â—eginning with such feruour as if he had not byn inâ—errupted at all This singular deuotion of his in this kind was â—aused by the liberty of those times There had byn â—ately for the more ease and commodity of such men â—s had great imploiments a new Breuiary set forth of â—hree Lessons only called of the Holy Crosse the which â—as also granted vnto Francis at the first by reason â—f his weighty affayres Yet he although he were coÌ„â—nually imployed would notwithstanding neuer â—ake vse of that Grant but alwayes sayd the old Breâ—iary of nine Lessons although it were a great deale â—onger to the end he might haue therby more tyme to â—onferre with God in whose conuersation he tooke â—comparable content But aboue all his feruour of deuotion shewed 〈◊〉 selfe in celebrating the diuine mystery of the sacred Masse especially in the tyme of Consecration and Consummation of the Holy Eucharist For at those tymes he vsed so to weepe for ioy that his face bosome were all bedewed with teares There also appeared both in his pronunciation countenance and all the gestures of his body such a feeling of heauenly deuotion that it euen redounded to the standers by and strooke them into such a pious admiration that they oftentymes forgot themselues Moreouer there wanted not some who affirmed that whilest he was at Masse they saw him eleuated and lifted vp a little from the ground He had besides this a custome in his Masse before all other things to begge most earnestly of our Sauiour Christ the Conuersion of Ethnickes by that precious death which he had suffered on the Crosse for their sakes and for this end he oftentymes also added a prayer of his owne making which was this Eternal God maker of all things remember that the soules of Infidels were created by thee and man made to thine owne image and likenesse Behold O Lord how to thy disgrace Hell is filled with them Call to mind how Iesus thy blessed Sonne dyed a most bitter death for their saluation Doe not I beseech thee O Lord any more permit thy Sonne to be contemned by Infidels but being pacifyed by the praiers of Holy Men of the Church the most sacred spouse of thy Sonne remember thy mercy and forgetting their Idolatry and Infidelity make them also at last to acknowledge Iesus-Christ our Lord whome thou hast sent who is our Saluation and Resurrection by whome we are saued and deliuered and to whome be all honour and glory for euer Amen Now after Masse when he had giuen thankes to God he was alwayes accustomed to recite a certaine prayer for the Dead that euen then when he offered Sacrifice for the liuing he might also giue some refreshment to the soules departed His deuotion also â—n administring the most sacred Body of Christ was â—o lesse remarkeable then in the consecration thereof He had this custome peculiar to himselfe that where â—t could commodiously be done he would giue the â—oly Communion to the people vpon his knees The euent whereof declared how pleasing a thing it was â—o God For Cosmus Saraina the Physitian afore naâ—ed and many other persons of good account haue â—penly testifyed that they oftentymes saw Xauerius â—s he was in the Church at Goa communicating the people vpon his knees raysed vp miraculously more then a cubit aboue the ground so as one would haue â—hought that God had then exalted his Humility Moreouer he was extraordinarily deuout vnto the most B. Trinity For he vsed to adore and to name the â—ame with the greatest and religious respect that could â—e He bare likewise a most singular affectioÌ„ to Christ â—he worker of mans Saluation and was also specially â—euoted to the B. V. Mary the Mother of God the â—ost benigne Patronesse of mankind wherupon he â—ad gotten such an habituall deuotion by continuâ—ll practice therof that when he lay vpon his death â—ed he oftentimes implored the help of the most B. Trinity of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and of the B. V. Mary that so he might at his death call often vâ—on them to whome in his life he had alwayes carried such extraordinary deuotion Next vnto these he was singularly deuoted to S. Michael the Archangell Prince of the Court of Heauen and Patrone of the Holy Church Then hereuerenced the Congregation of all the Blessed Faithfull and of the Church the Spouse of Christ whose assistance he often implored Also in all his imployments iourneys miseries and dangers he very often implored the help and patronage of his Angell Guardian and of the Archangells and Patrones of those places where he made his abode or whither he went CHAP. VI. His purity of Hart and Chastity THIS excellent Deuotion which Francis had in Prayer was by the like Purity of his soule enflamed to behold God The which is not only manifested by the purity and innocency of his life but approued also by the assured testimonys of such as coÌ„uersed familiarly with him who haue solemnely auerred that they neuer obserued any thing in him which might be displeasing or giue the least offence to any This also is a further argument therof for that he did oftentimes euery day examine his Conscience with very great rigour and diligence seriously exhorted others also to doe the like a thing whereon he esteemed the perfection of lyfe chiefly to depend He vsed also to confesse euery day when he could haue a ghostly Father And this purity of his soule was much graced by the perpetuall sanctity of his body It is well knowne that he preserued the flower of Virgiginall Chastity euen till his dying day This the Vicar of Meliapora testifyed publikly that he found it to be certayne by the often conference he had with him in that place many others also who vsed to heare his Confession haue affirmed that they gathered no lesse from out of himselfe He bare indeed a most singular affection vnto Chastity as great was the hatred which he bare to the contrary vice in so much that hauing a detestation to the least staynes which might be in that kind he could not without horrour heare it once named as we may easily coniecture by that which now I am to recount Whilst he remained at Lisbone in Portugall expecting to go into India he lodged in the same chamber with Simon Rodriquez Being once vpon a suddayne in the dead of the night as he lay in his bed awaked out of his sleepe he became so vnsually moued that there gushed out a great deale of bloud from his nose Wherof when Simon ofteÌ„times asked him afterwards the cause he kept it close and would by no meanes speake of it as long as he was in Portugall Yet at last wheÌ„ he was vpon his departure ready to take shipping for India he tooke Rodriquez aside into a priuate place of the ship and said Now Simon quoth he it is time to declare
whose barke being finely combed spun and wouen after their fashion they commonly make themselues garments The people are altogether barbarous without any humanity for they haue no signe at all of learning among them But in cruelty they surpasse all other nations and so farre are their Natures made fierce by custome from sparing of strangers as they vse to murder and poyson euen one another after a most barbarous manner There was but one Priest among them who had care of their soules and him they had also killed so as they had bin long without a pastour The Country for the most part is often shaken with terrible earthquakes casting forth fyre ashes beaten vpon with huge waues of the raging sea so as you would thinke that God did punish theÌ„ heerby for their abominable sinnes Wherefore these manifold feares kept all strangers from coÌ„ming vnto them But Francis armed with an vndaunted courage against all dangers omitting as we haue sayd his iorney to Macazaria which was the cause of his comming thither resolued with himself to free them from eternall perdition although it were with euident hazard of his owne life Wherof writing to his friends in Portugall he sayth that to help these wretches with his owne manifest danger he was encouraged by those words of our Sauiour Qui voluâ—rit animan suam saluam facere pâ—rdet eam qui autem perdiderit propter me inueniet eam He that will saue his life shall loose it and he that shall loose it for me shall find it Which sentence he said seemeth very easy and playne in speculation but not in practice vnlesse God himselfe interprete in interiourly in our soule Neuer did his singular courage and confidence in God shew it selfe more then now For when newes was brought to Amboynum that Xauerius meant to go to Maurica the inhabitants were stroken into admiration as well at his vndaunted courage as also with commiseration by reason of the great dangers he was to vndergo And when they vnderstood that he was vpon the point to depart they presently flocke vnto him tell him that that place is rather a receptacle of wild beasts then of men That most of the Inhabitants haue their hands imbrued in the bloud of their Wiues Children Parents and Priests Therfore by Gods manifest wrath they are continually scourged with all kind of plagues both from the land sea and heauen it selfe and for this cause strangers are much more to be kept farre from their fury They moreouer declare vnto him that euery moment almost he was to be in euident danger of his life amongst those people who make but a pastime iest of murdring poysoning one another thirst after nothing more then humane bloud What prudence therfore could it be to preferre such dangerous places before those that were quiet What reason had he being a stranger to trust his life in their hands who as all wel knew tooke no other delight but in killing and murdering one another Whilest his friends stood beating these things into his head the dangers which they obiected touched no man lesse then himself who was to vndergo them But then they began with teares to intreate him not to make so litle esteeme of his owne life and seeming withall displeased they adde lamentations to their intreaties saying what Portughese is there in the world yea what stanger or Barbarian who knoweth Xauerius will endure that the instruction of a base Country should be bought with the hazard of his life Who can now hope that the chiefe stay of the East which ought to be perpetuall will continue long if so willingly he put his life into manifest danger forgetting that he draweth with him the soules of so many nations into the same ruine He should remember how the saluation of all India in numerable other Countries dependeth on his life If he out of incredible fortitude and courage of mind contemned all dangers yet at lest he should not draw with him the soules of so many people into hazard The desire of the common good should ouersway the particular especially seeing it is manifest that it was not worth the labour to instruct so sauage a Nation which had byn forsaken by their Priests not so much for feare of danger as out of despayre to do any good among them Wherfore they besought him for Christ IESVS sake the redeemer of mankind that he would not out of an vncertayne hope to saue a few cast both his owne life and the saluation of innumerable nations into certaine danger but would as well beseemed his prudence and vertue preserue himselfe for the Easterne Church or at least reserue himselfe for dangers answerable to the greatnes of his mind This piety of friends was more gratefull then pleasant vnto Xauerius Imbracing therfore ech of theÌ„ in a friendly manner bedewed with ech others teares he replyed almost to this effect Quid facitis flentes affligentes cor meum c. What do you weeping and afflicting my hart I acknowledge your fidelity and good will and thanke you because you haue omitted no signe of loue towards me But none of these dangers moue me considering what God commaundeth Let God prouide for these things who vndoubtedly is the author of this determination vnder the wings of whose protection I feare nothing at all For to whome may I better commit my person and life then to him who hath the disposing of the liues of all moralls A man that must once dye ought not to feare death which layeth hould on euery one though they feare neuer so much But a good death which is the entrance to immortality is to be desired And if I dye God certainly will not dye who hath both a farre greater desire of the saluation of Nations then I haue can also easily send labourers into his vineyard Neither is the fruite little which shall be reaped in Maurica for that is not to be estemed little where there is occasion of great merit I for my part if there be nothing else to hinder me refuse no perill or daÌ„ger for their saluation which being in hazard I am of duty bound to prouide for Vt fuerit voluntas in caelo sic fiat what is iudged fitting in heauen let that be done Then they out of the vehemency of their loue passing from intreaties to plaine force wonne the keeper of the Castle not to permit him to haue any ship to saile thence The keper therfore indeauouring although in vaine to draw Francis froÌ„ that enterprize aswell by alledging the same dangers as by the terrour also of present death when at last he saw he could not preuayle with him tould him flattly that he would suffer no ship to carry him thence To whome Xauerius replied that he feared neither dangers nor death where the honour of God saluation of soules was to be sought and that he esteemed none for
Iland fit for a sick person except a few almonds which were sent vnto him by a Portughese Mayster of a ship and that also too late For he did now so much loath al kind of food that he could not take any thing at all In the meane time perceauing that his last day was neere at hand he caused all such things as he had brought with him vnto the cottage to be carryed backe agayne into the ship to the end they might noâ— be lost Hauing now passed two whole dayes without receauing any sustenance at all as his sicknesse morâ— and more increased so also did his patience vertue more and more shew it selfe He had now layne fifteene daies in that poore shelâ—â—er of Cottage exposed to the wind and weather and in the cold of winter not only destitute of all humane help and assistance but tormented also with the veâ—hemency of his burning and mortall feuer yet bare he all these discommodityes and the violence of his sicknesse also with such a quietnes of mynd and admirable patience as cannot be expressed He was neuer â—eard to speake so much as one word either by way of complaint for the payne of his infirmity or to aske â—ny thing of any that were about him as men are wont to do in tyme of great sicknesse Nay contraâ—â—wise all his speaches and gestures were such that 〈◊〉 sufficiently appeared he accounted his infirmity 〈◊〉 be a very great benefit bestowed vpon him from God as a subiect wherupon to exercise himself in solid â—ertue to deserue an euerlasting crowne of glory One thing only there was which did a litle grieue â—im to wit that he should dye a naturall and ordiâ—ary death in his bed and be depriued of the crowne â—f Martyrdome which he had so vehemently desired â—specially seeing that he was at that time as it were vâ—on the point to obtaine the same But being not ignoâ—nt that the Glory of Martyrdom was a free guift of God the which was oftentymes denyed to those who â—esired it giuen to others that thought least on it â—e conformed his will to the disposition of the diuine â—rouidence quietting his mind by thinking himselfe â—â—worthy of so great an honour Now the violence of his infirmity growing more 〈◊〉 more vehement fully declared the sanctity which was so deeply ingrafted in him For as we see most commonly in others when they are tormented with payne then their corrupt nature most of all manifesteth it selfe but in Francis contrarywise there appeared at this tyme a true and solid piety For that he vsed the selfe same actions almost when he lay euen a dying that he was wont to do wheÌ„ he was in health sometymes casting his eyes to heauen and speaking to Christ our Sauiour with a ioyfull cheerful countenance as though he had byn visibly present at other times reciting certaine Verses out of the Psalmes with great feeling of deuotion repeating very often these words the like Iesu Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me And Thou O God take pitty on my sinnes Mary Mother of God remember me c. Wherein he spent two whole dayes The last houre of his lyfe was now come Wherfore holding a Crucifix in his hands and fixing hiâ— eyes stedfastly thereupon he fetcheth many a feeble sigh and often cryeth out O Iesu God of my hart perpetually mingling his prayers with his teares vntil both voice and lyfe did fayle him And thus combatting most valiantly both with his infirmity anâ— with death it selfe vntill the last gaspe vpon the second day of December being the Feast of S. Bibia the Virgin calling incessantly vpon the sweet Name of Iesus and Maria with all content and quietnes oâ— spirit he rested in our Lord and rendred vp his souâ— to heauen there to accompany those whome in hâ—â— life he alwayes bare in hart and at his death were nâ—uer absent from his mouth After he was departed there still appeared such â—heerfulnes sweetnes in his couÌ„tenance that the beâ—uty of his body was an euident demonstration of the â—eatitude of his soule He died about the 55. yeare of â—is age ten yeares after his arriuall in India in the â—eare of our Lord 1552. A man without all question â—dmirable both for true vertue incredible courage â—f mind and aboue all for the feruent desire he had â—o conuert Ethinckes to the Ghospell of Christ He â—euer refused any labour or danger whatsoeuer for Gods cause yea not contenting himself with the salâ—ation of all India other Nations bordering theron â—e comprehended the whole East within the bosome â—f that Charity which esteemed the whole world to â—tle for him to do good in Wherfore hauing planted â—he Ghospell of Christ and the Society also throughâ—ut the whole East almost at the very tyme when he â—as thinking how to get into the hauen of Cantona he â—anscended the waues of this mortality arriued at â—he hauen of eternal blisse there to set vpon the Chineâ—es by his forcible praiers in the sight of God And there â—s no doubt but that he who is now Blessed in heauen â—ath by his contiuual praiers vnto God opened a way â—nto China not only for the Society of IESVS but â—lso for the Portughese merchants and the Christian Religion For a litle after Francis his death there was generall leaue graunted to the Portugheses to resort â—nto the Port of Cantona and there to make their aâ—oad for traffique sake it being the generall opinion that Xauerius had by his prayers opened that way inâ—o China which was before so straitly barred vp on euery side And about 30. yeares after this agayne when as the Chineses kept not so narrow a watch vpon their coastes as before they were wont to do some Fathers of the Society of Iesus emulating therin Xauerius his vertue got entrance at last into China there by Gods fauourable assistance layd the foundations of Christian Religion CHAP. XII His body is buried in quicke Lime AS soone as it was knowen that Francis waâ— departed this lyfe for his feuer being morâ— dangerous then it seemed had deceyued aâ— men but himself the Portugeses that werâ— left in the IlaÌ„d being as it were strockeÌ„ dead with thâ— doleful newes came running presently to his Body aâ— if they had hastned to their Fathers funerall Al place about the cottage were filled with cryes lamentatâ—ons then followed a dismall silence with an earneâ— longing to see his body Which assoone as they beheâ—â— to be as it were the picture of his soule to represeâ— to them the eternal felicity which he inioyed they fâ— agayne vnto their former weeping since they couâ—â— neyther satisfy their harts nor eyes with so louiâ—â— and most amiable a spectacle Xauerius was of a well set and strong body tall 〈◊〉 stature though not much aboue the ordinary pitcâ— fayre of complexion and of a gracefull aspect Hâ— countenance was exceeding cheerfull and
easily perceiued that Xauerius knew what he obiected to him by diuine reuelation for speaking humanely he could neuer haue knowne it Wherefore accusing himselfe and acknowledging his fault he presently by Confession washeth away the spots of his soule which he well saw were so abominable in Francis his sight Hauing also asked another friend of his at Cocinum how he did and he answered well Well indeed quoth Xauerius in body but not in soule Vpon these words the man who was at the same tyme plotting I know not what villany and wickednesse in his hart pricked in conscience confessed playnely that Francis could better iudge how he did that he himself and so confesseth his sinnes entierely vnto him and leauing off quite his wicked determination recouereth agayne his soules health which Xauerius had perceyued was wanting in him Moreouer the day before he departed this life casting a sterne looke vpon one of those who atteÌ„ded on him when he lay sick cryed out thrice with a pittyful voice Wo be to thee Which lamentable denunciatioÌ„ of his was not in vayne For shortly after the party hauing bin a long while in tangled in dishonest loues was vpon the suddaine slaine and dyed miserably So that Xauerius thrice crying out might seeme to haue denounced vnto him a triple misery to wit the wouÌ„d of his conscience his bodily death the destruction of his soule CHAP. III. In his life time he vvorketh miracles of all kinds MORE OVER Xauerius vertue hath shewed it selfe most admirable in almost all kind of miracles wherof we will recount in this place some few contenting our selâ—es to haue touched the rest briefly in other places As concerning Deuils he did not only ouercome them â—ftentimes in single combat when at Meliapora in S. Thomas his Church he contemned their frights and threates although he were cruelly beaten by them and againe in his nauigation into Iaponia when as with an inuincible fortitude of mind he preuailad against their deceipts and subtilities But oftentimes also both in the coast of Câ—morinum Malaca and in other places he cast them out of postest bodies partly by himself partly by the Neophytes whome he sent vnto them And this vertue of his was no lesse seene in curing of diseases then in casting out Deuils by diuine power For to passe ouer with silence many whome he freed both from feuers and other diseases in the foresayd coast of Comorinum as we haue before demonstrated as well by himselfe as by the children whose help he vsed in teaching there the Catechisme going one day to visit Michael Fernandez who was excedingly tormented with the Stone in the Iland Ceilanum he willed him to take courage and to put great confidence in God telling him withall that he would the next day say Masse for him and did not doubt but by Gods grace he should recouer his strength both of body and mynd sooner then he could haue expected And euen so it fell out iust as he foretould He likewise helped those who were ready to dye and eyther through the defect of nature or else by some casuality wanted their senses or members For it is sufficiently knowne that at Amangucium he restored a lame man to his former strength two others that were dumbe to their speach and two lykewise deafe vnto their hearing Many also that were brought vnto him being ready to dye he presently restored tâ—â— their corporall health being out of all hope of recouery by making only the signe of the Crosse and casting of Holy water vpon them At Goa also as we shewed before in his returne from Iaponia visiting one of the Society who was giuen ouer by all and reciting the Gospell ouer him he deliuered him euen out of the iawes of death Neyther did he deliuer only such as were ready to â—ye but restored also those that were all ready dead â—o lyfe agayne For it is euidently knowne that there were three dead persons restored to lyfe by him in the â—oast of Comorinum But that is very strange which 〈◊〉 recounted of him in another kind There was a cerâ—ayne Portughese merchant whome we will not name for his credit sake very industrious practicall 〈◊〉 many things who at Francis his first comming into â—aponia had contracted great familiarity with him â—ut returning backe some years after into India liued â—here more warily then honestly To him therfore Xaâ—erius on a tyme appeared whether he were then a â—arre off or already dead is vncertayne denouncing â—nto him that God would speedily be reueÌ„ged of him â—nd when the other straight confessed that he had â—â—deed well deserued no lesse Thou hast quoth he â—â—uly deserued it who hast committed such a detestaâ—â—e sinne and withall named a certayne heynous ofâ—â—nce which no mortall creature knew but he himâ—elfe Whereupon the merchant being put in mind of â—â—is secret sinne of his was presently strucken to the â—art and with admiration cryeth out Certainly Faâ—her this hath him reuealed to you by God Goe to therfore since you haue seene the sore prescribe also the cure and shew me who haue gone astray the sure path so saluation Thou shalt then quoth he enter into the Order of S. Francis which rule if thou diligently obserue thou shalt be certainly saued For I perceiue thou art as it were borne and made for that Order aboue all other He presently obeyed his wholsome counsayle as though he had byn commanded by a voyce from heauen afterwards much reioycing at the happy euent related the whole matter to others Xauerius moreouer wrought very many miracles of other kinds There is a Town standing beyond Malaca called Semorra by which there runneth a broad and deepe Riuer They who dwell vpon the Banke therof being set on by the instigation of the Diuell threw many stones and darts at Francis who being eagerly pressed and pursued by those Barbarians remoued without difficulty a huge beame that lay ouertwhart the banke and hindred his way from flying thereby escaped and saued himselfe whereupon thâ— Barbarians being astonished and amazed at so miraculous a thing were terrifyed from pursuing him any further for they playnely saw that that beame coulâ— not be styrred without the strength of many men therfore that Xauerius had remoued the same by diuiâ— ne not humane power This which followeth was euer scarcely heard oâ— At Amangucium in Iaponia he preached dayly to thâ— Bonzies and other Ethnickes the Christian Religioâ— After his Sermon the inhabitans being a Nation nâ— lesse vehement then insolent agaynst strangers aâ— â—ed of him very maliciously one vpon another many questions concerning that which he had preached Xauerius therefore when he was vrged thus by so many at once with diuers sundry questions often satisfyed them all which is very admirable to be recounted with one answere as though he had answered euery one a part This was testifyed by one Bernard a Iaponian a man of sincere vertue and
tractable nature if euill custome had not corrupted it Being therfore a yonge man of a great spirit with froward and ouer-thwaâ—â— answers oftentimes of set purpose carped at Ignatius and his words yea and sometimes also in very reproachful maÌ„ner scoffed at his excellent piety but he on the other side vsed al the sweet meanes he could to reclaime him from his insolency And not in vaine for Patience at last ouercame Pertinacy And Xauerius being by little and little made tractable by that so gentle courteous vsage began to beare some respect towards to him and at last touched by Gods diuine spirit left himselfe to be wholy ruled and guided by him But it is a great matter to go to God with a free mind wholy discharged of all other affections For Faber indeed contemning all things of this world and hauing now for the space of foure yeares frequented the holy Sacraments according to Ignatius his aduise it was easy to perswade him to cast off all other cares and make himselfe a souldiar in that battaile wherein Christ himselfe carrieth the prime Banner But Xauerius still feeding his mind with vaine hopes imaginations of Honours although he imbraced the same course of life yet stifly resisted the holy Ghost would not follow his Captaine Christ going forth vnto him out of the Campe carrying his reproach He was for other things pious and tractable but in this one thing hard to be dealt with all For which cause Ignatius begged him of God more earnestly with teares which were not lost For Francis his hart being thereby very much â—ollified commeth at last to bend and receauing a 〈◊〉 stroke from heauen concerning the saluation of his soule vpon a time entred into himselfe and began silently to thinke examine what Nature on the one side and what Vertue on the other could say for theÌ„selues Shall I saith he giue eare to God who cals â—akedly follow my naked Sauiour But then I must vndertake an hard and abiect course of life Shall I neglect Gods call and still retaine my Reputation manner of life which I haue begun But then I am in great danger that if I draw backe when God calleth he wil with indignation laugh at my destruction But how shall I be able to beare the bitternes ignominy of the crosse What then shall I rather choose to take part with the enemies of Christ his Crosse whose end is destruction and glory in their confusion with what face shall I looke vpon myne aquaintance How shal I endure to heare what my companions will say But to be drawen from a vertuous and blessed course of life by mens speaches is an argument not only of extreme lightnesse but of meere madnes also What exceeding great sorrow will this vnexpected newes bring to my friends and kinsfolke But shal the loue eyther of Parents or any mortall creature whatsoeuer touch me neerer then myne owne saluatioÌ„ neerer then the loue of God and Christ himselfe With these and such like contrary cares he stood wauering with a perplexed doubtfull mind and hauing spent some dayes in these kind of cogitations at last this coÌ„bat was ouercome he yielded himselfe to God who had vrged him so hard and vpon a suddain changed into another man he began to looke vpon the author and consummatour of Faith Christ Iesus who ioy being proposed vnto him susteined the Crosse contemning confusion And first as by Ignatius help he was raysed vp so by Ignatius help he remained constant in his resolution And from that time being as it were borne a new more ioyfully happily then before he yielded very rare and goodly fruit of Christian perfection being now more like Ignatius then himselfe CHAP. III. His Feruour in the mortification of his body and study of Perfection FOR within a little while he sought with greater desire after mortifications contempt of himselfe then he had before after dignities and honours such for the most part is the property of excellent dispositions to apply themselues wholly to whatsoeuer they take vpon them Francis therfore ayming at the highest toppe of Sanctity began first as the custome is to combat with his owne body For knowing the flesh â—o haue contrary desires to the spirit he resolued to â—ring it vnder that the vntamednes therof might be â—o hindrance to him in the way of Christian perfectiâ—n Wherfore both in his yonger dayes all his life after he did no lesse often theÌ„ zealously vse the ordiâ—ary austerity of fasting disciplines and hayrecloth as fit meanes to tame moderate disordinate affectiâ—ns and to make satisfaction for sinnes And euen at â—is very entrance into this new war-fare he gaue manifest tokens of his noble disposition and courage For being in his yonger yeares accustomed often â—o leap amongst his Equals companions in a field â—eere to the Citty that being then the only sport wherin he tooke delight vpon a certaine tyme he tooke ouermuch content in his owne agility of body wherin he far outweÌ„t all the rest in leaping wherfore as soone as he had altered his course of life although that offence had byn but light yet he mortifyed himselfe for it very seuerely For binding his body very hard with a small cord which caused him intollerable paine he went some dayes together in that manner and to purge his mynd of the pride he had taken therin he exercised himselfe all that while meditating vpon deuout matters that the greatnes of the paine might restraine both his mind and body from the like excesses heerafter And this hard hand he kept ouer his youthfull motions as well to excite and stirre vp his mynd as to make satisfaction for his sinnes As he was once imployed in those pious considerations which we call spirituall Exercises and therin endeauouring by abstinence to bring vnder make subiect the vnruly motions of his body out of a desire he had to obtaine a coÌ„plete victory ouer himself he was carryed something to farre abstayning foure whole dayes from eating any thing A rash attempt indeed but yet faultlesse being excused by the feruour of his new beginning and youthfull yeares For nothing is more hard or a greater step to vertue then the maâ—stry ouer ones selfe but for Nouices and new beginners neuer to exceed whilst they follow the battaile in their feruour is a thing rather to be wished then hoped for Wherfore Xauerius continually striuing with diligent care ouercomming himselfe became euery day to grow stronger therein That which most of all helped him was his often and deuout meditation vpoÌ„ the life and death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and his vnspeakeable Charity the greatest incitements to the loue of God and christian perfection And the more those pious meditations increased in him the loue of God so the more his hart was set on fire with a desire of sauing soules and suffering of
martyrdome Which thing went so farre at last that as the sonne of God had deliuered himselfe to death for his saluation so he againe vowed himselfe wholy and entierly for euer to employ himselfe for his glory the saluatioÌ„ of soules And to the end that nothing might separate â—im from this Charity of Christ by the aduise of S. Ignatius he determined togeather with the other companions who were then nine in nuÌ„ber to bind â—imselfe to God by certaine vowes which might be 〈◊〉 meanes to bring him to the crowne of Martyrdome In the yeare therfore 1534. they for that purpose assigned the feast of the Assumption of the B. V. Mary intending therby to haue her both witnesse patronesse of their vowes When that day was come they hauing their minds set on fire by continual meditation met all togeather in a Church neere Paris called Mons Martyrum that the place might adde flames to their earnest desire of martyrdome Where after they had heard masse and fortified themselues with the sacred Eucharist replenished with spirituall ioy they make their vowes and dedicate themselues to God The summe of their vowes was this that hauing finished their course of Diuinity dispossessing themselues of all things they would in perpetuall pouerty employ their seruice for the glory of God and the saluation of soules and that vpon a set day they would go to Hierusalem there to labour for the conuersion of the Turkes with eminent hazard of their liues And if by chance this determination of theirs should be hindred by any accident at the yeares end they would go to Rome and offer their endeauours to his Holines towards the saluation helpe of soules without exception either of time place or mention of prouision or allowance for their iourney Vpon the making of these vowes there followed a new but yet pious custome of often renewing the same thereby to keep them fresh in memory and increase a religious deuotion towards theÌ„ They madâ— these vowes not only that yeare but also renewed theÌ„ euery yeare vpon the same day and place with the same solemnity alacrity and fruite as long as they studied at Paris But Xauerius vsed this custome oftentimes by himselfe with great feruour finding by experience that by often renewing his vowes he found his vigour and strength of mind againe renewed like the youth of an Eagle And this great desire of perfection in vertue was no hindrance at all to his studies but there was a tyme when he manifestly shewed that he tooke more delight in being a souldiar of Christ theÌ„ in his studies for whose only sake he now employed himselfe therein CHAP. IIII. He goeth to Venice vvith extreme payne of body HE had now almost finished his course of Diuinity when presently he was to depart for Italy For the Fathers had agreed among themselues that vpon a set day to wit the 24. of Ianuary 1537. they would meete al together at Venice with S. Ignatius who was gone thither before vpon certayne occasioÌ„s In the meane tyme before the appointed day of their iourney came France was all 〈◊〉 in armes by reason of Charles the fifth his warre â—ade vpon the Frenchmen which accident made â—â—em hasten their determined iorney by setting aside 〈◊〉 care of ending their course of studies Xauerius was iâ—deed much grieued for this hindrance but yet carâ—â—ed it discreetly esteeming it as good to leaue his studies for Gods sake as to follow them Therfore vpon the 13. day of Nouember a most â—nseasonable tyme of the yeare hauing according to â—â—eir vowes giuen all they had to the poore except â—nly their writings and some litle thing to help them 〈◊〉 their iorney he togeather with his other company â—â—tteth forth on the way Their manner of trauailing â—as this They were cloathed in course and old habits â—â—ery one with a staffe in his hand and a short leather â—â—antle vpon his shouldiers like poore pilgrimes about their neckes they hunge their beades therby to be knowne for Catholikes as they trauayled amongst heretiques and their writings they carryed at their backe in a little bagge They vsed euery day to coÌ„municate being the only comfort of all their labours therby both to renew their forces reuiue their spirits being wearyed with paynfull trauayle When they departed from their lodging they allwayes commended themselues to God when they came into it they gaue him thankes Being vpon the way they first spent some time in meditating vpon heauenly matters then they vsed some pious discourse together and now and then they lightned the labour and wearisomnesse of their iorney with singing of hymnes Psalmes and spirituall Canticles In this manner for the most part taking his way into Italy through Loraine and Germany to auoyd the troubles of the warre he endured the Autumne showres of France and the winter coldes of Germany And although he were not accustomed to trauaile on foote yet he cheerfully vndertooke and performed this so longe tedious iourney being loaden with his writings and this in the dead of winter and through most fowle wayes many times eueÌ„ couered ouer with snow and frozen vp with ice especially as he passed the Alpes And besides the weight of his bagge and badnes of the way he voluntarily vsed another mortification which put him to intolerable paine so great was his courage to indure all incommodities and labours for the loue of God For before be began his iorney he had for a good while togeather either to exercise himselfe in patience or else to mortify his body tyed about his armes and thighes little cordes which through continual stirring about necessary busines of the house had caused the flesh to swell and therby gauled him most pitifully Yet so great was his desire and courage to suffer that albeit the iorney he was to go on foote was so long and hard he would not for al that take of those cordes which did so much afflict him When therfore this torment being of it selfe very paynfull was now seconded with so hard a iorney on foot the extreme griefe which the cords did put him to was also very much increased But he being no lesse couragious in enduring torments then in vndertaking them kept on his way and did not only coÌ„ceale but also conteÌ„ne all the paine he felt therby For he hoped that that might by vse custome be asswaged as well as other corporal molestations which he had made triall of But when the vehemency thereof daily encreased his confidence being turned into care he began to faint not through want of courage but of strength At last therfore when he could no longer neither dissemble nor endure the violence of the payne being through necessity constrained to â—ield he sweetly intreated his companions to pardon â—im for he was indeed so weary that he could not go one step further They at first wondred to see him who before was all feruour
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
leagues I meane those leagues which vsually amongst the Portughese marriners conteyne euery one three miles And in this circuite the Equinoctial line which through the heat of the sunne is extreme scorching cutting of Affricke almost in the midst must necessarily be twice passed The first who with as great courage as skil adueÌ„tured vpon this so long hard away was Prince Henry sonne to Iohn King of Portugall the first of that name 〈◊〉 man very well experieÌ„ced in the Mathematicks The â—ause of this his attempt was that he might by laying â—pen a new way haue for himselfe and the Portugheses friendly trafficque with the King of Aethiopia commonly called Prestre-Iohn whome he knew raygned in the furthest part almost of Affricke not farre from the gulfe of Arabia This designement hauing prosperous successe three Kings of Portugall following to wit Alphonsus the V. Iohn the II. and Emanuel the I. prosecuting the same by litle and litle brauely fortunately opened and fortifyed a way euen into India it selfe For they tooke the Ilands which lye vpon the cost of Affricke and many other commodious places where the Portugheses haue their garrisons euen to this day Xauerius therfore making this circuit into Iâ—dia put to sea from Portugall vpon the eight day of 〈◊〉 April in the yeare of our Lord 1541. He went in the 〈◊〉 ship with Martin Alphonsus Sosa newly made â—â—uernour of India He had of the Society two comâ—â—nions only F. Paul Camertes a Priest of singular verâ—â—d who being assigned by Ignatius had accompaâ—â—ed him from Rome and Francis Mansilla a Portuâ—ese who had in Lisbone ioyned himselfe companion 〈◊〉 him They met by the way in this their iourney â—ith many things worthy to be obserued they being â—â—deed learned men and very skilfull in Geometry â—hilosophy and Astrology In the mediterranean sea â—â—ey discouered many Ilands of note lying vpon the â—â—omontory of Affricke some lesse some more distant â—â—oth from one another and also from the continent Amongst these are the Fortunate Ilands commonly called the Canaries and the Ilands of Promontorij viridis which some are of opinion were the gardens of the Hesperides the three daughters of Atlas so much spoken of in the Fables of Poets And by these remarkeable places the Nauy passed so neere that most of them were witâ—â—â— sight Besids this the sky being very cleere and the sea calme they saw many vnusuall strange kind of fishes to the great admiration and delight of the passengers But Xauerius although he did not indeed contemne the knowledge of such things yet thinking with himselfe that he went not to fetch learning or pleasure out of India but for the glory of God and saluation of soules began himself within the ship to set forth sights more gratefull to God more profitable to men The chiefe Admirall-ship was rather like a Towne then otherwise being full not only of marriners but also of souldiers the Gouernours retinew merchants seruants to the number of a thousand persons or therabout Francis therfore as soone as he was entred into his iourney began togeather with his companions to employ himselfe in the most diligent manner he could in procuring the saluation of his neighbours by instructing the marriners and passengers and soldiers in the Christian doctrine partly by reprehending their ill behauiour and partly by exhorting them to cleanse their soules from all filth of sinne And not in vaine For thereby the custome of swearing was taken away many of deadly enemies became friends many confessed their sinnes with sorrow of hart and many were reclaymed from a bad to an honest life Xauerius carried alwayes a cheerfull countenance winning the affections of all by the sweetnes of his behauiour And for this cause some who were euen drowned in most abominable vices villanies who coÌ„monly could not endure the sight of a religious man were much delighted with Francis his most pleasing conuersation And he knowing well how to deale with such kind of dispositions drew them at first by sweet meanes and by litle little from their bad courses and when at length he found them tractable then he incited spurred them on in the way of piety vertue In the meane tyme God afforded him matter answerable to his generous and vertuous mind This tedious and laborious nauigation as commonly it hapneth had so extremely worne out the marriners and other passengers that now very many fell sicke in the ships and their victuals greatly increased the same For they fed continually vpon salt meates oftentimes vpon musty bisket besides they had for the most parte no other drink but stinking corrupted water which by reason of the nature of the liquour and small quantity thereof did rather increase then allay the extreme thirst which the salt meates caused in them So as the bad humours of such vnwholsome diet being disperced through their veines ingendred in them diseases no lesse grieuous then deadly For their gummes swelling after a loathsome manner and breaking out into horrible vlcers did not only put the sick men to great torment but also which was most miserable made them that they could not eate And this contagion by litle and litle increasing through their griefe of mynd and want of necessary commodities began to spread it selfe ouer the whole multitude who were much thronged vp in straite places for want of roome For though the King had besides necessary prouision of victuals appointed for euery ship an Apothecary-shop of excellent drugs which is no small comfort for sicke persons yet the same could not suffice the great number of the diseased The great feare also of the infection as it hapneth made euen friends themselues to leaue off the care of one another euery man to prouide as well as he could for his owne safety So as the sicke being destitute both of phisicke and attendance dyed not more through the coÌ„tagious disease then for hungar which was a worse plague Besides the filth of the ship did so extremly annoy these poore wretches that it was farre more troublesome and loathsome vnto them then vnto the others who were in health Xauier therfore when he saw the ship wherin he sayled full of sick persons calling to mind what he had accustomed himselfe vnto at the beginning of his coÌ„uersion gaue an euident proofe of his benignity and vertue That which hartned him on would haue made another afrayd He saw the hatches of the ship strowed not only with sicke bodyes but also with halfe dead he knew the disease to be very infectious he saw deaths grisly lookes before his eyes Yet for all this turning feare into charity and knowing it was a kind of Martyrdome to hazard ones life by such contagion for the sauing of soules he resolued to help the sayd sicke the best he could And so he presently began to heare the confessions of those who lay a dying he cleansed the sick mens
signes of his propheticall spirit and charity AS soone as he found opportunity of passage whither he intended he put to sea at Malaca hauing Durus aforesaid for his companion vpon the 10. day of Ianuay in the yeare of our Lord 1546. hauing had a prosperous nauigation he arriued at last at his desired hauen but not without many incommodities For the maister of the ship casting about to come to the Iland of Amboynum and now thinking he had gone past the Hauen was exceedingly troubled being out of hope to get to his intended place because the wind was ful against him But Francis bad him be of good courage for the ship was not yet past the place as he imagined and that the next day in the morning he should arriue safe at the port which he desired And so it fell out although they had very ill weather At breake of day the next morning they were in sight of the Hauen But the wind was all that while so boysterous and great that it seemed vnpossible by any meanes to cast ancker therby to set Xauerius a land which was the only cause of their comming to that Iland As soone therfore as they were come to the mouth or entrance of the Hauen vpon a suddaine that blustring wind as though it obeyed Xauerius ceased in such sort that the ship came very commodiously into the hauen But now behould a second danger euen in the very Hauen it selfe Xauerius with a few others had gotten into a litle boate to row to land when as on a suddayne they fell vpon two Pyratical ships The Portugheses who were in the boate with Francis made away with al speed therby to auoyd meeting with the Pyrats And so putting suddainly into the mayne for feare they were carryed a great way from land But now hauing auoyded the danger making towards the land agayne they were put into a new feare least they might perchance meete with the same Pyrates againe Francis therfore fortelling what would happeÌ„ bad them be of good comfort row without feare to shore for by Gods goodnesse they should come safe to land And the euent proued true as he had prophecyed When Xauerius was landed he was very courteously receyued by the inhabitants being also before sufficiently recommended vnto them by fame of his sanctity Amboynum is about some 80. miles in compasse and is an Iland of speciall note vnder the Portugheses dominion much frequented both by merchants and the people of that country It is distant from Malaca aboue 900 miles There were then in this Iland besides the garrison of Portugheses seauen other townes of Christians without any one Priest among them all for he who only had bin there was lately dead Francis therfore going about to those desolate townes baptized many infants and children His manner of going was this Hauing a boy carrying a crosse before him he himselfe asked at euery dore if they had any sick any children to baptize or any dead to bury If he found any sick lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen he receiâ—ed ouer them the Creed the Ghospell And oftentimes with one and the same labour he cured the sick both body and soule He also solemnly buried them that were dead saying first the vsuall funerall prayers afterwards masse for their soules so that a question might be made whether he more assisted the liuing or the dead But whilst he sought to deserue well of men God out of his prouidence gaue him a very speciall subiect to worke vpon About the same time Ferdinand Soza Captaine ouer certaine Spaniards comming from New Spaine which is a Country in the other world not further distant from Amboynum then from Spaine and going to the Moluca's arriued with his whole nauy at Amboynum There were many ships a very great number of marriners souldiers an incredible multitude of sick besides a cruell pestilence that had taken away many Spaniards whereupon it manifestly appeared that God out of his singular bounty had sent Xauerius before to be ready to assist help them For presently his inflamed charity began to set vpon the violence of that pestiferous disease assisting some by seruing theÌ„ and reconcyling others by the Sacrament of Confession One while he comforted the sick another while he assisted such as lay at the point of death and buried those that died with funerall obsequies Thus he being but one man performed the office of many But his greatest labour of al was to procure of those that had meanes things necessary for the poore and sicke and to seeke about with vnspeakable labour paynes medicines for their diseases whereof in that place there was great scarcity Therefore hauing oftentymes begged such thinges of one Iohn Arausius a Portughese merchant who had great store of such like wares he at last tooke it ill was very angry to see that he made no end of begging So as when vpon a tyme one asked him some such drugs in Francis his name he with much grudging gaue at length what he demaunded but tould him therewithall that he should aske him no more Which thing comming to Xauerius hearing presently by diuine instinct What quoth he doth Arausius thinke that he shall long inioy those things which he hath He is surely deceiued Go tell him from me that he need not be so sparing of his wares which death wil shortly take from him that he himselfe will dye ere it be long in this very Iland and that his goods will fall to the share of the poore therfore if he be wise let him largely bestow what he hath vpon the sicke poore people for Gods sake and make his benefit of that which may help him after he is dead The euent was answerable to what he foretould For not long after Arausius dyed in the same Iland leauing no heyre behind him his goods were distributed amongst the poore according as the custome is there when one dyeth without heyres and Arausius being stroken with the terrour of death which was declared to him to be at hand became more wary of his owne carriage and more liberall also of his drugs to the poore He spent three monthes for so long the Spanish nauy remayned at Amboynum in seruing the sicke to their exceeding great good both of body and soule Yet Xauerius his diligent endeauours were no lesse profitable to the whole then to the sicke For he neuer gaue ouer to drawe out the corruption of their minds both by the medicines of the Sacraments and by priuate and publike exhortations Which labour of his was not in vayne For he reaped indeed plentifull fruite of peace from those warlike people many priuate grudges were taken away many were reduced to see their owne errours to betake themselues to a vertuous life Amongst whome Cosmas Turrianus who came in the Spanish Nauy being moued by Francis his eminent sanctity resolued to
or crazed in the braine wherein they were absolutly confirmed when they heard it reported that Peter Vellius hauing gotten a Masse sayd for his soule had shut himself vp in his house there expected deaths comming They therfore came vnto his house by troupes endeauoured one after another to draw him from that melancholy cogitation But he carrying himselfe with a cheerfull contenance shewed manifestly that he had no griefe of mynd and withall very ioyfully openeth to his friends Xauerius his prediction and the euent thereof At last when he had tould them the whole matter he intreated that they would euen that very day keep the funeralls of Peter Vellius who was presently to dye It so fell out indeed for being well stroken in yeares he was presently taken away by suddayn death and the very same day his friends accompanied his Corpes to Church being greatly astonished and amazed partly at his departure and partly at Xauerius prediction In the meane tyme as Francis was going to imbarke himselfe in Perera's ship turning vpon a suddayne to those that accompanied him who were many in nuÌ„ber Let vs quoth he pray to God for the Citty of Malaca which is pressed by the Enemy that besiegeth it if any one can affoad any help to it in this distresse let them make hast least they come to late when all is lost This fearefull saying wrought much in them all â—ither by reason of the Malacensians daÌ„ger or els for the â—iraculous prophecy it selfe for Malaca was distant â—rom thence 900. leagues or thereabout Through this â—each of Francis they all fell together to their praiers â—or was it in vayne For whilst the marriners were â—reparing for this their iourney Iames Perera aforeaid being much moued by what Xauerius had spoken â—ade prouision both of armour and souldiars to assist â—he besieged Whome when Xauerius perceyued to be 〈◊〉 such care through feare of danger wherein the Maâ—censians were Away Iames quoth he with this feare â—nd preparation for warre and giue God thankes toâ—eather with vs For now Malaca is by the diuine Goodnes freed from the siege wherby all might perâ—eaue that the Malacensians were succoured by the â—rayers which were lately made for them vnto God Now Xauerius imbarking in Perera his shippe â—hey arriued vpon the fortith day after their deparâ—ure froÌ„ Iaponia at Sincapura a hauen Towne 120. miâ—es distant from Malaca and where they remayned â—ome few dayes From thence Xauerius least any thing â—ight peraduenture hinder his iourney at Malaca â—rote letters to the Society there aduertising them of â—is returne warning them to prouide him with all â—peed of all things necessary for his voyage into India â—or that he was in very great hast The chiefe season â—or commodious passage into India was now a good while past when they departed from Sincapura towards Malaca intending from thence to passe into India Wherfore Perera was very anxious doubting that there was not at that tyme of the yeare any ship to be gotten at Malaca to transport Francis vnto Goa Then Xauerius Iames quoth he be not afrayd but cast away this care For Anthony Perera hath now stayed for vs a good while with a shippe ready for our iorney The euent shewed presently after that what he said was true As soone therfore as they came to Malaca they find Anthony who had now three dayes expected the comming of Xauerius with a ship fraught and ready to set forth And withall they vnderstood that Malaca had byn lately straitly besieged by those of Iaua a barbarous people that border vpon them and that it was freed from the siege danger at the very same time that Francis had foretold As soone as it was reported abroad that Xauerius was returned out of Iaponia to Malaca presently there came vnto him great concourse of al sorts to congratulate with him for his safe returne For when he departed for Iaponia he had coÌ„mitted himself to so long dangerous a nauigatioÌ„ euen against their wils to their great griefe and sorrow But as soone as newes was brought that he was safely returned agayne at Malaca the whole Citty presently making a procession to the Church of the Society gaue there publike thankes to Almighty God demonstrating thereby the great affection which they bare vnto him Wherfore his safe returne togeather with the good newes of the conuersions he had made in Iaponia brought aboundance of ioy vnto the whole Citty CHAP. IIII. At Goa he cureth one that vvas ready to dye and taketh account of vvhat the Society had done since his departure FRANCIS hauing stayed at Malaca some few dayes for the comfort of the Society which there resided imbarketh himselfe in the shippe which had now byn there a â—â—od while ready and with a prosperous gale arriâ—â—eth at Cocinum where he is receiued with the geneâ—â—all ioy and gratulation of all the Citty Now at the â—â—ery same time that Francis arriued at Cocinum there â—â—ere shippes ready bound for Goa Wherfore making â—â—se of the benefit which was at haÌ„d he presently with â—â—ll speed maketh hast thither As â—oone as he was lanâ—â—ed he went as his custome was to the hospitall of the â—â—cke before he would go to his owne house of the Society After he had in a sweet manner comforted the â—â—ck he went vnto the Colledge being earnestly expeâ—â—ted there by all his Society Where after he had most â—â—ouingly tenderly saluted imbraced them all one â—fter another that he might not seeme more courteâ—â—us vnto externes then to those of his owne family â—â—e asketh whether there was any sick in the house To whome it was answered that there was only one Wherupon he goeth presently vnto him before he went to his owne chamber The Patient at that present lay in great extremity and was watched day and night by some of the Society who had care of his soule All things were now prepared for his buriall yet the sickeman himselfe although he was then euen ready to giue vp the ghost was not out of all hope of life saying oftentimes with a broken and dying voice that if Xariuss would come before he were dead for he was euery day expected he should certainly by his merits prayers recouer his health although euen then despayred of Francis failed not to answere to the sicke mans hope and assoone as he entred the chamber he saluteth him as he lay euen a dying reciteth the Ghospell ouer him and deliuers him from death so as being instantly eased of his paynes not long after perfectly recouered his health One would haue thought that God had so disposed the matter that both the sick man should expect the comming of Xauerius and Xauerius make hast on his iorney to come to him After this incredible ioy was conceyued not only by those of the Society but also by the principall of the Citty for Francis his safe returne who greatly longed to heare how matters
any of the â—risoners to imbrace the fayth of Christ they would â—fterwards when they were set at liberty bring their owne family to the same fayth and might also if it were Gods blessed will procure his freedome also so to propagate the Christian Religion Now though Xauerius in respect of the peruersity of men found no humane assistance in so hard and difficult a businesse yet for all this placing a firme confidence in the diuine Goodnes he resolued to go forward into China and try what he could do alone hoping at least that if he could not himselfe enter into the kingdome he might yet open a way therinto for others of the Society and leaue an example to them that should come after him of what himselfe intended and desired to haue done He therefore sendeth three of his coÌ„panions to wit Baltazar Gage Edward Silua and Peter Alcaceua into Iaponia departeth himselfe from Malaca with one companion only a Chinese for his Interpreter And at the gate of the Towne shaking off the dust from his feete as Christ had commanded his Disciples to do he denounceth to that Citty wrath from heauen and many other miseries And as he had denounced so it fell out For shortly after the Citty was so wasted and exhausted with warre famine and plague that being before of great resort it was almost left vnpeopled Now Xauerius although he were not ignorant that Perera the Embassadour was much afflicted by reason his Embassage was thus hindred and for the great expences also which he had byn at in setting forth the same yet for al that he could not be induced to speak with him at his departure least by imbracing one another both their griefes might be increased as ordinarily it hapneth Wherefore hauing a greater feeling â—ng of Perera's griefe then his owne he writeth vnto â—im from out the ship a most friendly letter assuring â—im that the contumely togeather with the dommage â—hich he had incurred would one day turne both to â—is great gayne honour Which fel out accordingâ— For that by the King of Portugall to whome â—rancis had most earnestly commended him he was â—fterward raysed to great wealth and dignity Xauerius leauing Perera the Embassadour behind â—im imbarked himselfe for China in a ship of his by â—is permission whereby the very ship it selfe might â—ut him in mind both of the loue to his deerest friend â—nd of the benefit he had receyued from him Now a â—ttle before his going away the Vicar commeth to â—im aboard intreated him that he would salute the Gouernour before his departure from Malaca least â—e might giue occasion to the people to thinke he was â—ot in charity with him if he went away without due saluatations But Francis inflamed rather with the zeale of Gods honour then with any anger whereto notwithstaÌ„ding he was iustly prouoked Shal I quoth he go to salute one that is cast out of the Communion of the faythfull Assuredly I shall neuer heerafter either see him or he me in this life nor after death also but then when I shal accuse him in the valley of Iosaphat before the supreme Iudge for that being blinded by his most wicked and base couetousnes he hath hindred so great an haruest of soules As for the rumours speaches of meÌ„ I do not any whit feare them seing it is manifest that he is excommunicated therfore all men ought to fly his company and conuersation which I desire may be made knowne to all by my authority and example Nay rather quoth he it may be feared least by my saluting an Excommunicate person the Censure wherwith the Pope hath bound him and the paine of the excommunication should be extenuated and so I might perhaps because that others by my example would conuerse with him without any scruple Wherfore I pray yow let him alone with his owne busines for he shall certainly neuer haue me his friend as long as he hath God his enemy When he had dismissed the Vicar with this answere who was not able to make any reply therto he putteth to sea in the moneth of Iuly making all the hast he could from Malaca But comming to make some stay at the straits of Sincapura being not vnmindfull of his friends he againe comforted Iames Perera the Embassador who remained still at Malaca afflicted for this late accident with a letter full not only of affection but piety also earnestly beseeching him to cure the wound which he had receiued with discretion and prudence and from thenceforward by vniting his soule to God more feruently by the Sacraments of Confession and Communion to seeke thereby secure meanes of consolation and to conforme himselfe wholy to the diuine will For there was no doubt but that disgrace griefe would one day turne vnto his honour and comfort Then betaking himselfe againe to sea his two Companions fell into a long and dangerous sicknesse in the tending and curing wherof Francis his charity and patience was continually employed to the end that the Louer of the Crosse might neuer be without his Crosse And so hauing a prosperous nauigation he came to China the third moneth after his departure from Malaca CHAP. VIII He endeauoureth though all invaine to open a passage into China THE Country of China is the furthest part of Asia inferiour to no one RegioÌ„ therof in largenesse of extent nor number of citties and Townes For it is said to be in length â—boue 400. leagues and in breadth 300. And the Cityes therin are so fraught with inhabitants that the â—ultitude being more then they can hould the very â—uers themselues are couered ouer with ships and inâ—abited like Townes Towards the East South it 〈◊〉 compassed with the Ocean On the North side it is â—iuided from those Scythians of Asia whome we call â—artarians with a most vast and almost endlesse wall â—he West side therof lyeth towards the furthest part â—f India The Chineses themselues being a people more inâ—yned to peace then warre liue al vnder the obedieÌ„ce â—f one King There be no petty Kings nor Princes â—mong them as in other Kingdomes but one King only ruleth ouer them all He appointeth Gouernours ouer euery Prouince and is alwaies by them informed of the most important affayres of euery place These Gouernours are not brought vp in the Court but in Academyes For by their Lawes those that be of the Kings bloud and alliance haue neuer any thing to do with the gouernment of the Kingdome Out of these Academies are chosen men famous both for eloquence and knowledge in the Lawes and these are made Gouernours ouer Cittyes and Prouinces but yet neuer of their owne Prouince or Citty They ordinarily esteeme so basely of their Gods that when either their prayers do not take effect or any ill fortune befalleth them they whippe and beate their Houshold Gods like slaues One would thinke there were no Gods among them but their owne
After the Portughese ships were gone Francis as the property of hope is neuer to giue ouer still expecting the Chinese merchant employed himselfe with neuerthelesse diligence in his accustomed exercises of Charity to gayne thereby by Gods holy assistance the victory ouer Sathan who as he perceyued vsed all the stratagemes he could to defeate his endeauours But God whose counsayles are vnsearchable wayes incomprehensible had otherwise determined of the busines and being content with Francis his endeauour reserued the glory of conuerting the Chineses vnto others who were to come after God being therefore greatly delighted with the inflamed hart and desyre which Xauerius had both to labour and suffer pleased to bestow vpon him rather the reward of all his trauayles formerly taken for his sake which were both many and great then to open the way for him to new And so vpon the very same day which was appointed for his passing ouer into China he fell into a sicknes whereof soone after he dyed His disease was caused by themhumanity of his Host For when the ships departed towards India Francis his Host also changing his mynd and violating the right of Hospitality being eytheâ— taken with some toy the head or prickt forward with desire to be gone departed in all hast without euer taking his leaue of Xauerius his old friend and guest nâ— not expecting a ship which himselfe had lately boughâ— in another Iâ—and of China For Francis according tâ— â—â—is custome going to say Masse was accompanied with â—â—is said Host who leauing that sacred mystery wherat â—e was present and forsaking his guest departed the â—land more like a fugitiue then a friend Xauerius as soone as he had done Masse and made â—â—is accustomed recollection sayd the prayer for the â—ead looking about perceyued that his Host was abâ—ent and inquiring what was become of him anâ—were was made that he was shipt in all hast with the â—est for Malaca Then Xauerius Verily quoth he I am â—frayd that his conscience being guilty of some heiâ—ous sinne suffereth him not to rest in quiet through â—he wrath of God towards him For what meaneth â—his ouerhasty speed Behould the ship which he hath â—ately procured to be bought is hourly looked for yet â—s he loath to expect her But let him go in Gods name â—o Malaca from whence he shal neuer depart for there â—he wretch will soone end his dayes Of these two Prophecies the one was presently verified and the other not long after For they who were present were scarcâ—â—y come out of Church when the ship he had bought vpon a suddayne appeared in sight wherat they were all stroken into admiration and esteemed Xauerius as a â—man sent from God And his Host as was afterward verifyed a few dayes after his ariuall at Malaca goâ—ng into the forrest to prouide himselfe of wood was murdered there by theeues and so made a miserable â—â—nd for that he had byn the cause of Francis his vntimely death But Xauerius knowing he was not long to liue fortold the same to some familiar friends yet after a manner no lesse profitable then admirable As he was one day in an assemby of Portugheses Let vs see sayd he how many we are heere for within a yeare most of vs shall dye This Prophecy was more true then ioyfull For of seauen who were then present fiue dyed that very yeare whereof Xauerius himselfe was one who certaynely both foresaw and foretould that his owne death was at hand For that about the same tyme also he by diuine instinct no doubt 〈◊〉 forgetting all humane things began to haue a great desire to see God which was no small token of theâ— beatitude wherunto he was now approaching Wherupon he wrote in a certayne Epistle That although he had vntill that tyme desired to haue lyfe graunted him for the seruice of Christ and the propagation oâ— his Ghospell yet now those liuely sparkes were grow 〈◊〉 en but cold in him through a burning desire he had oâ— seeing and inioyning the diuine Maiesty CHAP. XI He endeth his life in a most holy manner THE suddayne and vnfriendly departurâ—â— of Xauerius Host constrained him to beggâ— his victuals And so much the more 〈◊〉 his pouerty afflict him by how much 〈◊〉 more scarse all things were made by reason of thâ— strict watch which the Manderino's made who peâ—mitted no man to transport any victualls out of Châ—◠〈◊〉 Which incommodity he most patiently indured â—auing his mynd fixed more vpon Euangelicall poâ—â—erty then vpon his owne necessity wherefore he â—â—ought good not to seek out any new Host but heerâ—fter to prouide his victualls by begging But now alâ—â—ough his mynd being wholy desirous to suffer did â—â—aliantly encounter with so great difficultyes disâ—ommodities of all things yet his body could not â—hoose but be much broken therby being euen worne â—ut as well with age and continuall labours as with â—is late sicknes also whereof he was not as yet perâ—ectly recouered Besides this he was greatly afflicted 〈◊〉 mynd through the care and sollicitude which his â—esire of going into China caused in him Being therefore sicke not in body only but alâ— in mynd earnestly wishing his soule might by â—eath be freed of all her anxietyes about the twelfth â—f Nouember he fell agayne into his former sickâ—es He had scaresly made an end of saying Masse for â—he dead when as a mortall feuer came vpon him to â—pen him the way to lyfe eternall Wherfore sicke â—s he was he withdrew himselfe into the same ship which brought him thither partly to visit the sicke â—herein as his custome was and partly also to take vp â—is lodging there among them yet some few daies afâ—er his sicknes grew so violent that being not able to â—ndure the tossing of the ship he was constrained to â—o agayne to land A Portughese Merchant therefore â—â—eing such a man as he so pittifully tormeÌ„ted with an â—oat burning feuer and lying abroad in the open ayre â—moued to compassion towards him inuiteth him presently in a courteous manner to take a lodging with him and bringing him home to his house which stood alone vpon a litle hill being indeed more turly a cottage then an house vsed him very liberally considering the want of all things at that present And taking a great care of his health he intreated him to suffer himselfe to be let bloud Xauerius although he knew well inough what kind of Phisitians that desert Iland could affoard sayd notwithstanding that for all things which belonged to the cure of his body he would most willingly put himselfe into the Phisitians hands And this he performed with all alacrity and resignation seeking all occasions whereby to exercise his obedience He therfore was let bloud not without great paine and conuulsion of his nerues After which there followed in him a certayne loathing of all meates although indeed there was not any meate to be gotten in the
The Noblemens children make reuerence to Xauerius What kind of eloquence the Japonians haue The King of Bungo standing vp expecteth Francis his comming Xauerius maiesticall couÌ„tenance The King of Bungo his testimony of the Christian fayth A Bonzies arrogancy The Bonzies fooleries The Kings temper The pride inteÌ„perate tongue of a Bongy The King inuiteth Xauerius to dinner The King giueth to Xauerius from his owne table The King by Xauerius persuasion reformeth both his owne his subiects maÌ„ners Not minding his meate he attends to the sauing of soules A noble Bonzie being conuinced and conuerted to Christ professeth his fayth in in the market place 500. Iaponians wonne to Christ in one day Xauerius prudence Pouerty a disgrace amoÌ„g the Iaponians A crafty deuise of the Bonzies The pride of a Bonzy The Bongies PythagoreaÌ„ fooleries concerning the transmigration of soules He conuinceth the Pythagoricall fables The peeuish pertinacy of a Bonzie The King of Bungo his prudeÌ„ce Xauerius couragious spirit By the Gouernours meanes the Portugheses vndergo the danger with Xauerius The CoÌ„ditions of the disputation The Portugheses new affections to Xauerius The Bonzies bills of Exchange The Bonzies shut out of heauen poore people and women New disputation with other Bonzies The King leadeth Xauerius to his lodging The Bonzies rage The King of Bungo giueth an house to the Society of IESVS The King weeping at Xauerius departure Francis his exhortatioÌ„ to the King The King of Bungo his desire to protect and propagate the ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ When the King of Bungy was baptised he would be called Francis Why he determined to go into China The descripâ—ion manners of the Chineses The couÌ„try of China shut vp against Christs Ghospel His care of the Society Francis imployeth himselfe to help the ship being in danger He deliuereth out of danger the ship almost cast away A prediction of the boates returne to the ship The boate of her selfe cometh to the ship side Francis being in the ship was seene at the same time also in the boate He foretels a calme sea Iames Pererias notable bounty Peter Vellius his great liberality A notable Prophecy A double Prophecy The Hauen Sincapura A Prophecy At Malaca he is receiued with great ioy gratulation of all As soone as he came to Goa he visiteth the sicke He recouers one of the Society ready to dye The FraÌ„ciscans Dominicans industry The King of Tanoris baptized In the PromoÌ„tory of ComorinuÌ„ there are numbred 400000 ChristiaÌ„s A memorable fact of Father Gaspar Barzaeus The force of the Crosse The Dominicans commended Cyprians notable vertue An IndiaÌ„ like another Simeon dyeth after he had imbraced Christ The piety and liberality of James Perera Gaspar the low countryman FraÌ„cis his vicar The Towne Diu. The summe of Francis his letters to the King of Portugall An exaÌ„ple of ChristiaÌ„ humility A triple Prophecy A teÌ„pest by Xauerius is calmed through Gods helpâ— Francis notable moderatioÌ„ when he was iniured His moderation in excoÌ„municating He dealeth with the Gouernour by a third per son as the Iapouians vse to do The Embassage into China hindred Xauerius opinion of excoÌ„municated persons A grieuous prophecy He by his prayers obteyneth of God paÌ„nance for the Gouernour of Malaca His desire to propagate the faith He shaketh of the dust of his shooes A denouncing of calamities He auoideth by all meanes speaking with an excommunicated person CoÌ„forts in sadnes and miseries are to be obtained of God by the Sacraments The description of China The customes of the Chineses The IlaÌ„d SaÌ„ciana The Chineses exclude strangers Francis his inuincible courage in time of daÌ„ger The Magistrates of China's cruelty towards strangers His zeale of soules The loue of the Crosse Math. 10. Xauerius humanity towards the Portugheses Francis being left by his host falleth sicke A double Propheâ—ey Xauerius liues by begging He agayne falleth into his former sicknes He is entertained by a Portughese in a cottage He promptyly obeyeth the Physitian The grieuous paines of his sicknes His Ioathing of his meate His excellent patience He departteh this lyfe When he was dead he opened away into China The Portugheses feeling of Xauerius death He is pur into the ornameÌ„ts of a Priest vnsleâ—kt Lime is put into the Coffin Francis his body is found entier 4. monthes after The Malacensians zeale in receauing Xauerius body Xauerius funerals at Malaca A sick-man is healed by touching his body Bloud floweth out of Xauerius dead body the 5. month after Francis his body intier the 9 month after his death The veile died with fresh bloud The zeale which the Cocinensians shewed in going to visit Xauerius body Honour giuen to Xauerius by the mariners others Francis his body is intier 16. monthes after his death Francis his shirt also nothing the worse after so many monthes buriall His funerall at sea A great concourse to Xauerius body His land funerall An incredible coÌ„course to Xauerius body By order from the Viceroy a Physitian examineth the integrity of his body The Bishops Vicar againe examineth the matter The King of Portugall maketh meanes to haue Francis Canonized The King of Portugal letters to the Viceroy of India The Viceroyes Inquisition after Xauerius acts He being at Malaca foreseeth a danger which the Society vnderwent in Portugall A Prophecy of fayre weather in the feare of shipwracke He foretels the speedy death of theÌ„ that were in good health A prophecy of a ship to perish in the haueÌ„ By diuine light he seeth his frieÌ„ds sinnes how loÌ„g he had abstained from coÌ„fession He seeth that his friend was in his hart plotting a great sinne He being ready to dy foretelleth destruction of one that accompanied him He miraculously cureth the stone By miraculously repreheding a very wicked man he makes him become a Francisciscan He with one answere satisfyeth many of the Iaponian questions He giueth gould which he had miraculously receiued to one that had suffered shipwracke He vseth strange meanes to make a gamester at dice detest that play The oyle vessell which was emptyed was miraculously filled agayne He by his prayers curreth a childfull of vlcers The Inquisitors and Vicars testimony of Xauerius sanctity His testimony also of them tegrity of his body An excellent PhisitiaÌ„s testimony of the integrity of his body A sick woman by doing reuereÌ„ce to FraÌ„cis his body is cured Xaâ—erius girdle cureth many great diseases A GeÌ„tle man recouereth his sight by applying Francis his haÌ„ds to his eyes The key of his shrine driueth away the rheume A principal woman desiring to visit Xauerius is recouered of a great sicknes Francis his discipline restoreth many to their health Two Fathers in Europe recouer their health by calling vpon Francis Being called vpon at Paris he obteineth an easy deliuery for a woman in child-birth His night prayer As often as opportunity serued he prayed in the Church He goeth into solitary places to pray His prayer in the ship His feruour in prayer