No More Learning

When his
design was known, all possible endeavours were used to break it. His
friends were not wanting to inform him, that the country was as hideous
as it was barren: That it seemed accursed by nature, and a more fitting
habitation for beasts than men: That the air was so gross, and so
unwholesome, that strangers could not live in the country: That the
mountains continually vomited flakes of fire and ashes, and that the
ground itself was subject to terrible and frequent earthquakes. And
besides, it was told him, that the people of the country surpassed in
cruelty and faithlessness all the barbarians of the world: That
Christianity had not softened their manners; that they poisoned one
another; that they fed themselves with human flesh; and that, when any of
their relations happened to die, they cut off his hands and feet, of
which they made a delicate ragou: That their inhumanity extended so far,
that when they designed a sumptuous feast, they begged some of their
friends to lend them an old unprofitable father, to be served up to the
entertainment of their guests, with promise to repay them, in kind, on
the like occasion.

The Portuguese and Indians, who loved Xavier, added, that since those
savages spared not their own countrymen and their parents, what would
they not do to a stranger, and an unknown person? That they were first to
be transformed into men, before they could be made Christians. And how
could he imprint the principles of the divine law into their hearts, who
had not the least sense of humanity? Who should be his guide through
those thick entangled forests, where the greatest part of them were
lodged like so many wild beasts; and when, by rare fortune, he should
atchieve the taming of them, and even convert them, how long would that
conversion last? at the longest, but while he continued with them: That
no man would venture to succeed him in his apostleship to those parts,
for that was only to be exposed to a certain death; and that the blood of
Simon Vaz was yet steaming. To conclude, there were many other isles,
which had never heard of Jesus Christ, and who were better disposed to
receive the gospel.

These reasons were accompanied with prayers and tears; but they were to
no purpose, and Xavier was stedfast to his resolution. His friends
perceiving they could gain nothing upon him by intreaties, had recourse,
in some measure, to constraint; so far as to obtain from the governor of
Ternate a decree, forbidding, on severe penalties, any vessel to carry
the Father to the Isle del Moro.

Xavier then resented this usage of his friends, and could not forbear to
complain publicly of it. "Where are those people," said he, "who dare to
confine the power of Almighty God, and have so mean an apprehension of
our Saviour's love and grace? Are there any hearts hard enough to resist
the influences of the Most High, when it pleases him to soften and to
change them? Can they stand in opposition to that gentle, and yet
commanding force, which can make the dry bones live, and raise up
children to Abraham from stones? What! Shall he, who has subjected the
whole world to the cross, by the ministry of the apostles, shall he
exempt from that subjection this petty corner of the universe? Shall then
the Isle del Moro be the only place, which shall receive no benefit of
redemption? And when Jesus Christ has offered to the eternal Father, all
the nations of the earth as his inheritance, were these people excepted
out of the donation? I acknowledge them to be very barbarous and brutal;
and let it be granted they were more inhuman than they are, it is because
I can do nothing of myself, that I have the better hopes of them. I can
do all things in Him who strengthens me, and from whom alone proceeds the
strength of those who labour in the gospel. "

He added, "That other less savage nations would never want for preachers;
that these only isles remained for him to cultivate, since no other man
would undertake them. " In sequel, suffering himself to be transported
with a kind of holy choler, "If these isles," pursued he, "abounded with
precious woods and mines of gold, the Christians would have the courage
to go thither, and all the dangers of the world would not be able to
affright them; they are base and fearful because there are only souls to
purchase: And shall it then be said, that charity is less daring than
avarice? You tell me they will take away my life, either by the sword or
poison; but those are favours too great for such a sinner as I am to
expect from heaven; yet I dare confidently say, that whatever torment
or death they prepare for me, I am ready to suffer a thousand times more
for the salvation of one only soul. If I should happen to die by their
hands, who knows but all of them might receive the faith? for it is most
certain, that since the primitive times of the church, the seed of the
gospel has made a larger increase in the fields of paganism, by the blood
of martyrs, than by the sweat of missioners. "

He concluded his discourse, by telling them, "That there was nothing
really to fear in his undertaking; that God had called him to the isles
del Moro; and that man should not hinder him from obeying the voice of
God. " His discourse made such impressions on their hearts, that not only
the decree against his passage was revoked, but many offered themselves
to accompany him in that voyage, through all the dangers which seemed to
threaten him.

Having thus disengaged himself from all the incumbrances of his voyage,
he embarked with some of his friends, passing through the tears of the
people, who attended him to the shore, without expectation of seeing him
again. Before he set sail, he wrote to the Fathers of the company at
Rome, to make them acquainted with his voyage.

"The country whither I go," says he in his letter, "is full of danger,
and terrible to strangers, by the barbarity of the inhabitants, and by
their using divers poisons, which they mingle with their meat and drink;
and it is from hence that priests are apprehensive of coming to instruct
them: For myself, considering their extreme necessity, and the duties of
my ministry, which oblige to free them from eternal death, even at the
expence of my own life, I have resolved to hazard all for the salvation
of their souls. My whole confidence is in God, and all my desire is to
obey, as far as in me lies, the word of Jesus Christ: 'He who is willing
to save his life shall lose it, and he who will lose it for my sake shall
find it. ' Believe me, dear brethren, though this evangelical maxim, in
general, is easily to be understood, when the time of practising it calls
upon us, and our business is to die for God, as clear as the text seems,
it becomes obscure; and he only can compass the understanding of it, to
whom God, by his mercy, has explained it; for then it will be seen, how
frail and feeble is human nature. Many here, who love me tenderly, have
done what possibly they could to divert me from this voyage; and, seeing
that I yielded not to their requests, nor to their tears, would have
furnished me with antidotes; but I would not take any, lest, by making
provision of remedies, I might come to apprehend the danger; and also,
because, having put my life into the hands of Providence, I have no need
of preservatives from death: for it seems to me, that the more I should
make use of remedies, the less assurance I should repose in God. "

They went off with a favourable wind, and had already made above an
hundred and fourscore miles, when Xavier, on the sudden, with a deep
sigh, cried out, "Ah, Jesus, how they massacre the poor people! " saying
these words, and oftentimes repeating them, he had turned his
countenance, and fixed his eyes towards a certain part of the sea. The
mariners and passengers, affrighted, ran about him. Inquiring what
massacre he meant, because, for their part, they could see nothing; but
the saint was ravished in spirit, and, in this extacy, God had empowered
him to see this sad spectacle.

He was no sooner come to himself, than they continued pressing him to
know the occasion of his sighs and cries; but he, blushing for the words
which had escaped him in his transport, would say no more, but retired to
his devotions. It was not long before they beheld, with their own eyes,
what he refused to tell them: Having cast anchor before an isle, they
found on the shore the bodies of eight Portuguese, all bloody; and then
comprehended, that those unhappy creatures had moved the compassion of
the holy man. They buried them in the same place, and erected a cross
over the grave; after which they pursued their voyage, and in little time
arrived at the Isle del Moro.

When they were come on shore, Xavier went directly on to the next
village. The greatest part of the inhabitants were baptized; but there
remained in them only a confused notion of their baptism; and their
religion was nothing more than a mingle of Mahometanism and idolatry.

The barbarians fled at the sight of the strangers, imagining they were
come to revenge the death of the Portuguese, whom they had killed the
preceding years. Xavier followed them into the thickest of their woods;
and his countenance, full of mildness, gave them to believe, that he was
not an enemy who came in search of them. He declared to them the motive
of his voyage, speaking to them in the Malaya tongue: For though in the
Isle del Moro there were great diversity of languages, insomuch, that
those of three leagues distance did not understand each other in their
island tongues, yet the Malaya was common to them all.

Notwithstanding the roughness and barbarity of these islanders, neither
of those qualities were of proof against the winning and soft behaviour
of the saint. He brought them back to their village, using all
expressions of kindness to them by the way, and began his work by singing
aloud the Christian doctrine through the streets; after which he
expounded it to them, and that in a manner so suitable to their barbarous
conceptions, that it passed with ease into their understanding.

By this means he restored those Christians to the faith, who had before
forsaken it; and brought into it those idolaters who had refused to
embrace it when it was preached to them by Simon Vaz and Francis Alvarez.
There was neither town nor village which the Father did not visit, and
where those new converts did not set up crosses and build churches. Tolo,
the chief town of the island, inhabited by twenty-five thousand souls,
was entirely converted, together with Momoya.

Thus the Isle del Moro was now to the holy apostle the island of Divine
Hope,[1] as he desired it thenceforth to be named; both because those
things which were there accomplished by God himself, in a miraculous
manner, were beyond all human hope and expectation; and also because the
fruits of his labours surpassed the hopes which had been conceived of
them, when his friends of Ternate would have made him fear that his
voyage would prove unprofitable.

To engage these new Christians, who were gross of apprehension, in the
practice of a holy life, he threatened them with eternal punishments, and
made them sensible of what hell was, by those dreadful objects which they
had before their eyes: For sometimes he led them to the brink of those
gulphs which shot out of their bowels vast masses of burning stones into
the air, with the noise and fury of a cannon; and at the view of those
flames, which were mingled with a dusky smoke that obscured the day, he
explained to them the nature of those pains, which were prepared in an
abyss of fire, not only for idolaters and Mahometans, but also for the
true believers, who lived not according to their faith. He even told
them, the gaping mouths of those flaming mountains were the breathing
places of hell; as appears by these following words, extracted out of one
of his letters on that subject, written to his brethren at Rome: "It
seems that God himself has been pleased, in some measure, to discover the
habitation of the damned to people had otherwise no knowledge of him. "

[Footnote 1:_Divina Esperanya_. ]

During their great earthquakes, when no man could be secure in any place,
either in his house, or abroad in the open air, he exhorted them to
penitence; and declared to them, that those extraordinary accidents were
caused, not by the souls of the dead hidden under ground, as they
imagined, but by the devils, who were desirous to destroy them, or by the
omnipotent hand of God, who adds activity to natural causes, that he may
imprint more deeply in their hearts the fear of his justice and his
wrath.

One of those wonderful earthquakes happened on the 29th of September; on
that day, consecrated to the honour of St Michael, the Christians were
assembled in great numbers, and the Father said mass. In the midst of the
sacrifice, the earth was so violently shaken, that the people ran in a
hurry out of the church. The Father feared lest the altar might be
overthrown, yet he forsook it not, and went through with the celebration
of the sacred mysteries, thinking, as he said himself, that the blessed
archangel, at that very time, was driving the devils of the island down
to hell; and that those infernal spirits made all that noise and
tumult, out of the indignation which they had to be banished from that
place where they had held dominion for so many ages.

The undaunted resolution of Father Xavier amazed the barbarians; and gave
them to believe, that a man who remained immovable while the rocks and
mountains trembled, had something in him of divine; but that high opinion
which most of them had conceived of him, gave him an absolute authority
over them; and, with the assistance of God's grace, which operated in
their souls while he was working by outward means, he made so total a
change in them, that they who formerly, in respect of their manners, were
like wolves and tygers, now became tractable and mild, and innocent as
lambs.

Notwithstanding this, there were some amongst them who did not divest
themselves fully, and at once, of their natural barbarity; either to
signify, that divine grace, how powerful soever, does not work all things
in a man itself alone, or to try the patience of the saint. The most
rebellious to God's spirit were the Javares,--a rugged and inhuman
people, who inhabit only in caves, and in the day-time roam about the
forests. Not content with not following the instructions of the Father,
they laid divers ambushes for him; and one day, while he was explaining
the rules of morality to them out of the gospel, by a river side,
provoked by the zeal wherewith he condemned their dissolute manners, they
cast stones at him with design to kill him. The barbarians were on the
one side of him, and the river on the other, which was broad and deep;
insomuch, that it was in a manner impossible for Xavier to escape the
fury of his enemies: but nothing is impossible to a man whom heaven
protects. There was lying on the bank a great beam of wood; the saint
pushed it without the least difficulty into the water, and placing
himself upon it, was carried in an instant to the other side, where the
stones which were thrown could no longer reach him.

For what remains, he endured in this barren and inhospitable country all
the miseries imaginable, of hunger, thirst, and nakedness. But the
comforts which he received from heaven, infinitely sweetened all his
labours; which may be judged by the letter he wrote to Father Ignatius.
For, after he had made him a faithful description of the place, "I have,"
said he, "given you this account of it, that from thence you may
conclude, what abundance of celestial consolations I have tasted in it.
The dangers to which I am exposed, and the pains I take for the interest
of God alone, are the inexhaustible springs of spiritual joys; insomuch,
that these islands, bare of all worldly necessaries, are the places in
the world, for a man to lose his sight with the excess of weeping; but
they are tears of joy. For my own part, I remember not ever to have
tasted such interior delights; and these consolations of the soul, are so
pure, so exquisite, and so perpetual, that they take from me all sense of
my corporeal sufferings. "

Xavier continued for three months in the Isle del Moro; after which, he
repassed to the Moluccas, with intention from thence to sail to Goa; not
only that he might draw out missioners from thence, to take care of the
new Christianity which he had planted in all those isles, and which he
alone was not sufficient to cultivate, but also to provide for the
affairs of the company, which daily multiplied in this new world.

Being arrived at Ternate, he lodged by a chapel, which was near the Port,
and which, for that reason, is called "Our Lady of the Port. " He thought
not of any long stay in that place, but only till the ship which was
intended for Malacca should be ready to set out. The Christians, more
glad of his return, because they had despaired of seeing him again,
begged of him to continue longer with them, because Lent was drawing
near; and that he must, however, stay all that holy time, in the island
of Amboyna, for the proper season of navigation to Malacca. The captain
of the fortress of Ternate, and the brotherhood of the Mercy, engaged
themselves to have him conducted to Amboyna, before the setting out of
the ships. So that Xavier could not deny those people, who made him such
reasonable propositions; and who were so desirous to retain him, to the
end they might profit by his presence, in order to the salvation of their
souls.

He remained then almost three months in Ternate; hearing confessions day
and night, preaching twice on holidays, according to his custom; in the
morning to the Portuguese, in the afternoon to the islanders newly
converted; catechising the children every day in the week, excepting
Wednesday and Friday, which he set apart for the instruction of the
Portuguese wives. For, seeing those women, who were either Mahometans or
idolaters by birth, and had only received baptism in order to their
marrying with the Portuguese, were not capable of profiting by the common
sermons, for want of sufficient understanding in the mysteries and maxims
of Christianity; he undertook to expound to them the articles of faith,
the commandments, and other points of Christian morality. The time of
Lent was passed in these exercises of piety, and penitence, which fitted
them for the blessed sacrament at Easter. All people approached the holy
table, and celebrated that feast with renewed fervour, which resembled
the spirit of primitive Christianity.

But the chief employment of Father Xavier was to endeavour the conversion
of the king of Ternate, commonly called king of the Moluccas. This
Saracen prince, whose name was Cacil Aerio, was son to king Boleife, and
his concubine, a Mahometan, and enemy to the Portuguese, whom Tristan
d'Atayda, governor of Ternate, and predecessor of Antonio Galvan, caused
to be thrown out of a window, to be revenged of her. This unworthy and
cruel usage might well exasperate Cacil; but fearing their power, who had
affronted him in the person of his mother, and having the violent death
of his brothers before his eyes, he curbed his resentments, and broke not
out into the least complaint. The Portuguese mistrusted this over-acted
moderation, and affected silence; and according to the maxim of those
politicians, who hold, that they who do the injury should never pardon,
they used him afterwards as a rebel, and an enemy, upon very light
conjectures, Jordan de Treitas, then governor of the fortress of Ternate.
a man as rash and imprudent as Galvan was moderate and wise, seized
the person of the prince, stript him of all the ornaments of royalty, and
sent him prisoner to Goa, in the year 1546, with the Spanish fleet, of
which we have formerly made mention.

The cause having been examined, in the sovereign tribunal of Goa, there
was found nothing to condemn, but the injustice of Treitas: Cacil was
declared innocent; and the new viceroy of the Indies, Don John de Castro,
sent him back to Ternate, with orders to the Portuguese, to replace him
on the throne, and pay him so much the more respect, by how much more
they had injured him. As for Treitas, he lost his government, and being
recalled to Goa, was imprisoned as a criminal of state.

The king of Ternate was newly restored, when Xavier came into the isle
for the second time. King Tabarigia, son of Boleife, and brother to
Cacil, had suffered the same ill fortune some years before. Being accused
of felony, and having been acquitted at Goa, where he was prisoner, he
was also sent back to his kingdom, with a splendid equipage; and the
equity of the Christians so wrought upon him, that he became a convert
before his departure.

Xavier was in hope, that the example of Tabarigia would make an
impression on the soul of Cacil after his restoration, at least if any
care were taken of instructing him; and the hopes or the saint seemed not
at the first to be ill grounded. For the barbarian king received him with
all civility, and was very affectionate to him, insomuch that he could
not be without his company. He heard him speak of God whole hours
together; and there was great appearance, that he would renounce the
Mahometan religion.

But the sweet enchantments of the flesh are often an invincible obstacle
to the grace of baptism. Besides a vast number of concubines, the king of
Ternate had an hundred women in his palace, who retained the name and
quality of wives. To confine himself to one, was somewhat too hard to be
digested by him. And when the Father endeavoured to persuade him, that
the law of God did absolutely command it; he reasoned on his side,
according to the principles of his sect, and refined upon it in this
manner: "The God of the Christians and of the Saracens is the same God;
why then should the Christians be confined to one only wife, since God
has permitted the Saracens to have so many? "

Yet sometimes he changed his language; and said, that he would not lose
his soul, nor the friendship of Father Xavier, for so small a matter.
But, in conclusion, not being able to contain himself within the bounds
of Christian purity, nor to make the law of Jesus Christ agree with that
of Mahomet, he continued fixed to his pleasures, and obstinate in his
errors. Only he engaged his royal word, that in case the Portuguese would
invest one of his sons in the kingdom of the Isles del Moro, he would on
that condition receive baptism.

Father Xavier obtained from the viceroy of the Indies whatever the king
of Ternate had desired; but the barbarian, far from keeping his promise,
began from thenceforward a cruel persecution against his Christian
subjects. And the first strokes of it fell on the Queen Neachile, who was
dispossessed of all her lands, and reduced to live in extreme poverty
during the remainder of her days. Her faith supported her in these new
misfortunes; and Father Xavier, who had baptized her, gave her so well to
understand how happy it was to lose all things and to gain Christ, that
she continually gave thanks to God for the total overthrow of her
fortune.

In the mean time, the labours of the saint were not wholly unprofitable
in the court of Ternate. He converted many persons of the blood-royal;
and, amongst others, two sisters of the prince, who preferred the quality
of Christians, and spouses of Christ Jesus, before all earthly crowns;
and chose rather to suffer the ill usage of their brother, than to
forsake their faith.

Xavier, seeing the time of his departure drawing near, composed, in the
Malaya tongue, a large instruction, touching the belief and morals of
Christianity. He gave the people of Ternate this instruction written in
his own hand, that it might supply his place during his absence. Many
copies were taken of it, which were spread about the neighbouring
islands, and even through the countries of the East. It was read on
holidays in the public assemblies; and the faithful listened to it, as
coming from the mouth of the holy apostle.

Besides this, he chose out some virtuous young men for his companions in
his voyage to Goa, with design to breed them in the college of the
company, and from thence send them back to the Moluccas, there to preach
the gospel. These things being thus ordered, and the caracore, winch was
to carry him to Amboyna, in readiness, it was in his thoughts to depart
by night, in the most secret manner that he could, not to sadden the
inhabitants, who could not hear of his going from them without a sensible
affliction. But whatsoever precautions he took, he could not steal away
without their knowledge. They followed him in crowds to the shore; men,
women, and children, gathering about him, lamenting his loss, begging his
blessing, and beseeching him, with tears in their eyes, "That since he
was resolved on going, he would make a quick return. "

The holy man was not able to bear these tender farewells without melting
into tears himself. His bowels yearned within him for his dear flock; and
seeing what affection those people bore him, he was concerned lest his
absence might prejudice their spiritual welfare. Yet reassuring himself,
by considering the providence of God, which had disposed of him another
way, he enjoined them to meet in public every day, at a certain church,
to make repetition of the Christian doctrine, and to excite each other to
the practice of virtue. He charged the new converts to learn by heart the
exposition of the apostles' creed, which he had left with them in
writing; but that which gave him the greatest comfort was, that a priest,
who was there present, promised him to bestow two hours every day in
instructing the people, and once a-week to perform the same to the wives
of the Portuguese, in expounding to them the articles of faith, and
informing them concerning the use of the sacraments.

After these last words, Father Xavier left his well-beloved children in
Jesus, and immediately the ship went off. At that instant an universal
cry was raised on the shore; and that last adieu went even to the heart
of Father Xavier.

Being arrived at Amboyna, he there found four Portuguese vessels, wherein
were only mariners and soldiers, that is to say, a sort of people ill
instructed in the duties of Christianity, and little accustomed to put
them in practice, in the continual hurry of their life. That they might
profit by that leisure which they then enjoyed, he set up a small chapel
on the sea-side, where he conversed with them, sometimes single,
sometimes in common, concerning their eternal welfare. The discourses of
the saint brought over the most debauched amongst them; and one soldier,
who had been a libertine all his life, died with such evident signs of
true contrition, that being expired, Father Xavier was heard to say, "God
be praised, who has brought me hither for the salvation of that soul;"
which caused people to believe, that God Almighty had made a revelation
of it to him.

By the same supernal illumination, he saw in spirit one whom he had left
in Ternate in the vigour of health, now expiring in that place; for
preaching one day, he broke off his discourse suddenly, and said to his
auditors, "Recommend to God, James Giles, who is now in the agony of
death;" the news of his death came not long after, which entirely
verified the words of Xavier.

The four ships continued at Amboyna but twenty days, after which they set
sail towards Malacca. The merchant-ship, which was the best equipped and
strongest of them, invited the saint to embark in her; but he refused,
out of the horror which he had for those enormous crimes which had been
committed in her. And turning to Gonsalvo Fernandez, "This ship," said
he, "will be in great danger; God deliver you out of it. " Both the
prediction and the wish of the saint were accomplished; for the ship, at
the passage of the Strait of Saban, struck against a hidden rock, where
the iron-work of the stern was broken, and little wanted but that the
vessel had been also split; but she escaped that danger, and the rest of
the voyage was happily performed.

The Father staying some few days longer on the isle, visited the seven
Christian villages which were there; caused crosses to be set up in all
of them, for the consolation of the faithful; and one of these crosses,
in process of time, became famous for a great miracle, of which the whole
country was witness.

There was an extreme drought, and a general dearth was apprehended.
Certain women, who before their baptism were accustomed to use charms
for rain, being assembled round about an idol, adored the devil, and
performed all the magic ceremonies; but their enchantments were of no
effect. A devout Christian woman knowing what they were about, ran
thither, and having sharply reprehended those impious creatures, "As if,"
said she, "having a cross so near us, we had no expectations of succour
from it; and that the holy Father had not promised us, that whatsoever we
prayed for at the foot of that cross, should infallibly be granted. " Upon
this, she led those other women towards a river-side, where Xavier had
set up a cross with his own hands, and falling down with them before that
sacred sign of our salvation, she prayed our Saviour to give them water,
to the shame and confusion of the idol. At the same moment the clouds
began to gather on every side, and the rain poured down in great
abundance. Then, all in company, they ran to the pagod, pulled it down,
and trampled it under their feet; after which they cast it into the
river, with these expressions of contempt, "That though they could not
obtain from him one drop of water, they would give him enough in a whole
river. "

A faith thus lively, answered the hopes which the saint had conceived of
the faithful of Amboyna. He compared them sometimes to the primitive
Christians; and believed their constancy was of proof against the cruelty
of tyrants. Neither was he deceived in the judgment he made of them; and
they shewed themselves, when the Javeses, provoked by their renouncing
the law of Mahomet, came to invade their island. While the Saracen army
destroyed the country, six hundred Christians retired into a castle,
where they were presently besieged. Though they were to fear all things
from the fury of the barbarians, yet what they only apprehended was, that
those enemies of Jesus Christ might exercise their malice against a cross
which was raised in the midst of all the castle, and which Father Xavier
had set up with his own hands. To preserve it, therefore, inviolable from
their attempts, they wrapt it up in cloth of gold, and buried it in the
bottom of the ditch. After they had thus secured their treasure, they
opened the gate to the unbelievers, who, knowing what had been done by
them, ran immediately in search of the cross, to revenge upon it the
contempt which had been shown to Mahomet. But not being able to find it,
they turned all their fury upon those who had concealed it, and who would
not discover where it was.

Death seemed to have been the least part of what they suffered. The
Mahometan soldiers cut off one man's leg, another's arm, tore out this
man's eyes, and the other's tongue. So the Christians died by degrees,
and by a slow destruction, but without drawing one sigh, or casting out a
groan, or shewing the least apprehension; so strongly were they supported
in their souls by the all-powerful grace of Jesus Christ, for whom they
suffered.

Xavier at length parted from Amboyna; and probably it was then, if we
consider the sequel of his life, that he had the opportunity of making
the voyage of Macassar.

For though it be not certainly known at what time he visited that great
island, nor the fruit which his labours there produced, it is undoubted
that he has been there; and, in confirmation of it, we have, in the
process of his canonization, the juridical testimony of a Portuguese lady
of Malacca, called Jane Melo, who had many times heard from the princess
Eleonar, daughter to the king of Macassar, that the holy apostle had
baptized the king her father, the prince her brother, and a great number
of their subjects.

But at whatsoever time he made this voyage, he returned to Malacca, in
the month of July, in the year 1547.




BOOK IV.


_He arrives at Malacca, and there meets three missioners of the company.
His conduct with John Deyro. Deyro has a vision, which God reveals to
Xavier. The actions of the saint at Malacca. The occasion of the king of
Achen's enterprise against Malacca. The preparation of the barbarians for
the siege of Malacca. The army of Achen comes before Malacca; its
landing and retreat. The letter of the general of Achen to the governor
of Malacca. Xavier's advice to the governor of Malacca. They follow his
counsel. They prepare to engage the enemy. He exhorts the soldiers and
captains to do their duty. The fleet sets out, and what happened at that
time. He upbraids the governor with his diffidence. He foretels what is
suddenly accomplished. The Portuguese fleet goes in search of the enemy.
Troubles in Malacca concerning their fleet. A new cause of consternation.
The true condition of the fleet. The soldiers are encouraged by their
general to fight. The naval fight betwixt the Portuguese and the
Achenois. The Achenois defeated. The saint declares the victory to the
people of Malacca. The certain news of the victory is brought. The return
of the victorious fleet. Anger arrives at Malacca, when the saint was
ready to depart from it. Divers adventures of Anger. Anger is brought to
the Father, who sends him to Goa. Xavier calms a tempest. He writes to
the king of Portugal. His letter full of zeal, discretion, and charity.
He desires the king to send him some preachers of the society. He writes
to Father Simon Rodriguez. He sends an account to the Fathers at Rome of
his voyages. He receives great comfort from the fervency of the new
converts. He stays at Manapar, and what he performed there. The rules
which he prescribes to the missioners of the fishing coast. He pusses
over to the isle of Ceylon; his actions there. He departs for Goa, and
finds the viceroy at Britain. He obtains whatever he demands of the
viceroy. He concerts a young gentleman, who was very much debauched. He
fixes the resolution of Cosmo de Torrez to enter into the society. He
instructs Anger anew, and causes him to be farther taught by Torrez. He
hears news from Japan, and designs a voyage thither to preach the gospel.
He undertakes the conversion of a soldier. He converts the soldier, and
what means he uses to engage him to penance. He assists the viceroy of
the Indies at his death. He applies himself more than ever to the
exercises of an interior life. He returns to his employment in the care
of souls at Goa. He receives supplies from Europe: the arrival of Father
Gasper Barzæus. He goes to the fishing coast; his actions there.
He
speaks to the deputy-governor of the Indies, concerning his voyage to
Japan. All endeavours are used to break the Father's intended voyage to
Japan. He slights the reasons alleged against his voyage to Japan. He
writes to Father Ignatius, and to Father Rodriguez. He constitutes
superiors to superintend the society in India during his absence, and the
orders which he leaves them. He sends Gasper Barzæus to Ormuz. He gives
instructions and orders to Barzæus. He recommends to him the perfecting
of himself. He charges him to instruct the children himself. He
recommends the poor to him. He recommends the prisoners to him. His
advice concerning restitutions. He prescribes him some precautions in his
dealings with his friends. He recommends to him the practice of the
particular Examen. He exhorts him to preach, and gives him rules for
preaching. He institutes him in the way of correcting sinners. He
prescribes him a method, for administering the sacrament of penance. He
continues to instruct him on the subject of confession. He instructs him
how to deal with those who want faith, concerning the blessed sacrament.
He instructs how to deal with penitents. He recommends to him, the
obedience due to ecclesiastical superiors. He commands him to honour the
governor. He gives him advice concerning his evangelical functions. He
orders him to write to the Fathers of the society at Goa. He counsels him
to inform himself of the manner of the town at his arrival. He recommends
to his prayers the souls in purgatory. He exhorts him not to shew either
sadness or anger. He prescribes him the time of his functions. He gives
him instructions, touching the conduct of such as shall be received into
the society. He teaches him the methods of reducing obstinate sinners. He
advises him to find out the dispositions of the people, before he treats
with them. He counsels him to learn the manners and customs of the
people. He gives him counsel concerning reconciliations. He instructs him
in the way of preaching well. What he orders him concerning his
subsistance, and touching presents. What he orders him in reference to
his abode. He goes for Japan. He arrives at Malacca, and what he performs
there. His joy for the success of his brethren in their functions. He
receives a young gentleman into the society. The instructions which he
gives to Bravo. The news which he hears from Japan. He disposes himself
for the voyage of Japan more earnestly than ever. He goes from Malacca to
Japan; and what happens to him in the way_.



Xavier found at Malacca three missioners of the company, who were going
to the Moluccas, in obedience to the letters he had written. These
missioners were John Beyra, Nugnez Ribera, and Nicholas Nugnez, who had
not yet received priests' orders. Mansilla came not with them, 'though he
had precise orders for it; because he rather chose to follow his own
inclinations, in labouring where he was, than the command of his
superior, in forsaking the work upon his hands. But his disobedience cost
him dear. Xavier expelled him out of the society, judging, that an ill
brother would do more hurt, than a good labourer would profit the
company.

These three missioners above mentioned had been brought to the Indies in
the fleet, by Don Perez de Pavora, with seven other sons of Ignatius;
part of whom was already left at Cape Comorine, and the fishing coast, to
cultivate those new plants of Christianity, which were so beloved by
Father Xavier. Now the ships which were bound for the Moluccas, being not
in a readiness to sail before the end of August, Beyra, Ribera, and
Nugnez, had all the intermediate time, which was a month, to enjoy the
company of the saint, in which space they were formed by him for the
apostolic function. For himself, he remained four months at Malacca, in
expectation of a ship to carry him to Goa; and during all that time, was
taken up with continual service of his neighbour.

He had brought with him, from Amboyna, his old companion, John Deyro.
Though Deyro was in his attendance, yet he was not a member of the
society, for the causes already specified, and deserved not to be of it,
for those which follow. Some rich merchants having put into his hands a
sum of money, for the subsistence of the Father, he concealed it from
him. Xavier, who lived only on the alms which were daily given him, and
who hated money as much as his companion loved it, looked on this action
of Deyro as an injury done to evangelical poverty; and the resentment
which he had of it, caused him to forget his usual mildness to offenders.
Not content to make him a sharp reprimand, he confined him to a little
desart isle not far distant from the port; enjoining him, not only
continual prayer, but fasting upon bread and water, till he should of his
own accord recal him. Deyro, who was of a changeable and easy temper,
neither permanent in good, nor fixed in ill, obeyed the Father, and lived
exactly in the method which was prescribed.

He had one night a vision, whether awake or sleeping has not been decided
by the juridical informations of the Father's life. It seemed to him,
that he was in a fair temple, where he beheld the Blessed Virgin, on a
throne all glittering with precious stones. Her countenance appeared
severe; and he, making his approaches to her, was rejected with
indignation, as unworthy to be of the company of her son. After which she
arose from the throne, and then all things disappeared. Deyro being
recalled from his solitude some time after, said nothing of his vision to
Father Xavier, to whom God had revealed it. He even denied boldly to have
seen any, though the Father repeated it to him, with all the
circumstances. Xavier, more scandalised than ever with this procedure of
Deyro, refused all farther communication with a man, who was interested,
and insincere. He rid his hands of him, but withal foretold him, "That
God would be so gracious to him, as to change his evil inclinations, and
that hereafter he should take the habit of St Francis. " Which was so
fully accomplished, that when the informations were taken in the Indies,
concerning the holiness and miracles of Xavier, Deyro then wore the habit
of St Francis, and lived a most religious life.

After the three missioners were gone for the Moluccas, Xavier alone bore
the whole burden of the work. The knowledge which the Portuguese and
Indians had of his holiness, made all men desirous of treating with him,
concerning the business of their conscience. Not being able to give
audience to all, many of them were ill satisfied, and murmured against
him: but since their discontent and murmurs proceeded from a good
principle, he comforted himself, and rather rejoiced than was offended,
as he says himself expressly in his letters. His ordinary employment was
preaching to the Christians and Gentiles, instructing and baptising the
catechumens, teaching children the Christian doctrine, visiting the
prisoners and the sick, reconciling enemies, and doing other works of
charity.

While the saint was thus employed, there happened an affair, which much
increased his reputation in all the Indies. For the understanding of the
whole business, it will be necessary to trace it from its original.

Since the conquest of Malacca by the Portuguese, the neighbouring princes
grew jealous of their power, and made many attempts to drive that nation
out of the Indies, which came to brave them at their own doors.
Thereupon, they set on foot many great armies, at divers times, but
always unsuccessfully; and learning, by dear-bought experience, that
multitudes can hardly prevail against true valour.

These disgraces provoked the Sultan Alaradin, king of Achen, instead of
humbling him. Achen is the greatest kingdom of the island of Sumatra,
distant about twelve leagues from the _terra firma_ of Malacca. This
prince was a Mahometan, an implacable enemy of the Christians by his
religion, and of the Portuguese by interest of state. Yet he durst not
immediately assault the fortress of Malacca. All his fury was spent in
cruizing about the coasts, with a strong fleet, thereby to break the
trade of the Portuguese, and hinder the succours which they had from
Europe. His design was then to attack the town, when it should be bare of
defendants, and unprovided of stores of victuals: but to compass his
enterprize, he was to assure himself of a port, which was above Malacca
towards the north, which might serve for a convenient retreat to his
fleet; and had also occasion for a fortress, to secure himself from the
enemy. He therefore made himself master of that port, and ordered the
building of a citadel.

As for his preparations of war, he made them so secretly, that the
Portuguese had neither any news, nor even the least suspicion of them.
Five thousand soldiers, trained up in wars, and well-experienced in naval
fights, were chosen out for this glorious expedition; and five hundred of
them, called Orabalons, were the flower of the whole nobility, and
accordingly wore bracelets of gold, as a distinguishing mark of their
high extraction. There was besides a great number of Janisaries newly
arrived at the court of Achen, who served as volunteers, and were eager
of shewing their courage against the Christians. The fleet consisted of
sixty great ships, all well equipped and manned, without reckoning the
barks, the frigates, and the fire-ships. It was commanded by the Saracen,
Bajaja Soora, a great man of war, and so famous for his exploits in arms,
that his prince had honoured him with the title of King of Pedir, in
reward for his taking Malacca even before he had besieged the town.

There was no other intelligence of this at Malacca, but what the army of
Achen brought itself. They came before the place, and entered the port
on the 9th of October, in the year 1547, about two o'clock in the
morning, resolved to assault it while they were favoured by the darkness.
They began by a discharge of their artillery, and sending in their
fire-ships against the Portuguese vessels. After which the most daring of
them landed, ran without any order against that part of the wall which
they believed weakest, filled up part of the ditch, and mounted the
ladders with a furious assault. They found more resistance than they
expected: the garrison, and the inhabitants, whom the shouts and
artillery of the barbarians had at first affrighted, recovering courage
through the imminence of danger, and the necessity of conquering or
dying, ran upon the rampart, and vigorously repulsed the assailants;
overthrowing their ladders, or tumbling their enemies headlong from them,
insomuch that not a man of them entered the town, and great numbers of
them lay dead or dying in the ditch.

Soora comforted himself for the ill success of his assault, by the
execution which his fire-ships and cannon had done. All the vessels
within the port were either burnt or disabled. And the rain which
immediately fell, served not so much to extinguish the flames, as the
violent wind which then arose contributed to kindle them. Those of Achen,
proud of that action, appeared next morning on their decks, letting fly
their pompous streamers, and shouting, as if already they were
victorious. But their insolence was soon checked; the cannon from the
fortress forced them to retire as far off as the isle of Upe. In the mean
time, seven poor fishermen, who had been out all night about their
employment, and were now returning to the town, fell into an ambuscade of
the Infidels, were taken, and brought before the general. After he had
cut off their ears and noses, he sent them back with a letter, directed
to Don Francisco de Melo, governor of Malacca, of which these were the
contents:

"I Bajaja Soora, who have the honour to carry in vessels of gold the rice
of the Great Souldan, Alaradin, king of Achen, and the territories washed
by the one and the other sea, advertise thee to write word to thy king,
that, in despite of him, I am casting terror into his fortress by my
fierce roaring, and that I shall here abide as long as I shall please. I
call to witness of what I declare, not only the earth, and all nations
which inhabit it, but all the elements, even to the heaven of the moon;
and pronounce with these words of my mouth, that thy king is a man of no
reputation nor courage; that his standards, now trampled under foot,
shall never be lifted up again without his permission who has conquered
him; that, by the victory already by us obtained, my king has under his
royal foot the head of thine; that from this day forward he is his
subject and his slave; and, to the end, that thou thyself mayest confess
this truth, I defy thee to mortal battle, here on the place of my abode,
if thou feelest in thyself sufficient courage to oppose me. "

Though the letter of Soora was in itself ridiculous, and full of fustian
bravadoes, according to the style of the barbarians, yet it put the
governor and officers of the fortress to a shrewd demur; for how should
they accept the challenge without ships to fight him, and how could they
refuse it with their honour? A council of war was summoned to deliberate
on this weighty and nice affair, when Father Xavier came amongst them. He
had been saying mass at the church of our Lady Del Monte; so called, from
its being built on a mountain near the city, and dedicated to the blessed
Virgin. Don Francisco, who had sent for him to consult him in this
troublesome business, gave him the general of Achen's letter to peruse,
and demanded his advice what was to be done on this occasion.

The saint, who knew the king of Achen's business was not only to drive
the Portuguese out of Malacca, but also, and that principally, to
extirpate Christianity out of all the East; having read the letter,
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and answered without the least pause, that
the affront was too great to be endured; that the honour of the Christian
religion was more concerned in it than that of the crown of Portugal: If
this injury should be dissembled, to what audaciousness would the enemy
arise, and what would not the other Mahometan princes attempt after this
example? In conclusion, that the challenge ought to be accepted, that the
infidels might see the King of Heaven was more powerful than their king
Alaradin.

"But how," said the governor, "shall we put to sea, and on what vessels,
since, of eight gally-foysts which we had in port, there are but four
remaining, and those also almost shattered in pieces, and half burned;
and, in case we could refit them, what could they perform against so
numerous a fleet? " "Suppose," answered Xavier, "the barbarians had twice
so many ships, are not we much stronger, who have heaven on our side; and
how can we choose but overcome, when we fight in the name of our Lord and
Saviour? "

No man was so bold to contradict the man of God; and they all went to the
arsenal. There they found a good sufficient bark, of those they call
catur, besides seven old foysts, fit for nothing but the fire. Duarte de
Bareto, who by his office had the superintendance of their naval stores,
was commanded to fit out these foysts with all expedition. But he
protested it was not in his power; for, besides that the kings magazines
were empty of all necessaries for the equipping of them, there was no
money in the treasury for materials.

The governor, who had no other fund, was ready to lose courage, when
Xavier, by a certain impulse of spirit, suddenly began to embrace seven
sea captains there present, who were of the council of war. He begged of
them to divide the business amongst them, and each of them apart to take
care of fitting out one galley: At the same time, without waiting for
their answer, he assigned every man his task. The captains durst not
oppose Xavier, or rather God, who inclined their hearts to comply with
the saint's request. Above an hundred workmen were instantly employed on
every vessel; and in four days time the seven gallies were in condition
for fighting. Melo gave the catur to Andrea Toscano, a man of courage,
and well versed in sea affairs. He divided amongst the seven captains an
hundred and fourscore soldiers, chosen men, and appointed Francis Deza
admiral of the fleet. Xavier was desirous to have gone along with them,
but the inhabitants, who believed all was lost if they lost the Father,
and who hoped for no consolation but from him alone in case the
enterprize should not succeed, made such a disturbance about it, that,
upon mature deliberation, it was resolved to keep him in the town.

The day before their embarkment, having called together the soldiers and
the captains, he told them that he should accompany them in spirit; and
that while they were engaging the barbarians, he would be lifting up his
hands to heaven for them: That they should fight valiantly, in hope of
glory, not vain and perishable, but solid and immortal: That, in the heat
of the combat, they should cast their eyes on their crucified Redeemer,
whose quarrel they maintained, and, beholding his wounds themselves,
should not be afraid either of wounds or death; and how happy should they
be to render their Saviour life for life.

These words inspired them with such generous and Christian thoughts,
that, with one voice, they made a vow to fight the infidels to their last
drop of blood. This solemn oath was so moving to Xavier, that it drew
tears from him: he gave them all his blessing; and, for their greater
encouragement, named them, "The Band of our Saviour's Soldiers:" in
pursuit of which, he heard every man's confession, and gave them the
communion with his own hand.

They embarked the clay following with so much cheerfulness, that it
seemed to presage a certain victory. But their joy continued but a
moment. They had scarcely weighed anchor, when the admiral split, and
immediately went to the bottom, so that they had hardly time to save the
men. The crowd of people, who were gathered together on the shore to see
them go off, beheld this dismal accident, and took it for a bad omen of
the expedition; murmuring at the same time against Father Xavier, who was
the author of it, and casting out loud cries to recal the other vessels.
The governor, who saw the people in an uproar, and apprehended the
consequences of this violent beginning, sent in haste to seek the Father.
The messenger found him at the altar, in the church of our Lady Del
Monte, just ready to receive the blessed sacrament: he drew near to
whisper the business to him, but the Father beckoned him with his hand to
keep silence, and retire. When mass was ended, "Return," said Xavier,
without giving the man leisure to tell his message, "and assure the
governor from me, that he has no occasion to be discouraged for the loss
of one vessel. " By this the saint made known, that God had revealed to
him what had happened. He continued some time in prayer before the image
of the Virgin; and these words of his were overheard: "O my Jesus, the
desire of my heart, regard me with a favourable eye; and thou, holy
Virgin, be propitious to me! Lord Jesus," he continued, "look upon thy
sacred wounds, and remember they have given us a right to ask of thee
every thing conducing to our good. "

His prayers being ended, he goes to the citadel: The governor, alarmed
with the cries and murmurs of the people, could not dissemble his
disturbance, but reproached the Father for having engaged them in this
enterprize. But Xavier upbraided him with his distrust of God; and said,
smiling, to him, "What! are you so dejected for so slight an accident? "
After which, they went in company to the shore, where the soldiers
belonging to the admiral stood in great consternation for the hazard they
had run so lately. The Father reassured them, and exhorted them to remain
constant in their holy resolution, notwithstanding their petty
misadventure: he remonstrated to them, that heaven had not permitted
their admiral to sink, but only to make trial of their faith; neither had
themselves been saved from shipwreck, but only that they might perform
their vow. In the mean time, the governor held it necessary to summon the
great council. All the officers of the town, and the principal
inhabitants, were of opinion to give over an enterprize, which, as they
thought, was begun rashly, and could have no fortunate conclusion. But
the captains and soldiers of the fleet, encouraged by the words of the
holy man, and inspired with vigour, which had something in it of more
than human, were of a quite contrary judgment. They unanimously
protested, that they had rather die than violate that faith, which they
had solemnly engaged to Jesus Christ. "For the rest," said they, "what
have we more to fear this day than we had yesterday? our number is not
diminished, though we have one vessel less, and we shall fight as well
with six foysts, as we should with seven. But, on the other side, what
hopes ought we not to conceive, under the auspices and promise of Father
Francis? "

Then Xavier taking the word, "The lost galley shall be soon made good,"
said he with a prophetic voice; "before the sun goes down, there shall
arrive amongst us two better vessels than that which perished; and this I
declare to you from Almighty God. " This positive prediction amazed the
whole assembly, and caused them to put off the determination of the
affair until the day ensuing. The remaining part of the day was passed
with great impatience, to see the effect of the Father's promise. When
the sun was just on the point of setting, and many began to fear the
accomplishment of the prophecy, in the very minute marked out by the
Father, they discovered, from the clock-house of our Lady del Monte, two
European ships, which were sailing directly from the north. Melo sent out
a skiff immediately to hail them, being informed that they were
Portuguese vessels, one belonging to James Soarez Gallego, and the other
to his son Balthazar, who came from the kingdom of Patan, but who took
the way of Pegu, without intentions of casting anchor at Malacca, to
avoid paying customs. He went in search of Father Francis, who was at his
devotions in the church del Monte, and told him, that his prophecy would
be accomplished to little purpose, if the ships came not into the port.
Xavier took it upon himself to stop them; and, going into the skiff which
had hailed them, made directly to the two vessels. The masters of the
ships, seeing the man of God, received him with respect. He made them
understand the present juncture of affairs, and earnestly besought them,
by the interests of their religion, and their country, to assist the town
against the common enemy of the Christian name, and the crown of
Portugal. And to engage them farther, by their particular concernment, he
let them see the danger into which they were casting themselves, in case
they should obstinately pursue their voyage; and that they were going,
without consideration, to precipitate themselves into the hands of the
barbarians.

They yielded to the reasons of the Father; and the next morning entered
the port amidst the shouts and acclamations of the people. After this,
there was no farther dispute of fighting the enemy; and the most timorous
came about to the opinion of the captains and the soldiers.

All things being in a readiness to set sail, the admiral, Francis Deza,
received the flag from the hands of Xavier, who had solemnly blessed it,
and mounted the ship of his brother George Deza, instead of his own,
which was already sunk. The rest of the captains, who had been on shore,
returned on ship-board; and, with the two newly arrived vessels, the
whole fleet consisted of nine, their number also being increased by fifty
men; they were in all two hundred and thirty Portuguese. The fleet went
out of port the 25th of October, with strict orders from the general not
to pass beyond the Pulo Cambylan, which is the farthest bounds of the
kingdom of Malacca on the west. His reason was, that since they were so
much inferior in strength to the enemy, who vastly outnumbered them in
men and shipping, their glory consisted in driving them from off their
coasts, and not in farther pursuit of them: That what hope soever we have
in God, yet it becomes us not to tempt him, because heaven is not
accustomed to give a blessing to rashness and presumption.

Thus setting out full of assurance and of joy, they arrived in four days
at Pulo Cambylan, without having any news of the enemy, notwithstanding
their endeavours to find him out. The admiral, in obedience to the
governor, was thinking to return; though the courage of his soldiers
prompted them to pass beyond the bounds prescribed them, and to go in
search of the barbarians into whatsoever corner of the world they were
retired. The admiral, I say, was disposed to have gone back, when the
moon suddenly went into an eclipse. It was one of the greatest which had
ever been observed, and seemed to them to prognosticate the total defeat
of the Mahometans. But the same night there arose so violent a wind, that
they were forced to stay upon their anchors for the space of
three-and-twenty days successively. Their provisions then beginning to
grow short, and the wind not suffering them to turn to the coast of
Malacca, they resolved on taking in fresh provisions at Tenasserim,
towards the kingdom of Siam.

In the mean time, all things were in confusion at Malacca. The hopes
which Father Xavier had given the people, supported them for some few
days. But seeing a month was now expired, without any intelligence from
the fleet, they believed it was either swallowed by the waves, or
defeated by the Achenois, and that none had escaped to bring the news. At
the same time, the Saracens reported confidently, they had it from good
hands, that the fleets had met, that the Achenois had cut in pieces all
the Portuguese, and had sent the heads of their commanders as a present
to their king. This bruit was spread through all the town, and was daily
strengthened after the rate of false rumours, which are full of tragical
events. The better to colour this report, they gave the circumstances of
time and place, and the several actions of the battle. The sorcerers and
soothsayers were consulted by the Pagan women, whose husbands and sons
were in the fleet; and they confirmed whatever was related in the town.
It came at last to a public rising against Xavier; and the governor
himself was not wholly free from the popular contagion.

But Xavier, far from the least despondence in the promises of God, and of
the knowledge he had given him concerning the condition of the fleet,
with an erected countenance assured, they should suddenly see it return
victorious. Which notwithstanding, he continued frequent in his vows and
prayers; and at the end of all his sermons, recommended to their
devotions the happy return of their desired navy. Their spirits were so
much envenomed and prejudiced against him, that many of them treated him
with injurious words; while he was rallied by the more moderate, who were
not ashamed to say, his prayers might be of use for the souls of the
soldiers, who were slain in fight, but were of little consequence to gain
a battle which was lost.

Some fresh intelligence, which arrived from Sumatra, increased the
disorders and consternation of the town. The king of Bintan, son to that
Mahomet, whom Albuquerque the Great had despoiled of the kingdom of
Malacca, sought for nothing more than an opportunity of reconquering what
his father had lost by force of arms. Seeing the town now bare of
soldiers, and hearing that the Achenois had beaten the Portuguese, he put
to sea, with three hundred sail, and put in at the river of Muar, within
six leagues of Malacca, towards the west.

That he might the better execute his design, by concealing it, he wrote
from thence to the governor Melo, "That he had armed a fleet against the
king of Patan, his enemy, but that having been informed of the defeat of
the Portuguese, he was come as a friend and brother of the king of
Portugal, to succour Malacca, against the king of Achen, who would not
fail to master the town, if the course of his victories was not stopped;
that therefore he desired only to be admitted into the place before it
came into the possession of the conqueror; after which he had no farther
cause of apprehension. "

Melo, whom the constancy of Father Xavier had reassured, discovered the
snare which was laid for him; and tricked those, who had intended to
circumvent him. He answered the king of Bintan, "That the town had no
need of relief, as being abundantly provided both of men and ammunition:
That so great a conqueror as he, ought not to lay aside an expedition of
such importance, nor to linger by the way: That, for themselves, they
were in daily expectation of their fleet; not defeated, according to some
idle rumours concerning it, but triumphant, and loaden with the spoils of
enemies: That this report was only spread by Saracens, whose tongues were
longer than their lances:" For these were the expressions which he used.

The Mahometan prince, judging by the governor's reply, that his artifice
was discovered; and that, in reason, he ought to attempt nothing till it
were certainly known what was become of the two fleets, kept himself
quiet, and attended the success.

To return to the Christian navy: Before they could get to Tenasserim,
their want of fresh water forced them to seek it nearer hand, at Queda,
in the river of Parlez; where being entered, they perceived by night a
fisher-boat, going by their ships. They stopped the boat, and the
fishermen being examined, told them, "That the Achenois were not far
distant; that they had been six weeks in the river; that they had
plundered all the lowlands, and were now building a fortress. " This news
filled the Portuguese with joy; and Deza, infinitely pleased to have
found the enemy, of whom he had given over the search, putting on his
richest apparel, fired all his cannon, to testify his joy; without
considering that he spent his powder to no purpose, and that he warned
the barbarians to be upon their guard. What he did with more prudence,
was to send three gallies up the river, to discover the enemy, and
observe their countenance, while he put all things in order for the
fight, The three foysts, in their passage, met with four brigantines,
which the enemies had detached, to know the meaning of the guns which
they had heard. Before they had taken a distinct view on either side, the
three foysts had grappled each a brigantine, and seized her; the fourth
escaped. The soldiers put all the enemies to the sword, excepting six,
whom they brought off, together with the brigantines. These prisoners
were all put to the question; but whatsoever torments they endured, they
could not at first get one syllable out of them, either where the enemy
lay, or what was the number of his men, or of his ships. Two of them died
upon the rack, and other two they threw overboard; but the remaining
couple, either more mortified with their torments, or less resolute,
being separated from each other, began at last to open: And told the same
things apart; both where the Achenois were lying, and that their number
was above ten thousand, reckoning into it the mariners, which were of
more consideration than the soldiers; that the king of the country, where
now they lay, had been constrained to avoid a shameful death, by flight;
that having massacred two thousand of the natives, and made as many
captives, they were building a citadel, on the passage which the ships
ordinarily make from Bengal to Malacca; and that their design was not
only to block up that road, but to murder all the Christians who should
fall into their hands.

This report inflamed anew the zeal and courage of the soldiers. The
admiral was not wanting to encourage them to fight. Entering into a
skiff, with his drawn sword, he went from vessel to vessel, exhorting his
men to have Christ crucified before their eyes, while they were in fight,
as Father Francis had enjoined them; and ever to keep in mind the oath
which they had taken; but, above all things, to have an assured hope of
victory, from the intercession of the holy Father, who had promised it.

All unanimously answered, "That they would fight it out to death; and
should be happy to die in defence of their religion. " Deza, animated by
this their answer, posted himself advantageously on the river, so as to
be able from thence to fall upon the enemy, without endangering his
little fleet, to be encompassed by their numbers.

The Achenois no sooner were informed by their brigantine of the
Portuguese navy, than they put themselves into a condition of attacking
it. They were not only insolent by reason of their strength, but provoked
also by the late affront they had received in their brigantines; so that,
full of fury, without the least balancing of the matter, they set sail
with all their navy, excepting only two vessels, and two hundred land
soldiers, which were left in guard of two thousand slaves, and all their
booty. Having the wind for them, and coming down the river, they were
carried with such swiftness, that Deza was hardly got aboard the admiral,
when he heard their drums, and their yelling shouts, which re-echoed from
the shores and neighbouring mountains. They were divided into ten
squadrons, and each of them composed of six vessels, excepting only the
first, which consisted but of four, but those the strongest of the fleet.