No More Learning

Then, no
longer doubting but that his last hour was coming, after he had made an
interior sacrifice of his life to God, he related to the company that
prediction, which was now accomplished; and arose from the table with the
thoughts of a Christian, who is disposing himself for death. Having
distributed his goods betwixt his children and the poor, he went to see
his friends, and to give and take the last farewell;--notwithstanding his
great age, he was in perfect health. It was thought he doted, and they
endeavoured to persuade him out of his melancholy apprehensions. But
their arguments prevailed so little on his mind, that he gave orders for
his own funeral, and invited his friends to do him the last kind office,
of accompanying his corpse to burial. To content him, and to make
themselves merry at his folly, they attended him into the church: in
their presence he received the viaticum, and the extreme unction, without
being sick; afterwards he laid himself upon the bier, and caused them to
sing the mass for the dead. The people gathered in a crowd at the
strangeness of the report; some drawn by the novelty of the sight, the
rest to be eye-witnesses how the prediction of Father Xavier would
succeed. Mass being ended, the priest, attended by his inferiors,
performed all the ceremonies of the church about the grave, and, at
length, sung the last words belonging to a Christian burial over the old
man, who was alive, and bore his part in the responses. There now
remaining no more to do, the servant of Veglio coming to help his master
off the bier, he found him dead. All the assistants were witnesses of the
matter of fact, and every one went home full of admiration of God's mercy
towards this merchant, who had been so charitable, and blessing the
memory of the holy apostle of the Indies.

This was not the only prophetical light, which Xavier had in the isle of
Sancian. A ship, which went from Macao to Japan, appeared in sight of
Sancian, to be overtaken by a dreadful hurricane. The Portuguese, who had
great concernments in that vessel, being alarmed at so inevitable a
danger, came running for comfort to Father Xavier; but the Father assured
them, they had no cause of fear, and that the ship was safely arrived at
her port. They kept themselves quiet, upon the assurance of his word,
till finding that the ship made no return, which was to stay at Japan but
some few days, they gave her for lost. Xavier reproved their want of
faith, and positively told them, that she should come back before the
week were ended. In effect, she returned two days afterwards, laden with
rich merchandizes, and proud of her escape from the fury of the
hurricane.

At the same time, Xavier was inspired with the knowledge of the quarrel
betwixt Don Alvarez de Atayda, governor of Malacca, and Don Bernard de
Sosa, who was newly arrived from the Moluccas; and told the circumstances
of it to the Portuguese, who, having afterwards the particulars of it
from some of Malacca, were astonished to find them the very same which
the Father had related.

This miraculous foreknowledge was accompanied by actions as surprising;
and without speaking of a dead infant, which Xavier restored to life, but
whose resurrection is without circumstances in the acts of the saint's
canonization, he cleared the country of the tygers, which laid it waste.
These furious beasts came in herds together out of the forests, and
devoured not only the children, but the men also, whom they found
scattered in the fields, and out of distance from the entrenchments which
were made for their defence. One night the servant of God went out to
meet the tygers, and when they came near him, he threw holy water upon
them, commanding them to go back, and never after to return. The
commandment had its full effect, the whole herd betook themselves to
flight, and from that time forward no tygers were ever seen upon the
island.

The joy which the Portuguese had conceived at the arrival of Father
Xavier, was immediately changed to sadness, when they understood that he
had only taken Sancian in his way to China. They all endeavoured to
dissuade him from it, and set before his eyes the rigorous laws of that
government; that the ports were narrowly observed by vigilant and
faithful officers, who were neither to be circumvented nor bribed with
presents; that the Mandarins were cruel to all strangers; that, the year
before, some Portuguese seamen being cast by tempest on the coast of
Canton, had been severely whipped, and afterwards inclosed in dark
dungeons, where, if they were not already dead, they were still exercised
with new punishments; that, for himself, the least he could expect was
perpetual imprisonment, which was not the business of an apostle, who
designed to run from place to place, and propagate the faith through all
the East. These arguments made no impression on the saint; he had
fortified his resolution with more potent reasons, and answered the
merchants in the same tenor in which he had written to Father Francis
Perez, that he could not distrust the Divine Goodness, and that his
distrust would be so much the more criminal, because the powerful
inspiration of the Holy Spirit pushed him forward to teach the Chinese
the gospel of the living God. "I am elected," said he, "for this great
enterprize, by the special grace of heaven. If I should demur on the
execution, or be terrified with the hardships, and want courage to
attempt those difficulties, would it not be incomparably worse than all
the evils with which you threaten me? But, what can the demons and their
ministers do against me? Surely no more than what is permitted them by
the sovereign Lord of all the world; and that in giving up myself in this
manner, I shall obey my Lord Jesus, who declares in his gospel, 'That
whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose it for
my sake, shall find it. ' Our Saviour also says, 'That he who, having put
his hand to the plough, shall look behind him, is not fit for the kingdom
of heaven. ' The loss of the body being then without comparison less to be
feared than that of the soul, according to the principles of Eternal
Wisdom, I am resolved to sacrifice a frail and miserable life for
everlasting happiness. In fine, I have set up my rest, I will undertake
this voyage, and nothing is capable of altering my resolution. Let all
the powers of hell break loose upon me, I despise them, provided God be
on my side; for if he be for us, who shall be against us? " The Portuguese
being of opinion, that this fixed intention of the man of God was partly
grounded on his ignorance of the dangers, which he believed they
magnified to him beyond their natural proportion, sent some Chinese
merchants, with whom they traded, to discourse the business calmly with
him; but the matter went otherwise than they had imagined. Those Chinese,
to whom Xavier failed not to speak of Christianity, and who were men of
understanding, advised him to the voyage, instead of dissuading him. They
counselled him only to carry books which contained the Christian
doctrine; and added, that, not long since, the emperor had sent some
learned men into the neighbouring kingdoms, to inform themselves of such
religions as were different from the received opinions of the Chinese;
that they believed the Christian doctrine would be well received at
court; and that it seemed probable to them, that the novelty of so
reasonable a belief would make his way who was the first bearer of it.

Xavier was overjoyed to find a passage opened for the gospel, to the most
polite nation of the world; and doubted not but that the Christian
religion, coming to be compared by judicious men with the other opinions
of the East, would have the advantage. Being thus encouraged to pursue
his purpose, his first business was to provide himself of a good
interpreter. For Antonio, the Chinese, whom he had brought from Goa, was
wholly ignorant of the language which is spoken at the court, and had
almost forgotten the common idiom of the vulgar. He found out another
Chinese, who had a perfect knowledge of the language of the Mandarins,
and who could also write excellently well, in which consists the
principal knowledge of China. For the rest, he was a man well shaped, of
a good presence, of great natural parts, of a pleasing conversation, and,
which was above all, he seemed entirely devoted to the Christians: he
promised all possible good offices,--whether he hoped to make his
fortune, by presenting to the emperor one who published a new law, or
that God had inspired him with those pious thoughts.

There was more difficulty in finding seamen to transport the Father; for
there was no less venture than that of life, for any one who undertook
that business. But interest gives him courage to hazard all, who values
money more than life itself. A Chinese merchant, called Capoceca, offered
himself to carry Xavier into the province of Canton, provided he might be
well paid; and asked the value of two hundred pardos[1]in pepper. The
Chinese promised to take Xavier into his barque by night, and to land him
before day on some part of the coast, where no houses were in view; and
if this way was thought uncertain, he engaged to hide the Father in his
own house, and four days after to conduct him, early in the morning, to
the gates of Canton. But he would have Xavier oblige himself also, on his
side, to go immediately to the Mandarin, with the letters which the
viceroy of the Indies, and the bishop of Goa, had written to the emperor;
for the Father had still reserved by him those letters which related to
the embassy, though the design had been ruined by the governor of
Malacca. The Chinese also exacted an oath of secrecy from the saint, that
no torments, however cruel, should bring him to confess either the name
or the house of him who had set him on shore.

[Footnote 1: A pardo (says Tavernier) is of the value of twenty-seven
sous, French money; ten of which make about a shilling English. ]


Xavier made as solemn an engagement as he could desire, not without
knowledge of the hazard which he ran, as himself related to one of his
dearest friends. "I perceive," said he, "two dangers, which are almost
inevitable in this affair; on the one side, there is great cause of
apprehension, lest the idolatrous merchant, having received the price
of my passage, should throw me overboard, or leave me on some desart
isle; on the other side, lest the governor of Canton should discharge his
fury upon me, and make me an example to all strangers, by putting me to a
cruel death, or condemning me to perpetual imprisonment. But in case I
follow the voice which calls me, and obey my Lord, I count my life and
liberty at nothing. "

When the voyage of China was on these terms, and that all things seemed
to favour it, the Portuguese of Sancian put an obstacle in the way, of
which Xavier had never thought. The appetite of gain made them apprehend,
lest his zeal should bring them into trouble; and they said to one
another, that the Mandarin governor of Canton would certainly revenge on
them the boldness of their countryman: That he would commission his
officers to pillage their ships, and confiscate their effects, and that
their lives were not in safety. In this general affrightment, which was
not ill grounded, and which increased daily, the wealthier sort addressed
themselves to Father Xavier, and desired him to take compassion on them,
and on their wives and children, if he would have no compassion on
himself.

Xavier, who was no less careful for the interests of others, than he was
negligent of his own, found an expedient to satisfy them. He engaged his
word, that he would not pass over into China, till they had ended all
their business, and were gone from Sancian. This gave opportunity to the
Chinese merchant, with whom he had treated, to make a short voyage, under
promise, notwithstanding, to return at a time which was prefixed. While
these things were thus managed, the Father fell sick of a violent fever,
which continued on him fifteen days. The Portuguese took occasion from
thence to tell him, that heaven had declared against the voyage of China;
but being recovered, he followed his design with more warmth than ever.
While the merchants were lading their ships, he entertained himself day
and night with the prospect of converting China; and all his pleasure was
to think, how happy he should be, in dispossessing the devil of the
largest empire in the world. "If yet," said he, "it shall please Almighty
God to employ so vile an instrument as I am, in so glorious an
undertaking. " Taken up with these and such-like meditations, he often
took his walk along the shore, and turning his eyes towards that desired
country, sent out ardent sighs. He said sometimes amongst his friends,
that his only wish was to be set down at the gates of Canton, and
troubled not himself with what might happen afterwards: happy he, if he
could once declare the Son of God to the Chinese, and more happy, if, for
his sake, he might suffer martyrdom.

In the mean time, all the Portuguese vessels, excepting only the Santa
Cruz, which had not yet her whole lading, set sail from Sancian for the
Indies. Xavier gave many letters to the merchants, to be delivered both
at Malacca and at Goa. He wrote to his friend James Pereyra, in terms
which were full of acknowledgment and charity. "Almighty God," said he in
his letter, "abundantly reward you, since I am not able of myself to do
it; at least, while I continue in this world, I shall not fail to implore
the Divine Goodness to confer on you, during your life, his holy grace,
accompanied with perfect health, and after your death eternal happiness.
But as I am persuaded, that I cannot acquit myself, by these my prayers,
of the great obligements which I have to you, I beg all those of our
Society in the Indies, to desire of God the same blessings in your
behalf. For what remains, if I compass my entrance into China, and if the
gospel enter with me, it is to you, next to Almighty God, to whom both
the Chinese and myself shall be owing for it. You shall have the merit of
it in the sight of God, and the glory in the sight of men. Thus, both the
Chinese, who shall embrace the faith, and those of our Society, who shall
go to China, shall be obliged, to offer, without ceasing, their vows to
heaven in favour of you. God grant us both the happiness once to meet in
the court of China! As for myself, I am of opinion if I get into that
kingdom, and that you come thither, you will either find me a prisoner at
Canton, or at Pequin, which is the capital city of that empire; and I
beseech the Lord, out of his infinite mercy, that we may be joined
together either in the kingdom of China, or at least in the kingdom of
immortal glory. "

He wrote by the same conveyance to Father Francis Perez, superior of
Malacca. He commanded him, in virtue of holy obedience, to depart with
the soonest out of that unhappy town, and to conduct his inferiors to
Cochin, where he established him rector of the college, in the place of
Antonio Heredia, whom he sent to Goa. Though Father Xavier deplored anew,
the wretched condition of Don Alvarez, it hindered him not from enjoining
Father Barzæus, in his letter to him, that he should work the bishop to
send his orders to the grand vicar of Malacca, therein declaring the
governor to be excommunicated. And he took this way, not only because
hardened and scandalous offenders, such as Don Alvarez, ought to incur a
public dishonour, by that means to induce them to a serious consideration
of their own estate, and that others might take warning by them; but
also, that succeeding governors might fear, by the example of his
punishment, to set themselves in opposition to any intended voyage of the
missioners, who should be sent hereafter to the Moluccas, Japan, or any
other places.

He desired Father Barzæeus, in the same letter, to receive few persons
into the Society, and to make an exact trial of those whom he should
receive: "For I fear," said he, "that many of them who have been
admitted, and daily are admitted, were better out of our walls than
within them.

"You ought to deal with such people, as you have seen me deal with many
at Goa; and as I have lately treated my companion, whom I have dismissed
from the Society, not having found him proper for our business. " He meant
Alvarez Pereyra, whom he had brought with him from the Indies, and whom
he sent back from Sancian with the Portuguese vessels.

Amongst those merchants who went off from Sancian, there was one who made
more haste than any of the rest; without giving notice of his departure
to the Father, whom he had lodged in his cabin, or without waiting for a
Chinese vessel, which he had bought at the port of Canton. One morning
while the Father was saying mass very early, this merchant had put off
from shore, and fled with as much precipitation as if the island was
ready to be swallowed by the sea. After mass was ended, he looked round
him, and not seeing him for whom he searched, "What is become of my
host? " said he, with the looks and gesture of a man inspired. Being
answered, that he was already in open sea; "What could urge him,"
continued he, "to so prompt a resolution? why did he not expect the ship
which comes from Canton? And whither is he dragged by his unhappy
destiny? " That very evening the Chinese vessel was seen to arrive: as for
the fugitive merchant, he was no sooner landed at Malacca, when, going
into a wood to seek materials for the refitting of his ship, he was
poniarded by robbers.

All the Portuguese vessels being gone, saving only that which belonged to
the governor of Malacca, or rather of which the governor had possessed
himself by violence, Xavier was reduced to so great a want of all
necessaries, that he had scarcely wherewithal to sustain nature. It is
certainly a matter of amazement, that they, whose lives he had preserved
by changing the salt sea-water into fresh; should be so hard-hearted as
to abandon him to die of hunger. Some have thought that Don Alvarez
had given orders, that all things should be refused him; but I rather
think, that Providence would try him in the same manner, as sometimes God
is pleased to prove those whom he loves the best, and permitted that
dereliction of him for the entire perfection of the saint.

That which most afflicted him, was, that the Chinese interpreter, who had
made him such advantageous offers, recalled his word, either of himself
for fear of danger, or at the solicitation of those who were devoted to
the governor of Malacca. Yet the Father did not lose his courage; he
still hoped that God would assist him some other way; and that, at the
worst, Antonio de Sainte Foy might serve his turn for an interpreter. But
for the last load of his misfortunes, the merchant, who had engaged to
land him on the coast of China, returned not at the time appointed, and
he in vain expected him for many days.

Despairing of any thing on that side, he still maintained his resolution,
and another expedient seemed to promise him success. News was brought
him, that the king of Siam, whose dominions are almost bordering on
Malacca, and who also was in league with Portugal, was preparing a
magnificent embassy to the emperor of China for the year following.
Whereupon Xavier resolved on returning to Malacca by the first
opportunity, and to use his best endeavours, that he might accompany the
ambassador of Siam to China.

But the Eternal Wisdom, which sometimes inspires his servants with great
designs, does not always will the performance of them; though he wills
that on their side nothing be omitted for the execution. God was pleased
to deal with Xavier as formerly he had dealt with Moses, who died in view
of that very land whither he was commanded to conduct the Israelites. A
fever seized on Father Francis on the 20th of November; and at the same
time he was endued with a clear knowledge of the day and hour of his
death; as he openly declared to the pilot of the vessel, Francis
D'Aghiar, who afterwards made an authentic deposition of it by solemn
oath.

From that moment he perceived in himself a strange disgust of all earthly
things, and thought on nothing but that celestial country whither God
was calling him. Being much weakened by his fever, he retired into the
vessel, which was the common hospital of the sick, that there he might
die in poverty; and the Captain Lewis Almeyda received him,
notwithstanding all the orders of his master Don Alvarez. But the tossing
of the ship giving him an extraordinary headach, and hindering him from
applying himself to God, as he desired, the day ensuing he requested that
he might be set on shore again. He was landed and left upon the sands,
exposed to the injury of the air, and the inclemency of the season,
especially to the blasts of a piercing north wind, which then arose. He
had there died without relief, had not a Portuguese more charitable than
the rest, whose name was George Alvarez, caused him to be carried into
hiscabin; which yet was little different from the naked shore, as being
open on every side.

The indications of his disease being an acute pain in his side, and a
great oppression, Alvarez was of opinion that they ought to breathe a
vein; and the Father was consenting to it, by a blind submission to the
judgment of his host, though he knew beforehand that all manner of
remedies were in vain. A chirurgeon of the ship, who was awkward at his
work, and of small experience in his art, bled him so unluckily, that he
hurt the nerves, and the patient fell immediately into swooning
convulsions; yet they drew blood from him a second time; and that
operation had all the ill accidents of the former. Besides which, it was
attended with a horrible nauseousness; insomuch, that he could take no
nourishment, at least the little which he took, consisted only of some
few almonds, which the captain of the vessel sent him out of charity. The
disease increased hourly, and he grew weaker every day; but his
countenance was still serene, and his soul enjoyed a perpetual calmness.
Sometimes he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and at other times fixed them
on his crucifix, entertaining divine conversation with his God, and not
without shedding abundant tears. He remained in this condition till the
28th of November, when the fever mounted into his head. During this
delirium he talked of nothing but of God, and of his passage into China,
but in terms more tender and ardent than ever formerly.

At length he lost his speech, and recovered not the use of it till three
days afterwards: his strength then left him all at once, so that it was
expected every moment that he would pass away; which notwithstanding, he
once more recovered, and having the free exercise both of his reason and
his speech, he renewed his entertainments with his Saviour in an audible
manner. Nothing was to be heard from him but devout aspirations, and
short ejaculations of prayer, but those full of life and of affection.
The assistants understood not all he said, because he continually spoke
in Latin; and Antonio de Sainte Foy, who never left him, has only
reported, that the man of God made frequent repetition of these words,
_Jesu, fili David, miserere mei! _ and these also, which were so familiar
to him, _sanctissima Trinitas_! Besides which, invoking the blessed
Virgin, he would say, _Monstra te esse Matrem! _ He passed two days
without taking any food; and having ordered his priestly habits, and
the other church-stuff which he used in saying mass, to be carried aboard
the ship, together with those books which he had composed for the
instruction of the Eastern people, he disposed himself for his last hour,
which was near approaching.

Besides Antonio de Sainte Foy, he had near his person a young Indian,
whom he had brought with him from Goa. The saint, dying as he was, cast
his eyes on the young man, and appeared discomposed in looking on him;
afterwards, with a compassionate regard, he twice pronounced these words,
"Ah miserable man! " and afterwards shed tears. God, at that moment, was
pleased to reveal to Xavier, the unhappy death of this young Indian, who,
five or six months afterwards, falling into most horrible debauches, was
killed on the place by the shot of an arquebuse. So that the spirit of
prophecy accompanied the holy man, even to his last breath.

At last, on the 2d of December, which fell on Friday, having his eyes all
bathed in tears, and fixed with great tenderness of soul upon his
crucifix, he pronounced these words, _In te, Domine, speravi, non
confundar in aeternum_; and at the same instant, transported with
celestial joy, which appeared upon his countenance, he sweetly gave up
the ghost, towards two of the clock in the afternoon, and in the year of
God 1552.

He was six-and-forty years of age, and had passed ten-and-a-half of them
in the Indies. His stature was somewhat above the middle size; his
constitution strong; his air had a mixture of pleasingness and majesty;
he was fresh-coloured, had a large forehead, a well-proportioned nose;
his eyes were blue, but piercing and lively; his hair and beard of a dark
chesnut; his continual labours had made him gray betimes; and in the last
year of his life, he was grizzled almost to whiteness. This without
question gave occasion to his first historians to make him five-and-fifty
years old, before the certain proofs of his age came at length to be
discovered.

When it was known that Father Francis was expired, many of the ship, and
even the most devoted to the governor, ran to the cabin. They found the
same fresh colour on his face as he had when living, and at the first
sight could hardly persuade themselves that he was dead. When they had
looked on him at a nearer distance, piety began to be predominant over
all their other thoughts: they kneeled down by him, and kissed his hands
with reverence, recommending themselves to him, with tears in their eyes,
as nothing doubting but that his happy soul was perfectly enjoying God in
heaven.

His corpse was not laid into the ground till Sunday towards noon. His
funerals were made without any ceremony; and, besides Antonio de Sainte
Foy, Francis d'Aghiar, and two others, there were not any more
assistants. An historian of the Indies has written, that the
unsupportable coldness of that day, was the occasion of it. But in all
probability, the apprehension which the ship's company had of drawing on
themselves the displeasure of the governor, Don Alvarez, had at least as
great a share in it as the sharpness of the season. They took off his
cassock, which was all in tatters; and the four, who had paid him those
last duties, divided it amongst them, out of devotion; after which they
arrayed him in his sacerdotal habits.

George Alvarez took upon himself the care of bestowing the body in a
large chest, made after the Chinese fashion; he caused this chest to be
filled up with unslaked lime; to the end that, the flesh being soon
consumed, they might carry the bones in the vessel, which within some few
months was to return to India.

At the point of the haven there was a little spot of rising ground, and
at the foot of this hillock a small piece of meadow, where the Portuguese
had set up a cross. Near that cross they interred the saint: they cast up
two heaps of stones, the one at his head, the other at his feet, as a
mark of the place where he was buried.

In the mean season, God made manifest the holiness of his servant in the
kingdom of Navarre, by a miraculous accident, or rather by the ceasing of
a miracle. In a little chapel, at the castle of Xavier, there was an
ancient crucifix made of plaster, of about the stature of a man. In the
last year of the Father's life, this crucifix was seen to sweat blood in
great abundance every Friday, but after Xavier was dead the sweating
ceased. The crucifix is to be seen even at this day, at the same place,
with the blood congealed along the arms and thighs, to the hands and
sides. They, who have beheld it, have been informed by the inhabitants of
the neighbourhood, that some persons of that country having taken away
some of the flakes of that clotted blood, the bishop of Pampeluna had
forbidden any one from henceforward to diminish any part of it, under
pain of excommunication. They also learnt, that it had been observed,
according; to the news which came from the Indies, that at the same time
when Xavier laboured extraordinarily, or that he was in some great
danger, this crucifix distilled blood on every side; as if then, when the
apostle was actually suffering for Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ was
suffering for him, notwithstanding that he is wholly impassible. The
ship, which was at the port of Sancian, being at the point of setting
sail For the Indies, Antonio de Sainte Foy, and George Alvarez, desired
the captain, Luys Almeyda, not to leave upon the isle the remainders of
Father Francis.

One of the servants of Almeyda opened the coffin, by the order of his
master, on the 17th of February, 1553, to see if the flesh were totally
consumed, so that the bones might be gathered together; but having taken
the lime from off the face, they found it ruddy and fresh-coloured, like
that of a man who is in a sweet repose. His curiosity led him farther to
view the body; he found it in like manner whole, and the natural moisture
uncorrupted. But that he might entirely satisfy all doubts and scruples,
he cut a little of the flesh on the right thigh, near the knee, and
beheld the blood running from it. Whereupon he made haste to advertise
the captain of what he was an eye-witness; and carried with him a little
piece of flesh, which he had cut off, and which was about a finger's
length. All the company ran immediately to the place of burial, and
having made an exact observation of the body, found it to be all entire,
and without any putrefaction. The sacerdotal habits, with which he had'
been vested after his disease, were nowise damaged by the lime. And what
was most amazing to them all, was, that the holy corpse exhaled an odour
so delightful, and so fragrant, that, by the relation of many there
present, the most exquisite perfumes came nothing near it, and the scent
was judged to be celestial.

Then those very people, who, basely to comply with the brutality of
Alvarez, had misused Father Xavier in his life, after his decease did
honours to him; and many of them asked his pardon with weeping eyes, that
they had forsaken him so unworthily in his sickness. Some amongst them
exclaimed openly againt Alvarez, without fearing the consequence; and
there was one who said aloud, what was said afterwards by the viceroy of
the Indies, Don Alphonso de Norogna, "That Alvarez de Atayda had been the
death of Father Francis, both by his persecutions at Malacca, and by the
cruelties of his servants at Sancian. " With these pious meditations,
having laid the unslaked lime once more upon the face and body, the
sacred remains were carried into the ship; and not long after they set
sail, esteeming themselves happy to bear along with them so rich a
treasure to the Indies.

They arrived at Malacca, March 22, without meeting in their passage any
of those dreadful whirlwinds which infest those seas; as if the presence
of this holy corpse was endued with virtue to dispel them. Before they
had gained the port, they sent in their chalop to give them notice in the
town of the present which they were about to make them: though none of
the Society were in Malacca, and that the plague was there violently
raging, yet the whole nobility, and all the body of the clergy, came with
James Pereyra to the shore, to receive the blessed body, each with a
waxen taper in his hand, and carried it in ceremony to the church of Our
Lady of the Mount, followed by a crowd of Christians, Mahometans, and
Idolaters, who on this occasion seemed all to be joined in the same
religion.

Don Alvarez was the only person who was wanting in his reverence to the
saint: he was then actually at play in his palace, while the procession
was passing by; and, at the noise of the people, putting his head out at
the window, he miscalled the public devotion, by the names of silliness
and foppery; after which, he set him again to gaming. But his impiety did
not long remain unpunished, and the predictions of the man of God made
haste to justify their truth.

The viceroy of the Indies, upon the complaints which were brought against
Don Alvarez for his tyrannical proceedings, deprived him of the
government of Malacca; and causing him to be brought to Goa as a prisoner
of state, sent him to Portugal under a sufficient guard. There all his
goods were confiscated to the king's exchequer; and for himself, he was
condemned to perpetual imprisonment Before his departure from the Indies,
he had gotten an obscene disease, which increased to that degree in
Europe, that he died of it at last in a shameful manner, no remedy
availing to his cure; the stench of his polluted body having first made
him insupportable to all the world. As for Pereyra, who had sacrificed
his whole estate for the benefit of souls, and propagation of the faith,
though the governor had so unjustly made a seizure of his fortunes, yet
King John III. restored him all with interest, and heaped his royal
favours on him in succeeding years, according to the prediction of the
Father.

But the devotion of the people failed not of an Immediate reward. The
pestilence, which for some weeks had laid waste the town, as the saint
had foretold not long before his death, in his letter to Father Francis
Perez, on the sudden ceased; insomuch, that no infection was from
thenceforward caught; and they, who had been infected, were cured,
without taking any remedy. Besides this contagious disease, the famine
raged to that degree, that multitudes of people daily died of hunger.
This second judgment was likewise diverted at the same time; for,
together with the vessel, which bore the sacred body, there came in a
fleet of ships, which were laden with all manner of provisions, to supply
the necessities of the town.

These so considerable favours ought to have obliged the inhabitants to
have honoured the body of their benefactor with a sepulchre which was
worthy of him. In the mean time, whether the fear of their governor
withheld them, or that God permitted it for the greater glory of his
servant, having taken the body out of the chest, they buried it without
the church, where the common sort of people were interred; and, which was
yet more shameful, they made the grave too scanty; so that crushing the
body to give it entrance, they broke it somewhere about the shoulders,
and there gushed out blood, which diffused a most fragrant odour. And
farther, to carry their civility and discretion to the highest point,
they trampled so hard upon the earth, which covered the blessed corpse,
that they bruised it in many parts; as if it had been the destiny of that
holy man to be tormented by the people of Malacca, both during his life,
and after his decease. The sacred corpse remained thus without honour,
till the month of August, when Father John Beyra came from Goa, in his
return to the Moluccas, with two companions whom Gaspar Barzæus, the
vice-provincial, had given him, pursuant to the orders of Father Xavier.
This man, having always had a tender affection for the saint, was most
sensibly afflicted for his death; and could not think of continuing his
voyage to the Moluccas, till he had looked upon the body, of which so
many wonders were related. Opening himself on that subject to James
Pereyra, and two or three other friends of the dead apostle, they took up
his body privately one night. The corpse was found entire, fresh, and
still exhaling a sweet odour; neither had the dampness of the ground,
after five months burial, made the least alteration in him: they found
even the linen which was over his face tinctured with vermilion blood.

This surprising sight so wrought upon their minds, that they thought it
their duty, not to lay it again into the ground, but rather to contrive
the means of transporting it to Goa. Pereyra ordered a coffin to be made
of a precious wood, and after they had garnished it with rich China
damask, they put the corpse into it, wrapping it in cloth of gold, with a
pillow of brocard underneath the head. The coffin was afterwards bestowed
in a proper place, known only to the devoted friends of Father Xavier;
and it pleased the Almighty to declare, by a visible miracle, that their
zeal was acceptable to him: For a waxen taper, which they had lighted
up before the coffin, and which naturally must have burnt out within ten
hours, lasted eighteen days entire, burning day and night; and it was
observed, that the droppings of the wax weighed more than the taper
itself at the beginning.

In the mean time an occasion offered for the voyage of the Moluccas,
while they were waiting for an opportunity of passing to Goa. Beyra,
therefore, put to sea, more inflamed than ever with the zeal of souls;
and filled with a double portion of an apostolic spirit, which the sight
of the saint had inspired into him. But of the two companions which had
been assigned for the mission of the Moluccas, he left one behind him at
Malacca, to be a guardian of that holy treasure, and this was Emanuel
Pavora. Peter de Alcaceva at the same time returned from Japan, whither
he had been sent from Goa, for the affairs of that new Christianity.
And both of them, not long after, carried the holy corpse along with them
in the vessel of Lopez de Norogna.

The ship was so old and worn, and out of all repair, that none durst
venture to embark upon her. But when once it was divulged, that it was to
carry the corpse of Father Francis, every one made haste to get a corner
in her, not doubting but there they might be safe. And the passengers had
no cause to repent them of their confidence; for, in effect, God
delivered them, more than once, miraculously from shipwreck.

A furious tempest, almost at their first setting out, cast them upon
banks of sand, and the keel struck so far into it, that they could not
get her off; when, against all human appearances, the wind coming about,
and blowing full in their faces, disengaged the vessel; and, that it
might manifestly appear to be the hand of God, the blast ceased that very
moment when the keel was loosened from the sands.

Not long after, at the entry into the gulph of Ceylon, they struck
impetuously against some hidden shelves, the rudder flying off with the
fury of the stroke, the keel stuck fast within the rock; and it was a
miracle that the vessel, being so crazy, did not split asunder. The
mariners did that on this occasion, which is commonly put in practice in
extremity of danger: They cut the masts with their hatchets, but that
being of no effect, they were going to throw all their lading overboard,
to ease the ship; but the fury of the waves, which beat upon her on every
side, and outrageously tossed her, suffered them not to perform what they
desired. Then they had their last recourse to the intercession of that
saint, whose corpse they carried. Having drawn it out of the pilot's
cabin, they fell on their knees about it with lighted flambeaux; and,
as if Father Xavier had been yet living, and that he had beheld and heard
them, they begged succour of him from that eminent destruction.

Their prayer was scarcely ended, when they heard a rumbling noise from
underneath the vessel; and at the same time, perceived her following her
course in open sea: from whence they concluded, that the rock was cleft
in pieces, and had left a free passage for the ship.

They pursued their voyage cheerfully; and turning towards the cape of
Comorine, landed at Cochin. The whole city came to pay their last duty to
their instructor and beloved Father; and it is incredible what
demonstrations of piety the people gave. From Cochin they set sail for
Baticula. The wife of Antonio Rodriguez, one of the king's officers, who
had long been sick, was in hope to recover, if she could see Father
Francis. She caused herself to be carried to the ship, and at the sight
of the dead saint, was restored to her health at the same moment. Not
satisfied with this, she was desirous to have a little piece of the cope,
with which the Father was habited; and it is wonderful what cures she
effected by that precious relique.

The ship being now within twenty leagues of Goa, and being unable to make
any farther way, because of the contrary winds, the captain went into the
chalop, with some of his people, and got to the town by the help of oars,
that himself might have the honour of bearing the first news to the
viceroy, and the Fathers of the Society, that the blessed corpse was
coming to them. Father Caspar Barzæus was already dead, and Father
Melchior Nugnez declared his successor in his two offices, of rector of
the college, and vice-provincial of the Indies, in virtue of the letter
which Father Xavier had left sealed behind him when he went for China,
and which was opened after the death of Gaspar, according to the orders
of Xavier himself.

The viceroy immediately ordered a light galley for Nugnez; upon which he
and three others of the Society embarking, together with four young men
of the seminary, they set sail towards the vessel, to bear off the body
of the saint. They received it with the honourable discharge of all the
cannon, not only from the ship of Lopez, but from six other vessels which
were in company, and which had been wind-bound towards Baticula. On the
15th of March, in the year 1554, the galley landed at Rebendar, which is
within half a league of Goa; she remained there the rest of that day, and
all the night; while they were making preparations in the town, for the
solemn reception of the holy apostle of the Indies.
The next morning,
which was Friday in Passion week, six barks were seen to come, which were
all illuminated with lighted torches, and pompously adorned, wherein was
the flower of the Portuguese nobility. Twelve other barks attended them,
with three hundred of the principal inhabitants, each of them holding a
taper in his hand; and in every one of these barks, there was
instrumental music of all sorts, and choirs of voices, which made an
admirable harmony. The whole squadron was drawn up into two wings, to
accompany the galley, which rowed betwixt them. The body of the saint was
covered with cloth of gold, which was the present of Pereyra, and was
placed upon the stern, under a noble canopy, with lighted flambeaux, and
rich streamers waving on both sides of it,

In this equipage, they rowed towards Goa, but very softly, and in
admirable order. All the town was gathered on the shore, in impatient
expectation of their loving and good Father. When they perceived the
vessel from afar, there was nothing to be heard but cries of joy, nothing
to be seen but tears of devotion. Some, more impatient than the rest,
threw themselves into the sea, and swimming up to the galley, accompanied
it to the shore in the same posture.

The viceroy was there waiting for it, attended by his guards, the
remaining part of the nobility, the council royal, and the magistrates,
all in mourning. At the time when the holy corpse was landing, a company
of young men, consecrated to the service of the altars, sung the
_Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel. _ In the mean while, they ordered the
ceremony of the procession after this ensuing manner:--

Ninety children went foremost, in long white robes, with chaplets of
flowers on their heads, and each of them holding in his hand an olive
branch. The Brotherhood of Mercy followed them, with a magnificent
standard. The clergy succeeded to the Brotherhood, and walked immediately
before the corpse, which was carried by the fathers of the Society.
The viceroy, with his court, closed up the ceremony, which was followed
by an innumerable multitude of people. All the streets were hung with
tapestry; and when the blessed corpse appeared, flowers were thrown upon
it from all the windows, and from the tops of houses.

But nothing rendered the pomp more famous, than the miracles which at
that time were wrought; for there seemed to breathe out from this holy
body, a saving virtue, together with a celestial odour. Many sick
persons, who had caused themselves to be carried out into the streets,
were cured with only seeing it; and even some, who were not able to leave
their beds, recovered their health with the bare invocation of his name.
Jane Pereyra was of this number; after a sickness of three months, being
almost reduced to a despair of life, she had no sooner implored the
assistance of the saint, but she found herself in a perfect state of
health.

Another young maiden, who was just at the point of death, and held the
consecrated taper in her hand, having been recommended by her mother
to the patronage of the saint, came suddenly to herself, and rose up well
recovered, while the procession was passing by the house.

After many turns and windings, at last they proceeded to the college of
St Paul; and there set down the coffin, in the great chapel of the
church. A retrenchment had been made before the chapel, to keep off the
crowd; but it was immediately broken down, notwithstanding the opposition
of the guards, which were placed on purpose to defend it. To appease the
tumult, they were forced to shew the saint three times successively, and
to hold him upright, that he might more easily be seen by the longing
multitude. It was also thought convenient to leave the body exposed to
view, for three days together, for the comfort of the inhabitants, who
were never weary with gazing on it; and who, in gazing, were pierced with
a sensible devotion.

New miracles were wrought in presence of the holy body. The blind
received their sight, those who were taken with the palsy recovered the
use of their limbs, and the lepers became clean as babes. At the sight of
these miraculous cures, the people published aloud all those wonderful
operations, which they knew to have been performed by Father Xavier; and
his old companion John Deyro, at that time a religious of the order of St
Francis, related, with tears of tenderness and devotion, what the saint
had prophesied of him, which was now accomplished. In the mean time, on
that very day, which was Friday, the canons of the cathedral solemnly
sung the high mass of the cross. The clay following, the religious of St
Francis, whom the man of God had always honoured, and tenderly affected,
came to sing the mass of the blessed Virgin, in the church of the
Society.

When in this manner the public devotion had been accomplished, on Sunday
night the coffin was placed on an eminence near the high altar, on the
gospel side.

In this place I ought not to omit, that the vessel which had borne this
sacred pledge to Goa, split asunder of itself, and sunk to the bottom, so
soon as the merchandizes were unloaded, and all the passengers were come
safe on shore; which was nothing less than a public declaration of
Almighty God, that he had miraculously preserved her in favour of that
holy treasure; and that a ship which had been employed on so pious an
occasion, was never to be used on any secular account.

As soon as it was known in Europe that Father Xavier was dead, they began
to speak of his canonization. And on this account, Don John the Third,
King of Portugal, gave orders to the viceroy of the Indies, Don Francis
Barreto, to make a verbal process of the life and miracles of the man of
God. This was executed at Goa, at Cochin, at the coast of Fishery, at
Malacca at the Moluccas, and other parts; and men of probity, who were
also discerning and able persons, were sent upon the places, heard the
witnesses, and examined the matters of fact, with all possible exactness.

It is to be acknowledged, that the people took it in evil part, that
these informations were made; being fully satisfied of the holiness of
the saint, and not being able to endure that it should be doubted in the
least; in like manner, neither would they stay, till all the
ecclesiastical proceedings were wholly ended, nor till the Holy See had
first spoken of rendering him the worship due to saints; they invoked him
already in their necessities, and particularly in all sorts of dangers.
Some of them placed his picture in their oratories; and even the
archbishop of Goa, Don Christopher de Lisbonne, (for the episcopal see
had been erected into an archbishopric,) the archbishop, I say, wore on
his breast an image of Xavier in little, which he often kissed with a
reverent affection: and his devotion was not without reward; for, having
been cruelly tormented with the stone, for a month together, he was freed
immediately from it, and felt not any farther pains.

It also happened, that in many places of the Indies the new converts
built churches in honour of Father Francis, through a precipitate and
indiscreet devotion, which their good meaning and their zeal are only
capable of excusing. Amongst those churches, there was one much
celebrated, on the coast of Travancore. The Saracens having demolished
it, together with eleven other ancient structures of piety, the
Christians, who, by reason of their poverty, were not able to rebuild
them all, restored only this one church, which was dearer to them than
any of the rest.

For what remains, in what place soever any churches were dedicated to the
Father, there never failed a wonderful concourse of people to honour
the memory of the holy man; and, according to the relation of Francis
Nugnez, vicar of Coulan, they were obliged to sink a well for the relief
of poor pilgrims near the church, which was built in honour of him at
that town. Nugnez also reports, "That those which had been consecrated to
the apostles, and other saints, in a manner lost their titles, when once
the image of St Xavier was there exposed; and that the people, turning
all their devotion towards him, were wont to call them the churches of
Father Francis. "

But what was most to be admired, even the professed enemies of Jesus
Christ paid him reverence after his decease, as well as during his life;
calling him, "the man of prodigies, the friend of heaven, the master of
nature, and the god of the world. " Some of them undertook long voyages,
and came to Goa, expressly to behold his body exempted from corruption,
and which, only excepting motion, had all the appearance of life. There
were amongst the Gentiles, who spoke of raising altars to him; and some
people of the sect of Mahomet did, in effect, dedicate a mosque to him,
on the western coast of Comorine. The king of Travancore, though a
Mahometan, built a magnificent temple to him; and the infidels had so
great a veneration for that place, where the great Father was adored,
that they durst not spit upon the ground, if we may believe the testimony
of those who were natives of the country.

The Pagans had a custom, that, in confirmation of a truth, they would
hold a red-hot iron in their hands, with other superstitions of the like
nature; but after that Father Francis came to be held in so great
veneration through the Indies, they swore solemnly by his name; and such
an oath was generally received for the highest attestation of a truth.
Neither did any of them forswear themselves unpunished after such an
oath; and God authorized, by many proofs, this religious practice, even
by manifest prodigies. Behold a terrible example of it: An Idolater owed
a Christian a considerable sum of money; but as he denied his debt, and
no legal proof could be made of it, the Christian obliged him to swear in
the church, upon the image of St Francis: the Idolater made a false oath
without the least scruple; but was scarcely got into his own house, when
he began to void blood in abundance at his mouth, and died in a raging
fit of madness, which had the resemblance of a man possessed, rather than
of one who was distracted.

Neither was his memory less honoured in Japan than in the Indies. The
Christians of the kingdom of Saxuma kept religiously a stone, on which he
had often preached, and shewed it as a precious rarity. The house wherein
he had lodged at Amanguchi, was respected as a sacred place; and was
always preserved from ruin, amidst those bloody wars, which more than
once had destroyed the town. For what remains, the Indians and Japonians
were not the only people which honoured Father Xavier after his decease;
the odour of his holy life expanded itself beyond the seas into other
Heathen countries where he had never been. And Alphonso Leon Barbuda, who
has travelled over all the coasts of Afric, reports, that in the kingdoms
of Sofala, beyond the great river of Cuama, and in the isles about it,
the name of Father Francis was in high repute; and that those Moors never
mentioned him, but with the addition of a wonderful man So many
illustrious testimonies, and so far above suspicion, engaged the king of
Portugal anew to solicit the canonization of the saint; and in that
prospect there was made an ample collection of his virtues, of which I
present you with this following extract.

No exterior employments, how many, or how great soever, could divert the
Father from the contemplation of celestial things. Being at Goa, his
ordinary retirement, after dinner, was into the clock-house of the
church, to avoid the interruption of any person; and there, during the
space of two hours, he had a close communication with his God. But
because he was not always master of himself on those occasions, so as to
regulate his time, and that he was sometimes obliged to leave his
privacy, he commanded a young man of the seminary of Sainte Foy, whose
name was Andrew, to come and give him notice when the two hours, to which
he was limited, were expired. One day, when the Father was to speak with
the viceroy, Andrew, being come to advertise him, found him seated on a
little chair, his hands across his breast, and his eyes fixed on heaven.
When he had looked on him a while attentively, he at length called him;
but finding that the Father answered not, he spoke yet louder, and made
a noise. All this was to no purpose, Xavier continued immovable; and
Andrew went his way, having some scruple to disturb the quiet of a man,
who had the appearance of an angel, and seemed to enjoy the pleasures of
the souls in paradise, He returned, nevertheless, about two hours after,
and found him still in the same posture. The young man fearing that he
should not comply with duty, if, coming the second time, he should not
make himself be heard, began to pull the Father, and to jog him. Xavier
at length returning to himself, was in a wonder at the first, that two
hours should so soon be slipped away; but coming to know, that he had
remained in that place beyond four hours, he went out with Andrew, to go
to the palace of the viceroy. He had scarcely set his foot over the
threshold, when he seemed to be ravished in spirit once again. After he
had made some turns, without well knowing whither he went, he returned as
night was beginning to come on, and said to his attendant, "My son, we
will take another time to see the governor; it is the will of God, that
this present day should be wholly his. "

Another time, walking through the streets of the same city, his thoughts
were so wholly taken up with God, that he perceived not a furious
elephant, who, being broken loose, caused a general terror, and every man
made haste out of his way. It was in vain to cry out to the Father, that
he might avoid him; he heard nothing, and the enraged beast passed very
near him without his knowledge.

In his voyages at sea, he continued earnestly in prayer, from midnight
even to sun-rising, and that regularly. From thence it came almost to a
proverb amongst the seamen, "That nothing was to be feared in the night,
because Father Francis watched the vessel; and the tempests durst not
trouble them, while he held conversation with God. "

A man of Manapar, at whose house he lodged, and who observed him at
divers hours of the night, found him always on his knees before a
crucifix, and frequently beheld the chamber enlightened by the rays which
darted from his countenance.

While he was sojourning among Christians, the small repose he gave to
nature was commonly in the church; to the end he might be near the
blessed sacrament, before which he prayed all the remainder of the night.
But in countries where yet there were no churches built, he passed the
night in the open air; and nothing so much elevated his soul to God as
the view of heaven, spangled over, and sowed, as it were, with stars; and
this we have from his own relation.

The Pope had permitted him, in consideration of his employments and
apostolical labours, to say a breviary which was shorter than the Roman,
and had but three lessons: it was called the "Office of the Cross," and
was easily granted in those times to such who were overburdened with much
business. But Xavier never made use of this permission, what affairs
soever he was pressed withal, for the service of Almighty God: on the
contrary, before the beginning of every canonical hour, he always said
the hymn of _Veni, Creator Spiritus_; and it was observed, that while he
said it, his countenance was enlightened, as if the Holy Ghost, whom
he invoked, was visibly descended on him.

He daily celebrated the sacrifice of the mass with the same reverence and
the same devotion with which he had said it the first time, and most
ordinarily performed it at break of day. Those heavenly sweets which
overflowed his soul at the altar, spread their mild inundations even over
the assistants; and Antonio Andrada reported of himself, that, being then
a young soldier, he found such an inward satisfaction when he served the
Father, in serving at mass, that, in that consideration, he sought the
occasions of performing the clerk's office.

In the midst of his conversations with secular men, the saint was often
called aside of God, by certain sudden illuminations which obliged him to
retire; and when afterwards they sought him, he was found before the holy
sacrament, in some lonely place, engulphed in deep meditations, and
frequently suspended in the air, with beams of glory round his
countenance. Many ocular witnesses have deposed this matter of fact; but
some have affirmed, that at first they have found him on his knees
immovable; that they have afterwards observed, how by degrees he was
mounted from the earth; and that then, being seized with a sacred horror,
they could not stedfastly behold him, so bright and radiant was his
countenance. Others have protested, that while he was speaking to them of
the things of God, they could perceive him shooting upward, and
distancing himself from them on the sudden, and his body raising itself
on high of its own motion.

These extraordinary ravishments, which bore some manner of proportion to
the glory of the blest above, happened to him from time to time during
the sacrifice of the mass, when he came to pronounce the words of
consecration; and he was beheld elevated in that manner, particularly at
Meliapore and at Malacca. The same was frequently observed at Goa, while
be was communicating the people; and what was remarkable, as it was then
the custom to give the sacrament in kneeling, he appeared to be lifted
from the earth in that humble posture.

For common extasies, he had them almost every day, especially at the
altar, and after the sacrifice of the mass: insomuch, that many times
they could not bring him to himself, with pulling him by the robe, and
violently shaking him.

The delights which he enjoyed at such a time, are only to be comprehended
by such souls, which have received from heaven the like favours.
Nevertheless, it is evident, that if it be possible for man to enjoy on
earth the felicities of heaven, it is then, when the soul, transported
out of itself, is plunged, and as it were lost, in the abyss of God.

But it was not only in these extatic transports, that Xavier was
intimately united to our Lord: In the midst of his labours, he had his
soul recollected in God, without any dissipation caused by the multitude
or intricacy of affairs; insomuch, that he remained entire in all he did,
and at the same time whole in Him, for whose honour he was then employed.

This so close and so continual an union, could only proceed from a tender
chanty: the divine love burning him up in such a manner, that his face
was commonly on fire; and both for his interior and outward ardour, they
were often forced to throw cold water into his bosom.

Frequently in preaching and in walking, he felt in himself such inward
scorching, that, not being able to endure it, he was constrained to give
himself air, by opening his cassock before his breast; and this he has
been seen to do on many occasions, in the public places at Malacca and at
Goa, in the garden of St Paul's college, and in the sandy walks of the
sea-shore.

Almost every hour, words of life and fire burst and sallied as it were
from out his mouth, which were indeed the holy sparkles of a burning
heart. As for example, "O most Holy Trinity! O my Creator! O my Jesus! O
Jesus, the desire of my soul! " He spoke these words in Latin, that he
might not be understood by the common people: and being on the coast of
Fishery, at the kingdom of Travancore, and at the Moluccas, he was heard
to speak so many times every day these words, _O Sanctissima Trinitas! _
that the most idolatrous barbarians, when they found themselves in
extreme dangers, or that they would express their amazement at any thing,
pronounced those very words, without understanding any thing more of them
than that they were holy and mysterious.

Even sleep itself had not the power to interrupt those tender
aspirations; and all the night long he was heard to say, "O my Jesus, my
soul's delight! " or other expressions as full of tenderness, which shewed
the inclination of his heart. Being out of his senses by the violence of
a burning fever, both at Mozambique and at Sancian, he spoke of God, and
to God, with more fervency than ever; insomuch, that his delirium seemed
only to be a redoubling of his love. He was so sensible of the interests
of the Divine Majesty, that, being touched to the quick with the enormity
of those crimes that were committed in the new world, he wrote to a
friend of his, in these very terms:--"I have sometimes an abhorrence of
my life, and would rather chuse to die than to behold so many outrages
done to Jesus Christ, without being able either to hinder or to repair
them. "

For the rest, that he might always keep alive the fire of divine love, he
had incessantly before his eyes the sufferings of our Lord. At the sight
of the wounds and of the blood of a crucified God, he fell into sighs and
tears, and languishments, and extasies of love. He was consumed with the
zeal of returning his Saviour life for life; for martyrdom was his
predominant passion, and his sentiments are a continual proof of it. "It
sometimes happens, through a singular favour of the Divine Goodness,"
says he in one of his letters, "that for the service of God we run
ourselves into the hazard of death. But we ought to bear in mind, that we
are born mortal; and that a Christian is bound to desire nothing more
than to lay down his life for Jesus Christ. "

From thence proceeded that abundant joy which he conceived, when the
faithful poured out their blood for faith; and he wrote to the Fathers at
Rome, on occasion of the massacre of the baptized Manarois;--"We are
obliged to rejoice in Jesus Christ, that martyrs are not wanting, not
even in our decaying times; and to give Him thanks, that, seeing so few
persons make the right use of His grace for their salvation, He permits
that the number of the happy shall be completed through the cruelty of
men. " "Admirable news," says he elsewhere, "is lately come from the
Moluccas; they who labour there in the Lord's vineyard suffer
exceedingly, and are in continual hazard of their lives I imagine that
the Isles del Moro will give many martyrs to our Society, and they will
soon be called the Isles of Martyrdom. Let our brethren then, who desire
to shed their blood for Jesus Christ, be of good courage, and anticipate
their future joy. For, behold at length a seminary of martyrdom is ready
for them, and they will have wherewithal to satisfy their longings. "

The same love which inspired him with the desire of dying for our
Saviour, made him breathe after the sight and the possession of God. He
spoke not but of paradise, and concluded almost all his letters with
wishing there to meet his brethren.

But his charity was not confined to words and thoughts,--it shone out in
his works and actions, and extended itself to the service of his
neighbour. Xavier seemed to be only born for the relief of the
distressed; he loved the sick with tenderness, and to attend them was
what he called his pleasure: he sought out not only wherewithal to feed
them but to feast them; and for that purpose begged from the Portuguese
the most exquisite regalios, which were sent them out of Europe. He was
not ashamed of going round the town with, a wallet on his back, begging
linen for the wounded soldiers; he dressed their hurts, and did it with
so much the more affection, when they were the most putrified and
loathsome to the smell. If he happened to meet with any beggar who was
sinking under sickness, he took him in his arms, bore him to the
hospital, prepared his remedies, and dressed his meat with his own hands.

Though all the miserable were dear to him, yet he assisted the prisoners
after a more particular manner, with the charities which he gathered for
them; and in Goa, which was the common tribunal of the Indies, he
employed one day in the week in doing good to such who were overwhelmed
with debts. If he had not wherewithal to pay off their creditors
entirely, he mollified them at least with his civilities, and obliged
them sometimes to release one moiety of what was owing to them.

The poor, with one common voice, called him their Father, and he also
regarded them as his children. Nothing was given him, but what passed
through his hands into theirs, who were members of Jesus Christ; even so
far as to deprive himself of necessaries. He heaped up, as I may call it,
a treasury of alms, not only for the subsistence of the meaner sort, who
are content with little, but for the maintenance of honourable families,
which one or two shipwrecks had ruined all at once; and for the
entertainment of many virgins of good parentage, whom poverty might
necessitate to an infamous course of living.

The greatest part of the miracles, which on so many occasions were
wrought by him, was only for the remedy of public calamities, or for the
cure of particular persons; and it was in the same spirit, that, being
one day greatly busied in hearing the confessions of the faithful at Goa,
he departed, abruptly in appearance, out of the confessional, and
from thence out of the church also, transported with some inward motion,
which he could not possibly resist: after he had made many turns about
the town, without knowing whither he went, he happened upon a stranger,
and having tenderly embraced him, conducted him to the college of the
Society. There that miserable creature, whom his despair was driving to
lay violent hands upon himself, having more seriously reflected on his
wicked resolution, pulled out the halter, which he had secretly about
him, and with which he was going to have hanged himself, and gave it into
the Father's hands. The saint, to whom it was revealed, that extreme
misery had reduced the unhappy wretch to this dismal melancholy, gave him
comfort, retained him in the college for some time, and at length
dismissed him with a round sum of money, sufficient for the entertainment
of his family. He recommended, without ceasing, his friends and
benefactors to our Lord; he prayed both day and night for the prosperity
of King John III. of Portugal, whom he called the true protector of all
the Society: But the persecutors of the saint had a greater share in his
devotions than any others; and at the same time when he was treated so
unworthily by the governor of Malacca, he daily offered for him the
sacrifice of the mass. He was used to say, that to render good for evil,
was in some sort a divine revenge; and he revenged himself in that very
sort on the governor of Comorine, which, in one of his letters is thus
attested: "My dear brother in Jesus Christ, (thus he wrote to Father
Mansilla,) I hear uncomfortable news, that the governor's ship is
destroyed by fire; that his houses also are burnt down; that he is
retired into an island, and has nothing left him, even for the necessary
provisions of life. I desire you, out of Christian charity, to go with
the soonest to his relief, with your Christians of Punical: get what
barks you can together, and load them with all manner of provisions; I
have written earnestly to the chief of the people, that they furnish you
with all things necessary, and especially with fresh water, which, as you
know, is very scarce in those desart islands. I would go in person to the
assistance of the governor, if I thought my presence might be acceptable
to him; but of late he hates me, and has written that he could not say,
without giving scandal, all the evils I have done him. God and man can
bear me witness, if ever I have done him the least prejudice. "

His charity towards his neighbour has principally appeared in what he did
for the conversion of souls. It is difficult to enumerate all his travels
by land, and his voyages by sea; and if any one would take that pains, it
might be thought he had scarce the leisure to do any thing but travel.
Without mentioning his journey's from France to Italy, and from Italy to
Portugal, he went from Lisbon to Mozambique, and from Mozambique to
Melinda, to Socotoro, and in fine to Goa. From Goa he passed to Cape
Comorine, and to the Fishing-coast, from thence to Cochin, and returning
to Goa, came back to the coast of Fishery, entered far into the islands,
and returned to the Fishery, from whence he travelled to the kingdom of
Travancore, which is seated to the west.

After he had run over all these coasts, he was a second time at Cochin
and at Goa; from Goa he took the way of Cambaya, and having crossed that
whole region, which lies extended from the mouth of the river Indus, as
far as Cochin, he made the tour of Cape Cori, and went to the islands of
Ceylon, of Manar, and of Las Vaccas. There he took shipping for
Negapatan, and from thence undertook the voyage of Meliapor, along the
coasts of Coromandel. From Meliapor he set sail for Malacca, from Malacca
he descended towards the equinoctial, which having passed, he entered
into the southern hemisphere, as far as the Isle of Banda, and those of
Amboyna, Nuliager, Ulate, Baranura, Rosalao, and others without name,
unknown even to seamen and geographers.

In sequel of these voyages, he turned towards the Moluccas, was at
Ternata, and passed from thence to the Isles del Moro. Went again to
Ternata and Amboyna, repassed the equator, and returned to Malacca; from
thence, by sea, he regained the port of Cochin; but immediately after his
arrival departed for the coast of Fishery and Ceylon. After this he
returned to Goa, and drew downward on the same coast for Bazain; from
Bazain he returned once more to Goa and Cochin. He passed a-new from Goa
to Cochin, and from Cochin to Goa; from thence following the coast as far
as Cape Comorine, he set sail towards Malacca. Having there made some
little stay, he continued his course northward, and coasting certain
isles in sight of China, came at length to Japan. After he had made some
courses there, during the space of two years, from Cangoxima to Firando,
from. Firando to Amanguchi, from Amanguchi to Meaco, from Meaco back to
Amanguchi, and from thence to Bungo, he put once more to sea, touched at
the isle of Sancian, and was driven by tempest on the Isle of Mindanao,
one of the Phillippinas. Once again he went to Malacca, and to Goa; from
Goa, he repassed the fifth time to Malacca, and from thence arrived at
Sancian, where death concluded all his travels.

Behold the sequel of the voyages of the Indian apostle Francis Xavier! I
have omitted a vast number of islands and regions, where we are satisfied
he carried the light of the gospel; I say I have not mentioned them,
because the time is not precisely known, when he made these voyages. For
what remains, I undertake not to reckon up the leagues which he has
travelled, (the supputation would be difficult to make,) and content
myself to say in general, that, according to the rules of our
geographers, who have exactly measured the terrestrial globe, if all his
courses were to be computed, they would be found to be many times
exceeding the circumference of this world.

In the mean time, the least of his business, in all his travels, was to
travel: And they who were best acquainted with him, report of him, what
St Chrysostom said of the apostle St Paul, "That he ran through the world
with an incredible swiftness, and as it were on the wing," yet not
without labour, nor that labour without fruit, but preaching, baptizing,
confessing, disputing with the Gentiles, rooting out Idolaters, reforming
manners, and throughout establishing the Christian piety. His apostolical
labours were attended with all the incommodities of life; and if those
people were to be credited, who the most narrowly observed him, it was a
continual miracle that he lived; or rather the greatest miracle of Xavier
was not to have revived so many dead, but not to die himself of labour,
during the incessant sweat of ten years toiling.

His zeal alone sustained him; but how painful soever were the functions
of his ministry, he acquitted himself of them with so much promptitude
and joy, that, by the relation of Father Melchior Nugnez, he seemed to do
naturally all he did. These are the very words of Nugnez: "The Father,
Master Francis, in labouring for the salvation of the Saracens and
Idolaters, seemed to act not by any infused or acquired virtue, but by a
natural motion: for he could neither live, nor take the least pleasure,
but in evangelical employments; in them he found even his repose; and to
him it was no labour to conduct others to the love and knowledge of his
God. "

Thus also, whensoever there was the least probability that the faith
might be planted in any new country of the Gentiles, he flew thither in
despite of all threatening difficulties. The certain number is not known
of those whom he converted, but the received opinion amounts it to seven
hundred thousand souls. Which notwithstanding, it ought not to be
believed that he instructed them but lightly; for before he christened
them, he gave them a thorough insight into all the principles of faith.
According to their different conditions, his instructions were also
different. He had some which were proper to youth, others for wives, for
widows, for servants, and for masters. He never changed places till he
had left behind him a solid establishment of faith, and capable of
preserving itself on its own basis. And in effect, of all the countries
which he made Christian, there is none to be found which relapsed into
idolatry, excepting only the town of Tolo; and not that neither for any
long continuance. But it is well known, that the people, who, during
the space of fifteen or sixteen years, had not seen the face of any
priest, or even of any Christian stranger, have been found instructed in
religion, and as fervent in the practice of good works, as if they had
but newly received baptism. It is known, that many of those converts were
not less firm in their belief, than the prince of the isle of Rosalao,
whom Pedro Martinez protests to have heard say, "That though all the
world should arm against him, they should never be able to tear out of
his heart that persuasion which Father Francis had inspired into him. "

We know farther, that some of them having been made captives by the
Pagans, have preserved their faith entire in the midst of Heathenism; and
have chosen rather to lose their lives in torments, than renounce their
Saviour Jesus Christ. The saint was accustomed to desire earnestly of
God, the conversion of the Gentiles, in the sacrifice of the altar; and
for that very end, said a most devout prayer, which he composed in Latin;
and is thus rendered in our language.

"O eternal God, creator of all things, mercifully remember, that the
souls of Infidels are the work of thy hands, and that they are created to
thy resemblance. Behold, O Lord, how hell is filled with them, to the
dishonour of thy name. Remember that Jesus Christ thy son, for their
salvation, suffered a most cruel death; permit not, I beseech thee, that
he should be despised by those Idolaters. Vouchsafe to be propitiated by
the prayers of the church, thy most holy spouse, and call to mind thy own
compassion. Forget, O Lord, their infidelity, and work in such manner,
that at length they may acknowledge for their God, our Saviour Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent into the world, and who is our salvation, our
life, our resurrection, by whom we have been redeemed from hell, and to
whom be all glory now and evermore. Amen. "

The industry which the saint employed in converting the nations of the
East, or in strengthening their conversion, was of various sorts. In
those places where he preached the gospel, he erected crosses on the
seashore, on hills, and in public passages, to the end, that the view of
that sign of our salvation might give the Gentiles the curiosity to know
the meaning of it, or to inspire them with religious thoughts, if they
had already heard speak of Jesus Christ.

As it was impossible for him to preach always, or in all places, he writ
many instructions relating to faith and to good manners, some more ample,
and others more brief, but all in the languages of the converted nations;
and it was by these instructions, in writing, that the children learned
to read. The saint also composed devout hymns, and set the Lord's Prayer
in musical numbers, to be sung, together with the Angelical Salutation,
and the Apostles' Creed. By these means he banished those ribald songs
and ballads, which the new Christians were accustomed to sing before they
had received baptism; for those of Xavier were so pleasing, to men,
women, and children, that they sung them day and night, both in their
houses, and in the open fields.

But amongst all the means which the Father used for the conversion of
Infidels, the most efficacious was this: So soon as he entered into a
country of Idolaters, he endeavoured to gain to God those persons who
were the most considerable, either for their dignity, or by their birth,
and especially the sovereign; not only because the honour of Jesus Christ
requires, that crowned-heads should be subject to him, but also, that, by
the conversion of princes, the people are converted. So much authority
there resides in the example of a monarch, over his subjects, in every
nation of the world.

He was of easy conversation to all sorts of persons, but more familiar
with the greatest sinners, not seeming to understand that they were
keepers of mistresses, blasphemers, or sacrilegious persons. He was
particularly free in his converse with soldiers, who are greater
libertines, and more debauched, in the Indies than elsewhere; for, that
they might the less suspect him, he kept them company; and because
sometimes, when they saw him coming, they hid their cards and dice, he
told them, "They were not of the clergy, neither could they continue
praying all the day; that cheating, quarrelling, and swearing, were
forbid to gamesters, but that play was not forbidden to a soldier. "
Sometimes he played at chess himself, out of compliance, when they whom
he studied to withdraw from vice were lovers of that game; and a
Portuguese gentleman, whose name was Don Diego Norogna, had once a very
ill opinion of him for it. This cavalier, who had heard a report of
Xavier, that he was a saint-like man, and desired much to have a sight of
him, happened to be aboard of the same galley. Not knowing his person, he
enquired which was he, but was much surprised to find him playing at
chess with a private soldier; for he had formed in his imagination, the
idea of a man who was recollected and austere, one who never appeared in
public, but to discourse of eternity, or to work miracles: "What, in the
name of God," said Norogna, "is this your saint! For my part, I believe
not one syllable of his sanctity, and am much deceived if he be not as
arrant a priest as any of his fellows. " Don Pedro de Castro, his comrade,
and cousin, took pains, to little purpose, to persuade Norogna of the
wonderful things which had been wrought by Xavier: Norogna still adhered
to his opinion, because he always found the Father cheerful, and in good
humour. The whole company going ashore on the coast of Malabar, he
perceived Xavier taking a walk by himself into a wood, and sent after him
one of his servants to observe his actions: The servant found the man of
God raised from the ground into the air; his eyes fixed on heaven, and
rays about his countenance. He ran to give notice of his discovery to his
master; who, upon the report, came thither, and was himself a witness of
it. Then Norogna was satisfied that Xavier was truly a saint, and that
his holiness was not incompatible with the gaiety of his conversation. By
these methods the apostle of the Indies attracted the hearts of the
soldiery to himself, before he gained them to our Lord.

He took almost the same measures with the merchants; for he seemed to be
concerned for nothing more than for their interests: He gave his
benediction to the vessels which they were sending out for traffic, and
made many enquiries concerning the success of their affairs, as if he had
been co-partner with them. But while he was discoursing with them of
ports, of winds, and of merchandizes, he dexterously turned the
conversation on the eternal gains of heaven: "How bent are our desires,"
said he, "on heaping up the frail and perishable treasures of this world,
as if there were no other life besides this earthly being, nor other
riches besides the gold of Japan, the silks of China, and the spices of
the Moluccas! Ah, what profits it a man to gain the universe, and lose
his soul? " These very words, which Father Ignatius had formerly used to
Xavier, in order to loosen him from the world, were gotten familiar to
him, and he had them frequently in his mouth. In respect of the new
Christians, his conduct was altogether fatherly. He suffered their rough
and barbarous behaviour; and required no more from them in the beginning,
than what might be expected then from people of base extraction, and
grown inveterate in vice As they were generally poor, he took a
particular care of their families; and obtained from the king of
Portugal, that the Paravas should be discharged from certain excessive
yearly tributes. He protected them more than once from the fury of their
neighbouring nations, who made war against them out of hatred to the
faith, and induced the governor of the Indies to send a royal army to
their relief; he saved them even from the violence of the officers, who
despoiled them of their goods through avarice, and set bounds to the
unjust exactions of those griping ministers, by threatening to complain
of them both to King John the Third, and to the Cardinal Infante, who was
grand inquisitor.

As the sin of impurity was the reigning vice in India amongst the
Portuguese, he applied himself, in a particular manner, to withdraw them
from their voluptuous living. The first rule of his proceeding was to
insinuate himself into the favour, not only of the concubinarians, but of
their mistresses; and he compassed this by the mildness of his aspect, by
the obligingness of his words, and sometimes by good offices. Yet we
cannot think that the conversions of sinners cost him only these
addresses. Before he treated with them concerning the important business
of their souls, he treated with God at the holy altars; but to render his
prayers more efficacious, he joined them with all manner of austerities.
Having notice that three Portuguese soldiers, belonging to the garrison
of Amboyna, had lived for five years past in great debauchery, he
got their good wills by his engaging carriage, and wrought so well, that
these libertines, as wicked as they were, lodged him in their quarters
during a whole Lent, so much they were charmed with his good humour. But
while he appeared thus gay amongst them in his outward behaviour, for
fear of giving them any disgust of his company, he underwent most
rigorous penances to obtain the grace of their conversion, and used his
body so unmercifully, that he was languishing for a month of those
severities. When Xavier had reduced his penitents to that point at which
he aimed, that is, when he had brought them to confession, they cost him
not less pains than formerly. He always begged of God their perseverance
with his tears; and frequently, when he had enjoined them some light
penance, paid for them the remainder of their debts with bloody
disciplining of his own body. But when he lighted on intractable and
stubborn souls, he left them not off for their contumacy, but rather
sought their good opinion; and, on occasion, shewed them a better
countenance than usual, that thence they might be given to understand how
ready he was for their reception.

When he went from Ternata to Amboyna, he left but two persons who were
visibly engaged in vice: The first opportunity which the vessels had of
repassing to Ternata, he writ expressly to one of his friends, that he
should salute those two scandalous sinners with all tenderness from him,
and let them know, that, upon the least sign which they should make him,
he would return to hear their confessions.

But these condescensions, and this goodness of the apostle, had nothing
in them of meanness, or of weakness; and he knew well enough to make use
of severity when there was occasion for it. Thus, a lady who had accused
herself in confession, to have looked upon a man with too alluring an
eye, was thus answered by him: "You are unworthy that God should look on
you; since, by those encouraging regards which you have given to a man,
you have run the hazard of losing God. " The lady was so pierced with
these few words, that, during the rest of her life, she durst never look
any man in the face.

By all these methods, Xavier made so many converts.