life, and to
give the demonstrations of that change. From the very fist, he banished
out of his chamber a beautiful youth, who was his minion, and also
forbade him the entry of his palace. He gave bountifully to the poor, to
whom he had formerly been hard-hearted, as thinking it was a crime to
pity them, and an act of justice to be cruel to them, according to the
doctrine of his Bonzas, who maintained, that poverty not only made men
despicable and ridiculous, but also criminal, and worthy of the severest
punishments. According to the principles of the same doctors, women with
child were allowed to make themselves miscarry by certain potions, and
even to murder those children whom they brought into the world against
their will; insomuch, that such unnatural cruelties were daily committed,
and nothing was more common in the kingdom of Bungo, than those inhuman
mothers: Some of them, to save the charges of their food and education,
others to avoid the miseries attending poverty, and many to preserve the
reputation of chastity, however debauched and infamous they were. The
king, by the admonition of the Father, forbade those cruelties on pain of
death. He made other edicts against divers Pagan ceremonies, which were
lascivious or dishonest, and suffered not the Bonzas to set a foot within
his palace. As to what remains, he was wrapt in admiration at the virtue
of the holy man; and confessed often to his courtiers, that when he saw
him appear at any time, he trembled even to the bottom of his heart,
because he seemed to see the countenance of the man of God, as a clear
mirror, representing to him the abominations of his life.

While Xavier had this success at the court of Bungo, Cosmo de Torrez, and
John Fernandez, suffered for the faith at Amanguchi. After the departure
of the saint, the whole nation of the Bonzas rose against them, and
endeavoured to confound them in regular disputes; flattering themselves
with this opinion, that the companions of Xavier were not so learned as
himself, and judging on the other side, that the least advantage which
they should obtain against them, would re-establish the declining affairs
of Paganism.

It happened quite contrary to their expectations: Torrez, to whom
Fernandez served instead of an interpreter, answered their questions with
such force of reason, that they were wholly vanquished; not being able to
withstand his arguments, they endeavoured to decry him by their
calumnies, spr