbers, andbeat him so violently, that he was all over bruised, and forced to keephis bed for some days together. He said nothing of his adventure to thevicar; but it was discovered by a young man of Malabar, who lodged nearthe church, and was awakened with the noise; rising from his bed, heheard the blows distinctly, and what Father Xavier said to the holyVirgin, invoking her assistance against the infernal powers, insomuch, that the vicar, to whom the young man had related the words which he hadheard, sometimes repeated them to Xavier with an inoffensive kind ofraillery. 

The servant of God having recovered some little strength, returned to thechurch, and there continued all the night. What rage soever the devilshad against him, they durst no more attempt his person, nor so much asendeavour to affright him. They only made a noise to distract him in hisprayers; and one time, disguised in the habit of canons, theycounterfeited so well the midnight matins, that he asked the vicar, "Whowere those chanters who sung so admirably?"

But the favours which Xavier received from heaven, made him large amendsfor all the injuries of hell; for though the particulars of what passedbetwixt God and him were kept secret, it is known, at least in regard ofthe principal affair, for which he consulted God, that he had an interiorlight, which gave him clearly to understand, that he was commanded topass to the more southern islands, and to labour in their conversion. TheChristian, strength, with which he found himself animated at the sametime, caused all the dangers, which naturally he might apprehend, todisappear, as is manifest by what he wrote from Meliapor on thatoccasion, to two of his friends at Goa, Paul de Camerin, and James Borba, of whom we have made so frequent mention. 

"I hope that God will confer many favours on me in this voyage; since, through his infinite mercy, I have learned, with so much spiritual joy, that it is his holy pleasure I should go to those kingdoms of Macassar, where so many Christians have been made in these latter years. For whatremains, I am so much resolved on executing what our Lord has revealed tome, that if I should be wanting on my part, I should go, to my thinking, in direct opposition to his orders, and render myself unworthy of hisfavour, both in this life and in the next. If I cannot find this year anyPortuguese vessel bound for Malacca, I will embark myself on any shipbelonging to the Gentiles or the Saracens. I repose, withal, so great aconfidence in God, for the love of whom I undertake this voyage, that ifthere should only pass this way some little bark of Malacca, I should goaboard without the least deliberation. All my hope is in God; and Iconjure you by his love, to remember always in your prayers so great asinner as myself. "

Though his intentions in coming to Meliapor were only to receive theinstructions of heaven in his solitude, yet he employed some part of histime in the good of others. His holy life gave a lustre and value to hisdiscourse; and the sight of him alone was of efficacy to touch the heart. The people had received it as a maxim, "That whoever followed not thecounsel of Father Francis, should die an enemy of God. " And they relatedthe unhappy end of some sinners, who, being urged by Xavier to make aspeedy repentance, had deferred the work of their conversion. Thispopular opinion contributed much to the change of manners in the town;and the fear of a disastrous death served frequently to break off in onemoment the criminal commerce of many years. 

There was in Meliapor a Portuguese gentleman, who lived a debauched andscandalous life. His house was a seraglio, in little; and the greatestpart of his business was making a collection of beautiful slaves. Xavierwent one day to visit him about dinner time: "Are you willing, " said theFather, "that we should begin an acquaintance by dining together?" ThePortuguese was somewhat discomposed, both at the visit and thecompliment; yet he forced himself into good humour, and made shew ofbeing very glad of the honour which the Father had done him. While theywere at table, Xavier spoke not one word to him concerning hisdebauchery, and only entertained him with ordinary talk, though they hadbeen served by young damsels whose habit was not over modest, and whoseair was very impudent. He continued in the same way he had began, afterthey were risen from dinner, and, in conclusion, took his leave, withoutmaking him the least reproach. 

The gentleman, surprised at the conduct of Father Francis, believed hissilence to be a bad omen to him; and that he had nothing else to expectbut an unhappy death, and a more unhappy eternity. In this thought, hewent with all diligence to find the Father, and falling down before him, "Your silence, " said he, "has spoken powerfully to my heart: I have notenjoyed one moment of repose since you parted from me: Ah, Father, if myeverlasting damnation be not already fixed, I put myself 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 embraced him; and after he had given him to understand that themercies of the Lord are infinite, that it is our duty never to despair, that he who sometimes refuses to sinners the hour of repentance, alwaysgrants pardon to the penitent; he caused him to put away those occasionsof his sin, and disposed him to a general confession, the fruit of whichwas a chaste and Christian life. 

In short, the Father did what he could desire to be done at Meliapor; andwitnesses of known integrity have deposed on oath, that he left the townso different from what it was, at his coming thither, that it was hardlyto be known for the same place; which also gave him so entire asatisfaction, that giving it a thousand benedictions, he said that therewas not in all the Indies a more Christian town. And at the same time heprophecied, that one day it should become flourishing and wealthy; whichprediction was accomplished some few years afterward. 

Though all these conversions drew the public veneration on FatherFrancis, it seemed that God took pleasure in making the name of hisservant yet more illustrious, by certain wonderful events. A merchant ofMeliapor being just ready to embark for Malacca, went to take his leaveof him. In receiving his blessing, he begged of him some little token ofhis friendship. The Father, who was very poor, could find nothing to givehim but the chaplet which was hanging at his neck: "This chaplet, "[1]said he to the merchant, "shall not be unprofitable to you, provided yourepose your trust in the Virgin Mary. " The merchant went away in fullassurance of the divine protection, and without fear of pirates, winds, or rocks; but God would make a trial of his faith. He had already almostcrossed, without the least hazard, the great gulph which is betwixtMeliapor and Malacca, when suddenly there blew a furious storm, the sailswere torn, the rudder broken, and the mast came by the board, and thevessel afterwards being driven against the rocks, was split: The greatestpart of the seamen and passengers were drowned; some of them held uponthe rocks, where they were cast away, and the merchant himself was ofthat number; but, being upon the wide sea, and not having wherewithalto supply nature, to avoid dying by hunger, they took a resolution whichonly despair could have inspired; having gathered up some floating planksof their wrecked vessel, and joining them together the best they could, they put themselves upon them, and abandoned their safety to the mercy ofthe waves, without other hope than of lighting on some current whichmight possibly carry them on shore. 

[Footnote 1: Or beads. ]

The merchant, full of confidence in the blessed Virgin, had stillpreserved the chaplet of Xavier, and feared not drowning while he held itin his hand. The float of planks was hardly adrift upon the waves, whenhe found he was transported out of himself, and believed he was atMeliapor with Father Francis. Returning from his extacy, he was strangelysurprised to find himself on an unknown coast, and not to see about himthe companions of his fortunes, nor the planks to which he had entrustedhis life. He understood, from some people who casually came that way, that it was the coast of Negapatan, and, in a transport mixed with joyand amazement, he told them, in how miraculous a manner God had deliveredhim from death. 

Another Portuguese, by profession a soldier, called Jerome Fernandez deMendoza, received a considerable assistance from Xavier, in a differentmanner, but full as marvellous. Fernandez, having put off from the coastof Coromandel, in a ship belonging to him, wherein was all his wealth, togo to another coast more westward, was taken near the cape of Comorin, bythe Malabar pirates, equally covetous and cruel. To save his life, inlosing his goods, he threw himself into the sea, and was happy enough, inspite of his ill fortune, to swim to land, on the coast of Meliapor. Meeting there Father Francis, he related his misfortune to him, andbegged an alms. The father was almost sorry, at that time, for his beingso poor himself, that he had not wherewithal to relieve the miserableman; yet he put his hand into his pocket, as if he were searching therefor something, but finding nothing, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, andafterwards turning to Fernandez, with looks full of compassion, "havecourage, brother, " said he to him, "heaven will provide for you. " Afterwhich, walking forward four or five paces, he once more put his handsinto his pockets, and pulled out fifty pieces of gold: "receive, " addedhe, "what heaven sends you; make use of it, but speak not of it. " Thesurprise and joy of Fernandez were so great, that it was impossible forhim to keep silence. He published, in all places, the bounty of hisbenefactor; and the pieces of gold were found to be so pure and fine, that it was not doubted but they were miraculous. 

But perhaps nothing is more admirable, than what passed betwixt theFather and John Duro, or Deyro, as some have called him. He was a man ofabout five-and-thirty years of age, who had formerly borne arms;afterwards became a merchant and owner of a ship, very wealthy andfortunate in all his traffic; all which notwithstanding, he was illsatisfied with the world, uneasy to himself, unquiet in the midst of allhis wealth, and persuaded that God alone could content his soul. He wentone day to see the holy man, and told him, that for many years he had adesire of changing his condition, and of serving God as perfectly as hewas able, but that two reasons had always hindered him: the one was, thathe never yet could meet with any person, who was capable of shewing himthe way of perfection; the other was, that he was afraid of falling intopoverty. He added, that he was now out of pain concerning those twopoints. That for the first, he hoped he should walk surely in the way ofheaven, having so able a guide as he; and for the second, he had gotsufficiently for his maintenance in an honest and comfortable way, duringthe remainder of his life. He begged leave of Father Xavier, that hemight follow him, and promised, on all occasions, to defray his charges. 

The Father made Deyro understand, how far he was yet from the kingdom ofheaven; that, to arrive at perfection, he must perform what our Saviourcounselled the young man, who seemed willing to follow him, that is tosay, he must practise these words in the literal sense, "sell all thouhast, and give it to the poor. " Deyro, thus undeceived, immediatelydesired the Father to take all his goods, and distribute them amongst thepoor; but the Father would neither do what Deyro had proposed to him, norpermit that he should himself dispose of any thing, before he had madeconfession to him. Foreseeing, without doubt, that being so rich, heshould be obliged to make restitution of some part of that which he hadgained. 

The confession of the merchant was three days in making; after which, having sold his ship and his merchandise, he restored what he had gotunjustly, and gave great alms. And in consequence of this, under thedirection of the saint, he gave himself to the exercises of piety andpenitence, thereby to lay a solid foundation of that perfection to whichhe aspired. 

But these fair beginnings were not attended with any answerable fruit;and that spirit of retirement, of mortification, and of poverty, was soonextinguished in a man accustomed to the turmoils of the world, who hadalways lived in plenty, and who passionately loved his profit. Hereturned to the thoughts of his former condition, and having recoveredsome jewels, and bought a small vessel in secret, he set himself tofollow his former way of living. 

When he was just on the point of setting sail, a catechist, calledAntonio, came and told him, that Father Xavier desired to speak with him. Deyro, who thought of nothing more than of making his escape, and who hadnot entrusted his design to the knowledge of any person, made as if hetook him for another. But Antonio persisting in it, that it was himselfwhom the Father meant, he durst not dissemble any longer, and went tofind him; resolved, however, of denying all, as thinking the Father atmost could have but a bare suspicion of his change and intended flight. He therefore assumed an air of confidence, and presented himself boldlybefore the saint; but God had given him knowledge of Deyro's intentions. "You have sinned, " said Xavier, as soon as he beheld him; "you havesinned. " These few words so deeply struck him, that he threw himself atthe feet of the Father, all trembling, and crying out, "it is true, myFather, I have sinned:" "Penitence then, my son, " replied the Father, "penitence!" Deyro confessed himself immediately, went to sell off hisship, and distributed all the money to the poor. He returned afterwards, and put himself once more under the conduct of the Father, with a firmresolution of following his counsels more sincerely, and of serving Godmore faithfully. 

How unfeigned soever the repentance of Deyro seemed, Xavier had noconfidence in it; and these new fervours were suspected by him. He wouldnot receive him into the company of Jesus, which requires solid spirits, and such as are firm to their vocation. 

Yet he refused not to admit him for his companion, in quality of acatechist, and carried him with him to Malacca: for having continued fourmonths at Meliapor, he parted thence in September 1545, notwithstandingthe tears of the people, who were desirous of retaining him; and held thecourse of Malacca, designing from thence to pass to Macassar. 

Before he went on board, he wrote to Father Paul de Camerine at Goa, thatwhen the fathers of the society, who were daily expected from Portugal, should arrive, two of those new missioners should accompany the princesof Jafanatapan, whensoever the Portuguese should think fit tore-establish the lawful king. For there was a report, that the expeditionshould be renewed, which a base interest had set aside. But this projectwas not put in execution; and both the princes died, one after the other, in less than two years after their conversion, which was only profitableto their souls. While the ship that carried Xavier was crossing the Gulphof Ceylon, an occasion of charity was offered to the saint, which hewould not suffer to escape. The mariners and soldiers passed their lime, according to their custom, in playing at cards. Two soldiers setthemselves to it, more out of avarice than pleasure, and one of themplayed with such ill fortune, that he lost not only all his own money, but the stock which others had put into his hands to traffic for them. Having nothing more to lose, he withdrew, cursing his luck, andblaspheming God. His despair prevailed so far over him, that he hadthrown himself into the sea, or run upon the point of his sword, if hehad not been prevented. Xavier had notice of these his mad intentionsand execrable behaviour, and immediately came to his relief. He embracedhim tenderly, and said all he could to comfort him; but the soldier, whowas still in the transports of his fury, thrust him away, and forbore noteven ill language to him. Xavier stood recollected for some time, imploring God's assistance and counsel; then went and borrowed fiftyroyals of a passenger, brought them to the soldier, and advised him oncemore to try his fortune. At this the soldier took heart, and played soluckily, that he recovered all his losses with great advantage. Thesaint, who looked on, took out of the overplus of the winnings, what hehad borrowed for him; and seeing the gamester now returned to a calmtemper, wrought upon him so successfully, that he, who before refused tohear him, was now overpowered by his discourse, never after handledcards, and became exemplary in his life. 

They arrived at Malacca the 25th of September. As this is one of thoseplaces in the Indies, where the saint, whose life I write, had mostbusiness, and whither he made many voyages, it will not be unprofitableto say somewhat of it. It is situate beyond the gulph of Bengal, towardsthe head of that great peninsula, which, from the mouth of the Ara, isextended to the south, almost to the equinoctial line; and is of twodegrees and a half of elevation, over against the island of Sumatra, which the ancients, who had not frequented this channel, believed to bejoined to the continent. 

Malacca was under the dominion of the kings of Siam, until the Saracens, who traded thither, becoming powerful, first made it Mahometan, thencaused it to revolt against the lawful prince, and set up a monarch oftheir own sect, called Mahomet. There was not, at that time, any morefamous mart town than this, and where there was a greater concourse ofdifferent nations. For, besides the people of Guzuratte, Aracan, Malabar, Pegu, Sumatra, Java, and the Moluccas, the Arabs, the Persians, theChinese, and the Japonians, trafficked there; and accordingly the townlay extended all along by the sea side, for the convenience of trade. 

Amongst all the nations of Asia there is not any more inclined topleasure; and this seems chiefly to proceed from the mild temper of theair. For there is an eternal spring, notwithstanding the neighbourhood ofthe line. The inhabitants follow the natural bent of their complexion;their whole business is perfumes, feasts, and music; to say nothing ofcarnal pleasures, to which they set no bound. Even the language whichthey speak participates of the softness of the country: It is called theMalaya tongue, and, of all the orient, it is the most delicate and sweetof pronunciation. 

Don Alphonso Albuquerque conquered Malacca in the year 1511, and thirtythousand men, with eight thousand pieces of artillery, and an infinitenumber of elephants and ships, were not able to defend it. It was takenby force, at the second assault, by eight hundred brave Portuguese, seconded by some few Malabars. It was given up to pillage for three days;and the Moor king, after all his endeavours, was forced to fly with onlyfifty horsemen to attend him. The Portuguese built a citadel, which thesucceeding governors took care to fortify; yet not so strongly, as to beproof against the attempts of the barbarians, who many times attacked it, and half ruined it. 

As soon as Xavier came on shore, he went to visit the governor of thetown, to inform him of his intended voyage to Macassar. The governor toldhim, that he had lately sent thither a priest of holy life, with somePortuguese soldiers, and that he expected to hear of them very suddenly:that, in the mean time, he was of opinion, that the Father and hiscompanion should stay at Malacca, till the present condition of theChristians in Macassar were fully known. Xavier gave credit to thegovernor, and retired to the hospital, which he had chosen for the placeof his abode. The people ran in crowds to behold the countenance of thatgreat apostle, whose fame was spread through all the Indies, and over allthe East. The parents showed him to their children; and it was observed, that the man of God, in caressing those little Portuguese, called everyone of them by their proper names, as if he had been of theiracquaintance, and were not a stranger newly come on shore. 

For what remains, he found the town in a most horrible corruption ofmanners. The Portuguese who lived there, at a distance both from theBishop and the viceroy of the Indies, committed all manner of crimes, without fear of laws, either ecclesiastical or civil. Avarice, intemperance, uncleanness, and forgetfulness of God, were everywhere predominant; and the habit only, or rather the excess and number oftheir vices, distinguished the Christians from the unbelievers. 

This terrible prospect of a sinful town, gave Xavier to comprehend, thathis stay in Malacca was necessary, and might possibly turn to a goodaccount; but before he would undertake the reformation of a town souniversally corrupted, he employed some days in serving of the sick; hepassed many nights in prayer, and performed extraordinary austerities. 

After these preparatives, he began his public instructions, according tothe methods which he had frequently practised at Goa. Walking the streetsat evening with his bell in his hand, he cried, with a loud voice, "Prayto God for those who are in the state of mortal sin;" and by this, hebrought into the minds of sinners, the remembrance and consideration oftheir offences. For, seeing the ill habits of their minds, and that thedisease was like to be inflamed, if violent remedies were applied, hetempered more than ever the ardour of his zeal. Though he had naturally aserene countenance, and was of a pleasing conversation, yet all thecharms of his good humour seemed to be redoubled at Malacca, insomuch, that his companion, John Deyro, could not but wonder at his gaiety andsoft behaviour. 

By this procedure, the apostle gained the hearts of all and became insome manner, lord of the city. At the very first, he rooted out anestablished custom, which permitted the young maids to go in the habit ofboys whenever they pleased, which occasioned a world of scandal. He droveout of doors the concubines, or turned them into lawful wives, accordingto his former method. As for the children, who had no knowledge of God, and who learnt songs of ribaldry and obsceneness as soon as they began tospeak, he formed them so well in a little time, that they publiclyrecited the Christian doctrine, and set up little altars in the streets, about which they sung together the hymns of the Catholic church. But thatin which he was most successful, was to restore the practice ofconfession, which was almost entirely lost. But now men and women crowdedthe tribunal of holy penitence, and the Father was not able to supply thenecessities of so many. 

He laboured in the knowledge of the Malaya tongue, which is spoken in allthe isles beyond Malacca, and is as it were the universal language. Hisfirst care was to have a little catechism translated into it, being thesame he had composed on the coast of Fishery; together with a more ampleinstruction, which treated of the principal duties of Christianity. Helearnt all this without book; and, to make himself the better understood, he took a particular care of the pronunciation. 

With these helps, and the assistance of interpreters, who were neverwanting to him at his need, he converted many idolaters, as alsoMahometans and Jews; amongst the rest, a famous rabbi, who made a publicadjuration of Judaism. This rabbi, who before had taken for so manyfables, or juggling tricks, all those wonders which are reported to havebeen done by Xavier, now acknowledged them for truths by the evidence ofhis own eyes: for the saint never wrought so many miracles as at Malacca. The juridical depositions of witnesses then living, have assured us, thatall sick persons whom he did but touch, were immediately cured, and thathis hands had an healing virtue against all distempers. One of his mostfamous cures, was that of Antonio Fernandez, a youth not above fifteenyears of age, who was sick to death. His mother, a Christian byprofession, but not without some remainders of paganism in her heart, seeing that all natural remedies were of no effect, had recourse tocertain enchantments frequently practised amongst the heathens, and sentfor an old sorceress, who was called Nai. The witch made her magicaloperations on a lace braided of many threads, and tied it about the armof the patient. But instead of the expected cure, Fernandez lost hisspeech, and was taken with such violent convulsions, that the physicianswere called again, who all despaired of his recovery. It was expectedevery moment he should breath his last, when a Christian lady, whohappened to come in, said to the mother of the dying youth, "Why do younot send for the holy Father? he will infallibly cure him. " She gavecredit to her words, and sent for Xavier. He was immediately there:Fernandez, who had lost his senses, and lay gasping in death, began tocry out, and make violent motions, so soon as the Father had set his footwithin the doors; but when he came into the room, and stood before theyouth, he fell into howlings and dreadful wreathings of his body, whichredoubled at the sight of the cross that was presented to him. Xavierdoubted not but there was something of extraordinary in his disease, noreven that God, for the punishment of the mother, who had made use ofdiabolical remedies, had delivered her son to the evil spirits. He fellon his knees by the bed-side, read aloud the passion of our Lord, hunghis reliquiary about the neck of the sick person, and sprinkled him withholy water. This made the fury of the devil cease; and the young man, half dead, lay without motion as before. Then Xavier rising up, "get himsomewhat to eat, " said he, and told them what nourishment he thoughtproper for him. After which, addressing himself to the father of theyouth, "when your son, " added he, "shall be in condition to walk, leadhim yourself, for nine days successively, to the church of our Lady ofthe Mount, where to-morrow I will say mass for him. " After this hedeparted, and the next day, while he was celebrating the divinesacrifice, Fernandez on the sudden came to himself, spoke very sensibly, and perfectly recovered his former health. 

But how wonderful soever the cure of this youth appeared in the eyes ofall men, the resurrection of a young maid was of greater admiration. Xavier was gone on a little journey, somewhere about the neighbourhood ofMalacca, to do a work of charity when this girl died. Her mother, who hadbeen in search of the holy man during her daughter's sickness, came tohim after his return, and throwing herself at his feet all in tears, saidalmost the same words to him which Martha said formerly to our Lord, "That if he had been in town, she, who was now dead, had been alive; butif he would call upon the name of Jesus Christ, the dead might berestored to life. " Xavier was overjoyed to behold so great faith in awoman, who was but lately baptized, and judged her worthy of thatblessing which she begged. After having lifted up his eyes to heaven, and silently prayed to God some little space, he turned towards her, andsaid to her, with much assurance, "Go, your daughter is alive. " The poormother seeing the saint offered not to go with her to the place ofburial, replied, betwixt hope and fear, "That it was three days since herdaughter was interred. " "It is no matter, " answered Xavier, "open thesepulchre, and you shall find her living. " The mother, without morereply, ran, full of confidence, to the church, and, in presence of manypersons, having caused the grave-stone to be removed, found her daughterliving. 

While these things passed at Malacca, a ship from Goa brought letters toFather Xavier from Italy and Portugal; which informed him of the happyprogress of the society of Jesus, and what it had already performed inGermany for the public service of the church. He was never weary ofreading those letters; he kissed them, and bedewed them with his tears, imagining himself either with his brethren in Europe, or them presentwith himself in Asia. He had news at the same time, that there wasarrived a supply of three missioners, whom Father Ignatius had sent him;and that Don John de Castro, who succeeded Alphonso de Sosa, in thegovernment of the Indies, had brought them in his company. Thesemissioners were Antonio Criminal, Nicholas Lancilotti, and John Beyra, all three priests; the two first Italians, and the last a Spaniard:apostolical men, and of eminent virtue, particularly Criminal, who, ofall the children of Ignatius, was the first who was honoured with thecrown of martyrdom. Xavier disposed of them immediately, commanding, byhis letters, "That Lancilotti should remain in the seminary of holyfaith, there to instruct the young Indians in the knowledge of the Latintongue, and that the other two should go to accompany Francis Mansilla onthe coast of Fishery. "

For himself, having waited three months for news from Macassar, when hesaw the season proper for the return of the ship, which the Governor ofMalacca had sent, was now expired, and that no vessel was come from thoseparts, he judged, that Providence would not make use of him at present, for the instruction of those people, who had a priest already with them. Nevertheless, that he might be more at hand to succour them, whenever itpleased God to furnish him with an occasion, it was in his thoughts to goto the neighbouring islands of that coast, which were wholly destitute ofgospel ministers. 

God Almighty at that time revealed to him the calamities which threatenedMalacca; both the pestilence and the war, with which it was to beafflicted in the years ensuing; and the utter desolation, to which itshould one day be reduced for the punishment of its crimes. For theinhabitants, who, since the arrival of the Father, had reformed theirmariners, relapsed insensibly into their vices, and became more dissolutethan ever, as it commonly happens to men of a debauched life, whoconstrain themselves for a time, and whom the force of ill habits drawsbackward into sin. Xavier failed not to denounce the judgments of God tothem, and to exhort them to piety, for their own interest. But histhreatenings and exhortations were of no effect: and this it was thatmade him say of Malacca the quite contrary of what he had said concerningMeliapor, that he had not seen, in all the Indies, a more wicked town. 

He embarked for Amboyna the 1st of January, 1546, with John Deyro, in aship which was bound for the Isle of Banda. The captain of the vessel wasa Portuguese; the rest, as well mariners as soldiers, were Indians; allof them almost of several countries, and the greatest part Mahometans, orGentiles. The saint converted them to Jesus Christ during the voyage; andwhat convinced the infidels of the truth of Christianity, was, that whenFather Xavier expounded to them the mysteries of Christianity in onetongue, they understood him severally, each in his own language, as if hehad spoken at once in many tongues. 

They had been already six weeks at sea, without discovering Amboyna; thepilot was of opinion they had passed it, and was in pain concerning it, not knowing how to tack about, because they had a full fore-wind. Xavierperceiving the trouble of the pilot, "Do not vex yourself, " said he, "weare yet in the Gulph; and to-morrow, at break of day, we shall be in viewof Amboyna. " In effect, at the time mentioned, the next morning, they sawthat island. The pilot being unwilling to cast anchor, Father Xavier, with some of the passengers, were put into a skiff, and the ship pursuedits course. When the skiff was almost ready to land, two light vessels ofpirates, which usually cruised on that coast, appeared on the sudden, andpursued them swiftly. Not hoping any succour from the ship, which wasalready at a great distance from them, and being also without defence, they were forced to put off from shore, and ply their oars towards themain sea, insomuch that the pirates soon lost sight of them. After theyhad escaped the danger, they durst not make to land again, for fear thetwo vessels should lie in wait to intercept them at their return. But theFather assured the mariners, they had no further cause of fear: turningtherefore towards the island, they landed there in safety, on the 16th ofFebruary. 

The Isle of Amboyna is distant from Malacca about two hundred and fiftyleagues; it is near thirty leagues in compass, and is famous for theconcourse of merchants, who frequent it from all parts. The Portuguese, who conquered it during the time that Antonio Galvan was governor ofTernate, had a garrison in it; besides which, there were in the islandseven villages of Christians, natives of the place, but without anypriest, because the only one in the island was just dead. Xavier began tovisit these villages, and immediately baptized many infants, who diedsuddenly after they were christened. "As if, " says he himself in one ofhis letters, "the Divine Providence had only so far prolonged theirlives, till the gate of heaven were opened to them. "

Having been informed, that sundry of the inhabitants had retiredthemselves from the sea-side into the midst of the woods, and caves ofthe mountains, to shelter themselves from the rage of the barbarians, their neighbours and their enemies, who robbed the coasts, and put to thesword, or made slaves of all who fell into their hands, he went in searchof those poor savages, amidst the horror of their rocks and forests; andlived with them as much as was necessary, to make them understand theduties of Christianity, of which the greatest part of them was ignorant. 

After having instructed the faithful, he applied himself to preach thegospel to the idolaters and Moors; and God so blessed the endeavours ofhis servant, that the greatest part of the island became Christians. Hebuilt churches in every village, and made choice of the most reasonable, the most able, and the most fervent, to be masters over the rest, tillthere should arrive a supply of missioners. To which purpose he wrote toGoa, and commanded Paul de Camerine to send him Francis Mansilla, JohnBeyra, and one or two more of the first missioners which should arrivefrom Europe: he charged Mansilla, in particular, to come. His design wasto establish in one of those isles a house of the company, which shouldsend out continual supplies of labourers, for the publication of thegospel, through all that Archipelago. 

While Xavier laboured in this manner at Amboyna, two naval armies arrivedthere; one of Portugal with three ships, the other of Spaniards with sixmen of war. The Spaniards were come from Nueva Espagna, or Mexico, forthe conquest of the Moluccas, in the name of the emperor Charles theFifth, as they pretended; but their enterprise succeeded not. After twoyears cruising, and long stay with the king of Tidore, who received them, to give jealousy to the Portuguese, who were allied to the king ofTernate, his enemy, they took their way by Amboyna, to pass into theIndies, and from thence to Europe. They were engaged in an unjustexpedition against the rights of Portugal, and without order from Charlesthe Fifth; for that emperor, to whom King John the Third addressed hiscomplaints thereupon, disavowed the proceedings of his subjects, and gavepermission, that they should be used like pirates. 

Yet the Portuguese proceeded not against them with that severity. But itseems that God revenged their quarrel, in afflicting the Spaniards with acontagious fever, which destroyed the greatest part of their fleet. Itwas a sad spectacle to behold the mariners and soldiers, lying here andthere in their ships, or on the shore, in cabins, covered only withleaves. The disease which consumed them, kept all men at a distance fromthem; and the more necessity they had of succour, the less they foundfrom the people of the island. 

At the first report which came to Xavier of this pestilence, he left allthings to relieve them; and it is scarce to be imagined, to what actionshis charity led him on this occasion. He was day and night in a continualmotion, at the same time administering to their bodies and their souls;assisting the dying, burying the dead, and interring them even with hisown hands. As the sick bad neither food nor physic, he procured both forthem from every side; and he who furnished him the most, was aPortuguese, called John d'Araus, who came in his company from Malacca toAmboyna. Nevertheless the malady still increasing day by day, Arausbegan to fear he should impoverish himself by these charities; and from atender-hearted man, became so hard, that nothing more was to be squeezedout of him. One day Xavier sent to him for some wine, for a sick man whohad continual faintings: Araus gave it, but with great reluctance, andcharged the messenger to trouble him no more; that he had need of theremainder for his own use; and when his own was at an end, whither shouldhe go for a supply? These words were no sooner related to Father Francis, than inflamed with a holy indignation, "What, " says he, "does Araus thinkof keeping his wine for himself, and refusing it to the members of JesusChrist! the end of his life is very near, and after his death all hisestate shall be distributed amongst the poor. " He denounced death to himwith his own mouth; and the event verified the prediction, as the sequelwill make manifest. 

Though the pestilence was not wholly ceased, and many sick were yetaboard the vessels, the Spanish fleet set sail for Goa, forced to it bythe approach of winter, which begins about May in those quarters. FatherXavier made provisions for the necessities of the soldiers, and furnishedthem, before their departure, with all he could obtain from the charityof the Portuguese. He recommended them likewise to the charity of hisfriends at Malacca, where the navy was to touch; and wrote to Father Paulde Camerine at Goa, that he should not fail to lodge in the college ofthe company, those religious of the order of St Augustin, who came alongwith the army from Mexico, and that he should do them all the goodoffices, which their profession, and their virtue, claimed from him. 

After the Spaniards were departed, Xavier made some little voyages toplaces near adjoining to Amboyna; and visited some islands, which werehalf unpeopled, and desart, waiting the convenience of a ship totransport him to the Moluccas, which are nearer to Macassar than Amboyna. One of those isles is Baranura, where he miraculously recovered hiscrucifix, in the manner I am going to relate, according to the accountwhich was given of it by a Portuguese, called Fausto Rodriguez, who was awitness of the fact, has deposed it upon oath, and whose juridicaltestimony is in the process of the saint's canonization. 

"We were at sea, " says Rodriguez, "Father Francis, John Raposo, andmyself, when there arose a tempest, which alarmed all the mariners. Thenthe Father drew from his bosom a little crucifix, which he always carriedabout him, and leaning over deck, intended to have dipt it into the sea;but the crucifix dropt out of his hand, and was carried off by the waves. This loss very sensibly afflicted him, and he concealed not his sorrowfrom us. The next morning we landed on the island of Baranura; from thetime when the crucifix was lost, to that of our landing, it was neartwenty-four hours, during which we were in perpetual danger. Being onshore, Father Francis and I walked along by the sea side, towards thetown of Tamalo, and had already walked about 500 paces, when both of usbeheld, arising out of the sea, a crab-fish, which carried betwixt hisclaws the same crucifix raised on high. I saw the crab-fish come directlyto the Father, by whose side I was, and stopped before him. The Father, falling on his knees, took his crucifix, after which the crab-fishreturned into the sea. But the Father still continuing in the same humbleposture, hugging and kissing the crucifix, was half an hour praying withhis hands across his breast, and myself joining with him in thanksgivingto God for so evident a miracle; after which we arose, and continued onour way. " Thus you have the relation of Rodriguez. 

They staid eight days upon the island, and afterwards set sail forRosalao, where Xavier preached at his first coming, as he had done atBaranura. But the idolaters, who inhabited these two islands, beingextremely vicious, altogether brutal, and having nothing of human in thembesides the figure, gave no credit to his words; and only one man amongstthem, more reasonable than all the rest, believed in Jesus Christ. Insomuch, that the holy apostle, at his departure from Rosalao, took offhis shoes, and shook off the dust, that he might not carry any thing awaywith him, which belonged to that execrable land. 

Truly speaking, the conversion of that one man was worth that of many. The saint gave him in baptism his own name of Francis; and foretold him, that he should die most piously, in calling upon the name of Jesus. Theprophecy was taken notice of, which has recommended the fame of this newconvert to posterity, and which was not accomplished till after fortyyears. For this Christian, forsaking his barbarous island, and turningsoldier, served the Portuguese, on divers occasions, till in the year1588 he was wounded to death in a battle given by Don SanchoVasconcellos, governor of Amboyna, who made war with the Saracen Hiamo. Francis was carried off into the camp; and many, as well Indians asPortuguese, came about him, to see the accomplishment of the prediction, made by the blessed Francis Xavier. All of them beheld the soldier dying, with extraordinary signs of piety, and crying, without ceasing, "Jesus, assist me!"

The island of Ulate, which is better peopled, and less savage than thoseof Baranura and Rosalao, was not so deaf nor so rebellious to the voiceof the holy man. He found it all in arms, and the king of it besieged inhis town, ready to be surrendered, neither through want of courage, norof defendants, but of water; because the enemy had cut off the springs, and there was no likelihood of rain; insomuch, that during the greatheats, both men and horses were in danger of perishing by thirst. 

The opportunity appeared favourable to Father Xavier, for gaining thevanquished party to Jesus Christ, and perhaps all the conquerors. Full ofa noble confidence in God, he found means to get into the town; and beingpresented to the king, offered to supply him with what he most wanted. "Suffer me, " said he, "to erect a cross, and trust in the God, whom Icome to declare to you. He is the Lord and Governor of nature, who, whenever he pleases, can open the fountains of heaven, and water theearth. But, in case the rain should descend upon you, give me yourpromise, to acknowledge his power, and that you, with your subjects, willreceive his law. " In the extremity to which the king was then reduced, heconsented readily to the Father's conditions; and also obliged himself, on the public faith, to keep his word, provided Xavier failed not on hispart of the promised blessing. Then Xavier causing a great cross to bemade, set it up, on the highest ground of all the town; and there, on hisknees, amongst a crowd of soldiers, and men, women, and children, attracted by the novelty of the sight, as much as by the expectedsuccour, he offered to God the death of his only son, and prayed him, bythe merits of that crucified Saviour, who had poured out his blood forthe sake of all mankind, not to deny a little water, for the salvation ofan idolatrous people. 

Scarcely had the saint begun his prayer, when the sky began to beovercast with clouds; and by that time he had ended it, there fell downrain in great abundance, which lasted so long, till they had made aplentiful provision of water. The enemy, now hopeless of taking the town, immediately decamped; and the king, with all his people, receivedbaptism from the hand of Father Xavier. He commanded also, that all theneighbouring islands, who held of him should adore Christ Jesus, andengaged the saint to go and publish the faith amongst them. Xavieremployed three months and more in these little voyages; after which, returning to Amboyna, where he had left his companion, John Deyro, to cultivate the new-growing Christianity, and where he left him also forthe same intention, embarked on a Portuguese vessel, which was settingsail for the Moluccas. 

That which is commonly called by the name of the Moluccas, is a countryon the Oriental Ocean, divided into many little islands, situated near, the equator, exceeding fruitful in cloves, and famous for the trade ofspices. There are five principal islands of them, Ternate, Tidor, Motir, Macian, and Bacian. The first of these is a degree and a half distantfrom the equinoctial to the north, the rest follow in the order abovenamed, and all five are in sight of one another. These are thosecelebrated islands, concerning which Ferdinand Magellan raised so manydisputes amongst the geographers, and so many quarrels betwixt Spain andPortugal. For the Portuguese having discovered them from the east, andthe Spaniards from the west, each of them pretended to inclose them, within their conquests, according to the lines of longitude which theydrew. 

Ternate is the greatest of the Moluccas, and it was on that side thatFather Xavier took his course. He had a gulph to pass of ninety leagues, exceedingly dangerous, both in regard of the strong tides, and theuncertain winds, which are still raising tempests, though the sea benever so calm. The ship which carried the Father was one of thosevessels, which, in those parts, are called caracores, of a long andnarrow built, like gallies, and which use indifferently sails and oars. Another vessel of the same make carried a Portuguese, called John 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 ofTernate. 

In the midst of the gulph, they were surprised with a storm, which partedthem 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 saved, and recovered the port of Ternate by a kind of miracle: as for that ofGalvan, it was not known what became of her, and the news concerning herwas only brought by an evident revelation. 

The first saint's day, when the Father preached to the people, he stoppedshort in the middle of his discourse, and said, after a little pause, "Pray to God for the soul of John Galvan, who is drowned in the gulph. "Some of the audience, who were friends of Galvan, and interested in thecaracore, ran to the mariners, who had brought the Father, and demandedof them, if they knew any certain news of this tragical adventure? Theyanswered, "that they knew no more than that the storm had separated thetwo vessels. " The Portuguese recovered courage at those words, andimagined that Father Francis had no other knowledge than the seamen. Butthey were soon undeceived by the testimony of their own eyes; for threedays after, they saw, washed on the shore, the corpse of Galvan, and thewreck of the vessel, which the sea had thrown upon the coast. 

Very near this time, when Xavier was saying mass, turning to the peopleto say the Orate Fratres, he added, "pray also for John Araus, who isnewly dead at Amboyna. " They who were present observed punctually the dayand hour, to see if what the Father had said would come to pass: tenor twelve days after, there arrived a ship from Amboyna, and the truthwas known not only by divers letters, but confirmed also by a Portuguese, who had seen Araus die at the same moment when Xavier exhorted the peopleto pray to God to rest his soul. This Araus was the merchant whichrefused to give wine for the succour of the sick, in the Spanish fleet, and to whom the saint had denounced a sudden death. He fell sick afterXavier's departure; and having neither children nor heirs, all his goodswere distributed amongst the poor, according to the custom of thecountry. 

The shipwreck of Galvan, and the death of Araus, gave great authority towhat they had heard at Ternate, concerning the holiness of FatherFrancis, and from the very first gained him an exceeding reputation. Andindeed it was all necessary; I say not for the reformation of vice inthat country, but to make him even heard with patience by a dissolutepeople, which committed, without shame, the most enormous crimes, andsuch as modesty forbids to name. 

To understand how profitable the labours of Father Xavier were to thoseof Ternate, it is sufficient to tell what he has written himself: "Thatof an infinite number of debauched persons living in that island when helanded there, all excepting two had laid aside their wicked coursesbefore his departure. The desire of riches was extinguished with the loveof pleasures. Restitutions were frequently made, and such abundant almswere given, that the house of charity, set up for the relief of thenecessitous, 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 ofno little service to the conversion of Saracens and idolaters. Many ofthose infidels embraced Christianity. But the most illustrious conquestof the saint, was of a famous Saracen lady, called Neachile Pocaraga, daughter to Almanzor, king of Tidore, and wife to Boliefe, who was kingof Ternate, before the Portuguese had conquered the island. She was aprincess of great wit and generosity, but extremely 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 received them intoher kingdom with great civility, and having also permitted them toestablish themselves in one part of the island, for the convenience oftheir trade, she was dealt with so hardly by them, that, after the deathof the king, her husband, she had nothing left her but the bare title ofa queen; and by their intrigues, the three princes, her sons, lost thecrown, their liberty, and their lives. Her unhappy fortune constrainedher to lead a wandering life, from isle to isle. But Providence, whichwould accomplish on her its good designs, brought her back at last toTernate, about the time when Xavier came thither. She lived there in thecondition of a private person, without authority, yet with splendour; andretaining still in her countenance and behaviour, somewhat of thathaughty air, which the great sometimes maintain, even in their fetters. 

The saint gained access to her, and found an opportunity of conversingwith her. In his first discourse, he gave her a great idea of the kingdomof God; yet withal informed her, that this kingdom, was not difficult toobtain; and that being once in possession of it, there was no fear ofbeing after dispossessed. Insomuch, that the Saracen princess, who had nohopes remaining of aught on earth, turned her thoughts and her desirestowards heaven. It is true, that, as she was endued with a great wit, andwas very knowing in the law of Mahomet, there was some need ofargumentation; but the Father still clearing all her doubts, the disputeonly served to make her understand more certainly the falseness of theAlcoran, and the truth of the gospel. She submitted to the saint'sreasons, or rather to the grace of Jesus Christ, and was publiclybaptized by the apostle himself, who gave her the name of Isabella. 

He was not satisfied with barely making her a Christian. He saw in her agreat stock of piety, an upright heart, a tenderness of mind, inclinations truly great and noble, which he cultivated with admirablecare, and set her forward, by degrees, in the most sublime and solid waysof a spiritual life: So that Neachile, under the conduct of FatherXavier, arrived to a singular devotion; that is to say, she grew humbleand modest, from disdainful; and haughty as she was, mild to others, andsevere to herself, suffering her misfortunes without complaint ofinjuries; united to God in her retirements, and not appearing publicly, but to exercise the deeds of charity to her neighbour; but more esteemedand honoured, both by the Indians and Portuguese, than when she sat uponthe throne, in all the pomp and power of royalty. 

During the abode which Xavier made in Ternate, he heard speak of certainisles, which are distant from it about sixty leagues eastward; and whichtake their name from the principal, commonly called the Isle del Moro. Itwas reported to him, that those islanders, barbarians as they were, hadbeen most of them baptized, but that the faith had been abolished thereimmediately after it was introduced, and this account he heard of it. 

The inhabitants of Momoya, which is a town in the Isle del Moro, wouldnever embrace the law of Mahomet, though all the neighbouring villageshad received it. And the prince, or lord of that town, who chose ratherto continue an idolater, than to become a Mahometan, being molested bythe Saracens, had recourse to the governor of Ternate, who was calledTristan d'Atayda, promising, that himself and his subjects would turnChristians, provided the Portuguese would take them into theirprotection. Atayda receiving favourably those propositions of the princeof Momoya, the prince came in person to Ternate, and desired baptism;taking then, the name of John, in honour of John III. , king of Portugal. At his return to Momoya, he took along with him a Portuguese priest, called Simon Vaz, who converted many idolaters to the faith. The numberof Christians, thus daily increasing more and more, another priest, called Francis Alvarez, came to second Vaz, and both of them laboured sohappily in conjunction, that the whole people of Momoya renouncedidolatry, and professed the faith of Jesus Christ. 

In the mean time, the Portuguese soldiers, whom the governor of Ternatehad promised to send, came from thence to defend the town againstthe enterprizes of the Saracens. But the cruelty which he exercised onthe mother of Cacil Aerio, bastard son to King Boliefe, so farexasperated those princes and the neighbouring people, that theyconspired the death of all the Portuguese, who were to be found in thosequarters. The inhabitants of Momoya, naturally changeable and cruel, began the massacre by the murder of Simon Vaz, their first pastor; andhad killed Alvarez, whom they pursued with flights of arrows to the seaside, if accidentally he had not found a bark in readiness, which borehim off, all wounded as he was, and saved him from the fury of thoseChristian barbarians. 

The Saracens made their advantage of these disorders, and masteringMamoya, changed the whole religion of the town. The prince himself wasthe only man, who continued firm in the Christian faith, notwithstandingall their threatening, and the cruel usage which he received from them. Not long after this, Antonio Galvan, that Portuguese, who was soillustrious for his prudence, his valour, and his piety, succeeding toTristan d'Atayda in the government of Ternate, sent to the Isle del Moroa priest, who was both able and zealous, by whose ministry the peoplewere once more reduced into the fold of Christ, and the affairs of theinfidels were ruined. But this priest remained not long upon the island, and the people, destitute of all spiritual instructions, returned soonafter, through their natural inconstancy, to their original barbarism. 

In this condition was the Isle del Moro when it was spoken of to FatherXavier; and for this very reason, he determined to go, and preach thegospel there, after he had stayed for three months at Ternate. When hisdesign was known, all possible endeavours were used to break it. Hisfriends were not wanting to inform him, that the country was as hideousas it was barren: That it seemed accursed by nature, and a more fittinghabitation for beasts than men: That the air was so gross, and sounwholesome, that strangers could not live in the country: That themountains continually vomited flakes of fire and ashes, and that theground itself was subject to terrible and frequent earthquakes. Andbesides, it was told him, that the people of the country surpassed incruelty and faithlessness all the barbarians of the world: ThatChristianity had not softened their manners; that they poisoned oneanother; that they fed themselves with human flesh; and that, when any oftheir relations happened to die, they cut off his hands and feet, ofwhich they made a delicate ragou: That their inhumanity extended so far, that when they designed a sumptuous feast, they begged some of theirfriends to lend them an old unprofitable father, to be served up to theentertainment of their guests, with promise to repay them, in kind, onthe like occasion. 

The Portuguese and Indians, who loved Xavier, added, that since thosesavages spared not their own countrymen and their parents, what wouldthey not do to a stranger, and an unknown person? That they were first tobe transformed into men, before they could be made Christians. And howcould he imprint the principles of the divine law into their hearts, whohad not the least sense of humanity? Who should be his guide throughthose thick entangled forests, where the greatest part of them werelodged like so many wild beasts; and when, by rare fortune, he shouldatchieve the taming of them, and even convert them, how long would thatconversion last? at the longest, but while he continued with them: Thatno man would venture to succeed him in his apostleship to those parts, for that was only to be exposed to a certain death; and that the blood ofSimon Vaz was yet steaming. To conclude, there were many other isles, which had never heard of Jesus Christ, and who were better disposed toreceive the gospel. 

These reasons were accompanied with prayers and tears; but they were tono purpose, and Xavier was stedfast to his resolution. His friendsperceiving they could gain nothing upon him by intreaties, had recourse, in some measure, to constraint; so far as to obtain from the governor ofTernate a decree, forbidding, on severe penalties, any vessel to carrythe Father to the Isle del Moro. 

Xavier then resented this usage of his friends, and could not forbear tocomplain publicly of it. "Where are those people, " said he, "who dare toconfine the power of Almighty God, and have so mean an apprehension ofour Saviour's love and grace? Are there any hearts hard enough to resistthe influences of the Most High, when it pleases him to soften and tochange them? Can they stand in opposition to that gentle, and yetcommanding force, which can make the dry bones live, and raise upchildren to Abraham from stones? What! Shall he, who has subjected thewhole world to the cross, by the ministry of the apostles, shall heexempt from that subjection this petty corner of the universe? Shall thenthe Isle del Moro be the only place, which shall receive no benefit ofredemption? And when Jesus Christ has offered to the eternal Father, allthe nations of the earth as his inheritance, were these people exceptedout of the donation? I acknowledge them to be very barbarous and brutal;and let it be granted they were more inhuman than they are, it is becauseI can do nothing of myself, that I have the better hopes of them. I cando all things in Him who strengthens me, and from whom alone proceeds thestrength of those who labour in the gospel. "

He added, "That other less savage nations would never want for preachers;that these only isles remained for him to cultivate, since no other manwould undertake them. " In sequel, suffering himself to be transportedwith a kind of holy choler, "If these isles, " pursued he, "abounded withprecious woods and mines of gold, the Christians would have the courageto go thither, and all the dangers of the world would not be able toaffright them; they are base and fearful because there are only souls topurchase: And shall it then be said, that charity is less daring thanavarice? You tell me they will take away my life, either by the sword orpoison; but those are favours too great for such a sinner as I am toexpect from heaven; yet I dare confidently say, that whatever tormentor death they prepare for me, I am ready to suffer a thousand times morefor the salvation of one only soul. If I should happen to die by theirhands, who knows but all of them might receive the faith? for it is mostcertain, that since the primitive times of the church, the seed of thegospel has made a larger increase in the fields of paganism, by the bloodof martyrs, than by the sweat of missioners. "

He concluded his discourse, by telling them, "That there was nothingreally to fear in his undertaking; that God had called him to the islesdel Moro; and that man should not hinder him from obeying the voice ofGod. " His discourse made such impressions on their hearts, that not onlythe decree against his passage was revoked, but many offered themselvesto accompany him in that voyage, through all the dangers which seemed tothreaten him. 

Having thus disengaged himself from all the incumbrances of his voyage, he embarked with some of his friends, passing through the tears of thepeople, who attended him to the shore, without expectation of seeing himagain. Before he set sail, he wrote to the Fathers of the company atRome, to make them acquainted with his voyage. 

"The country whither I go, " says he in his letter, "is full of danger, and terrible to strangers, by the barbarity of the inhabitants, and bytheir using divers poisons, which they mingle with their meat and drink;and it is from hence that priests are apprehensive of coming to instructthem: For myself, considering their extreme necessity, and the duties ofmy ministry, which oblige to free them from eternal death, even at theexpence of my own life, I have resolved to hazard all for the salvationof their souls. My whole confidence is in God, and all my desire is toobey, as far as in me lies, the word of Jesus Christ: 'He who is willingto save his life shall lose it, and he who will lose it for my sake shallfind it. ' Believe me, dear brethren, though this evangelical maxim, ingeneral, is easily to be understood, when the time of practising it callsupon us, and our business is to die for God, as clear as the text seems, it becomes obscure; and he only can compass the understanding of it, towhom God, by his mercy, has explained it; for then it will be seen, howfrail and feeble is human nature. Many here, who love me tenderly, havedone what possibly they could to divert me from this voyage; and, seeingthat I yielded not to their requests, nor to their tears, would havefurnished me with antidotes; but I would not take any, lest, by makingprovision of remedies, I might come to apprehend the danger; and also, because, having put my life into the hands of Providence, I have no needof preservatives from death: for it seems to me, that the more I shouldmake use of remedies, the less assurance I should repose in God. "

They went off with a favourable wind, and had already made above anhundred and fourscore miles, when Xavier, on the sudden, with a deepsigh, cried out, "Ah, Jesus, how they massacre the poor people!" sayingthese words, and oftentimes repeating them, he had turned hiscountenance, and fixed his eyes towards a certain part of the sea. Themariners and passengers, affrighted, ran about him. Inquiring whatmassacre he meant, because, for their part, they could see nothing; butthe saint was ravished in spirit, and, in this extacy, God had empoweredhim to see this sad spectacle. 

He was no sooner come to himself, than they continued pressing him toknow the occasion of his sighs and cries; but he, blushing for the wordswhich had escaped him in his transport, would say no more, but retired tohis devotions. It was not long before they beheld, with their own eyes, what he refused to tell them: Having cast anchor before an isle, theyfound on the shore the bodies of eight Portuguese, all bloody; and thencomprehended, that those unhappy creatures had moved the compassion ofthe holy man. They buried them in the same place, and erected a crossover the grave; after which they pursued their voyage, and in little timearrived at the Isle del Moro. 

When they were come on shore, Xavier went directly on to the nextvillage. The greatest part of the inhabitants were baptized; but thereremained in them only a confused notion of their baptism; and theirreligion was nothing more than a mingle of Mahometanism and idolatry. 

The barbarians fled at the sight of the strangers, imagining they werecome to revenge the death of the Portuguese, whom they had killed thepreceding years. Xavier followed them into the thickest of their woods;and his countenance, full of mildness, gave them to believe, that he wasnot an enemy who came in search of them. He declared to them the motiveof his voyage, speaking to them in the Malaya tongue: For though in theIsle del Moro there were great diversity of languages, insomuch, thatthose of three leagues distance did not understand each other in theirisland tongues, yet the Malaya was common to them all. 

Notwithstanding the roughness and barbarity of these islanders, neitherof those qualities were of proof against the winning and soft behaviourof the saint. He brought them back to their village, using allexpressions of kindness to them by the way, and began his work by singingaloud the Christian doctrine through the streets; after which heexpounded it to them, and that in a manner so suitable to their barbarousconceptions, that it passed with ease into their understanding. 

By this means he restored those Christians to the faith, who had beforeforsaken it; and brought into it those idolaters who had refused toembrace it when it was preached to them by Simon Vaz and Francis Alvarez. There was neither town nor village which the Father did not visit, andwhere those new converts did not set up crosses and build churches. Tolo, the chief town of the island, inhabited by twenty-five thousand souls, was entirely converted, together with Momoya. 

Thus the Isle del Moro was now to the holy apostle the island of DivineHope, [1] as he desired it thenceforth to be named; both because thosethings which were there accomplished by God himself, in a miraculousmanner, were beyond all human hope and expectation; and also because thefruits of his labours surpassed the hopes which had been conceived ofthem, when his friends of Ternate would have made him fear that hisvoyage would prove unprofitable. 

To engage these new Christians, who were gross of apprehension, in thepractice of a holy life, he threatened them with eternal punishments, andmade them sensible of what hell was, by those dreadful objects which theyhad before their eyes: For sometimes he led them to the brink of thosegulphs which shot out of their bowels vast masses of burning stones intothe air, with the noise and fury of a cannon; and at the view of thoseflames, which were mingled with a dusky smoke that obscured the day, heexplained to them the nature of those pains, which were prepared in anabyss of fire, not only for idolaters and Mahometans, but also for thetrue believers, who lived not according to their faith. He even toldthem, the gaping mouths of those flaming mountains were the breathingplaces of hell; as appears by these following words, extracted out of oneof his letters on that subject, written to his brethren at Rome: "Itseems that God himself has been pleased, in some measure, to discover thehabitation of the damned to people had otherwise no knowledge of him. "

[Footnote 1:_Divina Esperanya_. ]

During their great earthquakes, when no man could be secure in any place, either in his house, or abroad in the open air, he exhorted them topenitence; and declared to them, that those extraordinary accidents werecaused, not by the souls of the dead hidden under ground, as theyimagined, but by the devils, who were desirous to destroy them, or by theomnipotent hand of God, who adds activity to natural causes, that he mayimprint more deeply in their hearts the fear of his justice and hiswrath. 

One of those wonderful earthquakes happened on the 29th of September; onthat day, consecrated to the honour of St Michael, the Christians wereassembled in great numbers, and the Father said mass. In the midst of thesacrifice, the earth was so violently shaken, that the people ran in ahurry out of the church. The Father feared lest the altar might beoverthrown, yet he forsook it not, and went through with the celebrationof the sacred mysteries, thinking, as he said himself, that the blessedarchangel, at that very time, was driving the devils of the island downto hell; and that those infernal spirits made all that noise andtumult, out of the indignation which they had to be banished from thatplace where they had held dominion for so many ages. 

The undaunted resolution of Father Xavier amazed the barbarians; and gavethem to believe, that a man who remained immovable while the rocks andmountains trembled, had something in him of divine; but that high opinionwhich most of them had conceived of him, gave him an absolute authorityover them; and, with the assistance of God's grace, which operated intheir souls while he was working by outward means, he made so total achange in them, that they who formerly, in respect of their manners, werelike wolves and tygers, now became tractable and mild, and innocent aslambs. 

Notwithstanding this, there were some amongst them who did not divestthemselves fully, and at once, of their natural barbarity; either tosignify, that divine grace, how powerful soever, does not work all thingsin a man itself alone, or to try the patience of the saint. The mostrebellious to God's spirit were the Javares, --a rugged and inhumanpeople, who inhabit only in caves, and in the day-time roam about theforests. Not content with not following the instructions of the Father, they laid divers ambushes for him; and one day, while he was explainingthe rules of morality to them out of the gospel, by a river side, provoked by the zeal wherewith he condemned their dissolute manners, theycast stones at him with design to kill him. The barbarians were on theone side of him, and the river on the other, which was broad and deep;insomuch, that it was in a manner impossible for Xavier to escape thefury of his enemies: but nothing is impossible to a man whom heavenprotects. There was lying on the bank a great beam of wood; the saintpushed it without the least difficulty into the water, and placinghimself upon it, was carried in an instant to the other side, where thestones which were thrown could no longer reach him. 

For what remains, he endured in this barren and inhospitable country allthe miseries imaginable, of hunger, thirst, and nakedness. But thecomforts which he received from heaven, infinitely sweetened all hislabours; which may be judged by the letter he wrote to Father Ignatius. For, after he had made him a faithful description of the place, "I have, "said he, "given you this account of it, that from thence you mayconclude, what abundance of celestial consolations I have tasted in it. The dangers to which I am exposed, and the pains I take for the interestof God alone, are the inexhaustible springs of spiritual joys; insomuch, that these islands, bare of all worldly necessaries, are the places inthe world, for a man to lose his sight with the excess of weeping; butthey are tears of joy. For my own part, I remember not ever to havetasted such interior delights; and these consolations of the soul, are sopure, so exquisite, and so perpetual, that they take from me all sense ofmy corporeal sufferings. "

Xavier continued for three months in the Isle del Moro; after which, herepassed to the Moluccas, with intention from thence to sail to Goa; notonly that he might draw out missioners from thence, to take care of thenew Christianity which he had planted in all those isles, and which healone was not sufficient to cultivate, but also to provide for theaffairs of the company, which daily multiplied in this new world. 

Being arrived at Ternate, he lodged by a chapel, which was near the Port, and which, for that reason, is called "Our Lady of the Port. " He thoughtnot of any long stay in that place, but only till the ship which wasintended for Malacca should be ready to set out. The Christians, moreglad of his return, because they had despaired of seeing him again, begged of him to continue longer with them, because Lent was drawingnear; and that he must, however, stay all that holy time, in the islandof Amboyna, for the proper season of navigation to Malacca. The captainof the fortress of Ternate, and the brotherhood of the Mercy, engagedthemselves to have him conducted to Amboyna, before the setting out ofthe ships. So that Xavier could not deny those people, who made him suchreasonable propositions; and who were so desirous to retain him, to theend they might profit by his presence, in order to the salvation of theirsouls. 

He remained then almost three months in Ternate; hearing confessions dayand night, preaching twice on holidays, according to his custom; in themorning to the Portuguese, in the afternoon to the islanders newlyconverted; catechising the children every day in the week, exceptingWednesday and Friday, which he set apart for the instruction of thePortuguese wives. For, seeing those women, who were either Mahometans oridolaters by birth, and had only received baptism in order to theirmarrying with the Portuguese, were not capable of profiting by the commonsermons, for want of sufficient understanding in the mysteries and maximsof Christianity; he undertook to expound to them the articles of faith, the commandments, and other points of Christian morality. The time ofLent was passed in these exercises of piety, and penitence, which fittedthem for the blessed sacrament at Easter. All people approached the holytable, and celebrated that feast with renewed fervour, which resembledthe spirit of primitive Christianity. 

But the chief employment of Father Xavier was to endeavour the conversionof the king of Ternate, commonly called king of the Moluccas. ThisSaracen prince, whose name was Cacil Aerio, was son to king Boleife, andhis concubine, a Mahometan, and enemy to the Portuguese, whom Tristand'Atayda, governor of Ternate, and predecessor of Antonio Galvan, causedto be thrown out of a window, to be revenged of her. This unworthy andcruel usage might well exasperate Cacil; but fearing their power, who hadaffronted him in the person of his mother, and having the violent deathof his brothers before his eyes, he curbed his resentments, and broke notout into the least complaint. The Portuguese mistrusted this over-actedmoderation, and affected silence; and according to the maxim of thosepoliticians, who hold, that they who do the injury should never pardon, they used him afterwards as a rebel, and an enemy, upon very lightconjectures, Jordan de Treitas, then governor of the fortress of Ternate. A man as rash and imprudent as Galvan was moderate and wise, seizedthe person of the prince, stript him of all the ornaments of royalty, andsent him prisoner to Goa, in the year 1546, with the Spanish fleet, ofwhich we have formerly made mention. 

The cause having been examined, in the sovereign tribunal of Goa, therewas found nothing to condemn, but the injustice of Treitas: Cacil wasdeclared innocent; and the new viceroy of the Indies, Don John de Castro, sent him back to Ternate, with orders to the Portuguese, to replace himon the throne, and pay him so much the more respect, by how much morethey had injured him. As for Treitas, he lost his government, and beingrecalled to Goa, was imprisoned as a criminal of state. 

The king of Ternate was newly restored, when Xavier came into the islefor the second time. King Tabarigia, son of Boleife, and brother toCacil, had suffered the same ill fortune some years before. Being accusedof felony, and having been acquitted at Goa, where he was prisoner, hewas also sent back to his kingdom, with a splendid equipage; and theequity of the Christians so wrought upon him, that he became a convertbefore his departure. 

Xavier was in hope, that the example of Tabarigia would make animpression on the soul of Cacil after his restoration, at least if anycare were taken of instructing him; and the hopes or the saint seemed notat the first to be ill grounded. For the barbarian king received him withall civility, and was very affectionate to him, insomuch that he couldnot be without his company. He heard him speak of God whole hourstogether; and there was great appearance, that he would renounce theMahometan religion. 

But the sweet enchantments of the flesh are often an invincible obstacleto the grace of baptism. Besides a vast number of concubines, the king ofTernate had an hundred women in his palace, who retained the name andquality of wives. To confine himself to one, was somewhat too hard to bedigested by him. And when the Father endeavoured to persuade him, thatthe law of God did absolutely command it; he reasoned on his side, according to the principles of his sect, and refined upon it in thismanner: "The God of the Christians and of the Saracens is the same God;why then should the Christians be confined to one only wife, since Godhas permitted the Saracens to have so many?"

Yet sometimes he changed his language; and said, that he would not losehis soul, nor the friendship of Father Xavier, for so small a matter. But, in conclusion, not being able to contain himself within the boundsof Christian purity, nor to make the law of Jesus Christ agree with thatof Mahomet, he continued fixed to his pleasures, and obstinate in hiserrors. Only he engaged his royal word, that in case the Portuguese wouldinvest one of his sons in the kingdom of the Isles del Moro, he would onthat condition receive baptism. 

Father Xavier obtained from the viceroy of the Indies whatever the kingof Ternate had desired; but the barbarian, far from keeping his promise, began from thenceforward a cruel persecution against his Christiansubjects. And the first strokes of it fell on the Queen Neachile, who wasdispossessed of all her lands, and reduced to live in extreme povertyduring the remainder of her days. Her faith supported her in these newmisfortunes; and Father Xavier, who had baptized her, gave her so well tounderstand how happy it was to lose all things and to gain Christ, thatshe continually gave thanks to God for the total overthrow of herfortune. 

In the mean time, the labours of the saint were not wholly unprofitablein the court of Ternate. He converted many persons of the blood-royal;and, amongst others, two sisters of the prince, who preferred the qualityof Christians, and spouses of Christ Jesus, before all earthly crowns;and chose rather to suffer the ill usage of their brother, than toforsake their faith. 

Xavier, seeing the time of his departure drawing near, composed, in theMalaya tongue, a large instruction, touching the belief and morals ofChristianity. He gave the people of Ternate this instruction written inhis own hand, that it might supply his place during his absence. Manycopies were taken of it, which were spread about the neighbouringislands, and even through the countries of the East. It was read onholidays in the public assemblies; and the faithful listened to it, ascoming from the mouth of the holy apostle. 

Besides this, he chose out some virtuous young men for his companions inhis voyage to Goa, with design to breed them in the college of thecompany, and from thence send them back to the Moluccas, there to preachthe gospel. These things being thus ordered, and the caracore, winch wasto carry him to Amboyna, in readiness, it was in his thoughts to departby night, in the most secret manner that he could, not to sadden theinhabitants, who could not hear of his going from them without a sensibleaffliction. But whatsoever precautions he took, he could not steal awaywithout their knowledge. They followed him in crowds to the shore; men, women, and children, gathering about him, lamenting his loss, begging hisblessing, and beseeching him, with tears in their eyes, "That since hewas resolved on going, he would make a quick return. "

The holy man was not able to bear these tender farewells without meltinginto tears himself. His bowels yearned within him for his dear flock; andseeing what affection those people bore him, he was concerned lest hisabsence might prejudice their spiritual welfare. Yet reassuring himself, by considering the providence of God, which had disposed of him anotherway, he enjoined them to meet in public every day, at a certain church, to make repetition of the Christian doctrine, and to excite each other tothe practice of virtue. He charged the new converts to learn by heart theexposition of the apostles' creed, which he had left with them inwriting; but that which gave him the greatest comfort was, that a priest, who was there present, promised him to bestow two hours every day ininstructing the people, and once a-week to perform the same to the wivesof the Portuguese, in expounding to them the articles of faith, andinforming them concerning the use of the sacraments. 

After these last words, Father Xavier left his well-beloved children inJesus, and immediately the ship went off. At that instant an universalcry was raised on the shore; and that last adieu went even to the heartof Father Xavier. 

Being arrived at Amboyna, he there found four Portuguese vessels, whereinwere only mariners and soldiers, that is to say, a sort of people illinstructed in the duties of Christianity, and little accustomed to putthem in practice, in the continual hurry of their life. That they mightprofit by that leisure which they then enjoyed, he set up a small chapelon the sea-side, where he conversed with them, sometimes single, sometimes in common, concerning their eternal welfare. The discourses ofthe saint brought over the most debauched amongst them; and one soldier, who had been a libertine all his life, died with such evident signs oftrue contrition, that being expired, Father Xavier was heard to say, "Godbe praised, who has brought me hither for the salvation of that soul;"which caused people to believe, that God Almighty had made a revelationof it to him. 

By the same supernal illumination, he saw in spirit one whom he had leftin Ternate in the vigour of health, now expiring in that place; forpreaching one day, he broke off his discourse suddenly, and said to hisauditors, "Recommend to God, James Giles, who is now in the agony ofdeath;" the news of his death came not long after, which entirelyverified the words of Xavier. 

The four ships continued at Amboyna but twenty days, after which they setsail towards Malacca. The merchant-ship, which was the best equipped andstrongest of them, invited the saint to embark in her; but he refused, out of the horror which he had for those enormous crimes which had beencommitted in her. And turning to Gonsalvo Fernandez, "This ship, " saidhe, "will be in great danger; God deliver you out of it. " Both theprediction and the wish of the saint were accomplished; for the ship, atthe passage of the Strait of Saban, struck against a hidden rock, wherethe iron-work of the stern was broken, and little wanted but that thevessel had been also split; but she escaped that danger, and the rest ofthe voyage was happily performed. 

The Father staying some few days longer on the isle, visited the sevenChristian villages which were there; caused crosses to be set up in allof them, for the consolation of the faithful; and one of these crosses, in process of time, became famous for a great miracle, of which the wholecountry was witness. 

There was an extreme drought, and a general dearth was apprehended. Certain women, who before their baptism were accustomed to use charmsfor rain, being assembled round about an idol, adored the devil, andperformed all the magic ceremonies; but their enchantments were of noeffect. A devout Christian woman knowing what they were about, ranthither, and having sharply reprehended those impious creatures, "As if, "said she, "having a cross so near us, we had no expectations of succourfrom it; and that the holy Father had not promised us, that whatsoever weprayed for at the foot of that cross, should infallibly be granted. " Uponthis, she led those other women towards a river-side, where Xavier hadset up a cross with his own hands, and falling down with them before thatsacred sign of our salvation, she prayed our Saviour to give them water, to the shame and confusion of the idol. At the same moment the cloudsbegan to gather on every side, and the rain poured down in greatabundance. Then, all in company, they ran to the pagod, pulled it down, and trampled it under their feet; after which they cast it into theriver, with these expressions of contempt, "That though they could notobtain from him one drop of water, they would give him enough in a wholeriver. "

A faith thus lively, answered the hopes which the saint had conceived ofthe faithful of Amboyna. He compared them sometimes to the primitiveChristians; and believed their constancy was of proof against the crueltyof tyrants. Neither was he deceived in the judgment he made of them; andthey shewed themselves, when the Javeses, provoked by their renouncingthe law of Mahomet, came to invade their island. While the Saracen armydestroyed the country, six hundred Christians retired into a castle, where they were presently besieged. Though they were to fear all thingsfrom the fury of the barbarians, yet what they only apprehended was, thatthose enemies of Jesus Christ might exercise their malice against a crosswhich was raised in the midst of all the castle, and which Father Xavierhad set up with his own hands. To preserve it, therefore, inviolable fromtheir attempts, they wrapt it up in cloth of gold, and buried it in thebottom of the ditch. After they had thus secured their treasure, theyopened the gate to the unbelievers, who, knowing what had been done bythem, ran immediately in search of the cross, to revenge upon it thecontempt which had been shown to Mahomet. But not being able to find it, they turned all their fury upon those who had concealed it, and who wouldnot discover where it was. 

Death seemed to have been the least part of what they suffered. TheMahometan soldiers cut off one man's leg, another's arm, tore out thisman's eyes, and the other's tongue. So the Christians died by degrees, and by a slow destruction, but without drawing one sigh, or casting out agroan, or shewing the least apprehension; so strongly were they supportedin their souls by the all-powerful grace of Jesus Christ, for whom theysuffered. 

Xavier at length parted from Amboyna; and probably it was then, if weconsider the sequel of his life, that he had the opportunity of makingthe voyage of Macassar. 

For though it be not certainly known at what time he visited that greatisland, nor the fruit which his labours there produced, it is undoubtedthat he has been there; and, in confirmation of it, we have, in theprocess of his canonization, the juridical testimony of a Portuguese ladyof Malacca, called Jane Melo, who had many times heard from the princessEleonar, daughter to the king of Macassar, that the holy apostle hadbaptized the king her father, the prince her brother, and a great numberof their subjects. 

But at whatsoever time he made this voyage, he returned to Malacca, inthe month of July, in the year 1547. 

BOOK IV. 

_He arrives at Malacca, and there meets three missioners of the company. His conduct with John Deyro. Deyro has a vision, which God reveals toXavier. The actions of the saint at Malacca. The occasion of the king ofAchen's enterprise against Malacca. The preparation of the barbarians forthe siege of Malacca. The army of Achen comes before Malacca; itslanding and retreat. The letter of the general of Achen to the governorof Malacca. Xavier's advice to the governor of Malacca. They follow hiscounsel. They prepare to engage the enemy. He exhorts the soldiers andcaptains to do their duty. The fleet sets out, and what happened at thattime. He upbraids the governor with his diffidence. He foretels what issuddenly accomplished. The Portuguese fleet goes in search of the enemy. Troubles in Malacca concerning their fleet. A new cause of consternation. The true condition of the fleet. The soldiers are encouraged by theirgeneral to fight. The naval fight betwixt the Portuguese and theAchenois. The Achenois defeated. The saint declares the victory to thepeople of Malacca. The certain news of the victory is brought. The returnof the victorious fleet. Anger arrives at Malacca, when the saint wasready to depart from it. Divers adventures of Anger. Anger is brought tothe Father, who sends him to Goa. Xavier calms a tempest. He writes tothe king of Portugal. His letter full of zeal, discretion, and charity. He desires the king to send him some preachers of the society. He writesto Father Simon Rodriguez. He sends an account to the Fathers at Rome ofhis voyages. He receives great comfort from the fervency of the newconverts. He stays at Manapar, and what he performed there. The ruleswhich he prescribes to the missioners of the fishing coast. He pussesover to the isle of Ceylon; his actions there. He departs for Goa, andfinds the viceroy at Britain. He obtains whatever he demands of theviceroy. He concerts a young gentleman, who was very much debauched. Hefixes the resolution of Cosmo de Torrez to enter into the society. Heinstructs Anger anew, and causes him to be farther taught by Torrez. Hehears news from Japan, and designs a voyage thither to preach the gospel. He undertakes the conversion of a soldier. He converts the soldier, andwhat means he uses to engage him to penance. He assists the viceroy ofthe Indies at his death. He applies himself more than ever to theexercises of an interior life. He returns to his employment in the careof souls at Goa. He receives supplies from Europe: the arrival of FatherGasper Barzæus. He goes to the fishing coast; his actions there. Hespeaks to the deputy-governor of the Indies, concerning his voyage toJapan. All endeavours are used to break the Father's intended voyage toJapan. He slights the reasons alleged against his voyage to Japan. Hewrites to Father Ignatius, and to Father Rodriguez. He constitutessuperiors to superintend the society in India during his absence, and theorders which he leaves them. He sends Gasper Barzæus to Ormuz. He givesinstructions and orders to Barzæus. He recommends to him the perfectingof himself. He charges him to instruct the children himself. Herecommends the poor to him. He recommends the prisoners to him. Hisadvice concerning restitutions. He prescribes him some precautions in hisdealings with his friends. He recommends to him the practice of theparticular Examen. He exhorts him to preach, and gives him rules forpreaching. He institutes him in the way of correcting sinners. Heprescribes him a method, for administering the sacrament of penance. Hecontinues to instruct him on the subject of confession. He instructs himhow to deal with those who want faith, concerning the blessed sacrament. He instructs how to deal with penitents. He recommends to him, theobedience due to ecclesiastical superiors. He commands him to honour thegovernor. He gives him advice concerning his evangelical functions. Heorders him to write to the Fathers of the society at Goa. He counsels himto inform himself of the manner of the town at his arrival. He recommendsto his prayers the souls in purgatory. He exhorts him not to shew eithersadness or anger. He prescribes him the time of his functions. He giveshim instructions, touching the conduct of such as shall be received intothe society. He teaches him the methods of reducing obstinate sinners. Headvises him to find out the dispositions of the people, before he treatswith them. He counsels him to learn the manners and customs of thepeople. He gives him counsel concerning reconciliations. He instructs himin the way of preaching well. What he orders him concerning hissubsistance, and touching presents. What he orders him in reference tohis abode. He goes for Japan. He arrives at Malacca, and what he performsthere. His joy for the success of his brethren in their functions. Hereceives a young gentleman into the society. The instructions which hegives to Bravo. The news which he hears from Japan. He disposes himselffor the voyage of Japan more earnestly than ever. He goes from Malacca toJapan; and what happens to him in the way_. 

Xavier found at Malacca three missioners of the company, who were goingto the Moluccas, in obedience to the letters he had written. Thesemissioners were John Beyra, Nugnez Ribera, and Nicholas Nugnez, who hadnot yet received priests' orders. Mansilla came not with them, 'though hehad precise orders for it; because he rather chose to follow his owninclinations, in labouring where he was, than the command of hissuperior, in forsaking the work upon his hands. But his disobedience costhim dear. Xavier expelled him out of the society, judging, that an illbrother would do more hurt, than a good labourer would profit thecompany. 

These three missioners above mentioned had been brought to the Indies inthe fleet, by Don Perez de Pavora, with seven other sons of Ignatius;part of whom was already left at Cape Comorine, and the fishing coast, tocultivate those new plants of Christianity, which were so beloved byFather Xavier. Now the ships which were bound for the Moluccas, being notin a readiness to sail before the end of August, Beyra, Ribera, andNugnez, had all the intermediate time, which was a month, to enjoy thecompany of the saint, in which space they were formed by him for theapostolic function. For himself, he remained four months at Malacca, inexpectation of a ship to carry him to Goa; and during all that time, wastaken up with continual service of his neighbour. 

He had brought with him, from Amboyna, his old companion, John Deyro. Though Deyro was in his attendance, yet he was not a member of thesociety, for the causes already specified, and deserved not to be of it, for those which follow. Some rich merchants having put into his hands asum of money, for the subsistence of the Father, he concealed it fromhim. Xavier, who lived only on the alms which were daily given him, andwho hated money as much as his companion loved it, looked on this actionof Deyro as an injury done to evangelical poverty; and the resentmentwhich he had of it, caused him to forget his usual mildness to offenders. Not content to make him a sharp reprimand, he confined him to a littledesart isle not far distant from the port; enjoining him, not onlycontinual prayer, but fasting upon bread and water, till he should of hisown accord recal him. Deyro, who was of a changeable and easy temper, neither permanent in good, nor fixed in ill, obeyed the Father, and livedexactly in the method which was prescribed. 

He had one night a vision, whether awake or sleeping has not been decidedby the juridical informations of the Father's life. It seemed to him, that he was in a fair temple, where he beheld the Blessed Virgin, on athrone all glittering with precious stones. Her countenance appearedsevere; and he, making his approaches to her, was rejected withindignation, as unworthy to be of the company of her son. After which shearose from the throne, and then all things disappeared. Deyro beingrecalled from his solitude some time after, said nothing of his vision toFather Xavier, to whom God had revealed it. He even denied boldly to haveseen any, though the Father repeated it to him, with all thecircumstances. Xavier, more scandalised than ever with this procedure ofDeyro, refused all farther communication with a man, who was interested, and insincere. He rid his hands of him, but withal foretold him, "ThatGod would be so gracious to him, as to change his evil inclinations, andthat hereafter he should take the habit of St Francis. " Which was sofully accomplished, that when the informations were taken in the Indies, concerning the holiness and miracles of Xavier, Deyro then wore the habitof St Francis, and lived a most religious life. 

After the three missioners were gone for the Moluccas, Xavier alone borethe whole burden of the work. The knowledge which the Portuguese andIndians had of his holiness, made all men desirous of treating with him, concerning the business of their conscience. Not being able to giveaudience to all, many of them were ill satisfied, and murmured againsthim: but since their discontent and murmurs proceeded from a goodprinciple, he comforted himself, and rather rejoiced than was offended, as he says himself expressly in his letters. His ordinary employment waspreaching to the Christians and Gentiles, instructing and baptising thecatechumens, teaching children the Christian doctrine, visiting theprisoners and the sick, reconciling enemies, and doing other works ofcharity. 

While the saint was thus employed, there happened an affair, which muchincreased his reputation in all the Indies. For the understanding of thewhole business, it will be necessary to trace it from its original. 

Since the conquest of Malacca by the Portuguese, the neighbouring princesgrew jealous of their power, and made many attempts to drive that nationout of the Indies, which came to brave them at their own doors. Thereupon, they set on foot many great armies, at divers times, butalways unsuccessfully; and learning, by dear-bought experience, thatmultitudes can hardly prevail against true valour. 

These disgraces provoked the Sultan Alaradin, king of Achen, instead ofhumbling him. Achen is the greatest kingdom of the island of Sumatra, distant about twelve leagues from the _terra firma_ of Malacca. Thisprince was a Mahometan, an implacable enemy of the Christians by hisreligion, and of the Portuguese by interest of state. Yet he durst notimmediately assault the fortress of Malacca. All his fury was spent incruizing about the coasts, with a strong fleet, thereby to break thetrade of the Portuguese, and hinder the succours which they had fromEurope. His design was then to attack the town, when it should be bare ofdefendants, and unprovided of stores of victuals: but to compass hisenterprize, he was to assure himself of a port, which was above Malaccatowards the north, which might serve for a convenient retreat to hisfleet; and had also occasion for a fortress, to secure himself from theenemy. He therefore made himself master of that port, and ordered thebuilding of a citadel. 

As for his preparations of war, he made them so secretly, that thePortuguese had neither any news, nor even the least suspicion of them. Five thousand soldiers, trained up in wars, and well-experienced in navalfights, were chosen out for this glorious expedition; and five hundred ofthem, called Orabalons, were the flower of the whole nobility, andaccordingly wore bracelets of gold, as a distinguishing mark of theirhigh extraction. There was besides a great number of Janisaries newlyarrived at the court of Achen, who served as volunteers, and were eagerof shewing their courage against the Christians. The fleet consisted ofsixty great ships, all well equipped and manned, without reckoning thebarks, the frigates, and the fire-ships. It was commanded by the Saracen, Bajaja Soora, a great man of war, and so famous for his exploits in arms, that his prince had honoured him with the title of King of Pedir, inreward for his taking Malacca even before he had besieged the town. 

There was no other intelligence of this at Malacca, but what the army ofAchen brought itself. They came before the place, and entered the porton the 9th of October, in the year 1547, about two o'clock in themorning, resolved to assault it while they were favoured by the darkness. They began by a discharge of their artillery, and sending in theirfire-ships against the Portuguese vessels. After which the most daring ofthem landed, ran without any order against that part of the wall whichthey believed weakest, filled up part of the ditch, and mounted theladders with a furious assault. They found more resistance than theyexpected: the garrison, and the inhabitants, whom the shouts andartillery of the barbarians had at first affrighted, recovering couragethrough the imminence of danger, and the necessity of conquering ordying, ran upon the rampart, and vigorously repulsed the assailants;overthrowing their ladders, or tumbling their enemies headlong from them, insomuch that not a man of them entered the town, and great numbers ofthem lay dead or dying in the ditch. 

Soora comforted himself for the ill success of his assault, by theexecution which his fire-ships and cannon had done. All the vesselswithin the port were either burnt or disabled. And the rain whichimmediately fell, served not so much to extinguish the flames, as theviolent wind which then arose contributed to kindle them. Those of Achen, proud of that action, appeared next morning on their decks, letting flytheir pompous streamers, and shouting, as if already they werevictorious. But their insolence was soon checked; the cannon from thefortress forced them to retire as far off as the isle of Upe. In the meantime, seven poor fishermen, who had been out all night about theiremployment, and were now returning to the town, fell into an ambuscade ofthe Infidels, were taken, and brought before the general. After he hadcut off their ears and noses, he sent them back with a letter, directedto Don Francisco de Melo, governor of Malacca, of which these were thecontents:

"I Bajaja Soora, who have the honour to carry in vessels of gold the riceof the Great Souldan, Alaradin, king of Achen, and the territories washedby the one and the other sea, advertise thee to write word to thy king, that, in despite of him, I am casting terror into his fortress by myfierce roaring, and that I shall here abide as long as I shall please. Icall to witness of what I declare, not only the earth, and all nationswhich inhabit it, but all the elements, even to the heaven of the moon;and pronounce with these words of my mouth, that thy king is a man of noreputation nor courage; that his standards, now trampled under foot, shall never be lifted up again without his permission who has conqueredhim; that, by the victory already by us obtained, my king has under hisroyal foot the head of thine; that from this day forward he is hissubject and his slave; and, to the end, that thou thyself mayest confessthis truth, I defy thee to mortal battle, here on the place of my abode, if thou feelest in thyself sufficient courage to oppose me. "

Though the letter of Soora was in itself ridiculous, and full of fustianbravadoes, according to the style of the barbarians, yet it put thegovernor and officers of the fortress to a shrewd demur; for how shouldthey accept the challenge without ships to fight him, and how could theyrefuse it with their honour? A council of war was summoned to deliberateon this weighty and nice affair, when Father Xavier came amongst them. Hehad been saying mass at the church of our Lady Del Monte; so called, fromits being built on a mountain near the city, and dedicated to the blessedVirgin. Don Francisco, who had sent for him to consult him in thistroublesome business, gave him the general of Achen's letter to peruse, and demanded his advice what was to be done on this occasion. 

The saint, who knew the king of Achen's business was not only to drivethe Portuguese out of Malacca, but also, and that principally, toextirpate Christianity out of all the East; having read the letter, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and answered without the least pause, thatthe affront was too great to be endured; that the honour of the Christianreligion was more concerned in it than that of the crown of Portugal: Ifthis injury should be dissembled, to what audaciousness would the enemyarise, and what would not the other Mahometan princes attempt after thisexample? In conclusion, that the challenge ought to be accepted, that theinfidels might see the King of Heaven was more powerful than their kingAlaradin. 

"But how, " said the governor, "shall we put to sea, and on what vessels, since, of eight gally-foysts which we had in port, there are but fourremaining, and those also almost shattered in pieces, and half burned;and, in case we could refit them, what could they perform against sonumerous a fleet?" "Suppose, " answered Xavier, "the barbarians had twiceso many ships, are not we much stronger, who have heaven on our side; andhow can we choose but overcome, when we fight in the name of our Lord andSaviour?"

No man was so bold to contradict the man of God; and they all went to thearsenal. There they found a good sufficient bark, of those they callcatur, besides seven old foysts, fit for nothing but the fire. Duarte deBareto, who by his office had the superintendance of their naval stores, was commanded to fit out these foysts with all expedition. But heprotested it was not in his power; for, besides that the kings magazineswere empty of all necessaries for the equipping of them, there was nomoney in the treasury for materials. 

The governor, who had no other fund, was ready to lose courage, whenXavier, by a certain impulse of spirit, suddenly began to embrace sevensea captains there present, who were of the council of war. He begged ofthem to divide the business amongst them, and each of them apart to takecare of fitting out one galley: At the same time, without waiting fortheir answer, he assigned every man his task. The captains durst notoppose Xavier, or rather God, who inclined their hearts to comply withthe saint's request. Above an hundred workmen were instantly employed onevery vessel; and in four days time the seven gallies were in conditionfor fighting. Melo gave the catur to Andrea Toscano, a man of courage, and well versed in sea affairs. He divided amongst the seven captains anhundred and fourscore soldiers, chosen men, and appointed Francis Dezaadmiral of the fleet. Xavier was desirous to have gone along with them, but the inhabitants, who believed all was lost if they lost the Father, and who hoped for no consolation but from him alone in case theenterprize should not succeed, made such a disturbance about it, that, upon mature deliberation, it was resolved to keep him in the town. 

The day before their embarkment, having called together the soldiers andthe captains, he told them that he should accompany them in spirit; andthat while they were engaging the barbarians, he would be lifting up hishands to heaven for them: That they should fight valiantly, in hope ofglory, not vain and perishable, but solid and immortal: That, in the heatof the combat, they should cast their eyes on their crucified Redeemer, whose quarrel they maintained, and, beholding his wounds themselves, should not be afraid either of wounds or death; and how happy should theybe to render their Saviour life for life. 

These words inspired them with such generous and Christian thoughts, that, with one voice, they made a vow to fight the infidels to their lastdrop of blood. This solemn oath was so moving to Xavier, that it drewtears from him: he gave them all his blessing; and, for their greaterencouragement, named them, "The Band of our Saviour's Soldiers:" inpursuit of which, he heard every man's confession, and gave them thecommunion with his own hand. 

They embarked the clay following with so much cheerfulness, that itseemed to presage a certain victory. But their joy continued but amoment. They had scarcely weighed anchor, when the admiral split, andimmediately went to the bottom, so that they had hardly time to save themen. The crowd of people, who were gathered together on the shore to seethem go off, beheld this dismal accident, and took it for a bad omen ofthe expedition; murmuring at the same time against Father Xavier, who wasthe author of it, and casting out loud cries to recal the other vessels. The governor, who saw the people in an uproar, and apprehended theconsequences of this violent beginning, sent in haste to seek the Father. The messenger found him at the altar, in the church of our Lady DelMonte, just ready to receive the blessed sacrament: he drew near towhisper the business to him, but the Father beckoned him with his hand tokeep silence, and retire. When mass was ended, "Return, " said Xavier, without giving the man leisure to tell his message, "and assure thegovernor from me, that he has no occasion to be discouraged for the lossof one vessel. " By this the saint made known, that God had revealed tohim what had happened. He continued some time in prayer before the imageof the Virgin; and these words of his were overheard: "O my Jesus, thedesire of my heart, regard me with a favourable eye; and thou, holyVirgin, be propitious to me! Lord Jesus, " he continued, "look upon thysacred wounds, and remember they have given us a right to ask of theeevery thing conducing to our good. "

His prayers being ended, he goes to the citadel: The governor, alarmedwith the cries and murmurs of the people, could not dissemble hisdisturbance, but reproached the Father for having engaged them in thisenterprize. But Xavier upbraided him with his distrust of God; and said, smiling, to him, "What! are you so dejected for so slight an accident?"After which, they went in company to the shore, where the soldiersbelonging to the admiral stood in great consternation for the hazard theyhad run so lately. The Father reassured them, and exhorted them to remainconstant in their holy resolution, notwithstanding their pettymisadventure: he remonstrated to them, that heaven had not permittedtheir admiral to sink, but only to make trial of their faith; neither hadthemselves been saved from shipwreck, but only that they might performtheir vow. In the mean time, the governor held it necessary to summon thegreat council. All the officers of the town, and the principalinhabitants, were of opinion to give over an enterprize, which, as theythought, was begun rashly, and could have no fortunate conclusion. Butthe captains and soldiers of the fleet, encouraged by the words of theholy man, and inspired with vigour, which had something in it of morethan human, were of a quite contrary judgment. They unanimouslyprotested, that they had rather die than violate that faith, which theyhad solemnly engaged to Jesus Christ. "For the rest, " said they, "whathave we more to fear this day than we had yesterday? our number is notdiminished, though we have one vessel less, and we shall fight as wellwith six foysts, as we should with seven. But, on the other side, whathopes ought we not to conceive, under the auspices and promise of FatherFrancis?"

Then Xavier taking the word, "The lost galley shall be soon made good, "said he with a prophetic voice; "before the sun goes down, there shallarrive amongst us two better vessels than that which perished; and this Ideclare to you from Almighty God. " This positive prediction amazed thewhole assembly, and caused them to put off the determination of theaffair until the day ensuing. The remaining part of the day was passedwith great impatience, to see the effect of the Father's promise. Whenthe sun was just on the point of setting, and many began to fear theaccomplishment of the prophecy, in the very minute marked out by theFather, they discovered, from the clock-house of our Lady del Monte, twoEuropean ships, which were sailing directly from the north. Melo sent outa skiff immediately to hail them, being informed that they werePortuguese vessels, one belonging to James Soarez Gallego, and the otherto his son Balthazar, who came from the kingdom of Patan, but who tookthe way of Pegu, without intentions of casting anchor at Malacca, toavoid paying customs. He went in search of Father Francis, who was at hisdevotions in the church del Monte, and told him, that his prophecy wouldbe accomplished to little purpose, if the ships came not into the port. Xavier took it upon himself to stop them; and, going into the skiff whichhad hailed them, made directly to the two vessels. The masters of theships, seeing the man of God, received him with respect. He made themunderstand the present juncture of affairs, and earnestly besought them, by the interests of their religion, and their country, to assist the townagainst the common enemy of the Christian name, and the crown ofPortugal. And to engage them farther, by their particular concernment, helet them see the danger into which they were casting themselves, in casethey should obstinately pursue their voyage; and that they were going, without consideration, to precipitate themselves into the hands of thebarbarians. 

They yielded to the reasons of the Father; and the next morning enteredthe port amidst the shouts and acclamations of the people. After this, there was no farther dispute of fighting the enemy; and the most timorouscame about to the opinion of the captains and the soldiers. 

All things being in a readiness to set sail, the admiral, Francis Deza, received the flag from the hands of Xavier, who had solemnly blessed it, and mounted the ship of his brother George Deza, instead of his own, which was already sunk. The rest of the captains, who had been on shore, returned on ship-board; and, with the two newly arrived vessels, thewhole fleet consisted of nine, their number also being increased by fiftymen; they were in all two hundred and thirty Portuguese. The fleet wentout of port the 25th of October, with strict orders from the general notto pass beyond the Pulo Cambylan, which is the farthest bounds of thekingdom of Malacca on the west. His reason was, that since they were somuch inferior in strength to the enemy, who vastly outnumbered them inmen and shipping, their glory consisted in driving them from off theircoasts, and not in farther pursuit of them: That what hope soever we havein God, yet it becomes us not to tempt him, because heaven is notaccustomed to give a blessing to rashness and presumption. 

Thus setting out full of assurance and of joy, they arrived in four daysat Pulo Cambylan, without having any news of the enemy, notwithstandingtheir endeavours to find him out. The admiral, in obedience to thegovernor, was thinking to return; though the courage of his soldiersprompted them to pass beyond the bounds prescribed them, and to go insearch of the barbarians into whatsoever corner of the world they wereretired. The admiral, I say, was disposed to have gone back, when themoon suddenly went into an eclipse. It was one of the greatest which hadever been observed, and seemed to them to prognosticate the total defeatof the Mahometans. But the same night there arose so violent a wind, thatthey were forced to stay upon their anchors for the space ofthree-and-twenty days successively. Their provisions then beginning togrow short, and the wind not suffering them to turn to the coast ofMalacca, they resolved on taking in fresh provisions at Tenasserim, towards the kingdom of Siam. 

In the mean time, all things were in confusion at Malacca. The hopeswhich Father Xavier had given the people, supported them for some fewdays. But seeing a month was now expired, without any intelligence fromthe fleet, they believed it was either swallowed by the waves, ordefeated by the Achenois, and that none had escaped to bring the news. Atthe same time, the Saracens reported confidently, they had it from goodhands, that the fleets had met, that the Achenois had cut in pieces allthe Portuguese, and had sent the heads of their commanders as a presentto their king. This bruit was spread through all the town, and was dailystrengthened after the rate of false rumours, which are full of tragicalevents. The better to colour this report, they gave the circumstances oftime and place, and the several actions of the battle. The sorcerers andsoothsayers were consulted by the Pagan women, whose husbands and sonswere in the fleet; and they confirmed whatever was related in the town. It came at last to a public rising against Xavier; and the governorhimself was not wholly free from the popular contagion. 

But Xavier, far from the least despondence in the promises of God, and ofthe knowledge he had given him concerning the condition of the fleet, with an erected countenance assured, they should suddenly see it returnvictorious. Which notwithstanding, he continued frequent in his vows andprayers; and at the end of all his sermons, recommended to theirdevotions the happy return of their desired navy. Their spirits were somuch envenomed and prejudiced against him, that many of them treated himwith injurious words; while he was rallied by the more moderate, who werenot ashamed to say, his prayers might be of use for the souls of thesoldiers, who were slain in fight, but were of little consequence to gaina battle which was lost. 

Some fresh intelligence, which arrived from Sumatra, increased thedisorders and consternation of the town. The king of Bintan, son to thatMahomet, whom Albuquerque the Great had despoiled of the kingdom ofMalacca, sought for nothing more than an opportunity of reconquering whathis father had lost by force of arms. Seeing the town now bare ofsoldiers, and hearing that the Achenois had beaten the Portuguese, he putto sea, with three hundred sail, and put in at the river of Muar, withinsix leagues of Malacca, towards the west. 

That he might the better execute his design, by concealing it, he wrotefrom thence to the governor Melo, "That he had armed a fleet against theking of Patan, his enemy, but that having been informed of the defeat ofthe Portuguese, he was come as a friend and brother of the king ofPortugal, to succour Malacca, against the king of Achen, who would notfail to master the town, if the course of his victories was not stopped;that therefore he desired only to be admitted into the place before itcame into the possession of the conqueror; after which he had no farthercause of apprehension. "

Melo, whom the constancy of Father Xavier had reassured, discovered thesnare which was laid for him; and tricked those, who had intended tocircumvent him. He answered the king of Bintan, "That the town had noneed of relief, as being abundantly provided both of men and ammunition:That so great a conqueror as he, ought not to lay aside an expedition ofsuch importance, nor to linger by the way: That, for themselves, theywere in daily expectation of their fleet; not defeated, according to someidle rumours concerning it, but triumphant, and loaden with the spoils ofenemies: That this report was only spread by Saracens, whose tongues werelonger than their lances:" For these were the expressions which he used. 

The Mahometan prince, judging by the governor's reply, that his artificewas discovered; and that, in reason, he ought to attempt nothing till itwere certainly known what was become of the two fleets, kept himselfquiet, and attended the success. 

To return to the Christian navy: Before they could get to Tenasserim, their want of fresh water forced them to seek it nearer hand, at Queda, in the river of Parlez; where being entered, they perceived by night afisher-boat, going by their ships. They stopped the boat, and thefishermen being examined, told them, "That the Achenois were not fardistant; that they had been six weeks in the river; that they hadplundered all the lowlands, and were now building a fortress. " This newsfilled the Portuguese with joy; and Deza, infinitely pleased to havefound the enemy, of whom he had given over the search, putting on hisrichest apparel, fired all his cannon, to testify his joy; withoutconsidering that he spent his powder to no purpose, and that he warnedthe barbarians to be upon their guard. What he did with more prudence, was to send three gallies up the river, to discover the enemy, andobserve their countenance, while he put all things in order for thefight, The three foysts, in their passage, met with four brigantines, which the enemies had detached, to know the meaning of the guns whichthey had heard. Before they had taken a distinct view on either side, thethree foysts had grappled each a brigantine, and seized her; the fourthescaped. The soldiers put all the enemies to the sword, excepting six, whom they brought off, together with the brigantines. These prisonerswere all put to the question; but whatsoever torments they endured, theycould not at first get one syllable out of them, either where the enemylay, or what was the number of his men, or of his ships. Two of them diedupon the rack, and other two they threw overboard; but the remainingcouple, either more mortified with their torments, or less resolute, being separated from each other, began at last to open: And told the samethings apart; both where the Achenois were lying, and that their numberwas above ten thousand, reckoning into it the mariners, which were ofmore consideration than the soldiers; that the king of the country, wherenow they lay, had been constrained to avoid a shameful death, by flight;that having massacred two thousand of the natives, and made as manycaptives, they were building a citadel, on the passage which the shipsordinarily make from Bengal to Malacca; and that their design was notonly to block up that road, but to murder all the Christians who shouldfall into their hands. 

This report inflamed anew the zeal and courage of the soldiers. Theadmiral was not wanting to encourage them to fight. Entering into askiff, with his drawn sword, he went from vessel to vessel, exhorting hismen to have Christ crucified before their eyes, while they were in fight, as Father Francis had enjoined them; and ever to keep in mind the oathwhich they had taken; but, above all things, to have an assured hope ofvictory, from the intercession of the holy Father, who had promised it. 

All unanimously answered, "That they would fight it out to death; andshould be happy to die in defence of their religion. " Deza, animated bythis their answer, posted himself advantageously on the river, so as tobe able from thence to fall upon the enemy, without endangering hislittle fleet, to be encompassed by their numbers. 

The Achenois no sooner were informed by their brigantine of thePortuguese navy, than they put themselves into a condition of attackingit. They were not only insolent by reason of their strength, but provokedalso by the late affront they had received in their brigantines; so that, full of fury, without the least balancing of the matter, they set sailwith all their navy, excepting only two vessels, and two hundred landsoldiers, which were left in guard of two thousand slaves, and all theirbooty. Having the wind for them, and coming down the river, they werecarried with such swiftness, that Deza was hardly got aboard the admiral, when he heard their drums, and their yelling shouts, which re-echoed fromthe shores and neighbouring mountains. They were divided into tensquadrons, and each of them composed of six vessels, excepting only thefirst, which consisted but of four, but those the strongest of the fleet. The admiral, on which the king of Pedir was on board, was in the firstsquadron, and with him were three Turkish gallions. 

That fury, which transported the barbarians, caused them, at the firstsight of the Portuguese navy, to discharge against it their wholeartillery; but they aimed so ill, that they did them little or nomischief. Immediately after, the two admirals met, and stemmed eachother. They engaged on either side with so much resolution, that theadvantage was not seen, till a shot was made from the vessel of JohnSoarez, and out of the cannon called the camel It took place so justly, that Soora's vessel sunk to rights. The three gallions which were infront with him, on the same time, immediately changed their order, andleft off fighting, to save their general, and the principal lords of hisretinue. But these gallions, which were across the stream, and took uphalf the breadth of it, stopped their own vessels, which followed file byfile; insomuch, that those of the second rank striking against the first, and those of the third against the second, they fell foul on each other, with a terrible confusion. 

The Portuguese seeing the army of the enemy, on a heap together, withoutbeing able to disengage their ships, encompassed them, and battered themwith their cannon. They discharged every tier, three rounds successively, and so to purpose, that they sunk nine great ships, and disabled almostall the rest. Then four of the Portuguese foysts set upon six Mahometans, which the cannon had used more favourably than the rest; the soldiersboarded them with their swords in their hands, and calling on the name ofJesus, in less than half an hour they destroyed above 2000 men. Thefright and the disorder of the enemy was redoubled, at the sight of thisslaughter, and at the thundering of the guns, which did such dreadfulexecution; insomuch, that the Achenois leaped into the river of their ownaccord, chusing rather to die in that manner, than by the hands of theChristians. 

Their general being taken up, when he was just drowning, and drawing newcourage from despair, endeavoured to have heartened up the remainder ofthose who were about him. But having himself received a musket-shot, helost all manner of resolution, and made away with only two vessels. Thefive hundred gentlemen Orobalans were either slain or drowned, with allthe Janisaries. None escaped, but those who followed Soora in his flight. On the side of the Christians there were twenty-six slain, of whom fouronly were Portuguese by nation The spoil was great; for, besides the twoguard-ships which came into the power of the conquerors, and wherein wasall the pillage which the enemy had gained, they took at least forty-fivevessels, which might again be made serviceable. There was found amongstthe spoils a prodigious quantity of Saracen and Turkish arms; 300 piecesof cannon of all sorts; and, what was yet more pleasing, sixty-two piecesof ordnance, whereon were graven the arms of Portugal, and which had beenlost in divers wars, returned at length to the possession of their lawfullord and owner. 

The king of Parlez no sooner had notice of the enemy's defeat, than, issuing out of the woods where he lay concealed, he came with 500 men, and fell upon the workmen, who, by Soora's orders, were building afortress, and on the soldiers appointed for their guard. Having cut themin pieces, he went to visit Captain Deza, and congratulated the valour ofthe Portuguese, and their success. He owned the preservation of hiskingdom to their arms; and offered, by way of acknowledgment, a yearlytribute to the king of Portugal. 

Deza immediately ordered a frigate to carry the news of his victory toMalacca; but it was fully known in that city, with all its circumstances, before the frigate was sent off, and thus it happened. 

Father Xavier, preaching in the great church, betwixt nine and ten of theclock on Sunday morning, which was the 4th of January, according tothe old calendar, at the same time when the two fleets were actuallyengaged, stopped short on the sudden, and appeared transported out ofhimself, so manifest a change appeared, both in his countenance, and hiswhole person. Having somewhat recovered himself, instead of following hisdiscourse, inspired with a divine impulse, he declared to his audiencethe encounter, and shock of the two navies, but in a mysterious andfigurative manner. 

The assembly, not comprehending their preacher's meaning, were of opinionthat he was distracted; still as the fight grew warmer, and theengagement came to be more close, he seemed to be more and more inflamed, with all the motions of a man inspired, and speaking still prophetically. At the length, fixing his eyes on the crucifix that was before him, hesaid, with tears in his eyes, accompanied with sighs, but with an audibleand distinct voice, "Ah Jesus, thou God of my soul, and Father of allmercies, I most humbly implore thee, by the merits of thy sacred passion, not to forsake those who fight thy battle!" After these words, he hungdown his head, as overwearied, and leaned upon his pulpit, withoutfarther speaking. Having continued in that posture for some time, hesprung up, on the sudden, and said aloud, with all the motions of joy, which he could not master, "My brethren, Jesus Christ has vanquished foryou. At this moment, while I am speaking, the soldiers of his blessedname have completed their victory, by the entire defeat of the enemy'snavy. They have made a great slaughter, and we have lost but four of ourPortuguese. You shall receive the news of it on Friday next, and mayshortly expect the return of your victorious fleet. "

How incredible soever this appeared, yet Melo, and the principal personsof the town there present, gave credit to it, without the least scruple;considering the manner of his speaking, and his air, which had somewhatof divine in it, and bore the testimony of its truth. Yet the wives andmothers of the absent soldiers, apprehending still it might be false, andfearing the more, the more they desired it should be true, the Fatherassembled them all in the afternoon, at the church of our Lady del Monte, and there repeated so distinctly the whole series of what he had said inthe morning, that they durst no longer doubt of it. 

Even in the beginning of the week, they had almost evident signs of thevictory, by the news which came of the king of Bintan; who having sent onall sides to be informed, whether the Portuguese had been defeated, beingadvertised from the river of Parlez of what had passed, forsook Muar, andretired with expedition, bewailing the misfortune of his allies, andashamed of his ill-timed enterprize. 

The frigate dispatched away by Deza, under the conduct of EmanuelGodigno, arrived exactly on the day mentioned by the saint. The fleetfollowed shortly after, and made a triumphant entry into the port, withtrumpets sounding, and a general discharge of all their artillery. Thetown received them with repeated shouts of welcome; and Father Francis, who was at the head of the people on the shore, held forth a crucifix inhis hand, to give both the inhabitants and soldiers to understand, thatthey owed their victory to Christ alone. 

Both the one and the other joining their voices, gave solemn thanks tothe Saviour of mankind; but they also broke out into the praises of thesaint, upon the truth of his predictions, and could not hold frompublishing, that it was he who had obtained from heaven this wonderfulsuccess. 

The burden of these praises did no less hasten the saint's intendedvoyage to Goa, than the necessity of those affairs which called himthither. He had remained four months together at Malacca, since hisreturn from the Moluccas, and was just on his departure, when the ships, which early come from China, arrived in the port. A Japonese, whose namewas Anger, came with these vessels, expressly to see Xavier. He was aboutthirty-five years of age, rich, nobly born, and one whose life had beensufficiently libertine. The Portuguese, who two years before had made thediscovery of Japan, had been acquainted with him at Cangoxirna, the placeof his birth, and understood, from his own mouth, that, having been muchtroubled with the remembrance of the sins of his youth, he had retiredhimself amongst the solitary Bonzes; but that neither the solitude, northe conversation of those heathen priests, had been able to restore himthe tranquillity of his soul, and that thereupon he had returned into theworld, more disquieted than ever with his remorse of conscience. 

Some other Portuguese merchants, who at that time came to Cangoxima, andwho had seen Father Francis at Malacca, the first voyage he had madethither, made an intimate acquaintance and friendship with Anger. Andthis Japonese, discovering to them the perplexity of his soul, whichaugmented daily more and more, they told him that in Malacca there was areligious man, eminent for his holy life, well experienced in the conductof souls, and most proper to settle his perplexed conscience; and that ifhe would try this remedy, they would facilitate the means to him, andbring him to the saint, of whom they had spoken: That it was FatherFrancis Xavier, their friend, the refuge of sinners, and comforter oftroubled minds. 

Anger found himself possessed with a strong desire of going to see theholy man; but the length of the voyage, which was 800 leagues, thedangers of a tempestuous sea, and the considerations of his family, somewhat cooled him. A troublesome affair, which he had upon his hands atthe same time, at length resolved him. For, having killed a man in aquarrel, and being pursued by justice, he could not find a more secureretreat than the ships of Portugal, nor a surer way of preserving hislife, than to accept the offer they had made him. 

Alvarez Vaz, who had most importuned him to take this voyage, and who hadmany times offered to bring him to Father Xavier, had not yet finishedall his business, when this Japonese came to take sanctuary in his ship. He therefore gave him letters of recommendation to another Portuguese, called Ferdinand Alvarez, who was at another port of Japan, and who wassuddenly to set sail for Malacca. 

Anger departed by night, attended by two servants. Being arrived at theport, and enquiring for Ferdinand Alvarez, he lighted accidentally onGeorge Alvarez, who was just ready to weigh anchor. This George was awealthy merchant, a man of probity, and who had an extreme affection forthe Father. He received the letters of Alvarez as if they had beenaddressed to himself, took the three Japonians into his ship, entertainedthem with all kindness, and brought them to Malacca; taking greatsatisfaction in the good office he should do in presenting them to theman of God, who might, perhaps, make them the first Christians of theircountry. But the misfortune was, that they missed the Father, who wasjust gone for the Moluccas. Anger, more disquieted in a foreign landthan he had been at home, and despairing of ever seeing him, whom he hadso often heard of from his friends, had it in his thoughts to havereturned to Japan, without considering the danger to which he exposedhimself, and almost forgetting the murder which had caused his flight, according to the custom of criminals, who blind themselves in thoseoccasions, and whom divine justice oftentimes brings back to the sameplace where they had committed their offence. Whereupon, he went again tosea, and having made some little stay in a port of China, he pursued hisvoyage. Already some Japonian islands were in sight, when there arose afurious tempest, which endangered the sinking of the ship, and which infour days brought him back into the same port of China, from whence hehad set out. This was to Anger a favourable effect of God's providence;for the same hand which drives the guilty to the precipice, sometimespreserves them from falling into it, and pulls them back, after amiraculous manner. 

The Japonese, very happily for himself, met there Alvarez Vaz, just readyto set sail for Malacca. The Portuguese, who loved Anger, reprovedhim for his impatience, and offered to reconduct him to the place whichhe had so abruptly left; withall telling him, that, according to allappearances, the Father by this time was returned from the Moluccas. Anger, who still carried about him a troubled conscience, and thereby waseasily induced to any proposition which tended to compose it, followedthe advice of Vaz, and returned with him. 

Coming on shore, he there found George Alvarez, the same person who hadbrought him the first time to Molucca. Alvarez, surprised to see him onceagain, told him, that Father Xavier was returned from the Moluccas, andimmediately brought Anger to his presence. The Father, who foresaw, notonly that this Japonian should be the first Christian of that kingdom, but also, by his means, the gospel should be preached in it, wastransported with joy at the first sight of him, and embraced him withexceeding tenderness. The sight of the saint, and his embracements, gavesuch consolations to Anger, that he no longer doubted of receiving anentire satisfaction from him. Understanding, in some measure, thePortuguese language, Xavier himself assured him, that the disquiets ofhis mind should be dissipated, and that he should obtain that spiritualrepose, in search of which he had undertaken so long a voyage; but thatbefore he could arrive to it, it concerned him first to understand andpractise the law of the true God, who alone could calm the troubles ofhis heart, and set it in a perpetual tranquillity. Anger, who desirednothing so much as to have his conscience in repose, and who was charmedwith the great goodness of the Father, offered himself to be directed inall things by him. The servant of God instructed him in the principles offaith, of which his friends, the Portuguese, had already given him someknowledge, as far as men of their profession were capable of teachinghim. But to the end his conversion might be more solid, he thought itconvenient to send him and his servants to the seminary of Goa, there tobe more fully taught the truths and practice of Christianity before theirbaptism. The Father had yet a further purpose in it, that these firstfruits of Japonian Christianity should be consecrated to God by theBishop Don John d'Albuquerque, in the capital city of the Indies. 

Since in his voyage to Goa he was to visit the fishing coast, he wouldnot take the three Japonians with him, and gave the care of conductingthem to George Alvarez. He only wrote by them to the rector of theCollege of St Paul, giving him orders to instruct them with alldiligence. He put on board the ship of another Portuguese, calledGonsalvo Fernandez, twenty or thirty young men whom he had brought fromthe Moluccas, in order to their studies in the same college; after which, himself embarked in another vessel, which went directly for Cochin. 

In passing the Strait of Ceylon, the ship which carried Xavier wasovertaken with the most horrible tempest which was ever seen. They wereconstrained, at the very beginning of it, to cast overboard all theirmerchandize; and the winds roared with so much violence, that the pilotnot being able to hold the rudder, abandoned the vessel to the fury ofthe waves. For three days and nights together they had death continuallypresent before their eyes; and nothing reassured the mariners but theserene countenance of Father Xavier amidst the cries and tumults in theship. After he had heard their confessions, implored the help of heaven, and exhorted all of them to receive, with an equal mind, either life ordeath from the hand of God, he retired into his cabin. Francis Pereyra, looking for the man of God in the midst of the tempest, to have comfortfrom him, found him on his knees before his crucifix, wholly taken up andlost to all things but to God. The ship, driven along by an impetuouscurrent, already struck against the sands of Ceylon, and the marinersgave themselves for lost, without hope of recovery; when the Fathercoming out of his cabin, asked the pilot for the line and plummet, withwhich he was accustomed to fathom the sea; having taken them, and letthem down to the bottom of the ocean, he pronounced these words: "GreatGod, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, have mercy on us!" At the same momentthe vessel stopped, and the wind ceased; after which they pursued theirvoyage, and happily arrived at the port of Cochin on the 21st of January, 1548. 

There the Father gave himself the leisure of writing divers letters intoEurope, by a vessel of Lisbon, which was just in readiness to set sail. The first was to the King of Portugal, John III. : the letter was full ofprudent counsels concerning the duties of a king: he advertised him anew, that his majesty should be guilty before God of the evil government ofhis ministers, and that one day an account must be given of the salvationof those souls which he had suffered to perish, through neglect ofapplication, or want of constancy in his endeavours; but he did it withall manner of precaution, and softened his expressions with Christiancharity. 

"I have long deliberated, " said he, "whether I should certify yourmajesty of the transactions of your officers in the Indies, and whatought further to be done for the establishment of our faith. On the oneside, the zeal of God's service, and his glory, encouraged me to write toyou: on the other, I was diverted from that resolution by the fear I hadof writing to no purpose; but, at the same time, I concluded, that Icould not be silent without betraying my ministerial function: and italso seemed to me, that God gave me not those thoughts without someparticular design; which probably was, that I might communicate them toyour majesty; and this opinion, as the more likely, has at lengthprevailed with me. Nevertheless, I always feared, that if I should freelygive you all my thoughts, my letter would only serve for evidence againstyou at the hour of your death, and would augment against your majesty therigour of the last judgement, by taking from you the excuse of ignorance. These considerations gave me great anxieties, and your majesty willeasily believe me: For, in fine, my heart will answer for me, that Idesire not to employ all my strength, or even my life itself, for theconversion of the Indians, out of any other prospect than to free yourmajesty's conscience, as much as in me lies, and to render the lastjudgment less terrible to you. I do in this but that which is my duty;and the particular affection which you bear our Society well deservesthat I should sacrifice myself for you. "

After he had informed his majesty, how much the jealousies and secretdivisions of his officers had hindered the progress of the gospel, hedeclares, that he could wish the king would bind himself by a solemnoath, to punish severely whosoever they should be who should occasion anyprejudice to the farther propagation of faith in the Indies; and fartherassured him, that if such who had the authority in their hands were madesensible, that their faults should not escape punishment, the whole Isleof Ceylon, all Cape Comorine, and many kings of Malabar, would receivebaptism in the space of one year; that as many as were living in all theextent of the Indies would acknowledge the divinity of Jesus Christ, andmake profession of his doctrine, if those ministers of state, who hadneglected the interests of the faith, had been deprived of theirdignities and their revenues. 

After this he petitions the king to send him a supply of preachers, andthose preachers to be of the Society, as judging them more proper thanany 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 zeal wherewith youburn for the glory of the Divine Majesty, to send next year somepreachers of our Society to your faithful subjects of the Indies: For Iassure you, that your fortresses are in extreme want of such supplies; ingarrison, and to the new Christians established in the towns and villagesdepending on them. I speak by experience; and that which I have seenwith my own eyes obliges me to write concerning it. Being at Malacca, andat the Moluccas, I preached every Sunday, and all saints' days twice;and was forced upon it, because I saw the soldiers and people had greatneed of being frequently taught the word of God. 

"I preached then, in the morning, to the Portuguese at mass: I went againinto the pulpit in the afternoon, and instructed their children, theirslaves, and idolaters newly converted, accommodating my discourse to themeasure of their understanding, and expounding to them the principalpoints of Christian doctrine, one after another. Besides which, one dayin the week, I assembled in the church the wives of the Portuguese, andcatechised them on the articles of faith, on the sacraments of penance, and the eucharist. Much fruit would be gathered in a few years, if thesame method were constantly observed in all places. I preached also, every day, in the fortresses, the principles of religion, to the sons anddaughters of the soldiers, to their servants of both sexes; in fine, tothe natives of the country, who were born Christians: and theseinstructions had so good effect, that they totally renounced thesuperstitions and sorceries which were in use amongst those stupid andignorant new converts. 

"I descend into all these petty circumstances, to the end your majestymay judge, according to your prudence, what number of preachers may benecessary here; and that you may not forget to send many to us: for ifthe ministry of preaching be not more exercised amongst us, we havereason to apprehend, that not only the Indians, who have embraced thefaith, will leave it, but that the Portuguese also may forget the dutiesof Christianity, and live afterwards like Heathens. "

As Father Simon Rodriguez, who governed the Society in Portugal, hadgreat credit at the court, Father Xavier writ to him at the same time, desiring him, he would support his demands with his interest. Herecommended to him in especial manner, "That he would make choice ofthose preachers, who were men of known virtue, and exemplarymortification. " He subjoined, "If I thought the king would not take amissthe counsel of a faithful servant, who sincerely loves him, I shouldadvise him to meditate one quarter of an hour every day, on that divinesentence, 'What does it profit a man to have gained the world, and tolose his soul?' I should counsel him, I say, to ask of God theunderstanding and taste of those words, and that he would finish all hisprayers with the same words, 'What will it profit a man, to gain theworld, and to lose his soul? 'Tis time, " said Xavier, "to draw him out ofhis mistake, and to give him notice, that the hour of his death is nearerthan he thinks: that fatal hour, when the King of kings, and Lord oflords, will summon him to judgment, saying to him these dreadful words, 'Give an account of your administration. ' For which reason, do in suchmanner, my dear brother, that he may fulfil his whole duty; and that hemay send over to the Indies all needful supplies, for the increase offaith. "

Xavier also wrote from Cochin to the fathers of the society at Rome; andgave them an account, at large, of his voyages to Malacca, to Amboyna, tothe Moluccas, and the Isle del Moro; with the success which God had givento his labours. But he forgot not the relation of his danger in theStrait of Ceylon, and made it in a manner which was full of consolationto them. 

"In the height of the tempest, " said he in his letter, "I took for myintercessors with God, the living persons of our society, with all thosewho are well affected to it; and joined to these, all Christians, that Imight be assisted with the merits of the spouse of Christ, the holyCatholic Church, whose prayers are heard in heaven, though her habitationbe on earth: afterwards I addressed myself to the dead, and particularlyto Piere le Fevre, to appease the wrath of God. I went through all theorders of the angels, and the saints, and invoked them all. But to theend that I might the more easily obtain the pardon of my innumerablesins, I desired for my protectress and patroness, the most holy Mother ofGod, and Queen of Heaven, who, without difficulty, obtains from herbeloved Son whatsoever she requests. In conclusion, having reposed all myhope in the infinite merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, beingencompassed with this protection, I enjoyed a greater satisfaction, inthe midst of this raging tempest, than when I was wholly delivered fromthe danger. 

"In very truth, being, as I am, the worst of all men, I am ashamed tohave shed so many tears of joy, through an excess of heavenly pleasure, when I was just upon the point of perishing: insomuch, that I humblyprayed our Lord, that he would not free me from the danger of myshipwreck, unless it were to reserve me for greater dangers, to his ownglory and his service. For what remains, God has often shewn me, by aninward discovery, from how many perils and sufferings I have beendelivered, by the prayers and sacrifices of those of the society, bothsuch as labour here on earth, and such who enjoy the fruits of theirlabours in the heavens. When I have once begun the mention of oursociety, I can never leave; but the departure of the vessels constrainsme to break off: and behold what I have judged most proper for theconclusion of my letter. If I ever forget thee, O Society of Jesus, letmy right hand be unprofitable to me, and may I even forget the use of it!_Si oblitus unquam fuero tui, Societas Jesu, oblivioni detur dexterameu_. I pray our Lord Jesus Christ, that since, during the course of thismiserable life, he has gathered us into his society, he would reunite usin a blessed eternity, in the company of saints, who behold him in hisglory. "

After he had written these letters, and given some time to the service ofhis neighbour, he took the way of Comorine, doubled the Cape a secondtime, and arrived at the coast of Fishery. The Paravas, who were hisfirst children in Jesus Christ, were overjoyed at the sight of theirsaint, and good Father, as they called him. All the villages came to meethim, singing the Christian doctrine, and praising God for his return. Thesatisfaction of the saint was not less than theirs: but above all thingshis consolation was unspeakable to see the number of Christians so muchaugmented, by the labours of his brethren. There were in that place manyof the society, of whom the chief were Antonio Criminal, FrancisHenriquez, and Alphonso Cyprian; for Father Xavier having written fromAmboyna for the greatest number of missioners whom they could spare, towards the cultivation of those new plants at the coast of Fishery, allthose who came from Portugal, after his own arrival in the Indies, wentthither, excepting the three who went to the Moluccas, and two who stayedat Goa, for the instruction of the youth. 

The fervency of those new converts did not less edify Xavier than theirnumber. In visiting a certain village, they shewed him a young man, anative of the country, who, having embarked in company of a Portuguese, had been cast, by tempest, on the coast of Malabar. The Saracens, whoinhabit that place, having murdered the Portuguese, would have forced hiscompanion to renounce his faith. Thereupon they brought him into amosque, where they promised him great store of money and preferments, incase he would forsake the law of Jesus Christ, and take up that of theirprophet Mahomet. But seeing their promises could not prevail, theythreatened him with death, and held their naked weapons over his head tofright him; but neither could they shake his resolution with thatdreadful spectacle: then they loaded him with irons, and used him withextraordinary cruelty, till a Portuguese captain, informed of it, camesuddenly upon them with a troop of soldiers, and rescued the young manout of their hands. Xavier embraced him many times, and blessed AlmightyGod, 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 livingamongst Gentiles, far from being corrupted with the superstitions of theInfidels, complied exactly with the obligations of their baptism, andlived in a most religious manner. It was reported to him of these slaves, that when any of them died, they suffered not his body to be burnt, according to the custom of the Pagans, neither would they leave itwithout sepulture; but buried it according to the ceremonies of thechurch, and set up a cross over the grave. 

Though these infidels, whom they served, did not hinder them fromcontinuing in Christianity, and that every one of them in particular wasresolved to persevere in his faith, even in the midst of idolatry, yetthey had a longing desire to return into the company of the faithful, where they might be supplied with those spiritual succours which theywanted, and lead a life yet more conformable to their belief: so that assoon as they had the news of Father Xavier's return, who had baptized thegreatest part of them, they came to desire him, that he would make theirpeace with their masters, whom they had left to free themselves fromslavery, and declared, that they were content once more to lose theirliberty in prospect of the salvation of their souls. Xavier received themwith open arms, as his well-beloved children, and afterwards obtainedtheir 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 heproposed to himself, was to plant the gospel in the Indies, and that inorder to it he must there establish the society, he began to regulate allthings according to the principles, and in the spirit of Father Ignatius, general of the order. Having reassembled all the labourers in the gospelof that coast, he examined their several talents and virtues, in familiarconversation with them, by causing them to give an account of what passedbetwixt God and them in their own hearts. After he had assigned to eachof them the places which were most convenient for them, both in regard oftheir bodily strength, and of their spiritual endowments, he constitutedFather Antonio Criminal superior of all the rest: and to the end theymight be more capable of serving that people, he ordered every one ofthem, with all possible care, to apply himself to the study of theMalabar language, which obtains through all that coast. Upon thisaccount, he commanded Father Francis Henriquez to reduce that tongue intothe rules of art, and to compose an exact grammar of it, according to themethod of the Greek and Latin grammars. The work seemed impossible, especially to one who was newly come from Europe, and who had littleknowledge in the Indian tongues; nevertheless Henriquez compassed it in asmall time, which was apparently a miracle of obedience. In the meanwhile, Xavier judging that the exposition of the Christian doctrine, which he had made for those of Molucca, might be of use to his dearParavas, ordered a Malabar priest, who was well versed in the Portuguese, to translate it into his own language. But to the end that the conduct ofthe missioners might be uniform, and that the same spirit might animateall of them, besides the instructions which he gave them by word ofmouth, he gave them the following rules in writing. 

In the first place, "Wherever the lot of your ministry shall fall, bemindful of baptising infants newly born, and perform it yourselves, without trusting the care of it to any other person: there is nothing atpresent of more importance. Do not wait till the parents bid you come; asthey may easily neglect it, it behoves you to run through all thevillages, to enter into the houses, and to christen all the infants youcan find. 

"After the great concernment of giving baptism, you ought to be carefulof nothing more than of entering those little children into theprinciples of faith, who are grown capable of instruction. Not being ableto be in all places, you shall cause the Canacapoles, and the teachers ofthe catechism, to perform their duty, and religiously to observe thecustoms established. To which purposes, when you visit the villages, totake an account of what passes there, assemble the masters, with theirscholars, and know from the children, in the presence of those who areaccustomed to instruct them, what they have learned, or forgotten, sinceyour last visit; this will double the ardency of the scholars, and thediligence of their teachers. 

"On Sundays, gather the men together in the church to repeat theirprayers; and observe well, whether the Pantagatins, or chief of thepeople, are there present. You are to expound the prayers which theyrepeat, and reprove them for the vices then in fashion, which you are tomake them comprehend, by using familiar examples. In fine, you are tothreaten the more stubborn sinners with the wrath of God; and tell them, that if they do not reform their lives, their days shall be shortened byall manner of diseases; that the Pagan kings shall enslave them, and thattheir immortal souls shall become fuel to the everlasting flames of hell. 

"When you come to any place, you shall inform yourselves what quarrelsare stirring in it, and who are the parties; after which, you shallendeavour to reconcile them. These reconciliations are to be made in thechurch; 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 thecreed, you shall take copies of it, which you shall cause to be carefullyread to the women on Saturdays, to the men on Sundays. If you are therepresent, you shall read it yourselves, and add to the exposition what youthink convenient for the farther clearing it. 

"Distribute to the poor those collections which are made for them in thechurches, by the charity of the congregation; and beware of taking anypart of them for your own uses. 

"Fail not every Saturday and Sunday to put the faithful in mind of givingyou notice when any one falls sick, to the end you may visit them; andgive them to know, that if they do not advertise you, and that the sickperson dies, you will not allow him burial amongst Christians, inpunishment of their neglect. 

"When you visit the sick, take especial care that they repeat to you theapostles' creed in their mother tongue. Interrogate them on everyarticle, and ask them if they believe sincerely. After this, make themsay the confiteor, and the other Catholic prayers, and then read thegospel over them. 

"For the burial of the dead, you shall assemble the children; and, comingout of the church with them, the cross being at the head of theprocession, you shall sing the Christian doctrine, coming and going. Youshall say the prayers of the church at the house of the dead person, andbefore he is put into the ground. You shall also make a short exhortationto the assembly before the corpse, upon the necessity of death, theamendment of life, and the practice of virtue. 

"You shall give notice to the men on Sunday, and to the women onSaturday, to bring their sick children into the church, that you may readthe gospel over them for their cure; and that the parents from thence mayreceive increase of faith, and respect to the temples of our Lord. 

"You shall yourselves determine all litigious causes; and, if you cannotend them on the place, defer them to the next Sunday; and, after divineservice, cause them to be expedited by the principal inhabitants of theplace. Yet I will not that these sort of affairs should take up too muchof your time, nor that you prefer the care of your neighbour's temporalconcernments before works of charity, which respect the salvation ofsouls; and am of opinion, that when any important business of that kindshall happen, you should remit it to the Portuguese commandant. 

"Do all things in your power to make yourselves beloved by those people;for by that you will be able to do more good upon them, than by beingfeared. Decree no punishment against any person but by the advice ofFather Antonio Criminal; and, if the commandant of the Portuguese bepresent, do nothing without his order. In case any man or woman shallmake a pagod, or idol, banish them from the village, if Father Criminalconsent to it. Testify great affection to the children who frequent theChristian schools; pardon, and wink at their faults sometimes, lest asevere usage should fright them from us. 

"In presence of a Portuguese, abstain from reproving and condemning thenatives of the country who are Christians; on the contrary, commend andexcuse them on all occasions; for, considering how lately they haveembraced the faith, and what assistance is wanting to them to live likegood Christians, it is only to be admired that they are not more vicious. 

"Be serviceable in all you can to the Malabar priests, in what relates totheir spiritual advantage; take care that they confess themselves, andsay mass, and give good examples, and write nothing against them to anyperson whatsoever. 

"Live so well with the Portuguese commandants, that no misunderstandingbe ever perceived betwixt you and them. For the rest of the Portuguese, use all sort of means to make them your friends: Have never any quarrelwith any of them, though they should bring you into law, or quarrel withyou without the least provocation on your part. If they use the newChristians hardly, oppose them, but with much mildness; and, if you findyour opposition may be likely to succeed, make your complaint to thePortuguese commandant, with whom I once again beseech you never to haveany difference. 

"Let your conversation with the Portuguese be always confined tospiritual subjects; of death, of judgment, of purgatory, of hell, of thefrequentation of sacraments, and the exact observation of God'scommandments; for, if you never speak to them but concerning thesematters, they will never rob you of those hours which are set apart foryour function. 

"Fail not to write to Goa, to the fathers and brothers of our society, giving them an account of the fruit of your labours, and proposing tothem what you think may be to the advancement of piety. You shall writealso to the bishop, but with much reverence and submission, as to thecommon father, and pastor-general of this new world. 

"What, above all things, I recommend to you, and which I can neversufficiently repeat, is, that whatsoever voyage you make, and wheresoeveryou shall be, you shall endeavour to gain the love of all people, by yourgood offices and fair demeanour, by which means you will have greateropportunities for the gaining of souls, which God Almighty grant you allthe grace to do, and abide for ever with you. "

Things being thus regulated on the coast of Fishery, the Father wouldpass into the isle of Ceylon before his return to Goa. His design was togather the fruit of that precious blood which two years before was shedby the king of Jafanatapan; or, at least, to see what inclination thosepeople had to receive the gospel, who had heheld the constancy of themartyrs. Indeed, the death of the two young princes converted, whopretended to the crown of Jafanatapan, destroyed almost all hopes ofplanting Christianity in that isle. Notwithstanding which, Xavierconverted the king of Candè, who is one of the kings of Ceylon. Afterwhich he went to the tyrant, who had treated the Christians with so muchcruelty, to try if he could work him, though against all humanappearances, to suffer the law of Jesus Christ to be preached in hisdominions, and to bring him also to be a Christian. 

As reasons of state prevail most with princes, so the Father representedto this infidel, that his throne could never he established but by thearms of the Portuguese; that, if he once contracted with them a strictalliance, he had nothing farther to apprehend, either from his enemies orhis subjects. The barbarian, who feared all things, both from within andfrom without, forgetting that Don Alphonso de Sosa would have made warupon him in favour of the two baptized princes, hearkened to thepropositions of peace, and even permitted the Father to explain to himthe mysteries of the Christian faith. The instructions of the saintwrought so much upon the tyrant, that being changed, in a very shortspace of time, he promised to embrace the faith, and labour to bring hissubjects into it; offering for the pledge of his word, to put his kingdominto the hands of the king of Portugal, and to pay him such tribute asshould be thought fitting, without any farther demand in his own behalf, than of two things. The one was, that the governor of the Indies shouldconclude a firm alliance with him, as he had clone with other Indiankings, who had made themselves vassals to the crown of Portugal; theother, that, in order to hinder those revolts and troubles which mightarise from the change of religion, he might have a company of Portuguesesoldiers, to be entertained at his own charges. 

Father Xavier, well satisfied to have thus succeeded beyond hisexpectations, set sail for Goa, with an ambassador of the infidel king, and arrived there on March the 20th, in the year 1548. Understandingthere, that the viceroy Don John de Castro was at Bazain, towards thegulph of Cambaya, he embarked anew, notwithstanding that the season wasimproper for navigation; as judging that a business of such consequencecould not be too soon concluded, and that delays frequently ruined themost hopeful affairs. Castro had never seen Xavier, but all he had heardrelated of him, gave him an earnest longing to behold him. He receivedhim with all those honours which are due to a saint at the first meeting, and willingly accepted what the king of Jafanatapan had offered, on theconditions above mentioned; but he retained for some time the man of God, both to hear him preach, and to consult him on some difficult affairs, where the interests of state and those of religion were joined together. 

In the mean time, he designed Antonio Monis Barreto, a man of authority, and very brave, for the garrison of Jafanatapan, with an hundredsoldiers, well disciplined, and worthy of such an officer. At the sametime he ordered a magnificent entertainment for the ambassador, whoremained at Goa; and that if any of his train would receive baptism, nocost should be spared at that solemnity. But the king of Jafanatapanfailed afterwards in fidelity, both to God and man; and in allprobability, it was that failure which drew the last misfortunes on hisperson and his kingdom. 

The stay which Xavier made at Bazain was not unprofitable to a young manof quality, who was much debauched, called Rodrigue Segueyra, whom he hadknown two years before. For Segueyra having committed a murder atMalacca, when the Father made his first voyage to the town, retired intothe hospital, to avoid the pursuit of justice. There it was that theFather knew him, and grew into his familiarity, by his engaging ways ofmildness and courtesy, which always succeeded with him. When he hadgained the affection of Segueyra, he spoke to him of eternity with somuch power, that the young gentleman entered into serious thoughts, andmade a general confession to him. Xavier, to engage him the more in theways of goodness, and to free him from that confinement of the hospital, where his crimes had forced him to take sanctuary, made up the businesswith his adversaries, and obtained his pardon from the governor ofMalacca; but seeing the soft and dissolute manner of living in Malaccawas capable of ruining all his good intentions, he advised him to leavethe Indies, and return into Europe. Segueyra, who was sensible of his ownweakness, and desired to save his soul, promised the Father to obey him, and put himself into a condition of executing his promise. In effect, hetook the way of Goa, with design from thence to go for Portugal. Butbeing made a receiver of the public revenues by the viceroy Don John deCastro, he thought no more of Portugal, but relapsed into his firstdebauches. 

Xavier was wholly lost to his remembrance when he happened to meet him atBazain. The sight of the Father surprised him at first, and almostconfounded him; but straight recovering, he came up boldly to him, andtook his hand, to have kissed it according to his former custom. TheFather, as courteous and civil as he was, yet thrust him back sternlyenough; yet, mollifying himself a little, "How, my son, " said he, "areyou still in the Indies? Were you not advised to leave Malacca, andreturn to Portugal?"

The Portuguese, in great disorder, and not knowing how to excuse himself, laid all the blame upon the governor, who had detained him, in some sort, against his will. "But, " replied Xavier, with a holy indignation, "is itthe governor who has obliged you to lead the life of a beast, and tocontinue for two years without going to confession? However it be, "continued the Father, "know, that we two shall never be well with oneanother, so long as you are upon ill terms with God. " At these words, Segueyra, pierced with a lively sorrow, asked pardon of the Father forhis breach of promise, and his unfaithfulness to the Divine Grace. Heconfessed himself the same day; and wholly changed his life, under hisdirection, whom God had sent to bring him back into a better way. 

Don John de Castro, who was desirous of profiting by the Father'scounsels for the regulation of his own life, would have been glad to haveretained him longer; but, seeing him resolved on going, gave him leave todepart; yet, begging him at the same time, that he would pass the winterat Goa, that, after his own return thither, he might use his assistancein the affairs of his conscience. 

The Father returned very seasonably for the good of Cosmo de Torrez, aSpanish priest, and native of Valentia, one of the greatest wits, andmost knowing persons of that age. Torrez was embarked on the fleet whichcame from Mexico to the Molucca islands; and which having sailed over somany seas to little purpose, stayed at Amboyna, as we have alreadyrelated. He there met Xavier, and was so charmed with his manner of life, that he had thoughts of becoming his disciple. But, besides that thelabours which are inseparable from the ministry apostolical somewhatshocked him, he judged, that he ought to undertake nothing but by thecounsel of the bishop of the Indies; insomuch, that he left Amboynawithout forming any resolution, and even without opening himself toFather Xavier. 

When the Spanish fleet was arrived at Goa, he presented himself to thebishop, who, being in want of spiritual substitutes, gave him one of thechief vicariats of his diocese. Torrez was of opinion, that God requirednothing farther of him; and for the space of four or five months, performed all the functions of that office, which the bishop had givenhim in charge. But the continual disquiets of his soul rendered himsuspicious of his own condition, and brought him to believe, that God hadpunished him, for not following the new apostle of the East. 

Being one day much troubled in his mind, he went to the college of StPaul, and opened himself to Father Lancilotti, desiring him to unfold tohim the nature of that institute, with which he was so much taken, byseeing Father Xavier at Amboyna. As some interior motions had of latepushed him on to the performance of somewhat that was great, and ofsuffering all things for the glory of Jesus Christ, he found theinstitute of Ignatius so conformable to the present dispositions of hissoul, that, without farther balancing the matter, he was resolved to gothrough the spiritual exercises, to fit himself for the change of hiscondition. From the second day, he received such light, and so muchcomfort from above, that he believed himself in heaven already. He couldnot sufficiently admire, that those plain and easy truths, which he hadoften read without any taste of them, should make such lively impressionsin him, as now they did. And he discovered this to Lancilotti, withexpressions full of astonishment. Nevertheless, being affrighted at theprospect of a perpetual engagement, and perhaps tempted by the devil, hecould not settle to it, and was every day more and more irresolute. 

Xavier arrived just at that point of time. He had scarcely seen Torrez, when behold a man, fixed on the sudden, and resolved, and pressing to bereceived amongst the children of Ignatius. The apostle received him, andtook pains himself to form him, according to the spirit of the society. He also admitted some Portuguese, who had great talents for the mission, and were inflamed with the zeal of souls. 

They lived together in the college of St Paul, where that fervourreigned, not only amongst the Jesuits, but also amongst those of theseminary, whose number increased daily. The Japonese, Anger, was amongstthem, leading a most regular life, and breathing after that baptism, which had been deferred till the return of the holy man. 

Xavier did not satisfy himself with having instructed him anew; heconsigned him over to the care of Torrez, who fully explained to him allthe mysteries of faith. Anger, with his two servants, who received thesame instruction, were at length solemnly baptized, on Whitsunday, by thebishop of Goa, Don John d'Albuquerque; so that the church began to takepossession of the most remote nation in the world, on the same day ofPentecost, when the Holy Spirit, descending on the apostles, gave themtheir mission to carry the gospel to all the people of the earth. 

Anger was desirous to be named Paul de Sainte Foi, in memory of thecollege belonging to the Society of Jesus, where he had received theparticular knowledge of the divine law, which was sometimes called theCollege of St Paul, and sometimes the Seminary of the Holy Faith. One ofhis servants took the name of John, and the other of Anthony. Inreceiving baptism, he received the peace of soul which he never couldobtain before; and writ word of it to Rome, the same year, in a letterto Father Ignatius, dated November the 25th. 

But to the end, that the new converts might have the true principles ofChristian morality, and that their behaviour might be answerable to theirbelief, Father Xavier intrusted Torrez with giving them the spiritualexercises of the society. 

During the thirty days that these Japonians were in retirement, it is notto be expressed, what celestial illuminations, what holy thoughts, whatinterior delights, the Holy Spirit infused into them. Anger could speakof nothing but of God; and spoke of Him with so much fervency, that itseemed even to burn him up. The mystery of the passion moved him aboveall the rest; and he was so ravished with the goodness of God, sopossessed with love, in considering a God crucified, that he breathednothing but martyrdom, and the salvation of his brethren. So that he wasoften heard to cry out, in the midst of his devotions, "How glad should Ibe to die for thee, O my God! O my dear Japonians, how much are you to belamented, 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 tothe service of God, and that he could not look on them without blushingat his own cowardice. 

In conversing with them, he understood what he had formerly learnt byhearsay, from George Alvarez, and other Portuguese, that the empire ofJapan was one of the most populous in the world; that the Japonese werenaturally curious, and covetous of knowledge, and withal docible, and ofgreat capacity; that being generally ingenious, and very rational, ifthey were instructed in the morals of Christianity, they would easilysubmit to them; and that, if the preachers of the gospel lived accordingto gospel rules, the whole nation would subject itself to the yoke ofJesus 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 Japan. Themildness, the civility, and the good parts of the three baptizedJaponians, made him conceive a high opinion of all the rest; and thePortuguese merchants newly returned from Japan, confirmed it so fully tohim, that in these three he had the pattern of the whole nation, that hedoubted not, but that the Christian religion would make an admirableprogress there. But that which Anger told him, that there were in hiscountry many monasteries of Heathen priests; that some of them led theirlives in solitude and contemplation; that every monastery had itssuperior, who was a person venerable for his age and learning; that theycame abroad from their lonely abode once a week, with mortified 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 cried outat those dismal representations: All this, I say, appeared to Xavier asso many doors and inlets for the faith; and he praised God, that, by theadmirable conduct of his providence, which secretly manages the salvationof men, the spirit of lies had thus prepared the ways for the spirit oftruth. 

He adored also the wisdom of the same Providence, which, taking theoccasion of a man who fled from justice, and sought repose for histroubled conscience, had led three Japonians 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 theyshould learn to read and write in the Portuguese language. Anger, whomfrom henceforth we shall name Paul de Sainte Foy, was easily instructedin all they taught him; for, besides that he was of a quick and livelyapprehension, he had so happy a memory, that he got by heart almost allthe gospel of St Matthew, which Father Cosmo de Torrez had expounded tohim before his baptism. 

In the mean time, Don John de Castro was rigging out a fleet, with designto possess himself of Aden, one of the strongest towns of Arabia Felix, and situated at the foot of a high mountain, which reached even to thesea by a narrow tongue of earth. This port is of great importance to shutup the passage of the Indies to the Turks and Saracens, who go thither bythe Red Sea; and from this consideration it was, that Albuquerque theGreat endeavoured to have mastered it in the year 15_13_, but thevigorous resistance of the Achenois forced him to forsake the siege. After that time, they were desirous, of their own accord, to havedelivered it up to the Portuguese, thereby to free themselves from thetyranny of the Turks. Yet it was not then done, through the fault of acaptain called Soarez, who, having no orders to take possession of thetown, was so weak a politician as to refuse it when it was offered to thecrown of Portugal. 

That people, whom the Turk used worse than ever, testified the sameinclination under the government of Castro; and it was on that occasionthat he sent a fleet towards the Strait of Mecca, under the command ofhis son Alvarez de Castro. Eight foysts of Goa, full of soldiers, set outfor the expedition of Aden. Amongst these there was one very bravefellow, renowned for his military actions, but blackened with all sortsof crimes, and more infamous by his debauched manners, than known by hisvalour. He seemed a kind of savage beast, who had no more of man in himthan the bare figure, nor any thing of a Christian besides the name. Above eighteen years he had abstained from confession; and that he oncepresented himself to the bishop of Goa, was less to reconcile himself toGod, than to take off the imputation of being either a Mahometan or anidolater. 

Father Xavier had cast an eye upon this wretch, and waited only anopportunity to labour in so difficult a conversion. Understanding thatthis soldier was embarking on one of the foysts, which were going to jointhe fleet, he went out of the college of St Paul, at the first notice ofit, taking nothing with him besides his breviary, and entered into thesame vessel. It was believed by those who saw the Father, that he hadorders from the viceroy to accompany his son Alvarez; and every one wasglad of it, excepting only he, for whose sake he came. He drew near thesoldier, and when they had weighed anchor, began to make acquaintancewith him, and grew familiar to that degree, that the rest of thesoldiers, who were less debauched, could not sufficiently admire it; andsome of them said of Xavier, what a Pharisee said formerly of our Lord, "If this man were indeed a prophet, he would discern what manner of manhe was, in whom he takes so much delight. "

These discourses did not at all daunt the Father. He saw his soldierplaying whole nights together, for he was a great gamester. He took nonotice of his extravagancies, and sometimes heard him swear withoutseeming to regard it. Only one day he said to him, that gaming required acomposed spirit, and if he took not the better heed, that passion, whichhe had in play, would make him lose. 

The soldier, brutal as he was, grew insensibly to have a kindness for aman, who was so much concerned in his advantages, and took pleasure inhearing him discourse not only of war, and sea affairs, but also ofreligion and morality. In conclusion, he made some reflections on thehorror of his life, and felt even some remorse of conscience for it. Being one day together with the Father, in a private part of the ship, Xavier asked him, to whom he had confessed himself before he went onshipboard? "Ah Father, " said the soldier, "I have not been at confessionthese many years!" "And what do you imagine would become of you, " saidthe holy man, "supposing you should be killed in this action, and in thecondition you now are?" "I would once have confessed myself, " replied thesoldier, "at least for fashion and decency, but the vicar of Goa wouldnot so much as hear me, but told me I was a reprobate, and deservednothing but hell-fire. " "The vicar was, in my opinion, " said Xavier, "somewhat too severe, to treat you in that manner. He had perhaps hisreasons for that usage, and I have mine to treat you otherwise. Forindeed the mercies of our Lord are infinite, and God would have us asindulgent to our brethren, as he himself is to us. Thus, when the sins, of which you find yourself guilty, are a thousand times more numerous andmore crying than they are, I shall have the patience to hear them all, and shall make no difficulty of giving you absolution, provided you takethose thoughts and resolutions which I shall endeavour to infuse intoyou. "

By these words he brought the soldier to a general confession. Hedisposed him for it, by causing him to recal into his memory his pastlife, and drawing him into the particulars of those sins, which a man ofhis character and profession might possibly have committed. While theywere upon these terms, the ship cast anchor at the port of Ceylon forrefreshment. Many of the fleet went on shore, and, amongst the rest, theFather and the soldier. They went together to a wild solitary place;there the soldier made his confession with abundance of tears, resolvedto expiate his crimes, with whatsoever penance the Father should enjoinhim, were it never so rigorous. But his confessor gave him only apaternoster and an ave to say. Whereat the penitent being much amazed, "from whence proceeds it, my Father, " said he, "that, being so great asinner as I am, you have given me so light a penance?" "Be content, "answered Xavier; "O my son, we shall appease the divine justice:" and atthe same instant, he withdrew into a wood, while the soldier performedhis penance. There he did what he had formerly done on the like occasion:he bared his shoulders, and disciplined himself so rigorously, that thesoldier heard the noise of the strokes, and came running to him, beholding the Father all in blood; and rightly judging what was themotive of so strange an action, he snatched the discipline out of hishands, and crying out, "it was the criminal who ought to endure thepunishment, and not the innocent to bear the pains of sin;" heimmediately stripped himself, and chastised his body with all hisstrength. Xavier oftentimes embraced him, and declared, that it was forhis sake alone that he came on shipboard. So having given himwholesome admonitions to confirm him in the grace of God, he left him, and returned to Goa in the first vessel which went out of the port wherethey made the stay. As for the soldier, he followed the fleet; and afterthe expedition of Aden was ended, he entered into religion, chusing oneof the most austere orders, where he lived and died in extraordinaryholiness. 

Not long after the Father was returned to Goa, the governor Don John deCastro returned also; but very ill of a hectic fever, which had beenconsuming him for some months before. Finding himself in a daily decay ofhealth and strength, and doubting not the end of his life was nearapproaching, he quite laid aside all business, and substituted others tosupply his place; after which his thoughts were wholly employed on death, and the great concernments of eternity. He had many long conversationswith Father Xavier on that subject, and refused to see any one but him. During these transactions, a ship which came from Lisbon brought lettersto the viceroy from the king of Portugal, who gave great praises to hismanagement, and continued him for three years longer in the government ofthe Indies. As Don John was much beloved, so on this occasion publicrejoicings were made over all the town. But the sick viceroy, hearing thedischarge of the artillery, and seeing almost from his bed the bonfiresthat were made, could not forbear laughing at it, though he was almost inthe agonies of death. "How deceitful and ridiculous is this world, " saidhe, "to present us with honours of three years continuance, when we havebut a moment more to live!" The Father assisted him, even to the lastdrawing of his breath; and had the consolation to behold a great man ofthis world, expiring with the thoughts of a saint in holy orders. 

Xavier being master of himself, in some manner, after the disease of DonJohn de Castro, who had desired him not to stir from Goa, during thewinter, had thoughts of visiting once more the coast of Fishery beforehis voyage to Japan; his resolutions of which, he had not hithertodeclared. But the incommodities of the season hindered him; for at onecertain time the sands so choke up the channels of the isle, that no shipcan either go out of the port, or enter into it. 

In waiting until the navigation became free, the saint applied himselfparticularly to the exercises of a spiritual Life, as it were to recovernew strength after his past labours, according to the custom ofapostolical men, who, in the communications which they have with God, refresh themselves after the pains which they have taken with theirneighbour. 

Then it was, that, in the garden of Saint Paul's college, sometimes inwalking, at other times in retiring into a little hermitage, which wasthere set up, he cried out, "It is enough, O my Lord, it is enough!" andthat he opened his cassock before his breast, to give a little air tothose flames which burnt within him, by which he declared, that he wasnot able to support the abundance of heavenly consolations; and at thesame time gave us to understand, that he would have rather chosen tosuffer any torments for the service of God, than to have enjoyed allthose spiritual delights; so that his true meaning, was a prayer to God, that he would please to reserve for him those pleasures in another life, and in the mean time, would not spare, to inflict on him any pains orsufferings in this present world. 

These interior employments did not hinder him from the labours of hisministerial vocation, nor from succouring the distressed in the hospitalsand prisons. On the contrary, the more lively and ardent the love of Godwas in him, the more desirous He was to bring it forth, and kindle it inothers. His charity caused him often to relinquish the quiet of solitude, and the delights of prayer; therein following the principle of his FatherIgnatius, that it was necessary to forsake God for God. 

The season began to be more moderate, and Xavier was disposing himself toset sail for the Cape of Comorine, when a Portuguese vessel arrived fromMozambique, which brought in her live missioners of the society. The mostconsiderable of these missioners, and of five others which came alongwith the fleet, was Caspar Barzæus, a Fleming by nation. Father Francishad already heard speak of him, as an excellent labourer, and a famouspreacher; but his presence, and the testimony of all the ship, gave thesaint such great ideas of his merit, that he looked on him fromthenceforward as an apostle of the eastern countries. 

He passed five days with these new companions, on the fourth of which hecaused Father Gaspar to preach before him, that he might see his talentfor the pulpit; and discovered in him all the qualities of a perfectpreacher. Many Portuguese gentlemen, who had been much edified by thevirtues and conversation of Barzæus during all the navigation, which hadbeen exceeding dangerous, came and fell at the feet of Xavier, desiringthat he would please to receive them into the society. The captain of theship, and the governor of one of the chief citadels, which the Portugueseenjoy in India, were of the number. He admitted some of them before hisdeparture, and deferred the rest till his return; but he would that allof them should perform the spiritual exercises of Father Ignatius. 

At length Xavier embarked, on the 9th of September, for the fishingcoast. There he comforted and confirmed the faithful, who werecontinually persecuted by the Badages, those mortal and irreconcileableenemies of the Christian name. He also encouraged the gospel labourers ofthe society, who, for the same reason, went in daily hazard of theirlives. Having understood, that Father Francis Henriquez, who cultivatedthe Christianity of Travancore, was somewhat dissatisfied, and believedhe lost his time, because some of those new converts, shaken either bythe promises or threatenings of a new king, who hated the Christians, hadreturned to their former superstitions, he writ him letters ofconsolation, desiring him to be of good courage, and assuring him, thathis labours were more profitable than he imagined; that when all thefruit of his zeal should be reduced to the little children who died afterbaptism, God would be well satisfied of his endeavours, and that, afterall, the salvation of one only soul ought to comfort a missioner for allhis pains; that God accounted with us for our good intentions; and that aservant of his was never to be esteemed unprofitable, who laboured in hisvineyard with all his strength, whatever his success might prove. 

Father Xavier was not content to have fortified the missioners, both byword and writing, in his own person; he desired of Father Ignatius, thathe would also encourage them with his epistles, and, principally, that hewould have the goodness to write to Henry Henriquez, a man mortified tothe world, and laborious in his ministry. 

Having ordered all things in the coast of Fishery, he returned by Cochin, where he staid two months; employing himself, without ceasing, in theinstruction of little children, administering to the sick, and regulatingthe manners of that town. After which he went to Bazain, there to speakwith the deputy-governor of the Indies, Don Garcia de Saa, whom Don Johnde Castro had named, upon his death-bed, to supply his place. The Fatherwas desirous to obtain his letters of recommendation to the governor ofMalacca, that, in virtue of them, his passage to Japan might be made moreeasy. 

It is true, the news he received, that the Chinese, ill satisfied withthe Portuguese, had turned them out of their country, seemed to havebroken all his measures, because it was impossible to arrive at the islesof Japan, by the way of Malacca, without touching at some port of China;but it is the property of apostolical zeal, to make no account of thoseseeming impossibilities, which appear in the greatest undertakings. 

When Xavier was come back to Goa, and it was known that he designed avoyage to Japan, his friends made use of all their endeavours to diverthim from it. They first set before him the length of the way, which wasthirteen hundred leagues; the certain and inevitable dangers to which hemust expose his life, not only by reason of pirates, which continuallyinfest those seas, and murder all who come into their hands, but also forthe rocks, unknown to the most skilful pilots, and of certain windscalled Typhons, which reign from China even to Japan, in a vast extent ofsea. They said, "That those impetuous hurricanes were used to whirl avessel round, and founder it at the same moment; or else drive it withfury against the rocks, and split it in a thousand pieces. " They added, "If, by miracle, he should happen to escape the pirates, and avoid thetempests, yet he could promise no manner of safety to himself in theports of China, from whence the Portuguese were expelled; and, for whatremained, if he were possessed with an unsatiable zeal, there were othervast kingdoms of the East, where the light of the gospel had not shone;that even in the neighbourhood of Goa there were isles remaining, andterritories, of idolaters: that he might go thither in God's name, andleave the thoughts of those remote islands, which nature seemed to havedivided from the commerce of mortals; and where the power of thePortuguese not being established, Christianity could not be able tomaintain itself against the persecution of the Pagans. "

Xavier was so well persuaded that God would have him travel to Japan, that he would not listen, to the reasons of his friends. He laughed attheir fears, and told them, "That perhaps he should not be moreunfortunate than George Alvarez, or Alvarez Vaz, who had performed thevoyage of Japan, in spite of all those pirates, and those hurricanes, with which they would affright him. " This he said smiling; after which, resuming a serious air, "Verily, " said he, "I am amazed that you wouldendeavour to hinder me from going for the good of souls, whither youyourselves would go out of the sordid consideration of a small transitorygain; and must plainly tell you, I am ashamed of your little faith. But Iam ashamed for myself, that you have prevented me in going thither first, and cannot bear that a merchant should have more courage than amissioner. " In conclusion, he told them, "That having so oftenexperienced the care of Providence, it would be an impiety to distrustit; that it had not preserved him from the swords of the Badages, and thepoisons of the Isle del Moro, to abandon him in other dangers; that Indiawas not the boundary of his mission; but that in coming thither, hisdesign had always been, to carry the faith even to the utmost limits ofthe world. "

He then wrote to Father Ignatius, to give him an account of his intendedvoyage, and of the thoughts of his heart concerning it. "I cannot expressto you, " said he, "with what joy I undertake this long voyage. For it isall full of extreme dangers; and he, who out of four ships can preserveone, thinks he has made a saving voyage. Though these perils aresurpassing all I have hitherto proved, yet I am not discouraged a jot themore from my undertaking; so much the Lord has been pleased to fix it inmy mind, that the cross shall produce great fruits in those countries, when once it shall be planted there. "

He wrote at the same time to Father Simon Rodriguez, and some passages ofthe letter well describe the disposition of the holy man. "There arearrived here some ships from Malacca, who confirm the news, that all theports of China are armed, and that the Chinese are making open war withPortugal; which notwithstanding, my resolutions still continue for Japan;for I see nothing more sweet or pleasing in this world, than to live incontinual dangers of death, for the honour of Jesus Christ, and for theinterests of the faith. It being indeed the distinguishing character of aChristian, to take more pleasure in the hardships of the cross, than inthe softness of repose. "

The apostle, being upon the point of his departure for Japan, establishedFather Paul de Camerine, superior-general in his place, and FatherAntonio Gomez, rector of the seminary at Goa. At the same time heprescribed rules to both of them, in what manner they should livetogether, and how they should govern their inferiors. 

Behold, in particular, what he recommended to Father Paul: "I adjureyou, " said he, "by the desire you have to please our Lord, and by thelove you bear to Father Ignatius, and all the society, to treat Gomez, and all our fathers and brothers, who are in the Indies, with muchmildness; not ordering them to do any thing without mature deliberation, and in modest terms, without any thing of haughtiness or violence. Truly, considering the knowledge I have of all the labourers of the society, atthis present day employed in the new world, I may easily conclude, theyhave no need of any superior; nevertheless, not to bereave them of themerit of obedience, and because the order of discipline so requires, Ihave thought convenient to set some one above the rest, and have chosenyou for that purpose, knowing, as I do, both your modesty and yourprudence. It remains that I command and pray you, by that voluntaryobedience which you have vowed to our Father Ignatius, to live so wellwith Antonio Gomez, that the least appearance of misunderstanding betwixtyou may be avoided, nay, and even the least coldness; but, on thecontrary, that you may he always seen in a holy union, and conspiring, with all your strength, to the common welfare of the church. 

"If our brethren, who are at Comorine in the Moluccas, or otherwhere, write to you, that you would obtain any favour for them from the bishopor the viceroy, or demand any spiritual or temporal supplies from you, leave all things, and employ yourselves entirely to effect what theydesire. For those letters which you shall write to those unweariedlabourers, who bear the heat and burden of the day, beware that there benothing of sharpness or dryness in them; rather be careful of every line, that even every word may breathe nothing but tenderness and sweetness. 

"Whatsoever they shall require of you for their diet, their clothing, fortheir preservation of health, or towards their recovery of it, furnishthem liberally and speedily; for it is reasonable you should havecompassion on them, who labour incessantly, and without any humanconsolation. What I have said, points chiefly to the missioners ofComorine and the Moluccas. Their mission is the most painful, and theyought to be refreshed, lest they sink under the burden of the cross. Dothen in such manner, that they may not ask you twice for necessaries. They are in the battle, you are in the camp; and, for my own part, I findthose duties of charity so just, so indispensible, that I am bold toadjure you in the name of God, and of our Father Ignatius, that you wouldperform your duties with all exactness, with all diligence, and with allsatisfaction imaginable. "----

Father Xavier, since his return, had sent Nicholas Lancilotti to Coulan, Melchier Gonzales to Bazain, and Alphonso Cyprian to Socotora. Before hisdeparture, he sent Gasper Barzæus to Ormuz, with one companion, who wasnot yet in orders. This famous town, situate at the entry of the PersianGulph, was then full of enormous vices, which the mingle of nations anddifferent sects had introduced. The saint had thoughts of going thitherhimself, to prepare the way for other missioners; according to his ownmaxims, to send none of the priests to any place, which he knew not firstby his own experience. But the voyage of Japan superseded that of Ormuz. 

How great soever his opinions were of the prudence and virtue of FatherGasper, yet he thought fit to give him in writing some particularinstructions, to help him in the conduct of that important mission. Iimagine those instructions would not be unpleasing to the reader; I amsure, at least, they will not be unprofitable to missioners; and for thatreason I shall make a recital of them. You shall behold them, neitheraltered, nor in that confusion which they are in other authors; butfaithfully translated from the copy of a manuscript extant in thearchives of Goa. 

"1. Above all things, have care of perfecting yourself, and ofdischarging faithfully what you owe to God, and your own conscience. Forby this means you will become most capable of serving your neighbour, andof gaining souls. Take pleasure in the most abject employments of yourministry; that, by exercising them, you may acquire humility, and dailyadvance in that virtue. 

"Be sure yourself to teach the ignorant those prayers, which everyChristian ought to have by heart; and lay not on any other person anemployment so little ostentatious Give yourself the trouble of hearingthe children and slaves repeat them word by word after you. Do the samething to the children of the Christian natives of the country: they whobehold you thus exercised, will be edified by your modesty; and as modestpersons easily attract the esteem of others, they will judge you properto instruct themselves in the mysteries of the Christian religion. 

"You shall frequently visit the poor in the hospitals, and from time totime exhort them to confess themselves, and to communicate; giving themto understand, that confession is the remedy for past sins, and thecommunion a preservative against relapses; that both of them destroy thecause of the miseries of which they complain, by reason that the illsthey suffer, are only the punishment of their offences. On this account, when they are willing to confess, you shall hear their confessions, withall the leisure you can afford them. After this care taken of theirsouls, you are not to be unmindful of their bodies; but recommend thedistressed, with all diligence and affection, to the administrators ofthe hospital, and procure them, by other means, all relief within yourpower. 

"You shall also visit the prisoners, and excite them to make a generalconfession of their lives. They have more need than others to be stirredup to it, because among that sort of people there are few to be found, who ever made an exact confession. Pray the Brotherhood of Mercy to havepity on those wretches, and labour with the judges for their enlargement;in the mean time, providing for the most necessitous, who oftentimes havenot wherewithal to subsist. 

"You shall serve, and advance what lies in you, the Brotherhood of Mercy. If you meet with any rich merchants, who possess ill-gotten goods, andwho, being confessed, are willing to restore that which appertains not tothem, though of themselves they entrust you with the money forrestitutions, when they are ignorant to whom it is due, or that theircreditors appear not--remit all those sums into the hands of theBrotherhood of Mercy, even though you know of some necessitous persons, on whom such charities might be well employed. 

"Thus you shall not expose yourself to be deceived by those wicked men, who affect an air of innocence and poverty, and who cannot so easilysurprise the Brotherhood, whose principal application is to distinguishbetwixt counterfeits and those who are truly indigent. 

"And, besides, you will gain the more leisure for those functions, whichare yours in a more especial manner, which are devoted to the conversionof souls, and shall employ your whole time therein, some of which mustotherwise be taken up in the distribution of alms, which cannot beperformed without much trouble and distraction. In fine, by this means, you shall prevent the complaints and suspicions of a sort of people whointerpret all things in the worst meaning, and who might perhaps persuadethemselves, that, under the pretence of paying other men's debts, youdivert the intention of the money given, and employ in your own uses somepart of what was entrusted with you. 

"Transact in such manner, with secular persons, with whom you havefamiliarity or friendship, as if you thought they might one day becomeyour enemies: by this management of yourself, you will neither do nor sayany thing of which you may have reason to repent you, and with which theymay upbraid you in their passion. We are obliged to these precautions, bythe sons of a corrupt generation, who are continually looking on thechildren of light with mistrustful and malignant eyes. 

"You ought not to have less circumspection in what relates to yourspiritual advancement; and assure yourself you shall make a greatprogress in contemning of yourself, and in union with God, if youregulate all your words and actions by prudence. The Examen, which wecall particular, will assist you much in it. Fail not of doing it twice aday, or once at least, according to our common method, whatsoeverbusiness you have upon your hands. 

"Preach to the people the most frequently that you can, for preaching isan universal good; and amongst all evangelical employments, there is nonemore profitable: but beware of advancing any doubtful propositions, onwhich the doctors are divided: take for the subject of your sermons clearand unquestionable truths, which tend of themselves to the regulation ofmanners: set forth the enormity of sin, by setting up that infiniteMajesty which is offended by the sinner: imprint in souls a lively horrorof that sentence, which shall be thundered out against reprobates at thelast judgment: represent, with all the colours of your eloquence, thosepains which the damned are eternally to suffer. In fine, threaten withdeath, and that with sudden death, those who neglect their salvation; andwho, having their conscience loaded with many sins, yet sleep insecurity, as if they had no cause of fear. 

"You are to mingle with all these considerations that of the cross, andthe death of the Saviour of mankind; but you are to do it in a movingpathetical manner; by those figures which are proper to excite suchemotions, as cause in our hearts a deep sorrow for our sins, in thepresence of an offended God, even to draw tears from the eyes of youraudience. This is the idea which I wish you would propose to yourself, for preaching profitably. 

"When you reprove vices in the pulpit, never characterise any person, especially the chief officers or magistrates. If they do any thing whichyou disapprove, and of which you think convenient to admonish them, makethem a visit, and speak to them in private, or, when they come ofthemselves to confession, tell them at the sacred tribunal of penance, what you have to say to them: but never advertise them in public of it;for that sort of people, who are commonly proud and nice of hearing, instead of amendment by public admonitions, become furious, like bullswho are pricked forward by a goad: moreover, before you take upon you togive them private admonition, be careful to enter first into theiracquaintance and familiarity. 

"Make your admonition either more gentle or more strong, according as youhave more or less access to them: but always moderate the roughest partof your reproof, with the gaiety of your air, and a smiling countenance;by the civility of well-mannered words, and a sincere protestation thatall you do is but an effect of the kindness you have for them. It is goodalso to add respectful submissions to the pleasingness of your discourse, with tender embraces, and all the marks of that consideration andgoodwill you have for the person of him whom you thus correct. For, if arigid countenance, and harsh language, should accompany reproof, which ofitself is hard of digestion, and bitter to the taste, it is not to bedoubted but men, accustomed to flatteries, will not endure it; and thereis reason to apprehend, that a burst of rage against the censor, will beall the fruit of the reprimand. 

"For what concerns confession, behold the method which I judge thefittest for these quarters of the East, where the licence of sin is verygreat, and the use of penance very rare. When a person, hardened in along habit of vice, shall come to confession, exhort him to take three orfour days time of preparation, to examine his conscience thoroughly; andfor the assistance of his memory, cause him to write down the sins whichhe has observed in all the, course of his life, from his childhood tothat present time. Being thus disposed, after he has made his confession, it will not be convenient that you should be too hasty in giving himabsolution. But it will be profitable to him to retire two or three days, and abstain from his ordinary conversation and dealings with men, and toexcite himself to sorrow for his sins, in consideration of the love ofGod, which will render his sacramental absolution of more efficacy tohim. During that little interval of retirement, you shall instruct him inthe way of meditation, and shall oblige him to make some meditations fromthe first week of exercises. You shall counsel him to practise somemortification of his body; for example, to fast, or to disciplinehimself, which will help him to conceive a true sorrow for his offences, and to shed the tears of penance. Besides this, if the penitents haveenriched themselves by sinister ways, or if, by their malicious talk, they have blasted the reputation of their neighbour, cause them to makerestitution of their ill-gotten goods, and make reparations of theirbrethren's honour, during the space of those three days. If they aregiven to unlawful love, and are now in an actual commerce of sin, causethem to break off those criminal engagements, and forsake the occasionsof their crime. There is not any time more proper to exact from sinnersthose duties, the performance of which is as necessary as it isdifficult; for when once their fervour is past away, it will be in vainto demand of them the execution of their promise; and perhaps you willhave the trouble of seeing them fall back into the precipice, for want ofremoving them to a distance from it. 

"In administering the sacrament of penance, take heed of discouragingthose who begin to discover the wounds of their souls to you, byappearing too rashly and too hastily severe. How enormous soever theirsins may be, hear them, not only with patience, but with mildness; helpout even their bashfulness, by testifying to them your compassion, andnot seeming to be amazed at what you hear. Insinuate into them, that youhave heard in confession sins of a much more crying nature: and, lestthey should despair of pardon for their faults, speak to them of theinfinite mercies of the Lord. 

"When they declare a crime in such a manner that you may perceive theyare in trouble how to speak, interrupt them, by letting them know, thattheir sin is not altogether so great as they may think; that by God'sassistance you can heal the most mortal wounds of the soul; bid them goon without any apprehension, and make no difficulty of telling all. Youwill find some of them, whom either the weakness of their age or sex willhinder from revealing to you their most shameful sins. When you perceivethat bashfulness has tied their tongue, be before-hand with them; and, bythe way of a charitable prevention, let them know, that they are neitherthe first, nor the only persons, who have fallen into disorder; thatthose things which they want the confidence to tell you, are little incomparison of what you have heard from others on the same subject. Imputesome part of their offence to the corruption of nature, to the violenceof the temptation, and to the unhappiness they had to be engaged in suchoccasions and pressing circumstances, where their fall was almostunavoidable. In fine, I must advertise you, that to remove from suchpersons that unseasonable shame-facedness which keeps them silent; fromsuch persons, I say, whom the devil has made as bashful after a crime asthey were impudent before it, it may be necessary sometimes to discoverto them, in general, the frailties of our own past lives. For what can atrue and fervent charity refuse, for the safety of those souls who havebeen redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ! But to understand when thisis proper to be done, how far to proceed, and with what precautions, iswhat the interior spirit, and your experience, must teach you, in thoseparticular conjunctures. 

"You will ordinarily meet with some Christians who believe not the truthof the holy sacrament of the altar, either by not frequenting it, or bytheir conversation with Pagans, Mahometans, and Heretics, or by thescandal which is given them by some Christians, and principally (which Ispeak with shame and sorrow) by such priests whose life is not more holythan that of the people. For beholding some of them approaching the altarwithout any preparation, assisting at it without modesty and reverence, they imagine that Jesus Christ is not, as we say he is, in the sacrificeof the mass; for if he were there present, he would never suffer suchimpure hands to touch him. Make it your business, that those misbelievingChristians should propose to you all their doubts, and discover to youall their imaginations, which being known, then prove to them the realpresence of Jesus Christ, by all those reasons which are capable ofestablishing it; and shew them, that the surest means for them to comeout of their errors, and leave their vices, is often to approach thatsacrament, with suitable preparations to it. 

"Though your penitents may be well prepared for confession, think not, when they shall declare their sins, that your business is done. You mustdive into the bottom of their conscience, and, by examination, draw outof them what themselves know not. Ask then of them, by what ways, andin what manner, they make advantage of their money; what are theirprinciples, and what their practice, in their sales, in their borrowing, and in all their business. You shall find usury reigning throughout theirtraffic; and that they who have no stings of conscience, in relation tounjust dealings, have by indirect ways scraped together the greatest partof their estates. But in things where money has to do, many are sohardened, that, being charged with rapine, they have either no scrupleconcerning it, or so very light, that it never breaks their sleep. 

"Use particularly this method towards the governors, the treasurers, thereceivers, and other officers belonging to the revenue. Whensoever theypresent themselves before you in the sacred tribunal, interrogate thatsort of people, by what means they grow so rich? what secret they have tomake their offices and employments bring them in such mighty sums? Ifthey are shy of telling you, turn and wind them every way, and the mostmildly that you can, make them speak, in spite of themselves. You shallsoon discover their tricks, and secret ways of management, by which aninconsiderable number of those they call men of business, divert, totheir own private advantages, what was designed for the public profit. They buy up commodities with the king's money, that, by selling themagain, they may be able to make up their accounts: And by taking up allthe commodities in the port, they put the people upon a necessity ofbuying at their price, that is, at most intolerable rates. 

"Too often also, they make men languish at the treasury, with longdelays, and cunning shifts, or some other captious trick; men, I say, towhom the exchequer is owing, that they may be driven to compound withthose sharks of state for half their due, and let them go off with theother half. This open robbery, this manifest villainy, those gentlemencall, by a mollified name, 'the fruits of their industry. ' When you havesqueezed out of them the confession of these monopolies, and the like, bywire-drawing them, with apt questions, you will come more easily to theknowledge of their ungodly gains, and what they ought to make restitutionof to their neighbour, in order to their being reconciled to God, than ifin general you should interrogate them concerning their injustice. Forexample, demand of them, what persons they have wronged? they willimmediately answer, that their memory upbraids them not with wronging anyman; and behold the reason! Custom is to them in the place of law; andthat which they see done before them every day, they persuade themselvesmay be practised without sin. As if custom can authorize, by I know notwhat kind of prescription, that which is vicious and criminal in its ownnature. You shall admit of no such right, but shall declare to suchpeople, that if they will secure their conscience, they must restore whatthey possess unjustly. 

"Remember especially, to obey the vicar of the bishop. When you arearrived at Ormuz, you shall go to wait on him, and, falling on your kneesbefore him, you shall humbly kiss his hand. You shall neither preach, norexercise any other employment of our institute, without his permission;above all things, have no difference with him for any whatsoever cause;on the contrary, endeavour, by all submissions, and all possibleservices, to gain his friendship, in such sort, that he may be willing tobe taught by you, to make the meditations of our spiritual exercises, atleast those of the first week. Use almost the same method with all theother priests; if you cannot persuade them to retire for a month, according to our custom, engage them to a retreat of some few days, andfail not to visit them every day, during that recess, to explicate tothem the subjects of those meditations. 

"Pay a great respect to the person of the governor, and make it apparent, by the most profound submissions, how much you honour him. Beware of anydifference with him, on whatsoever occasion, even though you shouldobserve, that he performs not his duty in matters of importance; butafter you perceive, that your demeanour has instated you in his favourand good graces, go boldly to visit him; and after you have testified theconcernment you have for his safety and his honour, by a principle ofgood will to him, then declare, with all modesty and softness ofexpression, the sorrow you have to see his soul and reputationendangered, by what is reported of him in the world. 

"Then you shall make known to him the discourse of the people; you shalldesire him to reflect on the bad consequences of such reports; that theymay possibly be put in writing, and go farther than he would willinglythey should, if he bethinks him not in time of giving satisfaction to thepublic. Nevertheless, take not this upon you before you are in some sortsatisfied of his good disposition, and that it appears probable to youthat your advertisement may sort to good effect. 

"Be yet more cautious in charging yourself with bearing to him thecomplaints of particular persons; and absolutely refuse that commission, by excusing yourself on your evangelical functions, which permit you notto frequent the palaces of the great, nor to attend whole days togetherfor the favourable minutes of an audience, which is always difficult toobtain. You shall add, that when you should have the leisure to make yourcourt, and that all the doors of the palace were open to you at allhours, you should have little hopes of any fruit from your remonstrances;and that if the governor be such a man as they report, he will have smallregard to you, as being no way touched, either with the fear of God, orthe duties of his own conscience. 

"You shall employ, in the conversion of infidels, all the time you havefree from your ordinary labours which indispensably regard Christians. Always prefer those employments which are of a larger extent to thosewhich are more narrowly confined. According to that rule, you shall neveromit a sermon in public, to hear a private confession; you shall not setaside the catechising, which is appointed every day, at a certain hour, to visit any particular person, or for any good work of the like nature. For the rest, an hour before catechism, either you or your companionshall go to the places of most concourse in the town, and invite all men, with a loud voice, to come and hear the exposition of the Christiandoctrine. 

"You shall write, from time to time, to the college of Goa, whatfunctions you exercise for the advancement of God's glory, what order youkeep there, and what blessing God gives on your endeavours. Have carethat your relations be exact, and such that our Fathers at Goa may sendthem into Europe, as so many authentic proofs of what you perform in theEast, and of what success it shall please God to bestow on the labours ofour little Society. Let nothing slip into those accounts which mayreasonably give offence to any man; nothing that may seem improbable;nothing which may not edify the reader, and give him occasion to magnifythe name of God. 

"When you are come to Ormuz, I am of opinion that you should seeparticularly those who are of greatest reputation for their probity, themost sincere, and who are most knowing in the manners of the town. Fromsuch, inform yourself exactly what vices are most reigning in it, whatsorts of cheats; enter most into contracts, and societies of commerce, that so understanding all things thoroughly and truly, you may have yourwords and reasons in a readiness, to instruct and reprove those who, being guilty of covert usuries, false bargaining, and other wickedactions, so common in a place which is filled with such a concourse ofdifferent nations, shall treat with you in familiar conversation, or insacramental confession. 

"You shall walk the streets every night, and recommend the souls of thedead to the prayers of the living; but let those expressions which areused by you be proper to move the compassion of the faithful, and toimprint the thoughts of religion in the bottom of their souls. You shallalso desire their prayers to God for such as are in mortal sin, that theymay obtain the grace of coming out of so deplorable a condition. 

"Endeavour at all times to make your humour agreeable: keep a gay andserene countenance, without suffering the least shadow of choler orsadness to appear in it; otherwise those who come to visit you will neveropen their hearts to you, and will not repose all that confidence in youwhich it is necessary they should have, to the end they may profit byyour discourse. Speak always with civility and mildness, even in yourreprehensions, as I have already told you; and when you reprove anyone, do it with so much charity, that it may be evident the fault displeasesyou, and not the person. 

"On Sundays and saints' days you shall preach at two o'clock in theafternoon, at the church of the Misericordia, or in the principal churchof the town; sending first your companion about the streets, with hisbell in his hand, to invite the people to the sermon. 

"If you had not rather perform that office in your own person, you shallcarry to church that exposition of the apostles' creed which I have putinto your hands, and the practice, which I have composed, how to pass theday in Christian duties. You shall give copies of that practice to thosewhose confessions you hear; and shall enjoin them, for their holypenance, to do for certain days that which is contained in it. By thismeans they shall accustom themselves to a Christian life, and shall cometo do, of their own accord, by the force of custom, that which they didat the first only by the command of their confessor. But, foreseeing thatyou cannot have copies enough for so many people, I advise you to havethat practice written out in a fair large hand, and expose it in somepublic place, that they who are willing to make use of it may read andtranscribe it at their own convenience. 

"They who shall be desirous of being received into the society, and whomyou shall judge to be proper for it, you may send them to Goa with aletter, which shall point out their design, and their talents for it, orelse you may retain them with you. In this last case, after you havecaused them to perform the spiritual exercises for a month together, youshall make a trial of them, in some such manner as may edify the peoplewithout exposing them to be ridiculous. Order them, therefore, to servethe sick in the hospitals, and to debase themselves to the meanest andmost distasteful offices. Make them visit the prisoners, and teach themhow to give comfort to the miserable. In fine, exercise your novices inall the practices of humility and mortification; but permit them not toappear in public in extravagant habits, which may cause them to bederided by the multitude;--suffer it not, I say, far from imposing itupon them. Engage not all the novices indifferently to those trials whichtheir nature most abhors; but examine well the strength of each, and suittheir mortification to their temper, to their education, to the advancethey make in spirituals, in such sort, that the trial may not beunprofitable, but that it may produce its effect according to thatmeasure of grace which is given them. If he who directs the novices hasnot all these considerations, it will fall out, that they who werecapable of making a great proficiency in virtue, with good management, will lose their courage, and go backward; and besides, those indiscreettrials, too difficult for beginners, take off the love of the master fromhis novices, and cause his disciples to lessen their confidence in hisdirections. In the mean time, whoever forms young people to a religiouslife, ought to leave nothing untried to bring them to a candid and freediscovery of their evil inclinations, and the suggestions of the devil, at the same moment when they are tempted: for without this they willnever be able to disentangle themselves from the snares of the tempter;never will they arrive to a religious perfection. On the contrary, thosefirst seeds of evil being brooded over, and nourished, as I may say, bysilence, will insensibly produce most lamentable effects; even so far, until the novices come to grow weary of regular discipline, to nauseateit, and at length throw off the yoke of Jesus Christ, and replungethemselves in the pollutions of the world. 

"They amongst those young men whom you shall observe to be most subjectto vain-glory, and delighted with sensual pleasures, and other vices, ought to be cured in this following manner: Make them search for reasons, and for proofs, against those vices to which they are inclined; and whenthey have found many, help them to compose some short discourses on them. Cause them afterwards to pronounce those discourses, either to the peoplein the church, or in the hospitals, to those who are in a way ofrecovery, so as to be present at them, or in other places;--there isreason to hope, that the things which they have fixed in their minds, byconstant study and strong application, will be at least as profitable tothemselves as to their audience. Doubtless they will be ashamed not toprofit by those remedies which they propose to others, and to continue inthose vices from which they endeavour to dissuade their hearers. Youshall use proportionably the same industry towards those sinners whocannot conquer themselves so far, as, they commonly say, to put away theoccasions of their sin, or to make restitution of those goods which theyhave gotten unlawfully, and detain unjustly from other men. After youhave endeared yourself to them by a familiar acquaintance, advise them tosay that to their own hearts which they would say to a friend on the likeoccasion, and engage, as it were for the exercise of their parts, todevise such arguments as condemn their actions in the person of another. 

"Sometimes you will see before you, when you are seated in the tribunalof penance, men who are enslaved to their pleasures and their avarice, whom no motive of God's love, nor thought of death, nor fear of hell, canoblige to put away a mistress, or to restore ill-gotten goods. The onlymeans of reducing such people, is to threaten them with the misfortunesof this present life, which are the only ills they apprehend. Declarethen to them, that if they hasten not to appease Divine Justice, theyshall suddenly suffer considerable losses at sea, and be ill treated bythe governors; that they shall lose their law-suits; that they shalllanguish many years in prison; that they shall be seized with incurablediseases, and reduced to extreme poverty, without any to relieve them; infine, that they and their posterity, becoming infamous, shall be theobjects of the public hate and curses. Tell them, by way of reason forthose accidents, that no man who sets God at nought remains unpunished;and that his vengeance is so much the more terrible, by how much longerhis patience has been abused. The images of these temporal punishmentswill affright those carnal men who are not to be wrought on but by theirsenses, and will bring forth in their insensible souls the first motionsof the fear of God, --of that saving fear which is the beginning ofwisdom. 

"Before you treat with any one concerning his spiritual affairs, endeavour to understand how his soul stands affected. Whether it be calm, or tossed with any violent passion; whether he be ready to follow theright way when it shall be shewn to him, or whether he wanders from it ofset purpose; whether it be the tempter, or the bias of his owninclination, which seduces him to evil; whether he be docile, anddisposed to hear good counsel, or of that untractable humour on which nohold is to be fastened, --it will behove you to vary your discourseaccording to these several dispositions: But though more circumspectionis to be taken with hardened souls, and difficult of access, you arenever to flatter the disease, nor say any thing to him which may weakenthe virtue of the remedy, and hinder its effect. 

"Wheresoever you shall be, even though you only pass through a place, andstay but little in it, endeavour to make some acquaintance; and inquireof those who have the name of honest and experienced men, not only whatcrimes are most frequently committed in that town, and what deceits mostused in traffic, as I have already taught you in relation to Ormuz; butfarther, learn the inclinations of the people, the customs of thecountry, the form of government, the received opinions, and all thingsrespecting the commerce of human life: for, believe me, the knowledge ofthose things is very profitable to a missioner, for the speedy curing ofspiritual diseases, and to have always at hand wherewithal to give easeto such as come before you. 

"You will understand from thence, on what point you are most to insist inpreaching, and what chiefly to recommend in confessions. This knowledgewill make, that nothing shall be new to you, nothing shall surprise oramaze you; it will furnish you with the address of conducting souls, andeven with authority over them. The men of the world are accustomed todespise the religious as people who understand it not: But if they findone who knows how to behave himself in conversation, and has practisedmen, they will esteem him as an extraordinary person; they will givethemselves up to him; they will find no difficulty, even in doingviolence to their own inclinations, under his direction, and will freelyexecute what he enjoins, though never so repugnant to their corruptnature. Behold the wonderful fruit of knowing well the world:--so thatyou are not, at this present, to take less pains in acquiring thisknowledge, than formerly you have done in learning philosophy anddivinity. For what remains, this science is neither to be learned fromancient manuscripts nor printed books; it is in living books, and theconversation of knowing men, that you must study it: with it, you shalldo more good, than if you dealt amongst the people, all the arguments ofthe doctors, and all the subtilties of the schools. 

"You shall set apart one day of the week, to reconcile differences, andregulate the interests of such as are at variance, and are preparing togo to law. Hear them one after the other, and propose terms ofaccommodation to them. Above all things, give them to understand, thatthey shall find their account in a friendly reconciliation, sooner thanin casting themselves into eternal suits, which, without speaking oftheir conscience, and their credit, ever cost much money, and moretrouble. I know well, that this will not be pleasing to the advocates andproctors, whom the spinning out a process, and tricks of wrangling, stillenrich. But trouble not yourself with what those bawlers say; and makeeven them comprehend, if it be possible, that by perpetuating suits, bythese numberless formalities, they expose themselves to the danger ofeternal damnation. Endeavour also to engage them into a retirement ofsome few days, to the end their spiritual exercises may work them off toother courses. 

"Stay not till your arrival at Ormuz before you preach. Begin onshipboard, and as soon as you come there. In your sermons, affect not tomake a show of much learning, or of a happy memory, by citing manypassages of ancient authors; some few are necessary, but let them bechosen and fitted to the purpose. Employ the best part of your sermon, ina lively description of the interior estate of worldly souls. Set beforetheir eyes, in your discourse, and let them see, as in a glass, their owndisquiets, their little cunnings, their trifling projects, and their vainhopes. You shall also show them, the unhappy issue of all their designs. You shall discover to them, the snares which are laid for them by theevil spirit, and teach them the means of shunning them. But, moreover, you shall tell them, that if they suffer themselves to be surprised bythem, they are to expect the worst that can happen to them; and by thisyou shall gain their attention; for a man never fails of attentiveaudience, when the interest of the hearer is the subject of thediscourse. Stuff not out your sermons with sublime speculations, knottyquestions, and scholastical controversies. Those things which are abovethe level of men of the world, only make a noise, and signify nothing. Itis necessary to represent men to themselves, if you will gain them. Butwell to express what passes in the bottom of their hearts, you must firstunderstand them well; and in order to that, you must practise theirconversation, you must watch them narrowly, and fathom all their depths. Study then those living books; and assure yourself, you shall draw out ofthem the means of turning sinners on what side you please. 

"I do not forbid you, nevertheless, to consult the holy scriptures onrequisite occasions, nor the fathers of the church, nor the canons, norbooks of piety, nor treatises of morality; they may furnish you withsolid proofs for the establishment of Christian truths, with sovereignremedies against temptations, and heroical examples of virtue. But allthis will appear too cold, and be to no purpose, if souls be not disposedto profit by them; and they cannot profit but by the ways I haveprescribed. So that the duty of a preacher is to sound the bottom ofhuman hearts, to have an exact knowledge of the world, to make a faithfulpicture of man, and set it in so true a light, that every one may know itfor his own. 

"Since the king of Portugal has ordered, that you shall be allowed fromthe treasury what is needful for your subsistence, make use of the favourof so charitable a prince, and receive nothing but from his ministers. Ifother persons will give you any thing, refuse it, though they shouldoffer it of their own mere motion. For as much, as it is of greatconsequence to the liberty of an apostolical man, not to owe hissubsistence to those whom he ought to conduct in the way of salvation, and whom he is bound to reprove, when they go astray from it; one maytruly say of those presents, that he who takes, is taken. And it is forthis, that when we are to make a charitable reprehension, to such of whomwe receive alms, we know not well how to begin it, or in what words todress it. Or if our zeal emboldens us to speak freely, our words haveless effect upon them, because they treat us with an assuming air ofloftiness, as if that which we received from them had made them ourmasters, and put them in possession of despising us. What I say, relateschiefly to a sort of persons, who are plunged in vice, who wouldwillingly be credited with your friendship, and will endeavour by allgood offices to make way to your good will. Their design is not to profitby your conversation, for the amendment of their lives; all they pretendto, is to stop your mouth, and to escape a censure, which they know theyhave deserved. Be upon your guard against such people: yet I am not ofopinion, that you should wholly reject them, or altogether despise theircourtesy. If they should invite you to their table, refuse it not; andyet less refuse their presents of small value, such as are usually madein the Indies by the Portuguese to each other, and which one cannotrefuse without giving an affront; as, for example, fruits and drinks. Atthe same time, declare to them, that you only receive those little gifts, in hope they will also receive your good advice; and that you go to eatwith them, only that you may dispose them, by a good confession, toapproach the holy table. For such presents as I have named, such I meanas are not to be refused, when you have received them, send them to thesick, to the prisoners, or to the poor. The people will be edified withthis procedure, and no occasion left of suspecting you, either ofniceness or covetousness. 

"For what relates to your abode, you will see at your arrival; and havingprudently considered the state of things, you may judge where it will bemost convenient for you to dwell, either in the hospital, or the house ofmercy, or any little lodging, in the neighbourhood. If I think fit tocall you to Japan, you shall immediately give notice of it, by writing tothe rector of this college by two or three different conveyances, to theend, he may supply your place with one of our fathers, a man capable ofassisting and comforting the city of Ormuz. In fine, I recommend you toyourself; and that in particular, you never forget, that you are a memberof the Society of Jesus. 

"In the conjunctures of affairs, experience will best instruct you whatwill be most for God's service; for there is no better master thanpractice, and observation, in matters of prudence. Remember me always inyour prayers; and take care, that they who are under your direction, recommend me in theirs to the common Master whom we serve. To concludethis long instruction, the last advice I give you, is to read over thispaper carefully once a week, that you may never forget any one of thearticles contained in it. May it please the Lord to go along with you, toconduct you in your voyage, and at the same time to continue here withus!"--

Eight days after Gasper Barzæus was gone for Ormus, with his companionRaymond Pereyra, Father Xavier went himself for Japan; it was in April1549. He embarked in a galley bound no farther than Cochin, where waitedfor him a ship, which was to go towards Malacca. He took for companionsFather Cozmo de Torrez, and John Fernandez, besides the three Japonese, Paul de Sainte Foy, and his two servants, John and Anthony. 

It is true, there embarked with him in the same galley, Emanuel Moralez, and Alphonso de Castro; but it was only that the Father might carry themto Malacca, from whence both of them were to be transported to theMoluccas. The ship, which attended the Father at Cochin, being just readyto set sail they made but a short stay in that place, but it was notunprofitable. The saint walking one day through the streets, happened tomeet a Portuguese of his acquaintance; and immediately asked him, "how hewas in health?" The Portuguese answered, "he was very well. " "Yes, "replied 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 inhis heart a wicked action, knew immediately that the Father saw into thebottom of it; and seriously reflecting on it, followed Xavier, confessedhimself, and changed his evil life. The preaching of Castro so charmedthe people, that they desired to have retained him at Cochin, there tohave established the college of the Society; but Xavier who had designedhim for the Moluccas opposed it. And Providence, which destined the crownof martyrdom to that missioner, suffered him not to continue in a place, where they had nothing but veneration for him. 

They left Cochin on the 25th of April, and arrived at Malacca on the lastof May. All the town came to meet Father Xavier, and every particularperson was overjoyed at his return. Alphonso Martinez, grand vicar to thebishop, at that time lay dangerously sick, and in such an agony of soul, as moved compassion. For, having been advertised to put himself incondition of giving up his accounts to God of that ministry which he hadexercised for thirty years, and of all the actions of his life, he was sostruck with the horror of immediate death, and the disorders of his life, which was not very regular for a man of his profession, that he fell intoa deep melancholy, and totally despaired of his salvation. He cast outlamentable cries, which affrighted the hearers; they heard him name hissins aloud, and detest them with a furious regret, not that he might askpardon for them, but only to declare their enormity. When they would havespoken to him of God's infinite mercy, he broke out into a rage, andcried out as loud as he was able, "that there was no forgiveness for thedamned, and no mercy in the bottomless pit. " The sick man was told, thatFather Francis was just arrived; and was asked if he should not be gladto see him? Martinez, who formerly had been very nearly acquainted withhim, seemed to breathe anew at the hearing of that name, and suddenlybegan to raise himself, to go see, said he, the man of God. But theattempt he made, served only to put him into a fainting fit. The Father, entering at the same moment, found him in it. It had always been hiscustom, to make his first visit to the ecclesiastical superiors; butbesides this, the sickness of the vicar hastened the visit. When the sickman was come, by little and little, to himself, Xavier began to speak tohim of eternity, and of the conditions requisite to a Christian death. This discourse threw Martinez back again into his former terrors; and theservant of God, in this occasion, found that to be true, which he hadoften said, that nothing is more difficult than to persuade a dying manto hope well of his salvation, who in the course of his life hadflattered himself with the hopes of it, that he might sin with thegreater boldness. 

Seeing the evil to be almost past remedy, he undertook to do violence toheaven, that he might obtain for the sick man the thoughts of truerepentance, and the grace of a religious death. For he made a vow uponthe place, to say a great number of masses, in honour of the most HolyTrinity, of the Blessed Virgin, of the angels, and some of the saints, towhom he had a particular devotion. His vows were scarcely made, whenMartinez became calm; began to have reasonable thoughts, and received thelast sacraments, with a lively sorrow for his sins, and a tender relianceon God's mercies; after which, he died gently in the arms of Xavier, calling on the name of Jesus Christ. 

His happy death gave great consolation to the holy man; but the apostoliclabours of Francis Perez and Roch Oliveira increased his joy. He hadsent them the year before to Malacca, there to found a college of theSociety, according to the desire of the people, and they had been verywell received. Perez had begun to open a public school, for theinstruction of the youth in learning and piety, according to the spiritof their institute. Oliveira had wholly given himself to the ministryof preaching, and the conduct of souls; but tying himself more especiallyto the care of Turks and Jews, of which there was always a vast concoursein the town. For the first came expressly from Mecca, and the last fromMalabar, to endeavour there to plant Mahometanism and Judaism, whereChristianity then flourished. 

The example of the two missioners drew many Portuguese to that kind oflife, of which they both made profession. The most considerable of all, was a young gentleman, whose name was Juan Bravo; who, by his noble birthand valour, might justly hope to raise his fortunes in the world. But hepreferring evangelical poverty, and religious humility, before all thoseearthly expectations and establishments, was just then ready to havetaken ship for Goa, there to execute those thoughts with which heaven hadinspired him, when he was informed, that Xavier would take Malacca in hisway. He therefore waited for him, and in the mean time lived with Perezand Oliveira as if he had been already of the Society. At least heconformed himself as much as he was able to their manners, and habitedhimself like them; that is to say, instead of rich garments, he put on anold threadbare cassock, with which he looked the world in the facewithout having yet forsaken it. He performed the spiritual exercises fora month together, and never came out of his retirement, but to employhimself in works of charity in the hospital. There, for three months, heattended the sick, living in poverty, and begging his bread from door todoor, even in the sight of James Sosa his kinsman, admiral of the fleet, which was rigging out for the Moluccas. 

These trials obliged the Father to receive Bravo into the Society. Headmitted him almost immediately to take the first vows; and finding inhim an excellent foundation for all the apostolical virtues, he took careto cultivate him, even so far, as to leave him in writing these followingrules, before his departure to Japan. 

"See here, my dear brother, the form of life which you are constantly topractise every day. In the morning, as soon as you are awakened, prepareyourself to meditate on some mystery of our Lord; beginning from his holynativity, and continuing to his glorious ascension: the subjects of themeditations are marked, and put in order, in the book of Exercises. Employ, at the least, half-an-hour in prayers; and apply yourself to itwith all those interior dispositions, which you may remember youpractised in your retirement of a month. Consider every day one mystery, in such manner, that if, for example, on Monday, the birth of our Saviourwas the subject of your meditation, that of his circumcision shall be forTuesday, and so in course, till in a month's time, having run through allthe actions of Jesus Christ, you come to contemplate him ascending intoheaven in triumph. You are every month to begin these meditations againin the same order. 

"At the end of every meditation, you shall renew your vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, to which you have obliged yourself. You shallmake them, I say, anew, and offer them to God with the same fervencywherewith you first made them. This renewing of your vows will weakenin you the motions of concupiscence, and render all the powers of hellless capable of hurting you; for which reason, I am of opinion that youought never to omit them. 

"After dinner, you shall resume your morning's prayer, and reflect on thesame mystery half an hour; you shall also renew your vows, at the end ofyour meditation. You are to employ yourself in this manner interiorlythrough all the variety of your outward business; giving an hour in everyday to the consideration of the most holy life of our Lord Jesus, inwhatsoever affair, or in whatsoever incumbrance, you are engaged. You maypractise this with most convenience, by allowing half-an-hour in themorning, and another half in the afternoon, according to my direction. 

"Before you lie down at night, examine well your conscience, in callingover your thoughts, words, and actions, of all the day; and evenobserving, if you have not failed of doing something, which it was yourduty to have done: let this discussion be as exact, as if you were justready to confess yourself. After you have conceived a most lively sorrowfor your faults, by the motive of God's love, you shall humbly ask pardonof Jesus Christ, and vow amendment to him. In fine, you shall so disposeyourself to rest, that your sleep may come upon you, in thoughts ofpiety, and in resolutions of passing the next day with greater holiness. 

"On the morrow, at your waking, think on the sins which you observed inthe examen of the night before; and while you are putting on yourclothes, ask the assistance of God's grace, that you may not that dayrelapse into your yesterday's offences. Then perform your morning'smeditation, and proceed through your whole day's work, as I have orderedyou. But be so punctual, and so constant in all these spiritualpractices, that nothing but sickness cause you to forbear them. For if, when you are in health, you should defer, or leave them off, under somepretence of business, be sure you make a scruple of it, and let not theday pass over you, till, in the presence of your brethren, you confessyour fault, and of your own free motion demand penance for having omittedor neglected that which was so strictly commanded by your superior. 

"For what remains, whatsoever you do, or in whatsoever condition ofspirit you may be, labour with all your power still to overcome yourself. Subdue your passions, embrace what is most abhorring to your sense, repress all natural desire of glory most especially; and spare notyourself in that particular, till you have torn out of your heart thevery roots of pride; not only suffering yourself to be debased beneathall men, but being glad to be despised. For hold this for certain, that, without this humility and mortification, you can neither advance invirtue, nor serve your neighbour as you ought, nor be acceptable to God, nor, to conclude all, persevere in the Society of Jesus. 

"Obey in all things the Father with whom you live; and howeverdispleasing or difficult the things may be which he commands you, performthem with much cheerfulness, never opposing his orders, nor making anyexceptions on your part, on any account whatsoever. In fine, hearken tohim, and suffer yourself to be directed in all things by him, as ifFather Ignatius were personally present, speaking to you, and directingyou. 

"With whatsoever temptations you shall find yourself assaulted, discoverthem all sincerely to him who governs you; and remain persuaded, thatthis is the only means of subduing them. Besides this advantage, thereaccrue other spiritual profits, in making known the secret motions ofyour heart; for the violence which you do to yourself, to surmount, thatnatural shamefacedness which hinders you from acknowledging yourimperfections and frailties, draws down the grace of God upon you; and onthe other side, this overture, and frankness of your heart, ruins thedesigns of the evil spirit, who can never do mischief but when he is indisguise; but when once discovered, is so far disarmed, and despicablyweak, that they, for whom he lies in ambush, laugh at him. "--

It was in this manner, that the holy apostle, Francis Xavier, instructedthe young men of the Society; and nothing, perhaps, could better explainto us the great resemblance that was betwixt the souls of Xavier andIgnatius. 

At this time, there came news from Japan; and some letters reported, thatone of the kings of that island had desired some preachers to be sent tohim, by an express embassy to the viceroy of the Indies. That this kinghad learnt somewhat of the Christian law, and that a strange accident hadmade him desirous of knowing more. This accident was related in thoseletters, after the following manner. 

"Some Portuguese merchants, being landing at the port, belonging to thecapital city of one of those kingdoms of Japan, were lodged by the king'sorder in a forsaken house, which was thought to be haunted by evilspirits: the common opinion was not ill grounded, and the Portuguese soonperceived, that their lodging was disturbed. They heard a horriblerumbling all the night; they felt themselves pulled out of their beds, and beaten in their sleep, without seeing any one. One night beingawakened, at the cry of one of their servants, and running with theirarms towards the place from whence the noise was heard, they found theservant on the ground, trembling for fear. They asked him the occasion ofhis outcry, and why he shook in that manner? He answered, 'That he hadseen a frightful apparition, such a one as painters use to draw for thepicture of the devil. ' As this servant was not thought eitherfaint-hearted, or a liar, the Portuguese no longer doubted, what was themeaning of all that rattling and clutter, which they heard every night;to put an end to it, they set crosses in all the rooms, after which theyheard no more of it. "

The Japonese were much surprised to hear the house was now at quiet: theking himself, to whom the Portuguese had said, "That the Christian crosshad driven away the evil spirits, " admired that wonderful effect, andcommanded crosses to be set up in all places, even in his own palaces, and in the highways. In consequence of this, he desired to be informedfrom whence the cross derived that virtue, and for what cause the devilsso much feared it. Thus, by little and little, he entered into themysteries of faith. But as the Japonese are extremely curious, notcontent to be instructed by soldiers and merchants, he thought of sendingfor preachers, and in that prospect sent an ambassador to the Indies. 

This news gave infinite satisfaction to Father Xavier; and so much themore hastened his voyage, by how much he now perceived the Japonians weredisposed to receive the gospel. There were in the port of Malacca manyPortuguese vessels, in readiness to set sail for Japan; but all of themwere to make many other voyages by the way, which was not the saint'sbusiness. His only means was to have recourse to a junk of China, (sothey call those little vessels, ) which was bound directly for Japan. Themaster of the vessel, called Neceda, was a famous pirate; a friend to thePortuguese, notwithstanding the war which was newly declared againstthem; so well known by his robberies at sea, that his ship was commonlycalled, The Robber's Vessel. Don Pedro de Sylva, governor of Malacca, gota promise from the Chinese captain, that he would carry the Father, safely, and without injury, and took hostages to engage him inviolablyto keep his faith; but what can be built on the word of a pirate, and awicked man?

Xavier, and his companions, embarked on the twenty-fourth of June, in thedusk of the evening; and set sail the next morning, at break of day, witha favourable wind. When they were out at sea, the captain and ship'screw, who were all idolaters, set up a pagod on the poop; sacrificed toit in spite of Xavier, and all his remonstrances to the contrary; andconsulted him by magical ceremonies, concerning the success of theirvoyage. The answers were sometimes good, and sometimes ill: in themeantime they cast anchor at an isle, and there furnished themselves withtimber, against the furious gusts of those uncertain seas. At the sametime they renewed their interrogatories to their idol; and cast lots, toknow whether they should have good winds. The lots promised them a goodpassage, whereupon the Pagans pursued their course merrily. But they wereno sooner got out to sea again, when they drew lots the third time, toknow, whether the junk should return safely from Japan to Malacca. Theanswer was, that they should arrive happily at Japan, but were never moreto see Malacca. The pirate, who was extremely superstitious, resolved atthe same instant to change his course; and in effect tacked about, andpassed his time in going to every isle which was in view. Father Xavierwas sensibly displeased, that the devil should be master of theirdestiny, and that all things should be ordered, according to the answersof the enemy of God and man. 

In cruising thus leisurely, they made the coast of Cochin China; and thetempests, which rose at the same time, threatened them more than oncewith shipwreck. The idolaters had recourse to their ordinarysuperstitions. The lot declared, that the wind should fall, and thatthere was no danger. But an impetuous gust so raised the waves, that themariners were forced to lower their sails, and cast anchor. The shog ofthe vessel threw a young Chinese (whom Xavier had christened, and carriedalong with him) into the sink, which was then open. They drew him outhalf dead, much bruised, and hurt in the head very dangerously. Whilethey were dressing him, the captain's daughter fell into the sea, and wasswallowed by the waves, notwithstanding all they could do to save her. 

This dismal accident drove Neceda to despair; "and it was a lamentablesight, " says Xavier himself, in one of his letters, "to behold thedisorder in the vessel. The loss of the daughter, and the fear ofshipwreck, filled all with tears, and howlings, and confusion. "

Nevertheless, the idolaters, instead of acknowledging that their idol haddeceived them with a lie, took pains to appease him, as if the death ofthe Chinese woman had been an effect of their god's displeasure. Theysacrificed birds to him, and burnt incense in honour of him; after whichthey cast lots again to know the cause of this disaster which hadbefallen them. They were answered, "That if the young Christian, who hadfell into the sink, had died, the captain's daughter had been preserved. "Then Neceda, transported with fury, thought to throw Xavier and hiscompanions overboard. But the storm ceasing in an instant, his mind grewcalmer by degrees, he weighed anchor, and set sail again, and took theway of Canton, with intention there to pass the winter. But the designsof men, and power of devils, can do nothing against the decrees ofProvidence. A contrary wind broke all the projects of the captain, constraining him, in his own despite, to enter with full sails into theocean of Japan. And the same wind carried the junk of the pirate towardCangoxima, the birth-place of Anger, sirnamed Paul de Sainte Foy. Theyarrived there on the fifteenth of August, in the year 1549. 

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER. 

BOOK V. 

_The situation of Japan, and the nature of the country. The estate of thegovernment of Japan. The religion of the Japonese when the Father arrivedin that country. The six jesuits who were sent to Siam in_ 1685, _intheir relation of the religion of the Siamois, which much resembles thisof Japan, guess, with more probability, that these opinions were thecorruptions of the doctrine preached in the Indies by St Thomas. Paul deSainte Foy goes to wait on the king of Saxuma. That which passed at thecourt of Saxuma. The saint applies himself to the study of the Japoniantongue. He baptizes the whole family of Paul de Sainte Foy. He goes tothe court of Saxuma, and is well received. He begins to preach atCangorima, and converts many. He visits the Bonzas, and endeavours togain them. He proves the soul's immortality to the chief of the Bonzas. The Bonzas rise against him. The Bonzas succeed not in their undertaking. He leads a most austere life. He works divers miracles. He raises a maidfrom death. God avenges the saint. A new persecution raised againstXavier by the Bonzas. The king of Saxuma is turned against Xavier and theChristians. The saint fortifies the Christians before he leaves them. Hecauses his catechism to be printed before his departure. He departs fromCangoxima. He goes to the castle of Ekandono. He declares the gospelbefore Ekandono, and the fruits of his preaching. What he does for thepreservation of the faith in the new Christians of the castle. Thoughtsof a Christian of Ekandono. He leaves a disciple with the steward ofEkandono, and the use he makes of it. He leaves a little book with thewife of Ekandono, and for what it served. He arrives at Firando; and whatreception he had there. He preaches at Firando with great success. Hetakes Amanguchi in his way to Meaco. He stays at Amanguchi; his actionsthere. What hindered the fruit of his preaching at Amanguchi. He appearsbefore the king of Amanguchi, and expounds to him the doctrine ofChristianity. He preaches before the king in Amanguchi without success. He pursues his voyage for Meaco. His sufferings in the voyage of Meaco. He follows a horseman with great difficulty. He instructs the people inpassing through the towns. He arrives at Meaco, and labours thereunprofitably. He departs from Meaco to return to Amanguchi. Beingreturned to Amanguchi, he gains an audience of the king. He obtainspermission to preach. He is visited by great multitudes. The qualitieswhich he thinks requisite in a missioner to Japan. He answers many menwith one only word. He preaches in Amanguchi. He speaks the Chineselanguage without learning it. The fruit of his preaching. His joy inobserving the fervour of the faithful. His occasions of sorrow amongsthis spiritual joys. The faith is embraced, notwithstanding the prince'sexample; and by what means. Divers conversions. He declares against theBonzas. The Bonzas oppose the Christian religion. He answers thearguments of the Bonzas. The Bonzas provoke the king against theChristians. The number of Christians is augmented together with thereputation of the saint. He sends a Japonian Christian to the kingdom ofBungo; and for what reason. He departs from Amanguchi, and goes forBungo. He falls sick with overtravelling himself; and after a littlerest, pursues his journey. He is received with honour by the Portuguese, and complimented from the king of Bungo. He is much esteemed by the kingof Bungo. The letter of the king of Bungo to Father Xavier. In whatequipage he goes to the court of Bungo. His entry into the palace of theking of Bungo. He receives the compliments of several persons in thecourt. He is introduced to an audience of the king of Bungo, and whatpasses in it. What passes betwixt the king of Bungo and Xavier. Thehonour of Xavier in the kingdom of Bungo, and the success of his laboursthere. He converts a famous Bonza. In what manner he prepares theGentiles for baptism. What happens to the companions of Xavier atAmanguchi. The death of the king of Amanguchi, and the desolation of thetown. The brother of the king of Bungo is chosen king of Amanguchi: thesaint rejoices at it. He prepares to leave Japan, and takes leave of theking of Bungo. The advice which he gives to the king of Bungo. The Bonzasrise anew against Xavier. A new artifice of the Bonzas against the saint. The beginning of the conference betwixt Xavier and Fucarandono. Theadvantage of the dispute on the side of Xavier. The fury of the Bonzasforces the Portuguese to retire to their ship. The captain of the shipendeavours to persuade Xavier to return, but in vain. The captain takesup a resolution to stay with Xavier. A new enterprize of the Bonzasagainst him. He returns to the palace, to renew the conference withFucarandono. The dispute renewed. The answer of Xavier to the firstquestion of Fucarandono. The second question of Fucarandono, to which theFather answers with the same success as to the former. The sequel of thedispute betwixt Xavier and Fucarandono. The honour which the king ofBungo does to Xavier. The Bonzas present a writing to the king, butwithout effect. They wrangle about the signification of words. Theydispute in the nature of school-divines. He answers the objections of theBonzas, and their replies. The fruit of his disputation with the Bonzas. He leaves Japan, and returns to the Indies. God reveals to him the siegeof Malacca. What happens to him in his return from Japan to the Indies. How Xavier behaves himself during the tempest. What happens to the chalopbelonging to the ship. He expects the return of the chalop, or cockboat, notwithstanding all appearances to the contrary. He renews his prayersfor the return of the chalop. He prays once more for the return of thechalop. The chalop appears, and comes up with the ship. He arrives at theisle of Sancian; and goes off after a little time. His prediction to thepilot. A marvellous effect of the saint's prophecy. He forms the designof carrying the faith to China. He takes his measures with Pereyra, forthe voyage of China. He dissipates a tempest; his prophecy concerning theship of James Pereyra. His reception at Malacca. The history of the shipcalled Santa Cruz. He arrives at Cochin; and finishes the conversion ofthe king of the Maldivias. He writes into Europe, and comes to Goa. Hecures a dying man immediately upon his arrival. He hears joyful news ofthe progress of Christianity in the Indies. The conversion of the king ofTanor. The conversion of the king of Trichenamalo. The letter from thebishop of the Indies to Father Ignatius. He hears other comfortable news. He is afflicted with the misdemeanors of Father Antonio Gomez. How Gomezattacks the authority of Paul de Camerine. The extravagances of Gomez inmatters of religion. The violence and injustice of Gomez. Xavier repairsthe faults committed by Gomez. He expels Gomez from the Society. _

I undertake not to make an exact description of Japan, after those whichhave been made of it by geographers and travellers: by an ordinary viewof the charts, and common reading of the relations of the Indies, it iseasy to understand, that Japan is situate at the extremity of Asia, overagainst China; that it is a concourse of islands which compose as it wereone body, and that the chiefest of them gives the name to all the rest;that this world of islands, as it is called by a great geographer, isfilled with mountains, some of which are inaccessible, and almost abovethe clouds; that the colds there are excessive, and that the soil, whichis fruitful in mines of gold and silver, is not productive of much grainof any sort necessary to life, for want of cultivation. Without dwellinglonger either on the situation or nature of the country, or so much ason the customs and manners of the inhabitants, of which I have alreadysaid somewhat, and shall speak yet farther, as my subject requires it, Ishall here only touch a little on the government and religion, which ofnecessity are to be known at the beginning, for the understanding of thehistory which I write. 

Japan was anciently one monarchy. The emperor, whom all those islesobeyed, was called the Dairy; and was descended from the Camis, who, according to the popular opinion, came in a direct line from the Sun. Thefirst office of the empire was that of the Cubo, that is to say, captain-general of the army. For the raising of this dignity, which initself was so conspicuous, in process of time, the name of Sama was addedto that of Cubo; for Sama in their language signifies Lord. Thus thegeneral of Japan came to be called Cubo Sama. 

Above three hundred years ago, the Cubo Sama then being, beholding thesceptre of Japan in the hands of a Dairy, who was cowardly andeffeminate, revolted from him, and got possession of the regal dignity. His design was to have reduced the whole estate under his own dominion;but he was only able to make himself master of Meaco, where the emperorkept his court, and of the provinces depending on it. The governors ofother provinces maintained themselves in their respective jurisdictionsby force of arms, and shook of the yoke as well as he; insomuch, that themonarchy came to be suddenly divided into sixty-six cantons, which allassumed the names of kingdoms. 

Since these revolutions, the king of Meaco took the title of Cubo Sama, and he who had been deprived of it still retained the name of Dairy; and, excepting only the power, there was still left him all the privilege ofroyalty, in consideration of the blood of the Camis. His descendants havehad always the same title, and enjoyed the same advantages. This, ingeneral, was the face of the government, in the time of St FrancisXavier. For some years afterwards, Nabunanga, one of the neighbour kingsto him of Meaco, defeated the Cubo Sama in a pitched battle, and followedhis blow with so much success, that, having destroyed all those pettyprinces, he re-united the whole empire of Japan under his sole obedience. 

As to what concerns religion, all the Japonians, excepting some few whomake profession of atheism, and believe the soul mortal, are idolaters, and hold the transmigration of souls, after the doctrine of Pythagoras. Some of them pay divine worship to the sun and moon; others to the Camis, those ancient kings of whom we have made mention; and to the Potoques, the gods of China. There are divers of them who adore some kinds ofbeasts, and many who adore the devil under dreadful figures. Besidesthese, they have a certain mysterious deity, whom they call Amida; andsay, this god has built a paradise of such distance from the earth, thatthe souls cannot reach it under a voyage of three years. But the god Xacais he of whom they report the greatest wonders, who seems to be acounterfeit of the true Messiah, set up by the devil himself, or by hisministers. For if one would give credit to them, Xaca being born of aqueen, who never had the carnal knowledge of man, retired into thedeserts of Siam, and there underwent severe penances, to expiate the sinsof men: that coming out of his wilderness, he assembled some disciples, and preached an heavenly doctrine in divers countries. 

It is incredible how many temples have been built to the honour of Amidaand Xaca; all the cities are full of them, and their magnificence isequal to their number. Nor is it easy to imagine how far theirsuperstition carries the worshippers of these two deities. They throwthemselves headlong down from rocks, or bury themselves alive in caves;and it is ordinary to see barques, full of men and women, with stoneshanging at their necks, and singing the praises of their gods, afterwhich they cast themselves into the sea. 

For what remains, the spirit of lies has established in Japan a kind ofhierarchy, not unlike that of the Catholic church. For these people havea chief of their religion, and a kind of sovereign priest, whom they callSaco. He keeps his court in the capital city of the empire; and it is hewho approves the sects, who institutes the ceremonies, who consecrates, if I may be allowed to say so, the Tundi, who resemble our bishops, andwhose principal function is to ordain the priests of idols, by conferringon them the power of offering sacrifice. These priests, who are calledBonzas, part of them living in desarts, the rest in towns, all affect arigid austerity of manners, and are amongst the Japonese what theBrachmans are amongst the Indians, unless that they are yet more impious, and greater hypocrites. 

To resume our history: immediately after the arrival of Xavier and hiscompanions, Paul de Sainte Foy, whom formerly we called Anger, went topay his duty to the king of Saxuma; on which Cangoxima is depending, andwhose palace is about the distance of six leagues from it. That prince, who had heretofore shewn great favour to him, received him with muchhumanity, and with so much the greater joy, because he had believed himdead. This kind reception gave Paul de Sainte Foy the confidence topetition the king for the pardon of that action, which had occasioned hisdeparture, and it was not difficult for him to obtain it. 

The king, naturally curious, as the Japonians generally are, enquiredmuch of him concerning the Indies; as, what was the nature of thecountry, and the humour of the people, and whether the Portuguese were asbrave and as powerful as they were represented by common fame. When Paulhad satisfied him on these and the like particulars, the discourse fellon the different religions in the Indies, and finally on Christianity, which was introduced by the Portuguese in India. 

Paul unfolded at large the mysteries of our faith; and seeing with whatpleasure he was heard, produced a tablet of the Virgin, holding thelittle Jesus in her arms. The tablet was very curious, and Xavier hadgiven it to this Japonese, that he might shew it as occasion offered. Thesight alone of this excellent painting wrought so much upon the king, that, being touched with thoughts of piety and reverence, he fell on hisknees, with all his courtiers, to honour the persons therein represented, which seemed to him to have an air that was more than human. 

He commanded it should be carried to the queen, his mother. She was alsocharmed with it, and prostrated herself by the same instinct, with allthe ladies of her train, to salute the Mother and the Son. But as theJaponian women are yet more inquisitive than the men, she asked athousand questions concerning the Blessed Virgin and our Saviour, whichgave Paul the desired opportunity of relating all the life of JesusChrist; and this relation so much pleased the queen, that some few daysafter, when he was upon his return to Cangoxima, she sent one of herofficers to have a copy of the tablet which she had seen; but a painterwas not to be found to satisfy her curiosity. She required, that at leastshe might have an abridgment in writing of the chief points ofChristianity, and was satisfied therein by Paul. 

The Father, overjoyed at these good inclinations of the court, thoughtearnestly of making himself capable to preach in the language of thecountry. There is but one language spoken through all Japan; but that soample, and so full of variety, that, in effect, it may be said to containmany tongues. They make use of certain words and phrases, in familiardiscourse; and of others in studied compositions. The men of quality havea language quite differing from the vulgar. Merchants and soldiers have aspeech proper to their several professions, and the women speak a dialectdistinct from any of the rest. When they treat on a sublime subject, (forexample, of religion, or affairs of state, ) they serve themselves ofparticular terms; and nothing appears more incongruous amongst them, thanto confound these different manners of expression. 

The holy man had already some light notions of all these languages, bythe communication he had with the three Japonian Christians; but he knewnot enough to express him with ease and readiness, as himselfacknowledges in his epistles, where he says, "that he and his companions, at their first arrival, stood like statues, mute and motionless. " Hetherefore applied himself, with all diligence, to the study of thetongue, which he relates in these following words: "We are returned toour infancy, " says he, "and all our business at present is to learn thefirst elements of the Japonian grammar. God give us the grace to imitatethe simplicity and innocence of children, as well as to practise theexercises of children. "

We ought not to be astonished in this passage last quoted, that a man towhom God had many times communicated the gift of tongues, should notspeak that of Japan, and that he should be put to the pains of studyingit. Those favours were transient, and Xavier never expected them;insomuch, that being to make abode in a country, he studied the languageof it as if he could not have arrived to the knowledge of it but by hisown industry. But the Holy Spirit assisted him after an extraordinarymanner, on those occasions, as we have formerly observed. And we may say, that the easiness wherewith he learnt so many tongues, was almostequivalent to the lasting gift of them. 

While Xavier and his companions were labouring to acquire that knowledgewhich was necessary for their preaching the word of Jesus Christ to thepeople of Cangoxima, Paul de Sainte Foy, with whom they lodged, himselfinstructed his own family. God gave that blessing to his zeal, that, besides his mother, his wife and daughter, many of his relations wereconverted and baptized by Xavier. Within the compass of forty days, thesaint understood enough of the language to undertake the translation ofthe apostles' creed, and the exposition of it, which he had composed inIndia. As fast as he translated, he got every parcel of it by heart; andwith that help, was of opinion, that he might begin to declare thegospel. But seeing that in Japan all the measures of the laws and customsare to be taken, and observed with great exactness, and nothing to beattempted in public without permission from the government, he wouldfirst visit the king of Saxuma, and chose the time on the day of StMichael the archangel He had put the whole empire under the protection ofthat glorious general of the celestial host, who chased the rebelliousangels out of heaven, and recommended in his daily prayers to him, thathe would exterminate those devils from Japan, who had usurped thedominion of it for so many ages. 

The apostle of the Indies was not unknown at the court of Saxuma. Paul deSainte Foy had spoken of him there, in such a manner, as infused thedesire of seeing him into all hearts, and caused him to be looked on withadmiration when he first appeared. The king and queen treated him withhonour, testified great affection to him, and discoursed with him thebetter part of the night. They could not but be astonished, that he andhis companions were come from another world, and had passed through somany stormy seas, not out of an avaricious design of enriching themselveswith the gold of Japan, but only to teach the Japonese the true way ofeternal life. From the very first meeting, the king cautioned Xavier tokeep safely all the books and writings which contained the Christiandoctrine; "for, " said he, "if your faith be true, the demons will be sureto fly furiously upon you, and all manner of mischief is to be expectedfrom their malice. " Afterwards he granted permission to the saint topreach the Christian law within the whole extent of his dominions; andfarther, caused his letters patent to be expedited, by virtue of which, all his subjects had free liberty of being made Christians, if they sodesired. 

Xavier took advantage of this happy conjuncture, and deferred no longerhis preaching in Cangoxima. He began by explaining the first articles ofthe creed. That of the existence of one God, all powerful, the Creator ofheaven and earth, was a strange surprise to his auditors, who knewnothing of a first Being, on whom the universe depended, as on its causeand principle. The other articles, which respect the Trinity andIncarnation, appeared to them yet more incredible; insomuch, that some ofthem held the preacher for a madman, and laughed him to scorn. Notwithstanding which, the wiser sort could not let it sink into theirbelief, that a stranger, who had no interest to deceive them, shouldundergo so many hardships and dangers, and come so far, on set purpose tocheat them with a fable. In these considerations, they were desirous ofclearing those doubts, which possessed them, in relation to thosemysteries which they had heard. Xavier answered them so distinctly, andwithal so reasonably, with the assistance of Paul de Sainte Foy, whoserved him for interpreter in case of need, that the greatest part, satisfied with his solutions, came over to the faith. 

The first who desired baptism, and received it, was a man of meancondition, destitute of the goods of fortune; as if God willed, that thechurch of Japan should have the same foundations of meanness and povertywith the universal church: The name of Bernard was given him, and, by hisvirtue, he became in process of time illustrious. 

In the mean time, Xavier visited the Bonzas, and endeavoured to gaintheir good will; being persuaded that Christianity would make but littleprogress amongst the people, if they opposed the preaching of the gospel:And, on the other side, judging that all the world would embrace the lawof the true God, in case they should not openly resist it. His goodbehaviour and frankness immediately gained him the favour of their chief:he was a man of four-score years of age, and, for a Bonza, a good honestman; in that estimation of wisdom, that the king of Saxuma entrusted himwith his most important affairs; and so well versed in his religion, thathe was sirnamed Ningit, which is to say, the Heart of Truth. But thisname was not altogether proper to him; and Xavier presently perceived, that the Veillard knew not what to believe concerning the immortality ofthe soul; saying sometimes, "That our souls were nothing different fromthose of beasts;" at other times, "That they came from heaven, and thatthey had in them somewhat of divine. "

These uncertainties of a mind floating betwixt truth and falsehood, gaveXavier the occasion of proving the immortality of the soul, in theconversations they had together; and he reasoned strongly thereupon, according to natural principles alone. Yet his arguments had no othereffect, than the praises which were given them. Ningit commended theknowledge of the European Bonza, (so they called the Father, ) and wassatisfied that no man had a deeper insight into nature. But he stillremained doubtful on the business of religion, either out of shame tochange his opinion at that age, or perhaps because those who have doubtedall their life, are more hard to be convinced, than those who have neverbelieved at all. 

The esteem which Ningit had for Xavier, caused him to be had in greatrepute with the rest of the Bonzas. They heard him with applause, when hespoke of the divine law; and confessed openly, that a man who was comefrom the other end of the 'world, through the midst of so many dangers, to preach a new religion, could only be inspired by the spirit of truth, and could propose nothing but what was worthy of belief. 

The testimony of the Bonzas authorised the preaching of the gospel; buttheir scandalous way of living, hindered them from following our holylaw. Notwithstanding, before the conclusion of the year, two of them ofless corrupt manners than the rest, or more faithful to the grace ofJesus Christ, embraced Christianity; and their example wrought so farupon the inhabitants of Cangoxima, that many of them desired to bebaptized. 

These first fruits of preaching promised greater, and the faithflourished daily more and more in Cangoxima, when a persecution, raisedon a sudden, ruined these fair expectations, and stopt the progress ofthe gospel The Bonzas, surprised to see the people ready to forsake thereligion of the country, opened their eyes to their own interest, andmanifestly saw, that if this new religion were once received, as theyonly lived on the alms and offerings which were made to their deities, they should be wholly deprived of their subsistence. They judged, inconsequence, that this evil was to be remedied, before it grew incurable;and nothing was to be spared for the rooting out these Portuguesepreachers. It was then manifest, that those religious idolaters, who atfirst had been so favourable to Xavier, now made open war against him. They decried him in all places, and publicly treated him as an impostor. Even so far they proceeded, that one day as he was preaching, in one ofthe public places of the city, a Bonza interrupted him in the midst ofhis discourse, and warned the people not to trust him; saying, "That itwas a devil, who spoke to them in the likeness of a man. "

This outrageousness of the Bonzas failed of the effect which theydesired; the Japonians, who are naturally men of wit, and plain dealers, came easily to understand the motives of their priests, to change theirmanner of behaviour, and finding interest in all they said or did, grewmore and more attentive to the doctrine of the Father. 

Some of them upbraided the Bonzas, that their proper concernments hadkindled their zeal to such an height: that religion was not to bedefended by calumnies and affronts, but by solid arguments: that if thedoctrine of the European was false, why did they not demonstrate clearlythe falsehood of it: that, for the rest, it was of little consequencewhether this new preacher was a demon or a man; and that truth was to bereceived, whosoever brought it: that, after all, he lived with greatausterity, and was more to be credited than any of them. 

In effect, Xavier, for the edification of the people, who commonly judgeby appearances of things, abstained entirely both from flesh and fish. Some bitter roots, and pulse boiled in water, were all his nourishment, in the midst of his continual labours. So that he practised, rigorouslyand literally, that abstinence of which the Bonzas make profession, orrather that which they pretend to practise. And he accustomed himself tothis immediately, upon what Paul de Sainte Foy had told him, that itwould look ill if a religious Christian should live with less austeritythan the priests of idols should in their course of life. 

The wonders which God wrought, by the ministration of his servant, gavefarther confirmation to the Christian law. The saint walking out one dayupon the sea-shore, met certain fishers, who were spreading their emptynets, and complained of their bad fortune. He had pity on them, and, after making some short prayers, he advised them to fish once more. Theydid so on his word, and took so many fish, and of such several sorts, that they could hardly draw their nets. They continued their fishing forsome days after with the same success; and what appears more wonderful, the sea of Cangoxima, which was scarce of fish, from that time forwardhad great plenty. 

A woman, who had heard reports of the cures which the apostle had made inthe Indies, brought him her little child, who was swelled over all thebody, even to deformity. Xavier took the infant in his arms, looked onhim with eyes of pity, and pronounced thrice over him these words, "Godbless thee;" after which, he gave the child back to his mother, so welland beautiful, that she was transported with joy and admiration. 

This miracle made a noise about the town; and gave occasion to a leper tohope a cure for his disease, which he had sought in vain for many years. Not daring to appear in public, because his uncleanness had excluded himfrom the society of men, and made him loathsome to all companies; he sentfor Xavier, who at that time happened to be engaged in business, andcould not come; but deputed one of his companions to visit him; givingorders to ask him thrice, if he was content to believe in Christ, in casehe should be healed of his leprosy; and thrice to make the sign of thecross over him, if he promised constantly to embrace the faith. Allthings passed according to the commission of the Father: the leperobliged himself to become a Christian, upon the recovery of his health;and the sign of the cross was no sooner made over him, but his whole bodybecame as clean as if he had never been infected with leprosy. Thesuddenness of the cure wrought in him to believe in Christ withoutfarther difficulty, and his lively faith brought him hastily to baptism. 

But the most celebrated miracle which Xavier wrought in Cangoxima, wasthe resurrection of a young maid of quality. She died in the flower ofher youth, and her father, who loved her tenderly, was ready to godistracted with his loss. Being an idolater, he had no source of comfortremaining for his affliction; and his friends, who came to condole withhim, instead of easing, did but aggravate his grief. Two new Christians, who came to see him before the burial of his daughter, advised him toseek his remedy from the holy man, who wrought such wonders, and beg herlife of him, with strong assurance of success. 

The heathen, persuaded by these new believers, that nothing wasimpossible to this European Bonza, and beginning to hope against allhuman appearances, after the custom of the distressed, who easily believewhat they infinitely desire, goes to find Father Xavier, throws himselfat his feet, and, with tears in his eyes, beseeches him to raise up fromdeath his only daughter; adding, that the favour would be to give aresurrection to himself. Xavier moved at the faith and affliction of thefather, withdraws, with Fernandez, his companion, to recommend his desireto Almighty God; and having ended his prayer, returns a little timeafter: "Go, " says he to the sorrowful father, "your daughter is alive. "

The idolater, who expected that the saint would have accompanied him tohis house, and there called upon the name of his God, over the body ofhis daughter, thought himself ill used and cheated, and Trent awaydissatisfied. But before he had walked many steps homeward, he saw one ofhis servants, who, transported with joy, cried out aloud to him, at adistance, that his daughter lived. Soon after this, his daughter cameherself to meet him, and related to her father, that her soul was nosooner departed from her body, but it was seized by two ugly fiends, whowould have thrown her headlong into a lake of fire; but that two unknownpersons, whose countenances were venerably modest, snatched her out ofthe gripe of her two executioners, and restored her to life, but in whatmanner she could not tell. 

The Japonian suddenly apprehended who were the two persons concerned inher relation, and brought her straight to Xavier, to acknowledge themiraculous favour she had received. She no sooner cast her eyes on him, and on Fernandez, than she cried out, "Behold my two redeemers!" and atthe same time both she and her father desired baptism. Nothing of thisnature had ever been seen in that country: no history ever made mention, that the gods of Japan had the power of reviving the dead. So that thisresurrection gave the people a high conception of Christianity, and madefamous the name of Father Xavier. 

But nothing will make more evident how much a favourite he was of heaven, and how prevalent with that God, whom he declared, than that exemplaryjudgment with which Divine Justice punished the bold impiety of a man, who, either carried on by his own madness, or exasperated by that of theBonzas, one day railed at him, with foul injurious language. The saintsuffered it with his accustomed mildness; and only said these words tohim, with somewhat a melancholy countenance, "God preserve your mouth. "Immediately the miscreant felt his tongue eaten with a cancer, and thereissued out of his mouth a purulent matter, mixed with worms, and a stenchthat was not to be endured. This vengeance, so visible, and so sudden, ought to have struck the Bonzas with terror; but their great numbersassured them in some measure; and all of them acting in a body againstthe saint, each of them had the less fear for his own particular. Whatraised their indignation to the height, was, that a lady of great birthand riches, wife to one of the most considerable lords of all the court, and very liberal to the pagods, was solemnly baptized with all thefamily. 

Seeing they prevailed nothing by the ways they had attempted, and thatpersons of quality were not less enamoured of the Christian doctrine thanthe vulgar; and, on the other side, not daring to use violence, inrespect of the king's edicts, which permitted the profession ofChristianity, they contrived a new artifice, which was to address acomplaint to the king, of the king himself, on the part of their countrydeities. The most considerable of the Bonzas having been elected, in ageneral assembly for this embassy, went to the prince, and told him, withan air rather threatening than submissive, that they came, in the name ofXaca and Amida, and the other deities of Japan, to demand of him, intowhat country he would banish them; that the gods were looking out for newhabitations, and other temples, since he drove them shamefully out of hisdominions, or rather out of theirs, to receive in their stead a strangerGod, who usurps to himself divine honours, and will neither admit of asuperior nor an equal. They added haughtily, that it is true he was aking; but what a kind of king was a profane man? Was it for him to be thearbiter of religion, and to judge the gods? What probability was theretoo, that all the religions of Japan should err, and the most prudent ofthe nation be deceived after the run of so many ages? What wouldposterity say, when they should hear, that the king of Saxuma, who heldhis crown from Amida and Xaca, overthrew their altars, and deprived themof the honours which they had so long enjoyed? But what would not theneighbouring provinces attempt, to revenge the injury done to theirdivinities? that all things seemed lawful to be done on such occasions;and the least he had to fear was a civil war, and that, so much the morebloody, because it was founded on religion. 

The conjuncture in which the Bonzas found the king, was favourable tothem. It was newly told him, that the ships of Portugal, which usuallylanded at Cangoxima, had now bent their course to Firando, and he wasextremely troubled at it; not only because his estates should receive nomore advantage by their trade, but also because the king of Firando, hisenemy, would be the only gainer by his loss. As the good-will which heshewed in the beginning to Father Xavier had scarce any other principlebut interest, he grew cold to him immediately after this ill news; andthis coldness made him incline to hearken to the Bonzas. He granted allthey demanded of him, and forbade his subjects, on pain of death, tobecome Christians, or to forsake the old religion of their country. 

Whatsoever good inclinations there were in the people to receive thegospel, these new edicts hindered those of Cangoxima from any farthercommerce with the three religious Christians; so easily the favour ordispleasure of the prince can turn the people. 

They, notwithstanding, whose heart the Almighty had already touched, andwho were baptized, far from being wanting to the grace of their vocation, were more increased in faith, not exceeding the number of an hundred;they found themselves infinitely acknowledging to the Divine Mercy, whichhad elected them to compose this little flock. Persecution itselfaugmented their fervour; and all of them declared to Father Xavier, thatthey were ready to suffer banishment or death, for the honour of ourSaviour. 

Though the Father was nothing doubtful of their constancy, yet he wouldfortify them by good discourses, before he left a town and kingdom wherethere was no farther hope of extending the Christian faith. For whichreason he daily assembled them; where, having read some passages ofscripture, translated into their own language, and suitable to thepresent condition of that infant church, he explained to them some one ofthe mysteries of our Saviour's life; and his auditors were so filled withthe interior unctions of the Holy Spirit, that they interrupted hisspeech at every moment with their sighs and tears, He had caused divers copies of his catechism to be taken for the use ofthe faithful Having augmented it by a more ample exposition of the creed, and added sundry spiritual instructions, with the life of our Saviour, which he entirely translated, he caused it to be printed in Japonesecharacters, that it might be spread through all the nation. At this timethe two converted Bonzas, and two other baptized Japonians, undertook avoyage to the Indies, to behold with their own eyes, what the Father hadtold them, concerning the splendour of Christianity at Goa; I mean themultitude of Christians, the magnificence of the churches, and the beautyof the ecclesiastic ceremonies. 

At length he departed from Cangoxima, at the beginning of September, inthe year 1550, with Cozmo de Torrez, and John Fernandez, carrying on hisback, according to his custom, all the necessary utensils for thesacrifice of the mass. Before his departure, he recommended the faithfulto Paul de Sainte Foy. It is wonderful, that these new Christians, bereftof their pastors, should maintain themselves in the midst of Paganism, and amongst the persecuting Bonzas, and not one single man of them shouldbe perverted from the faith. It happened, that even their exemplary livesso edified their countrymen, that they gained over many of the idolaters;insomuch, that in the process of some few years, the number of Christianswas encreased to five hundred persons; and the king of Saxuma wrote tothe viceroy of the Indies, to have some of the fathers of the Society, who should publish through all his territories a law so holy and so pure. The news which came, that the Portuguese vessels, which came lately toJapan, had taken their way to Firando, caused Xavier to go thither; andthe ill intelligence betwixt the two princes, gave him hopes that theking of Firando would give him and his two companions a good reception. 

They happened upon a fortress on their way, belonging to a prince calledEkandono, who was vassal to the king of Saxuma. It was situate on theheight of a rock, and defended by ten great bastions. A solid wallencompassed it, with a wide and deep ditch cut through the middle of therock. Nothing but fearful precipices on every side; and the fortressapproachable by one only way, where a guard was placed both day andnight. The inside of it was as pleasing as the outside was full ofhorror. A stately palace composed the body of the place, and in thatpalace were porticoes, galleries, halls, and chambers, of an admirablebeauty; all was cut in the living stone, and wrought so curiously, thatthe works seemed to be cast within a mould, and not cut by the chizzel. 

Some people of the castle, who were returning from Cangoxima, and who hadthere seen Xavier, invited him, by the way, to come and visit their lord;not doubting but Ekandono would be glad to see so famous a person. 

Xavier, who sought all occasions of publishing the gospel, lost not thatopportunity. The good reception which was made him, gave him the meansof teaching immediately the true religion, and the ways of eternal life. The attendants of the prince, and soldiers of the garrison, who werepresent, were so moved, both by the sanctity which shone in the apostle'scountenance, and by the truth which beamed out in all his words, that, after the clearing of their doubts, seventeen of them at once demandedbaptism; and the Father christened them in presence of the Tono, (so theJaponese call the lord or prince of any particular place) The rest ofthem were possessed with the same desire, and had received the samefavour, if Ekandono had not opposed it by reason of state, and contraryto his own inclinations, for fear of some ill consequences from the kingof Saxuma; for in his heart he acknowledged Jesus Christ, and permittedXavier privately to baptize his wife and his eldest son. For the rest, hepromised to receive baptism, and to declare himself a Christian, when hissovereign should be favourable to the law of God. 

The steward of Ekandono's household was one who embraced the faith. Hewas a man stepped into years, and of great prudence. Xavier committedthe new Christians to his care, and put into his hands the form ofbaptism in writing, the exposition of the creed, the epitome of ourSaviour's life, the seven penitential psalms, the litanies of the saints, and a table of saints' days as they are celebrated in the church. Hehimself set apart a place in the palace proper for the assemblies of thefaithful; and appointed the steward to call together as many of thePagans as he could, to read both to the one and the other sort some partof the Christian doctrine every Sunday, to cause the penitential psalmsto be sung on every Friday, and the litanies every day The stewardpunctually performed his orders; and those seeds of piety grew up sofast, that some few years after, Louis Almeyda found above an hundredChristians in the fortress of Ekandono. All of an orderly and innocentconversation; modest in their behaviour, assiduous in prayer, charitableto each other, severe to themselves, and enemies to their bodies;insomuch that the place had more resemblance to a religious house, thanto a garrison. The Tono, though still an idolater, was present at theassemblies of the Christians, and permitted two little children of his tobe baptized. 

One of these new converts composed elegantly, in his tongue, the historyof the redemption of mankind, from the fall of Adam to the coming down ofthe Holy Ghost The same man being once interrogated, what answer he wouldreturn the king, in case he should command him to renounce his faith? "Iwould boldly answer him, " said he, "in this manner: 'Sir, you aredesirous, I am certain, that, being born your subject, I should befaithful to you; you would have me ready to hazard my life in yourinterests, and to die for your service; yet, farther, you would have memoderate with my equals, gentle to my inferiors, obedient to mysuperiors, equitable towards all; and, for these reasons, command mestill to be a Christian, for a Christian is obliged to be all this. Butif you forbid me the profession of Christianity, I shall become, at thesame time, violent, hard-hearted, insolent, rebellious, unjust, wicked;and I camiot answer for myself, that I shall be other. "

As to what remains, Xavier, when he took leave of the old steward, whomhe constituted superior of the rest, left him a discipline, which himselfhad used formerly. The old man kept it religiously as a relique, andwould not that the Christians in the assemblies, where they chastisedthemselves, should make a common use of it. At the most, he suffered notany of them to give themselves above two or three strokes with it, sofearful he was of wearing it out; and he told them, that they ought tomake use of it the less in chastising their flesh, that it might remainfor the preservation of their health. And indeed it was that instrumentwhich God commonly employed for the cures of sick persons in the castle. The wife of Ekandono being in the convulsions of death, was instantlyrestored 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 littlebook, wherein the litanies of the saints, and some catholic prayers, werewritten with his own hand. This also in following times was a fountain ofmiraculous cures, not only to the Christians, but also the idolaters; andthe Tono himself, in the height of a mortal sickness, recovered hishealth on the instant that the book was applied to him by his wife. Sothat the people of the fortress said, that their prince was raised tolife, and that it could not be performed by human means. 

The saint and his companions being gone from thence, pursued theirvoyage, sometimes by sea, and sometimes travelled by land. After manylabours cheerfully undergone by them, and many dangers which they passed, they arrived at the port of Firando, which was the end of theirundertaking. The Portuguese did all they were able for the honourablereception of Father Xavier. All the artillery was discharged at hisarrival; all the ensigns and streamers were djsplayed, with sound oftrumpets; and, in fine, all the ships gave shouts of joy when they beheldthe man of God. He was conducted, in spite of his repugnance, with thesame pomp to the royal palace; and that magnificence was of no smallimportance, to make him considered in a heathen court, who without itmight have been despised, since nothing was to be seen in him butsimplicity and poverty. The king of Firando, whom the Portuguese gave tounderstand, how much the man whom they presented to him was valued bytheir master, and what credit he had with him, received him with so muchthe greater favour, because he knew the king of Carigoxima had forcedhim to go out of his estates: for, to oblige the crown of Portugal, anddo a despite to that of Cangoxima, he presently empowered the threereligious Christians to publish the law of Jesus Christ through all theextent of his dominions. 

Immediately they fell on preaching in the town, and all the people ran tohear the European Bonzas. The first sermons of Xavier made a greatimpression on their souls; and in less than twenty days, he baptized moreinfidels at Firando, than he had done in a whole year at Cangoxima. Thefacility which he found of reducing those people under the obedience ofthe faith, made him resolve to leave with them Cosmo de Torrez, to putthe finishing hand to their conversion, and in the mean time to gohimself to Meaco, which he had designed from the beginning; that townbeing the capital of the empire, from whence the knowledge of ChristJesus might easily be spread through all Japan. 

Departing with Fernandez, and the two Japonian Christians, Matthew andBernard, for this great voyage at the end of October, in the year 1550, they arrived at Facata by sea, which is twenty leagues distant fromFirando; and from thence embarked for Amanguchi, which is an hundredleagues from it. Amanguchi is the capital of the kingdom of Naugato, andone of the richest towns of all Japan, not only by the traffic ofstrangers, who come thither from all parts, but also by reason of silvermines, which are there in great abundance, and by the fertility of thesoil; but as vices are the inseparable companions of wealth, it was aplace totally corrupted, and full of the most monstrous debaucheries. 

Xavier took that place only as his passage to Meaco; but the strangecorruption of manners gave him so much horror, and withal so greatcompassion, that he could not resolve to pass farther without publishingChrist Jesus to those blind and execrable men, nor without making knownto them the purity of the Christian law. The zeal which transported him, when he heard the abominable crimes of the town, suffered him not to askpermission from the king, as it had been his custom in other places. Heappeared in public on the sudden, burning with an inward fire, whichmounted up into his face, and boldly declared to the people the eternaltruths of faith. His companion Fernandez did the same in another part ofthe town. People heard them out of curiosity; and many after havinginquired who they were, what dangers they had run, and for what end, admired their courage, and their procedure, void of interest, accordingto the humour of the Japonians, whose inclinations are naturally noble, and full of esteem for actions of generosity. From public places theywere invited into houses, and there desired to expound their doctrinemore at large, and at greater leisure. "For if your law appear morereasonable to us than our own, " said the principal of the town, "weengage ourselves to follow it. "

But when once a man becomes a slave to shameful passions, it is difficultto follow what he thinks the best, and even to judge reasonably what isthe best. Not a man amongst them kept his word. Having compared togetherthe two laws, almost all of them agreed, that the Christian doctrine wasmost conformable to good sense, if things were only to be taken in thespeculation; but when they came to consider them in the practice, and sawhow much the Christian law discouraged vengeance, and forbade polygamy, with all carnal pleasures, that which had appeared just and reasonableto them, now seemed improbable, and the perversity of their willshoodwinked the light of their understanding; so that, far from believingin Jesus Christ, they said, "That Xavier and his companions were plainmountebanks, and the religion which they preached a mere fable. " Thesereports being spread abroad, exasperated the spirits of men against them, so that as soon as any of them appeared, the people ran after them, notas before, to hear them preach, but to throw stones at them, and revilethem: "See, " they cried, "the two Bonzas, who would inveigle us toworship only one God, and persuade us to be content with a single wife. "

Oxindono, the king of Amanguchi, hearing what had passed, was willing tobe judge himself of the Christians' new doctrine. He sent for them beforehim, and asked them, in the face of all his nobles, of what country theywere, and what business brought them to Japan? Xavier answered briefly, "That they were Europeans, and that they came to publish the divine law. For, " added he, "no man can be saved who adores not God, and the Saviourof all nations, his Son Christ Jesus, with a pure heart and piousworship. " "Expound to me, " replied the prince, "this law, which you havecalled divine. " Then Xavier began, by reading a part of the book which hehad composed in the Japonian tongue, and which treated of the creation ofthe world, of which none of the company had ever heard any thing, of theimmortality of the soul, of the ultimate end of our being, of Adam'sfall, and of eternal rewards and punishments; in fine, of the coming ofour Saviour, and the fruits of our redemption. The saint explained whatwas needful to be cleared, and spoke in all above an hour. 

The king heard him with attention, and without interrupting hisdiscourse; but he also dismissed him without answering a word, or makingany sign, whether he allowed or disapproved of what he said. Thissilence, accompanied with much humanity, was taken for a permission, byFather Xavier, to continue his public preaching. He did so with greatwarmth, but with small success: Most of them laughed at the preacher, andscorned the mysteries of Christianity: Some few, indeed, grew tender atthe hearing of our Saviour's sufferings, even so far as to shed tears, and these motions of compassion disposed their hearts to a belief; butthe number of the elect was inconsiderable; for the time pre-ordained forthe conversion of that people was not yet come, and was therefore to beattended patiently. 

Xavier then having made above a month's abode in Amanguchi, and gatheredbut small fruit of all his labours, besides affronts, continued hisvoyage towards Meaco with his three companions, Fernandez, Matthew, andBernard. They continually bemoaned the blindness and obduracy of thosewretches, who refused to receive the gospel; yet cheered up themselveswith the consideration of God's mercies, and an inward voice was stillwhispering in their hearts, that the seed of the divine word, though castinto a barren and ungrateful ground, yet would not finally be lost. 

They departed toward the end of December, in a season when the rains werecontinually falling, during a winter which is dreadful in those parts, where the winds are as dangerous by land as tempests are at sea. Thecolds are pinching, and the snow drives in such abundance, that neitherin the towns nor hamlets, people dare adventure to stir abroad, nor haveany communication with each other, but by covered walks and galleries: Itis yet far worse in the country, where nothing is to be seen but hideousforests, sharp-pointed and ragged mountains, raging torrents across thevallies, which sometimes overflow the plains. Sometimes it is so coveredover with ice, that the travellers fall at every step; without mentioningthose prodigious icicles hanging over head from the high trees, andthreatening the passengers at every moment with their fall. 

The four servants of God travelled in the midst of this hard season, andrough ways, commonly on their naked feet, passing the rivers, and illaccommodated with warm clothes, to resist the inclemencies of the air andearth, loaden with their necessary equipage, and without other provisionsof life than grains of rice roasted or dried by the fire, which Bernardcarried in his wallet. They might have had abundantly for theirsubsistence, if Xavier would have accepted of the money which thePortuguese merchants of Firando offered him, to defray the charges of hisvoyage, or would have made use of what the governor of the Indies hadsupplied him with in the name of the king of Portugal: But he thought heshould have affronted Providence, if he should have furnished himselfwith the provisions needful to a comfortable subsistence; and thereforetaking out of the treasury a thousand crowns, he employed it wholly forthe relief of the poor who had received baptism. Neither did he restsatisfied with this royal alms, he drew what he could also from hisfriends at Goa and Malacca; and it was a saying of his, "That the morethese new converts were destitute of worldly goods, the more succour theydeserved; that their zeal was worthy the primitive ages of the church;and that there was not a Christian in Japan, who would not choose ratherto lose his life, than forfeit the love of Jesus Christ. "

The journey from Amanguchi to Meaco is not less than fifteen days, whenthe ways are good, and the season convenient for travelling; but the illweather lengthened it to our four travellers, who made two months of it;sometimes crossing over rapid torrents, sometimes over plains and foreststhick with snow, climbing up the rocks, and rolling down the precipices. These extreme labours put Father Xavier into a fever from the firstmonth, and his sickness forced him to stop a little at Sacay; but hewould take no remedies, and soon after put himself upon his way. 

That which gave them the greatest trouble was, that Bernard, who wastheir guide, most commonly misled them. Being one day lost in a forest, and not knowing what path to follow, they met a horseman who was goingtowards Meaco; Xavier followed him, and offered to carry his mail, if hewould help to disengage them from the forest, and shew them how to avoidthe dangerous passages. The horseman accepted Xaviers offer, but trottedon at a round rate, so that the saint was constrained to run after him, and the fatigue lasted almost all the day. His companions followed him ata large distance; and when they came up to the place where the horsemanhad left him, they found him so spent, and over-laboured, that he couldscarcely support himself. The flints and thorns had torn his feet, andhis legs were swelled so that they broke out in many places. All theseinconveniences hindered him not from going forward: He drew his strengthfrom the union he had with God, continually praying from the morning tothe evening, and never interrupting his devotions but only to exhort hisfriends to patience. 

In passing through the towns and villages where his way led him, Xavieralways read some part of his catechism to the people who gathered abouthim. For the most part they only laughed at him; and the little childrencried after him, "Deos, Deos, Deos, " because, speaking of God, he hadcommonly that Portuguese word in his mouth, which he seldom pronouncedwithout repetition; for, discoursing of God, he would not use theJaponese language till they were well instructed in the essence andperfections of the Divine Majesty: and he gave two reasons for it; thefirst, because he found not one word in all the language which wellexpressed that sovereign divinity, of which he desired to give them adistinct notion; the second, because he feared lest those idolaters mightconfound that first Being with their Camis, and their Potoques, in casehe should call it by those names which were common to their idols. Fromthence he took occasion to tell them, "That as they never had anyknowledge of the true God, so they never were able to express his name;that the Portuguese, who knew him, called him Deos:" and he repeated thatword with so much action, and such a tone of voice, that he made even thePagans sensible what veneration was due to that sacred name. Havingpublicly condemned, in two several towns, the false sects of Japan, andthe enormous vices reigning there, he was drawn by the inhabitantswithout the walls, where they had resolved to stone him. But when theywere beginning to take up the stones, they were overtaken by a violentand sudden storm, which constrained them all to betake themselves toflight: The holy man continued in the midst of this rack of heaven, withflashes of lightning darting round about him, without losing his habitualtranquillity, but adoring that Divine Providence which fought so visiblyin his favour. 

He arrived at length at Meaco with his three companions in February 1551. The name of that celebrated town, so widely spread for being the seat ofempire and religion, where the Cubosama, the Dairy, and the Saso kepttheir court, seemed to promise great matters to Father Xavier; but theeffect did not answer the appearances: Meaco, which in the Japoniantongue signifies a thing worth seeing, was no more than the shadow ofwhat formerly it had been, so terribly wars and fires had laid it waste. On every side ruins were to be beheld, and the present condition ofaffairs threatened it with a total destruction. All the neighbouringprinces were combined together against the Cubosama, and nothing was tobe heard but the noise of arms. 

The man of God endeavoured to have gained an audience from the Cubosama, and the Dairy, but he could not compass it: He could not so much as getadmittance to the Saso, or high-priest of the Japonian religion. Toprocure him those audiences, they demanded no less than an hundredthousand caixes, which amount to six hundred French crowns, and theFather had it not to give. Despairing of doing any good on that side, hepreached in the public places by that authority alone which the Almightygives his missioners. As the town was all in confusion, and the thoughtsof every man taken up with the reports of war, none listened to him; orthose who casually heard him in passing by, made no reflections on whathe said. 

Thus, after a fortnight's stay at Meaco to no purpose, seeing noappearance of making converts amidst the disturbance of that place, hehad a strong impulse of returning to Amanguchi, without giving for lostall the pains he had taken at Meaco; not only because of his greatsufferings, (and sufferings are the gains of God's apostles) but alsobecause at least he had preached Christ Jesus in that place, that is tosay, in the most idolatrous town of all the universe, and opened thepassage for his brethren, whom God had fore-appointed in the yearsfollowing, there to establish Christianity, according to the revelationswhich had been given him concerning it. 

He embarked on a river which falls from the adjoining mountains, andwashing the foot of the walls of Meaco, disembogues itself afterwardsinto an arm of the sea, which runs up towards Sacay. Being in the ship, he could not turn off his eyes from the stately town of Meaco; and, asFernandez tells us, often sung the beginning of the 113th Psalm, _Inexitu Israel de Ægypto, domus Jacob de populo Barbaro, _ &c. Whether heconsidered himself as an Israelite departing out of a land of infidels bythe command of God, or that he looked on that barbarous people, as oneday destined to be the people of God. As for what remains, perceivingthat presents are of great force to introduce foreigners to the princesof Japan, he went from Sacay to Firando, where he had left what theviceroy of the Indies and the governor of Malacca had obliged him tocarry with him to Japan, that is to say, a little striking clock, aninstrument of very harmonious music, and some other trifles, the value ofwhich consisted only in the workmanship and rarity. 

Having also observed, that his ragged habit had shocked the Japonese, whojudge by the outside of the man, and who hardly vouchsafe to hear a manill clothed, he made himself a new garment, handsome enough, of thosealms which the Portuguese had bestowed on him; being verily persuaded, that an apostolic man ought to make himself all to all, and that, to gainover worldly men, it was sometimes necessary to conform himself a littleto their weakness. 

Being come to Amanguchi, his presents made his way for an audience fromthe king, and procured him a favourable reception. Oxindono, who admiredthe workmanship of Europe, was not satisfied with thanking the Father ina very obliging manner, but the same day sent him a large sum of money, by way of gratification; but Xavier absolutely refused it, and this verydenial gave the king a more advantageous opinion of him. "How different, "said Oxindono, "is this European Bonza from our covetous priests, wholove money with so much greediness, and who mind nothing but theirworldly interest!"

On the next morning Xavier presented to the king the letters of thegovernor and of the bishop of the Indies, in which the Christian faithwas much extolled; and desired him, instead of all other favours, togrant him the permission of preaching it, assuring him once again, thatit was the only motive of his voyage. The king increasing his admirationat the Father's generosity, granted him, by word of mouth, and also by apublic edict, to declare the word of God. The edict was set up at theturnings of streets, and in public places of the town. It contained afree toleration for all persons to profess the European faith, andforbade, on grievous penalties, any hinderance or molestation to thenew Bonzas in the exercise of their functions. 

Besides this, Oxindono assigned them, for their lodgings, an oldmonastery of the Bonzas, which was disinhabited. They were no soonerestablished in it, than great numbers of people resorted to them: Someout of policy, and to please the king; others to observe their carriage, and to pick faults in it; many out of curiosity, and to learn somethingthat was new. All in general proposed their doubts, and disputed with somuch vehemence, that most of them were out of breath. The house was neverempty, and these perpetual visits took up all the time of the man of God. 

He explains himself on this subject, and almost complains, in the letterswhich he writes to Father Ignatius concerning his voyage to Japan. Forafter he had marked out to him the qualities which were requisite in alabourer of the Society, proper to be sent thither, "That he ought, inthe first place, to be a person of unblameable conversation, and that theJaponese would easily be scandalised, where they could find occasion forthe least reproach; that, moreover, he ought to be of no less capacitythan virtue, because Japan is also furnished with an infinite number ofher own clergymen, profound in science, and not yielding up any point indispute without being first convinced by demonstrative reasons; that, yetfarther, it was necessary, that a missioner should come prepared toendure all manner of wants and hardships; that he must be endued with anheroic fortitude to encounter continual dangers, and death itself indreadful torments, in case of need, " Having, I say, set these thingsforth, and added these express words in one of his letters, "I write toFather Simon, and, in his absence, to the rector of Coimbra, that heshall send hither only such men as are known and approved by your holycharity, " he continues thus:

"These labourers in the gospel must expect to be much more crossed intheir undertaking than they imagine. They will be wearied out withvisits, and by troublesome questions, every hour of the day, and half thenight: They will be sent for incessantly to the houses of the great, andwill sometimes want leisure to say their prayers, or to make theirrecollections. Perhaps, also, they will want time to say their mass ortheir breviary, or not have enough for their repast, or even for theirnatural repose, for it is incredible how importunate these Japonians are, especially in reference to strangers, of whom they make no reckoning, butrather make their sport of them. What therefore will become of them, whenthey rise up against their sects, and reprehend their vices?" Yet theseimportunities became pleasing to Father Xavier, and afterwards produced agood effect. As the Japonese are of docible and reasonable minds, themore they pressed him in dispute, they understood the truth the more: Sothat their doubts being satisfied, they comprehended easily, that therewere no contradictions in our faith, nothing that would not abide thetest of the most severe discussion. 

It was in the midst of these interrogations, with which the saint wasoverburdened, that, by a prodigious manner of speech, the like of whichwas scarcely ever heard, he satisfied, with one only answer, thequestions of many persons, on very different subjects, and often oppositeto each other; as suppose, the immortality of the soul; the motions ofthe heavens; the eclipses of the sun and moon; the colours of therainbow; sin and grace; hell and heaven. The wonder was, that after hehad heard all their several demands, he answered them in few words, andthat these words, being multiplied in their ears, by a virtue all divine, gave them to understand what they desired to know, as if he had answeredeach of them in particular. They frequently took notice of this prodigy;and were so much amazed at it, that they looked on one another like mendistracted, and regarded the Father with admiration, as not knowing whatto think or say. But as clear-sighted and able as they were, for the mostpart, they could not conceive that it was above the power of nature. Theyascribed it to I know not what secret kind of science, which theyimagined him only to possess. For which reason, Father Cozmo de Torrez, being returned from Firando to Amanguchi, the Bonzas said, "This man isnot endued with the great knowledge of Father Francis, nor has the art ofresolving many doubts with one only answer. "

The process of the saint's canonization makes mention of this miracle;and Father Antonio Quadros, who travelled to Japan four years afterFather Xavier, writes it to Father Diego Moron, provincial of Portugal, These are his words: "A Japonese informed me, that he had seen threemiracles wrought by Father Xavier in his country. He made a person walkand speak, who was dumb and taken with the palsy; he gave voice toanother mute; and hearing to one that was deaf. This Japonian also toldme, that Father Xavier was esteemed in Japan for the most knowing man ofEurope; and that the other Fathers of the Society were nothing to him, because they could answer but one idolater at a time, but that FatherXavier, by one only word, decided ten or twelve questions. When I toldhim, that this might probably happen because those questions were alike, he assured me it was not so; but that, on the contrary, they were verydifferent. He added, lastly, that this was no extraordinary thing withhim, but a common practice. "

When Xavier and his companion Fernandez were a little disengaged fromthese importunities, they set themselves on preaching twice a day, in thepublic places of the town, in despite of the Bonzas. There were seven oreight religions in Amanguchi quite opposite to each other, and every oneof them had many proselytes, who defended their own as best; insomuch, that these Bonzas, who were heads of parties, had many disputes amongstthemselves: But when once the saint began to publish the Christian law, all the sects united against their common enemy; which, notwithstanding, they durst not openly declare, against a man who was favoured by thecourt, and who seemed, even to themselves, to have somewhat in him thatwas more than human. 

At this time God restored to Father Xavier the gift of tongues, which hadbeen given him in the Indies on divers occasions; for, without havingever learned the Chinese language, he preached every day to the Chinesemerchants, who traded at Amanguchi, in their mother-tongue, there beinggreat numbers of them. He preached in the afternoon to the Japonians intheir language; but so naturally and with so much ease, that he could notbe taken for a foreigner. 

The force of truth, against which their doctors could oppose nothing thatwas reasonable in their disputations; the novelty of three miracles, which we have mentioned, and of many others which Xavier wrought at thesame time; his innocent and rigid life; the Divine Spirit which enlivenedhis discourses;--all these together made so great an impression on theirhearts, that in less than two months time, more than five hundred personswere baptized; the greatest part men of quality and learning, who hadexamined Christianity to the bottom, and who did not render up themselvesfor any other reason, than for that they had nothing farther to oppose. 

It was wonderful, according to the report of the saint himself, toobserve, that there was no other speech but of Jesus Christ through allthe town; and that those who had most eagerly fought against theChristian law in their disputes, were now the most ardent to defend it, and to practise it with most exactness. All of them were tenderlyaffectionate to the Father, and were ever loath to leave his company Theytook delight in making daily questions to him, concerning the mysteriesof faith; and it is unspeakable what inward refreshments they found, inseeing that all was mysterious even, in the most ordinaryceremonies, --as, for example, in the manner wherewith the faithful signthemselves with the cross. 

The Father, on his side, had as ample a satisfaction; and he confesses ithimself, in a letter which he directed some time after to the Jesuits inEurope: "Though my hairs are already become all hoary, " says he to them, "I am more vigorous and robust than I ever was; for the pains which aretaken to cultivate a reasonable nation, which loves the truth, and whichcovets to be saved, afford me matter of great joy. I have not, in thecourse of all my life, received a greater satisfaction than at Amanguchi, where multitudes of people came to hear me, by the king's permission. Isaw the pride of their Bonzas overthrown, and the most inflamedenemies of the Christian name subjected to the humility of the gospel. Isaw the transports of joy in those new Christians, when, after havingvanquished the Bonzas in dispute, they returned in triumph. I was notless satisfied, to see their diligence in labouring to convince theGentiles, and vying with each other in that undertaking; with the delightthey took in the relation of their conquests, and by what arguments andmeans they brought them over, and how they rooted out the heathensuperstitions; all these particulars gave me such abundant joy, that Ilost the sense of my own afflictions. Ah, might it please Almighty God, that, as I call to my remembrance those consolations which I havereceived from the fountain of all mercies in the midst of my labours, Imight not only make a recital of them, but give the experience also, andcause them to be felt and considered as they ought, by our universitiesof Europe, I am assured, that many young men, who study there, would comehither to employ all the strength of their parts, and vigour of theirminds, in the conversion of an idolatrous people, had they once tastedthose heavenly refreshments which accompany our labours. "

These inward delights of God's servant were not yet so pure, but thatsome bitterness was intermixed. He was not without sorrow for Oxindonoking of Amanguchi; who, though persuaded of the excellence ofChristianity, was retained in idolatry by carnal pleasures: and forNeatondono, first prince of the kingdom, who, having noble and virtuousinclinations, might have proved the apostle of the court, if some trivialreasons had not hindered him from becoming a Christian. He, and theprincess his wife, respected Xavier as their father, and even honouredhim as a saint. They also loved the faithful, and succoured them in alltheir needs. They spoke of our faith in terms of great veneration; but, having founded many monasteries of Bonzas, it troubled them, as theysaid, to lose the fruit of charity: and thus the fear of being frustratedof I know not what rewards, which the Bonzas promised them, caused themto neglect that eternal recompence of which the holy man assured them. 

But how powerful soever the example of princes is usually in matters ofreligion, yet on all sides Christianity was embraced; and an action ofXavier's companion did not a little contribute to the gaining over of themost stubborn. Fernandez preached in one of the most frequented places ofthe town; and amongst his crowd of auditors were some persons of greatwit, strongly opinioned of their sect, who could not conceive the maximsof the gospel, and who heard the preacher with no other intention than tomake a sport of him. In the midst of the sermon, a man, who was of thescum of the rabble, drew near to Fernandez, as if it were to whispersomething to him, and hawking up a mass of nastiness, spit it full uponhis face. Fernandez, without a word speaking, or making the least signthat he was concerned, took his hand-kerchief, wiped his face, andcontinued his discourse. 

Every one was suprised at the moderation of the preacher:--the moredebauched, who had set up a laughter at this affront, turned all theirscorn into admiration, and sincerely acknowledged, that a man who was somuch master of his passions, as to command them on such an occasion, mustneeds be endued with greatness of soul and heroic courage. One of thechief of the assembly discovered somewhat else in this unshaken patience:He was the most learned amongst all the doctors of Amanguchi, and themost violent against the gospel He considered, that a law which taughtsuch patience, and such insensibility of affronts, could only come fromheaven; and argued thus within himself: "These preachers, who with somuch constancy endure the vilest of all injuries, cannot pretend to cozenus. It would cost them too dear a price; and no man will deceive anotherat his own expence. He only, who made the heart of man, can place it inso great tranquillity. The force of nature cannot reach so far; and thisChristian patience must proceed alone from some divine principle. Thesepeople cannot but have some infallible assurance of the doctrine theybelieve, and of the recompence which they expect; for, in line, they areready to suffer all things for their God, and have no human expectations. After all, what inconvenience or danger can it be to embrace their law?If what they tell us of eternity be true, I shall be eternally miserablein not believing it; and supposing there be no other life but this, is itnot better to follow a religion which elevates a man above himself, andwhich gives him an unalterable peace, than to profess our sects, whichcontinue us in all our weakness, and which want power to appease thedisorders of our hearts?" He made his inward reflections on all thesethings, as he afterwards declared; and these considerations beingaccompanied with the motions of grace, touched him so to the quick, that, as soon as the sermon was ended, he confessed that the virtue of thepreacher had convinced him; he desired baptism, and received it withgreat solemnity. 

This illustrious conversion was followed with answerable success. Manywho had a glimmering of the truth, and feared to know it yet moreplainly, now opened their eyes, and admitted the gospel light; amongstthe rest, a young man of five-and-twenty years of age, much esteemed forthe subtlety of his understanding, and educated in the most famousuniversities of Japan. He was come to Amanguchi, on purpose to be made aBonza; but being informed that the sect of Bonzas, of which he desiredto be a member, did not acknowledge a first Principle, and that theirbooks had made no mention of him, he changed his thoughts, and wasunresolved on what course of living he should fix; until being finallyconvinced, by the example of the doctor, and the arguments of Xavier, hebecame a Christian. The name of Laurence was given him; and it was he, who, being received by Xavier himself into the Society of Jesus, exercised immediately the ministry of preaching with so much fame, and sogreat success, that he converted an innumerable multitude of noble andvaliant men, who were afterwards the pillars of the Japonian church. 

As to what remains, the monasteries of the Bonzas were daily thinned, andgrew insensibly to be dispeopled by the desertion of young men, who hadsome remainders of modesty and morality. Being ashamed of leading abrutal life, and of deceiving the simple, they laid by their habits ofBonzas, together with the profession, that, coming back into the world, they might more easily be converted. These young Bonzas discovered toXavier the mysteries of their sects, and revealed to him their hiddenabominations, which were covered with an outside of austerity. 

The Father, who was at open defiance with those men, who were the mortalenemies of all the faithful, and whose only interest it was to hinder theestablishment of the faith, published whatsoever was told him in relationto them, and represented them in their proper colours. These unmaskedhypocrites became the laughter of the people; but what mortified themmore, was, that they, who heard them like oracles before this, nowupbraided them openly with their ignorance. A woman would sometimeschallenge them to a disputation; and urge them with such home andpressing arguments, that the more they endeavoured to get loose, themore they were entangled: For the Father, being made privy to the secretsof every sect, furnished the new proselytes with weapons to vanquish theBonzas, by reducing them to manifest contradictions; which, among theJaponese, is the greatest infamy that can happen to a man of letters. Butthe Bonzas got not off so cheap, as only to be made the derision of thepeople; together with their credit and their reputation they lost thecomfortable alms, which was their whole subsistence: So that the greaterpart of them, without finding in themselves the least inclinations toChristianity, bolted out of their convents, that they might not die ofhunger in them; and changed their profession of Bonzas, to become eithersoldiers or tradesmen; which gave the Christians occasion to say, withjoy unspeakable, "That, in a little time, there would remain no moreidolaters in Amanguchi, of those religious cheats, than were barelysufficient to keep possession of their monasteries. "

The elder Bonzas, in the mean time, more hardened in their sect, and moreobstinate than the young, spared for nothing to maintain theirpossession. They threatened the people with the wrath of their gods, anddenounced the total destruction of the town and kingdom; they said, "TheGod whom the Europeans believed, was not Deos, or Deus, as the Portuguesecalled him, but Dajus, that is to say, in the Japonian tongue, a lie, orforgery. " They added, "That this God imposed on men a heavy yoke. Whatjustice was it to punish those who transgressed a law, which it wasimpossible to keep? But where was Providence, if the law of Jesus wasnecessary to salvation, which suffered fifteen ages to slide away withoutdeclaring it to the most noble part of all the world? Surely a religion, whose God was partial in the dispensation of his favours, could notpossibly be true; and if the European doctrine had but a shadow of truthin it, China could never have been so long without the knowledge of it. "These were the principal heads of their accusation, and Xavier reportsthem in his letters; but he gives not an account of what answers hereturned, and they are not made known to us by any other hand. Thus, without following two or three historians, who make him speak accordingto their own ideas on all these articles, I shall content myself withwhat the saint himself had left in writing. The idolaters, instead ofcongratulating their own happiness, that they were enlightened by thebeams of faith, bemoaned the blindness of their ancestors, and cried outin a lamentable tone, "What! are our forefathers burning in hellfire, because they did not adore a God who was unknown to them, and observednot a law which never was declared?" The Bouzas added fuel to their zeal, by telling them, "The Portuguese priests were good for nothing, because they could notredeem a soul from hell; whereas they could do it at their pleasure, bytheir fasts and prayers: that eternal punishments either proved thecruelty or the weakness of the Christian God; his cruelty, if he did notdeliver them, when he had it in his power; his weakness, if he could notexecute what he desired; lastly, that Amida and Xaca were far moremerciful, and of greater power; but that they were only pleased to redeemfrom hell those who, during their mortal life, had bestowed magnificentalms upon the Bonzas. "

We are ignorant of all those particular answers of the saint, as I saidabove: we only know from his relation, that, concerning the sorrow of theJaponians for having been bereft for so many ages of Christian knowledge, he had the good fortune to give them comfort, and put them in a way ofmore reasonable thoughts; for he shewed them in general, that the mostancient of all laws is the law of God, not that which is published by thesound of words, but that which is written in hearts by the hand ofnature; so that every one who comes into the world, brings along with himcertain precepts, which his own instinct and reason teach him. "BeforeJapan received its laws from the wise men of China, " said Xavier, "it wasknown amongst you, that theft and adultery were to be avoided; and fromthence it was that thieves and palliards sought out secret places, wherein to commit those crimes. After they had committed them, they feltthe private stings of their own consciences, which cease not to reproachthe guilty to themselves, though their wickedness be not known to others, nor even so much as prohibited by human laws. Suppose an infant bred upin forests amongst the beasts, far from the society of mankind, andremote from the civilized inhabitants of towns, yet he is not without aninward knowledge of the rules of civil life; for ask him, whether it benot an evil action to murder a man, to despoil him of his goods, toviolate his bed, to surprise him by force, or circumvent him bytreachery, he will answer without question, 'That nothing of this is tobe done. ' Now if this be manifest in a savage, without the benefit ofeducation, how much more way it be concluded of men well educated, andliving in mutual conversation? Then, " added the holy man, "it follows, that God has not left so many ages destitute of knowledge, as your Bonzashave pretended" By this he gave them to understand, that the law ofnature was a step which led them insensibly to the Christian law; andthat a man who lived morally well, should never fad of arriving to theknowledge of the faith, by ways best known to Almighty God; that is tosay, before his eath, God would either send some preacher to him, orilluminate his mind by some immediate revelation. These reasons, whichthe fathers of the church have often used on like occasions, gave suchsatisfaction to the Pagans, that they found no farther difficulty in thatpoint, which had given them so much trouble. 

The Bonzas perceiving that the people preferred the authority of Xavierabove theirs, and not knowing how to refute their adversary, made a cabalat court, to lessen the Christians in the good opinion of the king. Theygave him jealousies of them, by decrying their behaviour, and saying, "They were men of intrigue, plotters, enemies of the public safety, anddangerous to the person of the king;" insomuch, that Oxindono, who hadbeen so favourable to them, all on the sudden was turned against them. Itis true, that as the Japonese value themselves above all things, in theinviolable observation of their word, when they have once engaged it, hedurst not revoke that solemn edict, which he had published in favour ofthe Christians; but to make it of no effect, he used the faithful withgreat severity, even so far as to seize upon their goods, and began withmen of the first rank in his dominions. At the same time, the Bonzas, grown insolent, and swelled with this new turn of tide, wrote letters andlibels full of invectives against Xavier. They said, he was a vagabondbeggar, who, not knowing how to maintain himself in India, was come toJapan to live on charity. They endeavoured above all things to make himpass for a notorious magician, who, through the power of his charms, hadforced the devil to obey him, and one who, by the assistance of hisfamiliars, performed all sorts of prodigies to seduce the people. 

But neither this alteration in the king, nor these calumnies of theBonzas, hindered the progress of the gospel. The number of Christiansamounted in few days to three thousand in Amanguchi, and they were all sofervent, that not one of them but was ready, not only to forego hisfortunes, but also to shed his blood for the defence of his faith, if theking should be carried on to persecute the growing church with fire andsword, as it was believed he would. The reputation of the apostle wasalso encreased, in spite of the false reports which were spreadconcerning him; and his name became so famous in the neighbouringkingdoms, that all the people round about were desirous to see theEuropean Bonza. 

Xavier had of late some thoughts of returning to the Indies, there tomake a choice himself of such labourers as were proper for Japan; and hisdesign was to come back by China, the conversion of which country hadalready inflamed his heart. For discoursing daily with such Chinesemerchants as were resident at Amanguehi, he had entertained a strongopinion, that a nation so polite, and knowing, would easily be reduced toChristianity; and on the other side, he had great hopes, that when Chinashould be once converted, Japan would not be long after it; at least themore unbelieving sort of Japonese often said, "That they would not altertheir religion till the Chinese had led the way. Let him carry his gospelto that flourishing and vast empire; and when he had subdued it to JesusChrist, then they would also think of turning Christians. "

In the meantime, a Portuguese vessel, commanded by Edward de Gama, arrived at the kingdom of Bungo, and news came to Amanguchi, that thisship, which was sailed thither from the Indies, would be on its way backagain in a month or two. Xavier, to learn what truth there was in thisreport, sent Matthew to those parts, who was one of the Japonianconverts, which accompanied him, and gave him a letter, directed to thecaptain and merchants of the vessel. The saint desired them to send himword, who they were, from whence bound, and how soon they intended toreturn; after which he told them, "That his intentions were to return tothe Indies, and that he should be glad to meet them, in case they weredisposed to repass thither. " In conclusion, he desired them earnestly, that they would borrow so much time from their affairs of merchandize asto think a little on their souls; and declared to them, that all thesilks of China, whatever gain they might afford them, could notcountervail the least spiritual profit which they might make, by a dailyexamination of their consciences. The ship was at the port of Figen, about fifty leagues from Amanguchi, and within a league of Fucheo, whichsome call Funay, the metropolis of Bungo. The Portuguese were overjoyedto hear news of Father Xavier. They sent him an account of theirs, andwithal advertised him, that, in the compass of a month at farthest, theyshould set sail for China, where they had left three vessels laden forthe Indies, which were to return in January, and that James Pereyra, hisfamiliar friend, was on board of one of them. Matthew came back in fivedays time; and, besides the letters which he brought the Father from thecaptain, and the principal merchants, he gave him some from Goa; by whichthe Fathers of the college of St Paul gave him to understand, that hispresence in that place was of absolute necessity, for the regulation ofaffairs belonging to the Society. 

Then Xavier, without losing time, after he had recommended the newChristians to the care of Cosmo de Torrez, and John Fernandez, whom heleft at Amanguchi, put himself upon his way towards Mid-September, in theyear 1551. He might have made this voyage easily by sea, but he lovedrather to go by land, and that on foot, according to his custom. He tookfor his companions, Matthew and Bernard; two Christian lords would bealso of the party. Their goods had lately been confiscated, as apunishment for changing their religion; but the grace of Jesus Christ, which was to them instead of all, rendered their poverty so precious, that they esteemed themselves richer than they had been formerly. AnotherChristian bore them company; that Laurence sirnamed the Squint-eyed, because of that imperfection in his sight. 

The Father walked cheerfully with his five companions, as far asPinlaschau, a village distant a league or two from Figen. Arriving therehe found himself so spent with travelling, that his feet were swollen, and he was seized with a violent headach, so that he could go no farther. Matthew, Laurence, and Bernard, went on to carry news of him to thevessel. When Edward de Gama understood that the holy man was so near, hecalled together all the Portuguese who resided at Fucheo; and havingchosen out the principal amongst them, got on horseback with them, to payhim their respects in ceremony. Xavier, whom a little rest had nowrecruited, and who was suspicious of the honour which they intended him, was already on his journey, but fell into that ambush of civility, whichhe would willingly have shunned. The cavalcade came up to him within aleague's distance of Figen; and found him walking betwixt the two lordsof Amanguchi, who had never left him, and himself carrying his ownequipage. Gama was surprised to see a person so considerable in the worldin such a posture, and alighting from his horse, with all his company, saluted him with all manner of respect. After the first compliments wereover, they invited the Father to mount on horseback, but he could not bepersuaded; so that the Portuguese giving their horses to be led afterthem, bore him company on foot even to the port. 

The ship was equipped in all its flourish, with flags hung out, andstreamers waving, according to the orders of the captain. They who wereremaining in her appeared on the decks, and stood glittering in theirarmour. They gave him a volley at his first approach, and then dischargedall their cannon. Four rounds of the artillery being made, the noise ofit was heard so distinctly at Fucheo, that the city was in a fright, andthe king imagined that the Portuguese were attacked by certain pirates, who lately had pillaged all the coasts. To clear his doubts, hedispatched away a gentleman of his court to the ship's captain. Gamashewing Father Francis to the messenger, told him, that the noise whichhad alarmed the court, was only a small testimony of the honour which wasowing to so great a person, one so dear to heaven, and so much esteemedin the court of Portugal. 

The Japanner, who saw nothing but poverty in the person of the Father, and remembered what had been written of him from Amanguchi, stopped alittle without speaking; then, with amazement in his face, "I am inpain, " said he, "what answer I shall return my prince; for what you tellme has no correspondence either with that which I behold, or with theaccount we have received from the Bonzas of Amanguchi; who have seen yourFather Bonza entertain a familiar spirit, who taught him to cast lots, and perform certain magical operations to delude the ignorant. Theyreport him to be a wretch forsaken, and accurst by all the world; thatthe vermin which are swarming all over him, are too nice to feed on hisinfectious flesh; besides which, I fear, that if I should relate what yousay concerning him, our priests would be taken either for idiots, or menof false understanding, or for envious persons, and impostors. " Then Gamareplying, told the Japonian all that was necessary to give him a goodimpression of the saint, and to hinder him from contempt of his meanappearance. On this last article he declared to him, that he, who had sodespicable an outside, was of noble blood; that fortune had provided himwith wealth, but that his virtue had made him poor; and that his wilfullwant of all things was the effect of a great spirit, which despised thoseempty pomps that are so eagerly desired by mankind. This discourseravished the Japanner with admiration; he made a faithful relation of itto his king; and added of himself, that the Portuguese were more happy inthe possession of this holy man, than if their vessel were laden withingots of gold. 

The king of Bungo had already heard speak of Father Francis; and gave nocredit to what the Bonzas of Amanguchi had written of him. He was aprince of five-and-twenty years of age, very judicious, generous, andcivil; but too much engaged in carnal pleasures, after the manner of theJaponian princes. What he had heard from the relation of the messenger, increased his longing to behold Xavier; and the same day he writ to him, in these very terms:--

"Father Bonza of Chimahicoghin, (for by that name they call Portugal, )may your happy arrival in my estates be as pleasing to your God, as arethe praises wherewith he is honoured by his saints. Quansyonofama, mydomestic servant, whom I sent to the port of Figen, tells me, that youare arrived from Amanguchi; and all my court will bear me witness, withwhat pleasure I received the news. As God has not made me worthy tocommand you, I earnestly request you to come before the rising of the sunto-morrow, and to knock at my palace gate, where I shall impatientlyattend you. And permit me to demand this favour of you without beingthought a troublesome beggar. In the meantime, prostrate on the ground, and on my knees before your God, whom I acknowledge for the God of allthe gods, the Sovereign of the best and greatest which inhabit in theheavens, I desire of him, I say, to make known to the haughty of theworld, how much your poor and holy life is pleasing to him; to the end, that the children of our flesh may not be deceived by the false promisesof the earth. Send me news of your holiness, the joy of which may give mea good night's repose, till the cocks awaken me with the welcomedeclaration of your visit. "

This letter was carried by a young prince of the blood royal, attended bythirty young lords belonging to the court; and accompanied by a venerableold man, who was his governor, called Poomendono, one of the wisest andmost qualified of all the kingdom, and natural brother to the king ofMinato. The honour which was paid by the Portuguese to Father Xavier, sosurprised the prince, that, turning to his governor, he said aloud, "theGod of these people must be truly great, and his counsels hidden frommankind, since it is his pleasure, that these wealthy ships should beobedient to so poor a man as is this Bonza of the Portuguese; and thatthe roaring of their cannon should declare, that poverty has wherewithalto be pleasing to the Lord of all the world; even that poverty which isso despicable of itself, and so disgraceful in the general opinion, thatit seems even a crime to think of it. "

"Though we have a horror for poverty, " replied Poomendono, "and that webelieve the poor incapable of happiness, it may be this poor man isso much enamoured of his wants, and so esteems them, that he is pleasingto the God whom he adores, and that practising it with all imaginablerigour for his sake, he may be richer than the greatest monarch of theworld. "

The young ambassador being returned to court, reported to the king withwhat respect his letter had been received; and took upon him to persuadethat prince, that this European Bonza was to be treated with greaterhonour, and far otherwise than their ordinary Bonzas; even so far as tosay, that it would be an enormous sin to level him with them; that forthe rest, he was not so poor as his enemies had suggested; that thecaptains and Portuguese merchants would bestow on him both their ship andall their treasure, in case he would accept of them; and that, properlyspeaking, he was not to be accounted poor, who possessed as much as hedesired. In the mean time, the Portuguese being assembled, to consult howFather Xavier should appear in court the next morning, all of them wereof opinion, that he should present himself with all the pomp andmagnificence they could devise. At first he opposed it, out of theaversion he had for this pageant show, so unsuitable to the condition ofa religious man; but afterwards he yielded to the request, and withal tothe reasons of the assembly. Those reasons were, that the Bonzas ofAmanguchi, having written all they could imagine, to render Xaviercontemptible, it was convenient to remove those false conceptions fromthe people; and at the same time, to let them see how much the Christianshonour their ministers of the gospel, that thereby the Heathens might bethe more easily induced to give credit to them; so that the honour wouldreflect on Jesus Christ, and the preaching would be raised in value, according to the esteem which was given to the preacher. 

They prepared therefore, with all diligence, for the entry of the saint, and set out the next morning before day-light, in a handsome equipage. There were thirty Portuguese, of the most considerable amongst them, richly habited; with their chains of gold, and adorned with jewels. Theirservants and slaves, well clothed likewise, were attending on theirmasters. Father Xavier wore a cassock of black chainlet, and over it asurplice, with a stole of green velvet, garnished with a gold brocard. The chalop and the two barques, wherein they made their passage from theship to the town, were covered on the sides with the fairest Chinatapestry, and hung round with silken banners of all colours. Both in thesloop, and in the barques, there were trumpets, flutes, and hautboys, andother instruments of music, which, playing together, made a mostharmonious concert: the news which was spread about Fucheo, that thegreat European Bonza was to enter into the town that morning, drew manypersons of quality to the sea-side; and such a multitude of people rancrowding together, at the sounding of the trumpets, that the Portuguesecould hardly find footing to come on shore. 

Quansyandono, captain of Canafama, and one of the principal of the court, was there attending them, by order from the king. He received the saintwith great civility, and offered him a litter to carry him to the palace;but Xavier refused it, and walked on foot, with all his train, in thisorder: Edward de Gama went foremost bare-headed, with a cane in his hand, as the gentleman of the horse, or Major Domo to the Father. Five otherPortuguese followed him, who were the most considerable persons of theship. One of them carried a book in a bag of white satin; another a caneof Bengal, headed with gold; a third his slippers, which were of a fineblack velvet, such as are worn only by persons of the first quality, afourth carried a fair tablet of Our Lady, wrapt in a scarf of violetdamask; and the fifth a magnificent parasol. The Father came next afterthem, in the habit which I have described; with an air composed betwixtmajesty and modesty. The rest of the Portuguese followed; and to beholdtheir countenance, their dress, and the beauty of their train, theyresembled rather cavaliers and lords, than a company of merchants. Theypassed in this manner through the chief streets of the city, with soundof trumpets, flutes, and hautboys, followed by an infinite multitude ofpeople, without reckoning into the number those who filled the windows, the balconies, and the tops of houses. Being arrived at the great place, which fronts the royal palace, they found there six hundred of the king'sguards, drawn up, some armed with lances, others with darts, all of themwith rich scymiters hanging by their sides, and costly vests upon theirbacks. These guards, at the sign given them by their captain, calledFingeiridono, advanced in good order towards the saint, after which theydivided into two ranks, and opened a passage for the Father through themidst of them. 

Being come to the palace, the Portuguese, who walked immediately beforethe Father, turned towards him, and saluted him with great respect. Onepresented him the cane, and another the velvet slippers; he, who held theparasol, spread it over his head; and the two others, who carried thebook and picture, placed themselves on each side of him. All this was sogracefully performed, and with so much honour to the Father, that thelords who were present much admired the manner of it: and they were heardto say amongst themselves, that Xavier had been falsely represented tothem by the Bonzas; that questionless he was a man descended from above, to confound their envy, and abate their pride. 

After they had gone through a long gallery, they entered into a largehall full of people; who, by their habit, which was of damask, heightenedwith gold, and diversified with fair figures, seemed to be persons of thehighest quality. There a little child, whom a reverend old man held bythe hand, coming up to the Father, saluted him with these words: "Mayyour arrival in the palace of my lord the king, be as welcome to him, asthe rain of heaven to the labourers, in a long and parching drought:Enter without fear, " continued he, "for I assure you of the love of allgood men, though the wicked cannot behold you without melancholy in theirfaces, which will make them appear like a black and stormy night. " Xavierreturned an answer suitable to his age who had made the compliment; butthe child replied in a manner which was far above his age. "Certainly, "said he, "you must be endued with an extraordinary courage, to come fromthe end of all the world into a strange country, liable to contempt, inregard of your poverty; and the goodness of your God must needs beinfinite, to be pleased with that poverty against the general opinion ofmankind. The Bonzas are far from doing any thing of this nature; they whopublicly affirm, and swear, that the poor are no more in a possibility ofsalvation than the women. " "May it please the divine goodness of ourLord, " replied Xavier, "to enlighten those dark and wretched souls withthe beams of his celestial truth, to the end they may confess theirerror, both as to that particular, and to the rest of their belief. "

The child discoursed on other subjects, and spoke with so much reason, and with that sublimity of thought, that the Father doubted not but hewas inspired by the Holy Spirit, who, when he pleases, can replenish thesouls of infants with wisdom, and give eloquence to their tongues, beforenature has ripened in them the use of reason. 

In these entertainments, which were surprising to all the assistants, they passed into another hall, where there were many gentlemen richlyhabited, and of good mein. At the moment when the Father entered, all ofthem bowed with reverence; which action they repeated thrice, and so verylow, that they touched the ground with their foreheads, as the Japoneseare very dextrous at that exercise. And this reverence, which they callGromenare, is only performed by the son to the father, and by the vassalto his lord. After this, two of them separating from the company, totestify their general joy at the sight of him, one of them spoke in thismanner: "May your arrival, holy Father Bonza, be as pleasing to our kingas the smiles of a babe are to his mother, who holds him in her arms;which certainly will be, for we swear to you by the hairs of our heads, that every thing, even to the very walls, which seem to dance for joy atyour desired presence, conspires to your good reception, and excites usto rejoice at your arrival; we doubt not but it will turn to the glory ofthat God. Of whom you have spoken so greatly at Amanguchi. " Thiscompliment being ended, these young lords were following the Father; butthe child of whom we made mention, and whom Xavier led by the hand, madea sign to them, that they should go no farther. They mounted on a terracebordered with orange trees, and from thence entered into another hall, more spacious than either of the former. Facharandono, the king'sbrother, was there, with a magnificent retinue. Having done to the saintall the civilities which are practised to the greatest of Japan, he toldhim, "that this day was the most solemn and auspicious of all the yearfor the court of Bungo; and that his lord the king esteemed himself morerich and happy to have him in his palace, than if he were master of allthe silver contained in the two-and-thirty treasuries of China. In themean time, " added the prince, "I wish you an increase of glory, and anentire accomplishment of that design, which brought you hither from theextremities of the earth. "

Then the child, who had hitherto been the master of the ceremonies to theFather, left him in the hands of Facharandono, and retired apart. Theyentered into the king's antichamber, where the principal lords of thekingdom were attending him. After he had been received by them with allpossible civilities, he was at last introduced to his audience in achamber which glittered with gold on every side. The king, who wasstanding, advanced five or six paces at the first appearance of theFather, and bowed himself even to the ground thrice successively, atwhich action all the company were in great amazement. Xavier, on hisside, prostrated himself before that prince, and would have touchedhis foot, according to the custom of the country, but the king would notpermit him, and himself raised up the saint; then taking him by the hand, he caused him to sit down by him on the same estrade. The prince, hisbrother, was seated somewhat lower; and the Portuguese were placed overagainst them, accompanied by the most qualified persons of the court. Theking immediately said all the obliging things to the Father which couldbe expected from a well-bred man; and, laying aside all the pomp ofmajesty, which the kings of Japan are never used to quit in public, treated him with the kindness and familiarity of a friend. The Fatheranswered all these civilities of the prince with a most profound respect, and words full of deference and submission; after which, taking occasionto declare Jesus Christ to him, he explained, in few words, the principalmaxims of Christian morality; but he did it after so plausible a manner, that at the conclusion of his discourse, the king cried out in atransport of admiration, "How can any man learn from God these profoundsecrets? Why has he suffered us to live in blindness, and this Bonza ofPortugal to receive these wonderful illuminations? For, in fine, weourselves are witnesses of what we had formerly by report; and all wehear is maintained by proofs so strong and evident, and withal soconformable to the light of nature, that whoever would examine thesedoctrines, according to the rules of reason, will find that truth willissue out, and meet him on every side, and that no one propositiondestroys another. It is far otherwise with our Bonzas; they cannot makeany discourse without the clashing of their own principles; and fromthence it happens, that the more they speak, the more they entanglethemselves. Confused in their knowledge, and yet more confused inthe explication of what they teach, rejecting to day as false whatyesterday they approved for true; contradicting themselves, and recantingtheir opinions every moment, insomuch, that the clearest head, and themost ready understanding, can comprehend nothing of their doctrine; andin relation to eternal happiness, we are always left in doubt what weshould believe; a most manifest token that they only follow theextravagancies of their own fancies, and have not, for the rule andfoundation of their faith, any permanent and solid truth. "

In this manner spoke the king; and it was easy to judge by the vehemenceof his action, that he spoke from the abundance of his heart. There waspresent a Bonza, very considerable in his sect, and of good knowledge, but too presuming of his understanding, and as much conceited of his ownabilities as any pedant in the world. This Bonza, whose name wasFaxiondono, either jealous of the honour of his profession, or taking tohimself in particular what the king had said of all in general, was oftentempted to have interrupted him, yet he mastered his passion till theking had done; but then losing all manner of respect, and not keeping anymeasures of decency, "How dare you, " said he, "decide matters relating toreligion; you who have never studied in the university of Fianzima, theonly place where the sacred mysteries of the gods are explicated? If youknow nothing of yourself, consult the learned. I am here in person toinstruct you. "

The insolence of the Bonza raised the indignation of all the company, theking excepted, who, smiling, commanded him to proceed, if he had more tosay. Faxiondono growing more arrogant by this moderation of his prince, began raising his note by extolling the profession of a Bonza: "Thatnothing was more certain than that the Bonzas were the favourites ofheaven, both observing the law themselves, and causing it to be observedby others; that they passed the longest nights, and the severest colds, in praying for their benefactors; that they abstained from all sensualpleasures; that fresh fish never came upon their tables; that theyadministered to the sick, instructed the children, comforted thedistressed, reconciled enemies, appeased seditions, and pacifiedkingdoms; that, which was first and chiefest, they gave letters ofexchange for another life, by which the dead became rich in heaven;that, in fine, the Bonzas were the familiar friends of the stars, and theconfidents of the saints; that they were privileged to converse with themby night, to cause them to descend from heaven, to embrace them in theirarms, and enjoy them as long as they desired. " These extravagancies setall the company in a laughter; at which the Bonza was so enraged, that heflew out into greater passion, till the king commanded his brother toimpose silence on him; after which, he caused his seat to be taken fromunder him, and commanded him to withdraw, telling him, by way ofraillery, "That his choler was a convincing proof of a Bonza's holiness;"and then seriously adding, "That a man of his character had more commercewith hell than heaven. " At these words, the Bonza cried out with excessof rage, "The time will come, when no man of this world shall be worthyenough to serve me; there is not that monarch now breathing on the faceof the earth, but shall be judged too vile to touch the hem of mygarment. " He meant, when he was to be transformed into one of theirdeities, and that God and he should be mixed into one divinity, which isthe reward of a Bonza after death. Though the king could not hear hismadness without smiling, yet he had so much compassion on his folly, thathe took upon him to confute those extravagant propositions; but Xavierdesired him to defer it to a fitter time, till he had digested his fury, and was more capable of hearing reason. Then the king said only toFaxiondono, "That he should go and do penance for the pride and insolenceof his speech, wherein he had made himself a companion of the gods. "Faxiondono did not reply, but he was heard to mutter, and grind histeeth, as he withdrew. Being at the chamber door, and ready to go out, "May the gods, " said he aloud, "dart their fire from heaven to consumethee, and burn to ashes all those kings who shall presume to speak likethee!"

The king and Xavier prosecuted their discourse on several articles ofreligion till dinner time; when the meat was on the table, the kinginvited the Father to eat with him. Xavier excused himself with allpossible respect, but that prince would absolutely have it so. "I knowwell, " said he, "my friend and father, that you are not in want of mytable; but, if you were a Japanner, as we are, you would understand, thata king cannot give those he favours a greater sign of his good will, thanin permitting them to eat with him; for which reason, as I love you, andam desirous of shewing it, you must needs dine with me; and farther, Iassure you, that I shall receive a greater honour by it, than I bestow. "Then Xavier, with a low reverence, kissing his scymitar, which is a markof most profound respect, much practised in Japan, said thus to him: "Ipetition the God of heaven, from the bottom of my heart, to reward yourmajesty for all the favours you have heaped on me, by bestowing on youthe light of faith, and the virtues of Christianity, to the end you mayserve God faithfully during your life, and enjoy him eternally afterdeath. " The king embraced him, and desired of God, on his side, that hewould graciously hear the saint's request, yet on this condition, thatthey might remain together in heaven, and never be divided from eachother, that they might have the opportunity of long conversations, and ofdiscoursing to the full of divine matters. At length they sat to dinner:while they were eating, the Portuguese, and all the lords of the court, were on their knees, together with the chief inhabitants of the town, amongst whom were also some Bonzas, who were enraged in their hearts; butthe late example of Faxiondono hindered them from breaking into passion. 

These honours which Xavier received from the king of Bungo, made him soconsiderable, and gave him so great a reputation with the people, thatbeing at his lodgings with the Portuguese, they came thronging from allquarters to hear him speak of God. His public sermons, and his privateconversations, had their due effect. Vast multitudes of people, from thevery first, renounced their idols, and believed in Jesus Christ. Thesaint employed whole days together in baptising of idolaters, or inteaching new believers; so that the Portuguese could not enjoy him tothemselves for their own spiritual consolation, unless at some certainhours of the night, while he was giving himself some breathing time afterhis long labours. Loving him so tenderly as they did, and fearing thathis continual pains might endanger his health, they desired him to manageit with more caution, and to take at least those refreshments which humannature exacted from him, before he sunk at once under some distemper. Buthe answered them, "That if they truly loved him, they would troublethemselves no more concerning him; that they ought to look on him as onewho was dead to all outward refreshments; that his nourishment, hissleep, and his life itself, consisted in delivering from the tyranny ofthe devil those precious souls, for whose sake chiefly God had called himfrom the utmost limits of the earth. "

Amongst the conversions which were made at Fucheo, one of the mostconsiderable was that of a famous Bonza, of Canafama, called Sacay Ecran. This Bonza, who was very learned, and a great pillar of his sect, seeingthat none of his brethren durst attempt Xavier on the matter of religion, undertook a public disputation with him. The conference Avas made in aprincipal place of the town, in presence of a great multitude. Scarcelyhad Xavier made an end of explaining the Christian doctrine, when theBonza grew sensible of his errors. The infidel, notwithstanding, went onto oppose those truths, of which he had already some imperfect glimpse;but being at length convinced, by the powerful reasons of his adversary, and inwardly moved by God's good spirit, he fell on his knees, andlifting up his hands towards heaven, he pronounced aloud these words, Math tears trickling from his eyes; "O Jesus Christ, thou true and onlyson of God, I submit to thee. I confess from my heart, and with my mouth, that thou art God eternal and omnipotent; and I earnestly desire thepardon of all my auditors, that I have so often taught them things fortruth, which I acknowledge, and at this present declare before them, wereonly forgeries and fables. "

An action which was so surprising, moved the minds of all the assistants;and it was in the power of Father Xavier to have baptized that very dayfive hundred persons, who, being led by the example of the Bonza ofCanafama, all of them earnestly desired baptism. He might perhaps havedone this in the Indies, where there were no learned men to oppose themysteries of our faith, and to tempt the fidelity of the new converts bycaptious queries. But he judged this not to be practicable in Japan, where the Bonzas, not being able to hinder the conversion of idolaters, endeavoured afterwards to regain them by a thousand lying artifices andsophistications; and it appeared necessary to him, before he baptizedthose who were grown up to manhood, to fortify them well against thetricks of those seducers. 

Accordingly, the saint disposed the souls of those Gentiles by degrees tothis first sacrament, and began with the reformation of their manners, chusing rather not to baptize the king of Bungo, than to precipitate hisbaptism; or rather he thought, that his conversion would be always speedyenough, provided it were sincere and constant. Thus, the great care ofFather Xavier, in relation to the prince, was to give him an aversion tothose infamous vices which had been taught him by the Bonzas, and inwhich he lived without scruple, upon the faith of those his masters. Nowthe king, attending with great application to the man of God, and havinglong conversations with him, began immediately to change his life, and togive the demonstrations of that change. From the very fist, he banishedout of his chamber a beautiful youth, who was his minion, and alsoforbade him the entry of his palace. He gave bountifully to the poor, towhom he had formerly been hard-hearted, as thinking it was a crime topity them, and an act of justice to be cruel to them, according to thedoctrine of his Bonzas, who maintained, that poverty not only made mendespicable and ridiculous, but also criminal, and worthy of the severestpunishments. According to the principles of the same doctors, women withchild were allowed to make themselves miscarry by certain potions, andeven to murder those children whom they brought into the world againsttheir will; insomuch, that such unnatural cruelties were daily committed, and nothing was more common in the kingdom of Bungo, than those inhumanmothers: Some of them, to save the charges of their food and education, others to avoid the miseries attending poverty, and many to preserve thereputation of chastity, however debauched and infamous they were. Theking, by the admonition of the Father, forbade those cruelties on pain ofdeath. He made other edicts against divers Pagan ceremonies, which werelascivious or dishonest, and suffered not the Bonzas to set a foot withinhis palace. As to what remains, he was wrapt in admiration at the virtueof the holy man; and confessed often to his courtiers, that when he sawhim appear at any time, he trembled even to the bottom of his heart, because he seemed to see the countenance of the man of God, as a clearmirror, representing to him the abominations of his life. 

While Xavier had this success at the court of Bungo, Cosmo de Torrez, andJohn Fernandez, suffered for the faith at Amanguchi. After the departureof the saint, the whole nation of the Bonzas rose against them, andendeavoured to confound them in regular disputes; flattering themselveswith this opinion, that the companions of Xavier were not so learned ashimself, and judging on the other side, that the least advantage whichthey should obtain against them, would re-establish the declining affairsof Paganism. 

It happened quite contrary to their expectations: Torrez, to whomFernandez served instead of an interpreter, answered their questions withsuch force of reason, that they were wholly vanquished; not being able towithstand his arguments, they endeavoured to decry him by theircalumnies, spreading a report, that the companions of the great EuropeanBonza cut the throats of little children by night, sucked their blood, and eat their flesh; that the devil had declared, by the mouth of anidol, that these two Europeans were his disciples; and that it washimself who had instructed them in those subtle answers which one of themhad returned in their public disputations. Besides this, some of theBonzas made oath, that they had seen a devil darting flakes of fire likethunder and lightning against the palace of the king, as a judgment, sothey called it, against those who had received into the town thesepreachers of an upstart faith. But perceiving that none of theseinventions took place according to their desires, and that the people, instead of giving credit to their projects, made their sport at them, partly in revenge, and partly to verify their visions, they engaged intheir interests a lord of the kingdom, who was a great soldier, and amalecontent; him they wrought to take up arms against the king. Thisnobleman, provoked with the sense of his ill usage at court, and fartherheightened by motives of religion and interest, raised an army in lessthan three weeks time, by the assistance of the Bonzas, and came pouringdown like a deluge upon Amanguchi. 

The king, who was neither in condition to give him battle, nor providedto sustain a siege, and who feared all things from his subjects, of whomhe was extremely hated, lost his courage to that degree, that lie lookedon death as his only remedy; for, apprehending above all things theignominy of falling alive into the power of rebels, pushed on by abarbarous despair, he first murdered his son, and then ript up his ownbelly with a knife, having beforehand left order with one of his faithfulservants to burn their bodies so soon as they were dead, and not to leaveso much as their ashes at the disposal of the enemy. 

All was put to fire and sword within the city. During this confusion, thesoldiers, animated by the Bonzas, searched for Torrez and Fernandez, tohave massacred them: And both of them had perished without mercy, if thewife of Neatondono, of whom formerly we have made mention, and who, though continuing a Pagan, yet had so great a kindness for Xavier, that, for his sake, she kept them hidden in her palace till the publictranquillity was restored; for, as these popular commotions are of thenature of storms, which pass away, and that so much the more speedily, asthey had been more violent, the town resumed her former countenance inthe space of some few days. 

The heads of the people being assembled for the election of a new king, by common consent pitched on the brother of the king of Bungo, a youngprince, valiant of his person, and born for great atchievements. Immediately they sent a solemn embassy to that prince, and presented tohim the crown of Amanguchi. The court of Bungo celebrated the election ofthe new king with great magnificence, while Xavier was yet residing atFucheo. The saint himself rejoiced the more at this promotion, because helooked, on this wonderful revolution, which was projected by the Bonzasfor the ruin of Christianity, as that which most probably would confirmit. He was not deceived in his conjectures; and, from the beginning, hada kind of assurance, that this turn of state would conduce to theadvantage of the faith: for having desired the king of Bungo, that hewould recommend to the prince his brother the estate of Christianity inAmanguchi, the king performed so fully that request, that the new monarchpromised, on his royal word, to be altogether as favourable to theChristians as the king his brother. 

Xavier had been forty days at Fucheo when the Portuguese merchants werein a readiness to set sail for China, according to the measures whichthey had taken. All necessary preparations being made, he accompaniedthem to take his leave of the king of Bungo. That prince told themerchants, that he envied them the company of the saint; that, in losinghim, he seemed to have lost his father; and that the thought of neverseeing him again, most sensibly afflicted him. 

Xavier kissed his hand with a profound reverence, and told him, that hewould return to wait on his majesty as soon as possibly he could; that hewould keep him inviolably in his heart; and that in acknowledgement ofall his favours, he should continually send up his prayers to heaven, that God would shower on him his celestial blessings. 

The king having taken him aside, as to say something in private to him, Xavier laid hold on that opportunity, and gave him most important counselfor the salvation of his soul. He advised him above all things to bear inmind how soon the greatness and pomp of this present life will vanishaway; that life is but short in its own nature; that we scarcely havebegun to live, before death comes on; and if he should not die aChristian, nothing less was to be expected than eternal misery; that, onthe contrary, whoever, being truly faithful, should persevere in thegrace of baptism, should have right to an everlasting inheritance withthe Son of God, as one of his beloved children. He desired him also toconsider what was become of so many kings and emperors of Japan; whatadvantage was it to them to have sat upon the throne, and wallowed inpleasures for so many years, being now burning in an abyss of fire, whichwas to last to all eternity. What madness was it for a man to condemn hisown soul to endless punishments, that his body might enjoy a momentarysatisfaction; that there was no kingdom, nor empire, though the universalmonarchy of the world should be put into the balance, whose loss was notto be accounted gain, if losing them, we acquired an immortal crown inheaven; that these truths, which were indisputable, had been concealedfrom his forefathers, and even from all the Japonians, by the secretjudgment of Almighty God, and for the punishment of their offences; that, for his own particular, he ought to provide for that account, which hewas to render of himself, how much more guilty would he appear in God'spresence, if the Divine Providence having conducted from the ends of theearth, even into his own palace, a minister of the gospel, to discover tohim the paths of happiness, he should yet continue wildered and wanderingin the disorders of his life. "Which the Lord avert, " continued Xavier;"and may it please him to hear the prayers which day and night I shallpour out for your conversion. I wish it with an unimaginable ardour, andassure you, that wheresoever I shall be, the most pleasing news which canbe told me, shall be to hear that the king of Bungo is become aChristian, and that he lives according to the maxims of Christianity. "

This discourse made such impressions on the king, and so melted into hisheart, that the tears came thrice into his eyes; but those tears were theonly product of it at that time, so much that prince, who had renouncedthose impurities, which are abhorred by nature, was still fastened tosome other sensual pleasures. And it was not till after some succeedingyears, that, having made more serious reflections on the wholesomeadmonitions of the saint, he reformed his life for altogether, and in theend received baptism. 

Xavier having taken leave of the king, returned to the port of Figen, accompanied by the merchants, who were to set sail within few days after. The departure of the saint was joyful to the Bonzas, but the glory of itwas a great abatement to their pleasure. It appeared to them, that allthe honours he had received redounded to their shame; and that after suchan affront, they should remain eternally blasted in the opinion of thepeople, if they did not wipe it out with some memorable vengeance. Beingmet together, to consult on a business which so nearly touched them, theyconcluded, that their best expedient was to raise a rebellion in Fucheo, as they had done at Amanguchi, and flesh the people by giving up to themthe ship of the Portuguese merchants, first to be plundered, then burned, and the proprietors themselves to be destroyed. In consequence of this, if fortune favoured them, to attempt the person of the king, and havingdispatched him, to conclude their work by extinguishing the royal line. As Xavier was held in veneration in the town, even amongst the mostdissolute idolaters, they were of opinion they did nothing, if they didnot ruin his reputation, and make him odious to the people. Thereupon, they set themselves at work to publish, not only what the Bonzas ofAmanguchi had written of him, but what they themselves had newlyinvented; "That he was the most wicked of mankind; an enemy of the livingand the dead; his practice being to dig up the carcases of the buried, for the use of his enchantments; and that he had a devil in his mouth, bywhose assistance he charmed his audience. " They added, "That he hadspelled the king, and from thence proceeded these new vagaries in hisunderstanding and all his inclinations; but that, in case he came not outof that fit of madness, it should cost him no less than his crown andlife: That Amida and Xaca, two powerful and formidable gods, had sworn tomake an example of him and of his subjects; that therefore the people, ifthey were wise, should prevent betimes the wrath of those offendeddeities, by revenging their honour on that impostor of a Bonza, and theseEuropean pirates who made their idol of him. " The people were too wellpersuaded of the holiness of Xavier, to give credence to such improbablestories as were raised of him; and all the Bonzas could say against him, served only to increase the public hatred against themselves. Thusdespairing of success amongst the multitude, they were forced to takeanother course, to destroy him in the good opinion of the king. 

About twelve leagues distant from the town there was a famous monasteryof the Bonzas, the superior of which was one Fucarandono, esteemed thegreatest scholar and most accomplished in all the learning of Japan: hehad read lectures of the mysteries of their divinity for the space ofthirty years, in the most renowned university of the kingdom. But howeverskilled he was in all sciences, his authority was yet greater than hisknowledge: men listened to him as to the oracle of Japan, and an implicitfaith was given to all he said. The Bonzas of Fucheo were persuaded, thatif they could bring him to the town, and set him up against Xavier, inpresence of the court, they should soon recover their lost honour; suchconfidence they had of a certain victory over the European doctor. Onthis account they writ to Fucarandono, with all the warmness of anearnest invitation, and sent him word. "That if he would give himself thetrouble of this little journey, to revenge the injury they had received, they would carry him back in triumph, on their shoulders, to hismonastery. "

The Bonza, who was full as vain as he was learned, came speedily, attended by six Bonzas, all men of science, but his inferiors andscholars. He entered the palace at that point of time when Xavier, andthe Portuguese, had audience of the king, for their last farewell, beingto embark the next morning. Before the king had dismissed them, he wasinformed that Fucarandono desired to kiss his hand, in presence of thePortuguese Bonza. At the name of Fucarandono the king was a littlenonplused, and stood silent for some time, suspecting that he came tochallenge Father Xavier to a disputation, and devising in himself somemeans of breaking off this troublesome affair, as he afterwardsacknowledged. For whatever good opinion he had of the saint's abilities, yel he could not think him strong enough to encounter so formidable anadversary; and therefore, out of his kindness to him, was not willing toexpose him to a disgrace in public. Xavier, who perceived the king'sperplexity, and imagined from whence it might proceed, begged earnestlyof his majesty to give the Bonza leave of entrance, and also freepermission of speaking: "for, as to what concerns me, " said the Father, "you need not give yourself the least disquiet: the law I preach is noearthly science, taught in any of our universities, nor a humaninvention; it is a doctrine altogether heavenly, of which God himself isthe only teacher. Neither all the Bonzas of Japan, nor yet all thescholars extant in the world, can prevail against it, any more than theshadows of the night against the beams of the rising sun. "

The king, at the request of Xavier, gave entrance to the Bonza. Fucarandono, after the three usual reverences to the king, seated himselfby Xavier; and after he had fixed his eyes earnestly upon him, "I knownot, " said he, with an overweaning look, "if thou knowest me; or, tospeak more properly, if thou rememberest me. " "I remember not, " saidXavier, "that I have ever seen you. " Then the Bonza, breaking out into aforced laughter, and turning to his fellows, "I shall have but littledifficulty in overcoming this companion, who has conversed with me ahundred times, and yet would make us believe he had never seen me. " Thenlooking on Xavier, with a scornful smile, "Hast thou none of those goodsyet remaining, " continued he, "which thou soldest me at the port ofFrenajoma?" "In truth, " replied Xavier, with a sedate and modestcountenance, "I have never been a merchant in all my life, neither have Iever been at the port of Frenajoma. " "What a beastly forgetfulness isthis of thine, " pursued the Bonza, with an affected wonder, and keepingup his bold laughter, "how canst thou possibly forget it?" "Bring itback to my remembrance, " said Xavier mildly, "you, who have so much morewit, and a memory happier than mine. " "That shall be done, " rejoined theBonza, proud of the commendations which the saint had given him; "it isnow just fifteen hundred years since thou and I, who were then merchants, traded at Frenajoma, and where I bought of thee a hundred bales of silk, at an easy pennyworth: dost thou yet remember it?" The saint, whoperceived whither the discourse tended, asked him, very civilly, "ofwhat age he might be?" "I am now two-and-fifty, " said Fucarandono. "Howcan it then be, " replied Xavier, "that you were a merchant fifteenhundred years ago, that is fifteen ages, when yet you have been in theworld, by your own confession, but half an age? and how comes it that youand I then trafficked together at Frenajoma, since the greatest part ofyou Bonzas maintain, that Japan was a desart, and uninhabited at thattime?" "Hear me, " said the Bonza, "and listen to me as an oracle; I willmake thee confess that we have a greater knowledge of things past, thanthou and thy fellows have of the present. Thou art then to understand, that the world had no beginning, and that men, properly speaking, neverdie: the soul only breaks loose from the body in which it was confined, and while that body is rotting under ground, is looking out for anotherfresh and vigorous habitation, wherein we are born again, sometimes inthe nobler, sometimes in the more imperfect sex, according to the variousconstellations of the heavens, and the different aspects of the moon. These alterations in our birth produce the like changes in our fortune. Now, it is the recompence of those who have lived virtuously, to preservea constant memory of all the lives which they have passed through, in somany ages; and to represent themselves, to themselves, entirely, such asthey have been from all eternity, under the figure of a prince, of amerchant, of a scholar, of a soldier, and so many other various forms: onthe contrary, they who, like thee, are so ignorant of their own affairs, as not to understand who, or what they have been formerly, during thoseinfinite revolutions of ages, shew that their crimes have deserved death, as often as they have lost the remembrance of their Jives in everychange. "

The Portuguese, from whose relation we have the knowledge of what isabove written, and who was present at the dispute, as he himself informsus, in his book of Travels, gives us no account of the answers which weremade by Xavier. "I have neither knowledge nor presumption enough, " sayshe, "to relate those subtile and solid reasons, with which he confutedthe mad imaginations of the Bonza. " We only have learnt from thisPortuguese, that Fucarandono was put to silence upon the point inquestion, and that, a little to save his reputation, he changed thesubject, but to no purpose, for even there too he was confounded; for, forgetting those decencies which even nature prescribes to men, andcommon custom has taught us in civil conversation, he advanced infamouspropositions, which cannot be related without offending modesty; andthese he maintained with a strange impudence, against the reasons of theFather, though the king and the noble auditory thought the Christianarguments convincing. But the Bonza still flying out into passion, andcontinuing to rail and bawl aloud, as if he were rather in a bear-gardenthan at a solemn disputation, one of the lords there present said, smiling, to him, "If your business be fighting, why did not you go to thekingdom of Amanguchi, when they were in civil wars? there you might havefound some one or other with whom you might have gone to hard-heads. Whatmake you here, where all things are at quiet? But, if you came hither todispute, why do you not carry on your argument with mildness and goodmanners, according to the copy which is set you by the European Bonza?"

This sharp raillery had no effect upon Fucarandono: he replied to thelord with so much impudence and haughtiness, that the king, whosepatience was tired with so much insolence, caused him to be put out ofthe hall, saying, "That his coat of a Bonza was the only protection ofhis life. " The affront which Fucarandono had received, was interpreted bythe Bonzas as an injury done to the gods, and as such they declared it tothe people, saying, "That religion was profaned, and that the king, thecourt, and the whole nation, had incurred the wrath of heaven. " Uponwhich pretence they shut up the temples, and would neither offersacrifice nor accept of alms. The multitude, which had already beendisposed to rise, began to get together, and had certainly taken arms, ifthe king, by good management, had not somewhat calmed their spirits. 

In the mean time the Portuguese, not believing themselves to be secureagainst the rage of a superstitious people, and having just grounds ofapprehending that the affront which Fucarandono had received might berevenged on their persons, returned with all expedition to their ship, designing to set sail with the benefit of the first fair wind. At theirdeparture from the town, they intreated Father Xavier to follow them; buthe could not resolve to run off like a fugitive, or to forsake those newChristians whose ruin had been sworn by the Heathen priests. How eagersoever those merchants were to get out of a country where their liveswere in so little safety, yet their fear for Father Xavier kept themlingering there some days longer; they deputed the captain of the vesselto him, who was to desire him, in their name, to make haste to them. Edward de Gama, after a long inquiry, found him at last in a poor cabin, with eight Christians, who, having been the most zealous in opposition ofthe Bonzas, were in reason to expect the more cruel usage at their hands, and were content to offer up their lives, provided they might die in thearms of the man of God. 

The captain urged him with the strongest reasons which he could invent, and set before him all the dangers which attended him; that, being atthe mercy of the Bonzas, his death was inevitable; and that the means ofescaping would be lost when once the tempest should begin to rise. TheFather, far from yielding to these arguments, was offended at the captainand the merchants for desiring to hinder him from the crown of martyrdomwhich he had taken so long a journey to obtain. "My brother, " said he toGama, with a fervour which expressed the holy ambition of his soul, "howhappy should I be, if I could receive what you reckon a disgrace, butwhat I account a sovereign felicity! but I am unworthy of that favourfrom Almighty God; yet I will not render myself more unworthy of it, which assuredly I should if I embarked with you: For what scandal shouldI give, by flying hence, to my new converts? Might they not take occasionfrom it to violate their promises to God, when they should find mewanting to the duty of my ministry? If, in consideration of that moneywhich you have received from your passengers, you think yourself obligedto secure them from the clanger which threatens them, and, for thatreason, have summoned them on board, ought not I, by a stronger motive, to guard my flock, and die with them for the sake of a God who isinfinitely good, and who has redeemed me at the price of his own life, bysuffering for me on the cross? Ought not I to seal it with my blood, andto publish it by my death, that all men are bound to sacrifice theirblood and lives to this God of mercies?"

This generous answer wrought so much upon the captain, that, instead ofdoubling his solicitations on Father Xavier, he resolved to partake hisfortune, and not to leave him. Having taken up this resolution, withoutfarther care of what might happen to his ship, or what became of his ownperson, and accounting all his losses for a trifle while he enjoyed thecompany of Xavier, he returned indeed to his merchants, but it was onlyto declare to them the determination of the Father, and his own also;that in case they would not stay, he gave up his vessel to them. Theywere supplied with mariners and soldiers, and had plentiful provisionslaid in, both of food and ammunition for war. They might go at theirpleasure wheresoever they designed; but, for his own particular, he wasresolved to live and die with the man of God. 

Not a man of them but subscribed to the opinion of the captain; and theywere one and all for following his example, and the fortune of the saint. Suddenly they put into the port again, for the ship had lain off at agood distance, for fear of some attempt which might be made upon it fromthe town; soldiers were left for its defence, and the captain andmerchants came in company to Fucheo. Their return gave new vigour to theChristians, and amazed the people, who could not but wonder that so poora man should be had in such esteem by his countrymen, that they choserather to run the hazard of their wealth, and of their lives, than tolose the sight of him. 

This prompt return broke all the measures of the Bonzas, whose couragehad been swelled by the flight of Gama, which had given them theopportunity of making their cabals against the Christians; but when theyfound that those designs might possibly miscarry, and that, on the otherside, they were again defied to a new conference on the subject ofreligion, they thought good to accommodate themselves a little to thetimes, and to renew the dispute betwixt Xavier and Fucarandono before thecourt. To seem beforehand with the Christians, they made it their ownpetition to the king, who freely-granted it, but on some conditions, which were to be observed on either side. These articles were, --"Thatnoise was to be banished in dispute; no flying out to be permitted, nor any provocation by sharp language: That the arguments and answerswere to be couched in precise terms, and drawn up in form of a justdispute, as it should be agreed by the judges, who were to moderate: Thatthe approbation of the audience was to decide the victory: That if thepoint were doubtful betwixt them, the suffrages should be taken, and thathe should be judged to have reason on his side who had the majority ofvoices: Lastly, That whoever was willing to enter himself a Christian, might profess his faith without hinderance or molestation from any man. "These conditions were too reasonable to be accepted by the Bonzas. Theyappealed from the king to the king better informed, and told him boldly, that, in matters of religion, it was not just that the profane (that isthe laity) should be umpires; but when they found the king resolved tomaintain his point, they quitted theirs. The next morning was agreed onfor the conference, and some of the most understanding persons of thecourt were appointed judges. Fucarandono made his appearance at thetime, attended by three thousand Bonzas. The king, who was eitherapprehensive of his own safety amongst that religious rabble, or feared, at least, that some disorder might ensue, permitted hut four of all thesquadron to enter; and sent word to the others, for their satisfaction, that it was not honourable for so many to appear against a single man. 

Xavier, who had notice sent him from the king, that his adversary was onthe place of combat, came, accompanied with the chiefest of thePortuguese, all richly habited, who appeared as his officers, and paidhim all possible respect, attending him bare-headed, and never speakingto him but on the knee. The Bonzas were ready to burst with envy, beholding the pompous entry of their antagonist; and that which doubledtheir despite was, that they overheard the lords saying to oneanother, --"Observe this poor man, of whom so many ridiculous pictureshave been made to us; would to God our children might be like him, oncondition the Bonzas might say as bad of them as they speak of him! Ourown eyes are witnesses of the truth; and the palpable lies which theyhave invented, show what credit is to be given to them. " The king tookpleasure in those discourses, and told those lords, that the Bonzas hadassured him that he should be sick at heart at the first appearance ofFather Francis. He acknowledged he was almost ready to have believedthem; but being now convinced, by his own experience, he found that thecharacter of an ambassador from heaven, and interpreter of the gods, wasnot inconsistent with a liar. Fucarandono, who heard all these passagesfrom his place, took them for so many ill omens; and, turning to his fourassociates, told them, "that he suspected this day would be yet moreunsuccessful to them than the last. "

The king received Father Xavier with great civility; and, after he hadtalked with him sometime in private, very obligingly ordered him to beginthe disputation. When they had all taken their places, the saint demandedof the Bonza, as the king had desired him, "For what reason the Christianreligion ought not to be received in Japan?" The Bonza, whose haughtinesswas much abated, replied modestly, "Because it is a new law, in allthings opposite to the ancient established laws of the empire; and thatit seems made on purpose to render the faithful servants of the godscontemptible, [1] as annulling the privileges which the Cubosamas offormer ages had conferred on the Bonzas, and teaches that out of thesociety of Christians there is no salvation: but especially, " added he, alittle kindling in the face, "because it presumes to maintain, that theholy Amida and Xaca, Gizon and Canon, are in the bottomless pit of smoke, condemned to everlasting punishment, and delivered up in prey to thedragon of the house of night. " After he had thus spoken, the Bonza heldhis peace; and Xavier, who had received a sign from the king to makereply, said, at the beginning of his discourse, "that seeing Fucarandonohad mingled many things together, it was reasonable, for the betterclearing of the difficulties, to tie him up to one single proposition, which was not to be left until it was evacuated, and plainly found to beeither true or false. " All agreed this was fair; and Fucarandono himselfdesired Xavier to shew cause, why he and his companions spoke evil of thedeities of the country. 

[Footnote 1: An argument ready cut and dried for the use of any churchby law established]

The saint replied, "That he gave not to idols the name of gods, becausethey were unworthy of it; and that so sacred a title was only proper tothe Sovereign Lord, who had created heaven and earth. Then he proceededto discourse of the Divine Being, and described those properties whichare known to us by the light of nature; that is to say, his independence, his eternity, his omnipotence, his wisdom, goodness, and justice, withoutcircumscription. He made out, that those infinite perfections could notbe comprehended by any created understanding, how refined soever. Andthus having filled his auditors with a vast idea of the Deity, hedemonstrated, that the idols of Japan, who, according to the Japoniansthemselves, had been men, subject to the common laws of time and nature, were not to be accounted gods; and, at the most, were only to bereverenced as philosophers, lawgivers, and princes, but not in the leastas immortal powers, since the date both of their birth and death wasregistered in the public monuments: That, if their works were dulyconsidered, they were yet less to be accounted for omnipotent: Thathaving not been able, after their decease, to preserve their statelypalaces and magnificent sepulchres from decay, there was no appearancethat they had built the fabric of the universe, or could maintain it inits present state. Lastly, that this appertained alone to the true God, who is worshipped by the Christians; and that, considering the beauty ofthe heavens, the fruitfulness of the earth, and the order of the seasons, we might conclude, that he only, who is a spirit, eternal, all-powerful, and all-wise, could be the creator and absolute commander of the world. "As soon as Xavier had concluded, the whole assembly cried out, that hespoke reason; and the judges immediately pronounced, as a manifest truth, that the pagods were not gods. Fucarandono would have replied, but thegeneral cry gave it for a cause decided; and the king imposed silence onthe Bonza, according to the articles of agreement. 

Thus the Bonza passed on to another question in his own despite; andasked Father Xavier, "Why he allowed not of those bills of exchange whichthey gave in favour of the dead, since the rich found their account inthem, and that they had their return of their money, with usury, inheaven?" The Father answered, "That the right we had to a better worldwas founded not on those deceitful letters, but on the good works whichare practised with the faith and doctrine which he preached: That he whoinspired it into our souls was Jesus Christ, the true and only Son ofGod, who was crucified for the salvation of sinners; and that they whopreserved that living faith till death should certainly obtain eternalhappiness: That for what remained, this holy law was free from worldlyinterest, and that it excluded not from heaven either the poor or women;that even poverty, which is patiently endured, was a means of gaining thekingdom of heaven; and that the weaker sex had greater advantagesthan ours, by reason of that modesty and piety which is almost inherentin their nature. " The applause which followed this discourse was general;only Fucarandono and his companions, who had not wherewith to reply, andyet were too obstinate to recant, kept a discontented silence. It wasjudged that Xavier's opinion was the more reasonable, and the disputeadjourned to the day following. 

These ill successes would have driven the Bonza to despair, if hispresumption had not kept up his spirits. He returned at the timeappointed; but, as if he distrusted his own strength, as presuming as hewas, he brought with him six other Bonzas, the most learned amongst them, and chosen out of all their sects, not to be bare spectators of thecombat, but to relieve each other, and to charge every one in his turn. At the first they propounded very subtile questions concerning themysteries of our faith. Father Xavier was surprised at the hearingof them; and as those questions, which are not reported by the Portugueseparticularly, were in all likelihood above the knowledge of the Pagans, he was almost induced to think the devil had suggested them; at the leasthe acknowledged, that to solve them he needed an extraordinary assistancefrom above, and desired the Portuguese to second him with their prayersduring the disputation. Whether he received that supernatural assistance, or that those difficulties did not so much surpass his knowledge as hehad thought, he answered to the satisfaction of the whole assembly. Whenjudgment was passed that those questions were fully decided, one of theBonzas, whose heart was wholly set on riches, and who believed that therewas nothing more charming in the world than gold and silver, undertook toprove, that God was an enemy to the poor: "For, " said the Bonza, "sincehe denies them those blessings which he bountifully gives the rich, and, in causing them to be born in a mean condition, exposes them to all themiseries and ignominy of life, is it not a sign, that he has neitherkindness nor value for them?"

Xavier denied the consequence of that proposition; and argued both fromthe principles of morality, which look on riches as false goods, and outof the grounds of Christianity, which, in respect of salvation, countthem true evils. He reasoned thereupon so justly, and withal so clearly, that his adversaries were forced to give up the cause, according to therelation of the Portuguese, who were witness of it. After this theyadvanced such extravagant and mad propositions, that they cost the Fatherno trouble to confute, for they destroyed themselves. But the mostpleasant part of this day's work was, that the seven Bonzas not beingable to agree on some points of doctrine, fell foul on each other, andwrangled with so much heat and violence, that at last they came todownright railing, and had proceeded to blows, if the king had notinterposed his authority, which frightened them into quiet. This was theend of that day's disputation; and nothing more confirmed the minds ofthe auditors on the side of Xavier, than to see his adversaries at civilwars amongst themselves. 

The king going out of his palace the next morning, with a greatattendance, to walk in the town, according to his custom, and passing bythe house where the Portuguese lodged, sent a message to the holy man, desiring him to come to his gardens, where he would show him sport, provided he came well armed, for he was to kill, with one blow, twokites or puttocks, at the least, out of those seven which yesterdayendeavoured to have pulled out his eyes Xavier, who easily understood hismeaning, came out to pay him his respects, and to acknowledge the honourwhich was done him. The king took him by the hand, and led him to thepalace amidst the acclamations of the people. The seven Bonzas, represented by the seven kites, were already in the hall, with aconfirmed impudence, and so much the more haughty, as they had the lessreason so to be; according to the usual character of vain andself-opinioned men. 

The first step they made in order to a new dispute, was to enter aprotestation, in writing, against the judgment and proceedings of theformer day; wherein they declared void the sentence of the umpires, appealed from them, and set forth new objections and difficulties uponthe questions formerly debated. The king answered himself, that thosepoints which had been decided had no need of any farther explanation, andthat they were already tied up by the conditions of the conference, whichboth parties had accepted. He added, that Father Xavier was ready to goon ship-board, and that it was not reasonable to lose time by fruitlessrepetitions, but if they had any new questions to propose, let thembegin, and they should be heard; if not, they had free licence to depart. 

This positive answer constrained them to supersede their writing, and topitch on other matters. Fucarandono affecting an air of devotion andmodesty, asked, Why the Christians gave obscene names to the saints inParadise, whensoever they invoked them in their public prayers; givinghim to understand, that _sancte_, in the Japonian language, signifiedsomething too dishonest to be spoken. The Father declared, that the wordin Latin had only a pure and pious meaning. Nevertheless, that it mightnot give scandal, nor pollute the imagination of the Japonians by anequivocal sound, he ordered the new Christians, from thenceforward, touse the word _beate_ instead of it; and to say, _Beate Petre, BeatePauls_, in the room of _Sancte Petre, Sancte Paule_. Concerning the nameof God, the Bonzas would also have fastened a quarrel on the Father;because _dajus_, in their tongue, signifies a _lie_. He laughed at thisridiculous exception, which was in effect a mere jingle; and the judgesand audience concluded it to be no more. 

Three other points, on which the Bonzas more insisted, were thought to bemore solid, and of greater consequence. The first was proposed in thismanner: "Either God foresaw that Lucifer and his accomplices wouldrevolt, and be damned eternally, or he foresaw it not. If he had noforesight of it, his prescience did not extend so far as you would haveus to believe; but if he foresaw it, the consequence is worse, that hedid not hinder this revolt, which had prevented their damnation. Your Godbeing, as you say, the fountain of all goodness, must now be acknowledgedby you for the original cause of so much evil. Thus you are forced, " saidthe Bonza, "to confess, either ignorance or malice in your God. "

Xavier was so much amazed to hear a Bonza reasoning like a schoolman, that turning to Edward de Gama, who was by him, "See, " says he softlyin Portuguese, that he might not be understood by the Japonians, "seehow the devil has sharpened the wit of these his advocates. " In the meantime, one of the Bonzas coming up to the charge, said, according to thesame principle, "That if God had foreknown that Adam would sin, and castdown, together with himself, his whole progeny into an abyss of miseries, why did he create him? At least, when our first father was ready to eatof the forbidden fruit, why did not that omnipotent hand, which gave himbeing, annihilate him at the same moment?"

A third Bonza, taking the word, urged him with another argument: "If ourevil be as ancient as the world, " said he, subtilely, "why did God let somany ages pass away without giving it a remedy? Why did he not descendfrom heaven, and make himself man, to redeem human kind, by his death andsufferings, as soon as ever man was guilty? To what degree did thosefirst men sin, to become unworthy of such a favour? And what has been themerit of their descendants, that they should be more favourably treatedthan their predecessors?"

These difficulties did not appear new to Xavier, who was very learned, and who had read whatsoever the fathers and school divines had saidconcerning them. He answered, without doubt, according to their doctrine;but the Portuguese, who relates the objections, durst not undertake towrite the solutions of them, if we will believe himself, because theysurpassed the understanding of a merchant. The Bonzas made many replies, to all which the Father gave the proper solutions in few words, andaccording to the rules of the schools. Whether it were that theycomprehended not the solutions, or were it out of their hot-headedness, or that they seemed not to understand them to avoid the shame of beingbaffled, they yielded not, but cried out louder than before. As theydisputed more for victory than truth, they denied all things, even tothose principles which are self-evident; pretending thereby to encumbertheir opponent. Xavier knew what use to make of his advantages; he turnedthe confusion upon them, by reducing them to manifest contradictions, from whence they could never disengage themselves; so that, instead ofanswering, they gnashed their teeth, foamed at mouth, and stamped andstared about like madmen. The king, whose indignation was raised byseeing the obstinacy of the Bonzas, said to them, in a kind of passion, "As for myself, as far as I am capable of judging, I find that FatherXavier speaks good sense, and that you know not what you say. You shouldeither understand better, or be less violent than you appear, to judge ofthese truths without prejudice. But, if the divine law be wanting to you, make use of your reason, which, of itself, will let you see, that you arenot to deny things which are evident, nor to bark like dogs. " After thesewords he rose from his seat, and, taking Xavier by the hand, brought himback to his own lodging. The people, who followed in great multitudes, made loud acclamations, and the streets rung with the praises of the holyman: While the Bonzas, mad with rage and envy, cried out aloud, "May thefire of heaven fall down upon a prince, who suffers himself to be soeasily seduced by this foreign magician!"

Thus concluded the disputations which he had with Fucarandono and theBonzas. They were very glorious for him, and for the religion which hepreached, but brought not forth the expected fruit amongst the idolaterswho were present at them; for neither the Portuguese author, whom we havefrequently cited, nor other historians of the Father's life, make mentionof any new conversions which were made; and it affords great occasion forour wonder, that the lords of the court, who so much approved thedoctrine of Christianity, should still continue in the practice ofidolatry, and of their vices, if it were not always to be remembered, that, in conversion, the light of the understanding avails nothing unlessthe heart be also touched, and that the philosophers, of whom St Paulspeaks, "having known God, did not glorify him as God. " Nevertheless wemay probably believe, that these disputations in progress of time failednot of their due; effect; and it is also probable, that they were theseed of those wonderful conversions which were made in following years. 

Father Xavier went the next morning to take his last farewell of theking, who was more kind to him than ever, and parted from Japan the sameday, which was Nov. 20th, in the year 1551, having continued in thatcountry two years and four months. 

Not long before, Clod had made known to his servant, that the town ofMalacca was besieged by sea and land; and that the king of Jentana, aSaracen, was personally before it, with an army of twelve thousand men:That neither the conduct of the governor, Don Pedro de Silva, nor thesuccours of Don Fernandez Carvalio, had been able to defend it againstthe attempts of the barbarians; that the Javans, a fierce and warlikepeople, had mastered that place; that of three hundred Portuguese, whowere within it, above an hundred had been put to the sword, and the restof them had only escaped by retiring into the fortress. In short, thatMalacca was now become a place of horror, and that the enemy, weariedwith the slaughter, had reserved many thousands of the inhabitants forthe chain. The saint informed Gama, and the Portuguese of the ship, ofthese sad tidings, before they left the port, and declared to them, thatthe sins of that corrupt city had drawn down the curse of God upon it, ashe had foretold and threatened; but he desired them, at the same time, tosupplicate the Father of all Mercies, for the appeasing of his divinejustice, and he himself prayed earnestly in their behalf. Besides the twoJapanners, Matthew and Bernard, who had constantly followed the Father, and would never forsake him, an ambassador from the king of Bungoembarked with him in the same vessel. The business of this embassy was toseek the friendship of the viceroy of the Indies, and to obtain apreacher from him, who might finish the conversion of that kingdom, inthe room of Father Xavier. 

They sailed along the coasts for the space of six days, and thenavigation was prosperous till they made an island belonging to the kingof Minaco, called Meleitor; from whence, crossing a strait, they put outinto the main ocean. At that time the change of the moon altered theweather, and there blew a furious south wind, so that the pilot, withall his art, could not bear up against it. The tempest carried the shipinto a sea unknown to the Portuguese; and the face of heaven was so blackwith clouds, that, during five days and nights, there was no appearanceof sun or stars; insomuch that the mariners-were not able to take theelevation of the pole, and consequently not to know whereabouts theywere. One day, towards the evening, the wind redoubled with so much fury, that the vessel had not power to break the waves, so high they went, andcame on with so much violence. In this terrible conjuncture they thoughtfit to cut down the forecastle, that the ship might work the better;after which, they bound the sloop which followed with thick cables to theship: but night coming on while they were thus employed, and being verydark, abundance of rain also falling at the same time, which increasedthe tempest, they could not draw out of the sloop five Portuguese and tenIndians, as well as slaves and mariners, which were in her. 

Those of the ship had neither comfort nor hope remaining, but in thecompany and assistance of Father Xavier. He exhorted them to lament theirsins, thereby to appease the wrath of God; and he himself poured forthwhole showers of tears before the face of the Almighty. When night wasnow at the darkest, a lamentable cry was heard, as of people just uponthe brink of perishing, and calling out for succour. The noise came fromthe sloop, which the violence of the winds had torn off from the vessel, and which the waves were hurrying away. As soon as the captain had noticeof it, he ordered the pilot to turn towards those poor creatures, withoutconsidering, that, by his endeavour of saving his nephew, Alphonso Calvo, who was one of the five Portuguese in the sloop, the ship must certainlybe lost, and himself with her. In effect, as it was difficult to steerthe ship, when they would have turned her towards the sloop, she cameacross betwixt two mountains of water, which locked her up betwixtthem; one of those waves fell upon the poop, and washed over the deck;and then it was that the whole company thought their business was done, and nothing but cries and lamentations were heard on every side. Xavier, who was at his prayers in the captain's cabin, ran out towards the noise, and saw a miserable object, --the vessel ready to bulge, the seamen, thesoldiers, and the passengers, all tumbling in confusion on each other, deploring their unhappy destiny, and expecting nothing but present death. Then the holy man, lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven, said thusaloud, in the transport of his fervour, "O Jesus, thou love of my soul, succour us, I beseech thee, by those five wounds, which, for our sakes, thou hast suffered on the cross!" At that instant the ship, which alreadywas sinking under water, raised herself aloft, without any visibleassistance, and gained the surface of the waves. The mariners, encouragedby so manifest a miracle, so ordered the sails, that they had the wind inpoop, and pursued their course. 

In the mean time the sloop was vanished out of sight, and no man doubtedbut she was swallowed by the Waves. The captain lamented for his nephew, the rest shed tears for their lost companions. As for the Father, hisgreatest affliction was for two Mahometan slaves, whom he could notconvert to Christianity: he sighed in thinking of their deplorablecondition, but, in the midst of these anxious thoughts, entering intohimself, or rather wholly recollecting himself in God, it came into hismind to intercede with Heaven for the protection of the sloop, in case itwere not already lost. In this he followed the inspiration of the HolySpirit, and his prayer was not yet ended when he perceived that it washeard: insomuch, that turning towards Edward de Gama, who was oppressedwith sadness, "Afflict not yourself, my brother, " said he with a cheerfulcountenance; "before three days are ended, the daughter will come backand find the mother. " The captain was so buried in his grief, that he sawtoo little probability in what the Father said, to found any strongbelief upon it; which notwithstanding, at break of day, he sent one up tothe scuttle, to see if any thing were within ken; but nothing wasdiscovered, saving the sea, which was still troubled and white with foam. The Father, who had been in private at his devotions, came out two hoursafter, with the same cheerfulness upon, his countenance; and having giventhe good day to the captain and pilot, and six or seven Portuguese whowere in company, he enquired "if they had not yet seen the chalop?" theyanswered they had not: and, because he desired that some one might againget up to the scuttle, one of the Portuguese, called Pedro Veglio, replied thus bluntly, "Yes, Father, the chalop will return, but notuntil another be lost:" he meant that it was impossible the same chalopshould come again. 

Xavier mildly reprehended Veglio for his little faith, and told himnothing was impossible to God. "The confidence which I have in the Divinemercy, " said he, "gives me hope, that they whom I have put under theprotection of the Holy Virgin, and for whose sake I have vowed to saythree masses to our Lady of the Mountain, shall not perish. " After thishe urged Gama to send up to the scuttle for discovery: Gama, to satisfythe man of God, went 'up himself with a seaman, and after having lookedround him for the space of half an hour, neither he nor the other couldsee any thing. In the mean time Xavier, whose stomach was turned with thetossing of the ship, and who had been two days and three nights withouteating, was taken with a violent head-ach, and such a giddiness, that hecould scarcely stand. One of the Portuguese merchants, called FerdinandMendez Pinto, desired him to repose a little while, and offered him hiscabin; Xavier, who, by the spirit of mortification, usually lay upon thedeck, accepted his courtesy; and desired this further favour, that theservant of this merchant, who was a Chinese, might watch before the door, that none might interrupt his rest. 

The intention of the Father was not to give the least refreshment to hisbody; he set himself again to prayers, and it was affirmed by the Chineseservant, that from seven in the morning, when he retired, he had beenconstantly on his knees until the evening, groaning in the agony of hisspirit, and shedding tears. He came out from his retirement aftersunset, and once more enquired of the pilot, if they had not seen thechalop, which could not possibly be far distant. The pilot replied, thatit was in vain to think of her, and that it was impossible for her toresist so furious a tempest; but in case that, by some wonderfulaccident, or rather by some miracle, she had been preserved, she mustof necessity be at fifty leagues distance from the ship. It is thepropriety of Christian confidence to remain unshaken and secure, whenhuman reason leaves us destitute of hope. The Saint acknowledged thepilot to have spoken judiciously, and yet doubted not but the chalopwould return. He constantly maintained that she could not be far off, and pressed him to send up to the scuttle before the dusk. The pilot, less out of complaisance to the Father, than out of his desire toundeceive him, went up himself, and could discover nothing. Xavier, without any regard to the affirmation of the pilot, instantly desired thecaptain to lower the sails, that the chalop might more easily come upwith the ship. The authority of the holy man carried it, above thereasons of the pilot; the sail-yard was lowered, and a stop was made foralmost three hours: but at length the passengers grew weary, as not beingable any longer to bear the rolling of the ship, and one and all criedout to sail. The Father upbraided them with their impatience; and himselflaid hold on the sail-yard, to hinder the seamen from spreading thesails; and leaning his head over it, broke out into sighs and sobbings, and poured out a deluge of tears. 

He raised himself a little after, and keeping his eyes fixed on heaven, yet wet with tears, "O Jesus, my Lord and my God, " said he, "I beseechthee, by thy holy passion, to have pity on those poor people, who arecoming to us, through the midst of so many dangers. " He composed himself, after he had uttered this, and continued leaning on the sail-yard, whollysilent for some time, as if he had been sleeping. 

Then a little child, who was sitting at the foot of the mast, cried outon the sudden, "A miracle, a miracle, behold the chalop!" All the companygathered together at the cry, and plainly perceived the chalop withinmusket-shot. Nothing but shouts and exclamations of joy were heard, whileshe drew still nearer and nearer to the vessel. In the meantime, thegreatest part fell down at the feet of Father Xavier, and, confessingthey were sinners, unworthy the company of a man so holy, asked himpardon for their unbelief. But the Father, in great confusion for beingtreated in this manner, escaped out of their hands as soon as possibly hecould, and shut himself up within the cabin, in conclusion, the chalopcame up with the ship; and it was observed, that though the waves were ingreat agitation, she came right forward, without the least tossing, andstopped of herself. It was also taken notice of, that she continuedwithout any motion till the fifteen men which she carried were enteredthe ship, and that the seamen had fastened her behind the poop. When theyhad embraced those men, whom so lately they had given for lost, every onewas desirous of knowing their adventures; and were much surprised tounderstand, that they were come through the midst of the most horribletempest which was ever seen, without any apprehension either of drowningor losing of their way; because, said they, Father Francis was our pilot, and his presence freed us even from the shadow of any fear. When theship's company assured them, that the Father had been always withthemselves, those of the chalop, who had beheld him constantly steeringit, could not believe what had been told them. After some little disputeon the matter of fact, both sides concluded, that the saint had been atthe same time in two places; and this evident miracle made such animpression on the minus of the two Saracen slaves who had been in thechalop, that they abjured their Mahometanism. The impatience of thesefifteen men to behold their miraculous steersman, who had so happilybrought them to the ship, and who vanished from their eyes at the samemoment when they joined her, obliged Xavier to come out and shew himself. They would have saluted him as their protector, by prostrating themselvesbefore him, but he would not suffer it: declaring to them, that it wasthe hand of the Lord, and not his, which had delivered them fromshipwreck. At the same time, he rendered public thanks to God for soeminent a favour, and ordered the pilot to pursue his voyage, assuringhim that he should have a good wind immediately. The pilot's experienceof the sea did not promise him this sudden change; but this latedeliverance of the chalop quickened his belief in the Father's words; andit was not long before he understood, that He, who commands the winds andseas, had authorised the holy man to make that prediction. 

The sails were scarcely spread, when a north wind arising, the aircleared up, and the sea was immediately calmed. So that in thirteen dayssailing, they arrived at the port of Sancian, where the Portuguesemerchants of the ship had traffic. As the season of sailing in those seaswas already almost past, there were remaining but two ships of the Indiesin port, one of which belonged to James de Pereyra. The ship of Edward deGama not being in condition to go on directly for Malacca withoutstopping by the way, and having need of refreshment at Sian, the saintwent into the ship of his friend Pereyra. It was wonderful, that at thesame moment when he passed into that vessel, the wind, which for thespace of fifteen days had blown at north, which was full in their faceswho were going for the Indies, came about on the sudden; so that the dayfollowing, which was the last of the year 1551, they set sail again. Another ship, which was waiting also for a wind, set out in theircompany; but that vessel found afterwards to her cost, that she carriednot the apostle of the Indies. 

Before they put to sea, Xavier discoursing with the pilot concerning thedangers of the ocean, (it was the same pilot who had brought him fromJapan, whose name was Francis D'Aghiar, ) foretold him, that he should notend his days upon the water; and that no vessel wherein he should beshould suffer shipwreck, were the tempest never so outrageous. D'Aghiarwas possessed with so firm a belief of what the Father told him, andafterwards found the effect of it so manifest on various occasions, that, without observing either winds or seasons, he often put to sea in an oldcrazy vessel, ill provided; insomuch, that they who were ignorant of thesecret cause of this his confidence, took him for a rash presuming man, and of little understanding in sea affairs. 

Once, amongst many other times, he gave a demonstration how much herelied on the promise of the saint, and that was, in going fromTenasserim to the kingdom of Pegu, in a light barque, which was quitedecayed, and out of order. A tempest rising in the midst of his voyage, dashed against the rocks, and split in pieces some great vessels, whichwere following the barque of D'Aghiar. She alone seemed to defy therocks; and while the sea was in this horrible confusion, the pilot satsinging at his ease, as if the waters had been hushed beneath him. Apassenger, who shook with fear, demanded of him, "With what courage hecould sing, when he was just upon the brink of death?" "It is because Ifear nothing, " replied Aghiar: "And I should fear nothing, " added he, "though the waves should mount as high again as now we see them, and mybarque were also made of glass; for the Father Master Francis has assuredme, that I should not die upon the seas, in whatsoever vessel I shouldgo. " Some Saracens who were in the barque, and who heard these sayings ofthe pilot, were so moved with this continued miracle, that they vowedto become Christians so soon as ever they should come on shore; and theycomplied religiously with their promise. The barque casting anchor atTanar, they received baptism at that place; so much the more persuadedboth of the truth of the miracle, and of the Christian faith, becausethey saw before their eyes, upon the coast, the wrecks of other vessels, which were floating round about it. 

The conversations which Xavier had with Pereyra during all thenavigation, were almost wholly relating to Japan and China. The Fathertold his friend what progress the faith had made in little time in thekingdoms of Saxuma, of Amanguchi, and of Bungo; and what hopes he hadconceived, to convert all those islands with great ease, when once theChinese should be brought to acknowledge Jesus Christ. And on thatmotive, he had fixed his resolution to go to China; that his return tothe Indies was only in order to this intended voyage, after he hadregulated the affairs of the Society at Goa; that, on this account, hehad brought with him from Japan the translation of his catechism into theChinese language, by the benefit of which he hoped to overcome the firstdifficulties, which in matters of conversion are still the greatest. SomePortuguese who were in the same vessel, and were well acquainted with thegovernment of China, thought this proposition of the Father not a littleextravagant. They told him, that, besides the ill understanding which wasbetwixt China and Portugal, it was forbidden to strangers on pain ofdeath, or of perpetual imprisonment, to set a foot upon that kingdom; andthat the merchants of their nation, who had stolen thither for thebenefit of trade, having been discovered, some of them had lost theirheads, others had been put in irons, and cast into dungeons, there to lieand rot for the remainder of their lives. They added, notwithstanding, that there was a safe and certain way of entering into China, providedthere was a solemn embassy sent to the emperor of that country fromthe king of Portugal. But since that could not be compassed without aprodigious expence, if nothing else were to be considered but only thepresents for the emperor and his ministers of state, in all probabilitythe viceroy of the Indies would not burden himself with the cost of suchan enterprize, at a time when he had enough to do to defray morenecessary expences. 

These difficulties began to startle Father Xavier, when James Pereyra, who, under the habit of a merchant, had the heart of an emperor, and thezeal of an apostle, made offer of his ship, and all his goods, for thepromoting of the expedient which had been mentioned. The Father acceptedof his generous proffer with transports of joy, and engaged, on his side, to procure the embassy of China for his friend. Pereyra, who had receivedintelligence of the siege of Malacca, told the saint, "He apprehendedlest an embargo might be put upon his ship, for the immediate service ofthe town. " Xavier, to whom God had revealed the deliverance of Malacca, and to whose prayers that deliverance had perhaps been granted, cheeredup his friend, with this assurance, "That when the fortress was just uponthe point of yielding, the infidels had been struck with a panic fear, and fled away, so that the town was wholly free. "

Percyra had yet another thing which troubled him, concerning the voyagewhich Father Xavier had to make before that of China. The season beingalready far spent, he feared there were no vessels at Malacca, which werebound for Goa. He could not carry the Father to Cochin himself, becausehe was obliged to go on to Sunda, there to unlade his merchandize; butthat apprehension was soon at an end, for Xavier, illuminated fromheaven, told him positively, "That the ship of Antonio Pereyra was in theport of Malacca, and that they should find it just ready to weigh anchor, and set sail for Cochin. "

Xavier discovered these things to his friend during a great calm, whichmade the navigation pleasing; when suddenly they perceived one of thoseterrible hurricanes arising, which in a moment sink a vessel. All thecompany gave themselves for lost; or if they had any hope remaining, itwas only in consideration of the saint; and therefore they earnestlydesired him to intercede with God in their behalf. The holy man, withoutreplying, retired to his devotions; he returned to them not long after, with his countenance all on fire, and gave his blessing to the ship, pronouncing these following words aloud: "This vessel of the SantaCruz[1] (for so she was named) shall never perish on the seas; the placewhere she was built, shall behold her fall in pieces of herself. Might itplease Almighty God, " continued he, "that the same could be saidconcerning that vessel which put to sea with us! But we shall bewitnesses too soon of her unhappy destiny. " At that very instantappeared the signs, which were to begin the verification of the prophecy;the whirlwind was dissipated, and the sea grew calm. Not long afterwards, they beheld the merchandize and dead bodies floating on the waters, andfrom thence concluded, that the hurricane had destroyed the ship whichfollowed them. Immediately their opinion was confirmed by two mariners, who had gotten on a plank when the ship was foundering; and who, havingafterwards struggled with the waves, were driven by them to the board ofPereyra's vessel. The rest of the navigation was prosperous; a calmerseason was never known. The ship being landed at the port of Sincapour, Xavier (who knew certainly that Antonio Pereyra was at Malacca, ready tohoist sail towards Cochin, as we have said, ) wrote to him by a frigatewhich went off, to desire that he would wait for him three days longer. He wrote also, by the same conveyance, to Father Francis Perez, superiorof the Jesuits at Malacca, and commanded all of them to providerefreshments for the Japonese, who came along with him. 

[Footnote 1: The Holy Cross. ]

When it was known in the city that Xavier was coming, the joy was sogeneral, that it almost blotted out the remembrance of all they hadsuffered in the war. The inhabitants ran crowding to the shore; and atthe first appearance of the saint, nothing was to be heard, butacclamations and shouts of rejoicing on every side. They received him athis landing with all the tenderness of affection, and all the reverenceimaginable. In conducting him to the house of the Society, they shewedhim, as he passed along, the ruins of their houses; and told him, sighing, "that if he had not left them, they had been preserved from thefury of the Javans, as they had formerly been protected from thebarbarians of Achen. " But the Father answered them, "That their cryingsins had called down the wrath of heaven upon them; that nothing coulddivert it but a speedy change of life; and that the only means ofreconciling themselves to God, was to receive those chastisements at hishands, with the spirit of humiliation and of penitence. " He visited theold governor Don Pedro de Silva, and the new one who succeeded him, DonAlvarez de Atavda, and communicated to them his design concerning anembassy to China Both of them concurred in the opinion, that it would beadvantageous to the crown of Portugal, and to the interests ofChristianity. James Pereyra not being capable of accompanying the Fatherto Goa, for the reason above mentioned, furnished him at present withthirty thousand crowns, for the preparatives of that intended voyage; andsent a servant with the Father, with commission to dispose of all things. Xavier having often embraced this faithful friend, entered with hisJaponians into the vessel of Antonio Pereyra, who attended but theircompany to set sail. 

The prediction which the man of God had made in favour of the ship calledSanta Cruz, gave it the new name of the "Saint's Vessel;" and fromMalacca, from whence she departed at the same time when Xavier went onboard of Antonio, her reputation was extended over all the East. Wheresoever she arrived, she was received with ceremony, and saluted byall other ships with the honour of their cannon. All merchants weredesirous of stowing their goods in her, and willingly paid the carriageof their wares, and the dues of custom, beyond the common price of othervessels. The weight of lading was never considered, but her freight wasalways as much as they could crowd into her. As she lasted very long, andthat thirty years after the decease of the Father she was in being, andwas used for the traffic of the Indies, they never failed of lading herwith an extraordinary cargo, all worn and worm-eaten as she was. Theowners into whose hands she came, during the space of those thirty years, took only this one precaution, which was to keep her off from shore; sothat when she was to be refitted, that work was constantly done upon thesea. As to what remains, it is true she met with many ill accidents andhardships: she was often engaged with pirates, and combated by tempests;but she escaped clear of all those dangers, and never any one repented ofembarking in her. One time it is acknowledged, sailing from Malacca toCochin, with an extraordinary lading, she sprung a leak, and took in somuch water at the beginning of the voyage, that the passengers, who werevery numerous, were of opinion to unlade her of half her burden, and halfher men, and to put them upon other ships which were in their company. But those vessels, which had already their whole lading, would notconsent to ease the Santa Cruz; so that, fear overpowering the ship'scompany, they returned speedily into the port. The whole town wassurprised to see the ship so suddenly come back; and they were laughed toshame for apprehending shipwreck in the vessel of the saint. Being thuspublicly upbraided with their want of faith, to mend their error, theytook out nothing of the lading, but put again to sea. And what every onesaid to them, concerning the good fortune which perpetually attended thatship, for two-and-twenty years together, so much renewed theirconfidence, that they performed their voyage without farther fear. TheSanta Cruz continued in this manner, sailing over all the seas, and toevery port of Asia, till she came into the possession of the captain whocommanded the port of Diu; who perceiving her to be half-rotten, andopened in divers parts, concluded she could serve no longer, unless shewere brought into harbour, and set upon the stocks. For which purpose shewas sent to Cochin, and hauled ashore on the same dock where she had beenbuilt; but she was no sooner there, than she fell in pieces of herself;nothing remaining of that great bulk, besides planks and beams of timber, unprofitable for any thing but for the fire. The inhabitants of Cochin, who knew the prediction of the saint to every circumstance, came out tobehold its accomplishment. An inconsiderable merchant, called GeorgeNugnez, who happened to be there present, began to think within himself, that, there might be yet remaining in those planks somewhat of thevirtue, which the blessing of the saint had imprinted in them; andthereupon took one of them, which he caused to be nailed to his ownfrigate, out of the persuasion he had, that with this assistance heshould be secure from shipwreck. Thus being filled with a lively faith, he boldly undertook such long and hazardous voyages, that ships of thegreatest burden were afraid to make; and without consideration of theweather, adventured many times to cross the most tempestuous gulphs. Whenhe was told, that it was not the part of a prudent man to endangerhimself in that manner, he answered, "That the winds and seas werewell acquainted with his frigate, and had a reverence for the plank ofthe Santa Cruz. " In effect, his little vessel was ever fortunate enoughto escape the greatest perils; and what was most remarkable, was, thathaving had the same destiny with the ship in her adventures anddeliverances, she ended like her, breaking in pieces of herself, on theshore of Coulan, where she was brought to be refitted. 

To return to the navigation of Father Xavier:--he arrived at Cochin, January 24th, in the year 1552. The king of the Maldivias had been therefor some months: He was a prince of about twenty years of age, born inthe Mahometan religion, and bred up in the hatred of Christians. Therevolt of his subjects, who loved him not, or hated the government, forced him, for the safeguard of his life, to abandon his kingdom, and toseek sanctuary amongst the Portuguese, by whom he hoped to be restored. The fathers of the Society received him into their house, and went aboutto convert him, by letting him see the falsehood of his sect. The illposture of his affairs made him apt to receive the instructions whichwere given him by Father Antonio Heredia, who endeavoured his conversionwith great zeal. But his fear of farther exasperating his rebellioussubjects, in case he changed his religion, caused him to defer thatchange from time to time; and perhaps he had never forsaken the law ofMahomet, if Father Francis had not arrived to complete that work whichHeredia had begun. The holy apostle preached the word with so muchefficacy to the king of the Maldivias, that at length he reduced him tothe obedience of Christ, notwithstanding all the motives of worldlyinterest to the contrary. Having instructed him anew in the mysteries ofChristianity, he solemnly baptized him. In sequel of which, he excitedthe Portuguese to replace him on the throne, and nominated some of thefathers to accompany the naval army, which should be sent to theMaldivias. His intention was, that they should labour in the conversionof the whole kingdom, when once the king should be established. Butbecause it was of small importance to the crown of Portugal, that thoseislands, which produce neither gold, nor spices, nor perfumes, should bemade tributary to it, the governors did nothing for that exiled prince;who, despairing to recover his dominions, married a Portuguese, and liveda private life till the day of his death; happy only in this, that theloss of his crown was made up to him, by the gift of faith, and the graceof baptism. 

When the holy man was ready to depart, an opportunity was offered him ofwriting into Europe, which he laid hold on, thereby to render an accountof his voyage to Japan, both to the king of Portugal, and to the generalof his order. Then embarking for Goa, he had a speedy voyage, and arrivedthere in the beginning of February. 

So soon as he was come on shore, he visited the sick in thetown-hospitals; and then went to the college of St Paul, which was thehouse of the Society. After the ordinary embracements, which were moretender than ever, he enquired if none were sick within the college? Hewas answered, there was only one, who was lying at the point of death. Immediately Xavier went, and read the gospel over him. At the sight ofthe Father, the dying man recovered his spirits, and was restored tohealth. The physicians had given him over, and all things had beenordered for his burial; but he himself had never despaired of hisrecovery: and the day when Xavier arrived, he said, with a dying voice, "That if God would grant him the favour of beholding their good Father, he should infallibly recover. "

The relation which Xavier made to the Fathers of Goa, concerning thechurch of Japan, was infinitely pleasing to them: and he himself wasfilled with equal consolation, in learning from them the presentcondition of Christianity in the Indies. The missioners, whom he haddispersed before his departure, were almost all of them united at hisreturn. Some of them were come by his command, and others of their ownmotion, concerning urgent business; as if the Holy Spirit hadre-assembled them expressly, that the presence of the man of God mightredouble in them their apostolic zeal, and religious fervour. God hadevery where blest their labours. The town of Ormus, which fell to the lotof Father Gaspar Barzaeus, had wholly changed its countenance; idolaters, Saracens, and Jews, ran in multitudes to baptism: the temples of idolswere consecrated to Christ; the mosques and synagogues were dispeopled, ill manners were reformed, and ill customs totally abolished. Christianity flourished more than ever in the coast of Fishery, since thedeath of Father Antonio Criminal, who had cultivated it with care, and inthat cultivation was massacred by the Badages. The blood of the martyrseemed to have multiplied the Christians: they were reckoned to be morethan five hundred thousand, all zealous, and ready to lay down theirlives for their religion. The gospel had not made less progress atCochin, and at Coulan; at Bazain and at Meliapore, at the Moluccas, andin the Isles del Moro. But it is almost incredible, with what profit thegospel labourers preached at Goa. All the priests of idols have beendriven out of the Isle of Goa, by order from the governor, and at thesolicitation of one of the Fathers belonging to the college of St Paul. It was also prohibited, under severe penalties, to perform any publicaction of idolatry within the district of Goa; and those ordinances, bylittle and little, reduced a multitude of Gentiles. As for thePortuguese, their lives were very regular; amidst the liberty of doingwhatsoever pleased them, they refrained from all dishonest actions; andconcubines were now as scarce as they had been common. The soldiers livedalmost in the nature of men in orders; and even their piety edified thepeople. 

But nothing was more pleasing to Xavier, than the conversion of twoprinces, who during his absence had been at Goa. The first was king ofTanor, a kingdom situate along the coasts of Malabar, betwixt Cranganorand Calecut. This prince, who was party-per-pale, Mahometan and Idolater, but prudent, a great warrior, of a comely shape, and more polite than wasusual for a barbarian, had from his youth a tendency to Christianity, without being well instructed in it. He was enamoured of it, after he hadbeen informed to the full concerning the mysteries of our faith, by areligious of the order of St Francis, who frequented his palace. In themean time, the wars, which he had with other princes for ten yearstogether, hindered him from receiving baptism. At length he waschristened, but very secretly; so that, in appearance, he remained aninfidel, to keep the better correspondence with his people. Yet he wasnot without some scruple concerning the manner of his life; and, inorder to satisfy his conscience on so nice a point, he desired the bishopof Goa to send him an apostle; for by that name the Fathers of theSociety were called by the Indians, as well as by the Portuguese. FatherGomez, who was sent to the king of Tanor, told him positively, that Godwould be served in spirit and in truth; that dissembling in religion wasworse than, irreligion; and that Jesus would disown before his angels, those who disowned him before me. The king, who preferred his salvationbefore his crown, believed Gomez, and resolved to declare himselfsolemnly a Christian, as soon as he had made a treaty with his enemies. Having concluded a peace through the mediation of the Father, who hadadvised him to it, he came to Goa, in despite of all his subjects, who, not being able to gain upon him, either by their reasons, or theirdesires, had seized upon his person, and shut him up in one of thestrongest citadels of the kingdom. He escaped out of his prison, swam ariver, and having found eight foists, or half galleys, belonging to Goa, which were purposely sent to favour his passage, he had the good fortuneto arrive safely at the town. The bishop and the viceroy conducted him tothe cathedral, amidst the acclamations of the people; and at the foot ofthe altar, he made a public profession of his faith; with suchexpressions of true devotion as melted the assistants into tears. 

The other prince, whose conversion gave so much joy to Father Xavier, wasthe king of Trichenamalo, who is one of the sovereigns of Ceylon Thisking, while he was yet an infant, was set upon the throne, and afterwardsdispossessed by an usurper, when he was but eight years old. The tyrant, not content to have taken the crown from him, would also have murderedhim, but was prevented by a prince of the blood-royal, who carried himout of his reach, being accompanied by forty lords of the loyal party, and sought sanctuary for him on the coasts of Fishery. The Paravasreceived him with all the charitable compassion which was due to hisillustrious birth, to the tenderness of his years, and to hismisfortunes; they also promised his attendants to serve him what was intheir power; but, at the same time, advised them, to procure him amore durable and more glorious crown; and withal informed them of whatthey had been taught, concerning the adoption of the sons of God, thekingdom of heaven, and inheritance of the saints. Whether thoseconsiderations prevailed upon the prince of the blood-royal, or that thespirit of God wrought powerfully on his heart, lie consented to what theParavas desired, and put himself into the hands of Father Henriquez to beinstructed. The rest of the lords followed his example, and were allbaptised together with the king, who seemed at his baptism to have anunderstanding much above his years. The rulers of the Christians on thefishing coast having afterwards made up an army, supplied with whatammunitions of war, and other provisions which the country could furnish, passed over into the Isle of Ceylon, under the conduct of the prince andthe forty lords; but the usurper was so well established in hispossession, that the Paravas were forced to retire with speed into theirown country. As for the young king, he was brought to Goa; and thePortuguese, who took the conduct of him into their hands, put him intothe college of St Paul, where he was virtuously educated by the Fathersof the Society. Xavier praised Almighty God to see the great men of theearth subjected to the empire of Jesus Christ, by the ministry of thechildren of Ignatius; and rejoiced with his brethren so much the more, because the bishop of Goa, Don Juan de Albuquerque, was so well satisfiedof their conduct. 

This wise and holy prelate communicated to the Father a letter, which hehad written on that subject during his absence to the general of theSociety. The letter was in Portuguese, dated from Cochin, November 28, inthe year 1550, and is thus translated into our language: "The greatperformances of your children and subjects, in all the dominions of theEast; the holiness of their lives, the purity of their doctrine, theirzeal in labouring the reformation of the Portuguese, by the ministry ofGod's word, and the sacrament of penance; their unwearied travels throughall the kingdoms of India, for the conversion of idolaters and Moors;their continual application to study the tongues of this new world, andto teach the mysteries of faith, and principally at the Cape ofComorin, --all this obliges me to write to your reverence, and to givetestimony of what I have beheld with my own eyes. Indeed the fathers ofyour Society are admirable labourers in our Lord's vineyard; and are sofaithfully subservient to the bishops, that their endeavours for the goodof those souls with which I am intrusted, give me hope of remaining thefewer years in purgatory. I dare not undertake the relation of all theirparticular actions; and if I durst adventure it, want time for theperformance of it: I will only tell you, that they are here like torcheslighted up, to dissipate the thick darkness wherein these barbarouspeople were benighted; and that already, by their means, many nations ofinfidels believe one God in three persons: for what remains, I freelygrant them all they require of me for the good of souls. Every one ofthem partakes with me in my power and authority, without appropriatingany of it to myself: and I look upon myself as one of the members of thatholy body, though my life arises not to their perfection. In one word, I love them all in Jesus Christ, with a fervent and sincere charity. "

The rest of the letter is nothing appertaining to our purpose, andtherefore is omitted. 

The man of God received intelligence, at the same time, that theministers of Portugal at Goa had sent word to Lisbon of the greatprogress which the Society had made; and that, in particular, the newviceroy, Don Antonio de Norogna, had written, that the Indies wereinfinitely satisfied with the Jesuits; that none could look on the goodeffects of their labours without blessing the name of God for them; andthat their lives were correspondent to their calling. The saint also wasinformed, that the king of Portugal had sent word of all theseproceedings to the Pope; especially the conversion of the king of Tanor, and the martyrdom of Father Antonio Criminal: That he had communicated tohis Holiness his intentions of founding many colleges for the Society, tothe end the East might be filled with apostolical labourers; and that, inthe mean time, he had ordained, that all the seminaries established inthe Indies, for the education of youth, should be put into the hands ofthe Society, in case it was not already done: Lastly, it was told toFather Xavier, that the viceroy of the Indies, and the captains of thefortresses, had orders from King John III. To defray the charges of themissioners in all their voyages; and that this most religious prince haddischarged his conscience of the care of souls, by imposing it on theSociety; obliging the Fathers, in his stead, to provide for theinstruction of the infidels, according to the ancient agreement which hadbeen made with the Holy See, when the conquests of the East were grantedto the crown of Portugal. 

Amidst so many occasions of joy and satisfaction, the ill conduct ofAntonio Gomez gave Xavier an exceeding cause of grief. Before his voyageto Japan, he had constituted him rector of the college of St Paul, according to the intention, or rather by the order, of Father SimonRodriguez, who had sent him to the Indies three years after hisnoviciate; and who, in relation to these missions, had an absoluteauthority, as being provincial of Portugal, on which the Indies havetheir dependence. Gomez was master of many eminent qualities whichrarely meet in the same person: He was not only a great philosopher, divine, and canonist, but also an admirable preacher, and as wellconversant as any man in the management of affairs; and, besides allthis, was kindled with a most fervent zeal for the conversion of souls;always prompt to labour in the most painful employments, and alwaysindefatigable in labour: but wonderfully self-opinioned; never guided byany judgment but his own, and acting rather by the vivacity of his ownimpetuous fancy, than by the directions of the Holy Spirit, or the rulesof right reason. As he was of a confirmed age at his entrance into theSociety, so he had not soon enough endeavoured to get the mastery ofthose headstrong passions which ran away with his understanding. And whenhe had once taken upon him the charge of rector, he began to govern bythe dictates of his own capricious humour, even before the face ofXavier, ere he departed from the Indies for Japan; and the Father, whoeasily perceived that the government of Gomez was not in the leastconformable to the spirit of their Institute, would at that time havewithdrawn him from Goa, and sent him to Ormuz: but the viceroy, to whomGomez had been powerfully recommended by one of the chief ministers ofPortugal, would not suffer him to be transplanted, or that his authorityshould be taken from him: so that all Xavier could do, was to temper anddraw off from his jurisdiction, by establishing Father Paul de Camerinesuperior-general of all the missions of the Indies. 

But when once the saint was departed from Goa, Gomez usurped the wholegovernment; alleging, for his own justification, that Father Rodriguezhad given him an absolute power; and that Camerine was a poor honestcreature, more fit to visit the prisons and hospitals of Goa, than tomanage the missions, and govern the colleges, of the Society. He beganwith prescribing new rules to his inferiors; and declared to them, inexpress terms, that they must return into their mothers' wombs, that theymight be born again into a spiritual life, and transformed into othermen. Not that they had any need of reformation, they who were themselvesthe models of a perfect life; but the business was, that he had broughtwith him out of Europe, I know not what contrivance of new living, framedaccording to his own fanciful speculations. He undertook then to changetheir domestic discipline, and to regulate the studies of the Jesuits bythe model of the university of Paris, where he had been a student in hisyouth. There was nothing but change and innovation every day; and heexercised his power with such haughtiness and magisterial hardness, thatit appeared more like the dictates of an absolute monarchy, than theinjunction of a religious superior: For, to make himself obeyed andfeared, he went so far as to tell them he had received an unlimited powerfrom Father Simon Rodriguez, in virtue of which he could imprison, orremand into Portugal, any person who should presume to oppose hisgovernment. 

His conduct was not less irregular in respect of the young men who wereeducated in the seminary, of whom the greatest part were Indians. Thoughthey were yet but novices in the faith, and scarcely to be accountedChristians, he enjoined them the practices of the most perfect interiorlife, which they could not possibly understand; and as they could notacquit themselves of those exercises, which were too sublime for them, hefailed not to punish them severely. From thence arose murmurs andcombinations, and even despair began to seize on those young ill-treatedIndians; and from thence also it came to pass, that many of them, notable to endure so violent a government, leapt over the walls by night, and fled from out the college. Gomez, who could not bear the leastcontradiction, upon this became more assuming and fantastical; so thatone day he turned out all the remaining scholars of the seminary, as ifthey had been incapable of discipline, and, receiving into their placesseven and-twenty Portuguese, who desired to be of the Society, withouthaving any tincture of human learning, he changed the seminary into anoviciate. As he had gained an absolute ascendant over the mind of GeorgeCabral, at that time viceroy of the Indies, no man durst oppose his madenterprizes, not so much as the Bishop Don Juan d'Albuquerque, who wasunwilling to displease the viceroy, and feared to increase the distemperby endeavouring to cure it. Neither was the rector so confined to Goa, that he made not frequent sallies into the country; whether his naturalactivity would not suffer him to take repose, or that his zeal required alarger sphere; or that, in fine, he looked upon himself as superiorgeneral of the missions, and therefore thought it incumbent on him tohave an inspection into all affairs, and to do every thing himself. 

The town of Cochin being willing to found a college for the Society, hewent thither to receive the offer; but he spoiled a good business by illmanagement. The captain of the fortress immediately gave him a church, called the Mother of God, against the will of the vicar of Cochin, and indespite of a certain brotherhood to which that church belonged. Thedonation being disputed in law, Gomez, who had it still about him to makea false step, that is, having much _opiniatreté_, great credit, goodintentions, took upon him to stand the suit, and to get the church uponany terms. This violent procedure exasperated the people, who had beenhitherto much edified by the charily of the Fathers; and the publicindignation went so high, that they wrote letters of complaint concerningit to the King of Portugal and Father Ignatius. 

This was the present face of things when Xavier returned from Japan; andit was partly upon this occasion that the letters which he received atAmanguchi so earnestly pressed his coming back. His first endeavours wereto repair the faults committed by the rector; and he began with thebusiness of Cochin: for, in his passage by it, at his return, knowing theviolence of Gomez, he assembled in the choir of the cathedral themagistrate of the town, with all the fraternity of the mother of God, and, in the presence of the vicar, falling on his knees before them, hedesired their pardon for what had passed, presented to them the keys ofthe church, which was the cause of the dispute, and yielded it entirelyto them. But submission sometimes gains that, which haughty carriage goeswithout: The fraternity restored the keys into the hands of Xavier, and, of their own free motion, made an authentic deed of gift of theirchurch to the college of the Society. As for what relates to Goa, thesaint dismissed those Portuguese whom Gomez had received into theSociety; and, having gathered up as many as he could find of those youngIndians, who had either been expelled, or were gone out of the collegeof their own accord, he re-established the seminary, whose dissolutionwas so prejudicial to the Christianity of the Indies. 

It was only remaining to chastise the criminal, who had made such eviluse of his authority. Xavier would make an example of him; and so muchthe rather, because, having told him what punishment his faults hadmerited, he found him standing on his terms, insolent, and with nodisposition to submit. He judged, upon the whole, that a man who wasneither humble nor obedient, after such scandalous misdemeanours, wasunworthy of the Society of Jesus; which notwithstanding, he was notwilling to pull off his habit at Goa, for fear his departure might maketoo great a noise; but having made the viceroy sensible of the justice ofhis proceeding, he sent him to the fortress of Diu, towards Cambaya, withorders to the Fathers residing there to give him his dismission, and touse all manner of persuasions with him that he would return intoPortugal, by the opportunity of the first ship which went away. All wasperformed according to the intentions of the holy man. But Gomezembarking on a vessel which was wrecked in the midst of the voyage, wasunfortunately drowned; giving us to understand, by so tragical an end, that the talents of nature, and even the gifts of grace itself, serveonly to the destruction of a man in religious orders, who is not enduedwith the spirit of humility and obedience. 

THE LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER. 

BOOK VI. 

_He sends out missioners to divers places. He endeavours an embassy toChina. He appoints Barzæus rector of the college of Goa. The form bywhich Barzæus was made rector of the college, &c. He himselfacknowledges Barzæus for superior. In what manner Barzæus receives theoffices of rector and vice-provincial. The new instructions which hegives to Barzæus. He makes choice of his companions for China and Japan. He writes to the king of Portugal concerning his voyage to China. Heassembles the fathers of Goa by night, and upon what account. He departsfrom Goa, and what happens him in the way. Before his arrival at Malacca, he knows the plague is in the town. He employs himself in succouring thesick. He raises a young man to life. The embassy of China is crossed bythe governor of Malacca. Xavier endeavours all he can to gain the favourof the governor for the embassy. Endeavours are used in vain to get thegovernor's consent. The governor flies out into fury against the Father. The Father resolves to excommunicate the governor; and what he does inorder to it. The grand vicar excommunicates the governor in the name ofXavier. The saint imputes the overthrow of the embassy to his own sins. In writing to the king of Portugal, he makes no complaint of the governorof Malacca. He takes up the design of going to the isle of Sancian, andfrom thence into China. He departs from Malacca without seeing thegovernor; and what he does in going out of the town. He embarks, and whathappens afterwards. He changes the salt-water into fresh. He restores toa Mahometan his son, who was fallen into the sea. He appears of anextraordinary height, and muck above his own stature. He reassures thecaptain of the Santa Cruz, and the mariners. He arrives at the isle ofSandan. What passes betwixt Xavier and Veglio. He foretels to Veglio, that he shall be advertised of the day of his death. The prediction ofthe saint is accomplished in all its circumstances. Other wonderfulilluminations. He raises up a dead man, and drives the tygers out of theisland. Endeavours are used in vain, to dissuade him from the voyage ofChina. He takes his measures for the voyage of China. The Portuguese ofSancian traverse the design of Xavier. He defers his voyage, inconsideration of the Portuguese merchants. He writes divers letters toMalacca, and to Goa. He gives orders to Father Francis Perez, and toFather Caspar Barzaeus. He foretels the unhappy death of a merchant. Heis reduced to an extreme want of all necessaries. The means fail him forhis passage into China. He is still in hope, and the expedient which hefinds. He falls sick again, and foreknows the day of his death. Thenature of his sickness, and how he was inwardly disposed. He entertainshimself with God in the extremity of his sickness. He denounces to ayoung Indian, the unhappy death which was attending him. The Death of theSaint. His age and person. Of the duties which were paid him immediatelyafter his decease. They inter him without any ceremony. The miraculouscrucifix in the chapel of the castle of Xavier. He is disinterred, andhis body is found without the least corruption. The body of the saint isput on ship-board, to be transported into India. How the body is receivedat Malacca. The punishment of the governor of Malacca. The town ofMalacca is freed from the pestilence at the arrival of the holy body. Inwhat manner the body of the saint is treated in Malacca. They consider oftransporting the holy corpse to Goa. The body is put into a crazed oldship, and what happens to it in the passage. How the body is received atCochin, and the miracle which is wrought at Baticula. They come from Goato meet the corpse. How the corpse of the saint is received at Goa. Themiracles which are wrought, during the procession. The body is placed inthe church of Saint Paul. New miracles are wrought in presence of thebody. The informations of the saint's life are gathered in the Indies. The people invoke him, and venerate his images. They build churches inhonour of him, in divers parts of the East. The praises which are givenhim by infidels, and the honour they perform to him. How much he ishonoured at Japan. His gift of prayer. His love of God. His charitytowards his neighbour. His zeal of souls. The various industry of hiszeal. The condescendance of his zeal, and how dear the conversion ofpeople costs him. The extent of his zeal. His intrepidity in dangers, andhis confidence in God. His humility. His maxims on humility. Hissubmission to God's good pleasure. His religious obedience. His maxims onobedience, and his love for the Society. His poverty, and hismortification. His purity of soul and body. His devotion to the blessedVirgin. His canonization is solicited, and what is done in order to it, by the king of Bungo. He is had in veneration through all Asia. Miraclesare wrought in all places through his intercession. Three remarkablecures. The perpetual miracle of the saint's body. He is beatified, and insequel canonized. The contents of the bull of his canonization. Theveneration of the saint is much increased since his canonization. Newmiracles are wrought, and chiefly in Italy. What may be concluded fromthese testimonies, and from all the Book_. 

The affairs of the Society being accommodated in this manner, Xavierthought on nothing more than how to supply the missions of the Indieswith good labourers; or rather to increase the number of the missioners, who were not sufficient for the common needs. He therefore sent MelchiorNugnez to Bazain, Gonsalvo Rodriguez to Cochin, John Lopez to Meliapor, and Luys Mendez to the Fishery, where he confirmed Henry Henriquez forsuperior, whom the missioners of that coast had already chosen instead ofAntonio Criminal. 

After this, he bent his whole endeavours to procure an embassy to China. The viceroy, Don Alphonso de Norogna, with great willingness, grantedto James Pereyra that employment which Xavier had desired for him. Hepromised even to favour it, in all things depending on him; and gavewherewithal to furnish out presents for the emperor of China. Notwithstanding the most magnificent were made at the charges of theambassador, he had prepared cloth of gold, ornaments for an altar ofbrocard pictures of devotion, in rich frames, made by the best hands ofEurope, with copes and other magnificent church-stuff, all proper torepresent to the Chinese the majesty of the Christian religion. Thebishop, Don Juan d'Albuquerque, was not less favourable to the designs ofthe Father than the viceroy; and being willing to write to the emperor ofChina, thereby to give an honourable testimony to the holy law of God, heordered his letter to be written in characters of gold, and borderedabout with curious painting. Nothing more was wanting than only to makechoice of such missioners as were to accompany Xavier to China, and toprovide others for Japan; for, besides that the saint himself had hisdear Japonians always in his memory, the ambassador of the king of Bungo, who was come with him to Goa, requested some evangelical preachers in hismaster's name. The man of God had enough to do, to content all those, whowere desirous of that employment. There were at that time thirty of theSociety in the college of Goa. Some of them had been in the Indies fromthe first years of Xavier's arrival in those ports; others were eithernew comers, or had been lately admitted; all of them were of approvedvirtue, and well worthy of that vocation, which they so earnestlydesired; but there was none amongst them who sought it with moreeagerness, nor who more signally deserved it, than Caspar Barzaeus. 

Xavier, before his voyage to Japan, had recalled him from Ormuz, withdesign of sending him to that country, or else of taking him with himselfto China. Yet he altered both those intentions; for, after many seriousdebates within himself, he thought it most convenient to leave Barzaeusat Goa, where, since his return from Ormuz, he had laboured in theministry with great success; but his principal reason was, the necessityof the college of St Paul, which had not yet shaken off all the illsymptoms of the government of Gomez, and which stood in need of asuperior, whose conduct should be regular. On these considerations, hemade him rector of the college of Goa, and also vice-provincial of theIndies, by the authority which he had received from the general of theorder. For the saint, at his return from Japan, found two patientswaiting for him, which had been expedited from Rome in the year 1549, onebearing date the 10th of October, the other the 2nd of December, as theminutes which are kept in the archives of the Society declare. By thefirst, Ignatius constitutes Father Xavier provincial of the Indies, andof all the kingdoms of the East, of which he made a particular province, distinct from that of Portugal; by the second, he endows him with all theprivileges which the popes have granted to the head of the order, and tothose members of it to whom the general shall please to impart them. Forwhat remains, see here the form of Barzaeus's establishment, which ispreserved in the archives of Goa, and written by the hand of FatherXavier. 

"Master Gasper, I command you, in virtue of holy obedience, as superiorof the company of Jesus in these countries of the Indies, to take thegovernment of this college of Santa Fe, in quality of rector; persuaded, as I am, of your virtue, your humility, your prudence, and of all thosequalities which make you proper for the governing of others. 

"I will, that all the fathers and Portuguese brothers of the Society ofJesus, who are spread over this new world from the Cape of Good Hope, asfar as Malacca, the Moluccas, and Japan, be subject to you. I will, inlike manner, that all those who shall come from Portugal, or from anyother country of Europe, into the houses of the Society under myobedience, should acknowledge you for their superior; if it happen not, that our Father Ignatius name some other rector of this college of Goa, as I have already requested him by my letters; informing him at large ofthe necessity of sending hither some experienced person, in whom he muchconfides, to govern this college, and all the missions of our Societydepending on it. If then any of the Society sent by Father Ignatius, orby any other general of the Society of Jesus, with patents signed in dueform, shall arrive at Goa, to take the government of this house, and ofthose who are subjected to it, I command you, in the same virtue of holyobedience, to resign the government into his hands forthwith, and to beobedient to him in all things. "

Xavier having thus declared Barzæus superior in a full assembly of thecollege, kneeled down, and acknowledged him for such, thereby giving apublic example of submission. After which, he commanded all of them, invirtue of holy obedience, to be subject to him, and ordered him to expelfrom the society, all such as should enterprize ought against hisauthority, or refuse obedience to his orders. He ordered him, I say, positively to expel them, without consideration of their capacity, theireloquence, or any other gifts of nature; adding, that whatever excellentqualities they had, they wanted those which were essential, namely, humility and obedience. 

Barzaeus replied not one word when it was intimated to him, that heshould not go to China, how desirous soever he were of that voyage; andit may be said, that, on this occasion, he made a noble sacrifice of allhis fervent zeal to his obedience. But when he was nominated both rectorand vice-provincial, confounded at the mention of those dignities, hesaid aloud, "That he was not endued with the spirit of government. " Hewas ready to die of shame, when he saw the saint upon his knees beforehim; and, with great precipitation, fell also on his knees, and humblybegged of him, with tears in his eyes, that he would consider hisinfirmities. The saint, who had a perfect insight into his integrity, would not hearken to him, and judged him to be so much the more worthy ofthose two employments, as he judged himself to be incapable. As Barzaeuswas the desire of all in all places, and yet his presence was necessaryat Goa, not only for the due regulation of the college, but also for thegood of missions, Xavier forbade him, in virtue of holy obedience, todepart out of the isle of Goa during the space of three years ensuing;and for this reason, that Barzaeus having this tie of prohibition uponhim, might be privileged to refuse any towns which might desire himamongst them; and that if his refusal should displease them, yet at leastthe unkindness might not rest on him. 

After all these punctual orders, Xavier gave in writing, to the newrector, such instructions as he was to use in the government of hisinferiors, and in reference to the conduct of himself; according to whatall of them had proposed to themselves, to have no design, save only _admajorem Dei gloriam;_ to God's greater honour. Those instructions arevery ample, and I shall give you only the most material. 

"Have before your eyes continually your own nothingness; and endeavour, above all things, to have your mind so possessed with it, that thecontempt of yourself may never leave you. Always treat the fathers of theSociety with great mildness and respect; as well those who inhabit withyou, as those who live in other places at a distance. Let not the leastroughness, or haughty carriage, appear in you, if it be not when yourmoderation and humility are turned into contempt; for on such occasions, having nothing in your intentions but the good of your interiors, and notmaking the contempt of your authority the object of your vengeance, youare to make the guilty somewhat sensible of your power. But you shallonly punish them so far as need requires, and for their amendment, andthe edification of our brethren, who were witnesses of their fault. Allthe offences which shall be committed, either by the fathers or thebrothers, against the rule of obedience, ought to be punished by somecorrection; and in so doing, the character of priesthood must be noprivilege to the offender. If any of your inferiors act presumptuouslyagainst you, and, full of self-opinion, resist you with stubbornness, raise yourself in opposition to their pride, and speak magisterially tothem. Let your behaviour towards them have more of severity than ofmildness. Impose some public penance on them; and beware, of all things, that they may not observe in you the least remissness, which they will besure to interpret fear; for nothing more encourages the untractable andhaughty to rebellion, than the softness and fearful spirit of a governor. And it is not credible, how assuming, proud, and peremptory, they willgrow, when once they find the reins are slackened, and that theirpusillanimous superior is afraid of punishing their want of due respect. Impunity hardens that sort of people in their insolence; or rather, itmakes them more and more audacious; which disturbs the peace of religioushouses. Execute then my orders, without fearing the opinion or speech ofpeople; and let no consideration, no regard of persons, hinder you fromthe performance of your duty. Amongst your inferiors, you will find somewho are neither obstinate nor disobedient, but who are weak; who areforgetful of what is enjoined them, who indeed despise not the orders oftheir superiors, but sometimes neglect them, either out offaintheartedness, or want of sense. Reprehend such men with moregentleness and moderation, and temper your reproof with the mildnessof your countenance; and if you find it necessary to punish them, imposebut an easy penance on them. Never admit into the Society such as are notendued with judgment, and good natural parts; nor those who are of a weakconstitution, and proper for no employment, or of whom you may reasonablysuspect, that they would enter into religion for secular respects, ratherthan out of a sincere devotion of serving God. When they shall have endedtheir exercises, you are to employ them in the service of the sick in thepublic hospitals, and in the meanest offices of the house. You shallcause them to give you an account of the endeavours they have made, toacquit themselves well of their ordinary meditations, according to theform prescribed. If you are assured, that they are lukewarm and faint attheir devotions, you will do well to dismiss them, and turn them out ofthe Society betimes; or if there be any hope of their amendment, youshall withdraw them for some days from those interior exercises;depriving them, by way of penance, of an honour which their negligencehas made them unworthy to enjoy; and such indeed is that of communicatingwith God in prayer, to the end, that, being ashamed to stand excludedfrom that celestial commerce, they may desire more ardently to bere-admitted to it. I recommend extremely to you, that you pay anextraordinary respect to my lord the bishop; and that you be obedient tohim. Beware of doing any thing which may displease him; endeavour, on thecontrary, to serve him in all things according to your power; andacknowledge, by all manner of good offices, those infinite obligationswhich we have to so charitable a father and benefactor. Command thosefathers who are out of Goa, to write to him from time to time, but nottoo prolixly; and to give him an account of the fruit of their labours. That they mention in their letters, as far as truth will give them leave, the commendation of his vicars; and omit not the other good actions ofthe religious; and if they can say no good of them, let them be silent ofthem; for we are not to imagine that our duty obliges us to complain tothe bishop, of the ill conduct of his vicars, or of othergospel-labourers; there will never be wanting those who will ease usof that trouble. Beware, not to trouble yourself with the management ofworldly business; nor even to encumber your inferiors with it, on anyoccasion whatsoever. When secular men shall desire to engage you in theemployments of civil life, return this answer, 'That the time whichremains free to you from preaching, and the administration of thesacraments, is scarce sufficient for your studies and devotions, whichare yet necessary to you before you go into the pulpit, or appear in thetribune of penance; that you cannot prefer the care of worldly things, before the cure of souls, without perverting the order and rule ofcharity. ' By this means you shall disengage yourself from all those sortsof encumbrances; and without this circumspection, you will do greatprejudice to the Society; for you ought to understand, that the worldoften enters by this door into religious houses, to the extreme damageboth of the religious, and of religion. 

"In the visits which are made to you, endeavour to find out the bottomand end of their design, who come to see you. For some there are, theleast part of whose business is to be instructed in spirituals; it isonly temporal interest which brings them to you: there will even be some, who will come to confession, on no other motive, than to acquaint youwith the necessities of their family. The best counsel I can give you, isto stand upon your guard with such; and, to be rid of them, let them knowfrom the very first, that you can neither furnish them with money, norprocure them any favour from other men. Be warned to have as littlediscourse with this sort of people as possibly you can; for most commonlythey are great talkers, and if you trouble yourself with giving them thehearing, you are almost certain to lose your time. For what remains, disquiet not yourself with what they think or say of you; let them murmuron, and do you take up a resolution of standing out so firmly, that theymay not find the least concernment in you; for the shew of any naturalsensibility would discover that you are not enough disengaged from theworld, as if you were wavering what part to take betwixt the world andChrist. Remember, that you cannot covet popular approbation withoutbetraying your ministry, or becoming a deserter of your sacred colours, in going back from that evangelical perfection, which you are obliged tofollow, with an unrelenting ardour. "

After this, Xavier gave Barzaeus sundry particular orders, relating tothe persons and houses of the Society. 

And now he chose for his companions, Balthazar Gago, Edward Silva, andPeter Alcaceva, with Francis Gonçalez, and Alvarez Ferreyra de MonteMajor; without reckoning into the number a young secular Chinese, namedAntonio, who had been brought up in the seminary of Sainte Foy. Someof these were intended for China, and others for Japan. Father Ignatiushad written to Father Xavier, that it was of great importance to sendfrom the Indies into Europe one of the Society, well versed in theeastern affairs, who might render an exact account of all things to theking of Portugal, and the Pope; as a means of procuring temporal suppliesfrom the one, and spiritual favours from the other; both which werenecessary for the further increase of Christianity in Asia. FatherFrancis did not receive those letters till after his voyage of Japan. Hehad thought of these very things formerly, but now seeing that thejudgment of Ignatius concurred with his, he deputed into Italy andPortugal, Andrew Fernandez, a man of parts and probity, who was not yetin priest's orders. He not only gave him ample informations concerningthe present condition of the Indies, but also wrote large letters on thesame subject, to the king of Portugal, to Father Ignatius, and to SimonRodriguez. Being now ready to go for the voyage of China, he gave noticeof his intentions to king John, in this ensuing letter. 

"I shall depart from Goa within the compass of five days, intending firstfor Malacca; from whence I shall take the way of China, in the company ofJames Pereyra, who is named ambassador. We carry with us the richpresents, which are bought partly at the cost of your majesty, and partlyat the proper charges of Pereyra: but we carry also a far more preciouspresent, and such an one as no king, at least to my knowledge, has madethe like to another prince, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ; and ifthe emperor of China once knew its value, I am confident he would preferthat treasure before all his own, how immense soever they may be. I hope, that at length Almighty God will look with eyes of pity on that vastempire, and that he will make known to those great multitudes, who areall made after his own image, their Creator, and the Saviour of mankind, Christ Jesus. 

"We are three in company, who go to China with Pereyra; and our designis, to free from prison those Portuguese who are there languishing inchains; to manage the friendship of the Chinese in favour of the crown ofPortugal; and, above all things, to make war with the devils, and theiradherents: on which occasion, we shall declare to the emperor, and, insequel, to all his subjects, from the King of Heaven, the great injurywhich they have done him, to give the devils that adoration which is onlypayable to the true God, creator of mankind, and to Jesus Christ, theirjudge and master. The undertaking may seem bold, to come amongstbarbarians, and dare to appear before a mighty monarch, to declare thetruth to him, and reprehend his vices: but that which gives us courageis, that God himself has inspired us with these thoughts; that he hasfilled us with the assurance of his mercy; and that we doubt not of hispower, which infinitely surpasses that of the emperor of China. Thus ourwhole success being in the hands of God, what cause of distrust or fearis it possible for us to have? for certain it is, that our onlyapprehension ought to be of offending him, and of incurring thosepunishments which are ordained for wicked men. But my hopes areincomparably greater when I consider, that God has made choice of suchweak instruments, and such sinners, as we are, for so high an employment, as to carry the light of the gospel almost, I may say, into anotherworld, to a nation blinded with idolatry, and given up to vice. "

While they were fitting out the ship, which was to carry the missionersof China and Japan, Xavier assembled the fathers of the college by night, not being able to do it by day, because they were in continual employmenttill the evening. He discoursed with them concerning the virtuesrequisite to the apostolic vocation, and spoke with so much ardency andunction, that the congregation was full of sighs and tears, according tothe relation of some who were present, and have left it to us in writing. But the instructions which he gave, in taking his last farewell of them, are very remarkable. And I cannot, in my opinion, report them better, than in the very words of the author, who took them from the mouth of theapostle: "The Father, Master Francis, " says he, "embracing his brethrenbefore his departure for China, and weeping over them, recommendedconstancy in their vocation to them; together with unfeigned humility, which was to have for its foundation, a true knowledge of themselves, andparticularly a most prompt obedience. He extended his exhortation on thislast point, and enjoined them obedience, as a virtue most pleasing toAlmighty God, much commended by the Holy Spirit, and absolutely necessaryto the sons of the Society. "

The apostle went from Goa on holy Thursday, which fell that year, 1552, on the 14th of April. The sea was calm enough, till they came to theheight of the islands of Nicubar, which are somewhat above Sumatra, towards the north. Thereabouts the waves began to swell; and presentlyafter, there arose so furious a tempest, that there scarcely remained anyhopes of safety. That which doubled their apprehension, was, that twofoists, which bore them company, unable to sustain the fury of the waves, sunk both by one another. The ship, which carried Xavier and hiscompanions, was a royal vessel, very large and deep laden, so that herunwieldy bulk and heavy freight hindered her sailing and her steering. Itwas thought necessary to ease her, and the merchandizes were ready to becast overboard, when Father Francis desired the captain not to be toohasty. But the sailors saying, that the tempest increasing, as usually itdoes towards evening, the vessel could not so conveniently be disburdenedin the dark, he bid them not disturb themselves about it, for the stormshould cease, and they should make land before sun-set. The captain, whoknew how certain the predictions of Xavier were, made not the leastscruple of believing him, and the event verified the prophecy. The seagrew calm, and land appeared before the setting of the sun. 

But while every one was rejoicing at the nearness of the port, the holyman had sadness in his countenance, and often sighed. Some of themenquired the cause, and he bade them pray to God for the city of Malacca, which was visited with an epidemical disease. Xavier said true; for thesickness was so general, and so contagious, that it seemed the beginningof a pestilence. Malignant fevers raged about the town, which carried offthe strongest constitutions in a little space, and the infection wascaught almost at sight. In this condition the ship found Malacca; andnever was the sight of the holy man more pleasing to the inhabitants. Every one promised himself ease of body, and consolation of mind fromhim; and they were not deceived in their expectation. 

So soon as he was set on shore, he went in search of the sick, and foundemployment enough amongst them for the exercise of his charity. Not a manof them, but desired to confess to Father Francis, and to expire in hisarms; according to the popular opinion, that whoever died in that manner, could not fail of being saved. He ran from street to street with hiscompanions, to gather up the poor, who lay languishing on the ground forwant of succour. He carried them to the hospitals, and to the college ofthe Society, which on this occasion he changed into an hospital. And whenboth the college and the hospitals were full, he ordered cabins to bebuilt along the shore, out of the remainders of rotten vessels, forlodgings, and necessary uses of those distressed creatures. After whichhe procured them food and medicines, which he begged from the devoutersort, and himself attended them both day and night. That which appearedmost wonderful, was, that though the sick could not be served, nor thedying assisted, nor the dead buried, without taking the infection, and itwas death to take it, yet Xavier and his companions enjoyed their perfecthealth in the midst of such dangerous employments. This indeed waswonderful, but there was also an undoubted miracle, which it pleasedAlmighty God to work by the ministry of his servant, on a young man, whomat that time he restored to life. 

This young man, named Francis Ciavus, the only son of a devout woman, whohad long been under the conduct of Xavier, having put into his mouth, without thinking of it, a poisoned arrow, such as are used in thoseeastern parts, died suddenly, so subtile and so mortal was the venom. They were already burying him, when Xavier came by chance that way. Hewas so moved with the cries and lamentations of the mother, that, takingthe dead by the hand, he revived him with these words: "Francis, in thename of Jesus Christ, arise. " The youth thus raised, believed from thatmoment, that he was no more his own, and that he was obliged toconsecrate that life to God, which was so miraculously restored: Ineffect he did it, and out of acknowledgment to Xavier, took the habit ofthe Society. When the mortality was almost ceased, the saint pursued hisdesign of the embassy to China, and treated with Don Alvarez d'Atayda, the governor of Malacca, on whom the viceroy had reposed the trust of soimportant an affair Don Alvarez had much approved this enterprize, whenXavier had first opened it, at his return from Japan, and had evenpromised to favour it with all his power. But envy and interest are twopassions, which stifle the most reasonable thoughts, and make men forgettheir most solemn protestations. 

The governor had a grudging to Pereyra, who, the year before, had refusedto lend him ten thousand crowns; and could not endure, that a merchantshould be sent ambassador to the greatest monarch in the world. He said, "That certainly that Pereyra, whom the viceroy had empowered by hisletters, was some lord of the court of Portugal, and not James Pereyra, who had been domestic servant to Don Gonsalvo de Cotigno, " But that whichmost disturbed him, was, that, besides the honour of such an embassy, themerchant should make so vast a profit of his wares, which he would selloff at an excessive rate in China. The governor said, "That in his ownperson were to be considered the services of the count his father; andthat those hundred thousand crowns, which would be gained at least byPereyra, were a more suitable reward for the son of Atayda, than for thevalet de chambre of Cotigno. " With such grating thoughts as these, hesought occasions to break off the voyage; yet he Would not declarehimself at first; and the better to cover his design, or not to seemunthankful to Father Xavier, he fed him with fair promises. For the holyman had procured him the command of captain-major of the sea, and himselfhad brought him the provisions for that place: because when first theFather had opened his purpose of going into China, Atayda seemed to haveespoused the project with great affection, and engaged himself to make itsucceed, in case the ports and navigations of the Portuguese were oncedepending on him. To oblige him yet farther, the saint had procured fromthe viceroy, and brought along with him, certain extraordinaryprivileges, which had not been comprised in the provisions of thecommand. And, lastly, that he might wholly gain him at his arrival, finding the governor very sick, he attended him with great diligence, andmade himself at once both his nurse and his chaplain, watching by him allthe night, and saying mass for him in the morning. But all these officesof friendship wrought nothing on a heart, where jealousy and avarice werepredominant. 

What care soever Don Alvarez took to conceal his ill intentions, Xavierquickly discovered them; and at the same time wrote to Pereyra, who wasyet at Sunda, advising him to come without any equipage, and to affectnothing of magnificence, that he might not farther exasperate aninterested and jealous soul. But all the modesty of the ambassadorcould not hinder the governor from breaking out. At the first noise ofhis arrival, he sent officers of justice, and soldiers, to the port, withorders to make seizure on the ship called Santa Cruz, to take away therudder, and give it into his hands. This was the first act ofjurisdiction, which was exercised by Don Alvarez, as captain of the sea;employing against Xavier himself, that authority which had been procuredhim by Xavier, and pushing his ingratitude as far as it could go. In themean time, to cover his passion with the pretext of public good, according to the common practice of men in power, he protested loudly, that the interests of the crown had constrained him to act in thismanner; that he had received information from his spies, that the Javanswere making preparations of war, to come upon Malacca once again; that hecould not have too many ships in readiness, against such formidableenemies; and that the Santa Cruz was of absolute necessity to the king'sservice. This fable, which was the product of his own brains, was soonexploded by the arrival of some other Portuguese vessels, who, comingfrom the isles of Java, made oath, that these barbarians, being engagedamongst themselves in civil wars, had no thoughts of any foreignconquest. Don Alvarez not being able any longer to support the credit ofhis tale, pulled off the mask, and stood upon no farther ceremonies. Xavier perceiving that the love of lucre was his governing passion, madeoffers to him, by Pereyra, of thirty thousand crowns in pure gift; butthe desire of engrossing all the gain, was the reason which prevailedwith Atayda to refuse it. 

The treasurer, with the rest of the crown-officers, being come toremonstrate to him, that the king's orders were positive, not to stop thenavigation of those merchants, who had paid the duties of the port, hethreatened them with his cane, which he held up against them, and drovethem out of his chamber with great fury, saying, "That he was too old tobe counselled; that, as long as he continued governor of Malacca, andcaptain of the seas, James Pereyra should not go to China, eitheras ambassador, or merchant; and if Father Xavier was intoxicated with thezeal of converting heathens, he might go to Brazil, or to the kingdom ofMonomotapa. "

Francis Pereyra, who was auditor-royal, and who had great credit in thetown, not being able, either by his intreaties, or his arguments, tooblige Don Alvarez to restore the rudder of the Santa Cruz, would haveforced it from him; but this was opposed by Xavier, who foresaw, that thesoldiers, who kept the rudder, would defend it with the hazard of theirlives, and that this affair would have ill consequences. 

The way which was taken by the holy man, was to send to the governor thegrand vicar John Suarez, attended by the most considerable persons of thetown, to shew him the letters of King John III. , which expressly made outhis intentions, that Father Xavier should extend the faith, as far as hewas able, through all the kingdoms of the East, and that the governorsshould favour him on all occasions. Suarez read also to the governor, theletter of the vice-king Don Alphonso de Norogna, in which he declaredcriminal of state, whosoever should hinder or oppose this particularvoyage of the saint. That which ought to have reduced Don Alvarez toreason, or at least to have terrified him, served only to make him moreunreasonable, and more audacious. He rose from his seat, with the actionof a madman, and stamping with his foot, sent back the grand vicar, withthis dutiful expression: "The king's interest, you say, requires this tobe performed; and I will not suffer it to be performed: Here I am, andwill be master. "

These outrageous dealings of the governor were not confined to those, whomade these remonstrances to him from the Father; they extended even tothe saint himself, whom he looked on as the author and head of theenterprize. It is incredible what injurious words he gave him, and howrudely he treated him on several occasions; insomuch, that it was thecommon talk of Malacca, that this persecution might pass for themartyrdom of Father Xavier. The servant of God resented nothing which wasdone to his own person. He blessed God continually, for giving himoccasions of suffering; but he was extremely sensible of what religionand the progress of the gospel suffered, and was often seen to weepabundantly. 

He ceased not for a month together to solicit the governor; sometimesbeseeching him by the wounds of a crucified Saviour, sometimes urginghim with the fatal consequences of a miserable eternity, and endeavouringto let him understand, what a crime it was to hinder the publication ofthe gospel; but these divine reasons prevailed as little with DonAlvarez, as the human had done formerly. This strange obduracy quiteoverwhelmed the Father, when he saw that all these ways of mildness wereunsuccessful, and the season of navigation passed away; after he had wellconsulted God upon it, he concluded, that it was time to try the lastremedies. Ten years were now expired since his coming to the Indies, andhitherto no one person, excepting only the bishop of Goa, was made privyto his being the apostolic Nuncio. He had kept this secret in profoundsilence, and had not once exercised his power; but now he thought himselfobliged to own it, in a business of so great consequence, and to strikewith the thunders of the church, if occasion were, the man who made openwar against the church. 

Which notwithstanding, he would not dart the thunderbolt himself, butused the hand of the grand vicar. Having sent for him, he began withshewing him one of the briefs of Paul III. , which constituted him hisNuncio in all the kingdoms of the East. After this, he requested Suarezto shew this brief to Don Alvarez, and to explain to him the censureswhich were incurred by those, who should oppose the pope's legates inmatters of religion, and to exhort him, by what was most holy in theworld, to suffer the embassy to proceed. In case of refusal, to threatenhim with ecclesiastical punishments from the vicar of Jesus Christ, andto adjure him at the same time, by the death of the Saviour of mankind, to take compassion on himself. 

Xavier had always hoped, that the governor would open his eyes; and inthat writing which he gave the vicar to engage him in that nicecommission, there were these following words: "I cannot believe that DonAlvarez can be so hardened, but that he will be mollified, when he shallknow the intentions and orders of the holy see. " He desired the grandvicar, in the same writing, to send that very paper back to him, togetherwith the answer of Don Alvarez, that both the one and the other might bean authentic evidence to the bishop of Goa, that he had omitted nothingfor advancing the embassy; and that if it succeeded not, the fault laynot at his door. Suarez proceeded with the governor, according to all thedirections which had been traced out to him by the Father. But nothingcould work upon Alvarez. He laughed at the threatenings, and broke outinto railing language against the person of Xavier, saying loudly, "Thathe was an ambitious hypocrite, and a friend of publicans and sinners. "

The grand vicar not being able any longer to endure so outrageous andscandalous an impiety, at length excommunicated the governor, accordingto the agreement betwixt himself and Father Xavier. He alsoexcommunicated all his people, who basely flattered the passion of theirmaster, and spoke insolently of the holy see. This excommunicationsignified little to a man, who had no principles, either of honour, or ofreligion. Without giving himself the least disquiet for the wrath ofheaven, or talk of men, he made himself master of the ship Santa Cruz, and placed in her a captain, with 25 mariners, all of them in hisinterests, to go and trade at Sancian, where the Portuguese hadestablished a wealthy traffic. The ill success of the negociation, betwixt the grand vicar and the governor, was very afflicting to FatherXavier; his heart was pierced with sorrow, and he acknowledged to FatherFrancis Perez, that he never resented any thing with greater grief. Thedeplorable condition of Don Alvarez in the sight of God, the ruin of hisfriend Pereyra, the embassy of China utterly destroyed, --all these madehim sigh from the bottom of his soul; and so much the more, because heimputed these so great misfortunes to himself; as he gave Pereyra tounderstand, who lay hidden at Malacca, and to whom he expressed himselfin writing, because he knew not with what face to see him. 

"Since the greatness of my sins, " says he, "has been the reason why GodAlmighty would not make use of us two for the enterprize of China, it isupon myself that I ought, in conscience, to lay the fault. They are myoffences, which have ruined your fortunes, and have caused you to loseall your expences for the embassy of China. Yet God is my witness, that Ilove him, and that I love you also; and I confess to you, that if myintentions had not been right, I should be yet more afflicted than I am. The favour which I desire of you, is, that you would not come to see me;for fear, lest the condition to which you are reduced, should give me toomuch trouble; and that your sorrow might be the occasion of increasingmine. In the mean time, I hope this disgrace of yours may be of advantageto you; for I doubt not but the king will reward your zeal, as I haverequested of him by my letters. As for the governor, who has broken ourvoyage, I have no farther communication with him: God forgive him, I pityhim, and lament his condition; for he will soon be punished, and moreseverely than he thinks. "

But though Father Xavier wrote very pressing letters to the king ofPortugal in favour of Pereyra, he wrote nothing against Don Alvarez; andAlvarez himself was witness of it, having intercepted the letters of theFather. In effect, he found not the least expression of complaint againsthim, at which he was wonderfully surprised. The man of God daily offeredthe sacrifice of the mass for him, and shed many tears at the foot of thealtar, to the end he might obtain for him the favour of a sincererepentance. He said one day, he should lose at once, his estate, hishonour, and his life; and added, I beseech God that he lose not his soulalso. 

For what remains, though the door of China seemed to be shut upon him, since all hopes of the embassy were vanished, which had facilitated hisentrance into that kingdom, yet the saint despaired not of preaching thegospel to the Chinese; and a thought came into his head, that if he couldget to an isle, which was neighbouring to Canton, he might from thence goprivately over into the continent; that if he were stopped and put inprison, he should at least preach to the prisoners; that from theprisons, the Christian doctrine might spread into the towns, and possiblymight reach the court; that perhaps also the great men of the empire, andeven the emperor himself, might have the curiosity to see a man whopublished so new a faith; and then he might gain an opportunity ofdeclaring the whole law of Jesus Christ. 

With these considerations, he took up the design of embarking on theSanta Cruz, which the governor of Malacca was sending out for Sancian. But seeing that the entry of China could not be attempted by that waywhich he had proposed without great hazard, he would be the only priestwho should expose himself to those dangers; and retaining with him onlyone brother of the Society, the Chinese, Antonio de Sainte Foy, andanother young Indian, he sent Balthazar Jago, Edward Silvia, and PeterAlcaceva, to several employments; the first to the kingdom of Bungo, andthe two others to Amanguchi. 

During these passages, it happening that John Beyro came from theMoluccas, to desire some more assistance, for the farther propagation ofthe faith in those islands, Xavier received from him the comfortable newsof the great spreading of Christianity, and sent him to Barzæus, withorders that more companions should be joined to him; and that he shouldbe remanded thither with all expedition. 

The Santa Cruz being now upon the point of setting sail, he retired intothe church of our Lady of the Mount, to recommend his voyage to theprotection of the blessed Virgin. He continued his devotions till theevening; and had also passed the night in prayer, if they had not come togive him notice that the ship had already weighed anchor. 

The grand vicar, John Suarez, who bore him company to the ship, asked himby the way, if he had taken leave of the governor; adding, that if hefailed in that point of ceremony, the weaker Christians might bescandalized; that it would be a proof of his resentment, and an occasionof public murmur. The saint, who was willing to shew by his example, howexcommunicated persons ought to be treated, replied immediately, "DonAlvarez shall never see me in this life; I expect him at thejudgment-seat of God, where he will have a great account to answer. "Having walked on a little farther, he stopped at a church door, which wasnear the sea; and, in a transport of spirit, lifting up his eyes toheaven, he prayed aloud for the salvation of the unhappy Don Alvarez. Then he prostrated himself, and was silent for some time, praying fromthe bottom of his heart to God, with his face to the ground. Soon afterhe rose up with a vehement action, which had somewhat of a holy disdainin it; he took off his shoes, beat them one against another, andafterwards against a stone, saying, "that he would not bear away the dustof an accursed place. " He then foretold, with circumstances at large, andmore than formerly, the punishment which heaven had prepared for thegovernor of Malacca; and going on board, left the people, who hadfollowed him thus far, astonished at his prophecies, and afflicted at hisdeparture. 

Immediately they set sail, and there were in the vessel above fivehundred persons, counting in the passengers and servants. They werealready forward on their voyage, when the wind fell on the sudden; and ina moment the waves were laid, and the face of the ocean grew so smooth, that the Santa Cruz stood still, and moved no more than if she had beenat anchor. During this becalming, which lasted fourteen days together, their water failed them, and some died from the first want of it. Theyrowed on every side with their chalop, to make discovery of some coastwhere they might find fresh water. Being far at sea, they could discernnothing, but the island of Formosa, at least they believed it so to be. They endeavoured to gain the shore; but in seven days time, notwithstanding all their attempts, they could not reach it. 

In the meantime, the ship was full of sick people, who were burnt up witha deadly thirst; and they had all perished, without hope of succour, ifone of them, reflecting within himself, that Father Xavier had beenalways prevalent with God, had not hinted this notion to the rest;whereupon all of them coming on their knees before him, besought him, with more tears than words, to obtain from heaven either wind or waterfor them. 

Xavier bade them address themselves to God in their own behalf; causedthem to recite the litany on their knees, at the foot of a largecrucifix; and then ordered them to retire, but to have confidence inJesus Christ. He himself withdrew also into a chamber; from whence comingout some time after, he went down into the chalop with a little child, and having caused him to taste of the sea water, asked him whether itwere fresh or salt? The child answering that it was salt, he commandedhim to taste again, and the child told him that it was fresh. Then theFather, returning into the ship, ordered them to fill all their vessels;but some amongst them, being eager to drink, found the water salt. Thesaint made the sign of the cross over the vessels, and at the same momentthe water, losing its natural saltness, became so good, that they allprotested it was better than that of Bangar, of which the seamen maketheir ordinary provision, and which is esteemed the best water in all theIndies. 

This miracle so struck some Saracen Arabs, who were transporting theirwhole families into China, that, throwing themselves at the feet of theholy man, they acknowledged the God of the Christians, and desiredbaptism. The faithful, on their side, admired Father Francis; and all ofthem, in a body, owned the preservation of their lives to him. But theFather told them, that it was to God, and not to such a sinner as he was, that they were obliged to pay their thanks. The greatest part of themariners and passengers kept, out of devotion, some of this water, at thefirst as a testimony of the miracle, afterwards as a celestial remedy:for the water, being carried to the Indies, cured great numbers of sickpeople; and infusing some small quantity of it into any sort of drink, was sufficient to restore their health. 

During the navigation, a child of five years old happened to fall intothe sea; the vessel, which had a fore-wind, pursuing its course. Thefather of this child was not to be comforted, and his grief sooverwhelmed him, that he kept in private for three days. He was aMahometan, and the miracle of the water had not converted him. At lengthhe appeared in public, but all in tears, and never ceasing to lament theloss of his only son. Xavier, who knew nothing of this misfortune, askedhim the reason of his sorrow? Having learnt it, he stood recollected inhimself a little time, and then said, "Supposing that God should restoreyour son to you, would you promise me to believe in Jesus Christ, and tobecome a sincere Christian?" The infidel promised him; and three daysafter this, before sun-rising, they saw the child upon the hatches. Thechild knew not what had become of him for those six days, and onlyremembered his falling into the sea, not being able to give any accounthow he returned into the ship. His father was ready to die with joy whenhe received him; and Xavier had no need of putting him in mind of hisengagement: he came of his own accord, accompanied by his wife, his son, and his servant; all of them were baptized, and the child was namedFrancis. 

Those of the vessel having been witnesses of these two miracles, spoke ofthem to the inhabitants of an isle called Cincheo, by which they passed, and which was a place of great traffic, full of merchants from severalparts. The desire of seeing so admirable a man, caused about sixtypersons, some Ethiopians, other Indians, all Idolaters or Mahometans, to come into the ship: Xavier took the occasion, and preached the gospelto them; withal, instructing them in the holy practices of Christianity. He had no sooner ended his exhortation, than they acknowledged JesusChrist, and received baptism. 

While he was christening them, he appeared of a stature much higher thanhis own; insomuch, that those who were upon the shore near the vessel, believed he had been standing on some bench; but seeing him coming andgoing, and always appearing of the same height, they thought there mightpossibly be some miracle in the matter, and were desirous to be satisfiedconcerning it: Stephen Ventura went into the ship on purpose, andapproaching Father Xavier, saw that with his feet he touched the hatches, and yet his head was higher than the tallest there, on whom he sprinkledthe sacred waters of baptism. Ventura likewise observed, that, after hehad baptized the company, he returned to his natural proportion. 

From Cincheo the ship pursued her voyage towards Sancian, which is butsix leagues distant from the continent, over against Canton, a town ofChina. They had sailed far beyond Canton, and the mariners believed theywere still on this side of it. Xavier endeavoured to undeceive them, butthey adhered to their first opinion, and they had gone much further outof their way, if the captain, upon the word of the saint, had not strucksail, and cast anchor till the return of the chalop, which he had sentout to discover the neighbouring coast. She was three days before shecame back, and all the ship's company imagined that she had beenovertaken by some hurricane; but Xavier assured them that she shouldsuddenly return, with refreshments sent them by the Portuguese ofSancian; and that also she should be followed by some vessels, whichshould come to meet them on their way, and conduct them into the port. All happened as the Father had foretold; and the Santa Cruz, guided bythe vessels of Sancian, arrived at that island, twenty-three days afterher departure from Malacca. 

There are three islands so little distant from each other, that theyappear but one; for which reason the Chinese, in their language, callthem Samceu; a word composed of _sam_, which signifies three, and _ceu_, which is to say an island. The chief of these islands, which thePortuguese have named Sancian, has a convenient and safe port, allcrowned with mountains, and forming a semicircle on that side, whichlooks towards Macao. It has few inhabitants who are natives, almost noprovisions, and is so barren of itself, so uncultivated and so wild, thatit seems rather a place of banishment than of commerce. The Chinese hadpermitted the Portuguese to trade thither, to buy their commodities, andsell their own to them, without breaking their fundamental law, ofsuffering no stranger to set foot within their country; so that thePortuguese durst come no nearer the main land, for fear of hazardingtheir lives, or at least their liberty. Neither was it permitted them tobuild solid houses in the isle; they were only allowed to set up slightcabins, covered with mats, and dressed about with boughs of trees, thatthey might not always be shut up within their vessels. 

Amongst these merchants there was one who was very rich, and infinitelycharitable, but of a gay humour, and pleasant in conversation, addictedto all pleasure which decency permits, and loving not to deny himself anything which will make life comfortable;--for the rest, most affectionateto Father Xavier: his name was Peter Veglio, the same Veglio who was withthe saint at Japan, and who returned in his company. Xavier being verydesirous of his friend's salvation, exhorted him, from time to time, tomortify his natural inclinations, even sometimes to chastise his body forthe expiation of his sins. Veglio understood not that Latin; whether hewas too tender of his own person, or thought his sins were not of anature to deserve such severities, he could never find in his heart totake up the discipline; but instead of macerations and penances, he gavegreat alms; and Father Francis received from him very large supplies, for the relief of such as were in want. One day, the Father having needof a certain sum of money, to marry a young orphan virgin, who waspoor and handsome, and consequently in danger of being ruined, hadrecourse to Veglio, according to his custom. He found him engaged in playwith another merchant; but the business being urgent, he forbore not torequest his charity. Veglio, who loved to be merry, made as if he wereangry with him, and answered thus; "Father Francis, when a man is losing, he is in no condition of giving alms; and for a wise man as you are, youhave made a very gross mistake in this unseasonable demand. " "It isalways in season to do good, " replied Xavier; "and the best time forgiving money, is when a man has it in his hand. " The merchant continuingin the same tone, and seeming to be displeased with the Father's company, added, as it were to be rid of him, "Here, take the key of my chest; takeall my money if you will, and leave me to play my game in quiet. " In themerchant's chest were thirty thousand taes, which amount to forty-fivethousand crowns of gold. The Father took out three hundred crowns, whichwere sufficient to marry the orphan maiden. Some time afterward, Vegliocounting over his money, and finding the sum was still entire, believedthe Father had not touched it, and reproached him with want of friendshipfor not making use of him; whereupon Xavier protested to him, that he hadtaken out three hundred crowns. "I swear to you, " said Veglio, "thatnot one of them is wanting; but God forgive you, " added he, "my meaningwas to have parted the whole sum betwixt us; and I expected, that of myforty-five thousand crowns, you should at least have taken the onemoiety. "

Xavier, finding that Veglio had spoken very sincerely to him, and out ofa pure principle of charity, said, as a man transported out of himself bythe spirit of God; "Peter, the design you had, is a good work before theeyes of Him, who weighs the motions and intentions of the heart; Hehimself will recompence you for it, and that which you have not given, shall be one day restored to you an hundred-fold. In the meantime, Ianswer for Him, that temporal goods shall be never wanting to you; andwhen you shall have misfortunes to put you backwards in the world, yourfriends shall assist you with their purses. I farther declare to you, that you shall not die without being first advertised of the day of yourdeath. " After these predictions, Veglio was quite changed into anotherman, applying himself wholly to exercises of piety; and in the conditionof a merchant, lived almost the life of a religious. What had beenforetold him, that he should have warning of his death, came frequentlyinto his remembrance; and he could not hinder himself one day from askingthe saint, at what time, and in what manner, it should be? The saint toldhim, without pausing, "When you shall find the taste of your wine bitter, then prepare yourself for death, and know that you have but one day moreto live. "

The merchant lived in opulence and splendour, even to an extreme old age. He had several losses in his trade, according to the chance of thingswhich are depending on the sea; but his friends continually relieved himin his necessities, and gave him wherewithal to set up again. At length, being one day at a great entertainment, and more gay than ever, havingasked for wine, he found the taste of it was bitter. Immediatelyremembering the prophecy of Father Xavier, he was seized with an inwardhorror; which beginning from the soul, spread over his body, as if deathhad been pronounced against him, or the image of death presented to hiseyes. Nevertheless, somewhat recovering his spirits, for his farthersatisfaction in the point, he desired his fellow-guests at the table totaste the wine out of his glass. All judged it to be excellent, besideshimself, who made divers trials of it on his palate. He called for otherwines, and another glass; but always found the same bitterness. Then, nolonger doubting but that his last hour was coming, after he had made aninterior sacrifice of his life to God, he related to the company thatprediction, which was now accomplished; and arose from the table with thethoughts of a Christian, who is disposing himself for death. Havingdistributed his goods betwixt his children and the poor, he went to seehis friends, and to give and take the last farewell;--notwithstanding hisgreat age, he was in perfect health. It was thought he doted, and theyendeavoured to persuade him out of his melancholy apprehensions. Buttheir arguments prevailed so little on his mind, that he gave orders forhis own funeral, and invited his friends to do him the last kind office, of accompanying his corpse to burial. To content him, and to makethemselves merry at his folly, they attended him into the church: intheir presence he received the viaticum, and the extreme unction, withoutbeing sick; afterwards he laid himself upon the bier, and caused them tosing the mass for the dead. The people gathered in a crowd at thestrangeness of the report; some drawn by the novelty of the sight, therest to be eye-witnesses how the prediction of Father Xavier wouldsucceed. Mass being ended, the priest, attended by his inferiors, performed all the ceremonies of the church about the grave, and, atlength, sung the last words belonging to a Christian burial over the oldman, who was alive, and bore his part in the responses. There nowremaining no more to do, the servant of Veglio coming to help his masteroff the bier, he found him dead. All the assistants were witnesses of thematter of fact, and every one went home full of admiration of God's mercytowards this merchant, who had been so charitable, and blessing thememory of the holy apostle of the Indies. 

This was not the only prophetical light, which Xavier had in the isle ofSancian. A ship, which went from Macao to Japan, appeared in sight ofSancian, to be overtaken by a dreadful hurricane. The Portuguese, who hadgreat concernments in that vessel, being alarmed at so inevitable adanger, came running for comfort to Father Xavier; but the Father assuredthem, they had no cause of fear, and that the ship was safely arrived ather port. They kept themselves quiet, upon the assurance of his word, till finding that the ship made no return, which was to stay at Japan butsome few days, they gave her for lost. Xavier reproved their want offaith, and positively told them, that she should come back before theweek were ended. In effect, she returned two days afterwards, laden withrich merchandizes, and proud of her escape from the fury of thehurricane. 

At the same time, Xavier was inspired with the knowledge of the quarrelbetwixt Don Alvarez de Atayda, governor of Malacca, and Don Bernard deSosa, who was newly arrived from the Moluccas; and told the circumstancesof it to the Portuguese, who, having afterwards the particulars of itfrom some of Malacca, were astonished to find them the very same whichthe Father had related. 

This miraculous foreknowledge was accompanied by actions as surprising;and without speaking of a dead infant, which Xavier restored to life, butwhose resurrection is without circumstances in the acts of the saint'scanonization, he cleared the country of the tygers, which laid it waste. These furious beasts came in herds together out of the forests, anddevoured not only the children, but the men also, whom they foundscattered in the fields, and out of distance from the entrenchments whichwere made for their defence. One night the servant of God went out tomeet the tygers, and when they came near him, he threw holy water uponthem, commanding them to go back, and never after to return. Thecommandment had its full effect, the whole herd betook themselves toflight, and from that time forward no tygers were ever seen upon theisland. 

The joy which the Portuguese had conceived at the arrival of FatherXavier, was immediately changed to sadness, when they understood that hehad only taken Sancian in his way to China. They all endeavoured todissuade him from it, and set before his eyes the rigorous laws of thatgovernment; that the ports were narrowly observed by vigilant andfaithful officers, who were neither to be circumvented nor bribed withpresents; that the Mandarins were cruel to all strangers; that, the yearbefore, some Portuguese seamen being cast by tempest on the coast ofCanton, had been severely whipped, and afterwards inclosed in darkdungeons, where, if they were not already dead, they were still exercisedwith new punishments; that, for himself, the least he could expect wasperpetual imprisonment, which was not the business of an apostle, whodesigned to run from place to place, and propagate the faith through allthe East. These arguments made no impression on the saint; he hadfortified his resolution with more potent reasons, and answered themerchants in the same tenor in which he had written to Father FrancisPerez, that he could not distrust the Divine Goodness, and that hisdistrust would be so much the more criminal, because the powerfulinspiration of the Holy Spirit pushed him forward to teach the Chinesethe gospel of the living God. "I am elected, " said he, "for this greatenterprize, by the special grace of heaven. If I should demur on theexecution, or be terrified with the hardships, and want courage toattempt those difficulties, would it not be incomparably worse than allthe evils with which you threaten me? But, what can the demons and theirministers do against me? Surely no more than what is permitted them bythe sovereign Lord of all the world; and that in giving up myself in thismanner, I shall obey my Lord Jesus, who declares in his gospel, 'Thatwhosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose it formy sake, shall find it. ' Our Saviour also says, 'That he who, having puthis hand to the plough, shall look behind him, is not fit for the kingdomof heaven. ' The loss of the body being then without comparison less to befeared than that of the soul, according to the principles of EternalWisdom, I am resolved to sacrifice a frail and miserable life foreverlasting happiness. In fine, I have set up my rest, I will undertakethis voyage, and nothing is capable of altering my resolution. Let allthe powers of hell break loose upon me, I despise them, provided God beon my side; for if he be for us, who shall be against us?" The Portuguesebeing of opinion, that this fixed intention of the man of God was partlygrounded on his ignorance of the dangers, which he believed theymagnified to him beyond their natural proportion, sent some Chinesemerchants, with whom they traded, to discourse the business calmly withhim; but the matter went otherwise than they had imagined. Those Chinese, to whom Xavier failed not to speak of Christianity, and who were men ofunderstanding, advised him to the voyage, instead of dissuading him. Theycounselled him only to carry books which contained the Christiandoctrine; and added, that, not long since, the emperor had sent somelearned men into the neighbouring kingdoms, to inform themselves of suchreligions as were different from the received opinions of the Chinese;that they believed the Christian doctrine would be well received atcourt; and that it seemed probable to them, that the novelty of soreasonable a belief would make his way who was the first bearer of it. 

Xavier was overjoyed to find a passage opened for the gospel, to the mostpolite nation of the world; and doubted not but that the Christianreligion, coming to be compared by judicious men with the other opinionsof the East, would have the advantage. Being thus encouraged to pursuehis purpose, his first business was to provide himself of a goodinterpreter. For Antonio, the Chinese, whom he had brought from Goa, waswholly ignorant of the language which is spoken at the court, and hadalmost forgotten the common idiom of the vulgar. He found out anotherChinese, who had a perfect knowledge of the language of the Mandarins, and who could also write excellently well, in which consists theprincipal knowledge of China. For the rest, he was a man well shaped, ofa good presence, of great natural parts, of a pleasing conversation, and, which was above all, he seemed entirely devoted to the Christians: hepromised all possible good offices, --whether he hoped to make hisfortune, by presenting to the emperor one who published a new law, orthat God had inspired him with those pious thoughts. 

There was more difficulty in finding seamen to transport the Father; forthere was no less venture than that of life, for any one who undertookthat business. But interest gives him courage to hazard all, who valuesmoney more than life itself. A Chinese merchant, called Capoceca, offeredhimself to carry Xavier into the province of Canton, provided he might bewell paid; and asked the value of two hundred pardos[1]in pepper. TheChinese promised to take Xavier into his barque by night, and to land himbefore day on some part of the coast, where no houses were in view; andif this way was thought uncertain, he engaged to hide the Father in hisown house, and four days after to conduct him, early in the morning, tothe gates of Canton. But he would have Xavier oblige himself also, on hisside, to go immediately to the Mandarin, with the letters which theviceroy of the Indies, and the bishop of Goa, had written to the emperor;for the Father had still reserved by him those letters which related tothe embassy, though the design had been ruined by the governor ofMalacca. The Chinese also exacted an oath of secrecy from the saint, thatno torments, however cruel, should bring him to confess either the nameor the house of him who had set him on shore. 

[Footnote 1: A pardo (says Tavernier) is of the value of twenty-sevensous, French money; ten of which make about a shilling English. ]

Xavier made as solemn an engagement as he could desire, not withoutknowledge of the hazard which he ran, as himself related to one of hisdearest friends. "I perceive, " said he, "two dangers, which are almostinevitable in this affair; on the one side, there is great cause ofapprehension, lest the idolatrous merchant, having received the priceof my passage, should throw me overboard, or leave me on some desartisle; on the other side, lest the governor of Canton should discharge hisfury upon me, and make me an example to all strangers, by putting me to acruel death, or condemning me to perpetual imprisonment. But in case Ifollow the voice which calls me, and obey my Lord, I count my life andliberty at nothing. "

When the voyage of China was on these terms, and that all things seemedto favour it, the Portuguese of Sancian put an obstacle in the way, ofwhich Xavier had never thought. The appetite of gain made them apprehend, lest his zeal should bring them into trouble; and they said to oneanother, that the Mandarin governor of Canton would certainly revenge onthem the boldness of their countryman: That he would commission hisofficers to pillage their ships, and confiscate their effects, and thattheir lives were not in safety. In this general affrightment, which wasnot ill grounded, and which increased daily, the wealthier sort addressedthemselves to Father Xavier, and desired him to take compassion on them, and on their wives and children, if he would have no compassion onhimself. 

Xavier, who was no less careful for the interests of others, than he wasnegligent of his own, found an expedient to satisfy them. He engaged hisword, that he would not pass over into China, till they had ended alltheir business, and were gone from Sancian. This gave opportunity to theChinese merchant, with whom he had treated, to make a short voyage, underpromise, notwithstanding, to return at a time which was prefixed. Whilethese things were thus managed, the Father fell sick of a violent fever, which continued on him fifteen days. The Portuguese took occasion fromthence to tell him, that heaven had declared against the voyage of China;but being recovered, he followed his design with more warmth than ever. While the merchants were lading their ships, he entertained himself dayand night with the prospect of converting China; and all his pleasure wasto think, how happy he should be, in dispossessing the devil of thelargest empire in the world. "If yet, " said he, "it shall please AlmightyGod to employ so vile an instrument as I am, in so glorious anundertaking. " Taken up with these and such-like meditations, he oftentook his walk along the shore, and turning his eyes towards that desiredcountry, sent out ardent sighs. He said sometimes amongst his friends, that his only wish was to be set down at the gates of Canton, andtroubled not himself with what might happen afterwards: happy he, if hecould once declare the Son of God to the Chinese, and more happy, if, forhis sake, he might suffer martyrdom. 

In the mean time, all the Portuguese vessels, excepting only the SantaCruz, which had not yet her whole lading, set sail from Sancian for theIndies. Xavier gave many letters to the merchants, to be delivered bothat Malacca and at Goa. He wrote to his friend James Pereyra, in termswhich were full of acknowledgment and charity. "Almighty God, " said he inhis letter, "abundantly reward you, since I am not able of myself to doit; at least, while I continue in this world, I shall not fail to implorethe Divine Goodness to confer on you, during your life, his holy grace, accompanied with perfect health, and after your death eternal happiness. But as I am persuaded, that I cannot acquit myself, by these my prayers, of the great obligements which I have to you, I beg all those of ourSociety in the Indies, to desire of God the same blessings in yourbehalf. For what remains, if I compass my entrance into China, and if thegospel enter with me, it is to you, next to Almighty God, to whom boththe Chinese and myself shall be owing for it. You shall have the merit ofit in the sight of God, and the glory in the sight of men. Thus, both theChinese, who shall embrace the faith, and those of our Society, who shallgo to China, shall be obliged, to offer, without ceasing, their vows toheaven in favour of you. God grant us both the happiness once to meet inthe court of China! As for myself, I am of opinion if I get into thatkingdom, and that you come thither, you will either find me a prisoner atCanton, or at Pequin, which is the capital city of that empire; and Ibeseech the Lord, out of his infinite mercy, that we may be joinedtogether either in the kingdom of China, or at least in the kingdom ofimmortal glory. "

He wrote by the same conveyance to Father Francis Perez, superior ofMalacca. He commanded him, in virtue of holy obedience, to depart withthe soonest out of that unhappy town, and to conduct his inferiors toCochin, where he established him rector of the college, in the place ofAntonio Heredia, whom he sent to Goa. Though Father Xavier deplored anew, the wretched condition of Don Alvarez, it hindered him not from enjoiningFather Barzæus, in his letter to him, that he should work the bishop tosend his orders to the grand vicar of Malacca, therein declaring thegovernor to be excommunicated. And he took this way, not only becausehardened and scandalous offenders, such as Don Alvarez, ought to incur apublic dishonour, by that means to induce them to a serious considerationof their own estate, and that others might take warning by them; butalso, that succeeding governors might fear, by the example of hispunishment, to set themselves in opposition to any intended voyage of themissioners, who should be sent hereafter to the Moluccas, Japan, or anyother places. 

He desired Father Barzæeus, in the same letter, to receive few personsinto the Society, and to make an exact trial of those whom he shouldreceive: "For I fear, " said he, "that many of them who have beenadmitted, and daily are admitted, were better out of our walls thanwithin them. 

"You ought to deal with such people, as you have seen me deal with manyat Goa; and as I have lately treated my companion, whom I have dismissedfrom the Society, not having found him proper for our business. " He meantAlvarez Pereyra, whom he had brought with him from the Indies, and whomhe sent back from Sancian with the Portuguese vessels. 

Amongst those merchants who went off from Sancian, there was one who mademore haste than any of the rest; without giving notice of his departureto the Father, whom he had lodged in his cabin, or without waiting for aChinese vessel, which he had bought at the port of Canton. One morningwhile the Father was saying mass very early, this merchant had put offfrom shore, and fled with as much precipitation as if the island wasready to be swallowed by the sea. After mass was ended, he looked roundhim, and not seeing him for whom he searched, "What is become of myhost?" said he, with the looks and gesture of a man inspired. Beinganswered, that he was already in open sea; "What could urge him, "continued he, "to so prompt a resolution? why did he not expect the shipwhich comes from Canton? And whither is he dragged by his unhappydestiny?" That very evening the Chinese vessel was seen to arrive: as forthe fugitive merchant, he was no sooner landed at Malacca, when, goinginto a wood to seek materials for the refitting of his ship, he wasponiarded by robbers. 

All the Portuguese vessels being gone, saving only that which belonged tothe governor of Malacca, or rather of which the governor had possessedhimself by violence, Xavier was reduced to so great a want of allnecessaries, that he had scarcely wherewithal to sustain nature. It iscertainly a matter of amazement, that they, whose lives he had preservedby changing the salt sea-water into fresh; should be so hard-hearted asto abandon him to die of hunger. Some have thought that Don Alvarezhad given orders, that all things should be refused him; but I ratherthink, that Providence would try him in the same manner, as sometimes Godis pleased to prove those whom he loves the best, and permitted thatdereliction of him for the entire perfection of the saint. 

That which most afflicted him, was, that the Chinese interpreter, who hadmade him such advantageous offers, recalled his word, either of himselffor fear of danger, or at the solicitation of those who were devoted tothe governor of Malacca. Yet the Father did not lose his courage; hestill hoped that God would assist him some other way; and that, at theworst, Antonio de Sainte Foy might serve his turn for an interpreter. Butfor the last load of his misfortunes, the merchant, who had engaged toland him on the coast of China, returned not at the time appointed, andhe in vain expected him for many days. 

Despairing of any thing on that side, he still maintained his resolution, and another expedient seemed to promise him success. News was broughthim, that the king of Siam, whose dominions are almost bordering onMalacca, and who also was in league with Portugal, was preparing amagnificent embassy to the emperor of China for the year following. Whereupon Xavier resolved on returning to Malacca by the firstopportunity, and to use his best endeavours, that he might accompany theambassador of Siam to China. 

But the Eternal Wisdom, which sometimes inspires his servants with greatdesigns, does not always will the performance of them; though he willsthat on their side nothing be omitted for the execution. God was pleasedto deal with Xavier as formerly he had dealt with Moses, who died in viewof that very land whither he was commanded to conduct the Israelites. Afever seized on Father Francis on the 20th of November; and at the sametime he was endued with a clear knowledge of the day and hour of hisdeath; as he openly declared to the pilot of the vessel, FrancisD'Aghiar, who afterwards made an authentic deposition of it by solemnoath. 

From that moment he perceived in himself a strange disgust of all earthlythings, and thought on nothing but that celestial country whither Godwas calling him. Being much weakened by his fever, he retired into thevessel, which was the common hospital of the sick, that there he mightdie in poverty; and the Captain Lewis Almeyda received him, notwithstanding all the orders of his master Don Alvarez. But the tossingof the ship giving him an extraordinary headach, and hindering him fromapplying himself to God, as he desired, the day ensuing he requested thathe might be set on shore again. He was landed and left upon the sands, exposed to the injury of the air, and the inclemency of the season, especially to the blasts of a piercing north wind, which then arose. Hehad there died without relief, had not a Portuguese more charitable thanthe rest, whose name was George Alvarez, caused him to be carried intohiscabin; which yet was little different from the naked shore, as beingopen on every side. 

The indications of his disease being an acute pain in his side, and agreat oppression, Alvarez was of opinion that they ought to breathe avein; and the Father was consenting to it, by a blind submission to thejudgment of his host, though he knew beforehand that all manner ofremedies were in vain. A chirurgeon of the ship, who was awkward at hiswork, and of small experience in his art, bled him so unluckily, that hehurt the nerves, and the patient fell immediately into swooningconvulsions; yet they drew blood from him a second time; and thatoperation had all the ill accidents of the former. Besides which, it wasattended with a horrible nauseousness; insomuch, that he could take nonourishment, at least the little which he took, consisted only of somefew almonds, which the captain of the vessel sent him out of charity. Thedisease increased hourly, and he grew weaker every day; but hiscountenance was still serene, and his soul enjoyed a perpetual calmness. Sometimes he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and at other times fixed themon his crucifix, entertaining divine conversation with his God, and notwithout shedding abundant tears. He remained in this condition till the28th of November, when the fever mounted into his head. During thisdelirium he talked of nothing but of God, and of his passage into China, but in terms more tender and ardent than ever formerly. 

At length he lost his speech, and recovered not the use of it till threedays afterwards: his strength then left him all at once, so that it wasexpected every moment that he would pass away; which notwithstanding, heonce more recovered, and having the free exercise both of his reason andhis speech, he renewed his entertainments with his Saviour in an audiblemanner. Nothing was to be heard from him but devout aspirations, andshort ejaculations of prayer, but those full of life and of affection. The assistants understood not all he said, because he continually spokein Latin; and Antonio de Sainte Foy, who never left him, has onlyreported, that the man of God made frequent repetition of these words, _Jesu, fili David, miserere mei!_ and these also, which were so familiarto him, _sanctissima Trinitas_! Besides which, invoking the blessedVirgin, he would say, _Monstra te esse Matrem!_ He passed two dayswithout taking any food; and having ordered his priestly habits, andthe other church-stuff which he used in saying mass, to be carried aboardthe ship, together with those books which he had composed for theinstruction of the Eastern people, he disposed himself for his last hour, which was near approaching. 

Besides Antonio de Sainte Foy, he had near his person a young Indian, whom he had brought with him from Goa. The saint, dying as he was, casthis eyes on the young man, and appeared discomposed in looking on him;afterwards, with a compassionate regard, he twice pronounced these words, "Ah miserable man!" and afterwards shed tears. God, at that moment, waspleased to reveal to Xavier, the unhappy death of this young Indian, who, five or six months afterwards, falling into most horrible debauches, waskilled on the place by the shot of an arquebuse. So that the spirit ofprophecy accompanied the holy man, even to his last breath. 

At last, on the 2d of December, which fell on Friday, having his eyes allbathed in tears, and fixed with great tenderness of soul upon hiscrucifix, he pronounced these words, _In te, Domine, speravi, nonconfundar in aeternum_; and at the same instant, transported withcelestial joy, which appeared upon his countenance, he sweetly gave upthe ghost, towards two of the clock in the afternoon, and in the year ofGod 1552. 

He was six-and-forty years of age, and had passed ten-and-a-half of themin the Indies. His stature was somewhat above the middle size; hisconstitution strong; his air had a mixture of pleasingness and majesty;he was fresh-coloured, had a large forehead, a well-proportioned nose;his eyes were blue, but piercing and lively; his hair and beard of a darkchesnut; his continual labours had made him gray betimes; and in the lastyear of his life, he was grizzled almost to whiteness. This withoutquestion gave occasion to his first historians to make him five-and-fiftyyears old, before the certain proofs of his age came at length to bediscovered. 

When it was known that Father Francis was expired, many of the ship, andeven the most devoted to the governor, ran to the cabin. They found thesame fresh colour on his face as he had when living, and at the firstsight could hardly persuade themselves that he was dead. When they hadlooked on him at a nearer distance, piety began to be predominant overall their other thoughts: they kneeled down by him, and kissed his handswith reverence, recommending themselves to him, with tears in their eyes, as nothing doubting but that his happy soul was perfectly enjoying God inheaven. 

His corpse was not laid into the ground till Sunday towards noon. Hisfunerals were made without any ceremony; and, besides Antonio de SainteFoy, Francis d'Aghiar, and two others, there were not any moreassistants. An historian of the Indies has written, that theunsupportable coldness of that day, was the occasion of it. But in allprobability, the apprehension which the ship's company had of drawing onthemselves the displeasure of the governor, Don Alvarez, had at least asgreat a share in it as the sharpness of the season. They took off hiscassock, which was all in tatters; and the four, who had paid him thoselast duties, divided it amongst them, out of devotion; after which theyarrayed him in his sacerdotal habits. 

George Alvarez took upon himself the care of bestowing the body in alarge chest, made after the Chinese fashion; he caused this chest to befilled up with unslaked lime; to the end that, the flesh being soonconsumed, they might carry the bones in the vessel, which within some fewmonths was to return to India. 

At the point of the haven there was a little spot of rising ground, andat the foot of this hillock a small piece of meadow, where the Portuguesehad set up a cross. Near that cross they interred the saint: they cast uptwo heaps of stones, the one at his head, the other at his feet, as amark of the place where he was buried. 

In the mean season, God made manifest the holiness of his servant in thekingdom of Navarre, by a miraculous accident, or rather by the ceasing ofa miracle. In a little chapel, at the castle of Xavier, there was anancient crucifix made of plaster, of about the stature of a man. In thelast year of the Father's life, this crucifix was seen to sweat blood ingreat abundance every Friday, but after Xavier was dead the sweatingceased. The crucifix is to be seen even at this day, at the same place, with the blood congealed along the arms and thighs, to the hands andsides. They, who have beheld it, have been informed by the inhabitants ofthe neighbourhood, that some persons of that country having taken awaysome of the flakes of that clotted blood, the bishop of Pampeluna hadforbidden any one from henceforward to diminish any part of it, underpain of excommunication. They also learnt, that it had been observed, according; to the news which came from the Indies, that at the same timewhen Xavier laboured extraordinarily, or that he was in some greatdanger, this crucifix distilled blood on every side; as if then, when theapostle was actually suffering for Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ wassuffering for him, notwithstanding that he is wholly impassible. Theship, which was at the port of Sancian, being at the point of settingsail For the Indies, Antonio de Sainte Foy, and George Alvarez, desiredthe captain, Luys Almeyda, not to leave upon the isle the remainders ofFather Francis. 

One of the servants of Almeyda opened the coffin, by the order of hismaster, on the 17th of February, 1553, to see if the flesh were totallyconsumed, so that the bones might be gathered together; but having takenthe lime from off the face, they found it ruddy and fresh-coloured, likethat of a man who is in a sweet repose. His curiosity led him farther toview the body; he found it in like manner whole, and the natural moistureuncorrupted. But that he might entirely satisfy all doubts and scruples, he cut a little of the flesh on the right thigh, near the knee, andbeheld the blood running from it. Whereupon he made haste to advertisethe captain of what he was an eye-witness; and carried with him a littlepiece of flesh, which he had cut off, and which was about a finger'slength. All the company ran immediately to the place of burial, andhaving made an exact observation of the body, found it to be all entire, and without any putrefaction. The sacerdotal habits, with which he had'been vested after his disease, were nowise damaged by the lime. And whatwas most amazing to them all, was, that the holy corpse exhaled an odourso delightful, and so fragrant, that, by the relation of many therepresent, the most exquisite perfumes came nothing near it, and the scentwas judged to be celestial. 

Then those very people, who, basely to comply with the brutality ofAlvarez, had misused Father Xavier in his life, after his decease didhonours to him; and many of them asked his pardon with weeping eyes, thatthey had forsaken him so unworthily in his sickness. Some amongst themexclaimed openly againt Alvarez, without fearing the consequence; andthere was one who said aloud, what was said afterwards by the viceroy ofthe Indies, Don Alphonso de Norogna, "That Alvarez de Atayda had been thedeath of Father Francis, both by his persecutions at Malacca, and by thecruelties of his servants at Sancian. " With these pious meditations, having laid the unslaked lime once more upon the face and body, thesacred remains were carried into the ship; and not long after they setsail, esteeming themselves happy to bear along with them so rich atreasure to the Indies. 

They arrived at Malacca, March 22, without meeting in their passage anyof those dreadful whirlwinds which infest those seas; as if the presenceof this holy corpse was endued with virtue to dispel them. Before theyhad gained the port, they sent in their chalop to give them notice in thetown of the present which they were about to make them: though none ofthe Society were in Malacca, and that the plague was there violentlyraging, yet the whole nobility, and all the body of the clergy, came withJames Pereyra to the shore, to receive the blessed body, each with awaxen taper in his hand, and carried it in ceremony to the church of OurLady of the Mount, followed by a crowd of Christians, Mahometans, andIdolaters, who on this occasion seemed all to be joined in the samereligion. 

Don Alvarez was the only person who was wanting in his reverence to thesaint: he was then actually at play in his palace, while the processionwas passing by; and, at the noise of the people, putting his head out atthe window, he miscalled the public devotion, by the names of sillinessand foppery; after which, he set him again to gaming. But his impiety didnot long remain unpunished, and the predictions of the man of God madehaste to justify their truth. 

The viceroy of the Indies, upon the complaints which were brought againstDon Alvarez for his tyrannical proceedings, deprived him of thegovernment of Malacca; and causing him to be brought to Goa as a prisonerof state, sent him to Portugal under a sufficient guard. There all hisgoods were confiscated to the king's exchequer; and for himself, he wascondemned to perpetual imprisonment Before his departure from the Indies, he had gotten an obscene disease, which increased to that degree inEurope, that he died of it at last in a shameful manner, no remedyavailing to his cure; the stench of his polluted body having first madehim insupportable to all the world. As for Pereyra, who had sacrificedhis whole estate for the benefit of souls, and propagation of the faith, though the governor had so unjustly made a seizure of his fortunes, yetKing John III. Restored him all with interest, and heaped his royalfavours on him in succeeding years, according to the prediction of theFather. 

But the devotion of the people failed not of an Immediate reward. Thepestilence, which for some weeks had laid waste the town, as the sainthad foretold not long before his death, in his letter to Father FrancisPerez, on the sudden ceased; insomuch, that no infection was fromthenceforward caught; and they, who had been infected, were cured, without taking any remedy. Besides this contagious disease, the famineraged to that degree, that multitudes of people daily died of hunger. This second judgment was likewise diverted at the same time; for, together with the vessel, which bore the sacred body, there came in afleet of ships, which were laden with all manner of provisions, to supplythe necessities of the town. 

These so considerable favours ought to have obliged the inhabitants tohave honoured the body of their benefactor with a sepulchre which wasworthy of him. In the mean time, whether the fear of their governorwithheld them, or that God permitted it for the greater glory of hisservant, having taken the body out of the chest, they buried it withoutthe church, where the common sort of people were interred; and, which wasyet more shameful, they made the grave too scanty; so that crushing thebody to give it entrance, they broke it somewhere about the shoulders, and there gushed out blood, which diffused a most fragrant odour. Andfarther, to carry their civility and discretion to the highest point, they trampled so hard upon the earth, which covered the blessed corpse, that they bruised it in many parts; as if it had been the destiny of thatholy man to be tormented by the people of Malacca, both during his life, and after his decease. The sacred corpse remained thus without honour, till the month of August, when Father John Beyra came from Goa, in hisreturn to the Moluccas, with two companions whom Gaspar Barzæus, thevice-provincial, had given him, pursuant to the orders of Father Xavier. This man, having always had a tender affection for the saint, was mostsensibly afflicted for his death; and could not think of continuing hisvoyage to the Moluccas, till he had looked upon the body, of which somany wonders were related. Opening himself on that subject to JamesPereyra, and two or three other friends of the dead apostle, they took uphis body privately one night. The corpse was found entire, fresh, andstill exhaling a sweet odour; neither had the dampness of the ground, after five months burial, made the least alteration in him: they foundeven the linen which was over his face tinctured with vermilion blood. 

This surprising sight so wrought upon their minds, that they thought ittheir duty, not to lay it again into the ground, but rather to contrivethe means of transporting it to Goa. Pereyra ordered a coffin to be madeof a precious wood, and after they had garnished it with rich Chinadamask, they put the corpse into it, wrapping it in cloth of gold, with apillow of brocard underneath the head. The coffin was afterwards bestowedin a proper place, known only to the devoted friends of Father Xavier;and it pleased the Almighty to declare, by a visible miracle, that theirzeal was acceptable to him: For a waxen taper, which they had lightedup before the coffin, and which naturally must have burnt out within tenhours, lasted eighteen days entire, burning day and night; and it wasobserved, that the droppings of the wax weighed more than the taperitself at the beginning. 

In the mean time an occasion offered for the voyage of the Moluccas, while they were waiting for an opportunity of passing to Goa. Beyra, therefore, put to sea, more inflamed than ever with the zeal of souls;and filled with a double portion of an apostolic spirit, which the sightof the saint had inspired into him. But of the two companions which hadbeen assigned for the mission of the Moluccas, he left one behind him atMalacca, to be a guardian of that holy treasure, and this was EmanuelPavora. Peter de Alcaceva at the same time returned from Japan, whitherhe had been sent from Goa, for the affairs of that new Christianity. And both of them, not long after, carried the holy corpse along with themin the vessel of Lopez de Norogna. 

The ship was so old and worn, and out of all repair, that none durstventure to embark upon her. But when once it was divulged, that it was tocarry the corpse of Father Francis, every one made haste to get a cornerin her, not doubting but there they might be safe. And the passengers hadno cause to repent them of their confidence; for, in effect, Goddelivered them, more than once, miraculously from shipwreck. 

A furious tempest, almost at their first setting out, cast them uponbanks of sand, and the keel struck so far into it, that they could notget her off; when, against all human appearances, the wind coming about, and blowing full in their faces, disengaged the vessel; and, that itmight manifestly appear to be the hand of God, the blast ceased that verymoment when the keel was loosened from the sands. 

Not long after, at the entry into the gulph of Ceylon, they struckimpetuously against some hidden shelves, the rudder flying off with thefury of the stroke, the keel stuck fast within the rock; and it was amiracle that the vessel, being so crazy, did not split asunder. Themariners did that on this occasion, which is commonly put in practice inextremity of danger: They cut the masts with their hatchets, but thatbeing of no effect, they were going to throw all their lading overboard, to ease the ship; but the fury of the waves, which beat upon her on everyside, and outrageously tossed her, suffered them not to perform what theydesired. Then they had their last recourse to the intercession of thatsaint, whose corpse they carried. Having drawn it out of the pilot'scabin, they fell on their knees about it with lighted flambeaux; and, as if Father Xavier had been yet living, and that he had beheld and heardthem, they begged succour of him from that eminent destruction. 

Their prayer was scarcely ended, when they heard a rumbling noise fromunderneath the vessel; and at the same time, perceived her following hercourse in open sea: from whence they concluded, that the rock was cleftin pieces, and had left a free passage for the ship. 

They pursued their voyage cheerfully; and turning towards the cape ofComorine, landed at Cochin. The whole city came to pay their last duty totheir instructor and beloved Father; and it is incredible whatdemonstrations of piety the people gave. From Cochin they set sail forBaticula. The wife of Antonio Rodriguez, one of the king's officers, whohad long been sick, was in hope to recover, if she could see FatherFrancis. She caused herself to be carried to the ship, and at the sightof the dead saint, was restored to her health at the same moment. Notsatisfied with this, she was desirous to have a little piece of the cope, with which the Father was habited; and it is wonderful what cures sheeffected by that precious relique. 

The ship being now within twenty leagues of Goa, and being unable to makeany farther way, because of the contrary winds, the captain went into thechalop, with some of his people, and got to the town by the help of oars, that himself might have the honour of bearing the first news to theviceroy, and the Fathers of the Society, that the blessed corpse wascoming to them. Father Caspar Barzæus was already dead, and FatherMelchior Nugnez declared his successor in his two offices, of rector ofthe college, and vice-provincial of the Indies, in virtue of the letterwhich Father Xavier had left sealed behind him when he went for China, and which was opened after the death of Gaspar, according to the ordersof Xavier himself. 

The viceroy immediately ordered a light galley for Nugnez; upon which heand three others of the Society embarking, together with four young menof the seminary, they set sail towards the vessel, to bear off the bodyof the saint. They received it with the honourable discharge of all thecannon, not only from the ship of Lopez, but from six other vessels whichwere in company, and which had been wind-bound towards Baticula. On the15th of March, in the year 1554, the galley landed at Rebendar, which iswithin half a league of Goa; she remained there the rest of that day, andall the night; while they were making preparations in the town, for thesolemn reception of the holy apostle of the Indies. The next morning, which was Friday in Passion week, six barks were seen to come, which wereall illuminated with lighted torches, and pompously adorned, wherein wasthe flower of the Portuguese nobility. Twelve other barks attended them, with three hundred of the principal inhabitants, each of them holding ataper in his hand; and in every one of these barks, there wasinstrumental music of all sorts, and choirs of voices, which made anadmirable harmony. The whole squadron was drawn up into two wings, toaccompany the galley, which rowed betwixt them. The body of the saint wascovered with cloth of gold, which was the present of Pereyra, and wasplaced upon the stern, under a noble canopy, with lighted flambeaux, andrich streamers waving on both sides of it, In this equipage, they rowed towards Goa, but very softly, and inadmirable order. All the town was gathered on the shore, in impatientexpectation of their loving and good Father. When they perceived thevessel from afar, there was nothing to be heard but cries of joy, nothingto be seen but tears of devotion. Some, more impatient than the rest, threw themselves into the sea, and swimming up to the galley, accompaniedit to the shore in the same posture. 

The viceroy was there waiting for it, attended by his guards, theremaining part of the nobility, the council royal, and the magistrates, all in mourning. At the time when the holy corpse was landing, a companyof young men, consecrated to the service of the altars, sung the_Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel. _ In the mean while, they ordered theceremony of the procession after this ensuing manner:--

Ninety children went foremost, in long white robes, with chaplets offlowers on their heads, and each of them holding in his hand an olivebranch. The Brotherhood of Mercy followed them, with a magnificentstandard. The clergy succeeded to the Brotherhood, and walked immediatelybefore the corpse, which was carried by the fathers of the Society. The viceroy, with his court, closed up the ceremony, which was followedby an innumerable multitude of people. All the streets were hung withtapestry; and when the blessed corpse appeared, flowers were thrown uponit from all the windows, and from the tops of houses. 

But nothing rendered the pomp more famous, than the miracles which atthat time were wrought; for there seemed to breathe out from this holybody, a saving virtue, together with a celestial odour. Many sickpersons, who had caused themselves to be carried out into the streets, were cured with only seeing it; and even some, who were not able to leavetheir beds, recovered their health with the bare invocation of his name. Jane Pereyra was of this number; after a sickness of three months, beingalmost reduced to a despair of life, she had no sooner implored theassistance of the saint, but she found herself in a perfect state ofhealth. 

Another young maiden, who was just at the point of death, and held theconsecrated taper in her hand, having been recommended by her motherto the patronage of the saint, came suddenly to herself, and rose up wellrecovered, while the procession was passing by the house. 

After many turns and windings, at last they proceeded to the college ofSt Paul; and there set down the coffin, in the great chapel of thechurch. A retrenchment had been made before the chapel, to keep off thecrowd; but it was immediately broken down, notwithstanding the oppositionof the guards, which were placed on purpose to defend it. To appease thetumult, they were forced to shew the saint three times successively, andto hold him upright, that he might more easily be seen by the longingmultitude. It was also thought convenient to leave the body exposed toview, for three days together, for the comfort of the inhabitants, whowere never weary with gazing on it; and who, in gazing, were pierced witha sensible devotion. 

New miracles were wrought in presence of the holy body. The blindreceived their sight, those who were taken with the palsy recovered theuse of their limbs, and the lepers became clean as babes. At the sight ofthese miraculous cures, the people published aloud all those wonderfuloperations, which they knew to have been performed by Father Xavier; andhis old companion John Deyro, at that time a religious of the order of StFrancis, related, with tears of tenderness and devotion, what the sainthad prophesied of him, which was now accomplished. In the mean time, onthat very day, which was Friday, the canons of the cathedral solemnlysung the high mass of the cross. The clay following, the religious of StFrancis, whom the man of God had always honoured, and tenderly affected, came to sing the mass of the blessed Virgin, in the church of theSociety. 

When in this manner the public devotion had been accomplished, on Sundaynight the coffin was placed on an eminence near the high altar, on thegospel side. 

In this place I ought not to omit, that the vessel which had borne thissacred pledge to Goa, split asunder of itself, and sunk to the bottom, sosoon as the merchandizes were unloaded, and all the passengers were comesafe on shore; which was nothing less than a public declaration ofAlmighty God, that he had miraculously preserved her in favour of thatholy treasure; and that a ship which had been employed on so pious anoccasion, was never to be used on any secular account. 

As soon as it was known in Europe that Father Xavier was dead, they beganto speak of his canonization. And on this account, Don John the Third, King of Portugal, gave orders to the viceroy of the Indies, Don FrancisBarreto, to make a verbal process of the life and miracles of the man ofGod. This was executed at Goa, at Cochin, at the coast of Fishery, atMalacca at the Moluccas, and other parts; and men of probity, who werealso discerning and able persons, were sent upon the places, heard thewitnesses, and examined the matters of fact, with all possible exactness. 

It is to be acknowledged, that the people took it in evil part, thatthese informations were made; being fully satisfied of the holiness ofthe saint, and not being able to endure that it should be doubted in theleast; in like manner, neither would they stay, till all theecclesiastical proceedings were wholly ended, nor till the Holy See hadfirst spoken of rendering him the worship due to saints; they invoked himalready in their necessities, and particularly in all sorts of dangers. Some of them placed his picture in their oratories; and even thearchbishop of Goa, Don Christopher de Lisbonne, (for the episcopal seehad been erected into an archbishopric, ) the archbishop, I say, wore onhis breast an image of Xavier in little, which he often kissed with areverent affection: and his devotion was not without reward; for, havingbeen cruelly tormented with the stone, for a month together, he was freedimmediately from it, and felt not any farther pains. 

It also happened, that in many places of the Indies the new convertsbuilt churches in honour of Father Francis, through a precipitate andindiscreet devotion, which their good meaning and their zeal are onlycapable of excusing. Amongst those churches, there was one muchcelebrated, on the coast of Travancore. The Saracens having demolishedit, together with eleven other ancient structures of piety, theChristians, who, by reason of their poverty, were not able to rebuildthem all, restored only this one church, which was dearer to them thanany of the rest. 

For what remains, in what place soever any churches were dedicated to theFather, there never failed a wonderful concourse of people to honourthe memory of the holy man; and, according to the relation of FrancisNugnez, vicar of Coulan, they were obliged to sink a well for the reliefof poor pilgrims near the church, which was built in honour of him atthat town. Nugnez also reports, "That those which had been consecrated tothe apostles, and other saints, in a manner lost their titles, when oncethe image of St Xavier was there exposed; and that the people, turningall their devotion towards him, were wont to call them the churches ofFather Francis. "

But what was most to be admired, even the professed enemies of JesusChrist paid him reverence after his decease, as well as during his life;calling him, "the man of prodigies, the friend of heaven, the master ofnature, and the god of the world. " Some of them undertook long voyages, and came to Goa, expressly to behold his body exempted from corruption, and which, only excepting motion, had all the appearance of life. Therewere amongst the Gentiles, who spoke of raising altars to him; and somepeople of the sect of Mahomet did, in effect, dedicate a mosque to him, on the western coast of Comorine. The king of Travancore, though aMahometan, built a magnificent temple to him; and the infidels had sogreat a veneration for that place, where the great Father was adored, that they durst not spit upon the ground, if we may believe the testimonyof those who were natives of the country. 

The Pagans had a custom, that, in confirmation of a truth, they wouldhold a red-hot iron in their hands, with other superstitions of the likenature; but after that Father Francis came to be held in so greatveneration through the Indies, they swore solemnly by his name; and suchan oath was generally received for the highest attestation of a truth. Neither did any of them forswear themselves unpunished after such anoath; and God authorized, by many proofs, this religious practice, evenby manifest prodigies. Behold a terrible example of it: An Idolater oweda Christian a considerable sum of money; but as he denied his debt, andno legal proof could be made of it, the Christian obliged him to swear inthe church, upon the image of St Francis: the Idolater made a false oathwithout the least scruple; but was scarcely got into his own house, whenhe began to void blood in abundance at his mouth, and died in a ragingfit of madness, which had the resemblance of a man possessed, rather thanof one who was distracted. 

Neither was his memory less honoured in Japan than in the Indies. TheChristians of the kingdom of Saxuma kept religiously a stone, on which hehad often preached, and shewed it as a precious rarity. The house whereinhe had lodged at Amanguchi, was respected as a sacred place; and wasalways preserved from ruin, amidst those bloody wars, which more thanonce had destroyed the town. For what remains, the Indians and Japonianswere not the only people which honoured Father Xavier after his decease;the odour of his holy life expanded itself beyond the seas into otherHeathen countries where he had never been. And Alphonso Leon Barbuda, whohas travelled over all the coasts of Afric, reports, that in the kingdomsof Sofala, beyond the great river of Cuama, and in the isles about it, the name of Father Francis was in high repute; and that those Moors nevermentioned him, but with the addition of a wonderful man So manyillustrious testimonies, and so far above suspicion, engaged the king ofPortugal anew to solicit the canonization of the saint; and in thatprospect there was made an ample collection of his virtues, of which Ipresent you with this following extract. 

No exterior employments, how many, or how great soever, could divert theFather from the contemplation of celestial things. Being at Goa, hisordinary retirement, after dinner, was into the clock-house of thechurch, to avoid the interruption of any person; and there, during thespace of two hours, he had a close communication with his God. Butbecause he was not always master of himself on those occasions, so as toregulate his time, and that he was sometimes obliged to leave hisprivacy, he commanded a young man of the seminary of Sainte Foy, whosename was Andrew, to come and give him notice when the two hours, to whichhe was limited, were expired. One day, when the Father was to speak withthe viceroy, Andrew, being come to advertise him, found him seated on alittle chair, his hands across his breast, and his eyes fixed on heaven. When he had looked on him a while attentively, he at length called him;but finding that the Father answered not, he spoke yet louder, and madea noise. All this was to no purpose, Xavier continued immovable; andAndrew went his way, having some scruple to disturb the quiet of a man, who had the appearance of an angel, and seemed to enjoy the pleasures ofthe souls in paradise, He returned, nevertheless, about two hours after, and found him still in the same posture. The young man fearing that heshould not comply with duty, if, coming the second time, he should notmake himself be heard, began to pull the Father, and to jog him. Xavierat length returning to himself, was in a wonder at the first, that twohours should so soon be slipped away; but coming to know, that he hadremained in that place beyond four hours, he went out with Andrew, to goto the palace of the viceroy. He had scarcely set his foot over thethreshold, when he seemed to be ravished in spirit once again. After hehad made some turns, without well knowing whither he went, he returned asnight was beginning to come on, and said to his attendant, "My son, wewill take another time to see the governor; it is the will of God, thatthis present day should be wholly his. "

Another time, walking through the streets of the same city, his thoughtswere so wholly taken up with God, that he perceived not a furiouselephant, who, being broken loose, caused a general terror, and every manmade haste out of his way. It was in vain to cry out to the Father, thathe might avoid him; he heard nothing, and the enraged beast passed verynear him without his knowledge. 

In his voyages at sea, he continued earnestly in prayer, from midnighteven to sun-rising, and that regularly. From thence it came almost to aproverb amongst the seamen, "That nothing was to be feared in the night, because Father Francis watched the vessel; and the tempests durst nottrouble them, while he held conversation with God. "

A man of Manapar, at whose house he lodged, and who observed him atdivers hours of the night, found him always on his knees before acrucifix, and frequently beheld the chamber enlightened by the rays whichdarted from his countenance. 

While he was sojourning among Christians, the small repose he gave tonature was commonly in the church; to the end he might be near theblessed sacrament, before which he prayed all the remainder of the night. But in countries where yet there were no churches built, he passed thenight in the open air; and nothing so much elevated his soul to God asthe view of heaven, spangled over, and sowed, as it were, with stars; andthis we have from his own relation. 

The Pope had permitted him, in consideration of his employments andapostolical labours, to say a breviary which was shorter than the Roman, and had but three lessons: it was called the "Office of the Cross, " andwas easily granted in those times to such who were overburdened with muchbusiness. But Xavier never made use of this permission, what affairssoever he was pressed withal, for the service of Almighty God: on thecontrary, before the beginning of every canonical hour, he always saidthe hymn of _Veni, Creator Spiritus_; and it was observed, that while hesaid it, his countenance was enlightened, as if the Holy Ghost, whomhe invoked, was visibly descended on him. 

He daily celebrated the sacrifice of the mass with the same reverence andthe same devotion with which he had said it the first time, and mostordinarily performed it at break of day. Those heavenly sweets whichoverflowed his soul at the altar, spread their mild inundations even overthe assistants; and Antonio Andrada reported of himself, that, being thena young soldier, he found such an inward satisfaction when he served theFather, in serving at mass, that, in that consideration, he sought theoccasions of performing the clerk's office. 

In the midst of his conversations with secular men, the saint was oftencalled aside of God, by certain sudden illuminations which obliged him toretire; and when afterwards they sought him, he was found before the holysacrament, in some lonely place, engulphed in deep meditations, andfrequently suspended in the air, with beams of glory round hiscountenance. Many ocular witnesses have deposed this matter of fact; butsome have affirmed, that at first they have found him on his kneesimmovable; that they have afterwards observed, how by degrees he wasmounted from the earth; and that then, being seized with a sacred horror, they could not stedfastly behold him, so bright and radiant was hiscountenance. Others have protested, that while he was speaking to them ofthe things of God, they could perceive him shooting upward, anddistancing himself from them on the sudden, and his body raising itselfon high of its own motion. 

These extraordinary ravishments, which bore some manner of proportion tothe glory of the blest above, happened to him from time to time duringthe sacrifice of the mass, when he came to pronounce the words ofconsecration; and he was beheld elevated in that manner, particularly atMeliapore and at Malacca. The same was frequently observed at Goa, whilebe was communicating the people; and what was remarkable, as it was thenthe custom to give the sacrament in kneeling, he appeared to be liftedfrom the earth in that humble posture. 

For common extasies, he had them almost every day, especially at thealtar, and after the sacrifice of the mass: insomuch, that many timesthey could not bring him to himself, with pulling him by the robe, andviolently shaking him. 

The delights which he enjoyed at such a time, are only to be comprehendedby such souls, which have received from heaven the like favours. Nevertheless, it is evident, that if it be possible for man to enjoy onearth the felicities of heaven, it is then, when the soul, transportedout of itself, is plunged, and as it were lost, in the abyss of God. 

But it was not only in these extatic transports, that Xavier wasintimately united to our Lord: In the midst of his labours, he had hissoul recollected in God, without any dissipation caused by the multitudeor intricacy of affairs; insomuch, that he remained entire in all he did, and at the same time whole in Him, for whose honour he was then employed. 

This so close and so continual an union, could only proceed from a tenderchanty: the divine love burning him up in such a manner, that his facewas commonly on fire; and both for his interior and outward ardour, theywere often forced to throw cold water into his bosom. 

Frequently in preaching and in walking, he felt in himself such inwardscorching, that, not being able to endure it, he was constrained to givehimself air, by opening his cassock before his breast; and this he hasbeen seen to do on many occasions, in the public places at Malacca and atGoa, in the garden of St Paul's college, and in the sandy walks of thesea-shore. 

Almost every hour, words of life and fire burst and sallied as it werefrom out his mouth, which were indeed the holy sparkles of a burningheart. As for example, "O most Holy Trinity! O my Creator! O my Jesus! OJesus, the desire of my soul!" He spoke these words in Latin, that hemight not be understood by the common people: and being on the coast ofFishery, at the kingdom of Travancore, and at the Moluccas, he was heardto speak so many times every day these words, _O Sanctissima Trinitas!_that the most idolatrous barbarians, when they found themselves inextreme dangers, or that they would express their amazement at any thing, pronounced those very words, without understanding any thing more of themthan that they were holy and mysterious. 

Even sleep itself had not the power to interrupt those tenderaspirations; and all the night long he was heard to say, "O my Jesus, mysoul's delight!" or other expressions as full of tenderness, which shewedthe inclination of his heart. Being out of his senses by the violence ofa burning fever, both at Mozambique and at Sancian, he spoke of God, andto God, with more fervency than ever; insomuch, that his delirium seemedonly to be a redoubling of his love. He was so sensible of the interestsof the Divine Majesty, that, being touched to the quick with the enormityof those crimes that were committed in the new world, he wrote to afriend of his, in these very terms:--"I have sometimes an abhorrence ofmy life, and would rather chuse to die than to behold so many outragesdone to Jesus Christ, without being able either to hinder or to repairthem. "

For the rest, that he might always keep alive the fire of divine love, hehad incessantly before his eyes the sufferings of our Lord. At the sightof the wounds and of the blood of a crucified God, he fell into sighs andtears, and languishments, and extasies of love. He was consumed with thezeal of returning his Saviour life for life; for martyrdom was hispredominant passion, and his sentiments are a continual proof of it. "Itsometimes happens, through a singular favour of the Divine Goodness, "says he in one of his letters, "that for the service of God we runourselves into the hazard of death. But we ought to bear in mind, that weare born mortal; and that a Christian is bound to desire nothing morethan to lay down his life for Jesus Christ. "

From thence proceeded that abundant joy which he conceived, when thefaithful poured out their blood for faith; and he wrote to the Fathers atRome, on occasion of the massacre of the baptized Manarois;--"We areobliged to rejoice in Jesus Christ, that martyrs are not wanting, noteven in our decaying times; and to give Him thanks, that, seeing so fewpersons make the right use of His grace for their salvation, He permitsthat the number of the happy shall be completed through the cruelty ofmen. " "Admirable news, " says he elsewhere, "is lately come from theMoluccas; they who labour there in the Lord's vineyard sufferexceedingly, and are in continual hazard of their lives I imagine thatthe Isles del Moro will give many martyrs to our Society, and they willsoon be called the Isles of Martyrdom. Let our brethren then, who desireto shed their blood for Jesus Christ, be of good courage, and anticipatetheir future joy. For, behold at length a seminary of martyrdom is readyfor them, and they will have wherewithal to satisfy their longings. "

The same love which inspired him with the desire of dying for ourSaviour, made him breathe after the sight and the possession of God. Hespoke not but of paradise, and concluded almost all his letters withwishing there to meet his brethren. 

But his charity was not confined to words and thoughts, --it shone out inhis works and actions, and extended itself to the service of hisneighbour. Xavier seemed to be only born for the relief of thedistressed; he loved the sick with tenderness, and to attend them waswhat he called his pleasure: he sought out not only wherewithal to feedthem but to feast them; and for that purpose begged from the Portuguesethe most exquisite regalios, which were sent them out of Europe. He wasnot ashamed of going round the town with, a wallet on his back, begginglinen for the wounded soldiers; he dressed their hurts, and did it withso much the more affection, when they were the most putrified andloathsome to the smell. If he happened to meet with any beggar who wassinking under sickness, he took him in his arms, bore him to thehospital, prepared his remedies, and dressed his meat with his own hands. 

Though all the miserable were dear to him, yet he assisted the prisonersafter a more particular manner, with the charities which he gathered forthem; and in Goa, which was the common tribunal of the Indies, heemployed one day in the week in doing good to such who were overwhelmedwith debts. If he had not wherewithal to pay off their creditorsentirely, he mollified them at least with his civilities, and obligedthem sometimes to release one moiety of what was owing to them. 

The poor, with one common voice, called him their Father, and he alsoregarded them as his children. Nothing was given him, but what passedthrough his hands into theirs, who were members of Jesus Christ; even sofar as to deprive himself of necessaries. He heaped up, as I may call it, a treasury of alms, not only for the subsistence of the meaner sort, whoare content with little, but for the maintenance of honourable families, which one or two shipwrecks had ruined all at once; and for theentertainment of many virgins of good parentage, whom poverty mightnecessitate to an infamous course of living. 

The greatest part of the miracles, which on so many occasions werewrought by him, was only for the remedy of public calamities, or for thecure of particular persons; and it was in the same spirit, that, beingone day greatly busied in hearing the confessions of the faithful at Goa, he departed, abruptly in appearance, out of the confessional, andfrom thence out of the church also, transported with some inward motion, which he could not possibly resist: after he had made many turns aboutthe town, without knowing whither he went, he happened upon a stranger, and having tenderly embraced him, conducted him to the college of theSociety. There that miserable creature, whom his despair was driving tolay violent hands upon himself, having more seriously reflected on hiswicked resolution, pulled out the halter, which he had secretly abouthim, and with which he was going to have hanged himself, and gave it intothe Father's hands. The saint, to whom it was revealed, that extrememisery had reduced the unhappy wretch to this dismal melancholy, gave himcomfort, retained him in the college for some time, and at lengthdismissed him with a round sum of money, sufficient for the entertainmentof his family. He recommended, without ceasing, his friends andbenefactors to our Lord; he prayed both day and night for the prosperityof King John III. Of Portugal, whom he called the true protector of allthe Society: But the persecutors of the saint had a greater share in hisdevotions than any others; and at the same time when he was treated sounworthily by the governor of Malacca, he daily offered for him thesacrifice of the mass. He was used to say, that to render good for evil, was in some sort a divine revenge; and he revenged himself in that verysort on the governor of Comorine, which, in one of his letters is thusattested: "My dear brother in Jesus Christ, (thus he wrote to FatherMansilla, ) I hear uncomfortable news, that the governor's ship isdestroyed by fire; that his houses also are burnt down; that he isretired into an island, and has nothing left him, even for the necessaryprovisions of life. I desire you, out of Christian charity, to go withthe soonest to his relief, with your Christians of Punical: get whatbarks you can together, and load them with all manner of provisions; Ihave written earnestly to the chief of the people, that they furnish youwith all things necessary, and especially with fresh water, which, as youknow, is very scarce in those desart islands. I would go in person to theassistance of the governor, if I thought my presence might be acceptableto him; but of late he hates me, and has written that he could not say, without giving scandal, all the evils I have done him. God and man canbear me witness, if ever I have done him the least prejudice. "

His charity towards his neighbour has principally appeared in what he didfor the conversion of souls. It is difficult to enumerate all his travelsby land, and his voyages by sea; and if any one would take that pains, itmight be thought he had scarce the leisure to do any thing but travel. Without mentioning his journey's from France to Italy, and from Italy toPortugal, he went from Lisbon to Mozambique, and from Mozambique toMelinda, to Socotoro, and in fine to Goa. From Goa he passed to CapeComorine, and to the Fishing-coast, from thence to Cochin, and returningto Goa, came back to the coast of Fishery, entered far into the islands, and returned to the Fishery, from whence he travelled to the kingdom ofTravancore, which is seated to the west. 

After he had run over all these coasts, he was a second time at Cochinand at Goa; from Goa he took the way of Cambaya, and having crossed thatwhole region, which lies extended from the mouth of the river Indus, asfar as Cochin, he made the tour of Cape Cori, and went to the islands ofCeylon, of Manar, and of Las Vaccas. There he took shipping forNegapatan, and from thence undertook the voyage of Meliapor, along thecoasts of Coromandel. From Meliapor he set sail for Malacca, from Malaccahe descended towards the equinoctial, which having passed, he enteredinto the southern hemisphere, as far as the Isle of Banda, and those ofAmboyna, Nuliager, Ulate, Baranura, Rosalao, and others without name, unknown even to seamen and geographers. 

In sequel of these voyages, he turned towards the Moluccas, was atTernata, and passed from thence to the Isles del Moro. Went again toTernata and Amboyna, repassed the equator, and returned to Malacca; fromthence, by sea, he regained the port of Cochin; but immediately after hisarrival departed for the coast of Fishery and Ceylon. After this hereturned to Goa, and drew downward on the same coast for Bazain; fromBazain he returned once more to Goa and Cochin. He passed a-new from Goato Cochin, and from Cochin to Goa; from thence following the coast as faras Cape Comorine, he set sail towards Malacca. Having there made somelittle stay, he continued his course northward, and coasting certainisles in sight of China, came at length to Japan. After he had made somecourses there, during the space of two years, from Cangoxima to Firando, from. Firando to Amanguchi, from Amanguchi to Meaco, from Meaco back toAmanguchi, and from thence to Bungo, he put once more to sea, touched atthe isle of Sancian, and was driven by tempest on the Isle of Mindanao, one of the Phillippinas. Once again he went to Malacca, and to Goa; fromGoa, he repassed the fifth time to Malacca, and from thence arrived atSancian, where death concluded all his travels. 

Behold the sequel of the voyages of the Indian apostle Francis Xavier! Ihave omitted a vast number of islands and regions, where we are satisfiedhe carried the light of the gospel; I say I have not mentioned them, because the time is not precisely known, when he made these voyages. Forwhat remains, I undertake not to reckon up the leagues which he hastravelled, (the supputation would be difficult to make, ) and contentmyself to say in general, that, according to the rules of ourgeographers, who have exactly measured the terrestrial globe, if all hiscourses were to be computed, they would be found to be many timesexceeding the circumference of this world. 

In the mean time, the least of his business, in all his travels, was totravel: And they who were best acquainted with him, report of him, whatSt Chrysostom said of the apostle St Paul, "That he ran through the worldwith an incredible swiftness, and as it were on the wing, " yet notwithout labour, nor that labour without fruit, but preaching, baptizing, confessing, disputing with the Gentiles, rooting out Idolaters, reformingmanners, and throughout establishing the Christian piety. His apostolicallabours were attended with all the incommodities of life; and if thosepeople were to be credited, who the most narrowly observed him, it was acontinual miracle that he lived; or rather the greatest miracle of Xavierwas not to have revived so many dead, but not to die himself of labour, during the incessant sweat of ten years toiling. 

His zeal alone sustained him; but how painful soever were the functionsof his ministry, he acquitted himself of them with so much promptitudeand joy, that, by the relation of Father Melchior Nugnez, he seemed to donaturally all he did. These are the very words of Nugnez: "The Father, Master Francis, in labouring for the salvation of the Saracens andIdolaters, seemed to act not by any infused or acquired virtue, but by anatural motion: for he could neither live, nor take the least pleasure, but in evangelical employments; in them he found even his repose; and tohim it was no labour to conduct others to the love and knowledge of hisGod. "

Thus also, whensoever there was the least probability that the faithmight be planted in any new country of the Gentiles, he flew thither indespite of all threatening difficulties. The certain number is not knownof those whom he converted, but the received opinion amounts it to sevenhundred thousand souls. Which notwithstanding, it ought not to bebelieved that he instructed them but lightly; for before he christenedthem, he gave them a thorough insight into all the principles of faith. According to their different conditions, his instructions were alsodifferent. He had some which were proper to youth, others for wives, forwidows, for servants, and for masters. He never changed places till hehad left behind him a solid establishment of faith, and capable ofpreserving itself on its own basis. And in effect, of all the countrieswhich he made Christian, there is none to be found which relapsed intoidolatry, excepting only the town of Tolo; and not that neither for anylong continuance. But it is well known, that the people, who, duringthe space of fifteen or sixteen years, had not seen the face of anypriest, or even of any Christian stranger, have been found instructed inreligion, and as fervent in the practice of good works, as if they hadbut newly received baptism. It is known, that many of those converts werenot less firm in their belief, than the prince of the isle of Rosalao, whom Pedro Martinez protests to have heard say, "That though all theworld should arm against him, they should never be able to tear out ofhis heart that persuasion which Father Francis had inspired into him. "

We know farther, that some of them having been made captives by thePagans, have preserved their faith entire in the midst of Heathenism; andhave chosen rather to lose their lives in torments, than renounce theirSaviour Jesus Christ. The saint was accustomed to desire earnestly ofGod, the conversion of the Gentiles, in the sacrifice of the altar; andfor that very end, said a most devout prayer, which he composed in Latin;and is thus rendered in our language. 

"O eternal God, creator of all things, mercifully remember, that thesouls of Infidels are the work of thy hands, and that they are created tothy resemblance. Behold, O Lord, how hell is filled with them, to thedishonour of thy name. Remember that Jesus Christ thy son, for theirsalvation, suffered a most cruel death; permit not, I beseech thee, thathe should be despised by those Idolaters. Vouchsafe to be propitiated bythe prayers of the church, thy most holy spouse, and call to mind thy owncompassion. Forget, O Lord, their infidelity, and work in such manner, that at length they may acknowledge for their God, our Saviour JesusChrist, whom thou hast sent into the world, and who is our salvation, ourlife, our resurrection, by whom we have been redeemed from hell, and towhom be all glory now and evermore. Amen. "

The industry which the saint employed in converting the nations of theEast, or in strengthening their conversion, was of various sorts. Inthose places where he preached the gospel, he erected crosses on theseashore, on hills, and in public passages, to the end, that the view ofthat sign of our salvation might give the Gentiles the curiosity to knowthe meaning of it, or to inspire them with religious thoughts, if theyhad already heard speak of Jesus Christ. 

As it was impossible for him to preach always, or in all places, he writmany instructions relating to faith and to good manners, some more ample, and others more brief, but all in the languages of the converted nations;and it was by these instructions, in writing, that the children learnedto read. The saint also composed devout hymns, and set the Lord's Prayerin musical numbers, to be sung, together with the Angelical Salutation, and the Apostles' Creed. By these means he banished those ribald songsand ballads, which the new Christians were accustomed to sing before theyhad received baptism; for those of Xavier were so pleasing, to men, women, and children, that they sung them day and night, both in theirhouses, and in the open fields. 

But amongst all the means which the Father used for the conversion ofInfidels, the most efficacious was this: So soon as he entered into acountry of Idolaters, he endeavoured to gain to God those persons whowere the most considerable, either for their dignity, or by their birth, and especially the sovereign; not only because the honour of Jesus Christrequires, that crowned-heads should be subject to him, but also, that, bythe conversion of princes, the people are converted. So much authoritythere resides in the example of a monarch, over his subjects, in everynation of the world. 

He was of easy conversation to all sorts of persons, but more familiarwith the greatest sinners, not seeming to understand that they werekeepers of mistresses, blasphemers, or sacrilegious persons. He wasparticularly free in his converse with soldiers, who are greaterlibertines, and more debauched, in the Indies than elsewhere; for, thatthey might the less suspect him, he kept them company; and becausesometimes, when they saw him coming, they hid their cards and dice, hetold them, "They were not of the clergy, neither could they continuepraying all the day; that cheating, quarrelling, and swearing, wereforbid to gamesters, but that play was not forbidden to a soldier. "Sometimes he played at chess himself, out of compliance, when they whomhe studied to withdraw from vice were lovers of that game; and aPortuguese gentleman, whose name was Don Diego Norogna, had once a veryill opinion of him for it. This cavalier, who had heard a report ofXavier, that he was a saint-like man, and desired much to have a sight ofhim, happened to be aboard of the same galley. Not knowing his person, heenquired which was he, but was much surprised to find him playing atchess with a private soldier; for he had formed in his imagination, theidea of a man who was recollected and austere, one who never appeared inpublic, but to discourse of eternity, or to work miracles: "What, in thename of God, " said Norogna, "is this your saint! For my part, I believenot one syllable of his sanctity, and am much deceived if he be not asarrant a priest as any of his fellows. " Don Pedro de Castro, his comrade, and cousin, took pains, to little purpose, to persuade Norogna of thewonderful things which had been wrought by Xavier: Norogna still adheredto his opinion, because he always found the Father cheerful, and in goodhumour. The whole company going ashore on the coast of Malabar, heperceived Xavier taking a walk by himself into a wood, and sent after himone of his servants to observe his actions: The servant found the man ofGod raised from the ground into the air; his eyes fixed on heaven, andrays about his countenance. He ran to give notice of his discovery to hismaster; who, upon the report, came thither, and was himself a witness ofit. Then Norogna was satisfied that Xavier was truly a saint, and thathis holiness was not incompatible with the gaiety of his conversation. Bythese methods the apostle of the Indies attracted the hearts of thesoldiery to himself, before he gained them to our Lord. 

He took almost the same measures with the merchants; for he seemed to beconcerned for nothing more than for their interests: He gave hisbenediction to the vessels which they were sending out for traffic, andmade many enquiries concerning the success of their affairs, as if he hadbeen co-partner with them. But while he was discoursing with them ofports, of winds, and of merchandizes, he dexterously turned theconversation on the eternal gains of heaven: "How bent are our desires, "said he, "on heaping up the frail and perishable treasures of this world, as if there were no other life besides this earthly being, nor otherriches besides the gold of Japan, the silks of China, and the spices ofthe Moluccas! Ah, what profits it a man to gain the universe, and losehis soul?" These very words, which Father Ignatius had formerly used toXavier, in order to loosen him from the world, were gotten familiar tohim, and he had them frequently in his mouth. In respect of the newChristians, his conduct was altogether fatherly. He suffered their roughand barbarous behaviour; and required no more from them in the beginning, than what might be expected then from people of base extraction, andgrown inveterate in vice As they were generally poor, he took aparticular care of their families; and obtained from the king ofPortugal, that the Paravas should be discharged from certain excessiveyearly tributes. He protected them more than once from the fury of theirneighbouring nations, who made war against them out of hatred to thefaith, and induced the governor of the Indies to send a royal army totheir relief; he saved them even from the violence of the officers, whodespoiled them of their goods through avarice, and set bounds to theunjust exactions of those griping ministers, by threatening to complainof them both to King John the Third, and to the Cardinal Infante, who wasgrand inquisitor. 

As the sin of impurity was the reigning vice in India amongst thePortuguese, he applied himself, in a particular manner, to withdraw themfrom their voluptuous living. The first rule of his proceeding was toinsinuate himself into the favour, not only of the concubinarians, but oftheir mistresses; and he compassed this by the mildness of his aspect, bythe obligingness of his words, and sometimes by good offices. Yet wecannot think that the conversions of sinners cost him only theseaddresses. Before he treated with them concerning the important businessof their souls, he treated with God at the holy altars; but to render hisprayers more efficacious, he joined them with all manner of austerities. Having notice that three Portuguese soldiers, belonging to the garrisonof Amboyna, had lived for five years past in great debauchery, hegot their good wills by his engaging carriage, and wrought so well, thatthese libertines, as wicked as they were, lodged him in their quartersduring a whole Lent, so much they were charmed with his good humour. Butwhile he appeared thus gay amongst them in his outward behaviour, forfear of giving them any disgust of his company, he underwent mostrigorous penances to obtain the grace of their conversion, and used hisbody so unmercifully, that he was languishing for a month of thoseseverities. When Xavier had reduced his penitents to that point at whichhe aimed, that is, when he had brought them to confession, they cost himnot less pains than formerly. He always begged of God their perseverancewith his tears; and frequently, when he had enjoined them some lightpenance, paid for them the remainder of their debts with bloodydisciplining of his own body. But when he lighted on intractable andstubborn souls, he left them not off for their contumacy, but rathersought their good opinion; and, on occasion, shewed them a bettercountenance than usual, that thence they might be given to understand howready he was for their reception. 

When he went from Ternata to Amboyna, he left but two persons who werevisibly engaged in vice: The first opportunity which the vessels had ofrepassing to Ternata, he writ expressly to one of his friends, that heshould salute those two scandalous sinners with all tenderness from him, and let them know, that, upon the least sign which they should make him, he would return to hear their confessions. 

But these condescensions, and this goodness of the apostle, had nothingin them of meanness, or of weakness; and he knew well enough to make useof severity when there was occasion for it. Thus, a lady who had accusedherself in confession, to have looked upon a man with too alluring aneye, was thus answered by him: "You are unworthy that God should look onyou; since, by those encouraging regards which you have given to a man, you have run the hazard of losing God. " The lady was so pierced withthese few words, that, during the rest of her life, she durst never lookany man in the face. 

By all these methods, Xavier made so many converts. But whatever heperformed, he looked on it as no more than an essay; and he wrote, in theyear 1549, that if God would be pleased to bestow on him yet ten yearsmore of life, he despaired not but these small beginnings would beattended with more happy consequences. This ardent desire of extendingfarther the dominion of Jesus Christ, caused him to write those pressingletters to the king of Portugal, and Father Ignatius, that he might befurnished with a larger supply of missioners: he promised, in hisletters, to sweeten the labour of the mission, by serving all hisfellows, and loving them better than himself. The year he died, he writ, that when once he had subdued the empire of China, and that of Tartary, to the sceptre of Jesus Christ, he purposed to return into Europe by thenorth, that he might labour in the reduction of heretics, and restorationof discipline in manners; that after this he designed to go over intoAfrica, or to return into Asia, in quest of new kingdoms, where he mightpreach the gospel. 

For what remains, though he was ever forming new designs, as if he wereto live beyond an age, yet he laboured as if he had not a day to live, and so tugged at the work which he had in hand, that two or three daysand nights passed over his head without once thinking to take the leastmanner of nourishment. In saying his office, it often happened to him toleave, for five or six times successively, the same canonical hour, forthe good of souls, and he quitted it with the same promptitude thatafterwards he resumed it: he broke off his very prayers when the mostinconsiderable person had the least occasion for him; and ordered, whenhe was in the deepest of his retirements, that if any poor man, oreven but a child, should desire to be instructed, he might be called fromhis devotions. 

No man perhaps was ever known to have run more dangers, both by land andsea, without reckoning into the account the tempests which he sufferedin ten years of almost continual navigation. It is known, that being atthe Moluccas, and passing from isle to isle, he was thrice shipwrecked, though we are not certain of the time or places; and once he was forthree days and nights together on a plank, at the mercy of the winds andwaves. The barbarians have often shot their arrows at him, and more thanonce he fell into the hands of an enraged multitude. One day the Saracenspursued him, and endeavoured to have stoned him; and the Brachmansfrequently sought after him to have murdered him, even to that point ofmerciless barbarity, as to get fire to all the houses where they imaginedhe might lie concealed. But none of all these dangers were able toaffright him; and the apprehension of dying could never hinder him fromperforming his ordinary functions. It seemed that even dangers served tothe redoubling of his courage, and that, by being too intrepid, hesometimes entered into the extreme of rashness. Being at Japan, hereprehended the king of Amanguchi so severely for the infamy and scandalof his vices, that Father John Fernandez, (who served him forinterpreter, as being more conversant than the saint in the language ofthe court) was amazed and trembled in pronouncing what the Father putinto his mouth; as we are given to understand in a letter written by thesame Fernandez. Xavier, one day perceiving the fear of his companion, forbade him absolutely either to change or soften any of his words: "Iobeyed him, " says Fernandez, "but expected every moment when thebarbarian should strike me with his scymiter, and confess myapprehensions of death were as much too great, as the concernment ofFather Francis was too little. "

In effect, he was so far from fearing death, that he looked on it as amost pleasing object. "If we die for so good a cause, " said Xavier onanother occasion, "we ought to place it amongst the greatest benefits wereceive from God; and shall be very much obliged to those, who, freeingus from a continual death, such as is this mortal life, shall put us inpossession of an eternal happiness: So that we are resolved to preach thetruth amongst them, in despite of all their threatenings, and, encouragedby the hopes of divine assistance, obey the precept of our Saviour, whocommands us to prefer the salvation of others above our lives. "

In the most hazardous undertakings, he hoped all things from God, andfrom thence drew his assurance of daring all things. Behold what he sayshimself concerning his voyage of Japan: "We set out full of confidence inGod, and hope, that, having him for our conductor, we shall triumph overall his enemies. 

"As to what remains, we fear not to enter into the lists with the doctorsof Japan; for what available knowledge can they have, who are ignorant ofthe only true God, and of his only Son our Lord Jesus? And besides, whatcan we justly apprehend, who have no other aim than the glory of God andJesus Christ, the preaching of the gospel, and the salvation of souls?supposing that we were not only in a kingdom of barbarians, but in thevery dominion of devils, and that naked and disarmed, neither the mostcruel barbarity, nor the rage of hell, could hurt us without God'spermission. We are afraid of nothing but offending God Almighty; andprovided that we offend not him, we promise ourselves, through hisassistance, an assured victory over all our enemies. Since he affordssufficient 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 allconsists in the good or evil use of his benefits, we also hope he willgive us grace to employ ourselves for his glory, by the prayers of hisspouse, and our holy mother the Church, and particularly by theintercession of our Society, and those who are well affected to it. Ourgreatest, comfort proceeds from this, that God beholds the scope of thisour voyage, that our only aim is to make known the Creator of theuniverse to souls which are made after his own image; to bring thosesouls to give him the worship due to him, and to spread the Christianreligion through all regions. 

"With these encouragements, we doubt not but the issue of our voyage willbe prosperous; and two things especially seem to assure us, that we shallvanquish all the opposition of hell; the one is the greatness of our holyenterprize, the other is the care of Divine Providence, whose dominion isof no less extent over devils than over men. I acknowledge, that in thisvoyage, I foresee not only great labours, but also dangers of almostinevitable death; and this imagination is frequently presented to mythoughts, that if those of our Society, who are endued with the greateststock of knowledge, should come into the Indies, they would certainlyaccuse us of too much rashness, and would be apt to think, that, inexposing ourselves to these manifest dangers, we tempted God. Nevertheless, upon a more serious reflection, I cease to fear; and hopethat the spirit of our Lord, which animates our Society, will regulatetheir judgments concerning it. For my own particular, I think continuallyon what I have heard our good Father Ignatius often say, that those ofour Society ought to exert their utmost force in vanquishing themselves, and banish from them all those fears which usually hinder us from placingour whole confidence in God. For, though divine hope is purely and simplythe grace of God, and that he dispenses it, according to his pleasure, nevertheless, they who endeavour to overcome themselves, receive it morefrequently than others. As there is a manifest difference betwixt those, who, abounding with all things, trust in God, and those, who, beingsufficiently provided with all necessaries, yet bereave themselves ofthem, in imitation of Jesus Christ; so is there also, in those who trustin God's providence, when they are out of danger, and those who, with theassistance of his grace, dare voluntarily expose themselves to thegreatest hazards, which are in their proper choice and power to shun. "

It was in the spirit of this holy confidence, that the saint, writing toSimon Rodriguez, speaks in this manner to him:--

"Our God holds in his hand the tempests which infest the seas of Chinaand Japan; the rocks, the gulphs, and banks of sands, which areformidably known by so many shipwrecks, are all of them under hisdominion. He is Sovereign over all those pirates which cruize the seas, and exercise their cruelties on the Portuguese: and for this reason Icannot fear them; I only fear lest God should punish me for being toopusillanimous in his service; and so little capable, through my ownfrailty, of extending the kingdom of his Son amongst those nations whoknow him not. "

He speaks in the same spirit to the Fathers of Goa, in giving them anaccount of his arrival at Japan: "We are infinitely obliged to God, forpermitting us to enter into those barbarous countries, where we are to beregardless, and in a manner forgetful of ourselves; for the enemies ofthe true religion, being masters every where, on whom can we rely, but onGod alone? and to whom can we have recourse besides him? In ourcountries, where the Christian faith is flourishing, it happens, I knownot how, that every thing hinders us from reposing ourselves on God; thelove of our relations, the bonds of friendship, the conveniences of life, and the remedies which we use in sickness; but here, being distant fromthe place of our nativity, and living amongst barbarians, where all humansuccours are wanting to us, it is of absolute necessity that ourconfidence in God alone should be our aid. "

But the saint perhaps never discoursed better on this subject, than in aletter written at his return from the Moluccas, after a dangerousnavigation. His words are these: "It has pleased God, that we should notperish; it has also pleased him, to instruct us even by our dangers, andto make us know, by our own experience, how weak we are, when we relyonly on ourselves, or on human succours. For when we come to understandthe deceitfulness of our hopes, and are entirely diffident of humanhelps, we rely on God, who alone can deliver us out of those dangers, into which we have engaged ourselves on his account: we shall soonexperience that he governs all things; and that the heavenly pleasures, which he confers on his servants on such occasions, ought to make usdespise the greatest hazards; even death itself has nothing in it whichis dreadful to them, who have a taste of those divine delights; andthough, when we have escaped those perils of which we speak, we wantwords to express the horror of them, there remains in our heart apleasing memory of the favours which God has done us; and thatremembrance excites us, day and night, to labour in the service of sogood a Master: we are also enlivened by it to honour him during the restof our lives, hoping, that, out of his abundant mercy, he will bestow onus a new strength, and fresh vigour, to serve him faithfully andgenerously, even to our death. "

"May it please the Divine Goodness, " he says elsewhere, "that good men, whom the devil endeavours to affright in the service of God, might fearno other thing besides displeasing him, in leaving off what they haveundertaken for his sake. If they would do this, how happy a life wouldthey then lead! how much would they advance in virtue, knowing, by theirown experience, that they can do nothing of themselves, but that they cando all things by the assistance of his grace!"

He said, "that our most stedfast hold in dangers and temptations, was tohave a noble courage against the foe of our salvation, in a distrust ofour own strength, but a firm reliance on our Lord, so that we should notonly fear nothing under the conduct of such a general, but also shouldnot doubt of victory. " He said also further, "that, in those dangerousoccasions, the want of confidence in God was more to be feared, than anyassault of the enemy; and that we should run much greater hazard in theleast distrust of the divine assistance, in the greatest dangers, than inexposing ourselves to those very dangers. " He added, lastly, "that thisdanger was so much the more formidable, the more it was hidden, and theless that we perceived it. "

These thoughts produced in the soul of this holy man an entire diffidenceof himself, together with a perfect humility. He was the only discourseof the new world; Infidels and Christians gave him almost equal honour;and his power over nature was so great, that it was said to be a kind ofmiracle, when he performed no miracle But all this served only to raiseconfusion in him; because he found nothing in himself but his ownnothingness; and being nothing in his own conceit, he could notcomprehend, how it was possible for him to be esteemed. Writing to thedoctor of Navarre, before his voyage to the Indies, he told him, "That itwas a singular grace of heaven to know ourselves; and that, through themercy of God, he knew himself to be good for nothing. "

"Humbly beseech our Lord, " he wrote from the Indies to Father SimonRodriguez, "that I may have power to open the door of China to others;where I am, I have done but little. " In many other passages of hisletters, he calls himself an exceeding evil man; a great sinner; andconjures his brethren to employ their intercessions to God in his behalf. "Bring to pass, by your prayers, " says he to one of them, "that though mysins have rendered me unworthy of the ministerial vocation, yet God mayvouchsafe, out of his infinite goodness, to make use of me. "

"I beseech you, " says he to another, "to implore the heavenly assistancefor us; and to the end you may do it with the greater fervency, I beseechour Lord, that he would give you to understand, how much I stand in needof your intercession. "

"It is of extreme importance to my consolation, " he writes to the fathersof Goa, "that you understand the wonderful perplexity in which I am. As God knows the multitude and heinousness of my sins, I have a thoughtwhich much torments me; it is, that God perhaps may not prosper ourundertakings, if we do not amend our lives, and change our manners: it isnecessary, on this account, to employ the prayers of all the religious ofour Society, and of all our friends, in hope that, by their means, theCatholic church, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus, will communicateher innumerable merits to us; and that the Author of all good willaccumulate his graces on us, notwithstanding our offences. "

He attributed all the fruits of his labours to an evident miracle of theDivine Power, which made use of so vile and weak an instrument ashimself, to the end it might appear to be the work of God. He said, "thatthey who had great talents, ought to labour with great courage for thesafety of souls; since he, who was wanting in all the qualities which arerequisite to so high a calling, was not altogether unprofitable in hisministry. "

As he had a mean opinion of himself, and that his own understanding wassuspected by him, he frequently, by his letters, requested his brethrenof Italy, and Portugal, to instruct him in the best method of preachingthe gospel profitably. "I am going, " said he, "to publish Jesus Christ, to people who are part Idolaters, and part Saracens; I conjure you, byJesus Christ himself, to send me word, after what manner, and by whatmeans, I may instruct them. For I am verily persuaded, that God willsuggest those ways to you, which are most proper for the easy reductionof those people into his fold; and if I wander from the right path, whileI am in expectation of your letters, I hope I shall return into it, whenI shall have received them. "

All that succeeded well to his endeavours in the service of our Lord, heattributed to the intercession of his brethren. "Your prayers, " he writto the Fathers at Rome, "have assuredly obtained for me the knowledge ofmy infinite offences; and withal the grace of unwearied labouring, in theconversion of Idolaters, notwithstanding the multitude of my sins. "

But if the designs which he was always forming, for the advancement ofreligion, happened to be thwarted, he acknowledged no other reason ofthose crosses than his own sins, and complained only of himself. 

As for those miracles which he continually wrought, they passed, in hisopinion, as the effects of innocence in children, or for the fruits offaith in sick persons. And when, at the sight of a miraculousperformance, the people were at any time about to give him particularhonours, he ran to hide himself in the thickest of a forest; or when hecould not steal away, he entered so far into the knowledge of himself, that he stood secure from the least temptation of vain glory. It evenseemed, that the low opinion which he had of his own worth, in somesort blinded him, in relation to the wonders which he wrought, so that heperceived not they were miracles. 

It was the common talk at Goa, that he had raised the dead on the coastof Fishery. After his return to Goa, James Borba and Cozmo Annez, histwo intimate friends, requested him to inform them, for God's furtherglory, how those matters went; and particularly they enquired concerningthe child who was drowned in the well. The holy man, at this request, hung down his head, and blushed exceedingly: when he was somewhatrecovered of his bashfulness, "Jesus, " said he, "what, I to raise thedead! can you believe these things of such a wretch as I am?" Afterwhich, modestly smiling, he went on, "Alas, poor sinner that I am! theyset before me a child, whom they reported to be dead, and who perhaps wasnot; I commanded him, in the name of God, to arise; he arose indeed, andthere was the miracle. "

Ordognez Cevalio, who travelled almost round the world, tells us, in therelations of his voyages, that, in India, he happened to meet a Japonese, who informed him, in a discourse which they had together of theseparticulars: "Know, " said he, "that being in Japan, a Bonza byprofession, I was once at an assembly of our Bonzas, who, upon thereport of so many miracles as were wrought by Father Francis Xavier, resolved to place him in the number of their gods; in order to which, they sent to him a kind of embassy; but the Father was seized with horrorat the proposition of their deputies. Having spoken of God to them, aftera most magnificent and elevated manner, he spake of himself in terms sohumble, and with so much self-contempt, that all of us were much edifiedby his procedure; and the greatest part of us seriously reflecting, rather on his carriage than his words, from priests of idols, which wewere, became the worshippers of Jesus Christ. "

He shunned the offices of the Society, and believed himself unworthy ofthem. "I cannot tell you, " wrote he from Cochin to Father Ignatius, "howmuch I stand obliged to the Japonese; in favour of whom, God has given meclearly to understand the infinite number of my sins; for till that time, I was so little recollected, and so far wandered out of myself, that Ihad not discovered, in the bottom of my heart, an abyss of imperfectionsand failings. It was not till my labours and sufferings in Japan, that Ibegan at length to open my eyes, and to understand, with God'sassistance, and by my own experience, that it is necessary for me to haveone, who may watch over me, and govern me. May your holy charity bepleased, for this reason, to consider what it is you do, in ranging undermy command so many saint-like souls of the fathers and brethren of ourSociety. I am so little endued with the qualities which are requisite forsuch a charge, and am so sensible that this is true, through God's mercy, that I may reasonably hope, that, instead of reposing on me the careof others, you will repose on others the care of me. " He infinitelyesteemed those missioners who were his seconds; and accounted his ownpains for nothing, in comparison of theirs. After having related, whathad been performed by Father Francis Perez in Malacca; "I confess, mybrethren, " said he to Paul de Camerino and Antonio Gomez, "that, seeingthese things, I am ashamed of myself; and my own lazy cowardice makes meblush, in looking on a missioner, who, infirm and languishing as he is, yet labours without intermission in the salvation of souls. " Xavier morethan once repeats the same thing in his letter, with profound sentimentsof esteem for Perez, and strange contempt of his own performances. 

He recommends not any thing so much to the gospel-labourers as theknowledge of themselves, and shunning of pride; and we need only to openany of his letters, to behold his opinions on that subject, "Cultivate humility with care, in all those things which depraved naturehas in horror; and make sure, by the assistance of divine grace, to gaina thorough knowledge of yourselves; for that understanding of ourselvesis the mother of Christian humility. Beware especially, lest the goodopinion, which men have conceived of you, do not give you too muchpleasure: for those vain delights are apt to make us negligent; and thatnegligence, as it were by a kind of enchantment, destroys the humility ofour hearts, and introduces pride instead of it. 

"Be distrustful of your proper strength, and build nothing upon humanwisdom, nor on the esteem of men, By these means you will be in conditionto bear whatsoever troubles shall happen to you; for God strengthens thehumble, and gives him courage; he is proof against the greatest labours, and nothing can ever separate him from the charity of Jesus Christ; notthe devil with his evil angels, nor the ocean with its tempests, nor themost brutal nations with all their barbarity. And if God sometimespermits that the devil put impediments in his way, or that the elementsmake war against him, he is persuaded, that it is only for the expiationof his sins, for the augmentation of his merits, and for the renderinghim more humble. 

"They who fervently desire to advance God's glory, ought to humblethemselves, and be nothing in their own opinion; being diffident, even inthe smallest matters, of their own abilities; to the end, that in greatoccasions, becoming much more diffident of themselves, through aprinciple of Christian humility, they may entirely confide in God; andthis confidence may give them resolution; for he who knows that he isassisted from above, can never degenerate into weakness. 

"Whatever you undertake will be acceptable in the sight of God, if thereappear in your conduct a profound humility, and that you commit the careof your reputation into his hands; for he himself will not be wanting togive you both authority and reputation with men, when they are needfulfor you; and when he does it not, it is from his knowledge that you willnot ascribe to him that which only can proceed from him. I comfort myselfwith thinking, that the sins of which you find yourselves guilty, andwith which you daily upbraid your own consciences, produce in you anextreme horror of windy arrogance, and a great love of perfection; sothat human praises will become your crosses, and be useful to admonishyou of your failings. 

"Take heed of yourselves, my dearest brethren; many ministers of thegospel, who have opened the way of heaven to other men, are tormented inhell for want of true humility, and for being carried away with a vainopinion of themselves; on the contrary, there is not to be found in hellone single soul which was sincerely humble. "

These are the instructions which the saint gave in general to hisbrethren on the subject of humility; and, next, behold some particularadmonitions which were addressed to some amongst them:--

"I conjure you to be humble and patient towards all the world, " says heto Father Cyprian, who preached the gospel at Meliapore; "for, believeme, nothing is to be done by haughtiness and choler, when it cannot beaccomplished by modesty and mildness. " He continues; "We deceiveourselves, in exacting submission and respect from men, without any othertitle to it than being members of our Society, and without cultivatingthat virtue which has acquired us so great an authority in the world; asif we rather chose to recommend ourselves by that credit and reputation, than by the practice of humility and patience, and those other virtues bywhich our Society has maintained its dignity and honour with mankind. "

"Be mindful, " writes he to Father Barzaesus, who was rector of' thecollege of Goa, "to read frequently the instructions which I have leftwith you, particularly those which concern humility; and take an especialcare in considering what God has done by you, and by all the labourers ofthe Society, that you do not forget yourself: for my own particular, Ishould be glad, that all of you would seriously think how many things Godleaves undone, because you are wanting to him in your fidelity; andI would rather that consideration should employ your thoughts, than thosegreat works which it has pleased our Lord to accomplish by your ministry;for the first reflection will cover you with confusion, and make youmindful of your weakness; but, instead of that, the second will puff youup with vanity, and expose you to the danger of having thoughts ofarrogance. "

This well-grounded humility in Xavier, was the principle of a perfectsubmission to the will of God. He never undertook any thing withoutconsulting him before-hand; and the divine decrees were his only rule. "Ihave made continual prayers, " says he, speaking of his voyage toMacassar, "to know what heaven requires of me; for I was firmly resolvednot to be wanting on my part to fulfil the will of God, whensoever itshould be made known to me. May it please our Lord, " said he on the samesubject, "that out of his goodness we might understand what he designs byus, to the end we might entirely conform ourselves to his holy will sosoon as it shall be discovered to us; for he commands us to be always ina readiness to obey him at the first signal; and it becomes us to be asstrangers in this world, always prepared to follow the voice of ourconductor. "

"I wish, " said he, in another place, "that God would declare to us hismost holy will, concerning the ministries and countries where I may bestemploy my labours for his glory. I am ready, by his grace, to executethose things which he makes me understand to be most pleasing to him, ofwhatsoever nature they may be; and, undoubtedly, he has admirable meansof signifying his good pleasure to us; such as are our inward sentimentsand heavenly illuminations, which leave no remaining scruple concerningthe place to which he has designed us, nor what we are to undertake forhis service. For we are like travellers, not fixed to any country throughwhich we pass. It is our duty to be prepared to fly from one region toanother, or rather into opposite regions, where the voice of heaven shallplease to call us. East and west, north and south, are all indifferent tome, provided I may have an opportunity of advancing the glory of ourLord. "

He says elsewhere, "I could wish, that you had ever in your mind thismeditation, that a ready and obedient will, which is entirely devoted toGod's service, is a more pleasing sacrifice to the Divine Majesty, thanall the pomp and glitter of our noisy actions, without the interiordisposition. "

Being thoroughly convinced that the perfection of the creature consistsin willing nothing but the will of the Creator, he spoke incessantly ofGod's good pleasure, and concluded almost all his letters with hisdesires of knowing and fulfilling it. He sacrificed all to thatprinciple; even his ardent wishes to die for Jesus by the hands of thebarbarians: for though he breathed after martyrdom, he well understoodthat the tender of our life is not acceptable to God, when he requires itnot; and he was more fearful of displeasing him, than desirous of being amartyr for him. So that he died satisfied, when he expired in a poorcabin of a natural death, though he was at that very time on the point ofcarrying the faith into the kingdom of China: And it may be thereforesaid, that he sacrificed not only his own glory, but even that of JesusChrist, to the good pleasure of God Almighty. 

A man so submissive to the orders of heaven, could not possibly wantsubmission in regard of his superior, who was to him in the place of God. He had for Father Ignatius, general of the Society of Jesus, a venerationand reverence, mixed with tenderness, which surpass imagination. Hehimself has expressed some part of his thoughts on that subject, and wecannot read them without being edified. In one of his letters, whichbegins in this manner, "My only dear Father, in the bowels of JesusChrist;" he says at the conclusion, "Father of my soul, for whom I have amost profound respect, I write this to you upon my knees, as if youwere present, and that I beheld you with my eyes. " It was his custom towrite to him in that posture; so high was the place which Ignatius heldwithin his heart. 

"God is my witness, my dearest Father, " says he in another letter, "howmuch I wish to behold you in this life, that I might communicate to youmany matters, which cannot be remedied without your aid; for there is nodistance of places which can hinder me from obeying you. I conjure you, my best Father, to have some little consideration of us who are in theIndies, and who are your children. I conjure you, I say, to send hithersome holy man, whose fervour may excite our lazy faintness. I hope, forthe rest, that as you know the bottom of our souls, by an illuminationfrom heaven, you will not be wanting to supply us with the means ofawakening our languishing and drowsy virtue, and of inspiring us with thelove of true perfection. " In another of his letters, which is thussuperscribed, "To Ignatius, my holy Father in Jesus Christ, " he sends himword, that the letter which he received from his holy charity, at hisreturn from Japan, had replenished him with joy; and that particularly hewas most tenderly affected with the last words of it: "I am all yours, yours even to that degree, that it is impossible for me to forget you, Ignatius. " "When I had read those words, " said he, "the tears cameflowing into my eyes, and gushing out of them; which makes me, that Icannot forbear writing them, and recalling to my memory that sincere andholy friendship which you always had, and still have, for me; nothingdoubting, but that if God has delivered me from so many dangers, it hasprincipally proceeded from your fatherly intercessions for me. " He callshimself his son in all his letters, and thus subscribes himself in one:"The least of your children, and most distant from you, Francis Xavier. "But the high ideas which Francis had of Ignatius, caused him frequentlyto ask his advice in relation to his own conduct. "You will do acharitable work, " said he, "in writing to me a letter, full of spiritualinstructions, as a legacy bequeathed to one who is the least of all yourchildren, at the farthest distance from you, and who is as it werebanished from your presence, by which I may partake some part of thoseabundant treasures which heaven has heaped upon you. I beseech you not tobe too niggardly in the accomplishment of my desires. " "I conjure you, "says he elsewhere, "by the tender love of Jesus Christ, to give me themethod which I ought to keep, in admitting those who are to be members ofour Society; and write to me at large, considering the smallness of mytalent, which is well known to you; for if you give me not yourassistance, the poor ability which I have in these matters, will be theoccasion of my losing many opportunities for the augmentation of God'sglory. "

In prescribing any thing that was difficult to his inferiors, hefrequently intermixed the name of Ignatius: "I pray you by our Lord, andby Ignatius, the Father of our Society. I conjure you by the obedience, and by the love which you owe to our Father Ignatius. " "Remember, " saidhe farther, "to what degree, both great and small, respect our FatherIgnatius. "

With these sentiments, both of affection and esteem, he dependedabsolutely on his superior. "If I believed, " says he, writing from theIndies to Father Simon Rodriguez, "that the strength of your body wereequal to the vigour of your mind, I should invite you to pass the seas, and desire your company in this new world; I mean, if our Father Ignatiusshould approve and counsel such a voyage: For he is our parent, itbehoves us to obey him; and it is not permitted us to make one stepwithout his order. "

In this manner, Xavier had recourse to Ignatius on all occasions, as muchas the distance of places would permit; and the orders which he received, were to him inviolable laws. "You shall not suffer any one, " so he writto Gaspar Barzæus, rector of the college of Goa, "to receive the ordersof priesthood, who is not sufficiently learned; and who has not given, for the space of many years, sufficient examples of his good life in ourSociety; because our Father Ignatius has expressly forbidden it. " Forthe same reason he exactly observed the constitutions of the Society. "Make not haste, " writes he in the same letter to Barzæus, "to receivechildren which are too young; and totally reject such sorts of people, whom Father Ignatius would have for ever excluded from our order. " Butnothing, perhaps, can more clearly discover how perfect the submission ofXavier was, than what his superior himself thought of it. At the timewhen Xavier died, Ignatius had thoughts of recalling him from the Indies;not doubting, but at the first notice of his orders, this zealousmissioner would leave all things out of his obedience. And on thisoccasion he wrote to him a letter, bearing date the 28th of June, in theyear 1553. Behold the passage which concerns the business of which we arespeaking: "I add, " says Ignatius in his letter, "that having in prospectthe salvation of souls, and the greater service of our Lord, I haveresolved to command you, in virtue of holy obedience, to return intoPortugal with the first opportunity; and I command you this in the nameof Christ. But that you may more easily satisfy those, who are desirousof retaining you in the Indies, for the good of those countries, I willpresent you with my reasons: You know, in the first place, of what weightare the orders of the king of Portugal, for the confirmation of religionin the East, for the propagation of it in, Guinea and Brasil; and you canrightly judge, that a prince so religious as he, will do all thingsnecessary for the advancement of God's honour, and the conversion ofpeople, if one of your ability and experience shall personally instructhim; And besides, it is of great importance, that the holy apostolicalsee should be informed of the present state of India, by some authenticwitness; to the end, that Popes may issue out spiritual supplies, as wellto the new as to the ancient Christianity of Asia; without which, neitherthe one nor the other can subsist, or cannot subsist without muchtrouble; and nobody is more proper than yourself for this, both inrespect of your knowledge in the affairs of the new world, and of yourreputation in these parts. 

"You know, moreover, of what consequence it is, that the missioners, whoare sent to the Indies, should be proper for the end proposed; and it isconvenient, on that account, that you come to Portugal and Rome: for notonly many more will be desirous of going on those missions, but you willmake a better choice of missioners, and will see more clearly to whatparts such and such are proper to be sent. You judge yourself of whatconsideration it is, not to be mistaken in these affairs; and whatsoeverrelation you can send us, your letters are not sufficient to give us atrue notion of what labourers are fitting for the Indies. It is necessarythat you, or some one as intelligent as you, should know and practisethose who are designed for those countries. Besides what it will be inyour power to do for the common benefit of the East, you will warm thezeal of the king of Portugal, in relation to Ethiopia, which has beenunder consideration for so many years, but nothing yet performed. Youwill also be of no little use to the affairs of Congo and Brasil, onwhich you can have no influence in India, for want of commerce betwixtthem and you. But if you think your presence may be necessary, for thegovernment of those of the Society who are in the Indies, you may governthem more easily from Portugal, than you can from China or Japan. Forwhat remains, I remit you to the Father, Master Polanque, and recommendmyself most cordially to your good prayers, beseeching the DivineGoodness to multiply his favours on you; to the end, that we mayunderstand his most holy will, and that we may perfectly perform it. "

Father Polanque, who was secretary to Father Ignatius, and confident toall his purposes, has given testimony, that the intention of the holyfounder was to make Xavier general of the Society. The letter of Ignatiusfound Xavier dead. But we may judge of what he would have done, by whathe writ before his death to Ignatius himself, who had testified soearnest a desire to see him: "Your holy charity, " says he in his letter, "tells me, that you have an earnest desire to see me once again in thispresent life: God, who looks into the bottom of my heart, can tell howsensibly that mark of your tenderness has touched me. Truly, wheneverthat expression of yours returns to my remembrance, and it frequentlyreturns, the tears come dropping from my eyes, and I cannot restrainthem; while I revolve that happy thought, that once, yet once again itmay be given me to embrace you. I confess, it appears difficult tocompass my desires, but all things are possible to holy obedience. "

Undoubtedly, if the letter of Ignatius had found Xavier alive, he hadsoon been seen in Europe; for having offered, of his own free motion, toleave the Indies, Japan, and China, and all the business which he hadupon his hands, and having said, that the least beckoning of his superiorshould be sufficient for it, what would he not have done, when he hadreceived a positive command to abandon all, and repass the seas?

His maxims of obedience shew clearly what his own submission was. 

"There is nothing more certain, nor less subject to mistake, than alwaysto be willing to obey. On the contrary, it is dangerous to live incomplaisance to our own wills, and without following the motion of oursuperiors; for though we chance to perform any good action, yet if wenever so little deviate from that which is commanded us, we may restassured, that our action is rather vicious than good. 

"The devil, by his malicious suggestions, tempts the greatest part ofthose who have devoted themselves to God's service: 'What make youthere?' he secretly whispers; 'See you not that you do but lose yourlabour?' Resist that thought with all your strength; for it is capablenot only of hindering you in the way to perfection, but also of seducingyou from it: and let every one of you persuade himself, that he cannotbetter serve our Lord, than in that place where he is set by hissuperior. Be also satisfied, that when the time of God is come, he willinspire your superiors with thoughts of sending you to such places, whereyour labours shall abundantly succeed. In the mean time, you shallpossess your souls in peace. By this means, you will well employ yourprecious time, though too many do not understand its value, and makegreat proficiencies in virtue. It is far otherwise with those restlesssouls, who do no good in those places where they wish to be, because theyare not there; and are unprofitable both to themselves and others wherethey are, because they desire to be otherwhere. 

"Perform, with great affection, what your superiors order you, inrelation to domestic discipline, and suffer not yourself to be surprisedwith the suggestions of the evil spirit, who endeavours to persuade you, that some other employment would be fitter for you; his design is, thatyou should execute that office ill in which you are employed: I entreatyou, therefore, by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to considerseriously, how you may overcome those temptations, which give you adistaste of your employment; and to meditate, more on that, than how toengage yourself in such laborious affairs, as are not commanded you. Letno man flatter himself; it is impossible to excel in great matters, before we arrive to excel in less: and it is a gross error, under thepretence of saving souls, to shake off the yoke of obedience, which islight and easy, and to take up a cross, which, without comparison, ismore hard and heavy. 

"It becomes you to submit your will and judgement to your governors; andto believe that God, will inspire them, in reference to you, with that, which will be most profitable to you. For the rest, beware of asking anything with importunity, as some have done, who press their superiorswith such earnestness, that they even tear from them that which theydesire, though the thing which they demand be in itself pernicious; or ifit be refused them, complain in public, that their life is odious tothem: they perceive not, that their unhappiness proceeds from theirneglect of their vow, and their endeavour to appropriate that will tothemselves, which they have already consecrated to our Lord. In effect, the more such people live according to their own capricious fancy, themore uneasy and melancholy is their life. "

The holy man was so thoroughly persuaded, that the perfection of theSociety of Jesus consisted in obedience, that he frequently commanded hisbrethren, in virtue of their holy obedience, thereby to increase theirmerit. 

"I pray you, " said he to two missioners of Comorine, "to go to the Islesdel Moro; and to the end you may the better have occasion of meriting byyour obedience, I positively command you. "

But it is impossible to relate, with what tenderness he loved theSociety, or how much he concerned himself in all their interests, thoughof the smallest moment. Being in Portugal, before his voyage to theIndies, he wrote not any letters to Rome, wherein he did not testisfy hisgreat desire to know what progress it made in Italy. Writing to theFathers, Le Gay, and Laynez, he says thus: "Since our rule is confirmed, I earnestly desire to learn the names of those who are already receivedinto our order, and of such as are upon the point of being admitted. Heexhorts them, to thank the king of Portugal, for the design which hismajesty had to build a college, or a house for the Society: and we oughtto make this acknowlegment to the king, " said he, "to engage him therebyto begin the building. "

The news which he received from Father Ignatius, and the other Fatherswho were at Rome, gave him infinite consolation. "I have received yourletters, which I expected with much impatience; and have received themwith that joy, which children ought to have in receiving some pleasingnews from their mother. In effect, I learn from them the prosperouscondition of all the Society, and the holy employments wherein you engageyourselves without intermission. " He could scarcely moderate his joy, whensoever he thought on the establishment of the Society. Thus he wrotefrom the Indies to Rome: "Amongst all the favours which I have receivedfrom God in this present life, and which I receive daily, the mostsignal, and most sensible, is to have heard that the institute of ourSociety has been approved and confirmed by the authority of the Holy SeeI give immortal thanks to Jesus Christ, that he has been pleased hisvicar should publicly establish the form of life, which he himself hasprescribed in private to his servant, our Father Ignatius. "

But Xavier also wished nothing more, than to see the Society increased;and he felt a redoubling of his joy, by the same proportion, when he hadnotice of their gaining new houses in the East, or when he heard, fromEurope, of the foundation of new colleges. 

To conclude, he had not less affection for the particular persons, whowere members of the Society, than for the body of it. His brethren wereever present in his thoughts; and he thought it not enough to love thembarely, without a continual remembrance of them. "I carry about with me(thus he writes to the Fathers at Rome) all your names, of your ownhandwriting, in your letters; and I carry them together with the solemnform of my profession. " By which he signifies, not only how dear the sonsof the Society were to him, but also how much he esteemed the honour ofbeing one of their number. 

The love which he bore to gospel-poverty, caused him to subsist on alms, and to beg his bread from door to door, when he might have had a betterprovision made for him. Being even in the college of Goa, which was wellendowed, he sought his livelihood without the walls, the more to conformhimself to the poverty of his blessed Saviour. He was always very meanlyclothed, and most commonly had so many patches on his cassock, thatthe children of the idolaters derided him. He pieced up his tatters withhis own hand, and never changed his habit till it was worn to rags; atleast, if the honour of God, and the interest of religion, did nototherwise oblige him. At his return from Japan to Malacca, where he wasreceived with so much honour, he wore on his back a torn cassock, and arusty old hat on his head. 

The Portuguese, beholding him always so ill apparelled, often desired himto give them leave to present him with a new habit; but seeing he wouldnot be persuaded, they once devised a way of stealing his cassock whilehe was asleep. The trick succeeded, and Xavier, whose soul was whollyintent on God, put on a new habit, which they had laid in the place ofhis old garment, without discovering how they had served him. He passedthe whole day in the same ignorance of the cheat, and it was not till theevening that he perceived it; for supping with Francis Payva, and otherPortuguese, who were privy to the matter, --"It is perhaps to do honour toour table, " said one amongst them, "that you are so spruce to-day, inyour new habit. " Then, casting his eyes upon his clothes, he was muchsurprised to find himself in so strange an equipage. At length, beingmade sensible of the prank which they had played him, he told them, smiling, "That it was no great wonder that this rich cassock, looking fora master in the dark, could not see its way to somebody who deserved itbetter. "

As he lived most commonly amongst the poorer sort of Indians, who hadnothing to bestow, and who, for the most part, went naked, he enjoyed hispoverty without molestation. All his moveables were a mat, on which helay sometimes, and a little table, whereon were his writings, and somelittle books, with a wooden crucifix, made of that which the Indians callthe wood of St Thomas. 

He cheerfully underwent the greatest hardships of poverty; and, writingfrom Japan to the Fathers of Goa, his words were these:--"Assist me, Ibeseech you, my dear brethren, in acknowledging to Almighty God thesignal favour he has done me. I am at length arrived at Japan, wherethere is an extreme scarcity of all things, which I place amongst thegreatest benefits of Providence. "

Mortification is always the companion of poverty, in apostolical persons. Xavier bore Constantly along with him the instruments of penance;haircloth, chains of iron, and disciplines, pointed at the ends, andexceeding sharp. He treated his flesh with great severity, by the samemotive which obliged St Paul, the apostle, to chastise his body, and toreduce it into servitude, lest, having preached to other men, he mighthimself become a reprobate. 

At sea, the ship tackling served him for a bed; on land, a mat, or theearth itself. He eat so little, that one of his companions assures us, that, without a miracle, he could not have lived. Another tells us, thathe seldom or never drank wine, unless at the tables of the Portuguese;for there he avoided singularity, and took what was given him. But, afterwards, he revenged himself on one of those repasts, by an abstinenceof many days. 

When he was at Cape Comorine, the viceroy; Don Alphonso de Sosa, sent himtwo barrels of excellent wine. He did not once taste of it, though hewas then brought very low, through the labours of his ministry, butdistributed the whole amongst the poor. 

His ordinary nourishment, in the Indies, was rice boiled in water, orsome little piece of salt fish; but during the two years and a half ofhis residence in Japan, he totally abstained from fish, for the betteredification of that people; and wrote to the Fathers at Rome, "that hewould rather choose to die of hunger, than to give any man the leastoccasion of scandal. " He also says, "I count it for a signal favour, thatGod has brought me into a country destitute of all the comforts of life, and where, if I were so ill disposed, it would be impossible for me topamper up my body with delicious fare. " He perpetually travelled, byland, on foot, even in Japan, where the ways are asperous, and almostimpassible; and often walked, with naked feet, in the greatest severityof winter. 

"The hardships of so long a navigation, " says he, "so long a sojourningamongst the Gentiles, in a country parched up with excessive heats, allthese incommodities being suffered, as they ought to be, for the sake ofChrist, are truly an abundant source of consolations: for myself, I amverily persuaded, that they, who love the cross of Jesus Christ, livehappy in the midst of sufferings; and that it is a death, when they haveno opportunities to suffer. For, can there be a more cruel death, than tolive without Jesus Christ, after once we have tasted of him? Is any thingmore hard, than to abandon him, that we may satisfy our own inclinations?Believe me, there is no other cross which is to be compared to that. Howhappy is it, on the other side, to live, in dying daily, and inconquering our passions, to search after, not our proper interests, butthe interests of Jesus Christ?"

His interior mortification was the principle of these thoughts, in thisholy man; from the first years of his conversion, his study was to gainan absolute conquest on himself; and he continued always to exhort othersnot to suffer themselves to be hurried away by the fury of their naturaldesires. He writes thus to the fathers and brethren of Coimbra, fromMalacca:--"I have always present, in my thoughts, what I have heard fromour holy Father Ignatius, that the true children of the Society of Jesusought to labour exceedingly in overcoming of themselves. 

"If you search our Lord in the spirit of truth, " says he to the Jesuitsof Goa, "and generously walk in those ways, which conduct you to him, thespiritual delights, which you taste in his service, will sweeten allthose bitter agonies, which the conquest of yourselves will cost you. Omy God, how grossly stupid is mankind not to comprehend, that, by a faintand cowardly resistance of the assaults of the devil, they deprivethemselves of the most pure and sincere delights which life can givethem. "

By the daily practice of these maxims, Xavier came to be so absolute amaster of his passions, that he knew not what it was to have the leastmotion of choler and impatience; and from thence proceeded partly, thattranquillity of soul, that equality of countenance, that perpetualcheerfulness, which rendered him so easy and so acceptable in allcompanies. 

It is natural for a man, who is extremely mortified, to be chaste; and sowas Xavier, to such a degree of perfection, that we have it certifiedfrom his ghostly fathers, and, amongst others, from the vicar ofMeliapore, that he lived and died a virgin. From his youth upward he hadan extreme horror for impurity; notwithstanding, that he was of asanguine complexion, and naturally loved pleasure. While he was a studentat Paris, and dwelt in the college of Sainte Barbe, his tutor inphilosophy, who was a man lost in debauches, and who died of a dishonestdisease, carried his scholars by night to brothel-houses. The abominableman did all he could towards the debauching of Francis Xavier, who washandsome, and well shaped, but he could never accomplish his wickedpurpose; so much was the youth estranged from the uncleanness of allfleshly pleasures. 

For what remains, nothing can more clearly make out his love to purity, than what happened to him once at Rome. Simon Rodriguez being fallensick, Father Ignatius commanded Xavier to take care of him during hisdistemper. One night, the sick man awaking, saw Xavier, who was asleep athis bed's feet, thrusting out his arms in a dream, with the action of onewho violently repels an enemy; he observed him even casting out blood ingreat abundance, through his nostrils, and at his mouth. Xavier himselfawaking, with the labour of that struggling, Rodriguez enquired of himthe cause of that extreme agitation, and the gushing of his blood. Xavierwould not satisfy him at that time, and gave him no account of it, tillhe was just upon his departure to the Indies; for then being urged anewby Rodriguez, after he had obliged him to secrecy, "Know, " said he, "mybrother, master Simon, that God, out of his wonderful mercy, has done methe favour, to preserve me, even till this hour, in entire purity; andthat very night I dreamed, that, lodging at an inn, an impudent womanwould needs approach me: The motion of my arms was to thrust her from me, and to get rid of her; and the blood, which I threw out, proceeded frommy agony. "

But whatsoever detestation Xavier had, even for the shadow of a sin, hewas always diffident of himself; and withdrew from all conversation ofwomen, if charity obliged him not to take care of their conversion; andeven on such occasions, he kept all imaginable measures, neverentertaining them with discourse, unless in public places, and in sightof all the world; nor speaking with them of ought, but what wasnecessary, and then also sparing of his words, and with a grave, modest, and serious countenance. He would say, "That, in general conversation, wecould not be too circumspect in our behaviour towards them; and that, however pious the intentions of their confessors were, there stillremained more cause of fear to the directors in those entertainments, than of hope, that any good should result from them to thewomen-penitents. "

Besides all this, he kept his senses curbed and recollected, examined hisconscience often every day, and daily confessed himself when he had theconvenience of a priest. By these means, he acquired such a purity ofsoul and body, that they who were of his intimate acquaintance, havedeclared, that they could never observe in him ought that was not withinthe rules of the exactest decency. 

In like manner, he never forgave himself the least miscarriage; and it isincredible how far the tenderness of his conscience went on alloccasions. In that vessel which carried him from Lisbon to the Indies, achild, who was of years which are capable of instruction, one dayhappened to die suddenly: Xavier immediately inquired if the child hadbeen usually present at catechism, together with the ship's company? Itwas answered in the negative; and at the same moment the man of God, whose countenance commonly was cheerful, appeared extremely sad. Theviceroy, Alphonso de Sosa, soon observed it; and knowing the cause of hisaffliction, asked the Father if he had any former knowledge that thechild came not to catechism? "If I had known it, " replied Xavier, "I hadnot failed to have brought him thither:" "But, why then, " said theviceroy, "are you thus disquieted for a thing you know not, and of whichyou are no ways guilty?" "It is, " replied the saint, "because I ought toupbraid myself with it as a fault, that I was ignorant that any person, who was embarked with me, wanted to be taught the Christian faith. "

A body so chaste, and a mind so pure, could not have been but of one whowas faithfully devoted to the Holy Virgin. The saint honoured and lovedher all his life, with thoughts full of respect and tenderness. It was inthe church of Mont Martre, dedicated to the mother of God, and on the dayof her assumption, that he made his first vows. It was in that of Lorettothat he had his first inspiration, and conceived his first desires ofgoing to the Indies. He petitioned for nothing of our Lord, but by theintercession of his mother; and in the exposition which he made of theChristian doctrine, after addressing himself to Jesus to obtain the graceof a lively and constant faith, he failed not of addressing himself toMary. He concluded all his instructions with the _Salve Regina_; he neverundertook any thing but under her protection; and in all dangers, he hadalways recourse to the blessed Virgin as his patroness. For the rest, toshew that he depended on her, and made his glory of that dependence, hecommonly wore a chaplet about his neck, to the end that Christians mighttake delight in seeing the chaplet; and made frequent use of it in theoperation of his miracles. 

When he passed whole nights at his devotions in churches, it was almostalways before the image of the Virgin, and especially he offered his vowsto her for the conversion of notorious sinners, and also for theremission of his own offences; as himself testifies in a letter of his, which shews not less his humility than his confidence in the intercessionof the blessed Virgin: "I have taken the Queen of Heaven for mypatroness, that, by her prayers I may obtain the pardon of my innumerablesins. " He was particularly devoted to her immaculate conception, and madea vow to defend it to the utmost of his power. 

In conversation he frequently spoke of the greatness of the blessed Mary, and attracted all men to her service. In fine, being just upon the pointof drawing his last breath, he invoked her name with tender words, andbesought her to shew herself his mother. 

These are the principal virtues which were collected, to be presented tothe Holy See. The archbishop of Goa, and all the bishops of India, seconded the designs of the king of Portugal, by acting on their sidewith the Pope, for the canonization of Xavier; but no one, in process oftime, solicited with more splendour than the king of Bungo. 

This prince, who was upon the point of being converted when Xavier leftJapan, had no sooner lost the holy man, but he was regained by theBonzas, and fell into all the disorders of which a Pagan can be capable. He confessed the Christian law to be the better; but said it was toorigorous, and that a young prince, as he was, born in the midst ofpleasures, could not brook it. His luxury hindered him not from the loveof arms, nor from being very brave; and he was so fortunate in war, thathe reduced four or five kingdoms under his obedience. In the course ofall his victories, the last words which Father Francis had said to him, concerning the vanity of the world, and the necessity of baptism, cameinto his remembrance: he made serious reflections on them, and was sodeeply moved by them, that one day he appeared in public, with a chapletabout his neck, as it were to make an open profession of Christianity. 

The effects were correspondent to the appearances: he had two idols inhis palace of great value, which he worshipped every day, prostratinghimself before them with his forehead touching the ground; these imageshe commanded to be thrown into the sea. After this, applying himself tothe exercises of piety and penitence, he totally renounced his sensualpleasures, and was finally baptized by Father Cabira, of the Society ofJesus. At his baptism he took the name of Francis, in memory of the holyapostle Francis Xavier, whom he acknowledged for the Father of his soul, and whom he called by that title during the remainder of his life. 

The king of Bungo had hitherto been so fortunate, that his prosperitypassed into a proverb; but God was pleased to try him. Two months afterhis baptism, the most considerable of his subjects entering into a solemnleague and covenant against him out of hatred to Christianity, andjoining with his neighbouring princes, defeated him in a pitched battle, and despoiled him of all his estates. He endured his ill fortune withgreat constancy; and when he was upbraided by the Gentiles, that thechange of his religion had been the cause of his ruin, he made a vow atthe foot of the altar to live and die a Christian; adding, by a holytransport of zeal, that if all Japan, and all Europe, if the Father'sof the Society, and the Pope himself, should renounce our Saviour JesusChrist; yet, for his own particular, he would confess him to the lastgasp; and be always ready, with God's assistance, to shed his blood, intestimony of his faith. 

As the piety of this prince diminished nothing of his valour nor of hisconduct, having gathered up the remainder of his troops, he restoredhimself by degrees, partly by force of arms, and partly by amicable waysof treaty. His principal care, after his re-establishment, was to banishidolatry out of his estates, and to restore the Catholic religion. Hisdevotion led him to send a solemn embassy to Pope Gregory XIII. Who atthat time governed the church. Don Mancio, his ambassador, being arrivedat Rome, with those of the king of Arima, and the prince of Omura, wasnot satisfied with bringing the obedience of the king, his master, to thevicar of Jesus Christ, by presenting him the letters of Don Francis, fullof submission and respect to the Holy See; but he also petitioned him, inthe name of his sovereign, to place the apostle of Japan amongst thosesaints whom the faithful honour; and declared to his Holiness, "That hecould not do a greater favour to the king of Bungo. "

In the mean time, the memory of Xavier was venerated more than everthrough all Asia. An ambassador from the great Mogul being come to Goa, to desire some Fathers of the Society might be sent to explain themysteries of Christianity to that emperor, asked permission to see thebody of Father Francis; but he durst not approach it till first himselfand all his train had taken off their shoes; after which ceremony, all ofthem having many times bowed themselves to the very ground, paid theirrespects to the saint with as much devotion as if they had not beenMahometans. The ships which passed in sight of Sancian saluted the placeof 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 monthsand a half, and to bear away a turf of that holy ground; insomuch, thatthe Chinese entering into a belief, that there was some hidden treasurein the place, set guards of soldiers round about it to hinder it frombeing taken thence. One of the new Indian converts, and of the mostdevoted to the man of God, not content with seeing the place of hisdeath, had also the curiosity to view that of his nativity; insomuch, that travelling through a vast extent of land, and passing throughimmense oceans, he arrived at the castle of Xavier: entering into thechamber where the saint was born, he fell upon his knees, and with greatdevotion kissed the floor, which he watered also with his tears. Afterthis, without farther thought, or desire of seeing any thing besides inEurope, he took his way backwards to the Indies; and counted for a mightytreasure a little piece of stone, which he had loosened from the walls ofthe chamber, and carried away with him in the nature of a relick. 

For what remains, a series of miracles was blazed abroad in all places. Five or six passengers, who had set sail from Malacca towards China, inthe ship of Benedict Coeglio, fell sick, even to the point of death. Sosoon as they were set on shore at Sancian, they caused themselves to becarried to the meadow, where Xavier had been first interred; and therehaving covered their heads with that earth which once had touched hisholy body, they were perfectly cured upon the spot. 

Xavier appeared to divers people on the coast of Travancore, and that ofFishery; sometimes to heal them, or to comfort them in the agonies ofdeath; at other times to deliver the prisoners, and to reduce sinnersinto the ways of heaven. 

His name was propitious on the seas, in the most evident dangers. Theship of Emanuel de Sylva, going from Cochin, and having taken the way ofBengal, in the midst of the gulph there arose so furious a tempest, thatthey were constrained to cut the mast, and throw all the merchandizesoverboard; when nothing less than shipwreck was expected, they allimplored the aid of the apostle of the Indies, Francis Xavier. At thesame instant, a wave, which was rolling on, and ready to break over theship, like some vast mountain, went backward on the sudden, anddissipated into foam. The seamen and passengers, at the sight of somanifest a miracle, invoked the saint with loud voices, still as thetempest grew upon them; and the billows failed not of retiring always atthe name of Xavier; but whenever they ceased from calling on him, thewaves outrageously swelled, and beat the ship on every side. 

It may almost be said, that the saint in person wrought these miracles;but it is inconceivable, how many were performed by the subscriptions ofhis letters, by the beads of his chaplet, by the pieces of his garments, and, finally, by every thing which had once been any way appertaining tohim. 

The crosses which he had erected with his own hand on sundry coasts, tobe seen from far by mariners and travellers, were loaded with the vowsand gifts, which Christians, Saracens, and Idolaters, had fastened tothem daily, in acknowledgment of favours which they had received, throughthe intercession of the holy man. But the most celebrated of thosecrosses, was that at Cotata, whereon an image of Xavier was placed. Ablind man received sight, by embracing of that cross; two sick men werecured on the instant, one of which, who was aged, had a settled palsy, and the other was dying of a bloody flux. Copies were made of thatmiraculous image at Cotata; and Gasper Gonçalez brought one of them toCochin. It was eleven of the clock at night when he entered into theport: an hour afterwards, the house of Christopher Miranda, adjoining tothat of Gonçalez, happened to be on fire. The north-wind then blowing, and the building being almost all of wood, the burning began with mightyrage, and immediately a maid belonging to the house was burned. Theneighbours, awakened with the cries of fire, cast their goods out at thewindows in confusion; there being no probability of preserving thehouses, because that of Miranda was the highest, and the burning coalswhich flew out on every side, together with the flames, which were drivenby the wind, fell on the tops of the houses, that were only covered withbows of palm-trees, dry, and easy to take fire. In this extremity ofdanger, Gonçalez bethought himself of the holy image which he hadbrought; falling on his knees, accompanied by all his domestic servants, he held it upwards to the flames, and invoked Father Francis to hisassistance. At the same instant the fire was extinguished of itself;and the town in this manner preserved from desolation, when it was readyto be burned to ashes. 

A medal, which had on one side the image of the saint, and on the otherthat of the Holy Virgin holding the little Jesus, wrought yet moreadmirable effects. It was in the possession of a virtuous widow ofCochin, born at Tamuzay in China, and named Lucy de Vellanzan, who hadformerly been instructed at Malacca in the mysteries of faith by Xavierhimself; and who was aged an hundred and twenty years, when she wasjuridically interrogated, concerning the miracles which had been wroughtby her medal. All infirm persons, who came to Lucy, received their cureso soon as she had made the sign of the cross with her medal over them;or when she had sprinkled them with water, wherein the medal had beendipt; in saying only these words, "In the name of Jesus, and of FatherFrancis, be your health restored. "

"I have seen many, " says an eye-witness, "who have been cured on theinstant, by being only touched with that medal: Some, who being onlyputrified, ejected through the nose corrupted flesh, and matter of a mostoffensive scent; others, who were reduced to the meagerness of skeletons, by consumptions of many years; but the most celebrated cures, were thoseof Gonsalvo Rodriguez, Mary Dias, and Emanuel Fernandez Figheredo. "

Rodriguez had a great imposthume on the left side, very near the heart, which had been breeding many months. The chirurgeons, for fear ofexasperating the malady, by making an incision in so dangerous a part, endeavoured to dry up the humour, by applying other remedies; but theimposthume degenerated into a cancer, which gave the patient intolerablepains, and made him heart and stomach sick. Rodriguez having notice givenhim, what wonders were wrought by the Chinese Christian, by means of themedal of Father Xavier, went immediately to her, and kneeled before her. The Chinese only touched him thrice, and made the sign of the cross overhim, according to her custom, and at the same moment the cancer vanished;the flesh returned to its natural colour, on the part where the ulcer hadbeen formerly, and Rodriguez found himself as well as if nothing had everailed him. 

Mary Dias was not only blind, but taken with the palsy over half herbody, on the right side of it; so that her arm hung dead from hershoulder, and she had only the use of one leg: despairing of all naturalremedies, she caused herself to be conveyed to Lucy's lodgings. Thehospitable widow kept her in her house for the space of seven days; andwashed her every of those days with the water wherein the medal had beendipt. On the seventh day, she made the sign of the cross over the eyes ofthe patient with the medal itself, and then Dias recovered her sight; herpalsy, in like manner, left her, so that she was able to walk alone tothe church of the Society, where she left her crutches. 

As for Emanuel Gonçalez Figheredo, both his legs, for a long time, hadbeen covered with ulcers, and were become so rotten, that worms werecontinually crawling out of them. The physicians, to divert the humours, put in practice all the secrets of their art, but without effect; on thecontrary, the sinews were so shrunk up on one side, that one leg wasshorter than the other. And for the last addition of misfortunes, Figheredo was seized with so terrible a lask, that, in a man ofthreescore years old, as he was, it was judged mortal. In effect, it hadbeen so, but that he had immediate recourse to the medal of Xavier; hedrank of the water wherein it had been dipped, after which he wasentirely cured both of his ulcers and his disentery. 

But that which was daily seen at Goa, blotted out the memory of thegreatest prodigies which were done elsewhere. The body of the saintperpetually entire, the flesh tender, and of a lively colour, was acontinued miracle. They who beheld the sacred corpse, could scarcelybelieve that the soul was separated from it; and Dias Carvaglio, who hadknown Xavier particularly in his life, seeing his body many years afterhe had been dead, found the features of his face so lively, and everypart of him so fresh, that he could not forbear to cry out, and repeat itoften, "Ah, he is alive!"

The vicar-general of Goa, Ambrosia Ribera, would himself examine, if theinwards were corresponding to the outward appearances. Having thrust hisfinger into the hurt which they gave the saint, when they interred him atMalacca, he saw blood and water issue out of it. The same experimenthappened at another time to a brother of the Society. 

The saint was one day publicly exposed, with his feet bare, at theimportunity of the people, who through devotion petitioned to kiss them. A woman, who passionately desired to have a relick of Xavier, drawingnear, as if it were to have kissed his foot, fastened her teeth in it, and bit off a little piece of flesh. The blood immediately ran in greatabundance out of it; and of so pure a crimson, that the most healthfulbodies could not send out a more living colour. The physicians, whovisited the corpse from time to time, and who always deposed, that therecould be nothing of natural in what they saw, judged, that the bloodwhich came from a body deprived of heat, and issued from a part sodistant from the heart as is the foot, could be no other than the effectof a celestial virtue; which not only preserved all parts of it fromputrefaction, but also caused the humours to flow, and maintained them inthe motion which only life infuses in them. 

So many wonders, which spread through all the East, and were transmittedinto every part of Europe, so moved the heart of Paul V. That he finallyperformed what his predecessor had designed. After a juridical examen ofthe virtues and miracles above-mentioned, he declared beatified FrancisXavier, priest of the Society of Jesus, by an express bull, dated the25th of October, in the year 1619. 

Gregory XV. , who immediately succeeded Pope Paul V. , canonized himafterwards in all the forms, and with all the procedures, which thechurch observes on the like occasions. The ceremony was performed at Romeon the 12th of March, in the year 1622. But as death prevented him frommaking the bull of the canonization, it was his successor Urban VIII. Whofinally accomplished it. 

This bull bearing date the 6th of August, in the year 1623, is an epitomeand panegyric of the miraculous life of the saint. It is there said, "That the new apostle of the Indies has spiritually received the blessingwhich God vouchsafed to the patriarch Abraham, that he was the father ofmany nations; and that he saw his children in Jesus Christ multipliedbeyond 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 thegift of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of miracles, with theevangelical virtues 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 miraculouscures, which were wrought after his decease, it observes those ofGonsalvo Fernandez, Mary Bias, and Emanuel Rodriguez Figheredo. It alsomentions two famous cures, of which we have said nothing. One is of ablind man, who having prayed to God nine days successively, by the orderof Xavier, who appeared to him, instantly recovered his sight. The otherwas of a leper, who being anointed, and rubbed over, with the oil of alamp, which burned before the image of Xavier, was entirely cured. ThePope has added in his bull, "That the lamps which hung before the image, which was venerated at Cotata, often burned with holy-water, as if theyhad been full of oil, to the great astonishment of the heathens. " Theother miracles which we have related, and which are omitted in the bull, are contained in the acts of the process of the canonization. 

Since the time that the Holy See has placed the apostle of the Indies inthe number of the saints, it is incredible how much the public devotionhas every where been augmented towards him. Cities have taken him fortheir patron and protector; altars have been erected, and incessant vowshave been made to him; men have visited his tomb with more devotion thanever; and the chamber wherein he was born, has been converted into achapel, to which pilgrims have resorted in great crowds, from all thequarters of the world. 

For the rest, it was not in vain that they invoked him; and if I shouldtake upon me to relate the miracles which have been lately done throughhis intercession, they would take up another volume as large as this. Neither shall I go about to make a recital of what things were wrought insucceeding years at Potamo, and Naples; but shall content myself to say, that in those places God was pleased to honour his servant by theperformance of such wonders as might seem incredible, if those whichpreceded had not accustomed us to believe all things of St Xavier. 

I shall even forbear to speak of the famous Father Mastrilli, who, beingin the agony of death, was cured on the instant by the saint; and who, going to Japan by the order of the saint himself, to be there martyred, built him a magnificent sepulchre at Goa. It is enough for us to know, that never saint has been, perhaps, more honoured, nor more loved, in thechurch, than St Francis Xavier; and that even the enemies of the Societyof Jesus have had a veneration and tenderness for him. 

But these opinions are not confined to Catholics alone; the very hereticsrevere Xavier, and Baldeus speaks of him in these terms, in his Historyof the Indies: "If the religion of Xavier agreed with ours, we ought toesteem and reverence him as another St Paul; yet, notwithstanding thedifference of religion, his zeal, his vigilance, and the sanctity of hismanners, ought to stir up all good men, not to do the work of Godnegligently; for the gifts which Xavier had received, to execute theoffice of a minister and ambassador of Jesus Christ, were so eminent, that my soul is not able to express them. If I consider the patience andsweetness wherewith he presented, both to great and small, the holy andliving waters of the gospel; if I regard the courage wherewith hesuffered injuries and affronts; I am forced to cry out, with the apostle, Who is capable, like him, of these wonderful things!" Baldeus concludesthe panegyric 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 would have been, one of ours. "

Richard Hackluyt, also a Protestant, and, which is more, a minister ofEngland, commends Xavier without restriction:[1] "Sancian, " says he, "isan island in the confines of China, and near the port of Canton, famousfor the death of Francis Xavier, that worthy preacher of the gospel, andthat divine teacher of the Indians, in what concerns religion; who, aftergreat labours, after many injuries, and infinite crosses, undergone withgreat patience and joy, died in a cabin, on a desart mountain, on thesecond of September, in the year 1552, destitute of all worldlyconveniences, but accumulated with all sorts of spiritual blessings;having first made known Jesus Christ to many thousands of those Easternpeople. "[2] The modern histories of the Indies are filled with theexcellent virtues, and miraculous operations, of that holy man. 

[Footnote 1: "The principal Navigations, Voyages, Discoveries, &c. Of theEnglish, &c. " second part of the second volume. ]

[Footnote 2: The reader is referred to the original English for the wordsthemselves; the translator not having the work by him. ]

Monsieur Tavernier, who is endued with all the probity which a man canhave, without the true religion, makes a step farther than these twohistorians, and speaks like a Catholic: "St Francis Xavier, " says he, "ended in this place his mission, together with his life, after he hadestablished the Christian faith, with an admirable progress in all placesthrough which he passed, not only by his zeal, but also by his example, and by the holiness of his manners. He had never been in China, but thereis great probability, that the religion which he had established in theisle of Niphon, extended itself into the neighbouring countries; andmultiplyed by the cares of that holy man, who by a just title may becalled the St Paul and true apostle of the Indies. "

As to what remains, if Xavier was endued with all apostolical virtues, does it not follow, that the religion which he preached, was that of theapostles? Is there the least appearance, that a man, who was chosen byGod to destroy idolatry and impiety in the new world, should be himselfan idolater and a wicked man, in adoring Jesus Christ upon the altars, ininvoking of the Holy Virgin, in engaging himself to God by vows, indesiring indulgences from the Pope, in using the sign of the cross andholy-water for the cure of the sick, in praying and saying masses for thedead? in fine, is it possible to believe, that this holy man, this newapostle, this second St Paul, continued all his life in the way ofperdition, and, instead of enjoying at this present time the happiness ofthe saints, endures the torments of the damned? Let us then pronounce, concluding this work as we began it, that the life of St Francis Xavieris an authentic testimony of the truth of the gospel; and that we cannotstrictly observe what God has wrought by the ministry of his servant, without a full satisfaction in this point, that the catholic, apostolic, and Roman church, is the church of our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

END OF THE SIXTEENTH VOLUME. 

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