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
to satisfy yet confiding in Xauerius praiers for whose sake I vndertooke the worke and also in the diuine power of Obedience I trust my Forces wil in some sort be answerable to my VVill my Endeauours to Expectation The which if through my slendernes I be not able to bring to passe yet shall I gaine this much at least that my endeauours how poore soeuer may serue to stirre vp others more studious industrious to vndertake the same And howsoeuer it falleth out I will neuerthelesse reserue this comfort to my selfe that I haue bin obedient to my chiefest Father and as much as in me lay endeauoured to preserue the memory of so great and holy seruant of God For peraduentnre I may giue future Ages to vnderstand from what seed so plentifull a haruest of new Christians in those desert places hath sprunge whereof that most industrious and skilfull Husbandman who sowed in teares hath with aboâ—ndant ioy brought his handfull home And albeit our Predecessours haue studied more how to expresse the worthy acts of Francis in their deeds then put them downe in writing yet will I gather only that which is either extant in approued Authors or els is come vnto my hands froÌ„ those who haue byn present or haue had them from eye witnesses of the same First then concerning his infancy and childhood I shall set downe some few things which my selfe came to know by Martin Azpilqueta of Nauar some few months before his death a man for vertue and learning famous who was both kinsman in former times companion also to Xauerius For the rest of his life those who conuersed with him when his vertue did not so greatly appeare neglected to obserue but when as afterward it began to shew it selfe vnto the world the King of Portugal coÌ„manded his acts to be more carefully obserued put downe in writing for this reason we haue not all the parts of his life furnished alike with vertues and worthy deeds Nor do I thinke that those who knew the life of our Father Ignatius will take any great delight in reading the beginnings of Xauerius or those first actes of his ferueÌ„t vertue as known for the most part vnto theÌ„ already but will rather make hast to those other of his notable Acts in India yet must they remember that seing from those first beginnings Xauerius became so noble a souldiâ—r of Christ although for iust causes his deeds haue byn related otherwhere they ought not therfore â—o be passed ouer with silence in their proper place But now let vs come vnto his life it selfe where we will first speake of his parentage which was very Noble on either side TO S. FRANCIS XAVIER the Apostle of India and Iaponia vpon his Motto Satis est Domine satis est Inough O Lord Inough are thy loude thankes When drops of Heauens dew harts bouÌ„dlesse bankes All-ouerflowing are like Ocean mayne Thy Brest 's too narrow for so large a strayne Enlarge O Saint thy soules most inward roomes Embosome all that Power which streaming comes Children of thine stand vnder who are blest In taking in their fill thy Ouer-feast T. F. OF THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS XAVIER THE I. BOOKE Of the Linage disposition education of S. Francis Xauier CHAP. I. IN that part of Nauarre which lyeth towards Spayne at the foote of the Pyrenaean mountaines not far from Pamplona the head Citty of that Kingdome there is scituate a Castle called Xauerium fortifyed both by nature and art the ancient proper mansion of the family of the Xauiers where vntil this day is to be seen the place where S. Francis Xauier was borne for the Nobility according to the custome of that Country dwelleth for the most part in Castles out of Townes His Ancestours for their warlike prowesse and approued loyalty to their Kings haue purchased to themselues and their posterity many great Honours and Dignities and haue byn no lesse renowned for their owne vertue then their Soueraignes fauours towards them His kindred by the mothers side was very Illustrious and Noble The antiquity wherof may for almost a thousand yeares togeather draw a very fayre pedigree of famous Warriours testifyed by approued monuments His Grandfather by the same lyne was named Martin Azpilqueta a man no lesse noble for his owne vertue then for the greatnes of his Ancestors who was now almost the only branch left of that most renowned family He tooke to wife Ioane Xaueria a Virgin in honour equall to himselfe By her he had issue an only daughter called Mary the stemme hope of both families so that two of the noblest families of Nauar depended vpon the life of this yong MaydeÌ„ who was no lesse emineÌ„t for beauty theÌ„ vertue as being answerable therin to her most excelleÌ„t Name She was ioyned in marriage to Iohn Iassus a man Noble both for antiquity of his family wealth but especially for his learning prudence as being the chiefe Priuy-CouÌ„sellour to King Iohn of Nauarre He now hauing through the persuasion of his Father-in-law remoued his dwelling from the Castle Iasso the auncieÌ„t Seat of his Ancestours to Xauerium his wiues Ioynter hauing more fortunate successe in marriage then his sayd Father-in law had prouided better for the family of the Xauiers then his owne For hauing by Mary many children wherof this our Francis was one he began to take great care how he might keepe vp two of the most ancient families of Nauar which were now somewhat in declining Whereupon he resolued to leaue the Name of his own Family although it were neither meane nor obscure and to giue his children and posterity the name of his wiues kindred so as some of them were called Azpilqueta's others Xauiers These therfore were the Parents and Auncestours of Francis Xauier borne in the yeare of our Lord 1497. and raigne of King Iohn of Nauarre of Pope Innocentius the VIII He was the least of all his brothers yet as another Dauid the greatest by Gods holy ProuideÌ„ce designed to that perfectioÌ„ of sanctity wherunto he arriued by assistance both diuine humane From his cradle he was brought vp in the bosome of his most vertuous Parents and by them instructed in all Piety during his childhood He was also in his yong and tender youth trayned vp by careful Tutors in those artes wherby the vnderstanding of man is most of all adorned He was moreouer of a very vertuous disposition of an excellent constitution and comlines of person of a great and sharpe wit giuen more to his booke theÌ„ vsually childreÌ„ are None more innoceÌ„t none more pleasant none more affâ—able then he which made him beloued of all both at home and abroad Yet he was not more gracious in the eye of the world then of heauen whereof this is an euident argument that notwithstanding such abounding fortunes youthly liberty ioyned to a Personage so beautifull and comely he was alwayes
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
the chiefe of the Kingdome and afterwards when it had gotten many graue abettors and furtherers at last is brought into the King Then the Noblemen euery one of them shewed how much benefit that Royall Citty had â—eaped by Ignatius his companions in so short a space and what great help all Portugall might hope from them if it could enioy them not as strangers for a â—yme but as perpetuall inhabitants thereof And that â—he good of Portugall and of that Princely Citty as â—eing his chiefe and Royall seate ought to be dearer â—nto his Maiesty then India Why therefore for the succour of barbarous Nations should he depriue his owne natiue Country of so excellent helps Why â—hould India abroad rather then Portuall at home be â—ore deare vnto him Wherfore if it seemed good vnâ—o his Maiesty as it did to them he should plant those worthy men as seeds of that generation in Portugall â—nd so erect a Seminary at hand which might supply â—hem with fit Priests to send into India The King approuing his Nobles opinion iudging it meet to prouide first for theÌ„ who were neerest to him leauing off for the present his determination of helping India resolued to detaine them both in Portugall to begin a Seminary of the same Institute Which as soone as Rodriguez Xauerius vnderstood by their friends being indeed moued at the vnexpected newes they presently certify Ignatius by letters of the Kings new determination asking him what they should do Who hauing acquainted his Holines with the busines thought it good to leaue it wholly to the Kings arbitrement nothing doubting but the treating thereof before him would make him thinke better of it Letters are at the same tyme dispatched from his Holines to the King and from Ignatius to his companions wherin the matter was left wholly to his maiesty But if he would know what Ignatius his opinion was therin it seemetd to him most conuenient that a separation should be made so as Rodriguez might stay in Portugall Francis go forward into India The King therfore following Ignatius his Counsaile sendeth for thâ—m both who being vncertayne what would be resolued off depended wholy vpon the diuine prouidence Then the King in a courteous manner as his custome was shewing them first what was granted to him from Rome concerning their disposall declareth what he had now resolued to wit That Simon should stay in Portugall to begin a Colledg at Conimbria which might be a Seminary for members to be sent into India and that Francis should go into his designed Prouince of the East Wherefore they should both with all speed prepare themselues with like diligence to their offices although they were different knowing that many times equall rewards are assigned for vnequall seruices God not respecting so much the worke as the good will wherwith it is done Heereupon Xauerius being presently changed from his great feare into great ioy gaue the King many thankes that he had granted his desire and had so prudently tempered the want of his companionâ— with the ioy he gaue him of the diuision that he promised not only to be gratefull but also to vse all care and diligence to be answerable for so great a benefit But Rodriguez being frustrated of his hope and desire and at the first stroken with such an vnexpected declaration shewed by his lookes and countenance to be somewhat troubled but presently recollecting himselfe he answered grauely and quietly almost to this effect That the taking of India from him had stroke him with such griefe to the hart that he was not able to coÌ„ceale it yet since Ignatius the King and his Holinesse agreeing all in one thing sufficiently declared it to be Gods holy will he would most willingly at his Maiesties commaund leaue off that employment for whose sake he had vndertaken it Wherfore he remained wholly at the Kings disposall and was glad that by beginning a Seminary he might also in some sort labour for India since he might hope to help them by his schollers whome he could not by himselfe Thus departing from the King each of them addressed their cares for the performance of their charge CHAP. XII Being ready to take shipping for India he receiueth from the King the Popes Letters patents of Legate Apostolicall refuseth to take any thing for the charges of his iourney FRANCIS therfore seeing his iorney to be approued by such euident signes both from God and men began to furnish himselfe for it not with prouision of victualls and other things necessary and conuenient but with pious meditations and profitable considerations For he would not vndertake so weighty a charge rawly vnprouidedly but with serious ponderation preparation and by thinking with himselfe now whilst he was at leasure of what he was afterwards to make vse that so he might not spend his tyme in speculation of that wherein he was to employ himselfe in the practise When the tyme drew neere for his iourney into India the King calling him is sayd to haue spoken vnto him particularly to his effect Francis Xauier our ships are ready the tyme that you haue so earnestly desired of going into India is now come For my part â— haue hitherto had so many and so great arguments both of your vertue prudence that I hould it needlesse to vse any exhortation vnto you presaging what will follow by that which is already past Yet that we may not seeme to be wanting in our duty we will as the saying is spurre on him who runneth already First therfore I commend vnto you the Ethincke Nations which are vnder our subiection endeauouring to vnite them to the Church that my dominions may not be further extended then Gods Religion Then out of our fatherly affection towards them I deliuer commit the Portugheses that remaine in those places to your trust in such sort that I would haue you supply the place of our beneuolence towards them You are not ignorant I know that Kings haue need of many hands and eyes for the gouernment of their kingdomes Wherfore I pray beseech you by that very God who is your guide and companion in this iorney â—hat as farre as you may with conueniency you â—ould diligently visit our garrisons there and afterwards certify vs of all things appertaining to Religiâ—n that so all impediments if there be any being â—eedily remoued the Christian Religion by your adâ—â—se and labour and by our assistance and authority â—ay spread it selfe ouer India and the East As for my â—â—lfe I will loose my kingdome before I will leaue off â—y desire to aduance Religion For I am resolued to â—mploy all the meanes and forces I am able for the â—ropagation therof It is your part to be answerable â—oth to the charge you haue vndertaken and to our â—esire What ayde or help soeuer either the honour of God or the Christian cause shall seeme to require â—emaund it confidently and it shall be granted