Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 629

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Life of Father G. Magaillans.

Nor.

appeared three other litters adorned with several pieces of silk. In the first was carried the cross, in the second the picture of the Holy Virgin, and in the third the picture of St. Michael. These litters observed a convenient distance one from the other, and in the spaces between there went a great number of Christians, of which some carried lanterns, some banners, and others censers; others carried wax tapers, sweet odors, and other things. After that in another ban- ner was carried the portraiture of the father, surrounded with pieces of silk, which the king had ordered to be drawn to the life three years before, together with the pictures of all the rest of the fathers,

a famous painter of the palace. This picture was attended by a great multitude of Christians, among which there were above three- score in mourning. The fathers came last, and just before the stately coffin; which was put into an hearse varnished over with gold and ver- milion, under a canopy of a rich piece of red velvet, which was environed with certain pieces of white and blue damask, and was the king's gift. The coffin was carried by seventy men, who had every one a mourning bonnet upon their heads, and the number of those that followed the coffin was so great, that the front was distant from the rear above a mile. When they came to the place of interment, the responses were sung, with other usual prayers and ceremonies of the Christians. To which purpose eight Christian mandarins in sur- plices assisted the father that performed the office. The Christians also, sung

with great devotion, the litanies of the Holy Virgin, and then the body was put into a sepulchre made of brick. So soon as the ceremony was over, you might hear the lamentations and moans of the whole assembly accompanied with tears that showed the reali- ty of their grief; the three persons also sent from the emperor per- formed their parts. And three days after they returned by the king's order, and paid the same funeral respects as upon the burial day.

Never was seen in this court a funeral so magnificent, whether you consider the multitude of those that were at it, their modesty, their tears, and their sincere sorrow, or the honors done to the party deceased by the king, and the eulogy which he gave him, contrary to the usual custom. So highly had this good father merited all along the marks of esteem that were bestowed upon him, by the mo- desty which he showed in all his actions, by his extreme charity for all the world, and particularly toward the poor, by his affability to all sorts of persons, by the hardships which he suffered for the love of God, and his zeal for the advancement of the Christian religion, though at the expense of his life and reputation.