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

BOOK IV

He arrives at Malacca, and there meets three missioners of the company. His conduct with John Deyro. Deyro has a vision, which God reveals to Xavier. The actions of the saint at Malacca. The occasion of the king of Achen's enterprise against Malacca. The preparation of the barbarians for the siege of Malacca. The army of Achen comes before Malacca; its landing and retreat. The letter of the general of Achen to the governor of Malacca. Xavier's advice to the governor of Malacca. They follow his counsel. They prepare to engage the enemy. He exhorts the soldiers and captains to do their duty. The fleet sets out, and what happened at that time. He upbraids the governor with his diffidence. He foretels what is suddenly accomplished. The Portuguese fleet goes in search of the enemy. Troubles in Malacca concerning their fleet. A new cause of consternation. The true condition of the fleet. The soldiers are encouraged by their general to fight. The naval fight betwixt the Portuguese and the Achenois. The Achenois defeated. The saint declares the victory to the people of Malacca. The certain news of the victory is brought. The return of the victorious fleet. Anger arrives at Malacca, when the saint was ready to depart from it. Divers adventures of Anger. Anger is brought to the Father, who sends him to Goa. Xavier calms a tempest. He writes to the king of Portugal. His letter full of zeal, discretion, and charity. He desires the king to send him some preachers of the society. He writes to Father Simon Rodriguez. He sends an account to the Fathers at Rome of his voyages. He receives great comfort from the fervency of the new converts. He stays at Manapar, and what he performed there. The rules which he prescribes to the missioners of the fishing coast. He pusses over to the isle of Ceylon; his actions there. He departs for Goa, and finds the viceroy at Britain. He obtains whatever he demands of the viceroy. He concerts a young gentleman, who was very much debauched. He fixes the resolution of Cosmo de Torrez to enter into the society. He instructs Anger anew, and causes him to be farther taught by Torrez. He hears news from Japan, and designs a voyage thither to preach the gospel. He undertakes the conversion of a soldier. He converts the soldier, and what means he uses to engage him to penance. He assists the viceroy of the Indies at his death. He applies himself more than ever to the exercises of an interior life. He returns to his employment in the care of souls at Goa. He receives supplies from Europe: the arrival of Father Gasper Barzæus. He goes to the fishing coast; his actions there. He speaks to the deputy-governor of the Indies, concerning his voyage to Japan. All endeavours are used to break the Father's intended voyage to Japan. He slights the reasons alleged against his voyage to Japan. He writes to Father Ignatius, and to Father Rodriguez. He constitutes superiors to superintend the society in India during his absence, and the orders which he leaves them. He sends Gasper Barzæus to Ormuz. He gives instructions and orders to Barzæus. He recommends to him the perfecting of himself. He charges him to instruct the children himself. He recommends the poor to him. He recommends the prisoners to him. His advice concerning restitutions. He prescribes him some precautions in his dealings with his friends. He recommends to him the practice of the particular Examen. He exhorts him to preach, and gives him rules for preaching. He institutes him in the way of correcting sinners. He prescribes him a method, for administering the sacrament of penance. He continues to instruct him on the subject of confession. He instructs him how to deal with those who want faith, concerning the blessed sacrament. He instructs how to deal with penitents. He recommends to him, the obedience due to ecclesiastical superiors. He commands him to honour the governor. He gives him advice concerning his evangelical functions. He orders him to write to the Fathers of the society at Goa. He counsels him to inform himself of the manner of the town at his arrival. He recommends to his prayers the souls in purgatory. He exhorts him not to shew either sadness or anger. He prescribes him the time of his functions. He gives him instructions, touching the conduct of such as shall be received into the society. He teaches him the methods of reducing obstinate sinners. He advises him to find out the dispositions of the people, before he treats with them. He counsels him to learn the manners and customs of the people. He gives him counsel concerning reconciliations. He instructs him in the way of preaching well. What he orders him concerning his subsistance, and touching presents. What he orders him in reference to his abode. He goes for Japan. He arrives at Malacca, and what he performs there. His joy for the success of his brethren in their functions. He receives a young gentleman into the society. The instructions which he gives to Bravo. The news which he hears from Japan. He disposes himself for the voyage of Japan more earnestly than ever. He goes from Malacca to Japan; and what happens to him in the way.

Xavier found at Malacca three missioners of the company, who were going to the Moluccas, in obedience to the letters he had written. These missioners were John Beyra, Nugnez Ribera, and Nicholas Nugnez, who had not yet received priests' orders. Mansilla came not with them, 'though he had precise orders for it; because he rather chose to follow his own inclinations, in labouring where he was, than the command of his superior, in forsaking the work upon his hands. But his disobedience cost him dear. Xavier expelled him out of the society, judging, that an ill brother would do more hurt, than a good labourer would profit the company.

These three missioners above mentioned had been brought to the Indies in the fleet, by Don Perez de Pavora, with seven other sons of Ignatius; part of whom was already left at Cape Comorine, and the fishing coast, to cultivate those new plants of Christianity, which were so beloved by Father Xavier. Now the ships which were bound for the Moluccas, being not in a readiness to sail before the end of August, Beyra, Ribera, and Nugnez, had all the intermediate time, which was a month, to enjoy the company of the saint, in which space they were formed by him for the apostolic function. For himself, he remained four months at Malacca, in expectation of a ship to carry him to Goa; and during all that time, was taken up with continual service of his neighbour.

He had brought with him, from Amboyna, his old companion, John Deyro. Though Deyro was in his attendance, yet he was not a member of the society, for the causes already specified, and deserved not to be of it, for those which follow. Some rich merchants having put into his hands a sum of money, for the subsistence of the Father, he concealed it from him. Xavier, who lived only on the alms which were daily given him, and who hated money as much as his companion loved it, looked on this action of Deyro as an injury done to evangelical poverty; and the resentment which he had of it, caused him to forget his usual mildness to offenders. Not content to make him a sharp reprimand, he confined him to a little desart isle not far distant from the port; enjoining him, not only continual prayer, but fasting upon bread and water, till he should of his own accord recal him. Deyro, who was of a changeable and easy temper, neither permanent in good, nor fixed in ill, obeyed the Father, and lived exactly in the method which was prescribed.

He had one night a vision, whether awake or sleeping has not been decided by the juridical informations of the Father's life. It seemed to him, that he was in a fair temple, where he beheld the Blessed Virgin, on a throne all glittering with precious stones. Her countenance appeared severe; and he, making his approaches to her, was rejected with indignation, as unworthy to be of the company of her son. After which she arose from the throne, and then all things disappeared. Deyro being recalled from his solitude some time after, said nothing of his vision to Father Xavier, to whom God had revealed it. He even denied boldly to have seen any, though the Father repeated it to him, with all the circumstances. Xavier, more scandalised than ever with this procedure of Deyro, refused all farther communication with a man, who was interested, and insincere. He rid his hands of him, but withal foretold him, "That God would be so gracious to him, as to change his evil inclinations, and that hereafter he should take the habit of St Francis." Which was so fully accomplished, that when the informations were taken in the Indies, concerning the holiness and miracles of Xavier, Deyro then wore the habit of St Francis, and lived a most religious life.

After the three missioners were gone for the Moluccas, Xavier alone bore the whole burden of the work. The knowledge which the Portuguese and Indians had of his holiness, made all men desirous of treating with him, concerning the business of their conscience. Not being able to give audience to all, many of them were ill satisfied, and murmured against him: but since their discontent and murmurs proceeded from a good principle, he comforted himself, and rather rejoiced than was offended, as he says himself expressly in his letters. His ordinary employment was preaching to the Christians and Gentiles, instructing and baptising the catechumens, teaching children the Christian doctrine, visiting the prisoners and the sick, reconciling enemies, and doing other works of charity.

While the saint was thus employed, there happened an affair, which much increased his reputation in all the Indies. For the understanding of the whole business, it will be necessary to trace it from its original.

Since the conquest of Malacca by the Portuguese, the neighbouring princes grew jealous of their power, and made many attempts to drive that nation out of the Indies, which came to brave them at their own doors. Thereupon, they set on foot many great armies, at divers times, but always unsuccessfully; and learning, by dear-bought experience, that multitudes can hardly prevail against true valour.

These disgraces provoked the Sultan Alaradin, king of Achen, instead of humbling him. Achen is the greatest kingdom of the island of Sumatra, distant about twelve leagues from the terra firma of Malacca. This prince was a Mahometan, an implacable enemy of the Christians by his religion, and of the Portuguese by interest of state. Yet he durst not immediately assault the fortress of Malacca. All his fury was spent in cruizing about the coasts, with a strong fleet, thereby to break the trade of the Portuguese, and hinder the succours which they had from Europe. His design was then to attack the town, when it should be bare of defendants, and unprovided of stores of victuals: but to compass his enterprize, he was to assure himself of a port, which was above Malacca towards the north, which might serve for a convenient retreat to his fleet; and had also occasion for a fortress, to secure himself from the enemy. He therefore made himself master of that port, and ordered the building of a citadel.

As for his preparations of war, he made them so secretly, that the Portuguese had neither any news, nor even the least suspicion of them. Five thousand soldiers, trained up in wars, and well-experienced in naval fights, were chosen out for this glorious expedition; and five hundred of them, called Orabalons, were the flower of the whole nobility, and accordingly wore bracelets of gold, as a distinguishing mark of their high extraction. There was besides a great number of Janisaries newly arrived at the court of Achen, who served as volunteers, and were eager of shewing their courage against the Christians. The fleet consisted of sixty great ships, all well equipped and manned, without reckoning the barks, the frigates, and the fire-ships. It was commanded by the Saracen, Bajaja Soora, a great man of war, and so famous for his exploits in arms, that his prince had honoured him with the title of King of Pedir, in reward for his taking Malacca even before he had besieged the town.

There was no other intelligence of this at Malacca, but what the army of Achen brought itself. They came before the place, and entered the port on the 9th of October, in the year 1547, about two o'clock in the morning, resolved to assault it while they were favoured by the darkness. They began by a discharge of their artillery, and sending in their fire-ships against the Portuguese vessels. After which the most daring of them landed, ran without any order against that part of the wall which they believed weakest, filled up part of the ditch, and mounted the ladders with a furious assault. They found more resistance than they expected: the garrison, and the inhabitants, whom the shouts and artillery of the barbarians had at first affrighted, recovering courage through the imminence of danger, and the necessity of conquering or dying, ran upon the rampart, and vigorously repulsed the assailants; overthrowing their ladders, or tumbling their enemies headlong from them, insomuch that not a man of them entered the town, and great numbers of them lay dead or dying in the ditch.

Soora comforted himself for the ill success of his assault, by the execution which his fire-ships and cannon had done. All the vessels within the port were either burnt or disabled. And the rain which immediately fell, served not so much to extinguish the flames, as the violent wind which then arose contributed to kindle them. Those of Achen, proud of that action, appeared next morning on their decks, letting fly their pompous streamers, and shouting, as if already they were victorious. But their insolence was soon checked; the cannon from the fortress forced them to retire as far off as the isle of Upe. In the mean time, seven poor fishermen, who had been out all night about their employment, and were now returning to the town, fell into an ambuscade of the Infidels, were taken, and brought before the general. After he had cut off their ears and noses, he sent them back with a letter, directed to Don Francisco de Melo, governor of Malacca, of which these were the contents:

"I Bajaja Soora, who have the honour to carry in vessels of gold the rice of the Great Souldan, Alaradin, king of Achen, and the territories washed by the one and the other sea, advertise thee to write word to thy king, that, in despite of him, I am casting terror into his fortress by my fierce roaring, and that I shall here abide as long as I shall please. I call to witness of what I declare, not only the earth, and all nations which inhabit it, but all the elements, even to the heaven of the moon; and pronounce with these words of my mouth, that thy king is a man of no reputation nor courage; that his standards, now trampled under foot, shall never be lifted up again without his permission who has conquered him; that, by the victory already by us obtained, my king has under his royal foot the head of thine; that from this day forward he is his subject and his slave; and, to the end, that thou thyself mayest confess this truth, I defy thee to mortal battle, here on the place of my abode, if thou feelest in thyself sufficient courage to oppose me."

Though the letter of Soora was in itself ridiculous, and full of fustian bravadoes, according to the style of the barbarians, yet it put the governor and officers of the fortress to a shrewd demur; for how should they accept the challenge without ships to fight him, and how could they refuse it with their honour? A council of war was summoned to deliberate on this weighty and nice affair, when Father Xavier came amongst them. He had been saying mass at the church of our Lady Del Monte; so called, from its being built on a mountain near the city, and dedicated to the blessed Virgin. Don Francisco, who had sent for him to consult him in this troublesome business, gave him the general of Achen's letter to peruse, and demanded his advice what was to be done on this occasion.

The saint, who knew the king of Achen's business was not only to drive the Portuguese out of Malacca, but also, and that principally, to extirpate Christianity out of all the East; having read the letter, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and answered without the least pause, that the affront was too great to be endured; that the honour of the Christian religion was more concerned in it than that of the crown of Portugal: If this injury should be dissembled, to what audaciousness would the enemy arise, and what would not the other Mahometan princes attempt after this example? In conclusion, that the challenge ought to be accepted, that the infidels might see the King of Heaven was more powerful than their king Alaradin.

"But how," said the governor, "shall we put to sea, and on what vessels, since, of eight gally-foysts which we had in port, there are but four remaining, and those also almost shattered in pieces, and half burned; and, in case we could refit them, what could they perform against so numerous a fleet?" "Suppose," answered Xavier, "the barbarians had twice so many ships, are not we much stronger, who have heaven on our side; and how can we choose but overcome, when we fight in the name of our Lord and Saviour?"

No man was so bold to contradict the man of God; and they all went to the arsenal. There they found a good sufficient bark, of those they call catur, besides seven old foysts, fit for nothing but the fire. Duarte de Bareto, who by his office had the superintendance of their naval stores, was commanded to fit out these foysts with all expedition. But he protested it was not in his power; for, besides that the kings magazines were empty of all necessaries for the equipping of them, there was no money in the treasury for materials.

The governor, who had no other fund, was ready to lose courage, when Xavier, by a certain impulse of spirit, suddenly began to embrace seven sea captains there present, who were of the council of war. He begged of them to divide the business amongst them, and each of them apart to take care of fitting out one galley: At the same time, without waiting for their answer, he assigned every man his task. The captains durst not oppose Xavier, or rather God, who inclined their hearts to comply with the saint's request. Above an hundred workmen were instantly employed on every vessel; and in four days time the seven gallies were in condition for fighting. Melo gave the catur to Andrea Toscano, a man of courage, and well versed in sea affairs. He divided amongst the seven captains an hundred and fourscore soldiers, chosen men, and appointed Francis Deza admiral of the fleet. Xavier was desirous to have gone along with them, but the inhabitants, who believed all was lost if they lost the Father, and who hoped for no consolation but from him alone in case the enterprize should not succeed, made such a disturbance about it, that, upon mature deliberation, it was resolved to keep him in the town.

The day before their embarkment, having called together the soldiers and the captains, he told them that he should accompany them in spirit; and that while they were engaging the barbarians, he would be lifting up his hands to heaven for them: That they should fight valiantly, in hope of glory, not vain and perishable, but solid and immortal: That, in the heat of the combat, they should cast their eyes on their crucified Redeemer, whose quarrel they maintained, and, beholding his wounds themselves, should not be afraid either of wounds or death; and how happy should they be to render their Saviour life for life.

These words inspired them with such generous and Christian thoughts, that, with one voice, they made a vow to fight the infidels to their last drop of blood. This solemn oath was so moving to Xavier, that it drew tears from him: he gave them all his blessing; and, for their greater encouragement, named them, "The Band of our Saviour's Soldiers: " in pursuit of which, he heard every man's confession, and gave them the communion with his own hand.

They embarked the clay following with so much cheerfulness, that it seemed to presage a certain victory. But their joy continued but a moment. They had scarcely weighed anchor, when the admiral split, and immediately went to the bottom, so that they had hardly time to save the men. The crowd of people, who were gathered together on the shore to see them go off, beheld this dismal accident, and took it for a bad omen of the expedition; murmuring at the same time against Father Xavier, who was the author of it, and casting out loud cries to recal the other vessels. The governor, who saw the people in an uproar, and apprehended the consequences of this violent beginning, sent in haste to seek the Father. The messenger found him at the altar, in the church of our Lady Del Monte, just ready to receive the blessed sacrament: he drew near to whisper the business to him, but the Father beckoned him with his hand to keep silence, and retire. When mass was ended, "Return," said Xavier, without giving the man leisure to tell his message, "and assure the governor from me, that he has no occasion to be discouraged for the loss of one vessel." By this the saint made known, that God had revealed to him what had happened. He continued some time in prayer before the image of the Virgin; and these words of his were overheard: "O my Jesus, the desire of my heart, regard me with a favourable eye; and thou, holy Virgin, be propitious to me! Lord Jesus," he continued, "look upon thy sacred wounds, and remember they have given us a right to ask of thee every thing conducing to our good."

His prayers being ended, he goes to the citadel: The governor, alarmed with the cries and murmurs of the people, could not dissemble his disturbance, but reproached the Father for having engaged them in this enterprize. But Xavier upbraided him with his distrust of God; and said, smiling, to him, "What! are you so dejected for so slight an accident?" After which, they went in company to the shore, where the soldiers belonging to the admiral stood in great consternation for the hazard they had run so lately. The Father reassured them, and exhorted them to remain constant in their holy resolution, notwithstanding their petty misadventure: he remonstrated to them, that heaven had not permitted their admiral to sink, but only to make trial of their faith; neither had themselves been saved from shipwreck, but only that they might perform their vow. In the mean time, the governor held it necessary to summon the great council. All the officers of the town, and the principal inhabitants, were of opinion to give over an enterprize, which, as they thought, was begun rashly, and could have no fortunate conclusion. But the captains and soldiers of the fleet, encouraged by the words of the holy man, and inspired with vigour, which had something in it of more than human, were of a quite contrary judgment. They unanimously protested, that they had rather die than violate that faith, which they had solemnly engaged to Jesus Christ. "For the rest," said they, "what have we more to fear this day than we had yesterday? our number is not diminished, though we have one vessel less, and we shall fight as well with six foysts, as we should with seven. But, on the other side, what hopes ought we not to conceive, under the auspices and promise of Father Francis?"

Then Xavier taking the word, "The lost galley shall be soon made good," said he with a prophetic voice; "before the sun goes down, there shall arrive amongst us two better vessels than that which perished; and this I declare to you from Almighty God." This positive prediction amazed the whole assembly, and caused them to put off the determination of the affair until the day ensuing. The remaining part of the day was passed with great impatience, to see the effect of the Father's promise. When the sun was just on the point of setting, and many began to fear the accomplishment of the prophecy, in the very minute marked out by the Father, they discovered, from the clock-house of our Lady del Monte, two European ships, which were sailing directly from the north. Melo sent out a skiff immediately to hail them, being informed that they were Portuguese vessels, one belonging to James Soarez Gallego, and the other to his son Balthazar, who came from the kingdom of Patan, but who took the way of Pegu, without intentions of casting anchor at Malacca, to avoid paying customs. He went in search of Father Francis, who was at his devotions in the church del Monte, and told him, that his prophecy would be accomplished to little purpose, if the ships came not into the port. Xavier took it upon himself to stop them; and, going into the skiff which had hailed them, made directly to the two vessels. The masters of the ships, seeing the man of God, received him with respect. He made them understand the present juncture of affairs, and earnestly besought them, by the interests of their religion, and their country, to assist the town against the common enemy of the Christian name, and the crown of Portugal. And to engage them farther, by their particular concernment, he let them see the danger into which they were casting themselves, in case they should obstinately pursue their voyage; and that they were going, without consideration, to precipitate themselves into the hands of the barbarians.

They yielded to the reasons of the Father; and the next morning entered the port amidst the shouts and acclamations of the people. After this, there was no farther dispute of fighting the enemy; and the most timorous came about to the opinion of the captains and the soldiers.

All things being in a readiness to set sail, the admiral, Francis Deza, received the flag from the hands of Xavier, who had solemnly blessed it, and mounted the ship of his brother George Deza, instead of his own, which was already sunk. The rest of the captains, who had been on shore, returned on ship-board; and, with the two newly arrived vessels, the whole fleet consisted of nine, their number also being increased by fifty men; they were in all two hundred and thirty Portuguese. The fleet went out of port the 25th of October, with strict orders from the general not to pass beyond the Pulo Cambylan, which is the farthest bounds of the kingdom of Malacca on the west. His reason was, that since they were so much inferior in strength to the enemy, who vastly outnumbered them in men and shipping, their glory consisted in driving them from off their coasts, and not in farther pursuit of them: That what hope soever we have in God, yet it becomes us not to tempt him, because heaven is not accustomed to give a blessing to rashness and presumption.

Thus setting out full of assurance and of joy, they arrived in four days at Pulo Cambylan, without having any news of the enemy, notwithstanding their endeavours to find him out. The admiral, in obedience to the governor, was thinking to return; though the courage of his soldiers prompted them to pass beyond the bounds prescribed them, and to go in search of the barbarians into whatsoever corner of the world they were retired. The admiral, I say, was disposed to have gone back, when the moon suddenly went into an eclipse. It was one of the greatest which had ever been observed, and seemed to them to prognosticate the total defeat of the Mahometans. But the same night there arose so violent a wind, that they were forced to stay upon their anchors for the space of three-and-twenty days successively. Their provisions then beginning to grow short, and the wind not suffering them to turn to the coast of Malacca, they resolved on taking in fresh provisions at Tenasserim, towards the kingdom of Siam.

In the mean time, all things were in confusion at Malacca. The hopes which Father Xavier had given the people, supported them for some few days. But seeing a month was now expired, without any intelligence from the fleet, they believed it was either swallowed by the waves, or defeated by the Achenois, and that none had escaped to bring the news. At the same time, the Saracens reported confidently, they had it from good hands, that the fleets had met, that the Achenois had cut in pieces all the Portuguese, and had sent the heads of their commanders as a present to their king. This bruit was spread through all the town, and was daily strengthened after the rate of false rumours, which are full of tragical events. The better to colour this report, they gave the circumstances of time and place, and the several actions of the battle. The sorcerers and soothsayers were consulted by the Pagan women, whose husbands and sons were in the fleet; and they confirmed whatever was related in the town. It came at last to a public rising against Xavier; and the governor himself was not wholly free from the popular contagion.

But Xavier, far from the least despondence in the promises of God, and of the knowledge he had given him concerning the condition of the fleet, with an erected countenance assured, they should suddenly see it return victorious. Which notwithstanding, he continued frequent in his vows and prayers; and at the end of all his sermons, recommended to their devotions the happy return of their desired navy. Their spirits were so much envenomed and prejudiced against him, that many of them treated him with injurious words; while he was rallied by the more moderate, who were not ashamed to say, his prayers might be of use for the souls of the soldiers, who were slain in fight, but were of little consequence to gain a battle which was lost.

Some fresh intelligence, which arrived from Sumatra, increased the disorders and consternation of the town. The king of Bintan, son to that Mahomet, whom Albuquerque the Great had despoiled of the kingdom of Malacca, sought for nothing more than an opportunity of reconquering what his father had lost by force of arms. Seeing the town now bare of soldiers, and hearing that the Achenois had beaten the Portuguese, he put to sea, with three hundred sail, and put in at the river of Muar, within six leagues of Malacca, towards the west.