to favour his passage he had the good fortune to arrive safely at the Town The Bishop and the Viceroy conducted him to the Cathedral amidst the acclamations of the People and at the â—oot of the Altar he made a publick profession of his Faith with such expressions of true devotion as melted the Assistants into tears The other Prince whose Conversion gave so much joy to Father Xavier was the King of Trichenamalo who is one of the Soveraigns of Ceylan This King while he was yet an Infant was set upon the Throne and afterwards dispossest by an Usurper when he was but eight years old The Tyrant not content to have taken the Crown from him wou'd also have murther'd him but was prevented by a Prince of the Blood Royal who carri'd him out of his reach being accompany'd by forty Lords of the loyal Party and sought sanctuary for him on the Coasts of Fishery The Paravas receiv'd him with all the charitable compassion which was due to his illustrious Birth to the tenderness of his years and to his misfortunes They also promis'd his attendants to serve him what was in their power But at the same time advis'd them to procure him a more durable and more glorious Crown and withal inform'd them of what they had been taught concerning the adoption of the Sons of God the Kingdom of Heaven and inheritance of the Saints Whether those considerations prevail'd upon the Prince of the blood Royal or that the Spirâ—â— of God wrought powerfully on his heart 〈…〉 to what the Paravas desir'd 〈◊〉 put himself into the hands of Father Henriquez to be instructed The rest of the Lords follow'd his example and were all Baptis'd together with the King who seem'd at his Baptism to have an understanding much above his years The Rulers of the Christians on the Fishing Coast having afterwards made up an Army supply'd with what Ammunitions of War and other Provisions which the Country cou'd furnish pass'd over into the Isle of Ceylan under the conduct of the Prince and the forty Lords but the Usurper was so well establish'd in his possession that the Paravas were forc'd to retire with speed into their own Country As for the young King he was brought to Goa and the Portugueses who took the conduct of him into their hands put him into the Colledge of St. Paul where he was vertuously educated by the Fathers of the Society Xavier prais'd Almighty God to see the great Men of the Earth subjected to the Empire of Iesus Christ by the Ministry of the Children of Ignatius and rejoic'd with his Brethren so much the more because the Bishop of Goa Don Iuan de Albuquerque was so well satisfy'd of their conduct This wise and holy Prelate communicated to the Father a Letter which he had written on that Subject during his absence to the General of the Society The Letter was in Portuguese dated from Cochin Nov. 28. in the year 1550. And is thus translated into our Language The great performances of your Children and Subjects in all the Dominions of the East the holiness of their lives the purity of their Doctrine their Zeal in labouring the reformation of the Portugueses by the Ministry of Gods word and the Sacrament of Penance their unâ—eary'd Travels through all the Kingdoms of India for the conversion of Idolaters and Moors their continual application to study the Tongues of this new World and to teach the Mysteries of Faith and principally at the Cape of Comorin all this obliges me to write to your Reverence and to give testimony of what I have beheld with my own Eyes Indeed the Fathers of your Society are admirable labourers in our Lords Vineyard and are so faithfully subservient to the Bishops that their endeavours for the good of those Souls with which I am intrusted give me hope of remaining the fewer years in Purgatory I dare not undertake the relation of all their particular Actions and if I durst adventure it want time for the performance of it I will only tell you that they are here like Torches lighted up to dissipate the thick darkness wherein these barbarous people were benighted and that already by their means many Nations of Infidels believe one God in three persons For what remains I freely grant them all they require of me for the good of Souls Every one of them partakes with me in my Power and Authority without appropriating any of it to my self and I look upon my self as one of the Members of that holy 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 and therefore is omitted The man of God receiv'd intelligence at the same time that the Ministers of Portugal at Goa had sent word to Lisbonne of the great progress which the Society had made and that in particular the new Viceroy Don Antonio de Norogna had written That the Indies were infinitely satisfy'd with the Iesuites that none cou'd look on the good effects of their labours without blessing the name of God for them and that their Lives were correspondent to their Calling The Saint also was inform'd that the King of Portugal had sent word of all these proceedings to the Pope especially the conversion of the King of Tanor and the Martyrdom of Father Antonio Criminal That he had communicated to his Holiness his intentions of founding many Colledges for the Society to the end the East might be fill'd with Apostolical Labourers and that in the mean time he had ordain'd that all the Seminaries establish'd in the Indies for the education of youth shou'd be put into the hands of the Society in case it was not already done Lastly it was told to Father Xavier that the Viceroy of the Indies and the Captains of the Fortresses had Orders from King Iohn the Third to defray the charges of the Missioners in all their Voyages and that this most religious Prince had discharg'd his Conscience of the care of Souls by imposing it on the Society obliging the Fathers in his stead to provide for the instruction of the Inâ—idels according to the ancient agreement which had been made with the holy See when the Conquests of the East were granted to the Crown of Portugal Amidst so many occasions of joy and satisfaction the ill conduct of Antonio Gomez gave Xavier an exceeding cause of grief Before his Voyage to Iapan he had constituted him Rectour of the Colled of St. Paul according to the intention or rather by the order of Father Simon Rodriguez who had sent him to the Indies three years after his Noviciat and who in relation to these Missions had an absolute authority as being Provincial of Portugal on which the Indies have their dependance Gomez was Master of many eminent qualities which rarely meet in the same person He was not only a
to withstand the Tempest and was often in danger of sinking and the Mariners were constrain'd to make towards the Port of Negapatan from whence they set out which with much ado they at length recover'd The impatience of Father Xavier to visit the Tomb of the Apostle St. Thomas caus'd him to make his Pilgrimage by Land and he travell'd with so much ardour through the rough and uncouth ways that in few days he arriv'd at Meliapor That City is now commonly known by the name of St. Thomas because that bless'd Apostle liv'd so long in it and there suffer'd Martyrdom If we will give credit to the Inhabitants it was once almost swallow'd by the Sea and for proof of this Tradition there are yet to be seen under Water the Ruines of great Buildings The new Town of Meliapor was built by the Portuguese near the Walls there is a Hill which they call'd the little Mount and in it a Grott wherein they say St. Thomas hid himself during the Persecution At the entry of this Cave there is a Cross cut in the Rock and at the foot of the Mountain there arises a Spring the Waters of which are of such vertue that sick people drinking of them are ordinarily cur'd From this small ascent you pass to a higher and much larger Mountain which seems form'd by nature for a lonely contemplative life For on one side it looks upon the Sea and on the other is cover'd with old Trees always green which at once make a fruitful and a pleasing Object Hither St. Thomas retir'd to pray with his Disciples and here it was also that he was slain by a Brachman with the thrust of a Spear The Portuguese who rebuilt Meliapor found on the top of the Mountain a little Chappel of Stone-work all in Ruins They were desirous to repair it 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 was a Cross with Characters grav'd round about it which declar'd That God was born of the Virgin Mary that this God was Eternal that the same God taught his Law to his twelve Apostles and that one of them came to Meliapor with a Palmers Staff in his hand that he built a Church there that the Kings of Malabar Coromandel and Pandi with many other Nations submitted themselves to the Law preach'd by St. Thomas a man holy and penitent This Marble of which we make mention having on it divers stains of Blood the common Opinon is that the Apostle suffer'd Martyrdom upon it Howsoever it be the Marble was plac'd upon the Altar when the Chappel was rebuilt and the first time that a solemn Mass was said there the Cross distill'd some drops of Blood in the sight of all the people which also happen'd many times in the following years on the day whereon his Martyrdom is clebrated When Xavier was come into the Town the Vicar of Meliapor who had heard speak of him as a Successour of the Apostles and a Man sent from God for the Conversion of the Indies came to offer him a Lodging in his House The Father accepted of it because it was adjoining to the Church wherein were kept the Relicks of St. Thomas and that he cou'd easily step from thence by night to consult the Will of God concerning his intended Voyage to Macassar In effect as soon as the Vicar was laid to Sleep for they were lodg'd in the same Chamber Xavier rose as softly as he cou'd and went to the Church through a Church-yard which parted it from the House The Vicar perceiv'd it and advertis'd Xavier that this passage was not over-safe by night and that horrible Phantomes had been often seen in it The Saint believ'd this only said to frighten him and hinder him from rising before day so he continued his usual Prayers but it was not long before he found that the advice was true For the nights ensuing as he pass'd through the Church-yard he saw those dreadful Specters which endeavour'd to have stop'd him yet he sav'd himself from them and even laught at them as vain Illusions The Demons are too proud to bear contempt without revenge when God permits them One night when the Saint was at his Devotions before the Image of the bless'd Virgin they assaulted him in great numbers and beat him so violently that he was all over bruis'd and forc'd to keep his Bed for some days together He said nothing of his adventure to the Vicar but it was discover'd by a young Man of Malabar who lodg'd with the Church and was awaken'd with the noise rising from his Bed he heard the Blows distinctly and what Father Xavier said to the holy Virgin invoking her assistance against the Infernal Powers Insomuch that the Vicar to whom the young Man had related the words which he had heard sometimes repeated them to Xavier with an inoffensive kind of Railery The Servant of God having recover'd some little strength return'd to the Church and there continued all the night What rage soever the Devils had against him they durst no more attempt his person nor so much as endeavour to affright him They only made a noise to distract him in his Prayers and one time disguis'd in the Habit of Canons they counterfeited so well the mid-night Matins that he ask'd the Vicar Who were those Chaâ—ters who sung so admirably But the favours which Xavier receiv'd from Heaven made him large amends for all the injuries of Hell. For though the particulars of what pass'd betwixt God and him were kept secret 't is known at least in regard of the principal affair for which he consulted God that he had an Interiour Light which gave him clearly to understand that he was commanded to pass to the more Southern Islands and to labour in their Conversion The Christian strength with which he found himself animated at the same time caus'd all the dangers which naturally he might apprehend to disappear as is manifest by what he wrote from Meliapor on that occasion to two of his Friends at Goa Paul de Camerin and Iames Borba of whom we have made so frequent mention I Hope that God will conferr many favours on me in this Voyage since through his infinite mercy I have learnt with so much spiritual joy that it is his holy pleasure I shou'd go to those Kingdoms of Macassar where so many Christians have been made in these latter years For what remains I am so much resolv'd on executing what our Lord has reveal'd to me that if I should be wanting on my part I shou'd go to my thinking in direct opposition to his Orders and render my self unworthy of his Favour both in this life and in the next If I cannot find this year any Portuguese Vessel bound for Malacca I will â—mbark my self on any Ship belonging to the Gentils or the Saracens I repâ—se withal so great a confidence in God
which of necessity are to be known at the beginning for the understanding of the History which I write Iapan was anciently one Monarchy The Emperour whom all those Isles obey d was call'd the Dairy and was descended from the Camis who according to the popular Opinion came in a direct line from the Sun. The first 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 in it self was so conspicuous in process of time the name of Sama was added to that of Cubo for Sama in their Language signifies Lord. Thus the General of Iapan came to be call'd Cubo Sama. Above three hundred years ago the Cubo Sama then being beholding the Scepter of Iapan in the hands of a Dairy who was cowardly and esâ—eminate revolted from him and got possession of the Regal Dignity His design was to have reduc'd the whole Estate under his own Dominion but he was only able to make himself Master of Meaco where the Emperour kept his Court and of the Provinces depending on it The Governours of other Provinces maintain'd themselves in their respective Jurisdictions by force of Arms and shook off the yoke as well as he Insomuch that the Monarchy came to be suddenly divided into Sixty six Cantons which all assum d the names of Kingdoms Since these revolutions the King of Meaco took the Title of Cubo Sama and he who had been depriv'd of it still retain'd the name of Dairy and excepting only the Power there was still leâ—t him all the priviledge of Royalty in consideration of the Blood of the Camis his Descendants have had always the same Title and enjoy'd the same advantages This in general was the face of the Government in the times of St. Francis Xavier for some years afterwards Nabunanga one of the Neighbour Kings to him of Meaco defeated the Cubo Sama in a pitch'd Battle and follow'd his blow with so much success that having destroy'd all those petty Princes he reunited the whole Empire of Iapan under his sole obedience As to what concerns a Religion all the Iaponians excepting some few who make 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 of Beasts and many who adore the Devil under dreadful Figures Besides these they have a certain Mysterious Deity whom they call Amida and say this God has built a Paradise of such distance from the Earth that the Souls cannot reach it under a Voyage of three years But the God Xaca is he of whom they report the greatest Wonders who seems to be a counterâ—eit of the true Messiah set up by the Devil himself or by his Ministers For if one wou'd give credit to them Xaca being born of a Queen who never had the carnal knowledge of Man retir'd into the Desarts of Siam and there under-went severe Penances to expiate the Sins of Men that coming out of his Wilderness he assembled some Disciples and preach'd an Heavenly Doctrine in divers Countries 'T is incredible how many Temples have been built to the honour of Amida and Xaca all the Cities are full of them and their magnificence is equal to their number Nor is it easie to imagine how far their superstition carries the Worshippers of these two Deities They throw themselves headlong down from Rocks or bury themselves alive in Caves and 't is ordinary to see Barques full of Men and Women with Stones hanging at their necks and singing the praises of their Gods after which they cast themselves into the Sea. For what remains the Spirit of Lyes has establish'd in Iapan a kind of Hierarchy not unlike that of the Catholique Church For these People have a Chief of their Religion and a kind of Soveraign Priest whom they call Saâ—o He keeps his Court in the Capital City of the Empire and 't is he who approves the Sects who institutes the Ceremonies who Consecrates if I may be allow'd to say so the Tundi who resemble our Bishops and whose principal Function is to ordain the Priests of Idols by conferring on them the power of offering Sacrifice These Priests who are call'd Bonzes part of them living in Desarts the rest in Towns all affect a rigid austerity of manners and are amongst the Iaponneses what the Brachmans 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 his Companions Paul de Sainte Foy whom formerly we call'd Anger went to pay his duty to the King of Saxuma on which Congoxlma is depending and whose Palace is about the distance of six Leagues from it That Prince who had heretofore shewn great favour to him receiv'd him with much humanity and with so much the greater joy because he had believ'd him dead This kind reception gave Paul de Sainte Foy the confidence to petition the King for the pardon of that action which had occasion'd his departure and it was not difficult for him to obtain it The King naturally curious as the Iaponians generally are enquir'd much of him concerning the Indies as what was the nature of the Country and the humour of the People and whether the Portugueses were as brave and as powerful as they were represented by common Fame When Paul had satisfy'd him on these and the like Particulars the discourse fell on the different Religions in the Indies and finally on Christianity which was introduc'd by the Portugueses in India Paul unfolded at large the Mysteries of our Faith and seeing with what pleasure he was heard produc'd a Tablet of the Virgin holding the little Iesus in her arms The Tablet was very curious and Xavier had given it to this Iaponnese that he might shew it as occasion offer'd The sight alone of this excellent Painting wrought so much upon the King that being touch'd with thoughts of Piety and Reverence he sell on his knees with all his Courtiers to honour the Persons therein represented which seem'd to him to have an air that was more than humane He commanded it shou'd be carried to the Queen his Mother She was also charm'd with it and prostrated her self by the same instinct with all the Ladies of her Train to salute the Mother and the Son. But as the Ioponian Women are yet more inquisitive than the men she ask'd more inquisitive than the men she ask'd a thousand questions concerning the Blessed Virgin and our Saviour which gave Paul the desir'd opportunity of relating all the Life of Iesus Christ and this Relation so much pleas'd the Queen that some few days after when he was upon his return to
inward knowledge of the Rules of Civil Life for ask him whether it be not an evil Action to murther a man to despoil him of his Goods to violate his Bed to surprise him by Force or circumvent him by Treachery he will answer without question That nothing of this is to be done Now if this be manifest in a Sâ—lvage without the benefit of Education how much more may it be concluded of men well educated and living in mutual Conversatiâ—n Thâ—n added the holy man it follows that God has not left so many Ages destitute of Knowledge as your Bonza's have pretended By this he gave them to understand that the Law of Nature was a step which led them insensibly to the Christian Law And that a man who liv'd morally well shou'd never fail of arriving to the knowledge of the Faith by ways best known to Almighty God that is to say before his death God wou'd either send some Preacher to him or illuminate his Mind by some immediate Revelation These Reasons which the Fathers of the Church have often us'd on like occasions gave such satisfaction to the Pagans that they found no farther difficulty in that point which had given them so much trouble The Bonza's perceiving that the people preferr'd the Authority of Xavier above theirs and not knowing how to refute their Adversary made a Cabal at Court to lessen the Christians in the good Opinion of the King. They gave him Jealousies of them by decrying their behaviour and saying They were men of Intrigue Plotters Enemies of the publick safety and dangerous to the person of the King Insomuch that Oxindono who had been so favourable to them all on the sudden was turn'd against them 'T is true that as the Iaponneses value themselves above all things in the inviolable observation of their word when they have once ingag'd it he durst not revoke that solemn Edict which he had publish'd in favour of the Christians but to make it of no effect he us'd the Faithful with great severity even so far as to seize upon their Goods and began with men of the first rank in his Dominions At the same time the Bonza's grown insolent and swell'd with this new turn of Tyde writ Letters and Libels full of invectives against Xavier They said the was a vagabond Beggar who not knowing how to maintain himself in India was come to Iapan to live on Charity They endeavour'd above all things to make him pass for a notorious Magician who through the power of his Charms had forc'd the Devil to obey him and one who by the assistance of his Familiars perform'd all sorts of Prodigies to seduce the People But neither this alteration in the King nor these calumnies of the Bonza's hinder'd the progress of the Gospel The number of Christians amounted in few days to three thousand in Amanguchi and they were all so servent that not one of them but was ready not only to forgoe his Fortunes but also to shed his Blood for the defence of his Faith it the King shou'd be carry'd on to persecute the growing Church with Fire and Sword as it was believ'd he wou'd The Reputation of the Apostle was also increas'd in spight of the false reports which were spread concerning him and his name became so famous in the neighbouring Kingdoms that all the people round about were desirous to see the European Bonza Xavier had of late some thoughts of returning to the Indies there to make a choice himself of such Labourers as were proper for Iapan and his design was to come back by China the Conversion of which Country had already inflam'd his Heart For discoursing daily with such Chinese Merchants as were resident at Amanguchi he had entertain'd a strong Opinion that a Nation so polite and knowing wou'd easily be reduc'd to Christianity And on the other side he had great hopes that when China shou'd be once converted Iapan wou'd not be long after it at least the more unbelieving sort of Iaponneses often said That they wou'd not alter their Religion till the Chineses had led the way Let him carry his Gospel to that flourishing and vast Empire and when he had subdu'd it to Jesus Christ then they wou'd also think of turning Christians In the mean time a Portuguese Vessel commanded by Edward de Gama arriv'd at the Kingdom of Bungo and news came to Amanguchi that this Ship which was sail'd thither from the Indies wou'd be on its way back again in a month or two Xavier to learn what truth there was in this Report sent Matthew to those parts who was one of the Iaponian Converts which accompany'd him and gave him a Letter directed to the Captain and Merchants of the Vessel The Saint desir'd them to send him word who they were from whence bound and how soon they intended to return After which he told them That his Intentions were to return to the Indies and that he shou'd be glad to meet them in case they were dispos'd to repass thither In conclusion he desir'd them earnestly that they wou'd borrow so much time from their Affairs of Merchandise as to think a little on their Souls and declar'd to them That all the Silks of China whatever gain they might afford them cou'd not countervail the least spiritual profit which they might make by a daily examination of their Consciences The Ship was at the Port of Figen about fifty Leagues from Amanguchi and within a League of Fucheo which some call Funay the Metropolis of Bâ—ngo The Portugueses were overjoy'd to hear news of Father Xavier They sent him an account of theirs and withal advertis'd him that in the compass of a month at farthest they shou'd set Sail for China where they had left three Vessels laden for the Indies which were to return in Ianuary and that Iames Pereyra his familiar friend was on board of one of them Matthew came back in five days time and besides the Letters which he brought the Father from the Captain and the principal Merchants he gave him some from Goa by which the Fathers of the Colledge of St. Paul gave him to understand that his presence in that place was of absolute necessity for the regulation of Affairs belonging to the Society Then Xavier without losing time after he had recommended the new Christians to the care of Cosmo de Torrez and Iohn Fernandez whom he left at Amanguchi put himself upon his way towards Mid-september in the year 1551. He might have made this Voyage easily by Sea but he lov'd rather to go by Land and that on Foot according to his Custom He took for his Companions Matthew and Bernard two Christian Lords wou'd be also of the party Their Goods had lately been confiscated as a punishment for changing their Religion but the Grace of Iesus Christ which was to them instead of all render'd their Poverty so precious that they esteem'd themselves richer than they had been
of them than that they were holy and Misterious Even sleep it self had not the power to interrupt those tender aspirations and all the night long he was heard to say O my Iesus my Souls delight or other expressions as full of tenderness which shew'd the inclination of his heart Being out of his sences by the violence of a burning Feaver both at Mozambique and at Sancian he spoke of God and to God with more â—ervency than ever insomuch that his Delirium seem'd only to be a redoubling of his love He was so sensible of the interests of the Divine Majesty that being touch'd to the quick with the enormity of those crimes that were committed in the new World he writ to a Friend of his in these very terms I have sometimes an abhorrence of my life and wâ—u'd rather chuse to dâ—e than to behâ—ld so many outrages done to Jesus Christ without being able either to hinder or to repair them For the rest that he might always keep alive the fire of Divine Love he had incessantly before his eyes the sufferings of our Lord. At the sight of the wounds and of the blood of a Crucify'd God he fell into sighs and tears and languishments and extasies of love He was consum'd with the zeal of returning his Saviour life for life for Martyrdom was his predominant passion and his sentiments are a continâ—al proof of it It sometimes happens through a singular favour of the Divine Goodness says he â—n one of his Letters that for the service of God we run our selves into the â—â—zâ—rd of death But we ought to bear in mind that we are born mortal and that a Christian is bound to desire nothing more than to lay down his Life for Jesus Christ. From thence proceeded that abundant joy which he conceiv'd when the faithful pour'd out their blood for Faith and he wrote to the Fathers at Rome on occasion of the Massacre of the Baptis'd Mâ—narois We are oblig'd to rejoyce in Jesus Christ that Martyrs aâ—e not wanting not even in our decaâ—ing times and to give him thanks that seeing so few pâ—rsâ—ns make the right use â—f his grace for their Salvation he permits that the number of the happy shall be compleated through the cruelty of men Admirable nâ—ws says he elâ—ewhere is lately come from the Molucca's they who labour there in the Lords Vineyard suffer exceedingly and are in continual hazard of their lives I imagine that the Isles del Moro will give many Martyrs to our Society and they will soon be call'd the Isles of Martyrdom Let our Brethren then who desire to shed their blood for Jesus Christ be of good courage and anticipate their future joy For behold at length a Seminary of Martyrdom is ready for them aâ—d they will have wherewithal to satisfie their longings The same love which inspir'd him with the desire of dying for our Saviour made him breath after the sight and the possession of God. He spoke not but of Paradise and concluded almost all his Letters with wishing there to meet his Brethren But his Charity was not confin'd to words and thoughts it shone out in his works and actions and extended it self to the service of his Neighbour Xavier seem'd to be onely born for the relief of the distress'd He lov'd the sick with tenderness and to attend them was what he call'd his pleasure He sought out not only wherewithal to feed them but to feast them And for that purpose begg'd from the Portugueses the most exquisite Regalio's which were sent them out of Europe He was not asham'd of going round the Town with a Wallet on his back begging linnen for the wounded Souldiers he dress'd their hurts and did it with so much the more affection when they were the most putrifi'd and loathsome to the smell If he happen'd to meet with any Beggar who was sinking under sickness he took him in his arms bore him to the Hospital prepar'd his Remedies and dress'd his meat with his own hands Though all the miserable were dear to him yet he assisted the Prisoners after a more particular manner with the Charities which he gather'd for them And in Goa which was the common Tribunal of the Indies he employ'd one day in the week in doing good to such who were overwhelm'd with Debts If he had not wherewithal to pay off their Creditors entirely he mollify'd them at least with his civilities and oblig'd them sometimes to release one moyety of what was owing to them The poor with one common voice call'd him their Father and he also regarded them as his Children Nothing was given him but what pass'd through his hands into theirs who were members of Iesus Christ even so far as to deprive himself of necâ—ssaries He heap'd up as I may call it a Treasury of Alms not onely for the subsistance of the meaner sort who are content with little but for the maintenance of honourable Families which one or two Shipwracks had ruin'd all at once and for the entertainment of many Virgins of good parentage whom poverty might necessitate to an infamous course of living The greatest part of the miracles which on so many occasions were wrought by him was onely for the remedy of publick calamities or for the cure of particular persons and it was in the same Spirit that being one day greatly busied in hearing the Confessions of the faithful at Goa he departed abruptly in appearance out of the Conâ—essional and from thence out of the Church also transported with some inward motion which he cou'd not possibly resist after he had made many turns about the Town without knowing whither he went he happen'd upon a Stranger and having tenderly embrac'd him conducted him to the Colledge of the Society There that miserable creature whom his despair was driving to lay violent hands upon himself having more seriously reflected on his wicked resolution pull'd out the Halter which he had secretly about him and with which he was going to have hang'd himself and gave it into the Father's hands The Saint to whom it was reveal'd that extream misery had reduc'd the unhappy wretch to this dismal melancholly gave him comfort retain'd him in the Colledge for some time and at length dismiss'd him with a round sum of money sufficient for the entertainment of his Family He recommended without ceasing his Friends and Benefactours to our Lord he pray'd both day and night for the prosperity of King Iohn the third of Portugal whom he call'd the true Protectour of all the Society But the Persecutors of the Saint had a greater share in his devotions than any others and at the same time when he was treated so unworthily by the Governour of Malacca he daily offer'd for him the Sacrifice of the Mass. He was us'd to say that to render good for evil was in some sort a Divine Revenge and he reveng'd himself in that very sort on the Governour of Comoriâ—e which in one of his