Having ordered all things in the coast of Fishery, he returned by Cochin, where he staid two months; employing himself, without ceasing, in the instruction of little children, administering to the sick, and regulating the manners of that town. After which he went to Bazain, there to speak with the deputy-governor of the Indies, Don Garcia de Saa, whom Don John de Castro had named, upon his death-bed, to supply his place. The Father was desirous to obtain his letters of recommendation to the governor of Malacca, that, in virtue of them, his passage to Japan might be made more easy.
It is true, the news he received, that the Chinese, ill satisfied with the Portuguese, had turned them out of their country, seemed to have broken all his measures, because it was impossible to arrive at the isles of Japan, by the way of Malacca, without touching at some port of China; but it is the property of apostolical zeal, to make no account of those seeming impossibilities, which appear in the greatest undertakings.
When Xavier was come back to Goa, and it was known that he designed a voyage to Japan, his friends made use of all their endeavours to divert him from it. They first set before him the length of the way, which was thirteen hundred leagues; the certain and inevitable dangers to which he must expose his life, not only by reason of pirates, which continually infest those seas, and murder all who come into their hands, but also for the rocks, unknown to the most skilful pilots, and of certain winds called Typhons, which reign from China even to Japan, in a vast extent of sea. They said, "That those impetuous hurricanes were used to whirl a vessel round, and founder it at the same moment; or else drive it with fury against the rocks, and split it in a thousand pieces." They added, "If, by miracle, he should happen to escape the pirates, and avoid the tempests, yet he could promise no manner of safety to himself in the ports of China, from whence the Portuguese were expelled; and, for what remained, if he were possessed with an unsatiable zeal, there were other vast kingdoms of the East, where the light of the gospel had not shone; that even in the neighbourhood of Goa there were isles remaining, and territories, of idolaters: that he might go thither in God's name, and leave the thoughts of those remote islands, which nature seemed to have divided from the commerce of mortals; and where the power of the Portuguese not being established, Christianity could not be able to maintain itself against the persecution of the Pagans."
Xavier was so well persuaded that God would have him travel to Japan, that he would not listen, to the reasons of his friends. He laughed at their fears, and told them, "That perhaps he should not be more unfortunate than George Alvarez, or Alvarez Vaz, who had performed the voyage of Japan, in spite of all those pirates, and those hurricanes, with which they would affright him." This he said smiling; after which, resuming a serious air, "Verily," said he, "I am amazed that you would endeavour to hinder me from going for the good of souls, whither you yourselves would go out of the sordid consideration of a small transitory gain; and must plainly tell you, I am ashamed of your little faith. But I am ashamed for myself, that you have prevented me in going thither first, and cannot bear that a merchant should have more courage than a missioner." In conclusion, he told them, "That having so often experienced the care of Providence, it would be an impiety to distrust it; that it had not preserved him from the swords of the Badages, and the poisons of the Isle del Moro, to abandon him in other dangers; that India was not the boundary of his mission; but that in coming thither, his design had always been, to carry the faith even to the utmost limits of the world."
He then wrote to Father Ignatius, to give him an account of his intended voyage, and of the thoughts of his heart concerning it. "I cannot express to you," said he, "with what joy I undertake this long voyage. For it is all full of extreme dangers; and he, who out of four ships can preserve one, thinks he has made a saving voyage. Though these perils are surpassing all I have hitherto proved, yet I am not discouraged a jot the more from my undertaking; so much the Lord has been pleased to fix it in my mind, that the cross shall produce great fruits in those countries, when once it shall be planted there."
He wrote at the same time to Father Simon Rodriguez, and some passages of the letter well describe the disposition of the holy man. "There are arrived here some ships from Malacca, who confirm the news, that all the ports of China are armed, and that the Chinese are making open war with Portugal; which notwithstanding, my resolutions still continue for Japan; for I see nothing more sweet or pleasing in this world, than to live in continual dangers of death, for the honour of Jesus Christ, and for the interests of the faith. It being indeed the distinguishing character of a Christian, to take more pleasure in the hardships of the cross, than in the softness of repose."
The apostle, being upon the point of his departure for Japan, established Father Paul de Camerine, superior-general in his place, and Father Antonio Gomez, rector of the seminary at Goa. At the same time he prescribed rules to both of them, in what manner they should live together, and how they should govern their inferiors.
Behold, in particular, what he recommended to Father Paul: "I adjure you," said he, "by the desire you have to please our Lord, and by the love you bear to Father Ignatius, and all the society, to treat Gomez, and all our fathers and brothers, who are in the Indies, with much mildness; not ordering them to do any thing without mature deliberation, and in modest terms, without any thing of haughtiness or violence. Truly, considering the knowledge I have of all the labourers of the society, at this present day employed in the new world, I may easily conclude, they have no need of any superior; nevertheless, not to bereave them of the merit of obedience, and because the order of discipline so requires, I have thought convenient to set some one above the rest, and have chosen you for that purpose, knowing, as I do, both your modesty and your prudence. It remains that I command and pray you, by that voluntary obedience which you have vowed to our Father Ignatius, to live so well with Antonio Gomez, that the least appearance of misunderstanding betwixt you may be avoided, nay, and even the least coldness; but, on the contrary, that you may he always seen in a holy union, and conspiring, with all your strength, to the common welfare of the church.
"If our brethren, who are at Comorine in the Moluccas, or otherwhere, write to you, that you would obtain any favour for them from the bishop or the viceroy, or demand any spiritual or temporal supplies from you, leave all things, and employ yourselves entirely to effect what they desire. For those letters which you shall write to those unwearied labourers, who bear the heat and burden of the day, beware that there be nothing of sharpness or dryness in them; rather be careful of every line, that even every word may breathe nothing but tenderness and sweetness.
"Whatsoever they shall require of you for their diet, their clothing, for their preservation of health, or towards their recovery of it, furnish them liberally and speedily; for it is reasonable you should have compassion on them, who labour incessantly, and without any human consolation. What I have said, points chiefly to the missioners of Comorine and the Moluccas. Their mission is the most painful, and they ought to be refreshed, lest they sink under the burden of the cross. Do then in such manner, that they may not ask you twice for necessaries. They are in the battle, you are in the camp; and, for my own part, I find those duties of charity so just, so indispensible, that I am bold to adjure you in the name of God, and of our Father Ignatius, that you would perform your duties with all exactness, with all diligence, and with all satisfaction imaginable."——