that it requires but
little to be taken at a time. Where he exhorts, there is not an
expression, but what is glowing with the love of God; where he directs a
missioner, or gives instructions to a substitute, we can scarcely have a
less idea than of a St Paul advising a Timothy, or a Titus. Where he
writes into Europe, he inspires his ardour into sovereign princes, and
seems, with the spirit of his devotion, even to burn his colleagues at
the distance of the Indies.

But, madam, I consider that nothing I can say is worthy to detain you
longer from the perusal of this book, in which all things are excellent,
excepting only the meanness of my performance in the translation. Such as
it is, be pleased, with your inborn goodness, to accept it, with the
offer of my unworthy prayers for the lasting happiness of my gracious
sovereign, for your own life and prosperity, together with the
preservation of the son of prayers, and the farther encrease of the
royal family; all which blessings are continually implored from heaven,
by,

MADAM,
Your Majesty's most humble,
And most obedient subject and servant,
JOHN DRYDEN.

[Footnote 1: Mary of Este, wife of James II.]

[Footnote 2: The superstitious and, as it proved, fatal insinuation, that
the birth of the Chevalier de St George was owing to the supernatural
intercession of St Francis Xavier, was much insisted on by the
Protestants as an argument against the reality of his birth. See the
Introduction to "Britannia Rediviva," Vol. X. p. 285. In that piece, our
author also alludes to this foolery:
Hail, son of prayers, by holy violence
Drawn down from heaven!--]

[Footnote 3: The Reverend Richard Hackluyt, editor of the large
collection of voyages to which Purchas' Pilgrim is a continuation.]

THE AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

Having already presented you with the Life of St Ignatius, I thought
myself obliged to give you that of St Francis Xavier. For, besides that
it was just that the son should attend the father, it seemed to me, that
these two saints being concerned so much together, the history of the
apostle of India and Japan would give you a clearer knowledge of him
who was founder of the Jesuits. I may add likewise, that many
considerable persons, and particularly of the court, have testified so
great a desire to see a complete history of St Xavier in our language,
that I thought my labour would not be unacceptable to the