CHAP. I. He proposes to submit through fear of the hea then princes. General Assembly at Mutane more favour able to the under the smiles of her delusive blandishments; 42. The Portuguese were now growing impatient at the slow progress of the missionaries, and resolved upon gaining over the local authorities, an expedient that promised better success with the Archdeacon. This ecclesiastic, finding that the Portuguese had induced the heathen prince of Mangate to support them, began to fear that he should soon see himself abandoned by the other princes of the country, without whose protection he knew it would be difficult to hold out much longer. He therefore endeavoured to avert the danger by the appearance of concession. With this view he wrote to the Carmelites, recognising them as Apostolic Commissaries, a title which he had hitherto refused to give them. In this letter he promised to submit, and condemned his past infatuation, which he attributed to the evil counsels of his companions. The missionaries and their friends were overjoyed at the receipt of this epistle, though they can hardly be thought so simple as not to have perceived, that it was only extorted by the necessity of the times, which demanded some appearance of reconciliation. 43. It was now resolved to hold another general assembly at Mutane, whither the missionaries proceeded on the 8th of September, Carmelites. 1657, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. On their arrival at that place, they found the deputies of twenty-four churches assembled to receive them. In the first session, they discussed the question of the Archdeacon's consecration; which was declared to be invalid, and, consequently, all the episcopal functions which he had exercised, were rendered null and void. In the second session, the missionaries required the deputies to take a solemn oath of submission and fidelity to the Pope. The remainder of the time was spent in confirming the interests of the Roman see, and undermining those of the Archdeacon's party, who offered no opposition to the proceedings. Even Iti Thomas and Diez, the Archdeacon's two confidants, appeared to submit. A. D. 1657. warned them by an anonymous breaks off ence. 44. The missionaries now flattered them- Archdeacon selves that they should soon see an end to all against difficulties, and reap the fruit of their labours. They applied themselves vigorously to the work letter of subjugation, and at first every thing pros- the conferpered according to their desire. This bright prospect, however, was soon reversed, in consequence of an anonymous letter which the Archdeacon received, warning him to be on his guard against the Italian monks, whose fair promises, he was assured, were only intended to lure him and his friends to their ruin. "What "will become of you, said the writer, after your deposition? You will be the sport of "the Christians and the Heathen: the one will despise you as much as the other. Consider "well the danger you are incurring of being "treated like Bishop Attalla. They will send you to Goa, where the Inquisition will destroy you." This letter had the effect it might be expected to produce. The Archdeacon assembled his friends, to whom he read it, with tears in his eyes, deploring his miserable condition, and describing in most pathetic terms the outrages to which he saw himself exposed. In CHAP. I. Another Assembly disturbed by the Jesuits -Joseph, the Carme lite, elected Bishop of Malabar. stantly the zeal of his party was reanimated, and many Churches returned to his interests. He now declined receiving the letters sent to him from the Assembly at Mutane, and refused to go thither, as had been expected of him, to ratify the treaty of reunion. There is reason to believe that this occurrence was the means of saving his life; as it is with great probability concluded 2, that the Assembly was nothing more than a snare spread to take him, that he might be sent to Goa, and there consigned to the dungeons of the Inquisition. 45. The Carmelites now had the work of reunion to begin again, and for this purpose they convened another Assembly in the Church of St. Thomas, near the walls of Cochin. It commenced on the 23rd of September, and the missionaries were thrown into no little embarrassment at the opening of the proceedings. For they were desired, by some Jesuits present, to begin with reading the Pope's Briefs that were addressed to the Malabar Christians, which required them to return to their obedience to their former prelate, Don Francisco Garzia. This gave great offence even to those who were the most inclined to the Roman Church. They instantly stopped the reading, and said, that it was in vain to talk any more of a reunion, if the least mention was made of placing the Christians of that diocese under a yoke so odious, and too grievous to be borne. The appearance moreover of the Jesuits, whom Don Garzia, not venturing to show himself, had sent to insist on the reading of the briefs in question, which he knew would prove most offensive to the Christians, did not fail to increase the La Croze, p. 386. detestation of that order which had just been excited. Indeed, the Assembly would have dispersed forthwith, had not the missionaries found means quietly to put out the Jesuits, who had made themselves so obnoxious to the people. Then, confining themselves to the brief which empowered them to act as Apostolical Commissaries, they induced the Assembly to elect Joseph de Santa Maria prelate of the diocese; which election was afterwards confirmed by the Pope. Thus far the barefooted Carmelites succeeded in the object they had kept in view from the commencement of their proceedings, which was, to transfer the bishopric of Malabar from the Jesuits to their own order. We are no longer surprised, therefore, at their determined refusal to recognise the Archdeacon as prelate of the Malabar church. Like the Jesuits, the interest of their order was the predominating motive in all their actions. A. D. 1657. against it redress. 46. The election of Joseph de Santa Maria F. Garzia gave as little satisfaction to the Jesuits as to protests the Archdeacon. Don Garzia remonstrated gains no against it, both to the Portuguese governors and to the commissary of the Inquisition; and the latter, having consulted the Carmelites what answer he should return, tried to appease the Jesuit prelate with promises as delusive as those with which they had hitherto endeavoured to impose upon the Archdeacon. the Carme another fruit 47. About this time Hyacinthe de St. Vin- Hyacinthe, cent, the chief of the Carmelite mission, arrived lite, arrives in India in a Portuguese galleon, said to have in India. been provided for him with the sanction of the less attempt King of Spain. The Portuguese now redoubled the Archtheir zeal in support of the missionaries, think- deacon and ing, no doubt, that when joined by their chief, hurches. they would succeed in reducing to subjection to gain the northern CHAP. I. The union of the south the remainder of the Syrian Christians. The Jesuit prelate also began to treat them with less hauteur, feeling, probably, the necessity of showing some respect to the authority with which their Briefs invested them. So that every thing now combined to favour their operations, if they could have conciliated the Archdeacon's party. This, however, was impossible, without detaching them from his interests; and their determination not to abandon him, continued to give the Carmelites no little uneasiness. Seeing the necessity of making further efforts to accomplish their object, they went again to Mangate, to try what could be done to gain the churches of the North, and to make another effort to subdue the Archdeacon. As soon as he heard of their arrival, he ventured to follow them thither, being resolved now to maintain his cause in person. At their first meeting he received them in his episcopal robes, without offering them seats. On the following day he told them, that he would defer the decision of his rights to the judgment of the churches of Mangate and Cinotta: upon which they proceeded to the latter place, where they hoped to find the inhabitants well disposed towards them. On their return to Mangate they found the Christians assembled in the church; but, though they had strengthened their party by intrigues and the influence of the Portuguese, and had even secured the authority of the native princes in their favour, they found the friends of the Archdeacon much too strong for them so that again their deliberations came to nothing. 48. Disappointed and chagrined, they reern churches turned to Matanger, near Cochin, where, in the effected-F. month of December, they called another As |