Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

of Japan. And the same wind carried the junk of the pirate toward Cangoxima, the birth-place of Anger, sirnamed Paul de Sainte Foy. They arrived there on the 15th of August, in the year 1549.

THE

LIFE OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER.

BOOK V.

The situation of Japan, and the nature of the country. The estate of the government of Japan. The religion of the Japonese when the Father arrived in that country. The six Jesuits who were sent to Siam in 1685, in their relation of the religion of the Siamois, which much resembles this of Japan, guess, with more probability, that these opinions were the corruptions of the doctrine preached in the Indies by St Thomas. Paul de Sainte Foy goes to wait on the King of Saxuma. That which passed at the court of Saxuma. The Saint applies himself to the study of the Japonian tongue. He baptizes the whole family of Paul de Saint Foy. He goes to the court of Saxuma, and is well received. He begins to preach at Cangoxima, and converts many. He visits the Bonzas, and endeavours to gain them. He proves the soul's immortality to the chief of the Bonzas. The Bonzas rise against him. The Bonzas succeed not in their undertaking. He leads a most austere life. He works divers miracles. He raises a maid from death. God avenges the Saint. A new persecution raised against Xavier by the Bonzas. The King of Saxuma is turned against Xavier and the Christians. The Saint fortifies the Christians before he leaves them. He causes his catechism to be printed before his departure. He departs from Cangoxima. He goes to the Castle of Ekandono. He declares the Gospel before Ekandono, and the fruits of his preaching. What he does for the preservation of the faith in the new Christians of the castle. Thoughts of a Christian of Ekandono. He leaves a disciple with the steward of Ekandono, and the use he makes of it. He leaves a little book with the wife of Ekandono, and for what it served. He arrives at Firando; and what reception he had there. He preaches at Firando with great success. He takes Amanguchi

in his way to Meaco. He stays at Amanguchi; his actions there. What hindered the fruit of his preaching at Amanguchi. He appears before the King of Amanguchi, and expounds to him the doctrine of Christianity. He preaches before the King in Amanguchi without success. He pursues his voyage for Meaco. His sufferings in the voyage of Meaco. He follows a horseman with great difficulty. He instructs the people in passing through the towns. He arrives at Meaco, and labours there unprofitably. He departs from Meaco to return to Amanguchi. Being returned to Amanguchi, he gains an audience of the king. He obtains permission to preach. He is visited by great multitudes. The qualities which he thinks requisite in a missioner to Japan. He answers many men with one only word. He preaches in Amanguchi. He speaks the Chinese language without learning it. The fruit of his preaching. His joy in observing the fervour of the faithful. His occasions of sorrow amongst his spiritual joys. The faith is embraced, notwithstanding the prince's example; and by what means Divers conversions. He declares against the Bonzas. The Bonzas oppose the Christian religion. He answers the arguments of the Bonzas. The Bonzas provoke the king against the Christians. The number of Christians is augmented, together with the reputation of the Saint. He sends a Japonian Christian to the kingdom of Bungo; and for what reason. He departs from Amanguchi, and goes for Bungo. He falls sick with over-travelling himself; and, after a little rest, pursues his journey. He is received with honour by the Portuguese, and complimented from the King of Bungo. He is much esteemed by the King of Bungo. The letter of the King of Bungo to Father Xavier. In what equipage he goes to the court of Bungo. His entry into the palace of the King of Bungo. He receives the compliments of several persons in the court. He is introduced to an audience of the King of Bungo, and what passes it. What passes betwixt the King of Bungo and Xavier. The honour of Xavier in the kingdom of Bungo, and the success of his labours there. He converts a famous Bonza. In what manner he prepares the Gentiles for baptism. What happens to the companions of Xavier at Amanguchi. The death of the King of Amanguchi, and the desolation of the town. The brother of the King of Bungo is chosen King of Amanguchi: the Saint rejoices at it. He prepares to leave Japan, and takes leave of the King of Bungo. The advice which he gives to the King of Bungo. The Bonzas rise anew against Xavier. A new artifice of the Bonzas against the Saint. The beginning of the conference betwixt Xavier and Fucarandono. The advantage of the dispute on the side of Xavier. The fury of the Bonzas forces the Portuguese to retire to their ship. The captain of the ship endeavours to persuade Xavier to return, but in vain. The captain takes up a resolution to stay with Xavier. A new enterprize of the Bonzas against him. He returns to the pa

[blocks in formation]

in

I

lace, to renew the conference with Fucarandono. The dispute renewed. The answer of Xavier to the first question of Fucarandono. The second question of Fucarandono, to which the Father answers with the same success as to the former. The sequel of the dispute betwixt Xavier and Fucarandono. The honour which the King of Bungo does to Xavier. The Bonzas present a writing to the king, but without effect. They wrangle about the signification of words. They dispute in the nature of school-divines. He answers the objections of the Bonzas, and their replies. The fruit of his disputation with the Bonzas. He leaves Japan, and returns to the Indies. God reveals to him the siege of Malacca. What happens to him in his return from Japan to the Indies. How Xavier behaves himself during the tempest. What happens to the chalop belonging to the ship. He expects the return of the chalop, or cockboat, notwithstanding all appearances to the contrary. He renews his prayers for the return of the chalop. He prays once more for the return of the chalop. The chalop appears, and comes up with the ship. He arrives at the isle of Sancian; and goes off after a little time. His prediction to the pilot. A marvellous effect of the Saint's prophecy. He forms the design of carrying the faith to China. He takes his measures with Pereyra, for the voyage of China. He dissipates a tempest; his prophecy concerning the ship of James Pereyra. His reception at Malacca. The history of the ship called Santa Cruz. He arrives at Cochin; and finishes the conversion of the King of the Maldivias. He writes into Europe, and comes to Goa. He cures a dying man immediately upon his arrival. He hears joyful news of the progress of Christianity in the Indies. The conversion of the King of Tanor. The conversion of the King of Trichenamalo. The letter from the Bishop of the Indies to Father Ignatius. He hears other comfortable news. He is afflicted with the misdemeanors of Father Antonio Gomez. How Gomez attacks the authority of Paul de Camerine. The extravagances of Gomez in matters of religion. The violence and injustice of Gomez. Xavier repairs the faults committed by Gomez. He expels Gomez from the Society.

UNDERTAKE not to make an exact description of Japan, after those which have been made of it by geographers and travellers: by an ordinary view of the charts, and common reading of the relations of the Indies, it is easy to understand, that Japan is situate at the extremity of Asia, over against China; that it is a concourse of islands which compose as

it were one body, and that the chiefest of them gives the name to all the rest; that this world of islands, as it is called by a great geographer, is filled with mountains, some of which are inaccessible, and almost above the clouds; that the colds there are excessive, and that the soil, which is fruitful in mines of gold and silver, is not productive of much grain of any sort necessary to life, for want of cultivation. Without dwelling longer either on the situation or nature of the country, or so much as on the customs and manners of the inhabitants, of which I have already said somewhat, and shall speak yet farther, as my subject requires it, I shall here only touch a little on the government and religion, which of necessity are to be known at the beginning, for the understanding of the history which I write.

Japan was anciently one monarchy. The empe. ror, whom all those isles obeyed, was called the Dairy; and was descended from the Camis, who, according to the popular opinion, came in a direct line from the Sun. The first office of the empire was that of the Cubo, that is to say, captain-general of the army. For the raising of this dignity, which in itself was so conspicuous, in process of time, the name of Sama was added to that of Cubo; for Sama in their language signifies Lord. Thus the general of Japan came to be called Cubo Sama.

Above three hundred years ago, the Cubo Sama then being, beholding the sceptre of Japan in the hands of a Dairy, who was cowardly and effeminate, revolted from him, and got possession of the regal dignity. His design was to have reduced the whole estate under his own dominion; but he was only able to make himself master of Meaco, where the emperor kept his court, and of the provinces depending on it. The governors of other provinces

« ПредишнаНапред »