merâ—â—andize thou soldest me at Finorama He tould him 〈◊〉 had nothing to answere to that whereof he was â—holy ignorant for he had neuer byn eyther a Merâ—ant or seene Finorama or spoken with him before â—at tyme how therefore could it hang together that 〈◊〉 had sold him wares at Finorama The Bonzie afâ—med for certayne that it was so and he could not â—oose but remember it vnlesse he were very forgetâ—â—ll Xauerius therefore requested him that because â—s memory fayled him in that point he would help â—m out therein Then very confidently and setting 〈◊〉 it such a face as bewrayed his inward pride Call â—â—yâ—â—fe quoth he to remembrance with me It is â—â—w 1500. yeares agoe since thou soldest to me at Fiâ—â—â—oma an 100. balles of raw silkes in the vtterance â—hereof I became a great gayner Hereupon Xauerius looking vpon him both grauely 〈◊〉 pleasantly And I pray quoth he how old are you â—he Bonzy answered that he was one and fifty Then â—uoth Francis how can it be that you haue beene a â—â—erchant 1500. yeares ago who before one and fifty â—ere not borne vnlesse perchance you played the â—erchant before you were borne And I vnderstand â—uoth Xauerius you all agree that this Country of Iaponia began to be inhabited not aboue 600. yeares since how therfore doth this hould togeather that you were a Merchant 1500. yeares ago at Finorâ—â—â— which at that time was nothing but a meere wildernesse and solitude See then quoth the Bonzy how much better we know things past then you do what is present Thou shalt therfore know because hitherto thou hast bin ignorant of it that neither the World nor Mankind hath either had any beginning or shall haue any end And so mens soules being immortall go successiuely out of one body into another both of men and women according to the coniunction of the Moone with the Sunne and the starres who frame and fashion the Bodies tender limmes Wherfore soules which haue good memories such as myne is do easily remember all whatsoeuer they did in their life time when they were vnited to other bodies which is not so with forgetfull souleâ— as it seemeth yours is Xauerius hauing heard this foolery being very learned both in Philosophy and Diuinity found nâ— difficulty by solid arguments to confute these Pythagoricall and Platonicall dreames First therefore he sheweth that the World was not from all eternity but was made at a certayne tyme seeing that it neyther was of it selfe nor could be equall or coeternalâ—â— with the maker thereof And that it was made and adorned with men and other liuing creatures by Godâ— the Parent and Authour of all things When he haâ—â— proued this by many arguments it was easy for him to shew that the soules of men had also a beginning â—nd were not before the bodies which they do inforâ—e but being by God infused into bodyes aptly orgaâ—ized for them did make vse of the corporall senses â—â—r the gaining of arts sciences For who is so blind â—â—at seeth not that Soules would willingly if they â—ould choose with losse domage of so great a good 〈◊〉 creeping into new and mortall bodies And that â—â—ey would not vnlesse it were by constraint yield â—hemselues prisoners to their bodyes to be partaâ—â—ers of all their miseries Wherfore hath God as euen â—eason it selfe teacheth vs who is a most iust Iudge â—â—ppointed for mortall men after this life eyther eterâ—all rewards or torments according to their deserts â—â—nce we playnly see this equity is not vsed amongst â—hem whilest they liue in this world When Francis made these things cleere and maniâ—est by euident arguments most fit similitudes and eâ—amples the King indeed Noble men agreed vnto â—im declaring by their fauourable acclamations that what he sayd was very coherent and most conforâ—able to reason But the Bonzie although in the iudgement of all he had the foile giuen him would not for all this through the pride obstinacy which was â—ooted in his hart giue ouer least he should seeme to grant his â—duersary the victory if he should acknowâ—edge himselfe ouerthrowne Going therefore from the Controuersy concerning the world and soules he â—egan to inueigh bitterly agaynst Xauerius for that he â—euerely censured preposterous lust to be a most heyâ—nous offence notwithstanding it was cleere euiâ—dent that the same was allowed by the lawes of Iaponia which neuerthelesse punished murders adulteries and thefts most rigorously To which Xauerius after he had euidently demonstrated that that abominable kind of lust was most repugnant both to nature reason propagation of mankind and honest behauiour answered that it was no wonder the makers of the Iaponian Lawes being themselues blinded with the very same vice saw not the fowlenesse therof or if they did yet would they not by any Law restrayne the liberty therof in others which they would haue to be common to themselues But grant it be so quoth he that no Law of the Iaponians did forbid it yet certayne it was that the law of Nature engrauen in the harts of men and Reason it selfe if it were not depraued by euill custome did wholly forbid it For proofe wherof this is a most impregnable argument that in these kind of enormities specially the doers thereof seeke out darke holes and corners and vse all meanes that none may see or know it Besides this if any one be knowen to be branded therwith it is the very first thing that is cast in his teeth when one intends to do him a disgrace if he be once knowne to haue committed the same Heere now Ficarondono's obstinacy being in the iudgment of euery one conuinced gaue way to the truth Yet he because reasons failed him held on his combat with spitefull clamours that in a more froward then obstinate manner In so much that the violent course into which this arrogant fellow did at last run moued both the King and his Nobles who began to cry all out vpon him and that if he came to fight he should get packing into the kingdome of Amangucium which then was vp in armes there â—e should not want matter of combat for that heere â—ll peace and quietnes was desired But if he came to â—ispute he should abstaine from passion and obstiâ—acy and should imitate the forreyne Priest with whome he disputed for that his temper modesty in disputing ought to giue him example At this the Bonzy as he was naturally much inclined to chollar â—eing carryed on by the intemperance of his tongue â—egan to curse the King and his Nobles as though he â—ad bin mad or drunke Wherupon the King incenâ—ed and styrred vp to indignation commanded him presently to be thrust out of the Pallace solemnely protesting withall that were it not for reuerence to his Priesthood he would haue commanded his necke to be broken CHAP. XIV Francis his constancy vvhilst the Bonzies be vp in tumult THIS so publick a disgrace as they termed it
proper place This greatnes of Xauerius mynd was not lesse against the insolency of Christians then against the threates and terrours of the Barbarians The Gouernour of the coast of Comorinum being a Portughese potent through his couetousnesse had held the Neophytes in cruell subiection Which when Francis vnderstood he threatned that vnlesse he carryed himselfe most mildly towards the Christians there he would by letters complaine vnto the King of Portugall of his insolencies and Tyranny Likewise he caused his companion to declare to a certayne Portughese Captaine who treated the new Christians iniuriously that vnlesse he ceased froÌ„ his cruelty he would be far more sauage then Herod because Herod slew only the bodies of the Innocents but he also slew their soules and this would certainly be the effect therof that if through his insoleÌ„cies the Fathers should leaue that Coast the little infants would dye without Baptisme The Gouernour also of Malaca who as we sayd before most iniuriously and obstinately hindred his iorney into China was by Xauerius who turned at last his patience into seuerity excommunicated and the sentence published formally in the Churches to the end others through feare to incurre the like ignominy might carry themselues as their duty requiâ—ed But nothing more declared the incredible greatnes of his mind then a certaine infinite desire as we may call it which he had to preach the Ghospell throughout the whole world For not contenting himselfe with the vast Countryes of India he extended his desires and endeauours to Malaca the Ilands of the Moluca's Maurica Iaponia China and in fine to all the East intending certainly to haue extended â—hem afterwards to all the parts of the world if his life had bin answereable to his feruour of spirit For he with such speed trauailed ouer the vtmost parts of the East that the huge vastnesse of Asia seemed too small a circuite for his couragious mind CHAP. X. His Charity to God and his Neighbours THIS so great Fortitude of mind in Xauerius was matched with the like Charity both to God men For throughout the whole course of his life there is to be found no one vertue more eminent then his desire of increasing the Honour of God and sauing of soules And no wonder for he was so greatly inflamed with such speciall loue of hauing cleane abandoned the world that he became now wholy wrapt in the perpetuall contemplation of celestiall things Hence it was that his soule being raysed to God the supreme goodnes and to the loue of his most bountifull Creatour and Redeemer held continually most sweet discourses with his diuine Maiesty nay euen then when he was most seriously imployed in conuersing amongst men Hence proceeded that inflamed loue to Iesus Christ his benigne Lord Sauiour repeating so ofteÌ„ in most sweet manner that most comfortable wholsome Name Hence also arose in him that burning desire of Martyrdome which finding no entertainmeÌ„t among the Turkes went on to the furthest parts of the Earth thirsting after the glory thereof by a thousand meanes amongst those sauage and barbarous people amidst euident danger of pestilent diseases shipwrackes and Pyrats so that Martyrdome it selfe fled rather from him then he from Martyrdome This boundlesse charity of Francis towards God â—had enkindled in his soule the like loue to men which neuer suffred him eyther to rest or to be weary This â—t was which made him euery where as it were a slaue â—o the sicke imprisoned and wretched persons and â—o feare no contagious or infectious disease euen wheÌ„â—he bodyes lay dead round about him This it was which pricked him forward to instruct barbarous â—auage Nations euen with euident hazard of his owne â—ife kept him amongst them as long as was needfull although he were extremely oppressed with waÌ„t of all things In fine it was this which causing him to â—leight the raging billowes of the stormy Ocean the â—cursions of Pyrates and inconueniences of an endâ—esse Nauigation drew him to the furthest part of the world to make the Iaponians also members of the Church who had no knowledge at all of the Gospell â—o as hauing passed so many seas instructed almost â—ll the sea coasting Countrys of the East in the fayth â—f Christ he was now come euen to the furthest end â—f the world The same charity to saue mens soules set 〈◊〉 on still with no lesse manifest danger of his owne 〈◊〉 to acceÌ„pt to get entrance into China which was so â—â—ured vp both with rigorous lawes strict watch 〈◊〉 as the insatiable zeale which he had of soules sufâ—red nothing to seeme impossible nothing terrible â—â—nto Xauerius But now after he had brought so many Nations â—nd people to the fayth of Christ it grieued him exâ—â—emely to be with-held from entring into China and hauing determined with himselfe the conuersion of the whole world be forced now to make as it were a stand at the begining almost of his endeauours And no doubt if he had liued vntill he had dispatched his expedition into China and had come backe agayne to Rome whither he was sent for by Ignatius he would haue byn a most potent meanes to haue reduced also those forlorne partes of the Westerne Church For in what office soeuer he should haue byn placed either of the Generall or of the Generalls Assistant he would neuer haue giuen ouer sending Religious men of the Society to cure the westerne Nations infected with Heresy vntill either there had byn none left who needed such cure or else his owne lyfe had left him It is incredible to say how exceeding zealous he was for the saluation of soules For at Malaca and else where in the East he imployed himselfe continually in hearing Confessions in making reconciliation betweene those that were at variance debate among theÌ„selues in helping the sicke wherein he so forgot himselfe that oftentymes he passed two or three daies without eating or drinking any thing in so much that one would haue thought he had byn fed which such exercyses seruices done to God And no meruayle for the zeale desire he had to help his neyghbours to propagate the Christian Religion was so engrafted in him that it seemed almost naturall To this all his forces were bent in this he was wholy imploied this was his only desire in this he tooke his greatest ioy to vnite as many as possibly he could to the flock of Christ Neither was his care greater in gathering new sheepe vnto that sacred fold then in attending those diligently whome he had already brought thither For he gaue them such godly precepts instructions that they scarce needed any other Pastor to help them Ludouicus Frâ—es of the Society of IESVS a man both of great prudence and pieâ—y gaue vp this relation That when himselfe first of al trauailed ouer the Iland of Iapon he came by chance to a castle there scituate in a corner of the Iland where he
manner the offences of your owne former lyfe For how good a meanes this is tyme and experience will teach you This course he prescribed against such as were fearefull and bashfull and that other against such as were inthralled in crimes and abominations of long continuance And vntill the penitent had so declared all his sinnes whilst perhaps he standeth wauering betwixt hope and feare they should encourage him by putting him in mind of the diuine clemency mercy and namely they should produce some for an example who hauing byn notorious for their abominable wickednesse were afterwards receyued into Gods fauor of which company he should also make one if he would but confesse his sinnes with the lyke sincerity and sorrow of hart At last when the Confessour had throughly examined all the soares and wounds of the penitents conscience then he should liuely present before him the heynouslesse and foulenesse thereof and by terrifying his staggering spirit with the indignation of God hanging ouer his head the punishments which miraculously haue byn inflicted vpon great sinners draw him to a detestation and sorrow for his sins differring also his absolution if it were thought conuenient vntill another tyme. But now to such as were obstinate hard-harted he would haue to be propounded not only the euerlasting torments of the damned in hell but also the punishments which haue bin inflicted vpon the like offeÌ„ders in this life and especially vpon such and such as themselues had knowne who had receyued grieuous and bitter torments for their sinnes and wickednesse to the end they might be a warning vnto others lyke vnto themselues For he sayd that he had learned by experience that such kind of persons are sooner mooued by the present detriment which they maysuffer eyther in their body or goods then by the future torments of their soules which seeme to be absent a farre off If there should at any tyme come to Confession rich and wealthy merchants Magistrates or Gouernours of a loose lyfe he iudged it fitting before all other things seriously to admonish them that making diligent inquiry into their former lyfe for the space of two or three dayes they should if they distrusted their memory note down their sins in writing humbly craue of God with great feeling sorrow and contâ—â—tion for the same Then at the beginning of their CoÌ„fession they were to aske of them an account of such offices and charges whereof they had the care of the affayres wherein they were imployed how diligently they did or had carryed themselues therein For by these interrogations they might more easily find whether there were any thing to be restored then if they were demaunded in generall whether they ought to make restitution to any one because to such interrogations they vse coÌ„monly to giue a negatiue answere either out of auarice or else through ignorance of the thing Now when they haue heard their Confessions they must apply certaine admonitions and remedies for the cure of their soules nor must they be absolued presently after their confession but rather when they haue restored those things they ought Wherfore of such persons he giueth F. Gaspar this instruction They shal not presently be absolued as soone as they haue made their Confession but two or three dayes shall be giuen them to prepare their hart by certayne meditations that in the meane time they may wash away the spots of their sinnes by teares and voluntary pennance If they owe any thing to any one let theÌ„ make restitution if they haue any grudge against any let them put it away and be made friends with their enemies let them also be freed from libidinous customes and all other vices wherwith they were intangled These things ought rather to go before absolution then to follow it For such kind of men when they are at confession promise that they will do all things but after absolution is giuen them as carelesse of their promise they do nothing Wherefore all diligence is to be vsed to cause them to performe before they be absolued what they ought to do after Moreouer concerning the meanes how to confirme such as are staggering in their fayth these documents he gaue to the same Gaspar You shall fynd some also and I would to God they were not many who are very weake concerning their beliefe of the Sacraments especially that of the Holy Eucharist eyther because they haue now byn depriued of the fruit thereof or by reason of the great conuersation which they haue with the Ethnickes or else because the impure life of some Priests maketh the vulgar and ignorant sort not to esteeme so highly of this Sacrament With these therefore you shall deale in this manner First you shall get out of them their suspicions and doubtes then you shall confirme them in their fayth by instructing them so that they may belieue for certayne that the true body of Christ is conteyned in that mystery Neyther is there any more present remedy for the curing of this malady then a pious and diligent frequenting of the sacred Eucharist it selfe But now because for the most part in conuersing with women there is more danger then profit he seriously aduised such as were Ghostly Fathers that in hearing their confessions in discoursing and conuersing with them and in reconciling them to their husbands they should be very wary and attentiue to auoyd not only all offence and sinne but also the suspicions rumours of the people Concerning which he left to F. Gaspar his Vicar very notable and wholesome instructions which I thought good to insert in this place You shall not sayth he speake with women of what condition soeuer vnlesse it be by day-light and in publicke that is in the Church And you shall neuer go home vnto them vnlesse it be vpon some vrgent occasion as to heare the confession of one that is sicke And then also you shall take great care that her husband or some other kinsman or at least some honest neighbour be by If you haue occasion to speake with some Virgin or widdow you shall go to their house accompanyed by men of approued integrity of lyfe in whose company there may be not only no scandall but also no suspicion Yet these visits of women shall be both very seldome and also not at all but vpon necessary occasions For it is a ticklish piece of businesse where smal profit is made with a great deale of perill And forasmuch as women for such is the inconstancy and leuity of their disposition do for the most part cause to their ghostly Fathers a great deale of trouble this warinesse is principally to be held with them You shall with more diligence labour about the instruction of Christian men then of their wyues For seeing that men are more constant by nature and the ordering of the house dependeth vpon them it is certaynly better more profitable to imploy ones labour vpon theÌ„ For
the Iaponians he conuerteth many of them pag. 320. Chap. 9. Going to the King of Bungo at his inuitement he is honourably receiued by the Portugheses pag. 331. Chap. 10. He is conducted to the Kings Court in great pompe by the Portugheses pag. 336. Chap. 11. The King of Bungo vseth Francis with honourable respect although the Bonzies were agaynst it pag. 339. Chap. 12. Xauerius instructeth the King and people in the misteries of the Christian faith and curbeth the audacity of the Bonzies pag. 346. Chap. 13. In a disputation before the King he ouercommeth the most learned of the Bonzies pag. 351. Chap. 14. Francis his constancy whilst the Bonzies be vp in tumult pag. 357. Chap. 15. Xauerius getteth a new victory ouer the Chiefe of the Bonzies pag. 361. Chap. 16. He procureth the Kings of Amangucium and Bungo to fauour Christianity pag. 367. THE FIFTH BOOKE CHAP. 1. Intending to passe into China he determineth first to returne into India pag. 373. Chap. 2. Going into China he recouereth by his prayers a Cocke-boate which was carryed away by the violence of a tempest pag. 376. Chap. 3. He maketh the Port of the Chineses and his voyage to Malaca very famous by his Prophesies pag. 383. Chap. 4. At Goa he cureth one that was ready to dye taketh account of what the Society had done since his departure pag. 389. Chap. 5. Hauing procured the Embassage before spoken of he goeth himselfe to China pag. 397. Chap. 6. He Excommunicateth the Gouernour of Malaca pag. 403. Chap. 7. The designe of going with the Embassadour into China being broken of Xauerius notwithstanding setteth forward thither pag. 413. Chap. 8. He endeauoureth though all in vaine to open a passage into China pag. 417. Chap. 9. He agreeth with a Chinese to carry him priuately to Cantona pag. 423. Chap. 10. His transporting into China being differed he â—ortelleth his owne death pag. 429. Chap. 11 He endeth his life in most holy maÌ„ner pag. 434. Chap. 12. His body is buried in quicke Lime pag 440. Chap. 13. His body being found whole and incorrupt is carryed to Malaca and there agayne interred pag. 443. Chap. 14. His Body is translated from Malaca into India pag. 449. Chap. 15. His Funerall is kept at Goa with all solemnity pag. 457. Chap. 16. The great Concourse of people to behould his Holy Body pag. 462. THE SIXT BOOKE CHAP. 1. By the King of Portugall his command Francis his deeds and miracles are committed to writing pag. 468. Chap. 2. How Xauerius fortelleth things future and absent and seeth mens inward Thoughts pag. 472. Chap. 3. In his life time he worketh miracles of all kinds pag. 479. Chap. 4. Miracles wrought by him after his death pag. 486. Chap. 5. Xauerius his feruent loue to Prayer pag. 498. Chap. 6. His purity of Hart and Chastity pag. 508. Chap. 7. His Loue of the Crosse and Euangelicall Poâ—erty pag. 511. Chap. 8. His Obedience and Humility pag. 518. Chap. 9. His magnanimity of Mind and Confidence in God pag. 527. Chap. 10. His charity to God and his Neighbours pag. 534. Chap. 11. His sweetnesse of Behauiour and ConuersatioÌ„ ioyned with Grauity pag. 546. Chap. 12. His Prudence and the Precepts he gaue to the Rectour of the Colledge of Goa and to Gaspar the Low-countryman pag. 550. Chap. 13. Precepts giuen by Xauerius to Iohn Brauius and others of the Society pag. 565. Chap. 14. What kind of Gouernours and Superiours he required in the Society pag. 572. Chap. 15. What kind of men Xauerius wished should be in the Society pag. 580. Chap. 16. What manner of Preachers he required in the Society pag. 586. Chap. 17. What manner of Confessours Xauerius required in the Society pag. 599. Chap. 18. What kind of persons Xauerius required for the instruction of soules pag. 608. THE PREFACE COVRTEOVS READER I purpose heere to set downe the admirable renowned Lyfe of S. Francis Xauier a man specially borne for the saluation of India and the furthest Easterne world Of all the nine first Disciples of our Holy Father S. Ignatius of Loyola he most resembled his Mayster and of the Society was the first who laboured in India Iaponia those barbarous Countries opening the way both for the Indians vnto heauen for the Society into India wherby he brought no lesse renowne then left example to his Order For which cause the whole Society not without good reason desired long since to haue so fayre a Pourtraicte beautified with such admirable vertue liuely drawne in colours for Ours to behold seeing the glorious exploits of Predecessours do coÌ„monly inflame the harts of generous spirits with a certaine kind of heauenly fire which hardly can be quenched vntill by imitation they become true patternes of their noble Vertues Now as on the one â—ide I perceaued that other Authors in their Histories had with great honour touched Xauerius chiefest acts so was I on the other â—ide not a little grieued that for the space of aboue 35. yeares there had bin none who thought vpon the setting forth his life then shining with so many and so illustrious vertues in a proper volume by it selfe either by giuing that charge to some other or by vndertaking it themselues VVherfore being moued of late as well through perswasion of some dearest friends as which is more by the command of Superiours to vndertake the same I was put in some hope to performe what others had conceaued of my ability therin for my deuotion to Xauerius I was not only not vnwilling but very willing also as tyme should afford to set vpon this taske to th' end the memory of a man so worthy yea euen of immortality it self who triumpheth now in heauen might be renewed not only to the minds of our owne Religious but to Posterity also Moreouer it seemeth vnto me this falleth out not so much by humane as diuine prouidence that euen at this tyme his most industrious and laborious manner of life should be layd open to the view of Ours when as we behould such a glorious haruest of soules brought in from those far countries which by him were first cultiuated manured For now the newes is brought vnto vs of the conuersion of many great Princes Kings of Iaponia with almost all their people to the Christian faith and of a passage also through Gods assistance made into China for the preaching of the Ghospell there which was hertofore by the Diuels craft wholy stopped euen raÌ„pier'd vp aswel with walles as lawes Both which certainly next after God we must attribute to holy Xauerius who not only lead the way to our Society for the coÌ„uersion of those Nations but left that enterprize also fully ready and easy to be compassed VVherfore my intention is to set downe heere in writing the life of this most Blessed man being full of all variety of matter And though my VVill and Desire be more ready to obey then either Ability or Hope
vpoÌ„ the sodain to faint â—nd languish in that manner but when the palenesse of his countenance discouered the greatnes of his interiour paine they held him vp as he fainted and asked him what new accident was befallen him Then he taking breath awhile which was before stopped through griefe was enforced to open vnto them the whole matter They all condoling his case but secretly admiring his vertue intreated him to rest awhile vnâ—il the violence of the paine were a little asswaged then as soone as they thought he had rested inough recouered a little strengh they brought him fayre and softly to the next Inne and presently sent for a Physitian who hauing diligently viewed and considered of the soare resolutely answereth that the cords could not be seene much lesse cut And although the ends of the cords did appeare yet they had made such vlcers that they could neither be vnloosed or cut without most extreme paine Therfore because the disease surpassed art the cause therof went beyond all custome he stood awhile in a maze like one that knew not what to say At last fearing the successe he could not be persuaded eyther by Francis or his companioÌ„s to medle with it there was such danger in the Cure And so departed without so much as making the least triall The Fathers his companions then were in great solicitude and anxiety not only for what would become of the Patient but also for their owne iorney which was hindred by this vnexpected chance to the great hindrance of them all And Francis grieued no lesse that his companions were enforced to stay for him then for his owne infirmity Despayring therefore of humane they had recourse to diuine help ech one humbly imploring assistance from Heauen Their prayers were not in vayne for God himselfe played the Phisitian and presently applyed a remedy to that desperate Cure A strange thing the next morning Francis rising out of his bed found all the cordes broken asunder fallen of all the swelling gone nothing to remaine of the soares but certaine markes where the ropes had byn Then being stroken into admiration reioycing not so much for himselfe as for his companions sake with a lowde voyce gaue thankes to Almighty God wherat his companions came running to him asking him the cause of that new ioy Which hauing vnderstood and being astonished at the euident miracle gaue as reason was all due praise and thankes to God and lifting vp their handes to heauen weeping for ioy began presently to extoll the heauenly Fathers prouidence and singular bounty towards them Then they presently set on againe to their trauaile most ioyfull for that good successe inciting one another to employ al their labours in the seruice of so sweet a Lord And Francis throughout the whole iorney as he was alwayes before wont to do applied himselfe with such diligence alacrity in helping seruing his coÌ„panions as was wonderfull For as they all stroue to the vttermost this only being the emulation among them to excell one another in courâ—esy he either out of feruour of spirit or naturall ciâ—ility farre outwent the rest And this care and desire â—f his was no greater to helpe his companions then to procure the saluation of others Whersoeuer occasion was giuen him of helping his neighbours either with counsel aduise or example he with great zeale made his commodity therof and imbraced the same as opportunity serued And herein his labour was not in vaine for many Catholiques were therby reclaimed to a good life and some Heretiques also reduced to the wholsom way of truth Which way soeuer they passed they left behind them tokens of sanctity for all to behould and Catholiques to imitate And so it hapned oftentimes that euen Hereticks themselues taken with admiration at their sanctity would courteously shew them their way tell them what difficulties they were to passe and when need was would themselues freely conduct them in their iorney Thus true and kindly vertue sheweth it selfe and putteth euen sauage people in mind of humanity Francis therfore by the aide both of heauen and earth hauing waded through all the incoÌ„modities dangers of the way vpon the tenth day of Ianuary the yeare following arriued safe with his companions at Venice There he fouÌ„d Ignatius of Loyola with the greatest desire expecting his deerest sonnes coÌ„panions Then according to the custome of the society they salute and imbrace one another most ioyfully with the greatest demonstration of loue that might be imagined And this their ioy made them forgetfull of all their toylsome passed labours CHAP. V. At Venice he serueth in the Hospitall of the Incurable and from thence goeth to Rome to the Pope THE Fathers had already agreed al togeather to go to Rome there to aske leaue of the Pope to go to Hierusalem to preach the Gospell and there to remayne at their owne liberty It seemed therfore good vnto theÌ„ that vntill the extremity of the winter were ouer past that they should begin to practise theÌ„selues at Venice in that kind of spiritual warfarre which afterward they were to undertake Wherfore deuiding themselues to the publike seruice of the Hospitals of that Citty as into so many Prouinces Francis requested that he might haue the care of the Incurable a fit meanes to gayne as he desired a most noble conquest ouer himselfe the which office he performed with no lesse feruour of spirit then he had desire thereunto As soone therfore as he came thither he begaÌ„ to go about the beds couches of those poore soules speaâ—ing comfortably and sweetly to the afflicted encouraging them that were giuen ouer by the surgeons with hope of life euerlasting hartening them that lay â—dying mouing all most affectionatly to patience modesty vertuous life endeauouring by all meanes possible to cure their minds whose diseases were incurable And considering moreouer that if he serued them in things belonging to their bodies he might the more easily helpe them in their soules He therefore would himselfe sweep the hospitall make the beds rid away the filth performe euen the most base and abiect offices of the place those being the first grouÌ„ds of Christian humility finally as the custome is wash the bodies of the dead bury theÌ„ as they ought to be And in the midst of all these imployments there appeared in his countenance and lookes such and so eminent a Piety that you would haue thought he had seene Christ with his eyes in those poore sicke persons and employed all his labours in seruing of him These things were done in the sight of a most frequented Hospitall in the view of a most noble Citty with such vnusuall cheerfulnes and ioy that many flocking thither through the reporte of so new a thing Francis became a spectacle not only to God his Angels but to men also In so much that his care charity towards the sicke renewed agayne
streets and borrowing â—â—stoole out of some shoppe standing theron he would â—â—eake of vertuous and godly life with more feruour 〈◊〉 spirit then flourish of words to such as either stood â—â—ere idle or else were in their playes and pastimes 〈◊〉 so much as some who came to his sermon only to get something to laugh at being moued by the weight of his speach the diuine force wherwith he spake in steed of laughing went away weeping Nothing caused him to be more admired or helped on his busines better then refusing to take money a token of sanctity most pleasing to all men For when all saw that he neyther asked any thing of the people about him nor would take any thing which was offered him they could not but think that he sought the saluation of others more then his owne commodity Hauing thus employed his labours and indeauours in Mont Celsus with no lesse good successe in helping of others then in the perfection of himselfe he went to Vincenza sent thither by Ignatius Where hauing agayne recollected himselfe in most diligent mannâ—r and thinking it now time to performe that for which he had long prepared himself this our new Priest with plentifull teares of ioy offereth his first heauenly wholsome sacrifice to the diuine Maiesty Yow would say that he did not so much belieue that which is conteyned vnder those sacred mysteries as he saw and beheld it with his eyes And such indeed was the ardent fire which inflamed both his soule and body that they who beheld the teares streaming so sweetly from his eyes could not themselues absteine from weeping And this singular feeling of deuotion he froÌ„ thence forward reteined throughout his whole life in such sort as if comming euery day like a new Priest to the Aultar he had tasted that first sweetnes of those sacred mysteries CHAP. VII He assisteth the Cittyes of Bononia and Rome vvith his Sermons THE day appointed for their Pilgrimage to Hierusalem was now past yet there was no hope of passage the Enemies nauy still keping the seas Therfore they were according to the tenour of their vowes to leaue themselues to the disposition of the Pope And for this cause the â—athers agreed among themselues that Ignatius Loyola â—â—ter Faber Iames Laynes should go to Rome in name of the rest offer to his Holines their endeauours â—â—bours for the help of soules In the meane time the â—â—hers dispersing themselues throughout the most faâ—â—â—ous Academies of Italy should instruct the students â—â—â—vertue draw more to be of their Company if it â—â—ould so please God In this diuision the vniuersity of â—â—â—onia fell to Xauier his lot with no small benefit toâ—â—â—at Citty For as soone as he came thither he went 〈◊〉 say Masse at the Sepulcher of S. Dominick to whome 〈◊〉 was euer especially deuout And it hapned that â—â—ere was present at his Masse Elizabeth Casiline of Boâ—â—nia a religious woman of the most holy Order of 〈◊〉 Dominick who perceauing Francis his great deuoâ—â—on desired so speake with him Their discourse was â—â—ch that she was wholy possessed with an opinion of â—â—s sanctity This Elizabeth had an Vncle called Hierome Casiline a man both learned and noble who was also Chanon of S. Petronius Rectour of S. Lucies Colledge where he then dwelt Francis at her request went vnto him and by his courteous speach and candide behauiour got his affection so that he most willingly and freely inuited him to his house Xauieâ— humbly accepted of so worthy a mans courtesy for his lodging but to eate there he absolutely refused because he begged his meate as he was accustomed Iâ— the meane time Casiline obserued him greatly admiring his vertues wherof he gaue also publicke testimony Francis therfore although his courage waâ— greater then his forces because he was at that timâ— sickly and weake yet his admirable feruour of spiriâ— abundantly supplied what he wanted in strength Foâ— such was his great desire of doing good to all thâ—â— there was almost no worke of Christian charity wherein he had not a sweet and louing hand no otherwise then if he had enioyed the greatest health thâ— could be Hauing said Masse euery day as his custome was he afterwards employed himselfe in seruing the siâ—â— in the Hospitals and the poore that were in prison 〈◊〉 teaching children and ignorant persons the principles of Christian doctrine in hearing Confessions He moreouer preached to the people in the streets anâ— publicke high wayes and that not more frequently then profitably For he vsed not the then new flourishing and Rhetorical kind of speach but followed aâ— togeather that old feruent and Apostolicall manneâ— of preaching There was in him no curious setting â—orth of arguments nor ornament of words but all â—eruour of mynd and spirit intermixed with most pithy and graue sentences wherto his plainesse and as it were neglect of speach an euideÌ„t marke of truth â—â—â—ue great lustre and force The modest and humble â—â—mposition both of his countenance whole body â—â—â—eathed out that saÌ„ctity which lay hiddeÌ„ in his soule The piety which shined forth from his face lookes euidently demonstrated that whatsoeuer he said came from the bottome of his hart and from the fire of Charity which inflamed his brest Wherupon his words carrying more feruour with them then eloâ—â—â—ence were like burning torches to the vnderstanding of those that heard him and like a flame of fire 〈◊〉 their affections so as therby might manifestly apâ—â—are how fiery the diuine word is when men speake 〈◊〉 as God alwayes supplieth them with matter For â—â—â—uiers drift was not to haunt after fauour and vulâ—â—â—â— applause of the people but to cause in his audiâ—â—â—rs affections a feare and loue of God and indeed â—â—â—eeke truly the saluation of soules not his owne â—â—â—eeme In fine the substance of his sermons was to lay beâ—â—â—e the people the most bitter euerlasting tormeÌ„ts hich are ordained for the reprobate in hell and the â—ost sweet neuer-ending rewards layd vp for the â—â—t in heauen as also to shew the deformity of sinne â—â—d the beauty and louelynesse of vertue not in cuâ—â—â—us but in weighty and substantiall words And â—â—â—ds word being cast and sowen in this manner was receiued by the hearers with proÌ„pt willing minds yielded that fruite which Francis desired For many were by the grace of God drawne out of the sinke of sinne many also brought to frequent the Sacraments great store of money was likewise giuen in Almes wherof notwithstanding he touched not a farthing but causing it to be distributed amongst the needy himselfe begged from dore to dore prouiding therby both for the necessity of the poore mantaining the dignity of a Preacher WheÌ„ce it came to passe which he chiefly aymed at that not only very many being penitent for their sinnes lead afterwards a pious and Christian life but also which he cared not for that
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
bodies of their filth he washed their linnen dressed their meate minced it smal and fed them with his owne hands He ministred phisicke to the weake he most louingly cheered vp those that were sad and put them that were out of hart in hope of recouery both of body and soule And thus by seruing all indifferently without regard of persons that with diligence alacrity he made euen those that were in health to beare him great respect and reuerence CHAP. XIIII Seruing the sicke he arriueth at Mozambicum ALL did indeed admire the singular sanctity of life which they saw in Xauerius his coÌ„tinuall diligence his feruent prayer meditating at set tymes and his fatherly loue and Charity to all without exception By which meanes he gained both the loue and respect of all the rest but especially of Sosa the Generall For although the King had vpon his setting forth very seriously coÌ„mended Francis to Sosa yet his owne vertue a most efficacious kind of commendations commended him dayly more and more vnto him For which respect Sosa both to fulfill his Kings command and out of his owne accord gaue him all things largely and bountifully Yet Xauerius himselfe liued alwayes by begging what he wanted of the passengers for Gods sakes and through zeale of pouerty in himselfe stirred vp others to charity and bounty Which practise he with such constancy reteyned that neyther the Generall himselfe nor any of his Honourable retinew could at any tyme draw him from the obseruance of highest pouerty But this one thing got Xauerius much more loue esteeme in the sight both of God and men to wit that sparing from his owne belly he would most freely deuide amongst the sicke all what he begged of the passengers and what was assigned him by the Generall For being resolute in keeping his purpose he eate very sparingly and of such meate as required no great labour to make it ready not so much to satisfy nature as to sustayne it Yet in this meane tyme his new care of helping the sick did not interrupt his old custome of teaching the Catechisme For euery day he both instructed the ignorant slaues marriners souldiers and other passengers in the mysteryes and precepts of our fayth also exhorted them by pious sermons to liue Christianlike And in all these labours you would haue thought him not to be tyred out but to grow stronger thereby Which was neuer more apparently seene then in this Indian voyage For besides his extreme labour this also was as it were added thereto that whilst he did all these things he passed the Torrid Zone and the Equinoctiall line not long after the tyme of the Equinoctium At which tyme there is commonly in that tract of the sea eyther through the scorching of the sunne which haÌ„geth ouer their heads or by the reflexion thereof vpon the still sea such an intollerable heate that the strongest men being almost burnt vp and consumed with heat and sweat do euen faint away and languish And no meruayle seeing the passengers being thrust vp togeather in close roomes of the ship can hardly draw their breath or at those tymes scarsely take any comfort eyther in meate or drinke For all their drinke and victualls being vsually corrupted by the vapors of the scalding sunne do for the most part loose their force and goodnes for a tyme vntil they be past the forsayd line Many times also the winds wholy ceasing there followeth for many dayes sometymes weekes together such a calme that the ships are not able to moue to the great irkesomnesse and griefe of the passengers And as the intollerable heate of the sunne continuing almost throughout the whole Torrid Zone causeth vehemÌ„t feuers amongst them that passe vnder it so doth it also bereaue many of their liues At this time when sicknes came vpon them so fast in so great a mortality of marriners passengers as euen they who were well and had nothing to do could scarse breath Francis forgetfull of him selfe vnderwent the burden of all these inconueniences with courage answerable thereunto iudging it meet as he saw the sick mens incumbrances to grow greater so also to increase his diligence in helping them And albeit he was ready to languish away also through intollerable heate yet such was his courage of mind such the force of the holy Ghost who is euer a most sweet refreshment in heat that he applied himselfe no lesse carefully then before both in the seruice of those that were sick and ready to dy as also already dead Hauing thus sayled through the excessiue difficulties of the Equinoctiall line and being now passed about two thousand leagues a greater feare came vpon them theÌ„ before since they were to vndergo a greater danger For the Promontory of Good Hope a very vnfortunate place by reason of most cruell tempests and shipwrackes threatned to them no lesse pestilence mortality then they had already endured This Promontory taketh its name of Bonae spei or Good Hope for this reason that hauing once passed the difficulties dangers therof you then may hope for a prosperous nauigation For theÌ„ the African coast growing sharpe in the forme of a wedge runneth an huge way into the southern Ocean towards the frozen climate so as two most vast seas meeting from both sides of Africk and continually tossed with contrary windes make a most hydeous conflict with themselues And this hapneth especially in the monthes of Iune and Iuly at which time in those parts it is the midst of winter wholy contrary to Europe and in which moneth ordinarily they must passe that Promontory who go from Portugall into India And although the shippes to auoid that raging fury violence of the sea as much as they can vse to keep off a great way from land yet do they seeme to fly the danger more theÌ„ the domage For whilst they fetch a great compasse about the further they go from the Promontory the neerer they come to the frozen Zone so do neither auoid the cruell stormes nor yet escape the intollerable cold Wherfore although they be more secure from danger of shipwracke yet by reason of the vnusuall and vehement tossing of the shippes the passengers become extremely sea-sick and vomit And as the same could not but augment their disease who were already sick so also Francis his labour was of necessity increased therby especially when he himselfe being all frozen with cold sea-sick and full of loathsomenesse in his stomack did at the same time performe all those heroicall exercises of Charity But the diuine vertue which was in him ouercame the weakenes of his nature and his noble and constant courage held in the troublesome vomiting of his stomake And so when he was not able to help himself he failed not to help those that were sick euen in the most dangerous time of all Moreouâ—r he did not only affoard all the help and
the Catechisme There was at the same time in that Towne a great mortality and sicknes among the people so as very many came daily vnto him froÌ„ all places requesting him to visit their houses say some prayers ouer the sicke And many also who had none to sollicite for them being extremely sick crept vnto him as well as they could for the same cause Xauerius being moued as well out of his owne compassionate nature as by that pittyful spectacle had a scruple to deny those poore soules so iust requests fearing lost if he should be â—lacke therin the Christian Religion might receiue some detriment therby Therfore he spent much time and tooke great paines in visiting them reading the holy Gospell ouer the sick not in vayne For it is well knowne that very many sick in that sea coast were by him cured many possessed persons deliuered And it is certainly reported that he there restored three dead men to life besides a yong maide of Cangoxima of whome I will speake in her proper place Pun call as we said is a towne of good note in the coast of Comorinum In this towne there dyed a certaine yong man of a good family who being by his frinds brought to Francis and layd at his feete with great lamentation the good Father tooke him by the hand and commanded him in the name of Christ to aryse wherupoÌ„ he presently rose vp aliue This act Xauerius out of his true humility suppressed as much as possibly he could by dissembling the matter but all in vaine For there wanted not witnesses therof nor men to spread it abroad although it were a matter of great moment wherof they were to be the authors And this miracle was afterward confirmed by another the like In the same towne a Christian woman went to Francis and with teares bewayling her misfortune of being left desolate most humbly besought him that he would be pleased to go to her little sonne who had bin lately drowned in a well He bad the woman be of good courage for her child was not dead and presently goeth along with her as she desired As soone as he came to the house he fell downe vpon his knees and hauing prayed a while he made the signe of the crosse vpon the dead body wherupon the child presently start vp from the beere wheron he lay not only aliue but also sound and in perfect health At which miraculous accident the Christians who stood about were all astonished and cryed out for ioy But Xauerius earnestly intreated them by al meanes possible to make no words therof so secretly retyred himselfe from thence They people could not ouercome theÌ„selues as he requested to keep silent so miraculous an euent and besides that Xauerius his dissembling the matter made his sanctity the more to appeare Moreouer to speake nothing of others Iohn Triaga a Portughese a deuout and graue man very familiar with Xauerius being demanded iuridically by the Bishop of Goa his Vicar after the Fathers death testified that himselfe was present at Punicall when Francis raysed to life a certaine boy and also a little girle And withall testified that he had vnderstood by many that Xauerius had restored another to life in â— village called Bembari wherof himselfe had sometymes asked Xauerius although out of humility he seemed so suppresse the matter yet he might easily perceaue it was true which he went about to coÌ„ceale And all this is very sufficiently testified vnder the deposition and seale of the Viceroy of India by the King of Portugals command Now whilest Xauerius thus laboureth about the sick and the dead there wanted not other many and dayly imployments to instruct children conuert the Ethnickes baptize those that were conuerted bury the dead and satisfy those who asked his aduice But the cumbersomnes of the sick by reason of their great â—umber and the bruit which was now spread abroad of those that were cured did so greatly increase daily that it was not possible for one to satisfy all Moreoâ—er as many times it hapneth there arose contentions among the people whilst euery one did striue to get Francis first to their house Therfore to condescend to their iust demaunds without any breach of peace he found out an inuention which was as profitable as necessary to send in his place certaine Christian childreÌ„ fit for that purpose These children by Xauiers appointment going about to the houses first called togeather those of the family and their neighbours then â—auing recited the Creed all togeather they exhorted the sick to haue an assured hope and confidence in God by whose help they were to recouer their health all last when they had stirred vp all that were present to deuotion then they added certaine pious and godly prayers This inuention of his was not in vayne For what by the fayth of the children of the standers by and the sicke and of Francis Author thereof it caused in the diseased health both of body and soule In so much that very many Neophites were therby confirmed in their beliefe many Ethnickes brought to the faith of Christ the force whereof they had experienced by the recouery of their health But if any of the said children could get Xauerius Beades he thought himselfe highly honoured for that infallibly they cured all the sick who were touched therwith wherfore as iewels famous for the wonders wrought by theÌ„ euery one did striue to get them so as being carryed about continually to the sicke they seldome brought them backe to Francis seruing rather to worke miracles theÌ„ to pray vpon And by the meanes of these children he did not only help those who were sicke but assisted also possessed and obsessed persons There was one who being possest was wonderfully tormented by the Deuill to whome Francis being requested to go but could not by reason of other employments sent in his place certayne Children who assisted him in teaching the Christian doctrine with a crosse and tould them what they should do The children went to the possest man and as Xauerius had instructed them gaue him the crosse to kisse and they themselues recited certayne prayers which they knew by hart Whereupon presently to the astonishment of all that were present the possest man was deliuered not so much by the fayth and sanctity of the children as of Francis himselfe The report heereof being spread far and neere with great applause to Xauerius his fame became more remarkable by his humility For these miracles which he wrought by diuine power by sending children vp downe he would not acknowledge as done by himselfe but ascribed them to the faith of the children of the sick persons so as endeauouring by all meanes to debase himselfe and to hide his owne vertue he made the splendour of his sanctity the more appeare Wherfore shining as he did not only with that eminency of
of many who giuing ouer Idolatry became Christians And the Brachmans being astonished as wel at his great learning as at the miracles wrought by him turning their hate into reuerence endeauoured to gaine his fauour and friendship both by guiftes all other meanes they could deuise But his loue of pouerty was not ouercome by any such fauours and though he reiected their guiftes to keep his owne liberty free yet notwithstanding he conserued good correspondence and friendship with them And as he went his circuit about the townes of the Christians oftentimes he lodged in their abiding places which are also called Pagods as their Gods are hoping that some of them might be conuerted with the saluation of many soules Vpon a tyme he came to a certaine Pagod where were assembled almost two hundred Brachmans who had vnderstood of his comming thither Hauing saluted one another and many wordes passed to and fro Francis demaunded of them in ful assembly what their Gods commaunded those to do who were to come into heauen to them After long strife amongst them who should giue the answere it fell at last by common consent to the lot of an ancient man of 80. yeares of age the eldest amongst them who craftily shifting off the Question asked Xauerius agayne what the Christians God commaunded them to do But he perceyuing the old mans euasion tould him he would not speake a word of any Christian affayres vntill he had answered his question as good reason he should Then the old man being driuen to it by necessity with open manifestation of his ignorance sayd That their Gods commaunded them two things The one was that they should not kill any Cow because with kine the Gods were worshipped The other was that they should bestow liberall guifts vpon the Bâ—achmans the chiefe Priests Ministers of the sayd Gods Then Xauerius moued at the ignorance and impudency both of the man and the thing presently rose vp and intreated them that they would also now heare him And with a lowd voice reciting the Creed and the ten Commandements he briefly explicateth the same in their country language and then he declareth the ioyes of the blessed in heauen and the torments of the damned in hell and finally who they were that should go to the one and other place As soone as they heard this on a suddain they all rose vp and euery one imbracing him wonderfully extolled the Christian Religion containing such agreable mysteryes and precepts as those were such is the force of truth euen with peruerse minds if light from heauen shine vpon them Then they asked him many other things very ridiculous and such as we who by Gods goodnes vnderstaÌ„d the Truth do abhorre to heare to wit whether the Soule of man dyeth togeather with the body as other liuing creatures do What should be the cause why we seeme in our sleepe to be with our friends although they be far of Is it not because our soule the body being asleep leaueth its mansion and flyeth abroad Whether God be white or black for they themselues being blackish by nature out of the esteeme they beare to their owne colour thinke that God is black and do oftentimes besmeare their Idols with oile in such manner that they be not only black but euen vgly also and horrible to behould in so much that you would thinke you saw the Diuels themselues and not their images Xauerius when these questions were asked him knowing well how to accommodate his speech to his Auditours answered not so learnedly as sutably to their capacities so that not one of all the company durst open his month to contradict him But when he pressed them to imbrace the Christian Religion which they saw so manifestly proued vnto them they answered that indeed they were afraid of what the people would say and that they should want meanes to liue if they should change their course of life And so these wretches making more account of what the people would say then of their owne saluation contemned the light which began to shine vpon them remained obstinate in their darknes Now although as we sayd the Brachmans carry away the bell for wisedome among the Indians yet there was only one found among them all worthy of that name a Schoole-man of a famous Academy of India who out of the familiarity which he had with Xauerius declared to him certain mysteries of that Academy which held that there was one God maker of the world who raigning in heaueÌ„ ought to be worshiped of mortal meÌ„ that euery eight day which we cal Sunday ought to be kept holy that a time would come when all should professe one Religion Moreouer he desired to know the mysteryes of the Christian fayth which at length Francis declared vnto him and withall spake these wholsome words of our Sauiour Qui crediderit baptizatus fuerit saluus erit He that belieueth is baptized shal be saued The Brachman noted downe in a litle booke these words with their explication and intreated Xauerius to baptize him vpon certayne conditions But Xauerius reiecting his conditions being neyther iust nor honest thought it good to differre his request for a tyme so dismissed him bidding him to publish that mystery of one God to the people hoping that he would indeed become a perfect Christian be occasion of no small aduancement to the Christian cause But yet there was another yong Brachman who gaue not only greater hopes but also proued better indeed He being of an excellent wit behauiour was instructed and baptized by Francis by his appointement vndertooke to teach children their Catechisme Christ thus choosing to himselfe maysters of his doctrine out of the Diuels schoole At this time now God would shew manifestly how pleasing Xauerius labours were vnto him He weÌ„t vpon some occasions to an Ethincke noble-man who being a barbarous vnciuil fellow contemning the vertuous and holy man shut him out of his house in a rude disgracefull manner scoffing at him said Serue me in the same sort if euer I come to the Christians Church This iniury offred to Francis being published abroad by those who were present no body had lesse feeling of it then he to whome it was done It seemed doubtlesse both to the Portugheses and the Neophites an vnworthy fact as deseruing indeed to be reuenged by God himselfe Therfore he who taketh vengeance vpon iniuries done vnto his seruants sent spedily a due punishmeÌ„t vpon that contumelious man A few dayes after the same Noble man being vnarmed chanced to meet with his armed enemies not far from the Christians Church wherefore being not able to resist he thought to defend himself by running away Now as he fled they followed him close with their deadly weapons were euen come to the Christians Church wherin that wretch not thinking theÌ„ of the contumelious words which formerly he had vtteed
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
manner of abyding place the blessed haue or by whose power soules are thrust downe into Hell there was no mention at all amongst them only they spread abroad certayne old wiues tales of the Authours of their Religion among whome one Xacas and Amidas were esteemed the principall Gods who of their owne accord vnderwent most grieuous and very long paynes to saue the rest Of these Sectes some of them conteyne 300. precepts others fiue hundred yet they all hold that there be fiue points only necessary to saluation wherby is forbidden Murder Eating of any liuing creature that is killed Theft Adultery Lying the Drinking of Wine These the Bonzies the Bonziâ—sses vndertooke to satisfy for the people who being hindred through the cares affayres of the Citty could not obserue these lawes but yet vpon this conditioÌ„ that they should allow them houses to dwel in yearely reuenewes other maintenance withal forsooth should do them honour reuerence Wherupon the wealthier sort of people and the Nobility that they might haue freer leaue to sin accepting of the conditions gaue then readily whatsoeuer they demaunded making no doubt but the Bonzies prayers would rescue them euen out of hell it self Besids this the Bonzies begge almes of all men but giue to none Now when Xauerius had found out these other such like things turning the Iaponians own practises as weapons against themselues he began in such sort to deale with the Bonzies before the people as that by euident arguments and reasons he ouerthrew their counterfaite fictions But especially he demonstrated vnto them that none could by the Bonzies prayers be freed from the torments of Hell seeing that it was certayne they did not obserue those conditions themselues which they had vndertaken to obserue for others For it was manifestly knowen that they being now fallen froÌ„ their ancient discipline vsed to drinke wine to eate flesh priuately and publikely to Lye and commit Adultery Whereupon the people when they saw the Bonzies false dealing laid open before their face began to be all-enraged and to complayne that they had by their treachery byn deceaued and robbed of their goods The truth whereof the Bonzies themselues were driuen at last to confesse saying that vnlesse they had by their wits vpheld themselues they should infallibly haue perished with hunger And so from this tyme forward they not only suffred many losses but foule disgraces also Then Xauerius vnderstanding by the relation of of some Iaponians his friends by their ancient written Records that Xacas and Amidas had liued full out two thousand yeares and that Xacas had byn borne eight thousand tymes and much other such like stuffe deseruing rather to be laughed at then recounted he presently with great instance set himselfe to canuase out these idle fables shewing that they were not Gods but diuelish Monsters Whereto when the Benzies themselues the Sorcerers other aduersaryes of God being vtterly vanquished had nothing to say the Christians were indeed very glad and much coÌ„firmed in the fayth and course which they had vndertaken And the Ethnickes that were present perceiuing their Maysters errours began to stagger in their owne Religion and by litle and litle retyred themselues to the standard of Christ The Bonzies againe vrged Francis with the authority of the Chineses from whome the Iaponians had fetcht their Religion and therfore that the Iaponians would certainly neuer change their Religion and ceremonies vnlesse the Chineses first changed theirs Wherfore he should goe and carry the Ghospell thither first and bring the Chineses vnder the yoke of Christ and when he had so done then would Iaponia also willingly imbrace the faith and Religion that he taught But these sayings of the Bonzies were litle or no hindrance at all to Xauerius endeauours who went on neuer the slower with that which he had resolued vpon The Iaponianâ— who had neuer heard any thing at all of the Creation of the Sunne Moone Starres celestiall Globes Land Sea Soules other things did not for the most part acknowledge any author or maker of the world When Francis therfore shewed them that God was the Creatour of all things and especially of soules they wondred very much that such a beginning of all things had bin wholy hidden and vnknowen not only to the Iaponians but also to the Chineses from whence they had their Religion At last their admiration came to this that looke how much they reuerenced Xauerius the Christian Religion so much they detested the Bonzies the Iaponian Sectes By these disputations therfore Xauerius did so vexe the whole generatioÌ„ of the Bonzies that they who before his comming were continually iarring amongst themselues about their owne Lawes new leauing off that quarrell there was no other speach among them but of the law of God And euery day there came many who asked of Francis diuers questions as whether there were one beginning of good bad things And whether that were good or bad it self When he replyed that there was but one beginning of all and that good in the highest degree they alleadged against him the euill spirits enemies of mankind who were certaynly knowne to be naught If then God were good why did he create such detestable creatures as they were Then Xauerius answered that God had created them all good who by their owne fault were become bad and therfore were tormented eternally in Hell But then they vrged him why did God permit men whome he had created to serue him to be deceyued by the Deuils And why had he not created their affections rather inclined to vertue then proue to vice To which Francis demonstrated that man was free by nature had diuine helps at hand both to combat and get the victory if he would make vse therof and withall shewed that al mankind was framed to honest and vertuous carriage but was by the sinne of their Parents and their owne faults growne depâ—aued Then they fly from mans fault to Gods seuerity aske him Why he made that infernall prison of Hell the greatest of all euills And why would â—e neuer shew mercy to them that be condemned to eâ—ernall torments Xauerius contrary wise declared vnâ—â— them that such was the Maiesty of God and so â—reat his benefits bestowed vpon all men and euery â—ne in particular that there could be no torment fouÌ„d 〈◊〉 great which was not due to man for his abominaâ—â—e wickednes who being a base worme of the earth â—urst violate the infinite power of Almighty God yet â—â—ch againe was the diuine Mercy Clemency that 〈◊〉 alwayes punished lesse then was deserued These many other such things were heard with â—â—ceeding good liking so as they were all easily satisâ—â—ed But that which troubled theÌ„ most was that God â—â—emed neither bountifull nor indiffereÌ„t who hauing â—are of all other Countries besides Iaponia had neuer â—eclared himselfe to the Iaponians before Francis his â—omming thither
vnto her but Xauerius tould them that there was no need so to do for she of her owne selfe would come close to the ship side And so it came to passe indeed all the company being astonished at the miracle At last she came so right vnto the side that the poore men might be coÌ„modiously taken vp Besids this although she were in the midst of the waues yet remained she firme without any to hold her vntil she was againe fast bound vnto the ship Besides this so euident a miracle another strange almost incredible thing is recouÌ„ted by Fernand Mendez Pinto a graue and vertuous Portughese who was companion vnto Francis in that voyage out of Iaponia into China partaker also of all these dangers which was That after the men were taken vp safe into the ship the marriners would haue thrust of the boate which was now empty fast tyed therto they all cried out vnto them that they should first help forth Xauerius who was stil in the boat When the marriners replyed that Xauerius was well safe in the ship had neuer byn in the boat they affirmed constantly one after another that all the while they were tossed by the teÌ„pest driuen vp and downe in the sea Xauerius was seene comforting them putting them in hope to escape euen vntil the boat came backe Then they began to vnderstand that Francis whilest he prayed for their deliuery appeared also vnto them as it is recounted of S. Nicolas Bishop of Myra by whose prayers it was manifest they had byn saued from shipwracke This thing was much spoken of by all the passengers and marriners But Xauerius affirmed that it was Gods handy-worke and not his and willeth the Mayster of the ship with all speed to make ready all his sayles for that presently the tempest would cease and they should haue faire weather This proued also very true for the marriners had scarce put in order their sayles when vpon the suddaine the storme wholy ceased and the ship sayled on with a prosperous gale Now this regayning of the Cock-Boate made also much for gayning of the two Saracens soules who â—ad byn in all the danger For they being moued by â—o euident a miracle were by Xauerius without great difficulty conuerted to the fayth of Christ and being â—y him instructed and baptized were next to God â—ound vnto him for the saluation both of their bodies â—nd soules The ship then hauing afterwards a prospeâ—ous voyage came safe to Cinceum an hauen Towne of China whither she was bound CHAP. III. He maketh the Port of the Chineses and his voyage to Malaca very famous by his Prophesies AS soone as Francis was landed he met very fitly with Iames Perera his ancient great friend a man of note both for Nobility of birth and riches who was shortly to reâ—rne into India When they had saluted each other â—ith great signes of ioy affection Francis acquainâ—ng him with his determination of coÌ„ming to speach â—ith the King of China asked his aduise therin Wherâ—pon he being a prudent man and experienced in â—ch matters thought his best course would be to â—rocure the Embassage which he spake of and also â—resents from the Viceroy of India to the sayd King â—f China And to second his aduise with his helping â—and he offered cordially for that purpose not only â—is owne endeauours but his ship also and all he â—ad besides so much did the loue of Xauerius togeatogether with aduancement of Christian Religion in China moue him And truly his deedes proued greater then his words for he sent with Xauerius to Goa a man of purpose to conduct him furnished him with 30. thousand Crownes for that voyage Francis giuing him many thankes prayed God to requite him and promised also that his King should do the like From thence he passed to Machao a very famous Mart Towne of the Chineses where finding a yong mayd who through pouerty and want had exposed her Chastity to be abused he presently began to beg money to make her vp a dowry He therfore going to one Peter Vellius an ancient acquaintance of his and a wel monied merchaÌ„t finding him playing at chesse in another mans house openeth the matter briefly vnto him and withall intreateth to borrow some gold of him to be payd agayne an hundred for one in heauen Vellius being somewhat troubled at Xauerius vnseasonable comming vnto him tould him that it was then no tyme to talke of such things for that he was not at his owne house where his money was Francis vrged againe in a very friendly manner saying that to one who was to dye no time was amisse to do good deeds in At which words Vellius being moued gaue him the key of his chest where his mony was for Xauerius knew wel his house where to find any thing bidding him take as much as he would Francis went and tooke out 300. crownes and presently bringeth him backe the key telling him withall how much he had taken Then quoth he Father you haue committed an errour and your modesty hath done me an â—niury hauing taken farre lesse then I intended you should For by deliuering you my key I meant you should haue taken the halfe that was in the chest I which I thinke are 30000. crownes of gold haue equally deuided it betweene vs but alas what a â—mall summe haue you taken thence for your selfe Francis admiring hereat perceiued that Vellius spake â—incerely froÌ„ his hart that his words were not more complementall then true Wherupon he replyed Go â—orward Vellius quoth he stil in this thy liberality for â—hy noble reall Hart testified by these effects is graâ—efull and acceptable to God in whose name therfore 〈◊〉 promise that God shall neuer fayle thee and that â—hou shalt also by reuelation from him foreknow the â—ast day of thy lyfe Wherein God neyther deceyued Francis nor he the merchant From that tyme forward Vellius became quite another man and was veâ—y much addicted to bounty and piety Some yeares â—fter being forewarned from heauen of the tyme of â—is departure out of this lyfe he began to cast vp his â—ccoumpts and to setle his household affayres distriâ—uting a great part of his substance among the poore and made himselfe ready for that last combat now whilst he was strong and lusty When his last day was come he went vnto the Church caused the Priest to sing a solemne masse of Requiem for Peter Vellius at which himselfe was present reckoning himselfe euen then for dead Then goâ—ng to euery one of his friends he biddeth them farewell for he was to take a long iourney When they asked him whither he meant to go To heauen quoth he I trust Wherupon they thought he had but iested being alwayes a merry and pleasant man But he persisted with many asseuerations that indeed he went to heauen Then they thought verily he was distracted
made those Decrees and Canons Wherfore you shall â—ntreate him in my behalfe by the death pretious wounds of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that he will not cast himselfe headlong into such grieuous Ecclesiastiâ—all censures For God will certainly lay farre greater â—unishments vpon him then he doth imagine Then I do beseech you to send me back this very â—â—pplicatioÌ„ togeather with the Gouernours answere â—o the end I may testify to the Bishop that my negliâ—ence hath not bin the cause why I haue not gone â—orwards on my iorney into China which I vnderâ—oke by his aduise and counsayle Also I most earâ—estly beseech you that you wil dispatch this with all â—eed that possibly may be for the fit season for naâ—gation into China passeth away If you do this you â—all at once do both God great seruice me a speâ—all fauour Neither can I be brought to belieue that he Gouernor is so obstinate or hard-harted but that â—e will dismisse vs presently as soone as he is made â—cquainted with his Holinesse decrees The Vicar therfore moued by this supplication â—treaties of Francis goeth to the Gouernour and deâ—areth vnto him plainly that he is forthwith excomâ—unicated by his Holines authority vnlesse he desist â—om hindring of Xauerius endeauours withal inâ—eateth him by the death and passion of our Blessed â—uiour not to commit any thing which might cause â—nto him so deadly a wound together with no small â—sgrace And withal that he would beware how he â—tangled himself in so heinous vnexpiable a crime â—or which certainly God would take a more seuere accoumpt of him then he could imagine But the poore Gouernour harbouring a world of disordinate affections within his brest could not be persuaded to heare what was sayd vnto him For neyther his Holinesse authority nor the threatning of excoÌ„munication could once induce the miserable man to giue ouer what his madnesse had begun so farre is Enuy from thinking any thing vnalwfull Wherby it manifestly appeared that it was not so much the obstinacy of the Gouernour as of the Diuell himselfe who was afrayd of the kingdome of China and his owne ample domination therein At last with much ado it was obtained of him to permit Francis to go forwards into China but for Perera the Embassadour he could by no meane be drawen vnto it Thus was the whole Embassage and Xauerius designe brought to nothing as afterward appeared by the effect through the default of one passionate man Then Francis being indeed greatly moued at such impudent audacity thought it high tyme to giue aâ— example of his seuerity that none might thence forward dare to attempt any such thing heerafter Wherfore he giueth order that the Gouernour with all hiâ— ministers and officers by name according to course 〈◊〉 should be declared excommunicated by Apostolical authority not that his intention was to inflict anâ— new wouÌ„d vpon them but that they might acknowledge the wound which they had before receyued Foâ— Xauerius himselfe is reported to haue sayd That he foâ— his part would neuer counsayle any one to lay so soâ— a wound as Excommunication is vpon another yâ— â—e would by all meanes cause their wounds to be laid open to the view of all who for their contumacy were wounded by Apostolicall Decrees to the end â—hat others might by their punishment be warned froÌ„â—he like folly and themselues at least through shame â—ight seeke a speedy remedy for so loathsome a sore But Xauerius receiued no small wound in this coÌ„â—at For it is certaine that of all the many vnspeaâ—able vexations and troubles which he suffered all â—is whole life after nothing euer hapned more bitter â—nto him then that so important a iourney should be â—indred by one who ought to haue bin a chiefe furâ—herer therof Wherfore being grieued not so much â—or himselfe as for the Gouernour who by his owne â—ault had cast himself into that danger he is said with 〈◊〉 sighing hart to haue cryed out in this manner Inâ—allibly that violatour both of humane and diuine law will ere long pay deerely for his vnsatiable desire of money honour not only in money and honour but in body if not which God forbid in soule also Then looking vpon the Church which stood ouer against him he cast himselfe downe vpon his knees and with his hands lifted vp to heauen began to pray to God for him with his eyes all gushing out with teares cryed out I therfore beseech and earnestly intreat thee O Iesu Christ God of my hart by those most bitter torments of thy death that thou wilt be hold those thy pretious wounds which continually thou she west vnto thy heauenly Father for vs and vouchsafe also to apply the benefit therof to this miserable wretch that being taught by his owne misery he may at last come to himselfe againe Neither were his prayers nor prophecy in vaine For not long after wheÌ„ he had against al iustice done many other things and with the same impudency and audaciousnesse contemned the Viceroyes command wherwith he had contemned Xauerius authority he by the watchfull wrath of Gods indignation was punished according to the height of his arrogancy So as by the Viceroyes order and command the obstinate wretch was cast into fetters being accused to haue gone about to reuolt from his King and forthwith bound as he was was carryed to Goa to the Viceroy from thence sent into Portugall to the King where being despoyled of all the goods which he had vniustly gotten branded with ignominy condemned to perpetuall imprisonement and his body couered all ouer with a most loathsome leaprousy he ended his dayes in such misery that the King seemed not so much to reuenge the transgression of his Command as God the violating of his diuine Maiesty At last this wretch being euen tyred out with calamities opened his eyes and by wholsome pennance washed away the staynes of his former sinfull life CHAP. VII The designe of going vvith the Embassadour into China being broken of Xauerius notvvithstanding setteth forvvard thither NOW although Xauerius his designe were broken of yet was he not a whit discouraged but knowing his combat was not so much with men as with the common Eneâ—y of mankind he thought he was bound to make â—ll resistance he could not to giue ground therby vnto â—he Diuell He was not ignorant that in the kingdome of China there were very many prisons full of prisoâ—ers and that all strangers who presumed to enter in â—hither without publicke warrant were coÌ„demned â—o perpetuall imprisonmeÌ„t These things which would â—aue bin a terror vnto others were an encouragement â—o him For that burning both with the loue of Christ â—nd men he bequeathed himselfe vnto perpetuall imâ—risonemnt that he might first preach the Ghospell â—nto those that were in captiuity and afterwards by â—hem to others And he conceyued such an hope withâ—n himselfe that if he could but once bring
reason of their most exact manner of discipline and gouernement And as it is doubtful whether my endeauor may haue prosperous successe or no so is it certayne that my seruice will be gratefull to God For fetters tormeÌ„ts and death it selfe for Christs sake ought to be to me as a beatitude and immortality He had now put his friends to silence with these and the like speaches when as being much troubled with cares he was taken some what suddainly with â—an ague which held him 15. dayes but by Gods fauourable assistance soone cured yet in such maÌ„ner as that the same seemed the forerunner of his death which was so neere at hand As soone as he was recouered he returned presently to his former exercyses hating nothing more then idlenesse and rest CHAP. IX He agreeth vvith a Chinese to carry him priuately to Cantona NOtwithstanding all that could be alleaged against his going he neuertheles diligeÌ„tly sought how he might be transported into China And first he began by all the art he could inuent to try the Portugheses and afterwards the Chineses propounding many wayes vnto them how they might conceale the businesse intreating them to pleasure him in so reasonable a request But they being absolutly resolued to take heed of themselues could not be wonne therto by any meanes or intreaties since Feare had wholy shut vp their eares against the same being not willing to expose their fortunes and liues to so manifest a danger Francis therfore being not only depriued of all help but also not knowing what to resolue vpon had many different cogitations in his mind And that no mortification might be wanting vnto him both his companions lay very sicke Besides Anthony of the holy Faith a Chinese borne and Schollar of the Colledge of Goa whome he had brought with him from India for his Interpreter hauing through want of vse almost forgotten the Chinese language could now staÌ„d him in little steed especially seing he was wholy ignorant and vnskilfull of that ciuill and gentile language which the Gouernours there are wont to vse But Xauerius hauing an inuincible hart courage thinking with himselfe that he was bound to leaue nothing vnattempted persisted neuerthelesse to follow on the busines very hard hoping that yet at last he might through Gods assistance ouercome the difficulty In the meane time there fell out no small accident which set on fire and inflamed his hope desire For he vnderstood that he King of China at that very tyme had sent abroad Embassadours vnto all places round about to make diligent inquiry after the Lawes and Customes of other Kingdomes Wherefore there was great hope that it would be a gratefull and comfortable thing vnto his Maiesty to vnderstand also of the Christians Lawes manner of lyfe There were also some of the Chineses men of good worth and Fracis his familiar friends who did earnestly persuade him to go to China thinking very wel of the Christian Reâ—â—gion by the sanctity of his life persuading themselâ—â—s that there was conteyned in those Bookes which 〈◊〉 carryed with him some excellent Law and far betâ—r then theirs Heerupon Xauerius being more stirred 〈◊〉 then before vnto this noble enterprize thought â—â—erily that God had thus disposed the Chineses their â—ings mind to the end the Ghospell might at last â—eceaue entrance into that Kingdome and spread it â—lfe ouer those most populous Citties Wherfore ful 〈◊〉 hope and confidence in God he determined to try 〈◊〉 manner of wayes to hasten on the matter For he â—oubted not but that either without much danger â—nd with great aduancement to the Christian cause â—e should get accesse vnto the King or els if any hard â—ishap should fall vnto him he would esteeme it for â—n extraordinary gayne For to be tormented and â—aine for Christ which seemed was the greatest danâ—er that could befall him he thought it indeed the â—reatest benefit that God could euer bestow vpon â—im But all these difficulties giuing way at last vnto â—is Constancy as commonly it happeneth within a â—ittle while there was another who offred himselfe for â—â—s interpreter Then finding out a merchant of China who seemed a couragious man he solliciteth drawâ—th him on by hopes and promises to vndertake that â—ardy enterprize And when as nothing could be â—ffected without present money he beggeth of the Portughese merchants and for a certaine quantity of Pepper to the valew of about 300 crownes agreeth with the merchant to carry him with his interpreter and his bookes very secretly in the night and to set him a land in China neere to the Port of Cantona This Cantona is a famous port Towne standing in the Continent about 80. miles from Sanciana The merchant therfore to keep the matter secret least he shold venture his life vpon the fidelity of his marriners of whome he was not secure had thought to haue vsed his owne children and the most trusty of his seruants for that purpose and to transport Xaueriuâ—â— the night in a small vessell Moreouer he had of his owne accord promised to harbour him in his howâ—â— and keepe him secret for the space of two or three daies till he might by some meanes or other declare to the Gouernour of Cantona the cause of his comming into China Now there were in this businesse two dangers obiected vnto Xauerius by his friends The one least the merchaÌ„t hauing fraudulently taken the money should breake his promise to conceale the matter might either expose him vpon some desart Iland or els caâ—â— him ouer board into the Sea The other was thaâ— though the Barbarian should keep his word and seâ— him a shore neere the Port of Cantona the Gouernouâ— of the Citty finding he had gotten in thither being 〈◊〉 stranger against the Kings Edict without any publike warrant might to make him an example vntâ— others cruelly whippe murder him or els cast hiâ— into perpetuall prison Against these obiections Xauerius opposed farre greater dangers which they werâ— not aduised of First said he it was rather to be feareâ— least his owne diffidence more truly then his wariâ—â— â—esse might be iniurious to the Goodnes and Prouiâ—ence of God if the fearefulnesse of mortall men â—â—ould cause him to leaue off that which he had vnâ—ertaken by diuine instinct and motion Secondly 〈◊〉 quoth he I should proue my selfe an vnworthy Disciple of Christ if I did not heare him denouncing â—nto me Who so looseth his life for me shall find it Wherâ—ore seeing that the daungers of the body were farre â—ghter then those of the soule he thought it more seâ—ure to breake through those which might put his â—yfe in hazard then to hazard the saluation of his â—oule seeing that to go to the Chineses and to subdew â—hem to the faith of Christ maugre the enuy of those â—hat went about to hinder it carryed not by Gods grace more difficulty with it then Glory At the same time also there hapned
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
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
liuelâ— â—is eyes grey and quicke his nose of a moderate size â—is beard and haire naturally blacke but now turned â—ray with age and cares his habit poore ordinary â—ut yet neat and decent His vpper garment accorâ—ing as the Priestes of India vse to weare reached â—owne vnto his ankles so that it serued also for a â—owne Those therefore who thus beheld him calâ—ed to mynd his exceeding courtesy and singular beâ—ignity vnto all men his courage magnanimity of â—art giuing way to no dangers or difficultyes whatâ—euer his perpetuall conteÌ„pt of death the very name wherof striketh such terrour into others his infinite â—esire to aduance Gods Glory and Religion his Huâ—ility equall to his magnanimity but specially his â—iety and sanctimony of life transcending farre the â—ighest strayne of other men They therfore made dolefull complaints because â—hat sweetnesse of behauiour that example of fortiâ—de that charity towards their sicke was taken from â—hem because Religion had lost such an excellent adâ—ancer thereof because the world was depriued of â—ch an vpholder and finaly because that new Starre â—as now vpon a suddaine set which gaue light to the â—ndians who before had laine in almost perpetual darâ—nesse and which had driuen away the foggy myst of the East by the radiant beames of Christs Ghospel Where was now one to be found to carry on the Christian Religion to the furthest part of the world Who should heerafter cure the Portugheses both corâ—orall spirituall diseases Who should succeed Xaâ—erius roome and place In the meane tyme whilst the Portugheses compassing his body feed both their eyes and thoughts with the most comfortable sight and remembrance of their dearest father and ouerwhelmed with teares wholy vnmindfull of themselues bewayled so great a losse Anthony the Intepreter who had attended vpon Francis all the tyme of his sicknesse and at his death ranne vnto the ship for Francis his Priestly habit which was kept therein When the Portugheses who were aboard vnderstood of Xauerius departure they also with streams of teares gushing from their eyes brake forth into lamentations and sighes being strucken not so much for their owne present griefe as for the sorrow which they knew it would cause in Perera their mayster who remayned at Malaca The Interpreter therefore returning backe with Francis his apparell and accompanied with the marriners weeping cloathed his body in Priestly garments as the manner is and by aduise of the Portugheses determined to put him into a woodden coffin as the Chineses are accustomed to doe which as the euent afterward declared was done certaynly more by diuine then humane prouidence to the end that those things which miraculously happened to his holy body might be made the more manifest Being therefore put in a woodden chest and his funeralls celebrated with the greatest solemnity that could be in so great penury of all things it was carryed forth by all the company to be buryed in the very shore of the Hauen Hauing there prepared a Graue and setled the Coffin therein it came into their mynds by diuine instinct to put vnto the body quick lyme to eate away the flesh that the bones might be afterward transported into India Opening therfore the Coffin agayne they couered the whole body with lime to the end the flesh might the sooner be consumed and so closing it vp they carefully buried it in the same place Then they heape togeather certayne great stones vpon the graue to serue as a marke to find it out by if any of the Society should chance to seeke after the same and so depart with many teares ful of exceeding griefe and sorrow for the losse of so worthy a man CHAP. XIII His body being found vvhole and incorrupt is carryed to Malaca and there agayne interred AFTER this at the beginning of the spring when the tyme was come that the shippe which brought Francis thither was to depart for Malaca the Chinese Interpreter of whome we spake before eyther out of the loue he bare vnto Xauerius or rather by diuine instinct goeth to the Mayster of the ship and sighing sayth What! sall we heere leaue Xauerius who came with vs as farre as India in a desert Iland of the Chineses amongst the barbarous people O what a man was he Did we not our selues behold his Heroicall sanctity both in life and death with these our eyes which all posterity shall admire Why should not we rather carry his sacred Body into India to remayne there where it may be honoured then leaue it heere where it wil be contemned I would quoth the maister with all my hart carry his body with me into India if the flesh were consumed from the bones that he might easily be transported Wherefore I will presently send expresly one to view the same and if the hope be answerable to my desire I will carry it along as you request not for your sake more then for my owne For I am not ignorant what great fauour I shall reape thereby of my Mayster Iames Perera who will certaynly receiue no small content and comfort also to haue Xauerius with him dead whome in his life tyme he so deerly loued Wherefore he dispatched presently a trusty person to open both the graue and coffin if his body were consumed with the lime to bring it away with him vnto the ship The messenger hastning to the graue diggeth vp openeth the Coffin putting the lime aside from of the body a wonderful thing to be spokeÌ„ he findeth it so wholy entiere incorrupt as if it had byn but newly buryed No ill sent or sauour rather 〈◊〉 most sweet and odoriferous smell did issue from it no putrefaction was there found at all no not so much a 〈◊〉 of the nose which vseth first to be corrupted Thâ— colour as fresh as if he had byn aliue his garments no whit consumed or hurt his flesh was fayre and soft 〈◊〉 nor had the very colour which dependeth of the lyfeâ— â—o much as once forsaken his visage so that he durst â—carcely touch him with his hands for that he seemed â—uen to be yet aliue Being therefore wholy astonished at the strangeâ—esse of the thing he presently acknowledged Gods â—uourable handy-worke therein and by the integriâ—y of his body he most highly valueth that of soule â—is admiration also so much the more increased beâ—â—use he knew Xauerius to be by nature not hoat and â—ry but cold and moyste and that it was now also â—e fourth moneth that he had layne thus buryed in â—uicke lime Fearing therefore lest he might be heerâ— deceaued he cut a little piece of flesh from off his high and carryeth it vnto the maister of the ship reâ—ting at large what he had seene and found and â—he piece of flesh which he had brought gaue credit 〈◊〉 the miracle Wherupon presently the maister marâ—ners and passengers being stroken into admiration â—egan to withall speed to run vnto the graue and finâ—ing euery
thing as was related some of the company â—ho had bin either niggard in giuing to Xaueriusâ—ings â—ings necessary for his sustenance when he was liâ—ng or els had spoken som what disgracefully of him â—fter his death began to powreforth aboundance of â—ares to be â—t themselues vpon the face with their â—sts for shame and sorrow of their fault Others gaue â—rayse to God who tooke such care euen of his serâ—nts dead corps This done the Maister of the ship commanded â—he body to be presently carryed aboard as it lay in â—he Coffin intending to make more certaine try all thereof himselfe that so the miracle might be published to others And hauing throughly searched the body and found it sound and incorrupt with great reuerence he putteth in the lyme againe into the Coffin as before and hoysing vp sayle departed from Sanciana in the month of March with a very prosperous wynd towards Malaca where he soone arriued so as one would haue thought the winds themselues had obeyed Francis They sent their little boat before to Malaca to carry newes that Xauerias body was fouÌ„d intier and incorrupt was comming towards them At which tidings the Malacensians being stirred vp with deuotion and desirous to make satisfaction for their former iniury done vnto him resolued to receiue his dead corps with all the honour reuerence that they could whome whilst he liued they had cast out with no small disgrace Then they began to cal to mynd and seemed euen to behould with their eyes the feruour and countenance where with Xauerius was wont to preach vnto the people and wherwith he sought to draw men frâ— their euill life to seeke their saluation to cure their sick and possessed persons lastly to foretell thingâ— far absent and to come Wherfore turning their contumacy into reuerence towards him they all setleâ— themselues with greatioy to solemnize the funerallâ— of so worthy a man But Iames Perera who had alâ— that tyme remayned in Malaca out went all the resâ— in his loue to Francis and which he shewed also by hiâ— deeds For he mitigating the griefe which he had conceiued for his friends losse by the comming of his body presently prouideth with extraordinary diligence 〈◊〉 abouÌ„dance of torches all other things necessary â—r the funerall pompe In this meane tyme the shippe â—as come into the hauen and they had put the Coffin 〈◊〉 to a Church neere by there expecting vntill the â—itty came forth to meete them Now as soone as it was knowne in the Citty â—at Xauerius Body was landed all the people preâ—â—ntly thronged out of the gates to meete it partly to â—e and partly to touch the same with their beades â—he Vicar also of the Citty with his Clergy came thiâ—er in Procession who opening there the coffin beâ—re the people findeth the body entiere fresh withâ—ut any the least corruption whatsoeuer breathing â—ut a most sweet and pleasant sauour Heerupon the â—eople that were present with great admiration beâ—an to extoll Gods diuine power to kisse the sacred â—liques and touch them with their beades especiâ—ly Iames Perera who hauing heerby his long sorrow â—hanged into a suddayne excessiue ioy celebrated â—e arriuall of his dead friend with the greatest affeâ—ion of hart that possibly he could And that Gods â—probation might adde more credit to humane iudâ—ments a certaine sick man by touching of the body â—as instantly restored to his health The next day therfore in the morning the whole â—lergy of the Citty together with al the people come â—gaine in processioÌ„ to meet the body with burning taâ—ers torches in theirs hands as also with extraordiâ—ary feeling of ioy deuotion There was not at that â—ime any of the Society remayning in Malaca for they were all departed lately thence by Francis his expresse order Yet the Citty thought good to haue his body carryed into the Church which had formerly belonged to the Society wherby they might haue Xauerius in the meane tyme as a pledge of their returne Wherfore with a most solemne procession aboundance of lights the coffin was coÌ„ueyed to the Church aforsaid And there after they had with all solemnity sung masse the body being separated from the lyme was put into a new Coffin and buried in a most eminent place of the same Church causing all that were present to burst forth agayne into new teares partly through ioy of the late miracle partly also through the griefe which the want of such a man had caused in them and presently there followeth one miracle vpon another The shortnesse of the new Coffin had constrayned those who put him therinto so to bend strayten the Body as that there presently issued fresh bloud from out his shoulders breathing forth a most sweet odoriferous sauour Which the behoulders perceauing and attentiuely considering were driuen into admiration at the strangenesse of the miracle in thaâ— a body which had bin now fiue monthes without 〈◊〉 soule so rare perseuerant was the miracle shoulâ— still retayne not only the flesh moysture and colour but also euen bloud it selfe and that so sweet as it seemed to be the odour not of his bloud but of his sanctity Wherfore thinking good to keep it without a Coffin it was taken forth againe and by the Malacensians not only honourably interred but preserueâ— â—lso as a pledg of the diuine Clemency towards them Wherein they were not frustrate of their hope At the same time there was through God heauy wrath towards theÌ„ a most contagious sicknes spread â—uer all the Citty which hauing almost vnpeopled 〈◊〉 great part therof had put them all into a wonderful â—eare Wherfore being much perplexed and through â—emorse of conscience calling to mind the predictioÌ„ which Xauerius had pronounced agaynst them for the wronge they had done vnto him they verily thought there was no other cause of Gods indignation against â—hem but that But this pestilence wholy ceasing vpon the very day that his funerals were kept shewed sufficiently that God was now pacified agayne by the merits of Xauerius by whose intercession the sicknes was remitted CHAP. XIIII His Body is translated from Malaca into India AFTER this vpon the 13. of August Iohn Beira a Priest of the Society of Iesus going with some other Companions to Moluca tooke Malaca in his way He for the reuerence and deuotion which he bare vnto Xauerius hauing heard by report that his body was incorrupted greatly desired to visit behould the same Wherfore going priuatly into the Church with his companions in the night and opening the Sepulcher he findeth Francis like one aliue no lesse intier and incorrupt in the ground then he was before in the lime it being now nine monthes after his death Wherfore ioyntly giuing prayse to God who is admirable in his Saints with great veneration and many teares they kisse and adore his sacred body Neither was there wanting at the same
people were so â—reatly moued thereat that they seemed to leape â—nd triumph for ioy For although the Fathers not â—nmindfull of their humble modesty had dealt alreaâ—y and that earnestly with the Viceroy and Bishop â—at Xauerius might not be receiued as a Saint but as â—he seruant of God vntill his Holinesse should otherâ—yse determine thereof yet by the Viceroyes order â—nd command the bells of all the Churches began to â—ing forth peales of ioy and melody At the hearing whereof the whole Citty began to runne forth to â—eete the Body so as the shores walls of the towne â—indowes Garrets toppes of houses from whence â—â—ey might discouer the comming of the Barke were â—ll beset and filled with people And the neerer the â—arke drew vnto them the more did the multitude â—â—eir desire to see it increase Yea many out of feruor â—nd zeale leapt one after another into the water striuing who should first touch the holy shrine In this meane tyme the Viceroy and all the Nobility with a great number of chiefe Cittizens stood expecting the Barke at the Hauen with burning tapers in their hands and the Chanons of the High Church with all the other Priests in white surplisses came with their Crosses in Procession wise to meet the same Thither also came the Sodality of Mercy with their banners and ensignes all glittering with gold and siluer After them followed a very sumptuous Beere couered ouer with cloth of Gold whereon those of the Sodality had determined to carry the Shrine aloft that so it might make the more glorious shew As soone therfore as the Shrine was brought aland by those of the Society the people made such a presse out of desire to touch and kisse the same that very many were thereby throwne downe one vpon another And because those who came last would not make way for the first to retyre they were so thronged vp together on a heape that many were in danger to haue bin pressed and stifled to death if great prudence had not byn vsed to auoyd the danger The Viceroy therefore was forced to send this Guard to put back the throng and to make way for the Procession that was ready to begin Now when the multitude with much adoe was forced backe the Procession set forward was performed with all the pompe that might be After which there followed the Shrine placed vpoÌ„ the Beerâ— most sumptuously adorned and carryed by certaynâ— Fathers on high vpon their shoulders togeather with two other empty Beeres borne on each side one and richly furnished like the other After the Body followed the Viceroy and his Court togeather with all the Nobility and whole Citty with such aboundance of torches and tapers that the streets seemed to be on fire and this with such applause of extraordinary ioy in all sorts that one would haue thought it had rather byn a triumph then a funerall The Shrine or Coffin glittered all with gold the way was al strowed with greene boughes and odoriferous flowers The windowes and walls of all the houses were adorned with costly hangings and tapestry besides the many sweet perfumes set euery where about on both sides There were moreouer hung about the Beere diuers Censars of siluer in which were cast continually many sweet and fragrant odours Francis therefore in this triumphall manner returning from his China-voiage was at last brought into the Church of the Society at Goa giuing vs therby to vnderstaÌ„d with what honour his soule no doubt is now glorified in heauen whose Body being dead through the sanctity of his soule did notwithstanding so triumph heere on earth CHAP. XVI The great Concourse of people to behould his Holy Body AS soone as they came to the Church of the Society a solemne Masse was sung And to auoyd the great presse of people the Beere was placed within the Cancells of the Altar It was told the people that when Masse was ended the Coffin should be opened and that all who would might see the Body Whereupon the multitude made so great a throng that they brake downe the rayles of the Cancells But the Coffin being shut was kept safe by nothing more then by the presse of people hindring one another Then the Rectour of the Colledge fearing the violence of the pious people earnestly intreated the Viceroy that he would be pleased to retyre vnto his house with the Nobility for that the people would then certaynly follow his exaÌ„ple and that when afterwards the chappell was voyded the presse of people gone they might themselues the more commodiously see the body The Viceroy therfore yelding to his request withdraweth himselfe and all the Nobility followeth him But the people remayned still immoueable vrging and requiring to haue the Body shewed vnto them for vnlesse they had their desire they sayd they would not stirre a foote And by standing out thus stifly they obteined at last their demand For when as no delay would serue the turne F. Melchior was forced at length to giue way vnto the tyme and putting the presse of people a litle backe vntill the Cancels were agayne set vp and fastned Xauerius body was shewed to them in his Priestly robes as he was brought thither Which when the multitude beheld they were so desirous to see it neerer hand that rushing on with great violence they agayne brake downe the Cancels Whereupon the Fathers through a suddayne feare presently shut the Coffin agayne that there might no violence be offered thereunto would by no meanes open it any more So as the people being out of hope to see it agayne and weary with expecting they that stood neerest had seene it though a far of at length retyred and told the rest what they had seene They being set on fire by what they sayd neuer left vrging vntill the Cancels were agayne set vp and the Body also shewed them The same day in the euening Anthony Perera a Portughese arriued at Goa with presents and letters froÌ„ the King of Bungo to the Viceroy of India He was sent thither by the King to procure Xauerius returne agayne into Iaponia although it were now too late The contents of the Kings letters were these That Francis Xauerius had oftentymes discoursed before him of God the Creatour and redeemer of the world and that his words had taken fast hold within his hart the in most bowels of his soule Wherefore he was now fully determined and resouled to be baptized by Francis his owne hands although it were with the hazard of loosing his kingdome Xauerius had indeed at his departure promised him that he would shortly returne vnto him if God spared his lyfe But because his returne was not so speedy as he had hoped he thought good to send one expressely vnto Goa who might certify him of the cause of his so long delay Wherefore he intreated the Viceroy to send Xauerius vnto him with the first opportunity whose comming would certaynely be
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
deuotion to his holy Body that euery one did â—riue to touch the same with their beades and to get â—way euen by stealth some Relique thereof Lastly this miracle of his Body hath as after we â—all declare bin honoured by God himselfe with so â—any and euident signes that all men yea euen the â—aleuolous haue bin satisfyed therby concerning the â—â—atitude of his soule And these things which we â—aue recounted of Francis his body haue bin so testyfied that there were as many witnesses therof as were people at that time in the Citty of Goa that is to say almost all India But least perhaps such wonderfull fauours of Almighty God might seeme to some more admirable then credible both humane and diuine Prouidence hath so concurred in this busines that these priuate testimonyes haue byn confirmed by publick Records For Ambrose Ribera the Inquisitour and Vicar Generall of the Bishop of Goa when the fame of that great miracle was spread ouer India iudging it to be a matter which belonged to his office togeather with certaine most skillfull Physitians went to visit Xauerius body before it was buryed to try whether the same were wholy intiere and incorrupt as was reported or no. He therfore hauing with his owne eyes throughly beheld the integrity of the same surpassing all humane faith and then by making inquiry therof as the King of Portugall had commanded hauing found out his incomparable sanctity confirmed the truth with a most worthy testimony which I haue thought good heere to insert in the selfe same words wherein he gaue it I D. Ambrose Ribera Inquisitour Vicar Generall and Assistant of the Bishop of Goa and India do testify that Francis Xauerius for the space of nine whole yeares for so many haueâ— byn resident in this place hath gone vp downe to the townes and villages of India Malaca the Moluca's Iaponia and other farre remote places of the Barbarians preaching and teaching the mysteries precepts of the Christian faith as well to the Portugheses as to other People and Nations and hath in the same places coÌ„uerted an exceeding great number of Ethnickes to the Christian Religion building euery where Churches and for the effecting thereof hath endured very many great miseries and labours euen to his dying day And that his body hauing bin brought â—o Goa and there receiued with all solemnity was â—y the whole Clergy and Citty conueyed to the Colâ—edg of S. Paul and there buryed But for that there was a certayne rumour spread abroad of the integriâ—y of his Body which seemed to surpasse the forces of Nature and to be euidently a diuine Miracle since a Body that had byn dead so long and layne â—uryed an eleuen monethes before to wit three in China and eight at Malaca as the Viceroy of India Alphonsus Noronia and my selfe haue proued by â—ndoubted witnesses should remayne the space of â—6 moneths free and entiere from all corruption â— thought it belonged vnto my office to examine â—nd make tryall of the same Wherefore I went into â—he Church where he lay caused the Coffin to be opeâ—ed looked vpon his body with lighted torches about â—n houre before midday and I felt and handled for 〈◊〉 good while his armes legges his knees thighs the greatest part of his body so that by those parts which lay open a coniecture might be easily made of â—hat which was not seene and found the Body enâ—ere wholy free from all kind of corruption with â—he flesh altogether fresh and solid euen reteyning â—he naturall moysture and colour Moreouer I saw in â—is left thigh a litle aboue the knee as it were a wouÌ„d â—rom whence there had byn a little piece of flesh taken about the biggnes of a fingar And another wound also in the belly whereinto I putting my fingars found all entiere and incorrupt and without any kind of ill smell And moreouer I layd my mouth to his month and felt and looked vpon his face all ouer with the greatest diligence I could Whereupon after examination made of all these things as I found them I commanded my Notary to set them downe in writing In testimony whereof I haue heerunto set my owne hand and seale the first of December 1556. The Viceroyes Phisitian also one of excellent skill hauing by his Lords command throughly examined the body gaue no lesse euident a testimony of the integrity thereof which was this I Cosmas Saraina Physitian to Alphonsus Norâ—nia Viceroy of India do testify that when Francis Xauerius body was brought to Goa I looked very diligently vpon it and felt it all ouer especially the belly which vseth to be most subiect to corruption and I found his entrayles wholy sound solide notwithstanding it was manifest that there had neyther balme oyle or any other thing agaynst putrefaction byn applyed thereto Afterwards when by my aduise one of the Society of IESVS did put his fingar into a wound which was open in his left side close to his hart there issued out bloud and water togeather to which I smelling found no kind of bad sauour at all I also found his thighes and the other parts of his body entiere with the flesh so solid and naturall that it could not by art of Physicke be in that manner preserued For the body had byn now dead almost a yeare a halfe had â—yne well neere a yeare in the Sepulcher These â—â—ings according to the charge which is giuen me in his businesse I do testify vpon my oath Giuen at Goa the 18. of Nouemb. 1556. And these humane testimonyes were also confirâ—ed by diuine For about the same tyme there were many miracles wrought to testify as well Xaueriusâ—anctity â—anctity as the happines of his soule in heauen Iohn Mendoza his ship which brought Xauerius body back â—nto India miraculously escaped many great dangers especially in the Iland of Ceilanum From thence when it came to Baticala a towne in India Mary Sarra a Portughese woman of good note and wyfe to the Kings Solicitour there lay very sick of a daÌ„gerous infirmity who being certifyed of the coÌ„ming of Xauerius body caused herself presently to be carryed to it where she â—imploring the holy mans assistance with no lesse confidence then deuotion was forthwith by Xauerius intercession the diuine goodnes cured recouered her health She also hauing obtayned by earnest intreaty a litle piece of the girdle wherwith he was girt enclosed it in a siluer reliquary and wore it about her necke eyther as a remembrance of him or as a preseruatiue agaynst sicknesse And heerein her deuotion fayled her not For her litle sonne who had byn then grieuously afflicted for the space of six moneths with an ague was cured by applying the sayd reliquary vnto him the which also recouered him afterwards of an Apoplexy wherewith he was greatly vexed It being also hung about the necke of a womaÌ„-seruant who was very dangerously in trauayle caused
humane assistaÌ„ce For in his iorney to Trauancoris when he passed through the midst of his enemies he seemed to thrust himselfe into manifest danger But far morâ— euident was that perill when he attempted to instruct the inhabitants of Maurica a Nation extraordinary fierce and cruell hauing no other defence agaynst those barbarous and sauage people but his confidence in God He also aduentured to passe in a Pyrates ship into Iaponia the furthest part of the East without any feare of danger although his deerest friends and such as were most expert therein presented before his eyes how many extreme difficulties there were Concerning which thing he wrote himself vnto the Prouinciall of Portugall in these words All my well-willers and friends are amazed that I am not afrayd to vndertake so long and dangerous a iorney They lay before me many dangers of teÌ„pests quicksands and Pyrates But I am no lesse amazed at them that they haue so little confidence in God in whose hands and power all those things are placed I for my part knowing for certaine that al things are gouerned according to God Almighties beck and commandment do feare nothing else but God himselfe least he should punish me according to the deâ—erts of my negligence and sloth in his seruice and â—f the obseruance of my Religion But as for other â—errours dangers miseries and crosses I do not at â—ll weigh them For I feare only God the maker and â—oderatour of all things because other things how â—urtfull soeuer they be cannot annoy vs but on â—y so farre forth as God permits them It is wonderfull also what Confidence he repoâ—ed in the diuine assistance So as hauing only God for â—is guide through so many dangers both by sea and 〈◊〉 and through so many Nations different in language and manners he penetrated to the furthest parts of the East and by his often passing ouer the Ocean â—e instructed those sauadge and barbarous Nations in the mysteries of the Christian faith and brought them at last to a ciuill life And indeed his Confidence in God did neuer fayle but alwayes freed him from the dangers both of enemies tempests and other calamities For to pretermit with silence other things wherof we haue already spoken in their proper places in passing ouer the Iaponian seas when as the Barbarians bent all their fury agaynst him he by diuine Assistance escaped all their machinations without any hurt or danger at all He also in the sea of Moluca suffered ship wrack thrice and once also he miraculously escaped by lying vpon a plancke after shipwracke tossed vp downe the sea without any hurt at all for the space of two or three dayes Moreouer he auoyded the fury of the Saracens who were set in armes against him by lying secret for many dayes togeather in a wood hard by Also he did not only defeate the strategems which his enemies had plotted against him by the force of armes but discouered their secret inuentioÌ„s also when as they sought to poison him And besides all this he very often escaped the incursions of Pyrates by sea as likewise of theeues by land Agayne being wholy inflamed with the loue of God he did not only contemne difficultyes and dangers but seemed also to imbrace them willingly Wherfore as desirous to suffer in the very midst of incommodities dangers he earnestly besought God not to free him from them vnlesse it were to vndergo greater for the glory of his diuine Maiesty And the diuine Goodnes corresponding sweetly to the magnanimity of his mind heaped vpon him store of sufferings and merits with no lesse approbation in the sight of Heauen then ioy comfort to himselfe He likewise in that most hard and difficile expedition into China shewed no lesse courage For notwithstanding as we haue sayd before that no stranger could enter the bounds of that Countrey without certayne danger of his lyfe or liberty the same penalty being designed as well for the stranger that entreth in as for him that bringeth him yet hauing an admirable coÌ„fidence in God who had moued him to that resolutition and to the vndertaking of that iourney he determined to commit his lyfe to the trust of a Chinese merchant which was no lesse doubtfull and dangerous then the entrance itselfe into China Concerning which he wrote himself to Francis Peren at Malaca to this tenour In this busines my friends bring two daÌ„gers against me the one least the merchant hauing already receyued his money may breake his promise and eyther leaue me in some desert Iland or else cast me headlong into the sea that so his bargayne of passing me ouer may not come to light The other is supposing he stand to his promisse least the Gouernour of the Citty may make me being a stranger an example to others of comming into China agaynst the Kings Edict without publicke warrant eyther put me to death by torments or else cast me into perpetuall prison Against these dangers I obiect others farre greater which themselues do not perceyue And the first is least we distrust the diuine Goodnes and Prouidence For we come hither for Gods only Cause to preach to these Countryes his sacred Law and his sonne Christ Iesus the Redeemer of mankind whereof God himselfe who gaue me this mind is my witnesse So as now to cast off our hope and confidence in his Diuine Prouidence and power for the dangers we are said to be subiect vnto in labouring for his cause ought certaynly to be esteemed a far greater danger then whatsoeuer the enemyes of God and Men are euerable to bring vpon me Especially seeing that neither the Diuels themselues nor their ministers can hurt vs at all but only by the permission and will of God What can we say to this That if God do approue and further our endeauours we shall by his fauour not only be deliuered from dangers but also follow the admonition of our Sauiour Christ who sayeth He that shall looâ—se his lyfe in this world for me shall find it Wherefore for as much as we hould these dangers of the soule farre greater theÌ„ those of the body we esteeme it far better and more secure to breake through those of this lyfe rather then to hazard the saluation of our soule I am fully resolued God willing to go into China in despite of all his enemies For if God be with vs who shal be against vs We do without all doubt go vpon great danger although there were nothing else but perpetuall seruitude But this consideration comforteth me that it is much better to serue in captiuity for Gods cause then to enioy liberty by running away froÌ„ the Crosse c. In which words he doth indeed sufficiently shew an vndaunted courage against all dangers And how much Xauerius contemned all the miseries of this world appeared also by another letter of his to Iames Perera whereof we haue inserted a clause in its
relieuing of whose necessities those helps may well be imployed notwithstanding the deceipt and cunning of beggars vseth oftentimes to cause some note of infamy in this businesse by whose impostures others may sooner be deceiued then those of the Sodality of Mercy who by long experience haue learned prudently to beware of such cosenage Wherfore it is best to leaue that businesse wholy to them of the Sodality who may distribute the Almes according to the quantity thereof amongst such as are knowen to be truly in want This you ought to do for many and weighty reasons First because if you distribute the money to the poore your selfe many will certainly aske of you some reliefe especially for their bodies which they would assuredly neuer do if they saw that you vsed only to help the necessities of the soule Secondly to auoid the suspitions rumours of those that should giue you such money to be distributed amongst the poore For as men are apt to belieue the worst it is to be feared least that exacting of money may carry with it some suspition of auarice as though you intended to turne the money begd vnder colour of relieuing the poore to your owne vse benefit Wherfore it is better to giue ouer that charge to others of whome there can be no suspition Yet if at any time occasion moueth you to the contrary you may do as may be most for the glory of God and the good of soules Yow shall also so carry your selfe before those with whome you conuerse although they be you friends and familiar acquaintance as if they were one day to be your enemies This consideration will easily restraine your behauiour from growing dissolute throgh liberty and keep you backe from giuing offence to any through too much friendship and familiarity and such kind of warinesse wil also make them ashamed to breake friendship with you without cause This warinesse I say keepes not only others from being insolent with vs but also maintayneth piety in our selues For if you be present with your selfe you will both enioy God the more and haue the better knowledge of your self wheras certainly the want of knowledge and forgetfulnesse of ones selfe is the mother of many Monsters of vices which make vs loose our friends and insteed thereof procure vs enemies so as they who are not ignorant of our fashions do aryse with more bitternes and vehemency against vs. Towards the Bishops Vicar you shal alwayes carry your selfe with extraordinary reuerence and obedience Wherfore so soone as you come to any towne where he resideth you shal presently go cast your selfe at his feete and also kisse his hand as the custome is Then you shall aske of him leaue to preach heare confessions and to exercyse other offices of piety And no offence whatsoeuer shal at any time withâ—raw you from him but shall rather inflame you by â—ll kind of complying with him to gaine him sweetâ—y vnto you that being at last wrought by pious considerations he may become better more plyable You must aâ—so seeke maintaine friendship with other Priests that they may also be the more efficaciously drawne to the same wholsome considerations Moreouer to the Gouernours of Townes you shall be very obseruant and seeke to gaine their good wils by all seruiceable and familiar endeauours so farre as may be possible Neither shall you incurre their displeasure or hatred for any cause although it be iust But if any one of them shall chance to commit any great offence first hauing entred into some fit discourse you shall in a friendly sweet manner shew vnto him how much you are grieued for the infamy wherwith his dignity and reputation is stained Then with the like sweetnes and humility you shall in such sort declare the rumours which be spread abroad of him that of himselfe he may acknowledge and amend his fault And this must be done when there is hope that your admonition will take good and prosperous effect Otherwise it is better to let it all alone then to labour in vaine and to gaine nothing as they say but ill will for your paynes Vpon Sundayes Holydayes in the after-noone haâ—â—ng called togeather the men mayd seruants of the Portugheses as also their free-men and children into the Church with a little bell besides the heades of the Christian fayth you shal teach vnto them also a method how to pray anh how to haue care of their soules And to ignorant persons the practise of this method shall be for some time inioyned them for their pennance after they haue made their Confession that being by litle and litle exercised therein they may at length get a wholsome custome therof I know by experience that this hath bin the saluation of many The same methode shall be written in a table and set vp in the Church that they who will vse it may write it out Some tyme and labour must be also imployed in making peace betweene enemies reconciling such as are at variance among themselues In taking away also of controuersies and suites in law you shall insist much vpon this point that ordinarily there is more spent in the suite then the thing about which they striue is worth And for that this practise will proue vngratefull and odious to Lawyers and Notaries they are therefore specially to be gayned also and by fit considerations brought to conforme themselues to iustice equity For if we rightly consider the matter we shall find them to be the chiefe authours and abettors of all Controuersies and suites in law as turning to their owne gayne If you meete with any that be so intangled with fraudes vnlawfull lusts and hatreds that they doe not only vse no meanes to free themselues of those vices but reiect all necessary remedyes also there must be all care taken both by humane and diuine meanes that their soules although they be already as it were past hope may at last be cured Wherfore vnlesse they â—e wholly senselesse you are to propound vnto them â—he loue reuerence which they owe to Christ their God Sauiour and to strike into them an horrour of Death Hell that hangeth ouer their heads If neither the loue of God nor feare of Hell wil moue them â—hey must be terrified with those most bitter tormeÌ„ts which euen in this lyfe the wrath of God inflicteth vâ—on wicked men Wherfore it wil be then a fit time to threaten against them the grieuous long sicknes of this life ouerthrowes of temporall states goods the â—riuation and want of children the reproachfull dishonesty of wyues dangers both by sea and land suddayne and disastrous chances and other such like miseries wherewith God is wont to take reuenge of foule sinnes and enormityes such especially as by long continuance of tyme haue taken deepe roote in man For we dayly see that many are moued much more through the feare of such
as the wiseman truely sayth Such as the Gouernour of the Citty is such also are they that dwell in it and withall many scandalls and speaches are auoyded which vse to arise vpon familiarity with women If there happen any debate betwixt man and wife to take away al controuersy to appease their mind you shall first of all procure that ech of them disposed therun to by fit meditations do make a good confession of their former life and as you shall see it fitting you may differ to absolue them for a while that they may come againe better prepared for the amendment of their liues and establishing of concord betwixt themselues If the women tell you that if they might absteine from the company of their husbands they should be much more diligent in the seruice of God do not by any meanes belieue them For besides that such feminine feruour groweth easily cold it can hardly euer be vndertakeÌ„ without grieuous offence to their husbands Take heed how you lay the fault vpoÌ„ the husband in the presence of his wife although he be certainly in the fault but suppressing the matter with silence for the present you shall afterward between him you alone draw him to purify his whole life by Confession And when he is at Confession then you shall reprehend him in the most modest maÌ„ner that you can and aduise him to looke carefully to the peace of his howse But by all meanes you must haue a care of this being a businesse very apt to breed suspitions that you neuer by taking the wiues part seeme to take against her husband Wherfore he must first by little and little in a friendly manner be admonished to acknowledge his owne fault and at last you shal gently and louingly giue him absolution For the Indians affections are moued by loue but violence ouerthroweth them You shall therfore as I sayd a little before take heed of accusing the husband in the hearing of his wife For as the nature of women is to be a little impudent malepart they will easily cast their husbaÌ„ds in the teeth with their faults especially if they be iudged guilty by Priests themselues Wherfore it is better by dissembling the matter to lay before the wiues the respect which they owe vnto their husbands and to shew them also that they for the contempt which they haue oftentimes had of their husbands haue deserued indeed to be seuerely chastised If therfore there happen to them any trouble from their husbaÌ„ds they ought to beare it humbly and patiently and to be obedient vnto them Do not easily giue credit to either of them when they complayne of one another for oftentimes they are both deceiued themselues and deceiue others also but you shall with the greatest indifferency that may be heare them both not condeÌ„ne eyther of them before you haue examined the matter This I say that you may the better and more easily make accord between them and auoyd suspicion your selfe But if at any time you cannot make any reconciliatioÌ„ between them you shall refer the whole busines to the Bishop or the Vicar General but in such sort as not to wrong either of the partyes that are at variance which you cannot but do if you seeme to fauour one more then another You must vndoubtedly vse great prudence to giue no offence at all in this bad world And the euents of things which are carryed heere must be alwaies forecast for our aduersary the Diuell doth not cease but roameth about seeking whome to deuoure And it argueth great want of prudence not to foresee the inconueniences that may arise of actions which be vndertaken with neuer so good intention Moreouer he would not haue Ghostly Fathers to take mony vnder pretence either of restitution or almes but according to the intention of the giuer procure it to be laid out in pious vses or els giuen to the Sodality of Mercy for so that Sodality might the better prouide for the necessity of the poore and they also for the conseruation of the Societies reputation If any come to confession not so much to cure their soules as to seeke some reliefe for their bodyes such would he haue to be admonished of the vse of that holy Sacrament shewing them that the sufferances of the soule are more intollerable then those of the body and at last if it be iudged expedient to commend them to the Sodality of Mercy In like manner he aduised such as heard coÌ„fessions not to make too much hast with their penitents but to vse all diligence about them and that they should rather desire to heare a few coÌ„fessions well made then many hastily posted ouer For how could they els carefully apply remedies to their soares vnlesse they cured them by leasure for there is no doubt but one confession well made is better then many passed sleightly ouer especially seing CoÌ„fession prepareth the way to the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist Lastly he aduised them that they should take some tyme to looke into the Confessions which they had heard and attentiuely consider whether they had done any thing amisse therin to satisfy for the same in their owne Confession and after to amend the fault seing such diligence is a great help for the well discharging of a Ghostly Fathers duty CHAP. XVIII VVhat kind of persons Xauerius required for the instruction of soules XAVERIVS required that those of the Society who were to labour in the conuersion of Ethnickes and instruction of Neophites should be not only of the most choyce that could be gotten but such also as were most addicted therunto so that they should preferre nothing how specious soeuer before so noble an imployment since there was nothing more gratefull to God or beneficiall to mankind Neither did he so greatly exhort vnto this enterprize only but layd himselfe also for foundation therof expressing more in deeds then he willed in words For as we haue before declared he neuer made more account of any thing then of the conuersion instruction of Ethnickes Insomuch as those of the Society who came vnto him out of India or Portugall he so called them to be his compartners in this diuine function that where he found any of most emineut talents he would commit this chaâ—ge vnto theÌ„ as a reward of their labours following therein the example of the Apostles Who when they heard that Samaria had receyued the word of God sent vnto them Peter and Iohn who were the chiefe of the Apostles Wherefore he held it fit that such as were chosen to this Apostolicall function should be men extraordinary and of tryed fidelity vertue coÌ„stancy and sanctity of lyfe But because such imploiment required such men as also for that he had found by experience that such charges were exposed to most grieuous temptations of the Diuell vexations and miseries therfore in these labourers of our Lords vineyard he required prudence and sanctity rather then
the liberality of the King of Portugall Loue of pouerty in his iourney Wayes into India A league of Portugall Prince Henry openeth a new way into India The Gardens of the Hesperides He instructeth the marriners the Soldiars in the ship He winneth by his sociable behauiour great sinners The difficulties of the Indian nauigation His incredible courage of mind In the ship he liueth by begging His constancy in keeping of pouerty His enduring of labour The discommodities of the torrid Zone The Promontory of Good Hope The IlaÌ„d Mozambicum His strength of body mind New labour in the wintering places His care of soules He falleth sick He refusâ—th to be carried out of the hospitall in to priuat houses 〈◊〉 sick he â—â—lpeth the sick A marriner being mad seemeth to be restored to his sensâ—s by F. his bed The opinion of Francis his sanctity The Citty Mâ—â—inda The Crosse in honour amongst the Saraâ—ens Mahomets Religion going to dâ—cay He lends his chamber and bed to the sick A cable rope is his bed The IlaÌ„d Socotora Gacizes like Curates Cacizes famous for abstinence The miserable conditioÌ„ of the Socotoreans He endeauours to instruct the Socotoreans by signes He baptizeth a great nuÌ„ber of children He desires to stay in Socotora Francis his letter to the King of Portugal They Socotoreans at Francis his intreaty are deliuered from the Saracens tyranny The description of India Goa the chiefe Citty of India The FraÌ„ciscans zeale of Religion The beginning of a Colledge in Goa The miserable conditioÌ„ of the Neophites The loose behauiour of the Portugheses in India He goeth to the Bisshop of India By great humility he wynneth the Bishop of Goas good will Francis lyeth hard by theÌ„ that are dangerously sicke His loue of pouerty in his apparell He vseth a coate of black linnen without either girdle or cloake He refuseth to change his old and ill-fauoured shoos for new He refuseth to change his torne ill fauoured shoos for new He helpeth prisoners with almes He serueth leapers He preacheth His priuate conferences The fruite of his sermons He causeth som to marry their concubines others to put them away He 〈…〉 to marry il fauoured wiues thereby to keep them froÌ„ adultery and concubines He calleth children and seruants together with a litle bell and teacheth them the ChristiaÌ„ doctrine He speaketh homely of set purpose The fruit of Catechizing Flying of honour He is called the Apostle in India He refuseth the gouernement of the Seminary Piscaria A deadly warre vpon a slight occasion Iohn de Cruz. CocinuÌ„ The Comorines are baptized The Comorines are forsaken by the Priests The Bishops loue to Xauerius The Viceroyes respect to him His loue of pouerty The Comorine PromoÌ„tory Intollerable heate of the sun Xauiers labours He dresseth rice for himselfe The Comorensians ignorance Their forwardnes in learning He vseth children for the instruction of their Parents and others The ChristiaÌ„ law in the iudgmeÌ„t of the very Ethnikes theÌ„ selues is conformable to reason He baptizeth whole villages His vertue ouer come by labour His teaching of yong children A womaÌ„ is by baptisme deliuered from the danger in child-birth He bapzeth a whole village He healeth the sicke dliuereth possessed persons A youth is raysed from death He suppresseth his miracles A boy drowned in a well is raysed agayne to lyfe Two restored to life He cureth the sicke by children He deliuereth a possessed person by the children Xauiers humility He is called Holy Father He taketh children to teach the catechisme with him His letter to the Queene of Portugall The liberality piety of the Queene of Portugall The Brachmans their religion The Brachmans wickednes and lewdnesse The Brachmans desire Francis his frieÌ„dship Pagods Francis his conference with the Brachmans The Brachmans approue of the ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ The ridiculous questioÌ„s of the Brachmans The Brachmans thinke God to be black Marc. 16. Math. A Brachman baptized teacheth children the Catechisme An iniury done to Francis is reuenged by God Aboundance of heauenly ioyes The multitude of those that were baptized Paul Camerts the first Rectour of the Colledge of Goa His notable shamefastnes at his owne prayses His concealing of miracles He bringeth some to help him in the coast of Piscaria He teacheth meÌ„ and womeÌ„ their Catecchisme apart What a care he had of baptizing infantes The Badages a sauage nation The calamity of the Comorinensians Francis his succour to relieue the neophyts in their misery The cost Trauancoris His notable courage of mind Gods prouidence The nuÌ„ber of those he baptized His maÌ„ner of baptizing He ouer throweth the temples Idols Atumult amongst the TrauancoreÌ„sians A memorable deed of his By the goodnes of God he escapeth death He is called great Father The multitude of those who followed him wheÌ„ he preached The vpland couÌ„try of India not fit to receiue the fayth of Christ The towne of Nagapatana The IlaÌ„d of Macazaria The Kings sonne with 600 more are slaine for Religion Prodigious signes of the Crosse They Iland Ceilanus Iob. 5. PrudeÌ„ce in taking away horrour in Confession He passeth 7. dayes without eating any thing He fortelleth the marriners a tempest neere at hand Meliapora the towne of S. Thomas The body of S. Thomas the Apostle Ananiuersary miracle A manner how to gayne help friends Xauiers Virginal chastity By diuine instinct he determineth to go to the furthest part of the East His confidence in God His constancy whilest the Deuils whip him He is sicke of the stripes His patience in suffering scoffes from those of the house His courage in combating with the Deuill The Deuills make a noise in tyme of Xauiers prayer He deliuered a possessed man by a child He hardly admitteth Iohn Durus into the Soety Luc. 9. His determination of flying away secretly is opened to Xauerius from heauen Malaca Conuersation of Ethnickes pernicious to Christians A wonderfull art to gaine lost soules His Prophecyes A possessed sick-man is freed froÌ„ the Deuill and cured of his diseases A Prophesy He commeÌ„deth in the night tyme to the peoples prayers the soules in Purgatory and men in deadly sinne The preparation of the Macazarians to receiue the Ghospel A Prophesy The wind obeyeth Xauerius Another Prophesy Amboynum Of his manner of going about FerdinaÌ„d Soza a Captaine of the Spaniards He relieueth the calamity of the Spanish nouy He foretels that Arausius will shortly dye The fruite which the Spanish nauy yielded Moluca Ilands Ternate the chiefe of the Moluca Ilands Prudence in recalling wicked men The barbarousnes of the Mauri The incommodities of the couÌ„try of Maurica Zeale soules Matt. 10. They go aboue to terrify him froÌ„ his resolution of going to that barbarous nation The intreaties of his friends Act. 21. Machab. lib. 1. He protesteth that if he caÌ„not get a ship he will swimme ouer He giueth to his friâ—ds backe agayne their me dicines against poyson Maurica Burning rockes Ashes are cast out of the rockes
assistance he could for the present to those that accompanied him in this Indian nauigation but left also an example for others of the society who were to go thither afterwards how they should carry themselues in that iorney which they at this day diligently obserue are a great help and comfort to the shippes wherin they sayle Sosa therfore the Vice-Roy the other Portugheses hauing now passed the Promontory of Good Hope and the dangers therof by fetching the aforsaid cōpasse greatly reioycing by giuing thankes to God congratulating one another as the custome is they sailed amayne along the other side of Africk which lyeth towardes the South and the East And hauing gotten beyond the Promontory almost 600. leagues after they had spent siue whole months in continuall nauigation and Francis in perpetuall labour they arriued at Mozambicum in the latter end of August escaping through a more safe then prosperous nauigation many great dangers For it is ordinarily but halfe a yeares sayle into India from Portugall so as setting out in March they come for the most part to Goa in the beginning of September But if through ill weather cōtrary wind or calmes their course be hindred as now it hapned they are cōstrayned to winter at Mozambicum CHAP. XV. In the Hospitall of Mozambicum he helpeth the sick being himselfe at the same time sicke MOZAMBICVM called Prasus in former times is a little Iland in the Eastern coast of Africk commodious and conuenient rather for the hauen then for the temperature of the ayre for it lyeth vnder the Torrid Zone There be in this Iland but two Townes one belonging to the Portugheses the other to the Saracens their friends It is distant from Portugall if we take our measure not straight on but by the windings which shippes make thither aboue 3000. leagues and from India about 900. The farre greatest part of the iorney was now past and scarse the fourth part remained But the nauy came later to Mozambicum then it should haue done because both conuenient tyme and wind had fayled them So as they were constrained to stay there al the following winter At Mozambicum therfore when the rest refreshed themselues after the tossing of so long a iorney only Francis who loued labour better then ease tooke almost no rest at all through the inflamed desire he had to instruct the ignorant and help the sicke I do not doubt but they who shall read this often repetition of Francis his laborious endeauours in instructing the ignorant and seruing the sick will besides their satisfaction therein reflect vpon that also which my selfe in more serious thoughts haue often wondred at to wit from whēce he had those wonderfull forces by which he was so often able to vndergoe at once so many such great labours But the worthy man being indowed with an incredible courage both of body and mind and Diuine Grace ministring strength to his able nature was of such force and vigour that he alone would and could do in a manner all things for Gods sake And wheras he applied himselfe continually in the same workes of Christian charity without any wearisome tediousnesse he neuer omitted any thing which he saw was either good for men or gratefull to God Therfore as though he had come thither with his forces intire no whit weakened he presently tooke vp his lodging in the Hospitall at Mozambicum erected there by the King as in other places also where the Portugheses haue fortes His labour was now no lesse at land in the hospitall then it had bin at sea in the ship For there was at that time in Towne both very great sicknesse and a multitude of diseased persons And that which greatly augmented this contagion in time of Autumne was this that all the shippes which had set out from Portugal that yeare for India lighting alike vpon ill weather and pestered with the same sicknes were forced to stay all winter in that place This occasion gaue an new edge vnto Xauiers industry to vndertake the care of that great multitude of sick mē For thinking it fitting for him to bestow his charity also vpon the other shippes in as much as he was able by labouring continually both day and night he applied himselfe to help the afflicted to administer the Sacraments to the sicke to comfort the sad and to rayse them vp that lay a dying to hope and confidence in God All therfore that were sick esteemed Francis to be sent them by God almighty as the onely remedy which the afflicted Nauy had Yet he did not giue himself so wholy to the sick as to become vnmyndfull of the rest For at the same time vpon holy dayes he preached before the Viceroy others in presence of a very great audience that he might thereby helpe the soules also of those who were in health Whilst he was thus busied and wholly imployed in helping both sicke and healhfull in all he could he vnderstandeth that a boy who came in the same ship with him was fallen suddainly dead Whereupon he presently asked euery one whome he met whether that boy had learned the principles of the Christian fayth And when he found that he dyed wholy ignorant therof he was presently stroken to the hart with such griefe that he shewed exceeding sadnes in his countenance although otherwise he was alwayes wont to looke cheerfully Wherefore Sosa the Vice-Roy demanding of him the cause of his heauines whē he vnderstood what it was by his own relation asked him whether he knew that boy to be ignorant in his Christian fayth No quoth Francis for if I had certainly known that I would not be sad for I would without doubt haue taught him with the rest Then Sosa vrging him agayne why therefore would he afflict himselfe so much seeing it was not his fault Because quoth he there was one in the same ship with me who knew not his Christian fayth I knew it not Such a care he had of the good of mens soules and of the instruction of children But how much profit and benefit arose from his great Charity the sicke found rather by wāting the same then by inioying it For within a few dayes after Xauerius fell sicke himself whilst he was helping others with the greatest feruour he could wherin indeed his fortitude wanted not matter to worke vpon So great and dangerous a feuer inuaded him that he was let bloud seauen tymes within few dayes whereof for all that he did not only make light account but imbraced it willingly as though it had bin sent from God But to the end his generous vertue might be the more euidently seene this corporall sicknes was seconded with a greater of the mind for he fell also into a Phrensy This held him three whole dayes during which time the Physitians who had care of him tooke their solemne oathes that in things blonging to the body and his health as
the nature of the disease was he seemed to be out of his wits but in matters diuine and things belonging to the soule wherin phrensy vseth chiefly to shew it selfe he was to their great astonishment so well in his senses that he spake not one word which might seeme to swarue froÌ„ reason of such force is the vse and custome of vertue And in this sicknes Francis was not more obseruant of piety then of pouerty He lay in the publicke Hospitall amongst the rest hauing his bed all other things like vnto them There wanted not men of Nobility and Esteeme who wheÌ„ he fell first sick stroue to take him into their houses there to haue care of him and this as earnestly they intreated of him as possibly they could But all in vayne For being a true louer of holy Pouerty in few wordes he thanked them for their courtely but would not accept of their liberality As long as he was sicke he lay amongst the common multitude without any difference at all But the violence of his sicknes was more dangerous then long which being soone mitigated he began to be better This suddain chaÌ„ce did not any whit diminish his alacrity in his resolution but rather increased his diligence and no wonder for now he had learne by his own experience how much sicke meÌ„ stood in need of other mens help Therfore as soone as his feuer began to decline forgetting himself he would with neuer the lesse diligeÌ„ce goe about the Hospitall comfort the afflicted heare confessions endeauour what he could to help the sicke though himself were sick euen at that tyme. Neuer did Francis his benignity shew it selfe with more spleÌ„dour admiration then at this time For the Phisitian visiting as his custome was the sicke that kept their beds light by chance vpon Xauerius who hauing a great feuer vpon himselfe stood notwithstanding by them that lay sick and did his best indeaauour to serue them no otherwise then if he had byn perfectly well The PhisitiaÌ„ being amazed at that straÌ„g accident stood still a while then feeling his pulse and finding him certainly to haue more need of attendance then they whome he serued intreated and earnestly besought him to go to bed and rest himselfe at least vntill his feuer had remitted of its heate and then he might if he would rise agayne to help the sicke Whereupon Francis thinking he was bound to obey the Phisitian yet not to leaue those that were in danger answered That this next night he should haue some occasion with a certaine sicke person who was not well prepared for death and was in imminent danger and hauing secured his saluation then he would take his rest He whome he meant was one of the poorest marriners of the ship who falling mad through a burning feuer had not yet made his confession The next day therefore the Phisitian found Francis talking with the sayd marriner who lay in Xauerius bed and he sate by hearing his confession for hauing fouÌ„d him vpon a suddain lying on the hatches he was so moued with compassion towards him that he presently layd him in his owne bed And it seemeth this straÌ„ge charity of his was honoured with as strange a miracle For as soone as this frantick man was layd in Xauiers bed he returned agayne to his senses And Franâ—is prophecy of his death was not without ground For the very same day towards night he dyed after he had receyued the Sacraments full of great confidence in God And then it was manifestly seene that Xauerius tooke such paines with him because he forsaw him to be in imminent danger both of lyfe and saluation Now Francis being very glad for this marriners safety went presently to bed for his owne health obeying the Phisitian in al things leauing behind him an example of no lesse obedience then Christian charity but as soone as he was recouered of his feuer he againe with no lesse diligence then before set himselfe to his former labours of helping the sick And to perseuer constantly in that which he had begun well happily he still kept on the very same course of these his industrious exercises to the last day of his iourney And in this halfe yeares space for they wintred so loÌ„g at Mozambicum he gaue such proofs of his eminent sanctity that all both inhabitants and they of the nauy held him generally for a Saint Wherefore they doubted not to hold themselues bound to Xauerius for many things which succeeded with them prosperously at the same tyme ascribing alâ—o to his vertue and merits that in so great a sicknes amongst such a number of sick persons so few had dyed at Mozambicum that winter thinking for certayne that his diligent Care lightned their diseases and his Sanctity tooke them away Now the tyme was come that they were to depart and yet very many of the sicke were not recouered Moreouer the Viceâ—Roy himselfe began to feele some grudgings of an ague wherfore making all hast he thought it best to leaue them who for want of health cold not follow him which was almost the whole nauy in the wintering places vntill they hauing recouered their forces might be able to passe into India And so hauing easily persuaded Father Paul Fa. Mansilla to stay at Mozambicum with the sicke he determined to take Xauerius with him who might be to all both a comfort in this iourney and an assured help also if any thing should fall out amisse CHAP. XVI Hauing stayed a vvhile at Melinda and in the Iland of Socotora to the great benefit to the inhabitants he arriueth at length in India THE next yeare therfore in the month of April Sosa the Vice-Roy preparing a great Galeon for his Indian iourney putteth to sea with a strong band of Souldiars commanding the Nauy to follow him as soone as their health would permit With him Francis also departed both the Portugheses and the inhabitants bidding him farewell with many teares and great tokens of beneuolence Sosa hauing a prosperous gale had sailed in few dayes 700. miles or thereabout beyond Mâ—zambicum comming to Melinda a fayre towne of the Saracens yet friend to the Portugheses he staied there a while In this Citty there be very many Portughâ—se merchants of whome if any chance to dye there they are buryed with crosses vpon their graues Also neere vnto the Citty there is a goodly and fayre Crosse of marble guilded erected by the Portugheses which when Xauerius beheld he exceedingly reioyced and gaue thankes to God for that great vertue glory of the Crosse because like a conquerer it triumphed in the middest of the Saracens and in the Diuels Dominion This ioy of his was afterward increased by a memorable accident A principall Saracen of that Citty complayning to Francis that the Religion of the Saracens grew to decay demaÌ„ded of him whether it were so among Christians For of 17. Temples
Who likewise had damned to the â—aynes of Hell all those who had not worshipped the â—od they knew not and had permitted also their anâ—estours who neuer enioyed that heaueÌ„ly light to be â—arryed headlong thither Concerning this point â—rancis made it cleare vnto theÌ„ that the diuine Law â—hich of all others is the most ancient was imprinâ—d in the harts of men For the Iaponians euen before â—â—ey had their lawes from the Chineses knew by the â—â—ght of reason that it was an heynous offence to kill 〈◊〉 man to steale forsweare and other things which â—ere forbidden by the diuine law Wherupon if any â—ne had committed any of these crimes he was tormented with the worme of conscience which tooke â—s it were reuenge of that wickednesse This quoth he we may vndoubtedly find to be true in a solitary man who although he should be brought vp in the wildernesse without any learning or knowledge of humane law would not for all that be ignorant of the diuine law concerning Man-slaughter Theft Periury and other the like things And if this were so euen amongst barbarous nations what should we thinke of those that were ciuill and well trained vp Should not they therfore be iustly punished who did violate the diuine law which was ingrafted in them by nature which if they had obserued they should infallibly haue bin illuminated with light from heauen After he had satisfied them with this answere they began by little and little to put themselues vnder the wholsome yoke of Christ Wherupon within the compasse of two moneths there were wel neere 500. cittizens baptized who bewailing the state of their children parents kindred and Ancestours demanded ofteÌ„ of Xauerius whether there was yet any hope or meanes to deliuer them out of euerlasting misery But he with teares in his eyes affirming no exhorted them that they who had the diuine light saluation now offred them should be so much the more thankefull to God for it and should mitigate the feeling of others ruine with the hope of their owne saluation so that Patience might make that lighter which they could not auoid Then turning themselues to other questions they asked him of what figure the world was what coursâ— the sunne and the starres held from whence came theâ— blazing Comets the winds lightning and thunder â—hat force that was which powred forth snow haile â—nd showres of raine Of all which when Xauerius â—ho was very skilfull in Astrology natural Philoâ—ophy had fully declared to theÌ„ the causes they being â—holy ignorant before of all such things stood wholy â—mazed therat admiring both his wit and learning â—auing neuer heard of the like And when the report â—ereof was spread ouer all the Citty it brought also â—â—ch esteeme to the Christian Law that it was much â—oken of not only in publick but also at home in priâ—ate houses This thing also caused no lesse domage to â—â—e Bonzies families then it did good to the Christian â—ause by auerting the affections of many from their â—ountry SuperstitioÌ„s so as some were of opinioÌ„ that â—any Bonzies forsaking their manner of discipline â—â—eir corporall maintenance failing them many of â—â—eir Conuentes would heereby fall to decay to the â—reat aduancement certainly of the Christian cause â—nd how much the Bonzies authority was weakeâ—ed heereby may euen appeare by this in that there â—as neuer a one amongst them all though neuer so â—ealous who was not detained in his former course â—ather out of necessity then for any affection he bare â—nto it There was in Amangucâ—um a certaine Noble man â—o rich wealthy as few in that kind out went him He togeather with his wife exceedingly fauoured â—oth Xauerius and the Ghospell but their too much â—orwardnesse in former times did much abridge them â—f their liberty afterward For they had built many â—ouses for the Bonzies and endowed them with great reuenewes to the end that Amidas to whome they bare special deuotion reuereÌ„ce might be propitious vnto them for the attayning of eternall blisse Whereupon they stood earnestly vpon it that they would neuer by changing their Religion vpoÌ„ a suddain loose Amidas his fauour which they had now purchased with such expences for so many yeares togeather that if this were not which lay heauy vpon their coÌ„sciences they would be otherwise aduised shewing heerin a double folly who hauing once rashly coÌ„mitted an errour had rather still remaine plunged therein then once to rayse themselues out But that which they out of a vaine respect of their ancient institute would not do to follow the glorious faith of Christ was zealously performed by many others who were illuminated with the light of truth The Bonzies therfore being not able to indure this ignominy and disgrace began to be enraged agaynst the Christians and in their Sermons to cast out many impious wordes against God also to belch forth many reproches against Xauerius which suited better with themselues and withall to denounce vnto the Iaponians in a threatning manner that as soone as Iaponia had receiued the faith of Christ it should be vtterly destroyed But these their reproachfull speaches caused more hatred to themselues then coÌ„tempt vnto Xauerius For the Iaponians knowing for certaine that the Bonzies maledictions proceeded out of enuy and malice begaÌ„ not only to find fault therewith but also to fauour the innocent by turning their backbiting into Xauerius prayse and respect towards his person In the meane time Francis making most diligent â—â—quiry whether the Iaponians had had in times past aâ—y knowledge of Christ his Ghospell found both â—y their writings and testimony of the Iaponians theÌ„â—â—lues that they had neuer so much as heard of the â—ame of Christ before his comming which thing as â—ood reason it should gaue thespurre to Xauerius ferâ—ent desire who was of himselfe forward inough in â—reading abroad the Ghospell being exceeding ioyâ—ll that he was come thither for the aduancement of â—eligion that the sound of the Gospell which had 〈◊〉 in heard in the furthest parts of the Land might also â—ow be preached in the vtmost Ilands thereof Many â—herefore being thus brought into the fold of Christ Christianity began greatly to flourish when as there â—apned an accident which caused much furtheraÌ„ce â—onour thereunto There is at Bandua in Iaponia an Academy of very great note both for the fame noâ—â—ility therof as being frequented by more then 4000. â—â—udeÌ„ts One of this Academy a man of good esteeme â—nd renowned for his wisedome and learning vpon 〈◊〉 very memorable occasion became a Christian There were in that Academy a kind of Bonzies who â—aue themselues much to speculatioÌ„ pondering what would become of theÌ„ after this life other such like â—hings wherof many through deep coÌ„sideration came â—â—tlast to be of opinion that there was no meanes in the Iaponians Religion for the sauing of their soules For thus they discoursed with themselues That certainly
there ought to be one beginning of all things wherof â—in their Books Records there was no mention at al nor of the maker of this world How therefore could they be saued who knew not their maker But whilst others stood staggering betwixt shame and feare this man of whome we speake ouercomming the one the other through desire of his saluation was made a Christian He was indeed of the mynd to haue vnited himselfe to the Bonzies but as soone as by Francis his discourse he came to know their errours thinking that he ought certainly to worship him that made both him and the whole world and whome the Christian Religion propounded vnto them to adore changing his mind he put himselfe vnder the triumphant standart of Christ This accident grieued the Bonzies no lesse then it comforted the Neophytes For when he for his learning bare away the bell from the whole Citty where he dwelt his authority gaue great aduantage to either part Whereupon inciting others by his example to Baptisme the Christian Common wealth began to be increased both in dignity and number And this caused in the Neophytes such feruour of spirit that euery one of them fell to dispute with the Ethnickes about matters of Religion and when they had conuinced them would lead them as captiues to Baptisme striuing in these their combats and victories one with another Whereat Francis took such content of mind that it made him to haue no feeling of his labours Thus therfore was the Christian busines wonderfully increased at Amangucium for within the compasse of one yeare there were baptized to the number of 3000. and their piety equalized the increase of the â—ocke For they who in former tymes had so often run â—â—er their beades by imploring the Authours of their â—â—ct now turning superstition into true Religion inâ—â—eased wonderfully that deuotion of theirs For in â—ying the Beades of our Blessed Lady at the end of eâ—ery Aue Maria which is vsually said vpon euery smal â—ead they alwayes pronounced the wholesome naâ—es of Iesus and Maria and withall endeauoured as â—uch as they could to frame themselues according to â—rancis his fashioÌ„ as being the â—nly patterne they had 〈◊〉 imitate And so great was the progresse in piety â—hich the Amangucian Neophytes made vnder Xaueâ—us their Maister that although when he was called 〈◊〉 way by other Kings who importuned him they â—ere left almost wholy destitute both of maisters and â—eachers for the space of 25. yeares in the midst of Ethnickes yet they held on most laudably the sayd Christian course which they had begun being therin both guides and maisters to themselues CHAP. IX Going to the King of Bungo at his inuitement he is honourably receyued by the Portugheses SO great was now Xauerius Name in Iaponia and so great was the opinion of his Sanctity that it almost exceeded all humane power wherefore the Iaponians reuerenced him as a diuine man This fame of his Holines spreading it self farre neere had filled almost all Iaponia with his renowne and worthy acts Whilst therefore he was imployed especially at Amanguciâ—â— about the occasions whereof we spake before he receyueth from the King of Bungo very courteous respectful letters to this tenour That wheras by relation of a certaine Portugese ship that was lately arriued in his DominioÌ„s he had vnderstood many things of his singular vertue and being greatly desirous to impart an important businesse to his owne person he would be pleased to repaire withal speed to Bungo c. At the very same tyme also one Edward Gama Gouernour of the Portughese ships had by his letters inuited Francis to a port Towne of Bungo distaÌ„t 180. miles from Amangucium Xauerius therefore conceauing in ech place new hopes of happy successe in his businesse leauing Cosmas Turrianus and Iohn Fernandez to looke vnto the Neophytes at Amangucium he prepareth himselfe for this new iourney and forthwith setteth forward on his way with two or three Neophytes in his company He had now gone almost 175. miles on foote when as Gama vnderstood that he was comming on his way all wearied-out with trauailing a foot wherfore he speedily sendeth out certaine Portugheses with horses to meete him who hauing gone about a mile met with Francis and his Neophytes These Neophytes were of noble Parentage in their owne country and heertofore of great wealth but hauing had all their goods taken from them by the King of Aâ—â—angucium because they were become Christians â—hey went with Xauerius with intention to be brought â—p at Goa They rode vpon excellent horses with good â—â—â—urniture for so Xauerius had commanded them But â—e followed them on foote loaden with his packe of Church-stuffe so ardent was his loue to Humility â—he Crosse This sight moued the Portugheses no lesse â—o admiration then compassion that so worthy a â—an should in such sort so debase and tyre out himâ—elfe Presently therfore they offer him a horse as also â—o take his packe to ease him but he by no meanes â—ould be drawne to mount a horse backe Wherefore â—he Portugheses although Xauerius were very vnwilâ—ing and forbad them so to do went along with him â—n foote This spectacle was most gratefull proâ—itable vnto the Neophytes who admired the ciuility and courtesy of the Christians Thus they came vnto â—he Port of Bungo which is called of the inhabitants by the name of the Riuer Fingus Bungo is a Citty wherin the King keepeth his Court standing in that part Iland of Iaponia which as we said is called Ximus The King of Bungo was but a yong man yet far surpassing his age in grauity wisedome At that time he had only Bungo vnder his gouernment being a King among the Iaponians more famous for prudence then wealth None was more fauourable to the Portugheses then he For being greâ—atly desirous of their friendship he had long before sent letters with presents to the King of Portugall and the Viceroy of India As soone as newes was brought to the Portughese ships that Xauerius was arriued the men came all out presently to meete him with great ioy gratulation euery one endeauouring to honour so holy a man wherein they proceeded so farre as to salute him one after another in a triumphant maÌ„ner with foure volley of shot from out their great Ordinance being 18. peeces in number And the euent declared afterwards that this was not done so much through the aboundance of humane affection as by the diuine prouideÌ„ce For that the thundring out of so many great shot sounded to the Iaponians eares as though there had byn a battayle at sea Whereupon the King who remayned in the Citty not farre from the Port was surprized with no small care thinking that the Portugheses had byn at fight with Pirats And therefore with all speed he sendeth a principall Gentleman to Gama the Gouernor to demand of him what the matter was