mate of the Indies; to which he hoped that none of the Christians of Malabar would ever consent, or be persuaded to forsake their ancient religion for that of popery." To this the whole multitude assented with loud acclamations, crying, "That they would lose all they had in the world, and even their lives, rather than consent to such a sacrifice." Here the matter ended, probably because none of the Paniquais were present, who would, doubtless, have proceeded forthwith to violence. The Archdeacon did right in preventing this, and in suppressing the fury of the people. It is not for Christians to avenge themselves, but rather to 66 give place unto wrath :" for it is written, " Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."4 Had the Archdeacon acted upon this principle, and resisted the proud pretensions of Rome with the meekness of piety and the firmness of integrity, he would have taken up a position from which Menezes would have found it impossible to dislodge him. But when intimidated to sanction the excommunication of his Patriarch, he made a compromise of principle which gave to his adversary an advantage that he never could recover. Besides, the remembrance of this concession could not fail to disturb his peace, and, consequently, to impair his energies for the growing contest. So true is the proverb, "The fear of man bringeth a snare : but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." 5 9. The Portuguese, however, were not satisfied with these proceedings. They had other interests to preserve besides those of the church; 4 Rom. xii. 19. Deut. xxxii. 35. A. D. 1599. Portuguese remon strance against his violence disregarded. CHAP. II. Two Syrian ecclesiastics join him. and feeling the jeopardy in which the Archbishop's temerity had placed them, they could not forbear to complain of his having acted in a manner so contrary to the advice of all about him. They also urged upon him the necessity of embarking without delay on one of his gallies, and fleeing beyond the reach of danger. But Menezes paid no regard either to their remonstrances or their advice. He told them plainly, that he was engaged in the cause of God, and that he would defend it to the last. And when they ventured to blame his precipitate excommunication of the Patriarch, and to declare that it was nothing but an act of ungovernable zeal, with little or no light; he replied, that he was so far from repenting of what he had done, that he would do it again if necessary; and that, instead of retreating to Cochin, he was determined to go the following morning to Paru. 6 10. Hitherto all parties but his own immediate attendants seem to have been opposed to his proceedings. But he was aware that the Portuguese durst not abandon him, and that the Rajah of Cochin was bribed to defend him while within his dominions. He knew, therefore, that he incurred very little danger by proceeding with his visitation. But that night a circumstance occurred which led immediately to his procuring two important accessions to his party, one of whom proved a more effective agent than he had hitherto found for his purpose. Two Indian priests, from the college of the Jesuits, who lodged in an apartment next to that of Menezes, discoursed together upon what had just happened, and purposely spoke loud enough for him to hear what they said. "This Arch 6 Geddes, pp. 62, 63. bishop," said they," proceeds against the Holy Patriarch only through envy, and we need not obey a mandate which is so manifestly unjust." These men were, probably, instigated to this conduct by the Jesuits, whose wily policy the violence of Menezes tended to defeat. The Archbishop, overhearing them, conjectured what was their reason for speaking so loud; and having called them in, sharply rebuked them for their assurance in discoursing together upon subjects which they did not understand. "And for you," added he, "to debate upon such heresy in my hearing, greatly aggravates your impertinence." Perceiving, however, that his rebuke produced little effect upon them, he very adroitly lowered his tone. Desiring them to sit down before him, and turning the subject of discourse, he assumed a kind and condescending manner, and proceeded to instruct them in, what he called, the doctrine of salvation. This, according to his views, consisted in implicit obedience to the Roman church, an obedience, without which all Christians, he said, were in a state of condemnation. He then, says Gouvea, returned to the subject of their Patriarch, telling them, that he was an heretic, for whom it was therefore unlawful to pray in the church. Having spent a great part of the night in discoursing with these men to the same effect, in the morning, before dismissing them, he gave to each a beautiful picture enchased in silver, together with some ecclesiastical ornaments, with which he had provided himself at Goa for such occasions. By this means he completely won over these two ecclesiastics; and before they parted, he embraced them with tears in his eyes, calling them his sons, and exhorting them to continue submissive to the true church. A. D. 1599. CHAP. II. His violence at Paru ineffectual. This exhortation had the desired effect upon them, for from that time they both attached themselves to his person; and one of them, who had been the Archdeacon's intimate friend, ultimately became a most efficient instrument in obtaining that ecclesiastic's submission. 11. Paru, whither Menezes proceeded on the following day, is the metropolis of a kingdom in which the noblest body of Syrian Christians reside. These people were strongly attached to their own Patriarch, and the most violently opposed to every thing that savoured of popery, as they had on several occasions sufficiently manifested. Some time before, two native youths of this town, named Don Jorge du Cruz and Don Joan du Cruz, had been sent by the Portuguese to Rome, in the pontificate of Gregory the Thirteenth, who paid them great honour, and granted them many indulgences for their church. Amongst others, he permitted them to erect an elevated altar, 8 the use of which the Syrians could not then understand for they, according to the practice of the primitive Christians, and of all the eastern congregations, had only one table, standing in the place of the altar, in each church. When these priests attempted to introduce the privileges granted them by the pope, their countrymen not only treated the indulgences with contempt, but refused to allow the men, although of the noblest families in the country, to officiate in any of their churches. Their own brethren and kindred took the lead in persecuting them, and finally compelled them to leave the kingdom, when 7 Or Parour, near Cranganore. they sought refuge among the Portuguese at Cranganore. The Christians of Paru, though thus disaffected toward the Roman church, had, according to agreement, prepared great festivities for the reception of the Archbishop; for they hoped, by entertaining him with such hospitality, to divert his mind from entering upon any business. But having heard the night before he came, of the insult he had offered at Vaipicotta to their Patriarch, they changed all their festive preparations into arms, and were so much incensed against him, that they sent only eight or ten persons to meet him at his landing, and conduct him to the Archdeacon. Though Menezes could see nothing but grief and dejection in every countenance, yet he seemed to take no notice of their sorrowful appearance; and, giving them his cross to carry before him, he followed them direct to the church. When he arrived there, he found it full of men, armed with swords and lances, bows and muskets. Not a single woman or child was to be seen amongst them. Observing this hostile preparation, and apprehensive lest his Portuguese guards and attendants should come to blows with the people, he commanded them all to return to their boats, except two priests, whom he retained to assist him in the ceremonies he was about to perform. Having put on his pontificals, and pronounced a benediction on the people, he preached to them for an hour and a half; and the purport of his discourse was to prove, that there was but one true religion, which was the Roman; and that all Christians were under an indispensable obligation to submit themselves to the Pope. When he had finished his sermon, he explained A. D. 1599. |