ather Cabira, of the Society of
Jesus. At his baptism he took the name of Francis, in memory of the holy
apostle Francis Xavier, whom he acknowledged for the Father of his soul,
and whom he called by that title during the remainder of his life.

The king of Bungo had hitherto been so fortunate, that his prosperity
passed into a proverb; but God was pleased to try him. Two months after
his baptism, the most considerable of his subjects entering into a solemn
league and covenant against him out of hatred to Christianity, and
joining with his neighbouring princes, defeated him in a pitched battle,
and despoiled him of all his estates. He endured his ill fortune with
great constancy; and when he was upbraided by the Gentiles, that the
change of his religion had been the cause of his ruin, he made a vow at
the foot of the altar to live and die a Christian; adding, by a holy
transport of zeal, that if all Japan, and all Europe, if the Father's
of the Society, and the Pope himself, should renounce our Saviour Jesus
Christ; yet, for his own particular, he would confess him to the last
gasp; and be always ready, with God's assistance, to shed his blood, in
testimony of his faith.

As the piety of this prince diminished nothing of his valour nor of his
conduct, having gathered up the remainder of his troops, he restored
himself by degrees, partly by force of arms, and partly by amicable ways
of treaty. His principal care, after his re-establishment, was to banish
idolatry out of his estates, and to restore the Catholic religion. His
devotion led him to send a solemn embassy to Pope Gregory XIII. who at
that time governed the church. Don Mancio, his ambassador, being arrived
at Rome, with those of the king of Arima, and the prince of Omura, was
not satisfied with bringing the obedience of the king, his master, to the
vicar of Jesus Christ, by presenting him the letters of Don Francis, full
of submission and respect to the Holy See; but he also petitioned him, in
the name of his sovereign, to place the apostle of Japan amongst those
saints whom the faithful honour; and declared to his Holiness, "That he
could not do a greater favour to the king of Bungo."

In the mean time, the memory of Xavier was venerated more than ever
through all Asia. An ambassador from the great Mogul being come to Goa,
to desire some Fathers of the Society might be sent to explain the
mysteries of Christianity to that emperor, asked permission to see the