| English Translation of St. Francis Xavier Letter (belonging to our Museum) to the King of Portugal |
| Letter of St. Francis Xavier To John III, King of Portugal From Amboina, May 16, 1546 My Lord: 1. Through another via I have written to Your Highness' about the great need that India has for preachers, since, for lack of them, our holy faith is suffering a serious loss among the Portuguese. I am saying this from the extensive experience which I have had in the fortresses where I have been. The constant intercourse which we have with pagans is so intense, and our own devotion is so remiss, that there is more concern for temporal gains than for the mysteries of Christ, our Redeemer and Savior. The wives of the casados, who were born in this land, and their sons and daughters of mixed blood are satisfied with saying that they are Portuguese by birth and not by law. The reason for this is the lack of preachers here to teach the law of Christ. 2. The second need that India has, if those who live in it are to be good Christians, is that Your Highness should establish here the holy Inquisition because there are many who, without any fear of God or human respect, live according to the Mosaic law and the tenets of the Moors. Since there are many of these scattered throughout all your fortresses, there is a need for the holy Inquisition and numerous preachers. May Your Highness provide your faithful and devoted vassals in India with what is so urgently required. 3. Three loyal captains and devoted vassals of Your Highness came with Fernao de Sousa, the grand captain of an armada which sailed from India to Maluco to bring assistence to the fortress because of the arrival of the Spaniards from New Spain. One of these, Joao Galvão, was slain by a bombard of the Moors of Gilolo. The two others, Manuel de Mesquita and Lionel de Lima, rendered great service to Your Highness by the assistance they gave in the freeing of Your Highness's fortress of Maluco from the straits which it was in, employing their own resources and those of their friends to provide food for the poor lascarins. They were also kind to the Spaniards who had come from New Spain, providing them, more like neighbors than enemies, with food and clothing. These captains of Your Highness are more like knights than chatis; but, since they are not merchants, they do not know how to profit by the fruit of the cloves, a gift of God to this land, so that they might recover what they have spent. They hope, first of all, to obtain from God a reward for their services, and then from Your Highness, because they have rendered such good service on this difficult voyage to Maluco with its great dangers to their souls and bodies. May Your Highness be mindful of Manuel de Mesquita, who is sailing on a ship with many Spaniards and Portuguese whom he is feeding at his own expense; and he is paying for the fust on which he sailing and its crew, which he is feeding at his own expense. Lionel de Lima has also incurred great expenses. May your Highness be mindful of them and grant them a reward which they have so well deserved. May God our Lord increase the state and life of Your Highness for many years to come, for the great service of God and the increase of our holy faith. From Amboina, May 16, 1546. Your Highness's useless servant, FRANCISCO. |
| Notes: Portuguese, from the original text of the scribe. (Text: EX1,346 348; FX III 138.140) English Translation: M. Joseph Costelloe,sj. Taken from: "The Letters and Instructions of FRANCIS XAVIER", Gujarat, India, 1993 Summary: 1. Preachers are needed in India to instruct the people. 2. The errors of the Jews and Moslems have passed over to some of the Christians; the Inquisition should be introduced. 3. Manuel de Mesquita and Lionel de Lima deserve to be rewarded try the king. |