the world, intrepidity in dangers, and many other estimable qualities; he has left behind him an example which few have surpassed since the Apostles' days. Could all this pure metal have been detached from the dross with which it was mixed, and cast into the mould of God's word, he would have formed one of the brightest and best instruments ever used to deliver mankind from the bondage of Satan, and restore them to their rightful Lord.

Considering the essential service which this devoted missionary performed for the see of Rome, we are not surprised that he was canonized by the pope, nor that this greatly increased his reputation with the members of the Romish Church in the East. A Jesuit missionary to China has given the following account of the reverence paid to the spot where his body is supposed to have been interred in the island where he died.

"The touch of his body consecrated the place of his burial. That island became not only a famous place, but also an holy land. Even the heathen honoured it, and fled thither, as to a city of refuge. In the mean time pirates haunted those coasts, that no vessels dared to go thereabouts; so that the place, where this sacred tomb lay, was quite unknown to the Europeans; and it is but a little while ago, that they discovered it by a particular accident. "In the year 1688, a Portuguese vessel

1 Some Sober Questions' relating to the Canonization of Francis Xavier, may be seen in the Portuguese MSS. presented to the British Museum by W. Marsden, Esq., vo. 9855, entitled, Additional MSS.

The same collection contains a particular account of the Japan Mission, which Xavier established, given in the original correspondence of the Jesuit Missionaries from the year 1585 -1625, vo's. 9853, 9856-9860.

Р

A. D.

1552.

CHAP.

III.

which, coming from Goa, had on board the governor of Macao, was seized by a sudden gust of wind, and forced to let the ship drive towards these islands, do what they could. They cast anchor between the isles of Sancian and Lampaco, which were so near one another, as to make a kind of haven. Contrary winds, continuing eight days, gave father Caroccio, a Jesuit who was on board, an opportunity of satisfying his devout resolutions. He went on shore, and was resolved, in spite of danger, to go in search of the Saint's tomb. The pilot and most part of the sailors followed him, and they searched the whole island, but to no pur

pose.

"At last a Chinese, an inhabitant of the place, imagining with himself, what it was which they so ardently sought after, undertook to guide them, and led them to a place which all the inhabitants reverenced, and where he himself began to perform actions and gestures of piety. The father, who could not understand him, began to search about for some sign or mark of the sepulchre, and found at last a stone five cubits long, and three broad, upon which were cut these words in Latin, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japonnese, Here XAVIER, a man truly apostolical, was buried. Then they all fell on their knees, and did with devotion kiss that earth, which the tears and last groans of that apostle had sanctified. The inhabitants of the place came in and followed the example of the Portuguese; even the English, for one of their vessels came to an anchor in the same place, came thither to honour the saint, and prayed a great while at his tomb. Father Caroccio some time after said mass in his pontificals, while the two vessels, the English and

Portuguese, did several times discharge their artillery, and gave marks of their common joy.

Lastly, to preserve the memory of that holy place, they resolved to build a good square wall all round the tomb, and to dig a ditch to secure it from all inundations. In the midst between these walls, they raised the stone which they found overturned, and built an altar, as a memorial of the august sacrifice of the eucharist, which had been offered up there, which might also serve to celebrate it upon again, if either accident or devotion should carry the ministers of Jesus Christ thither any more. The people of the place did themselves assist towards the carrying on this little work, and shewed as much zeal for the honour of the saint as the Christians did."

2

After this from a man of literature, we cannot be surprised that the ignorant and superstitious inhabitants of India should be prevailed upon to invoke Xavier as a tutelary saint. There is an old idol of him near Cape Comorin, to which even the heathen, as well as romanists, go on pilgrimage. Such impiety cannot be too deeply deplored. At the same time let us pray, that every future missionary of a purer creed may have grace to live as much to the Redeemer's glory, and to the extension of His kingdom in the world, as Francis Xavier lived for the reputation of his Order, and for the interests of the Roman Church.

2 Lewis Le Comte, Memoirs and Remarks upon the Empire of China, London, 1738, pp. 355–357.

3 L. Le Comte was one of six mathematicians sent to China by Louis XIV. of France.

This idol is called, the Pagoda of Para-padri, that is, the temple, or swami house, of the great father, or minister.La Croze, p. 302.

A. D. 1552.

CHAPTER IV.

A. D. 1560.

INQUISITION AT GOA.

Not long after the death of Francis Xavier, the Inquisition was introduced at Goa. This expedient for maintaining the cause of Rome in India was very different from the self-denying labours and voluntary sufferings of that devoted missionary, whose life we have just reviewed. This tribunal was established in Europe as early as the twelfth century, by one Dominic, a friar, assisted by his brethren. They were sent throughout the papal dominions, by Pope Innocent III., to denounce the vengeance of the Church against all heretics, and to stir up the sovereigns of the countries wherever they went, to inquire minutely into the characters and circumstances of all persons suspected of disaffection to Rome, and to transmit a faithful account of them to the Holy Office,' with a view to their extirpation. Hence this horrid tribunal was called the Inquisition; and in a few years it was established in almost all the kingdoms under the Pope's domination. The Waldenses were among its first victims, many thousands of them being put to death by fire and sword. Dominic sent forth a vast number of persons, wearing crosses, to execute this work of destruction, and caused the friars of

his order to promise plenary indulgences to all who should assist in the diabolical crusade. His myrmidons, the cross bearers, deluged many countries with blood, and burnt alive great numbers of those whom they had apprehended.

In the year 1557, John III., King of Portugal, erected the Inquisition in his dominions, after the model of that which had long existed in Spain; and three years after, in 1560, Cardinal Henry, Inquisitor general of Portugal, caused it to be established at Goa. At first, both in Europe and India, the Portuguese Inquisitors proceeded chiefly against those suspected of Judaism, whom they treated with extreme severity: but they soon began to torture with equal inhumanity all who were convicted of heresy, of whatever description. And they dealt thus cruelly, not only with the heretics themselves, but also with every one supposed to have known of their heresy without divulging it. So that persons of all ranks in society stood in such awe of this tribunal, that parents informed against their children, husbands against their wives, and wives against their husbands: and none durst be seen deploring the doom of those whom they had delivered up to its officers, however close the tie that connected them, or whatever tortures they might be doomed to suffer.

The officers of this horrid institution are,1. The Inquisitor General.-2. The Chief Inquisitors, or counsellors of the Supreme Court. -3. The ordinary Inquisitors, who are commonly secular priests.-4. The Assessors, ecclesiastical lawyers, who are consulted by the Inquisitors. 5. Qualificators, who are commonly Dominicans, and their office is to correct

A. D.

1560.