of the conduct he was pursuing. Knowing, as we do, his design against the Syrian Church; his previous attempts, and present determination, to subdue the Archdeacon by any and by every means; when we read of his meekness and forbearance, we cannot but think his spirit more accurately described in a passage of another Psalm,-"The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords." 3 A. D. 1599. Diamper of temper. 6. From Molandurté, Menezes went a second His second time to Diamper, where he had held his first visit to ordination. Here the prime minister of Cochin his violence met him, according to appointment; and they held an animated discussion under the porch of the church. The Archbishop began, by complaining of the opposition that he had met with from the governor of the place, who, he said, not only prevented all the Christians from resorting to him, but encouraged the heathen, and especially the Naires, who were the Rajah of Cochin's subjects, to deride and menace, both himself, and the Christians of his train. When the minister attempted to offer an apology for the governor, the Archbishop interrupted him ; and, throwing himself into a violent passion, he struck the cane he held in his hand three times on the ground, exclaiming, with great vehemence-"Don't offer to speak to me. I know "your heart too well, and the ill-will that you "bear towards all that concerns me and the "Christian law. But there is one that I blame more than you, and that is your master, who, though Brother in Arms to the King of Portugal, suffers me to be thus ill-treated in 66 3 Psalm lv. 21. CHAP. V. "his own country. But you may tell him "from me, that the King of Portugal shall "know how I have been used by him, and that it will not be long ere he shall smart " for it." The minister endeavoured to pacify him, and assured him, that his master knew nothing of what had happened at Diamper when he was there before, and that as soon as he should be made acquainted with it, he was sure that he would make examples of all those who had in any manner given offence to the Archbishop. This apology, instead of appeasing Menezes, threw him into a greater rage. He vociferated again, saying, that it was all a trick to impose upon him; that in matters of such importance the people would not have dared to act as they did unless they had received orders to do so; that every fault found with his proceedings was mere pretence, invented for the sole purpose of deceiving the viceroy, and the Portuguese governor of Cochin, in order to gain time; and that he had treated too often with kings, and knew their tempers too well, to be made to believe that they would not enforce obedience whenever they chose. From the temper exhibited by the prelate at this interview, we may know what credit to attach to the repeated assertions of Gouvea, that the heathen were constantly forming plots against the Archbishop's life. All this hectoring on the part of Menezes does not bespeak a consciousness of danger; nor can it be imagined that the prime minister would have submitted so tamely to his insolence, had there been any intention to hurt him. The same historian, probably anxious to extenuate this unbecoming violence in a Christian Bishop, makes an observation tending to prove its necessity. He says, that among these infidels, in affairs of importance, modesty and humility are of no use; because these virtues are unknown to them; and that there exists among them nothing but pride and arrogance. Seldom has a more unfounded assertion been made than this. Another historian 5 has justly remarked, "I do not know what to think of this reflection. All the accounts of ancient and modern travellers give a very different testimony respecting the dispositions of these people." It is true, that the natives of India generally are themselves most violent in their passions, and seldom exercise the least patience or forbearance towards one another. But in a religious teacher, whether their own Gooroo, or the minister of another religion, they look for an entire subjugation of the temper and instead of being unable to appreciate meekness and patience in one holding that sacred office, they would pay no attention whatever to his instructions if he did not exhibit these virtues. As to Menezes, who, according to Gouvea, was softness itself towards the Christians, he should have added, only when they in all things submitted to his dictates-yet he abused, and treated with an air of superiority, not only the native officers, but the rajahs themselves. Whenever he held a disputation with any one whom, by reason of his dependence upon the Portuguese commerce, or his dread of their power, he knew that he could insult with impu 4 Gouvea, c. 17. A. D. 1599. CHAP. nity, he did not fail to address him in the impetuous tone of a lord and master. V. On the present occasion, his vehemence and threats seem to have alarmed the minister, who assured him again, that his master always had favoured, and always would favour, his designs in the Serra. The Archbishop, taking him at his word, said, "I shall soon know that. If 66 you are sincere, you will directly call all the "Christians together, and command them, in "the king's name, to acknowledge me as their prelate, and to unite themselves to the church "of Rome, to which the king of Portugal him"self is subject, and all true Christians spread "over the whole earth. They must also for ever renounce the Archdeacon and his party, 66 66 and, in one word, do whatever I command "them." To this the minister instantly acceded; and having assembled the Christians in the porch of the church, he commanded them, in the presence of Menezes, to obey him as their Archbishop in all things, on pain of the rajah's high displeasure. Then, assuring them that this was the will of his majesty, he told them, that they were to give no heed to any persons who should speak to them to the contrary. He had scarcely finished, when the prelate sarcastically whispered in his ear-"Take care, Sir, "to say in private the reverse of what you have 66 now said in public, as you did at Molandurté. "Then I shall be convinced that you do but "dissemble in every thing for the purpose of "deceiving me." The officer, instead of being disconcerted by the detection of his duplicity, laughed at the Archbishop's sarcasm, and turned the subject of discourse. He said, that he had affairs of more importance to negociate with him, and that he had come to declare the Rajah's mind upon them. A. D. 1599. with the ster of 7. Upon this the assembly was dismissed, Private when the minister entered into discussion with interview Menezes about some debts which the Portu- prime miniguese state had contracted with the government Cochin. of Cochin; and also about a pension that his master had formerly been accustomed to receive, but which he had lately said nothing about, though it had been withheld for several years. This was just what the Archbishop wanted. He instantly seized the opportunity which this complaint gave him, to press his own demands with increasing urgency. "How can the rajah," said he, "expect me to settle his affairs, while "he opposes mine? When he shall have ac'complished all I desire with respect to his "Christian subjects, then will I treat on his "behalf with the king of Portugal and the Viceroy, and his interests shall always be "dear to me." 66 to excom municate the Arch deacon. 8. With this answer the minister retired; and Determines the Archbishop lost no time in assembling the congregation in the church, to whom he preached a sermon; and, in conclusion, he commanded them to go home, and come again next day, to be confirmed by him, and to have their children baptized. With this injunction they complied; and as all passed off quietly on the occasion, he ventured to open his mind to them respecting the measures which he intended to pursue towards their Archdeacon. He told them, that they were not ignorant how that man had rebelled against him, his venerable prelate, delegated by the Roman pontiff himself, who was Jesus Christ's vicar upon earth, and whom the Saviour had invested with full power and jurisdiction over all the churches of the world. He |