The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16

by John Dryden

"Live so well with the Portuguese commandants, that no misunderstanding be ever perceived betwixt you and them. For the rest of the Portuguese, use all sort of means to make them your friends: Have never any quarrel with any of them, though they should bring you into law, or quarrel with you without the least provocation on your part. If they use the new Christians hardly, oppose them, but with much mildness; and, if you find your opposition may be likely to succeed, make your complaint to the Portuguese commandant, with whom I once again beseech you never to have any difference.

"Let your conversation with the Portuguese be always confined to spiritual subjects; of death, of judgment, of purgatory, of hell, of the frequentation of sacraments, and the exact observation of God's commandments; for, if you never speak to them but concerning these matters, they will never rob you of those hours which are set apart for your function.

"Fail not to write to Goa, to the fathers and brothers of our society, giving them an account of the fruit of your labours, and proposing to them what you think may be to the advancement of piety. You shall write also to the bishop, but with much reverence and submission, as to the common father, and pastor-general of this new world.

"What, above all things, I recommend to you, and which I can never sufficiently repeat, is, that whatsoever voyage you make, and wheresoever you shall be, you shall endeavour to gain the love of all people, by your good offices and fair demeanour, by which means you will have greater opportunities for the gaining of souls, which God Almighty grant you all the grace to do, and abide for ever with you."

Things being thus regulated on the coast of Fishery, the Father would pass into the isle of Ceylon before his return to Goa. His design was to gather the fruit of that precious blood which two years before was shed by the king of Jafanatapan; or, at least, to see what inclination those people had to receive the gospel, who had heheld the constancy of the martyrs. Indeed, the death of the two young princes converted, who pretended to the crown of Jafanatapan, destroyed almost all hopes of planting Christianity in that isle. Notwithstanding which, Xavier converted the king of Candè, who is one of the kings of Ceylon. After which he went to the tyrant, who had treated the Christians with so much cruelty, to try if he could work him, though against all human appearances, to suffer the law of Jesus Christ to be preached in his dominions, and to bring him also to be a Christian.

As reasons of state prevail most with princes, so the Father represented to this infidel, that his throne could never he established but by the arms of the Portuguese; that, if he once contracted with them a strict alliance, he had nothing farther to apprehend, either from his enemies or his subjects. The barbarian, who feared all things, both from within and from without, forgetting that Don Alphonso de Sosa would have made war upon him in favour of the two baptized princes, hearkened to the propositions of peace, and even permitted the Father to explain to him the mysteries of the Christian faith. The instructions of the saint wrought so much upon the tyrant, that being changed, in a very short space of time, he promised to embrace the faith, and labour to bring his subjects into it; offering for the pledge of his word, to put his kingdom into the hands of the king of Portugal, and to pay him such tribute as should be thought fitting, without any farther demand in his own behalf, than of two things. The one was, that the governor of the Indies should conclude a firm alliance with him, as he had clone with other Indian kings, who had made themselves vassals to the crown of Portugal; the other, that, in order to hinder those revolts and troubles which might arise from the change of religion, he might have a company of Portuguese soldiers, to be entertained at his own charges.

Father Xavier, well satisfied to have thus succeeded beyond his expectations, set sail for Goa, with an ambassador of the infidel king, and arrived there on March the 20th, in the year 1548. Understanding there, that the viceroy Don John de Castro was at Bazain, towards the gulph of Cambaya, he embarked anew, notwithstanding that the season was improper for navigation; as judging that a business of such consequence could not be too soon concluded, and that delays frequently ruined the most hopeful affairs. Castro had never seen Xavier, but all he had heard related of him, gave him an earnest longing to behold him. He received him with all those honours which are due to a saint at the first meeting, and willingly accepted what the king of Jafanatapan had offered, on the conditions above mentioned; but he retained for some time the man of God, both to hear him preach, and to consult him on some difficult affairs, where the interests of state and those of religion were joined together.

In the mean time, he designed Antonio Monis Barreto, a man of authority, and very brave, for the garrison of Jafanatapan, with an hundred soldiers, well disciplined, and worthy of such an officer. At the same time he ordered a magnificent entertainment for the ambassador, who remained at Goa; and that if any of his train would receive baptism, no cost should be spared at that solemnity. But the king of Jafanatapan failed afterwards in fidelity, both to God and man; and in all probability, it was that failure which drew the last misfortunes on his person and his kingdom.

The stay which Xavier made at Bazain was not unprofitable to a young man of quality, who was much debauched, called Rodrigue Segueyra, whom he had known two years before. For Segueyra having committed a murder at Malacca, when the Father made his first voyage to the town, retired into the hospital, to avoid the pursuit of justice. There it was that the Father knew him, and grew into his familiarity, by his engaging ways of mildness and courtesy, which always succeeded with him. When he had gained the affection of Segueyra, he spoke to him of eternity with so much power, that the young gentleman entered into serious thoughts, and made a general confession to him. Xavier, to engage him the more in the ways of goodness, and to free him from that confinement of the hospital, where his crimes had forced him to take sanctuary, made up the business with his adversaries, and obtained his pardon from the governor of Malacca; but seeing the soft and dissolute manner of living in Malacca was capable of ruining all his good intentions, he advised him to leave the Indies, and return into Europe. Segueyra, who was sensible of his own weakness, and desired to save his soul, promised the Father to obey him, and put himself into a condition of executing his promise. In effect, he took the way of Goa, with design from thence to go for Portugal. But being made a receiver of the public revenues by the viceroy Don John de Castro, he thought no more of Portugal, but relapsed into his first debauches.

Xavier was wholly lost to his remembrance when he happened to meet him at Bazain. The sight of the Father surprised him at first, and almost confounded him; but straight recovering, he came up boldly to him, and took his hand, to have kissed it according to his former custom. The Father, as courteous and civil as he was, yet thrust him back sternly enough; yet, mollifying himself a little, "How, my son," said he, "are you still in the Indies? Were you not advised to leave Malacca, and return to Portugal?"