Storia do Mogor 295: I. Extract from Surat General Letter to the Court of Directors, January 10, 1651/2.

295

The Portugalls ... In the time of the Late V. Roy Don Phillippo Masqurino [1646-1651] and since the Alteration of Government [at Goa] wee had some contending with them touching Injuries and affrounts done to your Agencie of Madraspatam occasioned by the Insolency and trechery of the friars of Santomay, who seazed, kept prisoner a long time, and afterwards sent him to the Inquisition of Goa, where hee was also detayned prisoner, one Friar Ephraim who was pastor or Curate unto the Mostezaes of Madraspatam ; this unjust seazure and imprisonment (at the request of your Agent Ettca) wee often times complained of to the late V. Roy in espetiall, and to the now Governors at their first enterance into Authority and solicited his enfranchisement but being long delayed, the Agent Etts. seazed on the Padree Governor or cheife of their Convent of Friars at Santomay after which wee treated with them in more earnest manner, for preventing of a breach betweene them and us, argueing things with them as if wee then stood on equall Basis (as you may reade in one letter of ours, amongst others in the Copies of letters written in English and translated into Latine, directed unto the now Governors, dated the 25th and 28th of July last) aboute which time the friar of Santomay made his escape and soe wee were almost in despare of Friar Ephraims infranchisement though neverthelesse, some few weekes after their receipt of our letters and after they had the knowledge of our prisoners escape, they sett the other at liberty, and advertized us thereof as an extraordinary favor, and out of their due respect unto the conservation of peace, unto which they pretend to stand sincerely affected, this breife story wee are confident you will have more largely from the Coast, as a business wherein they were most interessed, and therefore wee have toucht it but in breife and have advised the Agent rather to sufferance then the attempting of any Action whereby the peace betwixt us may be broaken, for they are too strong for us in India.' [O.C. No. 2228, pp. 29, 30.]