â—auerius thinking that he could not haue a fitter occasion to wreake his malice vpon him vsed many deâ—eiptfull stratagemes against him in this busines For when they Infidels damaunded of the Idoll the reason â—hy the Pilots daughter was drowned it was answeâ—â—ed that if Emanuell the Christian had dyed in the â—umpe the maid should not haue bin cast away in the 〈◊〉 Francis presently perceiued that by this answere 〈◊〉 his company were aymed at to make them odiâ—â—s both to the Pilot and the marriners and withall â—â—und himselfe to be oftentimes much tempted inteâ—â—ourly by that horrible beast But calling vpon the â—â—uine assistance he did not only defeate all the plotts 〈◊〉 this most cruell Enemy but freed himselfe also froÌ„â—he imminent dangers in which he was amongst â—hose Ethnickes There was nothing which more cooled the maliâ—â—e of the Deuil and the marriners agaynst him then â—is couragious mynd Neyther did this combat â—â—asse without some fruite vnto Francis For by his â—wne peril he experienced what horrible terrours the â—iuell striketh into others when he is permitted â—ndeth opportunity Concerning which matter there 〈◊〉 extant a notable Epistle of Xauerâ—us to the Society at â—oa the contents whereof are That there is no surer â—ay to defeate the vayne affrights of the Deuill then â—y wholy distrusting in our selues putting our coÌ„fidence in God with a couragious and vndaunted â—art to contemne the feeble assaults and threats of that Monster and by depending vpon the diuine assistance to keep our selues with all the courage we can from being afrayd For in such a case and at such a tyme nothing ought more to be feared then diffidence and distrust in God seeing it is manifest that our Enemy cannot with all his forces dovs any hurt vnlesse God permit him Xauerius hauing thus ouercome the Diuell had now a new combat to fight with men When they were arriued at Cantonium a hauen Towne of China the Pilot and marriners consulted againe with the Idoll by lottes receiuing no comfortable answere from the Diuell concerning their nauigation into Iaponia cast ancker resolued to keep their winter there Which Xauerius perceyuing cast about to help himselfe And first he humbly besought the Pylot to stand to his promisses then when intreatyes could do no good falling from requests vnto threats he layd before him the losse of his pledges and the displeasure of the Gouernor of Malaca the Portugeses to whome he had giuen his word so as at last the Pilot being somwhat moued with what was obiected agaynst him he weighed ancker and began to sayle forward But this coÌ„stancy in him was no more then his fidelity For a litle while after the perfidious Ethnicke fell agayne into his former humour of wintering in those coasts Which perfidiousnesse of his would infallibly haue hindred Xauerius iourney had not the diuine Prouidence turned the Pilots course another way The ship now sayled amaine with a prosperous gale towards Cinceum a hauen towne of China where the â—ylot intended to harbour all the winter for that the â—â—mmer was now almost at an end when as vpon the â—ddaine they meete with a Pinnace which telleth theÌ„â—at the port of Cinceum was much pestred with Pyâ—tes The Pylot being greatly affrighted with this â—ewes called his witts together and began to thinke â—hat was best to be done To go backe agayne to CaÌ„â—nium he could not because the wind was ful agaynst 〈◊〉 and withall lay very right for Iaponia Wherfore â—aking his benefit of necessity he resolued to follow 〈◊〉 wind And so in despite both of the Pilot Marriâ—ers the Diuell himselfe the ship was constrayned 〈◊〉 hould on her course into Iaponia whither at last 〈◊〉 arriued vpon the very day of the Assumption of â—â—ur B. Lady more by the fauour of God and his Hoâ—â— Mother then of the wind or weather Now when â—s they could not well reach to other Hauens as they â—esired they arriued with their ship at Cangoxima a Citty in the Kingdom of Saxuma and the very Counâ—ry of Paul of the Holy Fayth There Francis together with his companions is very courteously entertayned â—oth by Paules friends the rest of the inhabitants â—ea euen of the Magistrates theÌ„selues whose arriuall â—eing diuulged among the people euery one as it ofâ—en hapneth ran with admiration to behold the new Priests that were come from Portugall OF THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS XAVIER THE IIII. BOOKE He inquireth of the Manners and Religions of the Iaponians CHAP. I. IAPONIA is a Country of the vtmost East and bordereth vpon the furthest part of Asia It consisteth altogeather of Ilandes diuided by strait and narrow armes of the sea Concerning the extent and bignes thereof as much as can be obserued by a Portughese skillfull in such matters who hath lately measured the same we haue for certayne that it is extended in length about 900. miles and in forme not much vnlike to Italy except that Italy ioyneth to the Conâ—inent is almost equall vnto it in greatnes On the North it lyeth towards the furthest part of Scythia which we call Tartary on the west it bendeth towards China and on the East it is opposite to New Spayne â—eing distant from thence lesse then 500. miles From â—oa it is well neere 2000. leagues It conteynes sixty â—ix Kingdomes and which is very strange the whole Nation vseth but one language that not hard to be â—earned But all Iaponia by reason of three Ilands bigger then the rest is diuided into three partes which â—aking their names from the greater Ilands haue maâ—y of the lesser belonging vnto them That part which of all the rest is the greatest without comparison and furthest distant from India is properly called Iapon from whence the rest of the country taketh its name This Iland is in length 750. miles but the breadeth is various yet for the most part it is about 180 miles ouer There be in it 53. Kingdomes which certainly can be of no great extent For euen to Lords Princes of seuerall Cittyes they giue the Title of King of whome many abound in wealth especially those who haue the Dominion ouer many Kingdomes Heerein is scituated Meaco which was anciently the head Citty of all Iaponia but now of many Kingdomes only The next vnto Iapon in greatnes and wealth is Ximus which is sayd to be 150. miles in length and in breadeth 70. This lying neerest of all the other vnto China and lesse distant from India is deuided into nine Kingdomes whereof Saxuma is one and where as we sayd before Xauerius first arriued The third Iland lying betweene both these is called Xicus or Xicocus little more then halfe as great as Ximus and conteyneth only foure Kingdomes This whole country being altogether vnknown to former ages was discouered by the Portugeses who being by tempest of weather driuen thither began by meanes of traffique to haue correspondence with them some ten
Religion brought out of another world might not be diuulged in that Royall Citty To whome the Bonzy being now taught by the late disgrace he had suffred to vse more temper answered calmely that the reason was easy to be giuen because there was nothing more hurtfull then that to their ancient Religion to the Common-wealth and to the whole order of the Bonzies who both had alwayes did serue the Gods after a holy pure maÌ„ner wherof there were extant most certayne approbations and testimonies of the Kings of Iaponia so that it were impiety in they Iaponeses to seeke to saue their â—oules by other meanes then had byn vsed by their â—orefathers predecessours for so many ages Then Francis being by the King willed to answere â—nto this desired that there might be some order â—ethod obserued in this disputation Wherfore he reâ—uested the King that seeing the Bonzies were come â—f their owne accord to oppugne him he would be â—leased to command Ficarondono to declare in particular whatsoeuer either he or the other Bonzies miâ—â—â—ked of that which he taught that so he might anâ—were vnto them all And moreouer he intreated for â—he auoiding of contention that that might be ratified and held for good which his Maiesty with the greater part of the arbitratours should agree vpon touching matters in the present coÌ„trouersy The King granted Francis his request and commanded that all matters should be so carryed To which the Bonzy also agreed Then Ficarondono demaundes of him why he being a Priest of a strange CouÌ„try inueighed against the Iaponians most sacred Gods Because quoth he I iudge them vnworthy of so glorious and diuine a Title which the rule of right reason hath made proper only to him who by nature is Eternall and Immortall and being the Author of all things made both heauen and earth wherof he is sole Lord and gouernour For such is the infinite power maiesty of God that hardly can the wit of man by imaginatioÌ„ or thought coÌ„prehend it Wherfore these few things which heere we see with our eyes the motions of the celestiall globes and starres the certaine and fixed courses of times corne fruite and other things proclaime him to be the only true and proper God who gouerneth ruleth this world which himself made As for Xacas Amidas Giron and others whome you hold for Gods looke but into your owne Chronicles and Monuments and you will find them to haue bin men very rich and potent indeed but yet mortall as we are This answere which Xauerius gaue caused in the Iudges a soft whispering among themselues wherby they declared that it pleased them well Wherupon when the Bonzy was ready to oppose him the King bad him go to something else for that was already iudged for good by the Arbitrators whose sentence they were to stand vnto He therfore demandeth of Francis Why he disallowed of the Bonzies bills of Exchange wherby the dead were prouided of mony in heauen specially seeing by that meanes they who departed out of this lyfe became rich in heauen on a suddaine who otherwise would haue remained poore and beggarly To this Xauerius replyed that their riches who went to heauen consisted not in the Bonzies Bils but in the Merit of good workes And those workes were good which proceeded from right reason and true Religion being without question gratefull and acceptable to that Eternall God who giueth rewards to euery one according to their merit As for Religion there was none true pure but that of the Christians whereby sincerely and piously the true God is worshipshed the which is also called Christian beâ—â—use Christ the sonne of God deliuered it vnto men â—or Christ quoth he being made Man for mans sake â—â—ought downe that excellent doctrine from heauen â—ho being also glorious in miracles replenished the â—rts of men with heauenly precepts and lastly for â—ans saluation suffred death washing away their sinâ—es with his owne bloud Whosoeuer therfore being â—aptized according to the Christian rites do truly â—â—ncerely obserue the coÌ„mandments of Christ in this â—ortal life shall at last be admitted into heauen to an â—uerlasting life abounding with all happines Neither is the Christian Religion so niggard and â—inching as the Bonzies is it shutting out neyther â—oore people nor women from heauen so that they â—iue and dye as Christians ought to do and yet the Bonzies either out of niggardnesse or superstitioÌ„ will not affoard them any entrance into blisse wherby it is easily seene that the Bonzies course of life aymeth rather at their owne profit and commodity then at truth of Religion and that they respect their owne â—gaine more then the honour of God or saluation of â—oules For seeing God who is Lord of Heauen and earth hath created women as well as men poore as well as rich he will without partiality haue them also to be saued and blessed if they leade a good and vertuous life Heere now the King and the other arbitratours approued the discourse of Francis for very good whereat the Bonzies were extremely grieued and ashamed it galling them to the hart to depart the field with the losse of the victory by the iudgement both of King and his Nobility For with this the disputation ended notwithstanding that their obstinacy in defending what they had once sayd was not yet ouercome After this other Bonzies gallant fellowes both for learning and eloquence that they might not seeme wholly vanquished set againe a fresh vpon Xauerius As he was therfore speaking to the people they beganne to presse him with very many and different questions This businesse lasted for aboue fiue dayes all which time the King was neuer absent either to benefit himselfe by the disputations or else by his authority to defend Francis of whome he had vndertaken the protection hauing not the patience to see the Bonzies with more obstinacy then truth impugne his answeres which were very cleare and according to reason so as when the Bonzies ran crying out and rushing togeather in throngs vpon Xauerius he caused them to be kept backe telling them aloud that if any one would try whether a Religion were according to reason he should not himselfe be void of reason as they all seemed to be And with this rising vp he tooke Francis by the hand and with his Nobles following him led him to his lodging which was not indeed more gracefull and glorious for Xauerius and the Christian Religion then disgracefull ignominious for the BoÌ„zies who vpon this their new ignominy heaped vp also new rage in their spitefull minds Wherfore like men out of their wits with fury they fell openly a roaring out and with lowd voices to wish that Thunder from heauen would consume 〈◊〉 King to ashes seeing he made lesse account of his â—ncestours Religion confirmed by authority of so â—any Kings then of a strange and infamous â—ect â—ad a more sleight esteeme of the
and honour and vpon which occasion they were intituled the Army of Iesus Christ encouraged them willed them to imagine they saw Xauerius the Authour of that pious warre praying for their safety and victory He put them also in mind not to forget what the good Father had charged them to do to wit that behoulding Christ the sonne of God crucified for them they should neglecting their owne liues couragiously vndertake the combat for his glory That they should remember how they had twice bound themselues by oath to Christ the King of Kings and twice of their owne accord vowed their liues for his sake That certainly they who were to fight that religious battaile for God should not want his diuine assistaÌ„ce And that Xauerius Prophecy promising them an infallible victory would proue true The souldiars being with these words set on fire cried out al together that they were prepared to reÌ„der their liues for Christ our Lord for whose sake they had more then once vowed the same And remembring Xauerius charge they expected his assistance and promise in the battaile In the meane tyme the enemies Nauy being set in battayle array came downe the riuer with the streame and the bankes and shores on both sydes sounded forth with horrible showtings confused noise of drummes The first squadron was led by the Admiral of the Barbarians fleete guarded on ech syde with foure Turkish galleys Then followed six other Galleyes with nine rankes of ships and all abundantly appointed not only with great ordinaÌ„ce but also with plenty of small shot The admirall therfore of the Portugheses as soone as the first rancke of the enemy was discouered maketh towards them presently at vnawares with three ships commanding the rest to follow as they were ordred for the battaile Whereupon the Barbarians whether for want of skill or rather by Gods ordinance sayling on headlong with fury discharged all their great shot agaynst the Portugheses before they could so much as reach them so as the bullets fell all into the water without doing any harme But the Portughese guÌ„ner shooting a very great bullet out of the greatest Ordinance stroke the Admira'l of the Aâ—enians so flat that preseÌ„tly he sunke drowned her Which was not only a presage of a future victory but rather the conclusion of the combat it selfe For the Turkish Galleys staying their course left off the fight and began to help the Captaine other principall men swimming to saue themselues which can-sed both their owne and the fleets whole ouerthrow For the Turkes had placed their galleys ouerthwart the riuer so had takeÌ„ vp a good part of the same to receiue in those that could swim vnto them not once thinking of the danger themselues were in God had so besotted them The six other Gallyes which followed the first squadron comming downe with the streame ranne vpon the former that lay athwart and all the rest of the nine rancks which came after fell against those which went before became so intangled one with another so dashed togeather ech one striuing to get free from his fellow by force that one would haue thought there had byn a battayle among themselues The Portugheses perceiuing manifestly that Gods hand was in this businesse fayled not to follow the victory which was thus offered them from heauen Wherefore presently calling out alowd vpon the soueraigne name of IESVS they began to grapple with their enemyes and on euery side to play vpon them with their ordinaÌ„ce lying there so entaÌ„gled hindred one by another that they were not able to styr Thâ—ice did they send out with all the violence they could the shot of all their great ordinaÌ„ce vpon their ships no one shot was made in vayne nor was the Enemy able to resist or make any vse at al of their owne artillery being so thrust vp togeather and this without any losse to the Portugheses that assaulted theÌ„ Now within a little while they had sunke nine of the Enemies ships battered many more to pieces with no small slaughter of the barbarians Wherupon the rest were put into so great a feare that most of them as well rowers as souldiars throwing away their weapons desperatly cast theÌ„selues into the swift streame thinking saue their liues by swimming but it vayne For being carried away with the violence of the water they were all swallowed vp by the swift windings of the streame not so much as one remayning aliue to carry newes of so great an ouerthrow The Portugheses hauing obtayned so noble a victory without so much as any drop of bloud shâ—d on their side after they had giuen harty thankeâ— to God whose present assistance they had found in this battaile began to gather vp the spoyles of their enemies where the prey was not inferiour to their glory For they seized vpon the whole Nauy and tooke all the ships except those ten which were sunke They also tooke about 300. pieces of artillery besides the great abundance of armour and all other pillage And they vnderstood by some of those whome they had before taken prisoners that there dyed in that conflict to the nuÌ„ber of 4000. barbarians Among whome were many nobles of the King of Acenians Army besids many Turkes Ianizaries that had ioyned themselues vnto him The report of this notable victory was presently bruited all ouer that country whereupon the King of â—erâ—en who through feare of the Acenians had fâ—ed â—nto places of more security being animated by this ouerthrow of his Enemies began to take courage â—nd on the suddain setting vpon a certaine garrison of the Acenians which stood neere to the riuer Perlen â—lew the guard thereof destroyed it and made pillage of all that he found therein The memory of which benefit although receyued from those that thought not of it wrought so much with that Barbarous King that he presently came vnto the Generall of the Portugheses and with great submission and many humble thankes acknowledged him for the restorer of his liberty in recompence therof of his owne accord offereth himselfe Tributary to the King of Portugall This was added to the victory which was gotten by Francis sollicitatioÌ„ This done Saa the Generall of the Portughese fleet chose out from all the enemies nauy only 25. ships to carry along with him to Malaca setting all the rest on fire as being eyther battered or otherwise not fit for seruice so returneth ioyfully loaden no lesse with pillage then with glory CHAP. XI Xauerius foretelleth to the Malacensians the obtayning of the forsayd victory vvhereof he had byn the sollicitour WHIâ—ST these things were doing which was the space of six weekes Francis shewed inuincible constancy in praying to God for the victory He did not only by himselfe in priuate craue the fauourable assistance of the diuine Goâ—odnes but did publikely also incite the people to do the same For twice
become Christians and many also by seeing the truth were drawen to imbrace the fayth of Christ when as the Bonzies which thing Francis had long for seene hindred the course of the Ghospell For when they perceaued that by bringing in and increase of Christian Religion the respect both to their Gods and their owne authority came to be set at naught they began in good earnest to be all on fire with rage anger And so thrust forward as well with madnes as by the Deuill himselfe they come in great troopes to their king telling him very resolutely and plainly That he should looke very warily what he did and should prouide both for his owne safety and of the common good whilest it was in his power If he did permit his subiects to entertayne strange Religious their Countrey Gods would certaynly become a mocking stocke euery where and if they were once incensed what could he expect els but that Cangoxima and his whole kingdome would within a while be vtterly ouerthrowne Did not he see that the Christian Religion was wholy repugnaÌ„t to that of Iaponia how it lost euery day so much as the Christian Religion gayned Neyther could he be ignoraÌ„t that where strange ceremonies should be preferred before those of their owne couÌ„try there would be caused extreme sorrow to the country Gods And certaynely it was a lesse fault for the people to offend therein then for the King to winke at others offences The slower that Heauen was in punishing the more enraged would the wrath thereof be when it came For no doubt but the first founders of the Iaponian Religion would be reuenged of Cangoxima for so great a disgrace and that both he his kingdome would be vtterly destroyed for the impiety of a few Wherefore if he had any respect or reuerence of his Country ceremonies or Gods it were wisedome to looke eyther for their fauour or stand in feare of their anger The King being stroken with this speach of the Bonzies being also out of hope of commercement with the Portugheses published presently an Edict or Proclamation prohibiting vnder payne of imprisoment death that all men should keep their CouÌ„try Religion that heerafter none should become Christians But Xauerius hoping euery day that times might grow better calmer tooke great care in looking to his yong flocke And all the rest of his tyme which he did not imploy therin he was accustomed to bestow vpon God with whome he conuersed more then with men esteeming such diuine conferences to be not only an incouragement to vertue but a comfort also in the time of persecution and labour He therfore being a stranger in a Barbarous Citty and which was wholy bent against him endured with wonderfull quiet of mind many and grieuous miseries as well of hungar and cold as of other extreeme difficulties But hauing passed a whole yeare in these labours incommodities when he perceiued there was small or no hope left for increase of the Ghospell at Cangoxima he resolued to depart from thence to some other place Wherfore bidding farewell to his Neophytes he left the protection of them to Paul of the holy Faith togeather with Cosmas Turianus and Iohn Fernandez raysed vp with new hopes intended to passe into the kingdome of Figua whither now the Portugheses had resorted for traffique It is incredible to be spoken what aboundance of teares the new Christians shed vpon Francis his departure from them for al did beare him extraordinary affection as well for many other respects as chiefly for his singular sanctity of life Wherfore weeping in lamentable manner calling him Maister Guide and Father they tooke at last their leaues with infinite thankes for the great paynes he had taken in shewing them the way to eternall saluation There were well-â—eere 800. Neophytes so well instructed that though â—ey were within a few months after bereaued of Paulâ—eir â—eir maister yet they perseuered euery one of them 〈◊〉 the Christian faith seauen whole yeares without â—â—y other guide vntill some of the Society came thiâ—er againe The kingdome of Figua is in that Iland of Iaponiaâ—hich â—hich as we sayd is called Ximus In this Kingâ—ome there is a towne called Firandum about â—00 â—iles from Cangoxima whither he repayed and was â—ourteously entertayned by the Portugheses and by â—heir meanes also by the King himself with whome â—emayning for some dayes he brought well nigh an â—00 of the Cittizens to the faith of Christ And although he repented not himselfe of the paines which he had taken amongst the Portugheses and those of Firandum for he had in few dayes made more Christians in Firandum then he had done in Cangoxima in many monthes yet hauing greater matters in hand and committing the charge of the Neophytes to Cosmas Turianus and taking Iohn Fernandez with him he passeth ouer into the Iland of Iapon intending to go to Meaco But vnderstanding by those who were experienced in those parts that Amangucium a Towne of good note lay in his way he presently goeth thither to sound out and try the disposition and incâ—â—nation of the King of that Country Amangucium is a very ample and famous sea Towne scituated in that part of Iaponia which as we said is properly called Iapon For there the King of that Country hath his Royall seate who being very wealthy potent striueth for the Empire with the King of Meaco who is accounted the greatest King of all the rest That towne of Amangucium according to the fashion of that country is built of tymber conteyning in it to the number of 10000. families and is distant from Firandum almost 300. miles As soone therfore as Xauerius came thither he found very many of the Nobility and more of the vulgar sort desirous to know the Christian Religion wherof they had long since heard many things by report He therfore obserued this order that twice euery day at the corners of streetes and in crosse wayes before a great concourse of people he explicated the Ghospel of Christ out of a written paper for he had not yet gotten the Iaponian language perfectly yet all did not with the like prosperous successe giue eare vnto the word of God many did indeed hearken very willingly thereto but more contemned the same some also laughed thereat in skornefull manner In so much that when Xauerius went along in the steetes a great company of boyes and baser people followed and mocked him as though he had byn out of his wits repeating also in a scoffing manner many words of the sacred mysteryes and Christian lawes which he had read vnto him All which things he bare patiently ioyfully not considering so much the reproach as the cause thereof so as he did much more good by his patient suffering then by words For the wiser sort of his auditours seeing playnly that he was no foole admired at his singular patience and quietnesse of mynd in the
excessiue ioy that euen the memory â—f Xauerius who first of all brought the Ghospel into â—aponia might also seeme heerin to triumph Yet was there one thing which did not a little â—ouble Xauerius mind for that he had wrought so â—â—all good amongst the Nobility of Iaponia whose â—â—thority euer beareth great sway among the people â—nd that neuer a one of them had receiued his wholsome counsayles That which most hindred this businesse was the great authority of the Chineses from whome the Iaponians had receaued their Religion which the Bonzies of Bungo and Amangucium commonly vsed for their starting hole when they were ouerpressed by Xaucrius saying If the Christian Religion were true why did not the Chineses approue of it Moreouer the King of Bungo his example was no small blocke in their way who being very famous both for prudence and learning seemed in his iudgment to disallow therof all that tyme because he did not imbrace it When Francis therfore saw that the Iaponians could not be won to submit their vnderstanding to the true Faith vnlesse the superstition of the Chineses were first ouerthrowne he resolued to lay his battery to the principall Fort it selfe with great hope and confidence that if he could once draw the Chineses to the standart of Christ the Iaponians would easily follow their example OF THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS XAVIER THE V. BOOKE Intending to passe into China he determineth first to returne into India CHAP. I. THE Confines of China are distant from Iaponia where the sea is narrowest not aboue 200. miles This kingdome in the continent is far the greatest peaceablest of all the East It is a Countrey inferiour to none for number of goodly wealthy Cittyes and Townes replenished not only with store and plenty of people and all other things but also with excellent wits and liberall sciences It is ruled by one sole Monarch whose becke all do obay And certayne it is that there is not any Prince in the whole world who hath eyther his subiects or officers more at command then â—e The King himself attendeth rather to moderation in his gouernement then Power ruling wholy by the aduise of the Senate according to the lawes of the Kingdome You would thinke it to be rather a Commonwealth then a Kingdome so great a sway doth counsayle and equity beare therein The people of the Country in fauour are like to the Iaponians white of complexion and ingenious but not so much giuen to warre As for the Bonzies the Priests of their Gods they are of litle or no reputation and esteeme amongst theÌ„ for that the opinion of their sanctity is long since worne out of date There is almost no Nation more apt then they to receyue the Christian Religion were it not that Luxury and the craft of the Diuel did hinder the same For by Sathans meanes who is there euen afrayd of himselfe the whole country is so kept as it were locked vp that it affoardeth no entrance at all to Preachers of the Ghospell it being enacted by the most ancient Lawes of the Realme that all strangers whatsoeuer be excluded excepting only the Embassadours of Princes In so much that it is a death for any one to come thither without commaund from the King Xauerius vnderstanding this began to thinke how he mightworke himselfe in amongst them And it came to his mynd to returne agayne into India there to deale with the Viceroy and Bishop of Goa concerning the sending of an Embassage to the King 〈◊〉 the China and so he going as companion to the Emâ—ssadour when he had gotten entrance might bring 〈◊〉 the Ghospell amongst the Chineses And because so 〈◊〉 any People and Prouinces were gouerned by the â—â—mmand of one King it seemed as an euident token â—oÌ„ God that the propagation of ReligioÌ„ there would 〈◊〉 the more easy Wherefore he was not out of hope â—â—t that as it had in tymes past happened in the Roâ—â—an Empire Religion begining with the King himâ—â—â—fe who was head of the whole Country it might 〈◊〉 conueyed to all the rest of the Prouinces of China 〈◊〉 members of the same Kingdome He had now remayned two whol yeares in Iaponia â—â—d had not only vnited many to the flocke of Christ 〈◊〉 the chiefe kingdomes therof but procured places â—â—so of abode for those of the society when as he begaÌ„ 〈◊〉 thinke of returning into India Besides the cause â—â—herof we now spake of procuring an Embassage to â—â—e sent into China the sollicitude care of his owne â—â—ociety inuited him also home not that he was so â—â—uch troubled for the great distance of place from â—â—em or for any longing desyre he had to see them â—â—ut that he deemed he ought not so to employ himâ—â—lfe in gaining of Ethinckes to Christ as wholy to â—bandon the flocke company which was commitâ—d to his charge both by Christ and Ignatius For â—â—lthough he often vnderstood by letters from Indiaâ—hatsoeuer â—hatsoeuer was done by those of the society there yet â—â—e remembred well the Prouerbe that sayth The â—â—ore part of the head is better then the hinder that â—igilant pastours ought to viâ—it their flockes with their owne eyes rather then with other mens He therfore determined hauing now bin long absent to visit the Society in India wherof he was Superiour to send some thence into Iaponia and after hauing setled all things there and procured the forsaid Embassage to go presently into China CHAP. II. Going into China he recouereth by his prayers a Cocke-boate vvhich vvas carryed avvay by the violence of a tempest BEING therfore inuited to China by the opportunity of a Portughese ship which was going thither he togeather with the King of Bungo his Embassadour who weÌ„t with presents to the Viceroy of India imbarketh in the moneth of Nouember yeare of our Lord 1551. He tooke with him out of Iaponia Matthew and Bernard two of that Country whome he had there baptized inteÌ„ding afterwards to send them to Rome that others might behold them as a patterne of the Iaponian Nation and they likewise benefit themselues by seeing the dignity Maiesty of the Church of Christâ— that so hauing byâ— eye witnesses of the glory and riâ—â— ches of that Church especially at Rome they might returning home agayne cause the Iaponians to coâ—â— â—â—yue a worthy esteeme of the Christian Religion â—â—y relating vnto them what themselues had seene Departing therefore from Iaponia with a prospeâ—ous wynd they found this their nauigation afterâ—ards very various remarkable for miracles The â—â—auenth day after they had put to sea there arose vâ—â—on a suddaine a cruell tempest which by mayne forâ—â—e violence carryed away their ship into a sea whoâ—â— vnknowne to the marriners And as they wandred â—â—p and downe amongst the billowes without once â—â—nowing where they were or whither they weÌ„t they were so tossed with crosse waues that they were in â—mminent daunger to
able to guide his horse whereby he became inuolued in the turnings of the waters was by force thereof carryed away without any hope to escape drowning whereat when others were greatly affrighted Francis his vertue ouercame the daÌ„ger For encouraging others to pray with him to God he himselfe began with all attention And his prayers wanted not their desired effect for vpon a suddaine the page getting out of the maine streame with his horse to a shallow place where the water ranne with lesse force and so taking courage by Gods assistance and his companions who called out vpon him he got at last vnto the banke on the further side of the riuer being as all acknowledged by Francis his prayers deliuered from present death Afterwards as they trauayled ouer the Alpes where being not able to take sure footing by reason of the driuing of the snow and the craggy rockes paches their horses being tyred with no small daunger to their maisters the Embassadours Secretary fell by chance from his horse and was suddainly swallowed vp in a huge masse of snow The place was vpoÌ„ a slippery and steepy rocke vnder which ran a swift torrent The greatnes of the danger stroke all his companions into such a feare that none durst vndertake to assist him least he should rather pull them after him who should go to help him then himselfe be pulled vp agayne so they being all amazed stood still looking one vpon another As they thus stood on commeth Xauerius and regarding anothers life more then his owne leapt presently from his horse and by mayne strength drew him vp out of the snow deliuered him from manifest danger with no small perill of his owne life whereupon the Secretary being obliged to Francis for so great a fauour honoured him euer after as the author of his life and saluation The Embassadour also himselfe moued by these wonderfull acts and also by the sweetnes of his most holy behauiour bare great affection vnto him Francis moreouer did not content himselfe with helping his companions but besides he helped all he met in as much as he was able especially at the lodgings and Innes taking all occasions both by instruction and admonition to incite them to an honest Christian life From that tyme also his singular piety hath left behind it an example of Euangelicall perfection both for religious to imitate and others to admire Hauing past the Pyrenaean mountaynes they were come to the borders of Pamplona where his iorney lay not farre from his owne territory his mother kinsfolkes and friends were not farre out of the way if â—e should let slippe that occasion he knew wel inough that by reason of the great distance from India thither â—he should morally neuer after haue opportunity to see them He knew also that there could not come any hindrance of his iourney eyther by his mother she being a vertuous woman for his good Father was now dead or by his knisfolkes His companions importuned him the Embassadour himselfe vrged him to visit and salute them by the way But Xauerius fearing least some of the company through want of consideration might be afterwards deceiued by his example he could by no meanes be drawen thereunto Thus he shewing an holy hate to his friends both proued himselfe to be the true disciple of Christ and also gaue a document to Religious persons that they should with far greater reason hould their friends for enemies if they went about to hinder them in the seruice of God But least this vnusuall thing should offend eyther the Embassadour or any other of the company who were not acquainted with this kind of heauenly Philosophy he endeauoured by his mild speach and solid arguments to make good to them what he had done Hauing therfore passed Spaine with speed he made like hast with the Embassadour vnto Lisbone where the King of Portugall resided But the Embassadour throgh long and inward friendship and familiarity with Xauier had now gotteÌ„ such an opinion of his vertue that he could not withhould himself from sending an expresse messenger with letters before vnto the King to certify him of Francis his comming and prayse-worthy qualities which caused in the King a great desire to see and honour him which soone after he did ariuing at Lisbone where he was already knowne and much desired through report of his vertues CHAP. X. Beeing louingly entertayned by the King of Portugall he exciteth them of Lisbone to deuotion LISBONE is a Citty wherin the Court is kept not farre from the Ocean sea the greatest without comparison of all Portugall and by reason of an excellent Hauen in the mouth of the riuer Tagus which runneth by that Citty it is a place very populous for the comâ—ing thither of Indian merchandise As soone thereâ—re as he was come thither being glad of his ariuall 〈◊〉 the place from whence he was to embarke himselfe 〈◊〉 India he found Simon Rodriguez his companion who as we sayd was come thither before for this â—rney into India still sicke of a quartane ague and â—apned that that was his sick day A strang thing 〈◊〉 comming to him vpon a suddain imbracing the â—ke man caused in him such ioy that his ague neuer â—er came agayne and so whether through the greatâ—s of the ioy or rather by Xauiers vertue he was quite â—de of his sicknes When he had a litle rested himâ—fe after his trauaile being sent for to the Court he â—nt thither togeather with Simon who was now â—ouered offering both himselfe and all he was â—e to do for the help of the Indians The King haâ—g vnderstood much by his Embassadour of Francis 〈◊〉 great vertue after he had courteously receyued theÌ„ both in a great assembly of the Nobility spake vnto them in this manner Fathers quoth he I am very glad of your ariuall in Portugall for the good of India And I do not doubt but you are as glad of it as my selfe For there is opened vnto you to shew your vertue the great and vast Countries of India which as I hope being carefully and faythfully manured giueth great promises of a most plentifull haruest of soules so great an inclination the people euery where seeme to haue to the Christian fayth I for my part as long as I carry this Crowne will preferre Religion before my Kingdome and then shall I account myselfe King of those Nations when I shall heare thaâ— they are obedient to the King of Heauen Wherefore you cannot doe any thing which will be more gratefull to mee and to God also as I hope then to ioyne all your forces with me for reducing of the East to the faith of Christ our coÌ„mon Lord and Father If I were to deale with other kind of men then you I would exhort you not to feare the difficulties which nature may obiect or the threates of the raging Ocean or the miseries of so tedious yea almost infinite iorney or
the encountring with barbarous nations or that your feruour of piety should not be slacke in going thither whither others out of desire of gayne runne with alacrity But why do I by wordes endeauour to inflame your Vertue knowing well inough by the warre you haue vndertaken for Christ and his Gospels sake that out of dangers you bring glory to God and euerlasting saluation to men and that you desire nothing more in this life then to dye a worthy death for Gods sake It is certaine that nature hath locked vp nothing so close to the which true vertue is not able to penetrate By Gods assistance you will open a way for the Gospell not only into India but also into the furthest Eastern parts of the world There remayneth for you eyther a life of eminent merit or a glorious â—eath Therfore whilest the Nauy is in prouiding aâ—ainst the spring do you also prepare what shall be â—ecessary for your iourney We will take care that â—ou want nothing eyther in Portugall or India Then they giuing most humble thankes vnto the King answered in this manner That they had long â—nce manifestly seene the great desire he had of aduaÌ„â—ing Gods honour and had not only heard at Rome by the report of many of his liberality answerable to his religious desire but had themselues also experienced 〈◊〉 of late in their iorney by many proofes so that they â—ught rather to endeauour to correspond to his Maieâ—ies worthy merits then to make any question wheâ—er he would be like himselfe or no. And because â—eir greatest desire was to bring the light of the Gosâ—ell into India other barbarous nations he should â—erefore without delay vse them in whatsoeuer they â—ould do for the help of those countries For albeyt â—hey well knew both themselues and his Maiesty â—ound themselues to haue neyther ability nor forces â—nswerable to so weighty a charge or to his so great â—eruour yet their confidence was that God who layd â—pon them that burthen would supply what was waÌ„â—ing on their behalfe What danger should be refused â—or Gods sake and where God leadeth the way As for themselues their chiefest care ought to be of Gods glory and to preferre a worthy death before any life whatsoeuer Heerupon there arose a strife betweene the Kings liberality and Francis and Simons modesty The Kingâ— promising them all things in aboundance performeâ— more in deeds then he spake in words and they orâ— the other side through the strict obseruance of the pouerty which they had vowed would not vse the commodities the King offered them At last the seruants of God remayning constant in their resolution ouercame the Kings bountifull nature and so he yielded vnto them drawne therto not througâ— the equity of their cause but through admiration oâ— their vertue Departing from the King and refusing a fayre lodging which was freely offered them they presently went to the publicke Hospitall of the sicke with great commendation both of their humility and piety For it was knowne well inough thaâ— they desired to lodge there before all other places that they might more freely serue the sicke for Christâ— sake And herein their charity and diligent labourâ— were answerable to that which the Citty expected from them Their manner of life in the Hospitall was this In the morning before day they spent an houre in prayer and meditation and hauing read their diuinâ— office they sayd Masse at breake of day The rest oâ— their tyme they imployed both seriously and cheerfully in helping and instructing the sicke sometymâ— comforting those that were sad and afflicted otherâ— whiles encouraging those that were ready to dye to that last battayle and encounter sometymes agayne hearing their Confessions and at others tymes resoluing those who asked their aduise in matters concerning their conscience Which labour of theirs pasâ—â—d not away eyther in obscurity or without fruit seâ—â—g most of the Citty drawne by the reporte of their â—anctity came thither flocking vnto them And they 〈◊〉 continually discoursing of pious matters things â—â—ncerning euerlasting saluation with great feeling â—â—d feruour of spirit drew many to the hatred of vice â—d loue of vertue and especially to the frequent vse â—f the holy Sacraments Which pious custome of freâ—â—enting the same being then after a long tyme first â—â—newed in Lisbone was afterward spread ouer al Porâ—â—gall both to the great good of the Cittizens themselâ—es and commodity of all their Citties For innumeâ—â—ble people euery where as the Portugheses are very â—uch inclined to piety renewing that most pious 〈◊〉 holy custome and taken with the comfort of leaâ—â—ng a godly life by diuine instinct intred into sundry â—â—gious Orders some also desired to be of their Soâ—â—ety which was at that tyme confirmed by Pope â—â—ul the III. And thus through so great a reformation of beâ—uiour in the people the Citty began to appeare of â—â—other forme then before So as now not only the â—â— eaner sort but the Nobility also frequented their â—â—dging for the SacameÌ„ts sake and to aske their conâ—â—le in other matters the pouerty of the place the â—â—en making the same more remarkable by reason that the chiefe of the Citty resorted often to the lodging of poore strangers and lastly their contempt of all worldly things stroke all men into admiration For it was now reported among the people that twelue Priests for two more had ioyned themselues to the other ten had at Rome made a certaine Society among themselues of which number they seemed to behould in these two who were present with them I know not what resemblance of an Apostolicall life And so the people whether in regard of the number of twelue or for a certayne likenesse to them in their lyfe began to call them Apostles too great a Title indeed although the good Fathers withstood and wholy disclaymed the same what possibly they could but in vaine for the Portugheses being a nation no lesse constant in what they once haue begun then pious in their resolutions could not be brought by any means to reuoke that which once they had giuen to truth as they verily belieued Yea this matter went so farre that the same name was afterward deriued to others of the Society almost throughout all Portugall CHAP. XI His Iourney into India is hindred but all in vaine BVT the Portugheses singular deuotion by rather burdenning than gracing the Fathers with such a Title was afterwards some hindrance to their Indian voyage yet so that although men were diuersly inclined still Gods will stood firme concerning Francis For some of the principall of the Citty who were much affected to Xauerius and Rodriguez valewing the profit of the Citty not only by the present fruit but also for the hope of fuâ—ure commodity contriued among themselues how they might stay these men in Portugall esteeming their owne good to be preferred before others First therefore this matter was treated off by
which were in Melinda he wondred to see but three only frequented and those but of a very few not knowing the reason why their deuotion fayled And all that misery sayd he proceeded certainly from some great sinne of theirs But Xauerius reioycing that the presence of the Crosse had so weakened the Deuils force tould him that it was not so much to be admired that Mahomets superstitioÌ„ did now fayle as that it had held vp so long For God being the Author of true ReligioÌ„ could not endure the prayers of the superstitious Saracens and that indeed was the cause why he would haue their Religion also ouerthrowne These things comming to the hearing of a chiefe man of the Saracens superstition called in their language Caciz a great Doctour in the MahometaÌ„ law he protested openly that vnlesse Mahomet came to them agayne within two yeares he would quite forsake him so decayed was all reuerence to his Deity in their perplexed minds But Francis being not able for want of tyme to free them for the present whose mynds were wholy led away with superstitioÌ„ nor could endure any wholsome counsayle all that he could do was to enkindle in them a desire of Christian liberty very seriously aduising them to cry often tymes to God the Creator of man that he would vouchsafe to bestow his grace and light vpon them After a small space he set to sea againe with new feruour of spirit held on his old custome to help the passengers but especially the sicke who were not wanting in the ship in whatsoeuer he was able In which kind he went as farre as Charity could possibly extend it selfe He was austere and hard vnto himselfe that he might be bountifull to others For a great part of that iorney he lay aboue hatches among the coÌ„mon mariners soldiers that he might lend his cabbin and bed to the sick for his repose he had a hard Cable rope to lye on and an Anchor for his pillow From hence forward Francis had new matter of merit giuen him both in respect of men and religion The Viceroy hauing sayled rouÌ„d about the cost of Affricke arriued at the Iland of Socotora 1700. miles almost froÌ„ Mozambicum This Iland lyeth vpon the furthest promontory of Aâ—fricke which now they call Guardafu in tyme past Aromata and it is opposite to the Arabian Gulfe and to the Mecaan sea so called of the Citty Meca a place notorious for the Sepulcher of Mahomet Socotora is about 100. miles compasse It is a land wast very craggy and stony without any signe almost of tillage most of tillage It beareth neyther wheate rize wine nor apples being wholy barren yet it aboundeth with catle and Dates whereof the inhabitants make their bread Morouer it is a very intemperate ayre being burnt vp with the extreme heat of the sunne The people are wholy rude and ignorant there being no signe of learning among them nor a man that can read They dwell in Villages and euery village hath his Caciz in maÌ„ner of a Curate And these Cacizes haue no more learning then the rest only they do recite by hart certayne prayers in a strange language which they themselues do not vnderstand But the inhabitants glorying that they are ChristiaÌ„s beare great deuotion to S. Thomas the Apostle and deriue their pedigree from them who were in ancient tymes baptized by the Apostle in that Iland And although Christianity is at this day extinguished among them yet they haue many signes of Christian Religion Their Churches or Temples are built and adorned magnificently and deuoutly They haue Crosses vpon their Aultars with lampes before them and because their pouerty will not affoard them bells they call the people together with woodden ratles as the custome is with vs in holy Weeke Their Cacizes although they be marryed are notwithstanding notorious for their abstinence as often as they fast they absteyne not only from flesh and whitmeates but also from fish which they haue in great aboundance so that they they will rather dye then tast any such thing Besides they haue also euery yeare two Lents wherof one lasteth two moneths and if any be so prophane as to eate flesh at these times they are forbidden to come within the Temple But it is very euident that the Cacizes being themselues ignorant there hath byn none for a long tyme eyther instructed in the Christian fayth or baptized And that which increased their misery was the cruell impiety of a Saracen Prince who had by force subdued the inhabitants For he did not only keepe them in miserable subiection but taking also their litle children out of their armes endeauoured to trayne them vp in the execrable superstition of Mahomet Xauerius therfore by beholding these inhabitants conuersing with them was surprized with no lesse griefe then ioy much lamenting that degenerating from their ancestours ignoraÌ„t of the Religion which they professed and destitute of Catholicke Priests they should be subiect to the Saracens like sheepe to wolues Wherefore all though he hauing a great desire to instruct them as much as tyme would giue him leaue yet was he a stranger and wanted their language answerable to his will and desire But nothing is hard where charity aboundeth Wherfore leauing such signes as be proper to particular nations he vsed such as be common to all and so the little while he stayed there he instructed those ignorant people in the Christian fayth by noddes and beckes and all other signes he could inuent He baptized also many children with the free consent of their parents Presently they began euery one to bring their childreÌ„ vnto him earnestly entreating him that he would be pleased to stay with them assurng him that there was not one in the whole Iland who would not be baptized Xauerius therfore although be well saw the rudenesse of the people and discommodities of the place yet thinking of nothing but their saluation went to the Viceroy and shewing him what a forward haruest he had now found intreated him that he might with his good liking remain there some time But the Viceroy knowing that that Iland was subiect to the pillage of the Turkes thought it not good to put such a man in hazard to be taken captiue by them Therfore coÌ„mending him for his singular charity towards those poore soules he aduised him not to suffer himself to be deceiued with the shew of the present good Be not quoth he ouer greedy to set vpon the first for feare you loose that which is better Why do you so much desire to labour heer where the labour is greater then the fruit and where the hopes are lesse then the dangers Another country another people other Christians expect you with whome you may employ your labours both with more safety and fruite Then Francis seeing him of a different opinion well considering that he knew more then himself answered that he was
wholy at his dispose Then conforting the inhabitants he promised them that he would alwayes whersoeuer he was haue a great care of their saluation And exhorting them to keep in the meane time the true religion in the midst of a corrupted generation he gaue them assured hope of speedy help In which promise he did not fayle For after he was departed from them by the first occasiō which was offered him he directed letters to Iohn King of Portugall wherin he earnestly commended to his kingly prouidence the Christians of Socotora who straying like sheep without a pastour abandoned of al were greatly oppressed by tyranny For in that Iland there was a Saracen Prince who cōtrary to al right equity tyrannizeth ouer the inhabitants who be eyther Christians or affected to the Christian fayth hauing had their first beginning from the disciples of S. Thomas the Apostle vexing oppressing them in a miserable manner yea taking the children by violence out of their parents bosomes he endeauoureth to make them slaues to Mahomet the Deuill He therefore intreated his maiesty as a most religious King not to permit them by litle litle to fall away from the grounds of Christianity to the customes and rites of the Saracens and that they might not willingly giue their soules to him who had by force gotten dominion ouer their bodyes They were in danger vtterly to be vndone vnlesse his Maiesty from Portugall would help them And there was no doubt but God who had giuen him such ability that he alone of all the Kings in Christendome was able to performe it would also giue him the will and desire to protect defend those miserable and afflicted soules Wherefore he should with all speed endeauour by his Royall assistance to maintayne them in the faith of their Sauiour who had redeemed both them and vs with his most pretious bloud Especially seeing that all this might be done without any danger or charges at all For he needed only to command his Royal Nauy which was yearly to passe that way to deliuer the Socotoreans by force from the most barbarous Tyranny of that Saracene Lord. These letters and requests of Francis lost not their desired effect For the cause seemed no lesse worthy of consideration to the King then it had done vnto him neither did he take it lesse to the hart Wherfore with that speed which beseemed his religious Piety he sent thither a nauy and the warre was as fortunate as pious For they taking Socotora by force beate out the Saracens and freed the inhabitants from the subiection of their Tyrannicall Lord and moreouer placed a strong garrison in the Iland that their liberty might be no lesse gratefull then secure But Xauier not content with this bestowed vpon them afterward a benefit greater then their liberty For he sent some of the Society into that Iland who might againe cultiuate that ouergrowne vineyard of our Lord and deliuer them also from the Tyranny of the Deuill who were already freed from the Saracens As soone as the ship departed from Socotora Francis setled himselfe agayne to his former taske of helping the sick and at last with the same laborious and charitable exercises as he began his Indian voyage hauing passed the coastes of Arabia and Persia he arriued at Goa a famous Citty of India vpon the VI. of May 1542. which day being the feast of Saint John ante portam Latinam is very memorable among the Indians For vpon that very day Xauerius who by the speciall benefit fauour of God was borne for the good of those nations brought with him great light and saluation into India togeather with the light of the Gospel and by himselfe reuiued those lost countries opened a way to others of the Society for the conuersion of other nations the which shal be plainly seene by that which followeth in this History For heerafter I well set downe Xauiers actes more at large then hitherto I haue done Because those things which I haue already spoken of are although not doubtfull yet a litle obscure because for the most part they want the cleere testimony of letters But henceforward I will speake of such things which were left written partly by himselfe and partly by those who through long and familiar conuersation with him in India did not only obserue them whilst he liued but had also particular knowledge of them after his death OF THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS XAVIER THE II. BOOKE In vvhat state be found India CHAP. I. INDIA being a place much spoken of by Poets and Historiographers is a Country of Asia almost twice as long as broad somwhat like in proportion to a mans tongue Towards the North it butteth vpon the Mount Caucasus in the West it is inuironed with the Riuer Indus from whence it taketh its name as the East in like manner is with the riuer Ganges and from the temperate Zone it stretcheth it self out euen vnto the Southern Ocean The forsaid riuers issuing from the mountaines of Scythia and deuiding themselues into two mayne Torrents the further they runne the broader they leaue the land betweene them and hauing run almost a thousand miles that is very neere halfe the length of India they fall finally into the sea Betwixt the mouths of these riuers where India is broadest it hath 800. miles or there about in breadth From thence by litle little it groweth narrower vntill it commeth vnto the Promontory of Commorinum where in forme of a wedge it shooteth out a mighty way towards Asia India in the inward partes of the land is inhabited by Pagans of the same Country Towards the coast which lyeth vpon the riuer Indus they haue for the most part Kings of their own nation but towards Ganges they be Saracens For the Saracens hauing now long since gotten thither out of Arabia Persia by litle and litle partly by policy and partly by force haue brought many of the Indians vnder their subiection The Portugheses also hauing free passage thither by sea and by occasion of their often going to those Countries vnknowne to others haue in ech Coast therof taken the possession of many Townes of good note for which cause they are very famous throughout India the whole East The sea coast of India which for a great part lyeth vnder the Torrid Zone is continually almost so beaten vpon with the sunne that it remaineth euen parched withered vp all the yeare long Yet the heat is so tempered by seasonable raynes and Eastern windes that it is inhabited without any great incommodity although in summer which they haue twice a yeare by reason the sunne passeth yearely the Equinoctiall line twice all things are burnt vp with the forsayd scorching heates The Country is fertile especially of Rize which they vse insteed of wheat next to Rize they haue a certayne Palme-tree whereof they gather not only greene and dry fruite but also which may seeme
incredible furnisheth them with wine vineger and oyle yea and besides this with matter likewise for houses ships ropes and bookes Nature in this manner making one tree a storehouse almost of all things They haue also aboundance of fish and cattle very great store of Pearles which lying inclosed in shell-fishes the inhabitants search after with great diligeÌ„ce in the holes of rockes And this is the greatest cause why ancient writers speake so much of the wealth of India since Riot hath set a price vpon the Sea's excrements The Natiue people of the Country being blacke of complexion couer themselues from the nauell to the knee with fine linnen leauing all the rest of their body naked They are ordinarily of a seruile and deceiptfull nature yet in so rich a country the people are most commonly poore their riches being ordinarily engrossed in a few mens hands by reason of their Kings Princes tyranny ouer them Yet want doth not with hould them from excesse in their attire For all both men and women haue commonly gold or copper iewells hanging at their eares which by art they drawe downe to their shoulders as a thing they much glory in Most of them also weare for an ornament bracelets vpon their armes so effeminate they are become in their attire Many other things besides are recounted of their customes which I hould not worth the speaking of with further hindrance to this history The head Citty of India is Goa scituate in an Iland of the same name almost right against the Persian gulfe distant from the mouth of the riuer Indus some 300. miles or thereabout This Citty being fortifyed by art and nature for the Iland wherin it standeth is diuided from the coÌ„tinent by a strait arme of the sea for the multitude and fayrenesse of buildings for traffique wealth and number of Cittizens and inhabitants may not vnworthily be compared with the chiefe Citties of Europe And therfore both the Archbishop the Viceroy of India haue therin their seates and is very much frequented by the Portugheses There be very certayne proofes not only of S. Thomas the Apostles being in India but also that he watered the same with his bloud bringing very many therein to the fayth of Christ but their posterity liuing mixt with Ethnickes and Saracens are now by litle and litle fallen into abominable superstitions so as for a very long tyme excepting a few villages the inhabitants whereof take their name from S. Thomas there was almost no signe of Christianity left in India but only a bare report thereof vntill the Portugheses obtayning Goa and other Townes of India deliuered the Indians from the seruitude of the Saracens other Tyrants and restored them agayne to the light of the Gospell For by liuing amongst them they gayned the inhabitants to become members of Christ At this tyme Iohn Alboquercius of the Order of S. Francis a man famous both for his learning and religious feruour was â—ishop of Goa hauing likewise authority ouer all Indiâ— by reason that there was neuer a Bishop therein but only himselfe He with a few others of his owne Order although he laboured more for the Christian cause then from so small a number could haue byn expected yet through want of Priests could not do so much good as necessity required There were then no religious men in all India but the Franciscans who were so imployed in assisting the Portugheses that they had no time to attend to the Ethnickes Of these Friar Iames Borban was most eminent both for his learning vertue and zeale of propagating the Christan fayth For he hauing conuerted and baptized certayne Indian children after he had instructed them in the mystertes of the Christian faith and taught them the Portughese language he vsed them as his interpreters in the conuersion of Ethnickes which inuention had good suuesse answerable to the witty contriuing therof He therfore assisted by pious and worthy persons began to thinke vpon greater matters and instituting a Seminary for the Indians he imployed himselfe wholy in teaching the students therof Wherfore albeyt the Bishop and the Franciscans out of their singular piety desired to spread the Christian fayth ouer India yet they being but few in number were not able to supply so many places Therfore the superstition of the Ethnicks and Saracens bare great sway not only in other townes of the Portughess but also in the Citty of Goa it selfe For the Pagans Saracens being wealthy and liuing euery where amongst the Portugheses practised their execrable rites publikely euen at noone day the Gouernours of the Fortes winking therat eyther because the forces of their new commaund were not as yet sufficiently established or else because their was no body to couince them of their errour and bring them to the true worship of Christ Moreouer if any inferiour Ethnickes chanced to become Christians they were so tormented by the richer sort that they durst scarse professe themselues Christians For the Ethnicke and Saracen merchants who dealt with the Kings wares and customes were so rich euen in Goa that through fauour power they could do much both with the Portugheses the Christian Magistrates So as the new Christians being oppressed the conuersion of the Ethnickes grew very cold The state of the Portugheses themselues was not much better In many places there was very seldome vse of Sacraments and of sermons almost none at all Because in all India there were but two or three Preachers at the most and not many more Priests Wherfore most of the Portughese garrisons were many tymes for whole yeares togeather without eyther sermon or Masse And besides this the beastly and wicked conuersation of the Saracens and Ethnickes drew them on to much lewdnes For none were more corrupted in their behauiour then they nor more forcible to set sensuall lust on fire ech one giuing himselfe to vncleane pleasures esteemed nothing lighter almost then his owne wiues honesty Wherfore the Portugheses although naturally they be inclined to temperance and frugality yet giuing themselues amidst so corrupt a nation to ouermuch banquetting to other things which follow therof kept commonly with them in their houses many harlotts which they had bought as slaues And hauing none to reprehend their vices their lust was growne to such a height that they counted it a point of honour to liue lewdly esteemed no gaine vniust or disgracefull so much had couetousnesse fortifyed by bad custome changed all things It was ordinary amongst them to passe diuers yeares without eyther Confession or Communion and if any did confesse more then once in a yeare they were commonly held for hypocrites In so much that if any one would perchance out of remorse of conscience go oftener to confession he must do it priuatly to auoyd the note speach of others like Nicodemus who came to Christ by night Moreouer the Portugheses wiues and harlots being natiue of that Country
in his obseruance of Pouerty Xauerius was then about 45. yeares old which age most coÌ„monly excelleth more in grauity of iudgment then strength of body Yet he being of a couragious spirit shruÌ„cke not at any labour For although at that time his principall care was to helpe the sick yet he was no way wanting to them that were in health when any necessity either spirituall are corporall occured After he had done his endeauours with all diligence about the sick in the morning he was ready to heare the CoÌ„fessions of them that came vnto him for which cause he was also ofteÌ„times sent for by the principall men of the Citty And such a multitude desired to confesse vnto him that his diligence though it were extraordinary was not for al that able to satisfy the tenth part of them In the afternoone his custome was commonly to visit those that were in prison and to relieue them with almes which himselfe begged for them where also teaching them how to make a good Confession he by that meanes heard many of their whol life past This example also of Xauerius was not without force with others For the new Viceroy tooke this course once euery weeke both in a louing manner to visit the sick to comfort them that were in prison by examining and dispatching their causes which custome he continued as long as he stayed in India Vpon Sundayes also Xauierius assisted the leapers who haue an Hospitall in the suburbes seruing theÌ„ as well in other things as in hearing their ConfessioÌ„s and ministring vnto them the holy Sacrament of the Aultar wherin he so wisely behaued himselfe that there was not one of theÌ„ who did not receiue the holy Sacraments at his hands When he thought he had sufficiently holpen the sick he went into a Church of our B. Lady hard by the Hospitall to make them also who were in health partakers of his labours There on Sundayes holy dayes in the fore-noone he preached to the Portugheses in the after-noone he very diligeÌ„tly explicated to the people of that country the chiefe principles of our beliefe whereunto resorted more to heare him then the Church wherin he taught was able to conteine Then he reconciled made friends such as were at discord and debate among themselues And in his priuate conferences he omitted no meanes that might be good for the Cittizens spirituall profit Hauing wonne the Portugheses by his affability of speach he admonished theÌ„ in a frindly manner of their vices and as for other lewd persons he deterred them from their wickednesse by laying the feare of death the terrour of hell-fire before their eyes whome as soone as he perceiued to be any thing moued then he endeauoured sometimes by intreaties sometimes by perswasion to drawe them to make a good confession for satisfaction of their sinnes amendment of their liues wherupon as it is well knowne many were so moued and encouraged that after they had made their coÌ„fessions the began a new life putting away their Concubines making restitution of what they had vnlawfully gotten CHAP. III. He very dexterously causeth those vvho kept Concubins either to marry them or to put them avvay and instructeth children and ignorant persons in the Cathechisme BVT he found farre greater difficulty and trouble among them concerning their CoÌ„cubines then about other mens goods For at that time the Portugheses of Goa were through want of wiues of their owne nation greatly intangled with the loue of women-strangers wherof many were of the country of Sion or Pegu some others of Iaponia and China since these do farre excell the Indian women both in beauty of body and comelines of person Wherefore the Portugheses disdaining to marry with them kept them as their Concubines Xauerius thinking with himself that he ought to apply some remedy to this great euill began to dispose theÌ„ with al the endeauours he could vse And first he went about to winne theÌ„ by all courteous meanes then as he met them in the streets he would merily request them to inuite a poore Priest to their ordinary fare which they willingly accepted of He now sitting at table would before or at their repast intreat his host to cause his children to be called whereupon the litle children comming presently at their fathers cal Francis would take them vp in his armes hug them in his bosome thanking God who had giuen the Father such children for the hope of his family withall would pray God to grant theÌ„ a good holy life Then would he desire that their motheâ— might be called a thing which in another would haue bin temerity but his Sanctity easily excused it when she was come he would speake sweetly vnto her and commend her beauty to his host therby to draw him to take her to his wife saying that doubtlesse she was of an excellent disposition and louely countenance so that she might well be accounted a Portughese that the children which he had by her were certainly worthy of a Portughese to their father Why therfore did not he marry her What wife could he haue better And he should do well to prouide with al speed for his childrens credit and the womans honesty Which wholsome counsail of his proued not vnprofitable For by his words and authority without great difficulty he perswaded many of them to marry their Concubines being himselfe witnes therof But if by chance he lighted vpon any one who had by some ill fauoured Indian-woman children like vnto her selfe then as conceiuing great indignation therat he would cry out Good God! what a monster haue we here Do you keep a Diuel in your howse Can you keep coÌ„pany with this vgly beast Can you haue children by her Follow my counsail driue this monster â—his prodigious creature presently out of your howse seeke you a wife worthy of your selfe so as putting away his concubine he maried a wife Moreouer he would not by any meanes as much as lay in him sufâ—fer the Portugheses to marry black or tawny Mores but such as were faire and well-fauoured to the end â—hey might absteine from adultery and ech one conâ—â—nt himselfe with his owne wife In this meane time he left not off to instruct and drawe all men to the loue of piety and of a Christian life which labour of his was not in vaine For this heauenly kind of discipline did so worke in the Cittiâ—ens and in habitants behauiours that Goa seemed to â—e quite changed from what it had bin a litle before so as by reason of these his pious exercyses in the day and continuall prayer in the night he became to be of great credit and esteeme both with the Portugheses and the Indians But being a man truly vertuous he vsed this their esteeme which was had of him not as â—n incitement to pride but as a spurre to further verâ—ue For he thirsting more after the saluation of
soules then his owne prayse was alwayes thinking of some new wayes how to helpe them for the performaÌ„ce wherof there was nothing which he would not do And amongst the rest he had one inuention which in such a man as he gaue an admirable example of Christian simplicity was also more profitable in effect then fayre to the shew He being a man of graue yeares and authority went vp downe the high wayes streetes with a litle bell in his hand so far was he from thinking any thing disgracefull to him that might be gratefull to God and profitable for mans saluations to call the children and seruants together to Christian doctrine at the corners of streets and Crosse wayes sometymes stirring vp the inhabitaÌ„ts to piety with these or such like wordes Faythfull Christians for the loue which you beare to Christ send your Children and seruants to the Christian doctrine which new inuention made infinite of children slaues and others to runne flocking vnto him from all places all whome himselfe marching before he would leade into our B. Ladyes Church singing aloud the Cathechisme vnto them and teaching them the same thereby to cause them more willingly to come to heare him and so more easily to remember what was taught them in the manner of singing both which proued afterwards to be so And herein he vsed no lesse prudence then diligence For knowing very well that his labour would then be profitably imployed if those things which ought to be learned were well vnderstood all that he sunge he would explicate briefly and cleerly according to the capacity of his auditours To the ruder sort and to slaues he would purposely speake after a rude and homely manner that their owne fashion of speach might keep them more attentiue and make deeper impression in their mynds which endeauour of his was neyther fruitlesse not in vayne For from hence arose that so worthy a custome of teaching and learning the Christian doctrine which is at this day practised in India And because men reaped more fruit by it then was expected the Bishop caused the same to be practised by others in the other Church so as aduaÌ„cing himself in this new piety those of the Society following Francis his institution others stirred vp therunto partly by the Bishops command and partly by the example of the Society it came at last to be a custome throughout all India to the great aduancement of the Christian cause For his practise so spred it selfe abroad both in Goa and other places that euery where in the schooles high wayes streetes howses fieldes and shippes there were in steed of vaine idle songes sung and heard the principles of Christian faith with great delight Wherupon it grew to a custome that children who could scarse speake did striue to sing most of those verses by hart And in this exercise Xauerius gaue no â—esse noble proofe of his temperance and moderation â—hen of his industrious labour For of all that was giâ—en him vnder the title of Almes he reserued nothing â—o himselfe but gaue all to the sicke and poore in the most priuate manner he could to the end humane prayse might not depriue him of any reward in the sight of God Moreouer he detested from his hart not only vaine glory but also all honours wherein few are found firme and constant For when they vsed to giue him that honour which was due to his vertue he would not only in his wordes countenance but also by the gesture and carriage of his whole body shew a dislike not only of the honour but also of those who gaue it him deeming it an vnworthy thing for a ChristiaÌ„ who should alwayes haue in mind the reproaches of Christ his mayster to take delight in honours Let therefore those who hunt after titles of honors hearken what I am heere to say Xauerius being a true contemner of all worldly things and especially of himselfe did no lesse despise popular applause and honour then others commonly seeke after it So as now all might see that nothing could happen more heauy or crossely vnto him then to see his actions praysed or himselfe honoured But as honour followeth them most of all that fly from it this his flying from honour as ordinarily it hapneth made him more honoured and admired All were stroken with admiration that a Priest of singular learning and vertue comming as a stranger out of another world should do so many and such excellent things for no reward at all no not so much as for prayse or glory Therfore as before it had hapned in Portugall so also now it fell out in India that he began to be coÌ„monly called an Apostle but indeed with no small griefe of mynd vnto him yet the rude multitude preuayled through their constancy or rather pertinacy therein For that tytle of Apostle was so setled vpon him that he could by no meanes shake it of from him was it afterwards deriued also to his other Companions but they assuming a new Name whereof we will presently speake caused that Title too glorious and vnâ—it for them to be at last forgotten CHAP. IIII. He procureth a Colledge at Goa for the Society CERTAINE deuout men of Goa hauing through the perswasion of Fr. Iames Borban the Franciscan contracted a league amongest themselues for the increase of the Christian faith as we haue before declared had begun a Seminary there of Indians a few months before Xauerius arriuall And hauing found by experience the great want therof they agreed that it was best to â—aue many children and youthes of most of the couÌ„â—ries of India to be instructed in the rites of the Christian faith to be brought vp in learning who might be sent afterward ech one to his owne couÌ„try wherof some might be made Priests others interpreters This their pious determination by common consent they bring vnto Ferdinand Rodrigues the Kings Treasurer who at that tyme in the absence of Steuen Gama the Viceroy of India was Gouernour of Goa desiring his aduise assistance therin Wherupon by his authority a Seminary was instituted at Goa and children of most of the Prouinces of India especially those of the Canarines to whome Goa it selfe appertaineth of Cingala Malauara Cellano Bengala Pegu Malaca China and the Abissines placed therein instructed in the precepts of the Christian faith who might afterwards become Priests or Interpreters and if any of them should not proue fit for eyther of both they should notwithstanding be there maintained vntill they had learned some trade And for the better managing of the temporall state of this Seminary it was thought conuenient that there should be certaine Procuratoâ—s chosen by the said Company but for the education bringing vp of the children it was to be committed to the Francâ—scans These things being thus disposed the Kings Treâ—surer in name of the viceroy of India and of the Kinâ— of Portugal assigned to
this Seminary of Goa out of 〈◊〉 publick treasury a stipend of 800. crownes which haâ— belonged to the Pagan Priests God by his diuine prouidence turning in this manner the Diuels treasureâ—â— his owne seruice This pension being afterward doubled by the Treasurer was confirmed by the Viceroy and the Kings authority They began also to builâ— howses for that end with a Church therunto adioyning And because the said Seminary was founded for the propagatioÌ„ of the Christian faith it was in tituled A sancta Fide of the Holy Faith the reuenewes and almes whereof were such that an hundred schollers might well be maintained therwith but as yet there were not aboue threescore Friar Iames Borban who was the first beginner was Rectour thereof But it seemes this Seminary was ordayned by God for a Colledge of the Society of Iesus as Borban himselfe after he began to be acquainted with them more then once foretould being very glad that it so fell out Hauing â—herfore taken an exact view of Xauerius eminent maÌ„â—er of life and greatly approuing his industry in the â—ringing vp of children he of his owne accord offred him the gouerment of the Seminary But he hauing resolued to trauaile all India ouer to preach the Ghospell of Christ would not take vpon him that burden Borban was very earnest with him laying before his eyes what an important busines it was and shewing what great fruit might ensue therof since it being a Seminary of Priests and Interpreters a supply might be continually raised therout for the helpe of Ethinke nations a matter of the greatest moment that could be deuised for the aduancement of ReligioÌ„ But when he perceiued that he could not preuaile he began both by himselfe by Sosa the new Viceroy to deale with Xauerius that in case he neither could nor would take vpon him the charge Gouerment yet that he would at least coÌ„mit the same to some one of his Companions Now Francis euery day expected F. Paul and F. Mansilla from Mozambicum others also out of Portugall And therfore considering with himself of what vse such a Colledge might proue at last he accepted of the offer made F. Paul Camertes Rector therof in his place and with the good liking both of the Viceroy and Borban he sent to Rome for some others of the Society to be maisters to the foresaid schollers Afterwards the reuenewes being by the Kings liberality increased when they thought of enlarging their house to receiue more schollers Sosa the Viceroy furthered them therin both with his authority bounty Wherupon both a new Church and other buildings were begunne and in short tyme finished principally by his help and assistance The Church was dedicated to S. Paul whence also the Colledge was called S. Pauls Colledge And from this time forward the Fathers were called by the Name of the Society For when afterwards that Colledge excepting the Seminary of the Indians was by the King of Portugall giuen to the Society of Iesus for the instituting of such as were appointed for India and the East the Fathers tooke their Name from the place It is now enlarged by the Kings liberality and furnished with buildings being indeed a worthy monument of the King of Portugall his bounty and a most ample Seminary of Preachers and Priests for the help of India and the East the Seminary at Conimbria being by his Maiesties order turned into that of Goa For besides many students of the Indian Nation who liue in separate houses there be to the number of an hundred of the Society wherof some are there receiued and others sent thither out of Portugall to be brought vp in learning and vertue vntill they be able to helpe the Indians and the people of those Eastern partes by their preaching and example This place the diuine Prouidence ordained first of all for the Society in India before their Name was so much as heard of in those parts and it is the mother and head Seate of many other Colledges which were afterward founded in the East But now to come againe to the order of our History which hath bin by vs a little interrupted through the fit occasion we had to speake of this Colledge which Xauerius procured at Goa this Seminary as we haue sayd being assigned to the Society God gaue vnto Xauerius a new and fertile haruest in India to manure CHAP. V. He goeth to help the Neophytes or nevv Christians of Comorinum NO sooner had Xauerius restored Christian discipline at Goa which was fallen to decay but presently with great care he began to think vpon the inhabitants of the PromoÌ„tory of ComorinuÌ„ the Coast of Piscaria who had bin lately conuerted to the Christian faith but were left without Priests This Country of Piscaria consisting more of villages then townes is inhabited by Fishermen whom they call Paraua's aboundeth greatly with Pearles from the fishing wherof it is commonly called Piscaria But the habitantes not knowing their owne Country Treasures employ themselues wholy in fishing of pearles for the SaraceÌ„s In this coast there is a Town of no smal note called Tutuchurinum wherin vpon a very sleight accident was raysed a deadly warre and imminent destruction to that nation and was also the occasion of their receyuing the Christian fayth A Saracen wrangling with a Paraua as by nature they are passionate and apt to offer disgrace pulled contumeliously a ring out of the Paraua's eare which he had hanging therat as that country fashion is and withall tore out the hole in the flesh which with them is the greatest disgrace that can be imagined Wherupon the Paraua to reuenge the iniury killed the Saracen But as in hoate bloud there often follow murders and massacres whereof there is no end vnlesse peace be made the quarrel which first began by wrangling of two persons vpon so slight occasion through desire of reuenge did afterwards breed a deadly war throughout the whole nation For the Paraua's hauing had many of their side slayne for one Saracen whome they had killed resolued to wash away that disgrace with their enemies bloud priuatly gathering great troopes out of all the villages make a suddain assaulâ— vpoÌ„ the Saracens massacred a great number of theÌ„ The SaraceÌ„s againe being mad with rage raised al their forces against the Paraua's resoluing to destroy and vtterly extinguish the whole nation Whereupon they presently make ready as great a Nauy as they could and with great summes of mony corrupt and stirre vp the Paraua Kings against their owne subiects persuading themselues that thus enuironing their enemies both by sea and land they might more easily destroy them The Paraua's now when they saw themselues thus beset enuironed by their enemyes and betrayed by their owne Kings not knowing what to do in this case they beganne to thinke of forraine ayde so to help themselues in this extremity There chanced at the same tyme to be present
before they had with so great reuerence adored Which great iniury the Diuel certainly would not haue left vnreuenged if Francis had not had as great courage to withstand the danger as to offer him that affront For he stirred vp the Badages agayne of whome we spake before who are no lesse cruell enemies to Christian Religion then brutish sauage by nature against the flock of Christ which as yet was but yong and tender Wherfore a mighty army of these barbarians made a suddaine incursion vpon the borders of Trauancoris began to spoile the villages of the Christians The inhabitants making a dolefull outery togeather with the lamentation of women and children being all in vproue betooke themselues to flight yet with little hope to escape being round beset by their enemies Xauerius for it happened he was then present being stirred vp by the tumult wrought a memorable act For wholy forgetting himselfe by reason of the eminent danger he saw before his eyes he flyeth in amongst them like a Lion and with an vndaunted courage both of spirit and countenance rebuketh those barbarous people who were wonderfully amazed to behold his courage and boldnes since being slaues to the Deuill and forgetfull of their owne freedome and saluation they came so violently to offend others Then as a good Pastour he putteth himselfe into the formest presse of the Christians either to rule his flocke by authority or if he could not do that to dy togeather with them But the Badages although most barbarous cruell could not indure those fiery flames which seemed to shine forth of Francis his couÌ„tenance and face and so for feare and reuerence to his person they spared the rest Yet all this while he was not free from danger of death For the Ethnickes out of hatred to Christian Religion lay oftentimes in waite for him whome notwithstanding he defeated partly by his prudence and partly by diuine assistaÌ„ce as then it happened Vpon a tyme some of them seeking after him to kill him he ranne into a wood where climbing vp into a tree he sate there all night and so escaped their hands being sheltred more by Gods assistaÌ„ce then eyther by the tree or night And his enemies plots against him were so frequent that some of the Neophytes who were most pious and faithfull vnto him kept alwayes of their owne accord watch in the night before his lodging to defend him Notwithstanding the continuall treacheries of these barbarous people he omitted neyther his nightly prayer which scarcely permitted him two houres rest nor ceased from his dayly iourneys of the day eueÌ„ in the heat of the sunne for that going about the Townes he went barefoote in a ragged coate and with an ordinary Hat on his head Yet this carelesnes of his corporall habit did no way obscure the sanctity of his soule but made it more eminent He was now commonly called the Great Father and the King of Trauancoris commanded by publicke Edict throughout his whole kingdom that all should obey the Great Father no otherwise then himselfe The Christians had not at that tyme any Church in that Coast wherfore he was constrained to say masse either vnder some tree or some sayle of a shippe But now it is reported there be built aboue twenty Churches and Chappels in that Country And when he was to preach for want of a pulpit he would froÌ„ some commodious tree speake vnto the multitude which was somtimes infinite For when he went out into the fieldes to preach there followed him many times fiue or six thousand persons His care also was not lesse in augmenting the flocke of Christ then in maintaining what he had gotten That the Neophytes might also after his departure retaine what they had learned vpon his going away he did not only leaue a copy of the Christian doctrine in euery Towne but also taught them the manner how to exercyse it euery morning and euening and for that end appointed a Moderatout ouer them Yet all this time he refrained from too much dealing with those who dwelt vp higher in the hart of the couÌ„try knowing very well that the sea coasts where the Portugheses commaunded were farre more fit to receiue and maintaine the Christian faith then the vpland Country of India where the Brachmans deadly enemies to our Religion had the possession He therfore trauailed all ouer that country lying by the sea side going from village to village euery where baptizing instructing as many as he could in the Christian faith so as now almost all the townes of the Machoa's Paraua's had by Francis his meanes put themselues vnder the sweet yoke of Christ when the report therof comming to the bordering Ilands set on fire the Manarians a neighbouring people to emulate their piety CHAP. XII Neophytes slayne for Religion become an ornament to the Christian Fayth MAnaria is a litle Iland lying ouer against the coast of Pâ—scaria distant from the continent an 150. miles There was therein a village called Patinus at that tyme of litle note but now greatly enobled by the death of many Martyrs The inhabitants of this place had a great desire to receaue the Christian Religion wherof they had heard many notable things reported as well of Xauerius as of the Comorines Wherefore they earnestly inuited Francis to come thither and baptize them But he being imployed about other most important affaires coÌ„cerning Religion and not able to go himselfe sent a certayne Priest in his place to instruct them in the Catechisme and to baptize them Wherupon followed a great storme of persecution which notwithstanding proued very profitable vnto them For the King of Iafanapatana vnder whose dominion that Iland is out of a Barbarous cruelty being also incensed with the hatred he bare vnto Christians was so enraged that sending thither an army of men what by fyre sword destroyed and wasted the whole Towne There are sayd to haue byn slayne at that tyme for Religion more then 600. persons Thus that vast solitude brought forth fresh and fragrant flowers of Martyrs for heauens ornament Since which tyme that place hath reteyned the name of the Towne of Martyrs About the same tyme it fell out fortunately that the sayd King of Iafanapatana his owne brother and heire to the same kingdome fearing his brothers fury had fled to the Viceroy of India promising that if he could by the Portugheses forces be restored to his Fathers kingdome he with his nobles and greatest part of his subiects would become Christians The Viceroy greatly desirous as well to aduance Religion as to reuenge the slaughter of the Innocents was much incensed agaynst the Tyrant Whereupon he presently sendeth a very strong Nauy to Nagapatana which is a sea Towne scituated in the continent ouer against the Iland of Manaria about 200. miles from the Promontory of Comorinum and withal commandeth them to make warre vpon the King of Iafanapatana and
called vnto him He the more to dissemble the matter made shew of ready Obedience and came vnto him presently Francis taking him asyde with great sorrow and griefe in his countenance sayd Thou hast sinned Durus thou hast sinned At which words he being stroken to the hart stood like one distracted and amazed wondring with himselfe how Xauerius came to know that which no mortal creature but himself could haue suspected Then being filled with shame and teares his conscience also accusing him he cryed I haue sinned Father I haue sinned Then Francis againe with a ioyfull countenance replyed Confession therefore Child Confession is requisite WherupoÌ„ Durus hauing his hart softned by Xauerius words and by the dew of diuine grace taking againe courage and some respite to examine himself maketh his coÌ„fession Which remedy he found no lesse expedient then wholsome For by the benefit of that holy Sacrament he was not only pardoned his offence but also constantly restored to his former good resolution Wherfore without delay faithfully distributing his goods amongst the poore he constantly adhered to Xauerius as before he had promised fortifying this his resolution with the remembrance of his former lightnes and inconstancy At the same time also came vnto Xauerius a new thought small supply of Companions For that F. Antony Criminalis of Parma F. Iohn Beira of Galliaco of the Society of Iesus being sent out of Portugall were very fitly arriued in India of whose coÌ„ming Xauerius being certified by letters greatly reioyed as being the first supply which had come vnto him out of Europe determining to set them presently a worke by reason of so great want of Priests And he himself that his labours might not be restrained within the bounds of India intended with the first occasion of shipping to visit the furthest parts of the East CHAP. XVII He reformeth the bad liues of the people of Malaca HE departed from Meliapora the Citty of S. Thomas towards Malaca by sea in the yeare of our Lord 1545. The cause of this his iorney was that hauing now holpen the Portugheses who dwelt in that Citty he might passe on to instruct the MacazariaÌ„s in the precepts of the Christian faith Malaca is a country compassed almost rouÌ„d with the sea beyond India and the riuer Ganges called in times past as some thinke the Golden Chersonesus For being ioyned to the continent by a small part of land stretching out into the sea runneth forth in length towards the Iland of Somatra formerly named Taprobana famous for Gold mines In this Country right ouer against Somatra standeth the citty of Malaca beloÌ„ging to the Portugheses a place very rich and of great note from whome that country hath its name distant from the citty of Goa neere 600. leagues It lyeth almost vnder the Equinoctiall Line yet by reason of the frequent showres of raine which fall commonly euery day there is as it were almost a perpetuall spring which doth greatly allay the heates For they haue alwayes two summers and as many haruests both of corne fruit But the Country is more pleasant and fertill then wholsome for that the fruitfulnes of the place and the vnwholsomnes of the ayre proceed from the same causes And besides this they haue another inconuenience which doth more encumber them to wit the Saracens and Ethnickes who border vpon them None of these difficulties did any wayes affright Xauerius to go on with his resolution Nay rather the latter set him forward to help them with more feruour seeing them in danger by reason of their bad neighbours As soone as he arriued at Malaca he goeth to the Gouernour of the Citty and certifieth him of his determination of passing to Macazaria Wherupon he againe told Xauerius how he had lately sent thither a stronge band of Portugheses togeather with a Priest of eminent vertue to assist and guard the Christians if any commotion should by chance be raysed there against theÌ„ And therfore he wisheth him if he thought good to abide a while at Malaca vntill the ship were returned and should bring newes how matters went in Macazaria Francis followed the Gouernours counsaile and in the meane time taking no rest himselfe begaÌ„ to employ his endeauours for the spirituall good of the Portugheses The Malacensians were at this time wholy corrupted with the bad customes of their bordering neighbours liuing indeed more like to Saracens and Ethnickes then to Christians For that through their owne carelesnesse rather then want of Priests al good order by little little was fallen to decay and their behauiours also growing daily worse they began to runne headlong vnto ruine For hauing now lost all memory either of saluation or honesty they for the most part thought that they might do whatsoeuer seemed pleasing or profitable to their sensuality So forcible is the contagion of bad company to infect others with the same vice Francis therfore perceiuing them to 〈◊〉 extremely corrupted that now they had neither any feeling of their sinnes nor could endure any remedy to be applyed thereto setteth vpon their lost soules after a strange and artificiall manner First as his custome was he insinuatâ—th himselfe sweetly into their familiarity winketh at their sinnes and hideth his desire of curing them Then hauing wonne them by custome friendly vsage he by litle and litle prepareth the way to cure their inueterate diseases somtymes laying before them their heinous sinnes and offences by propouÌ„ding vnto them Gods diuine lawes at other tymes striking into them a terrour of Gods fearefull iudgements by vrging of the variable casualities of mans life And at last hauing disposed their minds he setteth his hand to worke he cutteth off auarice taketh away the occasions of lust mollifyeth and healeth their sore wounded consciences wherof then they began to haue some feeling with the sweet oyle of Gods mercies The fruite which he reaped therby well shewed that his labours were not imployed in vayne For it is certaynly knowne that by his meanes many made restitution of goods vnlawfully gotten many put away their Concubines and those that made difficulty to put them away were persuaded to marry them a great number also cleaÌ„sed their guilty consciences by frequenting the holy Sacrament of Confession and were brought to leade a good and vertuous life Neyther did Xauerius profit the people more by the sweetnes of his priuate discourse then by the grauity of his publicke Exhortations Vpon Sundayes he preached in the great Church with no lesse fruite then applause of his Auditors And to moue theÌ„ the more and better to imprint wholesome feare in their minds he with great feruour of spirit foretould what heauen threatned agaynst that Citty It was obserued by many that he was wont oftentimes when in his sermons he reprehended with greatest vehemency the loose and wicked liues of the Malacensians to beseech God to turne from them the wrath which hung ouer their heads from heauen and
yeares before Xauerius came thither The Country is very cold vnpleasant to the eye in many places mountanous and barrayne yet for the most part chaÌ„pion enterlaced with many fayre riuers by nature fertile although they do not till the ground by reason of their continuall warres so as it is more fit for vines oliues if it were ther with planted for want whereof there be very few vineyards and no oliues at all and yieldeth rather Rice then Corne. Neyther do there want mines of gold but skill to make it yet chiefly it excelleth in siluer mines for which cause it is called Argentaria Notwithstanding for that the Inhabitants are debarred from trafficque with the Chineses in tymes past it wanted many things which now the Portugheses haue by their commercement lately supplyed not without great profit to theÌ„selues And although there be frequent Hauens in the whole Country yet the Iland Ximus both because it hath more store of Port Townes and lyeth most commodious for the shippes that come from India is most of all frequented by the Portughese merchants There was at that tyme one King who ruled ouer all Iaponia called by the inhabitantes Dayrus whose raygne because Kingly Maiesty was now â—worne out amongst the Nobles began to depend vpon their pleasures The people of Iaponia compared with the Indians are white of complexion by nature most warlike and in vertue and vprightnesse doe farre exceed all other Nations which haue â—byn found out of late Xauerius therefore making his â—abode at Cangoxima which is the principall Citty of Saxuma before he would aduenture to set vpon the Iaponians soules thought best to seek out first all kind of wayes meanes how to do it chiefly to inquire of their manners religions And hauing diligently sounded them all out he found the matter for the most part thus to stand to wit that the whole Nation was of a very tractable disposition and for the most part cannot endure any double dealing They haue no great store of gold riches or wealth and therfore as most commonly where there is least money there also is least seeking after it their study is least about such kind of things Neyther do they account any thing more dishonourable then to increase their wealth substance by trafficque or any other art So as their manner of lyfe is vpheld by the direction of pouerty yet in such sort that they hyde the same with a neat and handsome adorning of their bodyes They stand very much vpon their dignity and reputation so that you would thinke them therin most perfectly to resemble the auncient Romans They do all for the most part euen children place their greatest delight in martiall affayres nor do they ordinarily take content in any thing else Notwithstanding which is incredible to be spoken or heard although they be of such couragious spirits and so much giuen to bearing of armes yet they absteyne from all quarrels amoÌ„g themselues reseruing the vse of their weapons for tyme of warre agaynst their enemies For the Iaponians haue such gouernement ouer themselues and their passions that they seeme therein to be of the sect of Stoickes And to see a Iaponese brawling chafing or wrangling one with another is amongst them accounted a monstrous thing Wherfore the better to auoid all occasion of contentions they neuer deale about any businesse of importance or coÌ„trouersy by themselues but by a third person And this they obserue not only with strangers but also with their friends and those of the same household with them wherby they conserue quiet of mynd in themselues and peace with others They take very great delight in hunting in so much that they eate no flesh which is not gotten by that meanes They can no more endure mutton swines-flesh beefe or veale then we can dogges or horse-flesh They absteine from milke and cheese as we do from raw bloud They keep hennes and geese not so much to eate as for their recreation pleasure They do therefore seldome eate flesh which when they doe is alwayes Venison They feed for the most part on fish fruite herbes and rice and by the meanes of their temperate dyet they are very sound and healthfull liuing ordinarily vntill they be very old vnlesse they meete by chance with some violent or vntimely death At least we may learne by this their liuing so well vpon a little that Nature is content with few things although sensuality be neuer satisfied Adulteries are with them most seuerely punished They absteine altogeather from dyce-playing and such like games deeming that by those meanes men become desirous of others goods They are also so farre from theft and robbery that they iudg nothing more vnworthy in a man for which cause they condemne felons to the gallowes the most disgracefull of all punishments amongst them They vse cleanlinesse in their dyet neatnesse in their attyre and most courteous ciuility in all their meetings salutations and conuersation wherein the men are not more exact then the children nor the Nobility then the Country people You would belieue they were all trayned vp togeather to ciuill and courtly behauiour in the same Kings Court But these guifts of nature are obscured by pride a malady deeply rooted in this Nation For they so contemne other nations in respect of themselues that they are for the most part very arrogant and insolent in their carriage towards strangers This one thing only excepted they want nothing but the light of the Ghospell being of themselues a nation if there be any in the world borne and in a manner framed to al ciuility For euen the country people themselues are very ingenious desirous of learning in so much that as euery thing seemeth most conformable to reason so they do most willingly imbrace it They are very attentiue to discourses especially of God and diuine matters They are moreouer commonly very good schollers therfore so much the more apt to receiue Christian discipline Now when Xauerius had vnderstood these and many other things which for breuities sake I omit of the disposition manners of the Iaponians making also iniquity after their Priests Religions he found things standing almost in this manner to wit that they account those things most of all their Gods by whose meanes they receiue help Some therefore do worship the Sunne others the Moone and others other Gods There be also among them certayne Men held for Gods which they had from the Chineses Amongst whome are Xacas and Amidas But there is no greater villanny or impurity then among their Priestâ— whome they call Bonzies so that you may easily know whose Ministers they be For hauing brought in that heynous sinne which is not heere to be named of preposterous lust they haue cast such a thicke mist before the Iaponians eyes that being not able to discerne such impurities they commonly account that most detestable crime of al
those of the Society a great loue to Humility and Obedience he called togeather all the Fathers and Brothers and like a rare maister of Obedience very efficaciously exhorted them all to the practise of those Vertues finally confirmed by this notable deed of his what he had commended vnto them in words For hauing constituted F. Gospar aforesaid Superiour ouer all the Society in India and ouer himselfe also he fell downe at his feete and after an vnusuall manner not heard of before promised entyre Obedience vnto him striking thereby no lesse admiratioÌ„ into the rest of the Fathers present then into Gaspar himself Wherupon all the rest with weeping eyes through the tender feeling they had therof prostrate themselues in like manner and promise one by one to performe the same no one refusing to imitate the example which Xauerius their Maister had giuen them Then because that being perhaps the last time he was to see them all bedewed with mutuall teares he imbraceth euery one out of all those who earnestly desired to follow him he chose only foure not so much to take them with him into China as to send them for a supply into Iaponia He departed therefore from Goa vpon the 15. day of Aprill in the yeare 1552. leauing behind him manyâ— good wishes both to himselfe and his iourney Aâ— soone as the ship was come into the mayne Ocean there arose a vehement tempest which put her intâ— extreme danger When the storme was most violentâ— and euery one especially Iames Perera who was a skilâ— full Pilot affrighted with the imminent danger theâ— â—ere in Xauerius remayned without any feare at all â—nd looking vpon Perera who stood as one benumâ—ed with feare Take courage Iames quoth he the â—iuine Prouidence protecteth vs. Would to God the â—her ship which put out of the Hauen togeather with 〈◊〉 fared as wel the signes of whose calamity we shall â—ortly behould As for the shippe wherein we are â—rryed in a docke was she built and in a docke shall â—e be taken asunder agayne This triple Prophecy â—as verifyed by the euent thereof For presently the â—ind began to fall and the storme to cease Then by â—e planckes vessels and bodyes which floated vp â—owne the sea they manifestly perceyued that the oâ—er ship was cast away And lastly that very ship â—herin they sayled being thirty yeares after brought â—â—to the Docke to be taken asunder and mended â—erifyed the whole Prophecy of Xauerius About the eight day after their departure from Goaâ—hey â—hey arriued at Cocinum There when he had with â—uch ioy coÌ„fort visited those of the Society in that â—lace being informed of the necessity of others that â—iued in Comorinum and Colanum he wrote backe in â—ll hast to Gaspar his Vicar to succour them as soone â—s might be and whatsoeuer he should do in that kind to certify him therof by writing with the first opportunity not doubting but that he would vse the more â—peed and diligence therin since he was presently to giue an accompt therof Hauing stayed a few dayes at Cocinum he sayled to Malaca the same moneth and about the midst of their course a vehement tempest put both the passengers marriners into great feare The consideration of the present danger had now stroken them all with a dismall terrour when as Xauerius whilst others bewailed their owne their friends distresse commeth forth amongst them with a cheerfull countenance willeth them to take courage and put away all feare Then going vp to the Poope of the ship he hangeth in the sea a little Reliquary tyed by a cord and hauing withall made his prayers vnto God returneth againe into his cabbin to heare Confessions A strange thing Vpon a suddayne the winds cease the tempest is allayed and they sayle on forward with fayre weather When they had giuen thanks to God for this their preseruation their feare as coÌ„monly it hapneth was turned into ouer much security But Xauerius aduising the maister to looke vnto himself told him that he was very much afrayd least in the same iorney other difficulties no lesse dangerous then the former were hanging ouer their heades And iust so it came to passe For the ship running twice against the rockes was almost cast away which perhaps would haue so happened if Xauerius prayers had not preuented the danger Neither did he in this iorney foretell their owne daÌ„ger only but the calamity also of others though in a more hidden manner He was at that time farre distant from Malaca nor had any man come lately froÌ„ thence when vpon the suddain he earnestly intreated the passengers to make feruent prayer to God for the Citty of Malaca which was as he feared aâ— that time insected with grieuous sicknesse The euentâ— â—roued this to be a diuine presage For assoone as they â—riued at Malaca they find it almost vnpeopled throgh 〈◊〉 grieuous plague which happened among them by â—easoÌ„ of the great wants they had endured in the late â—â—ege And first of all it had spread it selfe amongst â—â—e Cittizens afterwards it made as great hauoke aâ—ongst the Country people strangers and was at â—ast by litle and little crept into the Nauy which was â—â—en lately come from Portugall And although in â—e very same shippe wherein Xauerius came this plaâ—ue had made an end of fourty men yet by Gods â—oodnes it had not once touched any of his compaâ—ions CHAP. VI. He Excommunicateth the Gouernour of Malaca XAVERIVS was more friendly entertained at Malaca by the Cittizens considering the calamities wherwith they were oppressed then by the Gouernour himself As soone therfore as he was come to the Residence of the Society being not ignorant of the combat he was shortly to vndergo he earnestly intreated all his coÌ„panions by their serious prayers to commend to God his iourney into China greatly fearing that the enemy of mankind would by all possible meanes seeke to hinder the same by his ministers Which feare of his was not indeed without good ground For the Gouernor of Malaca hauing no disposition in him worthy of a Portughese began to enuy Iames Perera's glory to whome he had long before borne a grudg well foreseeing that not only great gaynes but much honour also would redound to an Embassadour that should be sent from the Viceroy of India into China Wherefore by a deuice and help also of some of the chiefe of the Citty vnder colour of a siege that was feared might happen to Malaca he resolued to hinâ—â— Perera his Embassage Francis who had his mind wholy fixed vpon his iourney perceauing this began by all maÌ„ner of sweeâ— meanes to draw the Gouernour from his resolution But emulation which had blinded his mind stopt also his eares For neither the Bishop of Goa his Letters nor the Viceroyes Patents nor all the allegations oâ— intreaties of friends could any whit mooue him so obstinate he was Xauerius therfore who had lately followed a suite
the companies â—orses and perpetually both at home and abroad in the Hospitalls of the sicke with the greatest affection that could be he tooke vpon him all the basest offices â—herof And when he came to Goa although he were Legate Apostolicall yet he fell downe at the Bishops â—eet and deliuered vp to him the Kings Letters and the Popes Breue which he would not vse otherwise then might seeme fitting vnto him Which modesty of his so gayned the Bishops good will that he did not more reuerence Xauerius authority then admire his Humility But Francis had the Prelates of the Church in such speciall veneration and reuerence that he exhibited vnto them euen diuine honour almost as representing the person of God himselfe vsing with very great reuerence both to kisse their hands and someâ—ymes also to cast himselfe prostrate at 〈◊〉 feete Moreouer such was his singular Humility he not only bare these great respects and submissions to Prelates and their Vicars but also to priuate Priests and Clergy men carrying himselfe rather as a seruant to them all then as Legate Apostolicall Yet his exteriour Humility which is a token of the interiour was not the only marke his affections chiefly leuelled at but rather the interiour it selfe which consisteth in the knowledge and contempt of ones selfe For when in respect of his singular sanctity he was held for no lesse then an Apostolicall Man yet he esteemed himself to be the most wicked of all mortall men as may be gathered out of many of his letters Wherefore being a true Contemner of himselfe he no lesse detested prayse and honour the alluâ—ements to pride arrogancy then others do â—â—ate disgrace and dishonour For he so neglected both honour it self those that gaue it to him that all might playnely see he baâ—e most cordiall affection to that ancient Simplicity which in former tymes was neuer acquainted with flattery or ambition Wherefore he alwayes vsed great diligence to keep such thinges secret which he had done worthy of prayse or commendation and if at any tyme he were for the good of others constrayned to make them knowne he did it in such sort as you would haue thought they had â—elonged to some other not to himself And so wriâ—ing to those of the Society out of the Promontory of â—â—omoâ—â—nuÌ„ of things which he himself had there done 〈◊〉 attributeth the health which many sicke persons â—â—ad recouered by his meanes vnto certaynes Neoâ—â—hyte children whose help he had vsed therein alâ—hough it were neuer so litle Writing also of the heauenly Ioyes which God 〈◊〉 the same Promontory had bestowed vpon them who labour for his sake he recounted what had hapâ—â—ed to himselfe as appertayning to a third person without any equiuocation at all Nor was there any â—hing in him which more declared his singular modeâ—ty then a certaine remarkeable blush which straight â—rose in his face when he heard himselfe praysed as a manifest demonstration of his interiour Humility which we may see sufficiently declared by this one example At his returne out of the coast of Comorinum to God when Iames Borban asked him whether that were true which was reported of him to wit that he had restored a dead man to lyâ—e he was so wholy confounded and out of countenance through shame-fastnesse that Borban taking great compassion of him could not find in his hart to vrge him any further in that point Moreouer he was so farre from affecting titles of Dignity that for the space of ten yeares for so long he liued in those Countryes there was none but the Bishop of Goa only who knew that he was Legate Apostolicall so carefully he concealed the matter Neither did he euer discouer his authority vnto others vntill he was driuen therunto by necessity to curbe the insolent audaciousnesse of the Gouernour of Malaca wherin notwithstaÌ„ding he so moderated his authority that it seemed to be rather Humility then power And for as much as out of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh in all the Exhortations almost which he made to those of the Society he insisted most coÌ„monly vpon the perfect rooting out of Pride and selfe esteeme from their minds And he was wont to say that looke how much any one was in the iudgement and estimation of God so much no more ought euery one to deeme of himselfe although the whole world should otherwise esteeme of him Wherfore he admonished them neuer to extoll themselues for the good opinion which other men had of them and that ballancing themselues in their owne knowledge they should humble themselues and consider that they were far otherwise in their owne conscience and in the iudgement of God from that which they seemed vnto men For they who want the knowledge of themselues are soone puffed vp by the prayses of men thinking themselues to be such indeed as men esteeme them as though they were able to deceaue both God and men This also he was wont oftentymes to say with inward griefe of hart O arrogaÌ„cy the poyson of Christian vertue How much hast thou doest thou and wilt thou hurt the world How contrary art thou to the institute and perfection of the Society of IESVS What a deadly enemy art thou to the pious wholesome endeauours of those that be of that profession â—or he affirmed that none could be a true Child of the â—he Society of IESVS or imploy himselfe faythfully â—or God who did not contemne himselfe and thinke â—owly and humbly both of himselfe and of all his aâ—tions Wherefore as he could by no meanes away with such as too much esteemed themselues who eyâ—her vnder the colour of Humility or for the Nobiliâ—y of their Ancestours desired to be honoured so he â—are an extraordinary affection to such as were truly â—umble contemned both themselues and whatsoeuer els was theirs although they were persons of neuer so meane condition CHAP. IX His Magnanimity of Mind and Confidence in God THIS Humility of Francis did not for all that cause in him so abiect a mynd that he durst not ayme at high matters or aspire to any noble enterprize but putting his whole confidence in God and accounting nothing to be eyther hard or difficile to the magnanimity of his mynd be attempted euen the greatest things For whensoeuer the Honour of God required it he gaue way to no difficulty nor daunger so as he ordinarily attempted nothing which he did not effect or bring to some good passe This indeed is proper to the seruants of God to be humble and abiect in their owne sight but most couragious and constant in the affayres of God This magnanimity of mynd and slighting of all difficultyes dangers appeared manifestly throughout the whole course of Xauerius lyfe And indeed it oftentymes so farre surpassed the vsuall straine of ordinary Fortitude that it might haue bin accounted â—emerity if it had not depended rather vpon diuine theÌ„
humane assistaÌ„ce For in his iorney to Trauancoris when he passed through the midst of his enemies he seemed to thrust himselfe into manifest danger But far morâ— euident was that perill when he attempted to instruct the inhabitants of Maurica a Nation extraordinary fierce and cruell hauing no other defence agaynst those barbarous and sauage people but his confidence in God He also aduentured to passe in a Pyrates ship into Iaponia the furthest part of the East without any feare of danger although his deerest friends and such as were most expert therein presented before his eyes how many extreme difficulties there were Concerning which thing he wrote himself vnto the Prouinciall of Portugall in these words All my well-willers and friends are amazed that I am not afrayd to vndertake so long and dangerous a iorney They lay before me many dangers of teÌ„pests quicksands and Pyrates But I am no lesse amazed at them that they haue so little confidence in God in whose hands and power all those things are placed I for my part knowing for certaine that al things are gouerned according to God Almighties beck and commandment do feare nothing else but God himselfe least he should punish me according to the deâ—erts of my negligence and sloth in his seruice and â—f the obseruance of my Religion But as for other â—errours dangers miseries and crosses I do not at â—ll weigh them For I feare only God the maker and â—oderatour of all things because other things how â—urtfull soeuer they be cannot annoy vs but on â—y so farre forth as God permits them It is wonderfull also what Confidence he repoâ—ed in the diuine assistance So as hauing only God for â—is guide through so many dangers both by sea and 〈◊〉 and through so many Nations different in language and manners he penetrated to the furthest parts of the East and by his often passing ouer the Ocean â—e instructed those sauadge and barbarous Nations in the mysteries of the Christian faith and brought them at last to a ciuill life And indeed his Confidence in God did neuer fayle but alwayes freed him from the dangers both of enemies tempests and other calamities For to pretermit with silence other things wherof we haue already spoken in their proper places in passing ouer the Iaponian seas when as the Barbarians bent all their fury agaynst him he by diuine Assistance escaped all their machinations without any hurt or danger at all He also in the sea of Moluca suffered ship wrack thrice and once also he miraculously escaped by lying vpon a plancke after shipwracke tossed vp downe the sea without any hurt at all for the space of two or three dayes Moreouer he auoyded the fury of the Saracens who were set in armes against him by lying secret for many dayes togeather in a wood hard by Also he did not only defeate the strategems which his enemies had plotted against him by the force of armes but discouered their secret inuentioÌ„s also when as they sought to poison him And besides all this he very often escaped the incursions of Pyrates by sea as likewise of theeues by land Agayne being wholy inflamed with the loue of God he did not only contemne difficultyes and dangers but seemed also to imbrace them willingly Wherfore as desirous to suffer in the very midst of incommodities dangers he earnestly besought God not to free him from them vnlesse it were to vndergo greater for the glory of his diuine Maiesty And the diuine Goodnes corresponding sweetly to the magnanimity of his mind heaped vpon him store of sufferings and merits with no lesse approbation in the sight of Heauen then ioy comfort to himselfe He likewise in that most hard and difficile expedition into China shewed no lesse courage For notwithstanding as we haue sayd before that no stranger could enter the bounds of that Countrey without certayne danger of his lyfe or liberty the same penalty being designed as well for the stranger that entreth in as for him that bringeth him yet hauing an admirable coÌ„fidence in God who had moued him to that resolutition and to the vndertaking of that iourney he determined to commit his lyfe to the trust of a Chinese merchant which was no lesse doubtfull and dangerous then the entrance itselfe into China Concerning which he wrote himself to Francis Peren at Malaca to this tenour In this busines my friends bring two daÌ„gers against me the one least the merchant hauing already receyued his money may breake his promise and eyther leaue me in some desert Iland or else cast me headlong into the sea that so his bargayne of passing me ouer may not come to light The other is supposing he stand to his promisse least the Gouernour of the Citty may make me being a stranger an example to others of comming into China agaynst the Kings Edict without publicke warrant eyther put me to death by torments or else cast me into perpetuall prison Against these dangers I obiect others farre greater which themselues do not perceyue And the first is least we distrust the diuine Goodnes and Prouidence For we come hither for Gods only Cause to preach to these Countryes his sacred Law and his sonne Christ Iesus the Redeemer of mankind whereof God himselfe who gaue me this mind is my witnesse So as now to cast off our hope and confidence in his Diuine Prouidence and power for the dangers we are said to be subiect vnto in labouring for his cause ought certaynly to be esteemed a far greater danger then whatsoeuer the enemyes of God and Men are euerable to bring vpon me Especially seeing that neither the Diuels themselues nor their ministers can hurt vs at all but only by the permission and will of God What can we say to this That if God do approue and further our endeauours we shall by his fauour not only be deliuered from dangers but also follow the admonition of our Sauiour Christ who sayeth He that shall looâ—se his lyfe in this world for me shall find it Wherefore for as much as we hould these dangers of the soule farre greater theÌ„ those of the body we esteeme it far better and more secure to breake through those of this lyfe rather then to hazard the saluation of our soule I am fully resolued God willing to go into China in despite of all his enemies For if God be with vs who shal be against vs We do without all doubt go vpon great danger although there were nothing else but perpetuall seruitude But this consideration comforteth me that it is much better to serue in captiuity for Gods cause then to enioy liberty by running away froÌ„ the Crosse c. In which words he doth indeed sufficiently shew an vndaunted courage against all dangers And how much Xauerius contemned all the miseries of this world appeared also by another letter of his to Iames Perera whereof we haue inserted a clause in its
the liberality of the King of Portugall Loue of pouerty in his iourney Wayes into India A league of Portugall Prince Henry openeth a new way into India The Gardens of the Hesperides He instructeth the marriners the Soldiars in the ship He winneth by his sociable behauiour great sinners The difficulties of the Indian nauigation His incredible courage of mind In the ship he liueth by begging His constancy in keeping of pouerty His enduring of labour The discommodities of the torrid Zone The Promontory of Good Hope The IlaÌ„d Mozambicum His strength of body mind New labour in the wintering places His care of soules He falleth sick He refusâ—th to be carried out of the hospitall in to priuat houses 〈◊〉 sick he â—â—lpeth the sick A marriner being mad seemeth to be restored to his sensâ—s by F. his bed The opinion of Francis his sanctity The Citty Mâ—â—inda The Crosse in honour amongst the Saraâ—ens Mahomets Religion going to dâ—cay He lends his chamber and bed to the sick A cable rope is his bed The IlaÌ„d Socotora Gacizes like Curates Cacizes famous for abstinence The miserable conditioÌ„ of the Socotoreans He endeauours to instruct the Socotoreans by signes He baptizeth a great nuÌ„ber of children He desires to stay in Socotora Francis his letter to the King of Portugal They Socotoreans at Francis his intreaty are deliuered from the Saracens tyranny The description of India Goa the chiefe Citty of India The FraÌ„ciscans zeale of Religion The beginning of a Colledge in Goa The miserable conditioÌ„ of the Neophites The loose behauiour of the Portugheses in India He goeth to the Bisshop of India By great humility he wynneth the Bishop of Goas good will Francis lyeth hard by theÌ„ that are dangerously sicke His loue of pouerty in his apparell He vseth a coate of black linnen without either girdle or cloake He refuseth to change his old and ill-fauoured shoos for new He refuseth to change his torne ill fauoured shoos for new He helpeth prisoners with almes He serueth leapers He preacheth His priuate conferences The fruite of his sermons He causeth som to marry their concubines others to put them away He 〈…〉 to marry il fauoured wiues thereby to keep them froÌ„ adultery and concubines He calleth children and seruants together with a litle bell and teacheth them the ChristiaÌ„ doctrine He speaketh homely of set purpose The fruit of Catechizing Flying of honour He is called the Apostle in India He refuseth the gouernement of the Seminary Piscaria A deadly warre vpon a slight occasion Iohn de Cruz. CocinuÌ„ The Comorines are baptized The Comorines are forsaken by the Priests The Bishops loue to Xauerius The Viceroyes respect to him His loue of pouerty The Comorine PromoÌ„tory Intollerable heate of the sun Xauiers labours He dresseth rice for himselfe The Comorensians ignorance Their forwardnes in learning He vseth children for the instruction of their Parents and others The ChristiaÌ„ law in the iudgmeÌ„t of the very Ethnikes theÌ„ selues is conformable to reason He baptizeth whole villages His vertue ouer come by labour His teaching of yong children A womaÌ„ is by baptisme deliuered from the danger in child-birth He bapzeth a whole village He healeth the sicke dliuereth possessed persons A youth is raysed from death He suppresseth his miracles A boy drowned in a well is raysed agayne to lyfe Two restored to life He cureth the sicke by children He deliuereth a possessed person by the children Xauiers humility He is called Holy Father He taketh children to teach the catechisme with him His letter to the Queene of Portugall The liberality piety of the Queene of Portugall The Brachmans their religion The Brachmans wickednes and lewdnesse The Brachmans desire Francis his frieÌ„dship Pagods Francis his conference with the Brachmans The Brachmans approue of the ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ The ridiculous questioÌ„s of the Brachmans The Brachmans thinke God to be black Marc. 16. Math. A Brachman baptized teacheth children the Catechisme An iniury done to Francis is reuenged by God Aboundance of heauenly ioyes The multitude of those that were baptized Paul Camerts the first Rectour of the Colledge of Goa His notable shamefastnes at his owne prayses His concealing of miracles He bringeth some to help him in the coast of Piscaria He teacheth meÌ„ and womeÌ„ their Catecchisme apart What a care he had of baptizing infantes The Badages a sauage nation The calamity of the Comorinensians Francis his succour to relieue the neophyts in their misery The cost Trauancoris His notable courage of mind Gods prouidence The nuÌ„ber of those he baptized His maÌ„ner of baptizing He ouer throweth the temples Idols Atumult amongst the TrauancoreÌ„sians A memorable deed of his By the goodnes of God he escapeth death He is called great Father The multitude of those who followed him wheÌ„ he preached The vpland couÌ„try of India not fit to receiue the fayth of Christ The towne of Nagapatana The IlaÌ„d of Macazaria The Kings sonne with 600 more are slaine for Religion Prodigious signes of the Crosse They Iland Ceilanus Iob. 5. PrudeÌ„ce in taking away horrour in Confession He passeth 7. dayes without eating any thing He fortelleth the marriners a tempest neere at hand Meliapora the towne of S. Thomas The body of S. Thomas the Apostle Ananiuersary miracle A manner how to gayne help friends Xauiers Virginal chastity By diuine instinct he determineth to go to the furthest part of the East His confidence in God His constancy whilest the Deuils whip him He is sicke of the stripes His patience in suffering scoffes from those of the house His courage in combating with the Deuill The Deuills make a noise in tyme of Xauiers prayer He deliuered a possessed man by a child He hardly admitteth Iohn Durus into the Soety Luc. 9. His determination of flying away secretly is opened to Xauerius from heauen Malaca Conuersation of Ethnickes pernicious to Christians A wonderfull art to gaine lost soules His Prophecyes A possessed sick-man is freed froÌ„ the Deuill and cured of his diseases A Prophesy He commeÌ„deth in the night tyme to the peoples prayers the soules in Purgatory and men in deadly sinne The preparation of the Macazarians to receiue the Ghospel A Prophesy The wind obeyeth Xauerius Another Prophesy Amboynum Of his manner of going about FerdinaÌ„d Soza a Captaine of the Spaniards He relieueth the calamity of the Spanish nouy He foretels that Arausius will shortly dye The fruite which the Spanish nauy yielded Moluca Ilands Ternate the chiefe of the Moluca Ilands Prudence in recalling wicked men The barbarousnes of the Mauri The incommodities of the couÌ„try of Maurica Zeale soules Matt. 10. They go aboue to terrify him froÌ„ his resolution of going to that barbarous nation The intreaties of his friends Act. 21. Machab. lib. 1. He protesteth that if he caÌ„not get a ship he will swimme ouer He giueth to his friâ—ds backe agayne their me dicines against poyson Maurica Burning rockes Ashes are cast out of the rockes
proper place This greatnes of Xauerius mynd was not lesse against the insolency of Christians then against the threates and terrours of the Barbarians The Gouernour of the coast of Comorinum being a Portughese potent through his couetousnesse had held the Neophytes in cruell subiection Which when Francis vnderstood he threatned that vnlesse he carryed himselfe most mildly towards the Christians there he would by letters complaine vnto the King of Portugall of his insolencies and Tyranny Likewise he caused his companion to declare to a certayne Portughese Captaine who treated the new Christians iniuriously that vnlesse he ceased froÌ„ his cruelty he would be far more sauage then Herod because Herod slew only the bodies of the Innocents but he also slew their soules and this would certainly be the effect therof that if through his insoleÌ„cies the Fathers should leaue that Coast the little infants would dye without Baptisme The Gouernour also of Malaca who as we sayd before most iniuriously and obstinately hindred his iorney into China was by Xauerius who turned at last his patience into seuerity excommunicated and the sentence published formally in the Churches to the end others through feare to incurre the like ignominy might carry themselues as their duty requiâ—ed But nothing more declared the incredible greatnes of his mind then a certaine infinite desire as we may call it which he had to preach the Ghospell throughout the whole world For not contenting himselfe with the vast Countryes of India he extended his desires and endeauours to Malaca the Ilands of the Moluca's Maurica Iaponia China and in fine to all the East intending certainly to haue extended â—hem afterwards to all the parts of the world if his life had bin answereable to his feruour of spirit For he with such speed trauailed ouer the vtmost parts of the East that the huge vastnesse of Asia seemed too small a circuite for his couragious mind CHAP. X. His Charity to God and his Neighbours THIS so great Fortitude of mind in Xauerius was matched with the like Charity both to God men For throughout the whole course of his life there is to be found no one vertue more eminent then his desire of increasing the Honour of God and sauing of soules And no wonder for he was so greatly inflamed with such speciall loue of hauing cleane abandoned the world that he became now wholy wrapt in the perpetuall contemplation of celestiall things Hence it was that his soule being raysed to God the supreme goodnes and to the loue of his most bountifull Creatour and Redeemer held continually most sweet discourses with his diuine Maiesty nay euen then when he was most seriously imployed in conuersing amongst men Hence proceeded that inflamed loue to Iesus Christ his benigne Lord Sauiour repeating so ofteÌ„ in most sweet manner that most comfortable wholsome Name Hence also arose in him that burning desire of Martyrdome which finding no entertainmeÌ„t among the Turkes went on to the furthest parts of the Earth thirsting after the glory thereof by a thousand meanes amongst those sauage and barbarous people amidst euident danger of pestilent diseases shipwrackes and Pyrats so that Martyrdome it selfe fled rather from him then he from Martyrdome This boundlesse charity of Francis towards God â—had enkindled in his soule the like loue to men which neuer suffred him eyther to rest or to be weary This â—t was which made him euery where as it were a slaue â—o the sicke imprisoned and wretched persons and â—o feare no contagious or infectious disease euen wheÌ„â—he bodyes lay dead round about him This it was which pricked him forward to instruct barbarous â—auage Nations euen with euident hazard of his owne â—ife kept him amongst them as long as was needfull although he were extremely oppressed with waÌ„t of all things In fine it was this which causing him to â—leight the raging billowes of the stormy Ocean the â—cursions of Pyrates and inconueniences of an endâ—esse Nauigation drew him to the furthest part of the world to make the Iaponians also members of the Church who had no knowledge at all of the Gospell â—o as hauing passed so many seas instructed almost â—ll the sea coasting Countrys of the East in the fayth â—f Christ he was now come euen to the furthest end â—f the world The same charity to saue mens soules set 〈◊〉 on still with no lesse manifest danger of his owne 〈◊〉 to acceÌ„pt to get entrance into China which was so â—â—ured vp both with rigorous lawes strict watch 〈◊〉 as the insatiable zeale which he had of soules sufâ—red nothing to seeme impossible nothing terrible â—â—nto Xauerius But now after he had brought so many Nations â—nd people to the fayth of Christ it grieued him exâ—â—emely to be with-held from entring into China and hauing determined with himselfe the conuersion of the whole world be forced now to make as it were a stand at the begining almost of his endeauours And no doubt if he had liued vntill he had dispatched his expedition into China and had come backe agayne to Rome whither he was sent for by Ignatius he would haue byn a most potent meanes to haue reduced also those forlorne partes of the Westerne Church For in what office soeuer he should haue byn placed either of the Generall or of the Generalls Assistant he would neuer haue giuen ouer sending Religious men of the Society to cure the westerne Nations infected with Heresy vntill either there had byn none left who needed such cure or else his owne lyfe had left him It is incredible to say how exceeding zealous he was for the saluation of soules For at Malaca and else where in the East he imployed himselfe continually in hearing Confessions in making reconciliation betweene those that were at variance debate among theÌ„selues in helping the sicke wherein he so forgot himselfe that oftentymes he passed two or three daies without eating or drinking any thing in so much that one would haue thought he had byn fed which such exercyses seruices done to God And no meruayle for the zeale desire he had to help his neyghbours to propagate the Christian Religion was so engrafted in him that it seemed almost naturall To this all his forces were bent in this he was wholy imploied this was his only desire in this he tooke his greatest ioy to vnite as many as possibly he could to the flock of Christ Neither was his care greater in gathering new sheepe vnto that sacred fold then in attending those diligently whome he had already brought thither For he gaue them such godly precepts instructions that they scarce needed any other Pastor to help them Ludouicus Frâ—es of the Society of IESVS a man both of great prudence and pieâ—y gaue vp this relation That when himselfe first of al trauailed ouer the Iland of Iapon he came by chance to a castle there scituate in a corner of the Iland where he
met with three of the habitants of that country who asked him what was become of Francis Xauerius At which suddaine question he at the first stood a little astonished then pawsing a while vpon the matter he found that Xauerius had sometimes bin there amongst them and had conuerted many of the inhabitants to the faith of Christ had also built them a Church and so diligently instructed the Neophytes that Christian discipline continued stil amongst them without any other Maister For Xauerius being to depart from Iaponia had prouided for them for time to come giuen them written in their owne language the life of Christ and a briefe Summe of the Ecclesiasticall history as also the Roman Kalendar with a table of the moueable feasts a forme also for the inuocation of the Saints which we call the Litanies the Seauen Psalmes togeather with the forme and manner of Baptisme aduising thē to assemble themselues all togeather vpon holy Dayes and there to read something of the life of Christ and out of the holy Scripture to obserue the Festiuall dayes to inuocate the intercession of the Saints and to recite the seauen Psalmes Moreouer he ordayned that the clarke of their chiefe Guide should baptize the little infantes vnlesse some necessity otherwise dissuaded And the Neophytes hauing kept these precep◠which Francis had giuen them in memory were so throughly instructed in matters of Christian Religion that they came not farre short of those of Europe Wherupon Froes concluded that he had no more to say but that by Xauerius example Religion ought so to be sowen and planted euery where that it might be able to vphold it selfe by its owne proper forces And although Xauerius as much as in him lay ceased not at any tyme to aduance his Neophytes by those of the Society yet his Charity was not so imployed in helping of whole Cittyes Nations as that he neglected particular persons how peruerse and obstinate soeuer they were At his departure frō the Iland of Ternate of an exceeding great number of Christians that inhabited therin he left only two whome he could not draw to forsake their cōcubins Wherfore when he came backe to Amboynum compassion succeeding in place of indignation he wrote vnto a certaine Ternatian a friend of his intreating him to salute those two persons in his name in the most friendly manner he could deuise and signify vnto them that if they would at last resolue to arise out of the sincke of sinne he would presently make all hast thither in the meane time he would not cease to pray to God our cōmon Father for their saluation At Malaca also as he preached vnto the people there was oftentimes present at his sermons a certaine Iew a man of sufficient learning but as the property of that nation is most obstinate and who scoffed no lesse at Xauerius then at the truth it selfe He being intangled both in vices and errours stifly opposed the Ghospell and his authority kept back many other Iewes from the faith of Christ Francis therfore treating this man sweetly by all kind of obsequiousnesse and vsing to suppe with him in a friendly manner so wrought with him at last that being quite altered frō what he was became of an obstinate Iew a vertuous and deuout Christian And this Charity of his to his Neyghbours was not more forcible thē industrious There standeth betweene Goa and Cocinum a fortresse belonging to the Portugheses called Canonora much frequented by reason of a good hauen in that place Xauerius comming thither endeauoured by the way to draw a certaine person to make his Confessiō but in vayne wherupon he desisted for a while frō his intreaty that when the other thought himself secure he might at vnawares more forcibly set vpon him For being pressed hard therto as one most obstinatly bent he had passionatly sworne neuer to yield therein to Francis Therfore as soone as they came to land Xauerius resolued to try all the remedies he could deuise against so desperate a disease so faygning as though his mind were set on other matters got this obstinate man into a wood in a courteous manner vnder pretence of recreation beset according to the Nature of that Country with many Palme-trees As soone as they came into a priuy place where none could see them Xauerius suddainely casting of his clothes and baring his backe falleth downe vpon his knees presently the other standing amazed expecting to see the issue of so suddaine an alteration pulleth out a very sharpe discipline full of iron pricks and beating his owne backe extremely before the others face cryeth out that he willingly suffred that torment for his sake thereby to turne away Gods indignatiō from him In the meane time the Wood runge againe with the mighty stripes of the discipline and he that stood looking on in that amazement like one out of himselfe was all besprinkled with Xauerius his bloud Wherfore turning his admiration into compassion of hart he instantly casteth himselfe at Xauerius feete and beseecheth him to leaue off reuenging anothers fault vpon his owne backe for now he was ready to purge himselfe of his sinnes by Confession Xauerius being glad he had thus wonne the victory presently apparelleth himselfe hearing his Confession bringeth that wretched man backe againe into the right way and hope of saluation But now his Prudence industry was farre more seene in curing the diseases of the Citty of Malaca which was almost brought therby vnto a desperate state For when he perceiued the Malacensians minds to be so inueterate and drowned in the corruption of all wickednesse that they would by no meanes heare of remedy he being an exquisite Physitian of soules found out a new soueraigne antidote wherby to cure them Wherfore setting vpon them in a secret and couert manner he vsed to insinuate himselfe into the company of the souldiars when they were at their wanton sportes comming oftentimes vpon them as they were at play seeming as though he tooke delight in their game and conuersation and if any one vpon his presence or otherwise through shame-fastnesse absteyned from playing he in a sweet and friendly manner would exhort him to be merry for he also loued the like pastime and that souldiars ought not to liue like Monkes and if it were vsed without offence to God it was better to play and be merry then to speake ill of other men or to commit any other wickednesse Then hauing wonne their affections by this his gentle behauiour he would by all manner of obsequiousnesse insinuate himselfe into the greatest familiarity with them that was possible that so he might find out their secret inclinations thereby take some occasion to apply fit remedies to their diseases Now for others who were intangled with dishonest loue and kept Concubines he would oftentymes himselfe appoint certayne daies to dine or suppe with them where sitting at table and by bringing in