The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. X.

Of the Propagation of the Gospel in the Em∣pire of China during these later Years.

1. THE manner of the introducing and propagating the Gospel in China from the Year 1580, till 1600, was so re∣markable and worthy of memory, that thô I descend not to the Particulars, I cannot but give •…•…ome general Account of it.

2. Some Religious Orders had with Cou∣rage and Profit laboured therein before the Holy Society of Iesus appeared in India. The first that set foot there was the Order of the most Holy Trinity, in the Person of D. Vasco de Gama his Confessor, who (as is before said) was of that Congregation. The second was that of St. Francis, and the third of St. Dominick's, who trampling all Diffi∣culties,

sowed the Doctrine of Life there, watering i•…•… with their Blood. Afterwards some Secular Priests, and even Lay-men, made themselves famous by this Spiritual Work.

3. This was the Estate of Christianity in Asia, till its new Apostle St. Francis Xaverius came thither, who from the Year 1541, till 1552, never ceased Preaching to those Peo∣ple, and died in the Island Sancham, with an ardent desire of entring China. By his Death, the design of instructing the Chineses was laid aside till the Year 1580, when F. Alexandrinus de Valiniano an Italian, and Visitor of the Society in Asia, undertook it, notwithstanding all the Difficulties that ob∣structed.

4. None of the smallest was the hardness of the Chinese Language, more uncouth to us than all the others of Asia. Yet at length a few attained some knowledge of it; and the first that set foot in Quantung, was F. Mi∣chael Rogerius a Neapoli•…•…an, on pretence of Administring the Sacraments to the Portu∣gueses who Traded there, and by this means converted some of the Natives, who went over to Macao, where for their better In∣struction was erected a sort of Seminary near to the House of the Iesuits:

5. Valiniano considering the greatness of the Difficulties, was resolved to desist, but God prevented the execution of this Reso∣lution. This Language, at first so difficult, was afterwards the best spoke and writ by these Fathers, and other Obstacles, though

not removed yet, began to appear less ter∣rible. By order of the Visitor Valiniano, who resided at Iapan, there came from In∣dia to Macao F. Matthew Rivius an Italian, to assist F. Michael Rogerius. They founded a Confraternity in that City for such Iaponeses and Chineses as were converted, calling it, The Sanctuary of Iesus. Other Fathers re∣sorted thither, and among them F. Francis Pasius.

6. This was the posture of Affairs, when the Viceroy of Xanking, for his private In∣terest, sent for the Bishop and Governor of Macao. The one sent F. Rogerius, the other Mattheus Penela, with a Present which satis∣fied him. F. Rogorius returned thither again with F. Plasius, and presenting the Viceroy a Striking Watch, and Triangular Glass which shews Things of several Colours; the No∣velty of these Things so pleased him, that he gave them leave to build a Church and House in the Suburb, where he entertained them kindly. But after 4 Months, a new Viceroy succeeding, they were forced to return to Macao, where Plasius died.

7. The new Viceroy sends for the Fa∣thers, the same Rogerius and Matthew Rivius go to him, and return without any Success, but with much Trouble. In May they are again sent for to Xanking, whither they came in November, 1583. are kindly received, and have a pleasant Place assigned them with∣out the City to build.

8. It is remarkable, that when these Reli∣gious Men were banished this City, they left an Altar-Stone in the custody of Nicho Chus, a Youth well inclined to Christianity; at their return they found it decently placed in a Room with Perfumes burning before it, and over it a Board with these Words, TIEN CHU, that is, To the Lord of Heaven. Here the Religious, for this strange Accident, said Mass, till their Church was made ready.

9. The Fathers, to be the more accepta∣ble, put on the Chinese Habit, and named God in their Prayers by that Title they had seen on the Board, which much pleased the Natives. Many of the Gentry and Learned Men began to Reverence the Images of Christ, and the blessed Virgin; they began to give ear to Matters of Faith, printed and dispersed among the People the Ten Com∣mandments, highly approving of them, supplied the Church with Lights and Per∣fumes, and gave Alms to the Fathers.

10. The first baptized was a sick Man of mean condition. The Christian Doctrine was printed after their manner, and disper∣sed through the whole Province with no small Reputation for the great Titles the Viceroy bestowed on the Authors of it.

11. F. Rogerius now went to Macao, to seek some Relief to the great Poverty that place was in. Mean while the Chineses changing their humours, began to slander the Fathers, and often threw Stones at their House. F. Matthew Rivius was carried be∣fore

the Supream Court, he carried his Sleeves full of the Stones had been thrown at him, and letting them fall at the Judges Feet, so mollified him, that he caused the Accuser to be whipped, and ordered on severe Penalties no Wrong should be offered the Fathers. Rivius was skilled in the Mathematicks, and made Maps and Dials, all pleasing and new there, particularly seeing so many Countries in the World to them unknown, as belie∣ving there was nothing beyond Asia. This Novelty attracted People from very re∣mote Parts to behold it, and proved a great Motive to incline them to receive the Faith.

12. F. Rector Francis Cabrall, Superin∣tendent of this Mission, came from Macao to visit this new Colony of the Church. He found more Fruit than was expected, and baptized the first Converts, among which a learned Man of the Province of Fokien, whom he called Paul, and another Iohn, which was he that with such Reverence kept the Altar-stone aforemention.

13. The Visitor Valiniano, for joy of this Success, made this Mission Independent of Macao, subjecting it immediately to himself, and the Provincial of Iapan. D. Duarte de Meneses, then Viceroy, settled an Allowance out of the Custom-House of Malaca upon the Fathers.

14. F. Almeyda and Rogerius, having obtained leave, went to erect another House in the Province of Chekiang, where they immediately baptized an ancient Gen∣tleman,

Father to the Governor of Xanquim, and soon after others. This was in the City Xanchin.

15. But this lasted not long, for the Fa∣thers were soon expelled. Those of Xanking were in danger, but got off, and their Ac∣cusers were punished. These religious Men considering, this Prosperity could not be lasting without the King's Authority, sent F. Rogerius to Rome to obtain a Letter and Present from the Pope for the King; but the Pope dying the Business was delayed, and F. Rogerius ended his days at Salerno, in the Kingdom of Naples. Mean while the Fathers at Xanking were not without Trou∣bles, but still protected by the Viceroy; converted many People, till a new Viceroy coming they were banished, and all they had taken from them.

16. On their way to Macao they were overtaken by fresh Orders from the Viceroy; whereupon they returned to Xanking, and had a Place assigned them to settle at Han∣cheu. Not far from that City is a most de∣lightful Plain along the side of a River, and in it a vast Temple and Monastery of 1000 Bonzos, called Manhoa, and yet the number of Idols exceeds that of the Bonzos, for only in one of 12 Apartments, into which it is divided, there were seen 500. These, as they call them, religious Men live there with their Wives and Children, and when they think fit, go out to rob. To this place were the Fathers led, that if they liked they might settle there, and were well received

by the Bonzos, but the design of the Reli∣gious was to live in the City.

17. The Fathers were admitted into the City with the general good liking of all People. They soon suffered by the Conta∣gion of the Air, which infects the very Na∣tives with a Disease like an Ague, yet esca∣ped the danger. From Macao two young Chinese Converts were sent to be their Com∣panions, who were afterwards the first of that Nation admitted into the Society.

18. They laboured with no small Fruit, some Persons of Note being converted. A∣mong the rest, Cuytaiso, the Son of a great Man, having lost or spent his Fortune, came to F. Rivius, thinking he was a Chimist, and might teach him the way to make Gold, and being by him instructed, found the true Treasure of the Faith. The same happen∣ed to an ancient Gentlemen of almost eighty Years of Age.

19. A Persecution was now raised at Han∣cheu, and the Governor examining into it, decreed to punish the Causers of it, but par∣doned them at the Intercession of F. Rivius. In the Year 1591 was converted a Rich Mer∣chant, who long had consulted the Idols and their Ministers about the way to Salvation, and at length found it among the Jesuits. F. Rivius went with his Disciple Cuytaiso, and by his Perswasion to Nanking where he had innumerable Auditors, baptized six, left many many more in good Disposition. He had done much more here, but that he

was sent for to Hancheu, whither he return∣ed, and converting many, suffered another Persecution, but weather'd it.

20. Till the end of the Year 1594, our Fathers wore their own Habit, and shaved as in Europe; and then changed it for that used by the Lawyers, for three Reasons; first, to avoid being called Bonzos, for that those cloathed like them and shaved; secondly, to gain the better admittance to Magistrates, who familiarly receive none without that Habit; and thirdly, to please the People.