the punishments which a little after fell vpon them For the yeare following Malaca was greatly afflicted by a stronge siege of the Saracens of Iaua who also wasted the country round about And besides the calamity into which that cruell warre had brought them there followed a contagious pestilence which spreading it selfe throughout the whole Citty caused a great mortality both of the Cittizens and strangers in so much as the same became half desolate whilst God reuenging the former sins of the people raysed vp as it were a new Citty Xauerius therfore foreseing these euils to hang ouer their heads from heauen and to appease in some sort the wrath of Gods diuine iustice so to dispose the inhabitāts minds to indure those miseryes which were neere at hand after many threats agaynst them warned them often to looke seriously about them And not in vayne for many being stroken with the horrour of Gods diuine indignation moued to compunctiō arose out of their deadly sleepe and came againe vnto themselues Amongst many passages of this kind a certaine wonderful act which Francis there wrought did not a little moue the whole Citty There was a yong man of that Country called Antony Fernandez who by the Deuils cruell tormenting him had lost the vse of his tongue and was withal fallen into a most dangerous disease wherof he had layne now three whole dayes in despaire giuen ouer by the Phisitians Wherfore his friends and kins-men being superstitious and wicked people bring vnto him certaine Sorceres a kind of diuellish Physitians for remedy But when their Witchcrafts did no good Xauerius is sent for who was no soeuer come into the chamber where the sick man lay but presently he beginneth to rage cry out and writhe about his face eyes and mouth after a foule and vgly manner you would haue thought the Deuill were now rousing himselfe for the combat which he saw to be at hand There you might haue seene Francis moued both out of compassion towards the yong man and hatred against the Deuill to fetch many a deepe sigh Then presently falling vpon his knees he first offereth himselfe by earnest prayer vnto God and then began to exercise the raging yong man after the accustomed manner wherein he continued vntill comming to himself he remained somewhat quiet without so great vexation as before The next day Xauerius hauing said Masse for the yongman commeth agayne with courage and alacrity to the battayle A wonderfull thing that obstinate and importune foule Spirit which tormented him being suddainly vanquished and driuen out the sickman presently recouered both his speech and senses and remayned free from any corporall infirmity There was nothing which euer made Xauerius sanctity of life more remarkable both to the Christians and Barbarians then this For heerupon he began to be ordinarily called the Holy Father hauing his old name now renewed at Malaca which he had left behind him in India His name grew also famous and much renowned by reason of a certaine prophecy which he afterwards vttered in this manner Vpon a tyme demaunding of a Portughese Merchant who was to go into India in what ship he meant to go The merchant pointed to a certayne ship that lay there in the road I would not haue you quoth Francis go in that ship But when the merchant answered that he had already put his merchandize therinto yet if he thought there were any daunger he had rather haue his goods cast away then himselfe Xauerius recollecting himselfe a litle as though he had taken aduise of God vttered this Oracle since quoth he you haue put your merchādise into this ship you may also venture your life therein But if any tempest or other accident happen beware you do not cast your goods ouer board but haue a firme confidence that God will send you help which will free both you and your goods from danger The euent afterward shewed him to be no false prophet For the ship in the midest of her course being driuen by a violent tempest was cast vpon the sands Now the marriners being affrighted at the suddayne danger went about the lighten the ship of her burden by casting ouer board her loading when as the merchant remembring what Xauerius had commaunded him forbad them so to do in any case telling them what the holy man had fore tould and withall promising them by that which he had sayd that God would assuredly succour them Which presently proued true For the sea comming vpon a suddayne ouer those sands the ship was straight afloate and so escaping that danger arriued safely at the hauen by Gods Xauerius assistance The newes heereof being afterwards brought to Malaca it is wonderfull to say how much it increased his credit and esteeme of sanctity In the meane space Francis did not only omit any thing of his former old exercises of Christian Charity but also inuented new For after the sunne was set he going vp and downe the Citty with a litle Bell by some graue sentēce or speach admonished the people to call vpon Gods diuine clemency for the soules which were tormented in Purgatory and for them that were in deadly sinne Which new inuention being no lesse profitable for the liuing then for the dead did not a litle set on fire the Malacensians harts These labours of his wherby he restored the Christian discipline wholy decayed in the Citty of Malaca were much increased by no small employment which he tooke in translating with the help of an Interpreter the Christian doctrine into that language which the Macazarians did also vnderstand to whome he greatly desired to go moued therto by the often good tydings which came from thence For that about the same time newes was brought that the people of that country were greatly inclined to receiue the seed of the Christian Fayth because there were no Temples of Idols amongst them nor Idolatrous Priests to draw thē to the worship of false Gods They only adored the Sunne when it rose and besids that they had no other God at all Nothing now seemed longer to Xauerius then that day when as hauing turned the Catechisme into their language and vnderstood the state of the Iland he might go to instruct them yet in the meane tyme he furnished himselfe with contemplation of diuine things but specially with heauenly prouision for the vndertaking of so great a charge For after he had spent whole dayes in offices of charity he would in the night defraud himselfe of his sleepe and sit vp watching in prayer and meditation that so he might come vnto the Macazarians wholy inflamed with heauenly fyre and burning loue both to God and men He had now spent some moneths at Malaca yet there came no newes of the ship which he expected to returne Wherefore with the Gouernours good leaue he resolued to go to Macazaria hastning to instruct that nation in the Christian fayth CHAP. XVIII In Amboynum he giueth many
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
be accounted a lyar or else that Francis disdayned to come vnto his house he departed in a chafe As he was in the way homeward one of his family meeteth him and bringeth him tydings that the mayd was aliue and in good health Wherupon the man feeling his sorrow in an instant turned into ioy hasteth home with great desire to see his daughter whome he so dearely loued When he entred into his house beheld her aliue and in health he could hardly belieue his owne eyes and with teares trickling downe for ioy asked her by what meanes she was restored againe to life As soone quoth she as I was dead there stood ready at hand certaine cruel executioners who snatching me vp went to cast me headlong into an horrible pit of fire but vpon the suddain there appeared two other singular men by whose meanes I was deliuered out of those executioners hands restored to life againe At this relation of the maid the father stood a while astonished through admiration Then perceiuing manifestly that it was done by Xauerius help he leadeth his daughter to him to giue him thankes Assoone as she saw Francis his companion she stood at first amazed then turning to her father she cryeth out Behould Father these be the two men that rescued me from Hell Then he with the mayd falling downe at Xauerius feete with aboundance of teares gaue him humble thanks who presently taking them vp with ioy of hart willeth them to giue thaÌ„kes to Christ the sonne of God and Author of mans saluation Neither was this great miracle done in vaine For this one mayds restoring to life caused the saluation of many others And the Father daughter and all the rest of that family presently became Christians Others also were by this example mooued to implore Xauerius ayde desired to receaue the faith of Christ Amongst whome there was a certaine Leaper borne of good parentage who had sent one to Francis reâ—uesting him to come cure him But he receiuing the â—â—essage excuseth himselfe in a courteous manner by â—â—eason of his so many other imployments yet sendeth â—ne of his companions to him with instructions what â—â—o do When he came thither he saluteth the sick man â—erylouingly asketh him three times as Xauerius had â—ppointed whether he would become a ChristiaÌ„ And â—â—uing a signe that he would the other presently maâ—â—eth vpon him the signe of the Holy Crosse A wonâ—erfull thing He had no sooner done but the Crosse â—â—stantly wiped cleane away the leaprosy Wherupon â—â—e man was instructed in the Christian faith a litâ—â—e after baptized These things being done in the view â—â—f the whole Citty of Cangoxima were straight carriâ—â—d into India and related to Francis his companions â—â—here not only by Vincent Pereira a Portughese merâ—hant and Xauerius familiar friend a man worthy of â—ll credit although in a matter of such importance â—â—ut by many others also CHAP. IIII. He receaueth nevves of the Martyrdome of Fa. Antony Criminalis NOW whilst Xauerius was reioycing at the happy successe of Christian affayres in Iaponia there came vnto him letters out of India that did somewhat afflict him by which he vnderstood of the death of Fa. Antony Criminalis This man as we said before was by Francis made superiour in the Promontory of Comorinum hauing for the space of foure yeares with great fruit of his labours managed the affayres of Christian Religion in that Coast in the yeare 1549. a little before Xauerius entred into Iaponia obteined the crowne of Martyrdome a reward due to his paynes For when a great band of the Badages inflamed with hatred against Christian Religion had from the bordring kingdome of Bisnaga broken into the coast of Comorinum spoiling destroying all before them the Christians in such a fearefull tumult presently forsooke their villages and houses and began to fly to the Portughese shippes which at that time lay there at anker Antony therfore being in a great throng of women and children and troubled with many cares incouraged those who were afraid to make hast away and withall affoarded his help and assistance to others that were weake and cold not fly so fast In the meane time the enemy approached he fearing least some of the Neophytes being intercepted by the Barbarians might through payne of torments be drawne from the faith of Christ resolued like a good Pastour there to spend his life for his sheep if need required The Portugheses inuited and intreated him to come into their shippes to auoid the preseÌ„t danger but he wholy forgetting himselfe prouided more for the safety of those that were with him then his owne by ridding out of the way those especially women children who by reason of their weakenesse were most in danger Now whilst he freeth others from the cruelty of the Barbarians being himselfe stopped from recouering the shippes for that the enemy had gotten betweene him the shore he fel into their hands Then all burning with the loue of God and hauing his cogitations fixed rather vpon Eternity then vpon this mortall life kneeling downe vpon the ground and lifting vp his hands to heauen offereth himselfe to death with incredible courage and constancy Nor was the Barbarians cruelty lesse then his valour For being thrust through the body with three launces he fell downe dead And it is reported that when they were stripping him as he lay thus grieuously wounded he helped those cruell robbers to draw off his owne cloathes that he might not seeme to hold his apparell faster then his life This newes which could not otherwise choose caused in Xauerius diuers affections For as it grieued him that he was depriued of so notable a subiect so was he greatly ioyed for the Fathers good fortune in receauing the reward of his labours by so noble a Crowne So as honouring the memorable death of this holy man both with teares and prayses he began to hope firmely that the sterility of that field being now watered with the bloud of this Martyr would dayly yield more plenty of fruite Neyther was his hope heerein frustrate For since that tyme the Ghospell hath no where yielded a more plentiful haruest then in the coast of Comorinum so abundant hath byn the increase of Neophytes in that coast no lesse eminent in piety that in sweetnesse of manners CHAP. V. The course of Christian affayres being hindred at Cangoxima he goeth to preach the Ghospell at Firandum Amangucium FRANCIS hauing the like occasion in the citty of Cangoxima met with a farre different condition For when he thirsting after Martyrdome had weakned beaten downe the authority of the Bonzies and that the forward spring of neophites begaÌ„ to make now a glorious shew behold vpon the suddaine a tempest was raysed by the Bonzies which brought great calamity to the Christian cause and which was more heauy to Xauerius then euen death it selfe Many were now by diuine instinct
whereby all might plainly see that those things which the Bonzies taught were both true and that they also well deserued the stipeÌ„d which was payd them for their learning Then the King smiling Goe to quoth he incomparable Doctour declare at last these secret and hidden mysteryes of your Religion we will with silence giue eare vnto you Faciandono then looking about him with great grauity First quâ—th he it is impiety to call the Bonzies sanctity into question for all do know well inough that they lead a lyfe which is holy gracious and acceptable in the sight of Heauen it selfe For they are men who do religiously obserue chastity abstayne from fresh-fish teach and instruct young youth giue Bills of Exchange to those that lye a dying for the taking vp of mony in heauen and ryse in the night to pray for the sinnes of the people And besides this they are great friends to the sunne starres and celestiall Gods with whome they haue often discouses in the night tyme and whome they do also many tymes imbrace after a most sweete and louely manner The Bonzy hauing stuft his Preface with these such like fooleries anger so boyled in his proud and passionate hart that he began without feare or shame to inueigh intemperatly agaynst the King himselfe Whereupon he gaue a signe twice or thrice to his brother to cause the Bonzy to hould his peace Who being commaunded so to do and the King firmely fixing his eye vpon him tould him that indeed â—e gathered by his manners a sufficient tryall of the Bonâ—zies sanctity and withall auerred that he was so well edifyed by the intemperancy temerity of his tongue that he durst sweare Hell had more right to his person then â—e to Heauen Heerupon the Bonzy adding intollerable pride to his former violent humour cryed out aloud That the tyme would come when Faciandonâ— should be exalted so farre aboue all mortals that neyther the King of Bungo nor any other should be able to aspire to his throne The King at these his wordes began to be moued yet withall laughed at his â—â—rrogancy looking vpon Xauerius who aduised his Maiesty not to trouble himselfe but to expect vntill the Bonzies fury were past But the King commanded Faciandono to be gone and warned him withall that henceforward when he spake of God he should not be so vaine glorious before men In the meane time he wished him to keep hand ouer his passions and come againe to himselfe before he returned to the Court The Bonzy therfore being set on fire with this disgrace in respect of the assembly of Nobles who were present cryeth out alowd Fyre from heauen consume the King who dares do these things against the Prelates of the Gods and so in a fretting and chasing manner flingeth vpoÌ„ a suddain out of the Presence leauing the King Nobles greatly moued with indignation at his vnciuill behauiour The King then ready to sit downe to table inuiteth Xauerius to dinner But he alledging that he was not acquainted with the Iaponian daynties courteâ—ously refuseth and withall making dâ—e reuerence to the King beseecheth God for whose sake he did him that honour to bestow vpon him sufficient diuine light grace that he might serue him in this life with sanctity and purity of hart and in the next enioy him for all eternity At last the King at Francis intreaâ—y giueth him leaue to depart and withall earnestly requesteth him that he would now and then visit him and teach him the mysteries of the Christian faith Xauerius promised he would And then the King presently with a cheerfull and friendly countenance offreth him with his owne hands a dish of meate which stood before him desiring him to take it who to comply with the King accepted of the same Then the Gouernour with the rest of the Portugheses who stood about Xauerius fell downe vpon their knees all togeather giuing the King humble thanks for the great honour he had done vnto the Father themselues euen against the Bonzies wills CHAP. XII Xauerius instructeth the King and people in the misteries of the Christian faith curbeth the audacity of the Bonzies FRANCIS remained 46. dayes in this royall Citty of Bungo imploying himselfe with al possible diligence in the instructioÌ„ of the Inhabitants Yet his principall caâ—â— â—as to make deep impression of the mysteries obâ—eruances of the Christian faith in the Kings mind â—or which cause he became so inward with the King â—hat there was then no comming for any Bonzy to â—is presence For that he beganne to be much ashaâ—ed of the foule enormities which he had commitâ—ed through the doctrine of the Bonzies Wherfore by Xauerius perswasion he first abandoned many vicious â—abits in his owne person rid his pallace of all vnâ—â—â—wfull loues and pleasures and began liberally to â—elieue susteine the necessities of the poore conâ—rary to the doctrine which the Bonzies taught Then â—urning his thoughts to the reformatioÌ„ of his people â—y little and litle he enacted many and seuere lawes agaynst the murdering of infants an vsuall practice in â—hose places and other haynous crimes and enormiâ—ies which hauing byn brought in by the BoÌ„zies were â—ow growne to a custome He reuerenced Xauerius as one that came from Heauen sent vnto him by the fauour of celestiall powers Him only he admired sayâ—ing many tymes that he saw in his face as in a glasse â—o his great confusion all the hainous offences wherwith by the Bonzies incitemeÌ„t he had defiled his own soule so as he was now vpon the point to be made a Christian Yet Francis did not so imploy himselfe about the King as that he neglected thereby the people For being wholy vnmyndfull of himselfe he spent so much of the day in preaching to them in the market-place that the Portugheses could scarce get from him one houre after sun-set to â—onfer about pious matters and another before day 〈◊〉 heare their Confessions Wherefore when some of his familiar friends complayned that he came home late he earnestly requested them that they would neuer at any tyme expect for him at dinner noâ— in the day tyme euer thinke him aliue for if they did otherwise they would cause vnto him much trouble For the dainties whereon he fed with chiefest delight were the good of soules neyther did he esteeme any cheere better then the saluation of one only Iaponian by vniting him to the flocke of Christ And to this pious aâ—arice of his the diuine Prouidence was not a litle indulgent There came flocking to him an infinity of people not of the vulgar sorte only but also of the Nobility and many of the Bonzies themselues whereof one of a very Noble Family became ChristiaÌ„ with no small good vnto the Christian cause He was called Saquaygirano the chiefe of the Bonzies a man of great note both for his learning and Nobility of birth who entring into disputation with