Faustus, the Manichee, fully admits the abuses attending these entertainments; declares that, nothing but necessity induced the Church to tolerate them in any form; and that they would be discontinued as soon as practicable, without doing too great violence to the minds of a weak people, who had a predilection for this longestablished custom.2

In this manner was the feast of charity gradually discontinued almost throughout Christendom. In the western world it seems to have lingered longest in England, Pope Gregory having, for certain considerations, conceded this indulgence to the English, long after its abolition by the councils of Laodicea and Carthage.3

This dissertation on the feast of charity will not be thought irrelevant in this place, if the importance of establishing the antiquity of the Syrian Church in Malabar be duly considered. They had preserved the custom from the first ages of the Church in all its primitive simplicity; a satisfactory proof of their independence of Rome, where it had long been discontinued, and of the comparative superiority of her character.

21. To proceed. On the evening of Easter day the Archbishop walked through the town,

cessitate illic reficiantur. Populi etiam, quantum fieri potest, ab hujusmodi conviviis prohibeantur. Vid. Con. Afric. Can. 42.

Aug. cont. Faust. lib. 20. c. 21. Qui se in memoriis martyrum inebriant, quomodo à nobis approbari possunt, cum eos, etiam si in domibus suis id faciant, sana doctrina condemnet? Sed aliud est quod docemus, aliud quod sustinemus, aliud quod præcipere jubemur, aliud quod emendare præcipimur, et donec emendemus, tolerare compellimur. Bingham's Christian Antiquities, B. viii. ch. 10. sec. 1.

3 Pour certaines considerations, lesquelz furent rendus et concedez aux Anglois par le Pape Sainct Gregoire. Cardinal Cesar Baronius. 1 Tom. Annal. anno 57. Gouvea, ch. 16.

CHAP.

IV.

Favourable

Nagpili.

visiting the sick, whom he relieved with money, and comforted with spiritual advice. Nor did he forget at the same time to declare, that such was the duty of every prelate, and the common practice of all Roman Bishops; but that their own prelates had shamefully neglected it. This, as may be supposed, did not fail to produce a very high opinion of the piety and humanity of Menezes, among a people so remarkable for their simplicity of manners. Not suspecting the integrity of his motive, they began immediately to extol him to the skies, as much more humble and charitable than the Chaldean Bishops. In this insidious manner was the foundation effectually laid for their complete subjugation.*

22. On the following day the Archbishop reception at visited Nagpili, about half a league from Carturté, where the Syrians had a church. At this place resided the late senior cattanar, Jacob, who had been the vicar-general of Mar Simeon. Here Menezes preached, baptized several infants, and confirmed a great number of young persons. He also reconciled several cattanars to the Roman Church. The facility with which he succeeded here, is accounted for by the proximity of the place to Carturté, where most of the inhabitants had been in attendance during the whole of passion week, and joined in the service. They were prepared, therefore, to welcome the prelate in their own village, and tender him their oath of allegiance.

Reflections on his successes.

23. And here notice may be taken of the surprise which has been naturally expressed, at the Archbishop's successes among a people with whom

4 Geddes, p. 86. Lee's Brief History.

5 Gouvea, Ch. 16. p. 241.

he could hold so little intelligible communication." He found no difficulty in conversing with the native princes and officers, who generally understood Portuguese but that he should have been so forcible a preacher, as is pretended, among the Malabar Christians, who comprehended not one word of his language, nor he of theirs, is thought most astonishing; and his successes appear inexplicable. And so they would be, had he simply depended on his preaching to effect the desired result. But when we consider to what expedients he resorted, to seduce them from the religion of their fathers, we cannot be astonished at the rapidity of his progress. Few people so poor as they were, could have resisted the temptation of money, which he set before them; and few, so ignorant, would have been proof against the attractions of pomp and splendour. He gave them such as he had; and the effect produced corresponded with the means used. He had not faith to say unto the soul, bowed down with spiritual infirmity-" In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." He knew not the charm of His Name, nor the light of His Gospel, nor the unction of His Grace. How then could he bless them with the tidings of salvation? Had he gone to them in a right spirit, on the errand of mercy, we should have been at no loss to account, upon religious principles, for such a sensation as he produced. For then we might have ascribed it to the Spirit of God, which clothes His word with power, making it the instrument of converting men from sin to holiness, and from error to truth. But seeing that he addressed himself only to the vanity of the human mind,

A. D. 1599.

IV.

CHAP. and to the depravity of the heart, his achievements are to be regarded as little more than the ordinary effects of covetousness and superstition on the infirmities of mankind. These speak to the needy and the ignorant, in language sufficiently intelligible for the purpose of such a man as this Archbishop of Goa.

CHAPTER V.

MENEZES' CONTINUED PROGRESS: OVERCOMES

THE ARCHDEACON.

But

revisits Mo

1. AFFAIRS being arranged at Carturté so much Menezes to his satisfaction, on the evening of Easter Mon- landurté. day the Archbishop set out for Molandurté, where he had before been well received. he now met with a different reception, not one person going out to welcome him at the place of landing, though only a quarter of a league from the town, and the doors of the church being shut against him. They held back, however, more from fear, than from any alteration in their feelings towards Menezes. In consequence of the attention they had before paid him, the Archdeacon had redoubled his complaints against them to the rajah of Cochin; and that prince, besides imposing a heavy fine upon their Church, had sent some of the chief inhabitants of the place to the Archdeacon, bound as prisoners. It was this severity that intimidated the people, and caused them to shun the Archbishop's presence.

2. Finding how matters stood, and fearing lest a tumult should be raised if he appeared among them, he did not leave his boat: but, resolving to have recourse to arguments more

His comagainst the rajah of

plaints there

Cochin.