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

by John Dryden

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.

[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.