CHAP. IV. Tries the effect of pomp and music, which at him. When they came, he spared neither money nor promises to win them over to his party; and two of their number he selected for special notice, pretending that he thought them the most deserving of this attention. Their names were, Iti Mato Mapula, and Iti Mané Mapula.o We are not told the nature of the secret which he intrusted to them; but they were sufficiently flattered by his confidence to attach themselves to him, and, subsequently, they became of essential service to his cause. By such means was he gradually insinuating himself among this people, for the purpose of undermining their fidelity to their Patriarch, which he found was not to be taken by assault. 7. He was not equally successful with the cattanars and people in general, who would not listen with patience to his discourse. Without first give appearing to notice this, he resolved to try what satisfaction, effect the Portuguese music would produce interference upon them, hoping that it would charm the general dis as also his with their offerings and services. common people, and reconcile them to the Latin service, to which they seemed to have a great aversion. With this view, he sent for a full choir from Cochin; and on Palm Sunday, high mass was performed with all the pomp and ceremony that he would have observed at Goa. But it failed to make the desired impression. Both cattanars and people were so far from being enchanted by the music and pompous 8 Iti, is a very common appellation in Malabar. It has been supposed to be a title of respect, corresponding with the English, Sir, (Dominus); but this is not likely, as it is frequently borne by persons of inferior station. Mapula, is, probably, a contraction of Maha Pulla, literally, great child. This is, undoubtedly, an honourable title, and given both to Syrians and Mahomedans. Joseph de Sancta Maria. Itin. in Indiam, p. 107. See J. F. Raulin. Hist. Syn. Diamp. p. 30. Note. ceremony, that, "if they liked it ill before, they were now perfectly disgusted: as, in truth, none but they that place all religion in external performances can do otherwise,-there being no passion which that service will not excite in its spectators sooner than devotion."9 This remark is most correct. The people could take no more part in this service than in the performances of a theatre in an unknown tongue. These proceedings of Menezes prevented the regular services of the Syrian Church; and for that reason they gave general dissatisfaction, notwithstanding all his attempts to make them acceptable. He also put a stop to the offerings of the people, which form the chief part of the cattanars' revenue. It was customary at the principal festivals of the church, for each communicant to pay a single Fanam, a small coin of the country, worth about fourpence. This voluntary contribution the Archbishop affected to pronounce an act of simony, and his panegyrist, Gouvea, applauds his decision. How then, it is justly demanded, will they defend the exactions of the Roman Church, at their masses, especially for the dead, and other services?2 A. D. 1599. auricular 8. Besides this interference with the offer- Introduces ings of the Church, he attempted to introduce confession. a practice of which they had never before heard, that of Auricular confession, to which he called every one, preparatory to taking the sacrament. This was regarded as a fresh griev 9 Geddes, pp. 80, 81. Gouvea asserts, that the people were delighted with what they heard, and with the Archbishop's discourse, of which, by the way, they did not understand one word, for he preached in Portuguese. He acknowledges the dissatisfaction of the cattanars, but attributes it to their avarice. Ch. 14. p. 210. 1 The gold fanam of Malabar is worth sevenpence. 2 La Croze, p. 136. CHAP. Opposed by a cattanar men. ance. In conformity with the doctrines of the Chaldean Church, from which they had hitherto been supplied with Bishops and teachers, they were as much attached to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, as they abhorred the Roman confession. These two points, however, Menezes resolved, if possible, to carry on the present occasion-the abolition of the offerings, and the introduction of auricular confession : and for this purpose, he took upon himself to forbid the celebration of the communion in the Syriac service on Palm Sunday. At this also the cattanars took fresh alarm. Holy Thursday was always kept by this people with great solemnity; but they began to fear, that if the Archbishop went on at this rate, without interruption, he would exclude them from their own church on that day. There was another church at Carturté belonging to the Syrians of inferior caste,3 in which they requested him to celebrate the approaching festival: but he refused to listen to their proposal, saying, that so long as he remained in their country, he would set his face against all simony, whether in these churches, or any other. 9. Though his arbitrary conduct was calcuat the head lated to provoke the resentment of the people, of a band of yet he had secured a sufficient party from among them to protect him from violence. But he and his friends could not prevent the general feeling of indignation. On the same evening that he had treated the cattanars with so much arrogance, one of them, the son of a principal inhabitant, assembled a company of about thirty persons, who began publicly to complain of his proceedings. Moved by their representations, 3 The descendants of Mar Thomas by his concubine. the people rose immediately, and sought every opportunity to insult those in the Archbishop's train. Gouvea asserts, but neglects to state where he gained his information, that their intention was to come to close quarters as soon as possible, and to take that opportunity to assassinate the Archbishop; but that he, seeing what was likely to happen, shut himself up in a secure place, and desired his Portuguese attendants to put every thing out of sight that they saw was offensive to the Christians. With this order they complied, from respect for their prelate, says this historian, but not without a great sacrifice of their own feelings; for that it was most painful to them to refrain from acting with the usual valour of the Portuguese; and, he adds, they found it hard to endure the least affront from a people, towards whom they uniformly carried themselves, as though born to domineer over them, instead of tamely submitting to their insults. When our author delivered these sentiments, he little thought how soon the righteous God would raise up a power, both wiser and more valiant, to avenge the cause of this injured people, and drive their oppressors from their most valuable possessions on the coast. A. D. 1599. nee orders 10. The cattanar who had raised this distur- The Ranbance, left Carturté, at the head of his band, to go him to deto the Archdeacon, who had retired to Angamale, part. and inform him of all that had happened. At the same time, two persons went from another quarter to the palace of the Rannee of the country, which was two leagues from Carturté, to represent to her, that the Portuguese prelate was using his utmost exertions to deprive her 4 Gouvea, p. 212. La Croze, p. 137. CHAP. of her authority over her Christian subjects, and to bring them under subjection to the Portuguese. Gouvea calls these men rebels, a name that he gives to all that refused to submit to Menezes but it was never more undeserved; for, instead of opposing one invested with lawful authority over them, they were merely resisting his arbitrary usurpation. The rajah of Turubelé," the Rannee's adopted son, and presumptive heir to her throne, had already given her the same intelligence; and this, added to the remonstrances of the two Christians, induced her to send one of her chief ministers, to notify to the Archbishop, that he and his train were to leave her dominions in three days, under pain of death. This order Menezes received on the Tuesday of the Holy Week, and returned a short answer that was calculated for the present to stop further proceedings against him. He replied, that the Portuguese were friendly towards her Highness; that for himself, he had no other intention but to serve her as far as he could in all matters, not contrary to the laws by which he was bound; and that, as concerning his departure, he would send an explicit answer the next day. This reply produced the expected result, causing the Rannee to suspend the execution of her orders: but the Archbishop saw the necessity of exerting himself still further to avert the displeasure of so powerful a princess, who, without reckoning the troops of the rajah of Turubelé, could in any emergency assemble thirty thousand footmen in arms. She was, moreover, less dependent on the Portuguese than the other sovereigns of Malabar, and was, 5 Thurubale. Gouvea. |