Storia do Mogor 338.11
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 338.11
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338.11.1
After agreeing to the compromise, the Reverend Father Friar Diogo do Sacramento disavowed it, and went off to San Thomé, leaving the matter undecided, as afterwards appeared. Thereupon the brother who had been deputed from Madras decided also to withdraw. On going to kiss the Lord Patriarch's hand and ask for his documents, he had difficulty in obtaining a vague reply to the effect that, having been once presented, they must remain in the chancery of his Excellency. With that he came away without the Lord Patriarch saying a single word to him about the dispute. As to it, all he said to his auditor, Salinos Marianos, when the brother asked for his documents, was that, in order to avoid further differences between the confraternities, he would not give them back.
338.11.2
When their deputy reached Madras, it was understood by all that on hearing the report of their appeal to Rome, as testified in their manifesto, his Excellency had declined to decide the complaint, one of the parties being dissatisfied [with the tribunal]. In this they were greatly misled, for at the time of his departure (and there were not wanting those who suspected he would do this) he deliberately, to the end that the brothers should not be able to reply to or appeal from his sentence, sent his final order upon the affair. It was entirely in favour of the Reverend Father Friar Diogo do Sacramento, and imposed the severest rigours of an interdict in case the brothers of Madras failed to carry it into execution, even in the least particular. Upon this arose not only great murmuring, but there were not wanting those who said that this decision was a gratification or reward for the merits acquired by the said Father Friar Diogo by giving informal advice on every point known to him to the Abate San Giorgio at the time when he was in San Thome. But it would not be lawful for me to speak here on these matters, nor do I desire to say about them one single word. Confining myself to the subject of the wretched brothers of Madras, I continue,
338.11.3
After there had been great discussions with the Reverend Father Friar Diogo do Sacramento about the silver, the Very Reverend the Vicar-General of the Bishop of Mailãpur sent a Portuguese called Joaõ Coelho Colembro to say on his behalf to the Reverend Father Friar Michel Ange that as a friend he advised him to take no part in the dispute over the silver plate of the brothers of the Rosary. If he did, he, the Vicar-General, would be compelled to include him in the declaration that he was on the point of publishing against the said brothers. This notice very much astonished the Father Friar Michel Ange, for it gave him clearly to understand that at San Thome it was talked of or was presumed, that in the future he meant to defend the silver. But from the very first, when the Lord Abate had sent the Very Reverend Friar Laurent from San Thome to speak to him about it, he being then in Madras, he had told the brothers that it concerned them to defend their plate if they so pleased. But neither he nor his colleagues [179] would do so in any shape, nor was it fitting for them to interfere. After that answer, the brothers from that time sent persons to inform the Lord Abate about the facts of the case, and they commenced their suit at Pondicherry. In all this the brothers of Madras never involved the Father Friar Michel Ange in any way.
338.11.4
At once, on the very same day, the father sent for the president and some of the other brothers, and made over to them the key of the chest which held the said plate, declaring at the same time that he resigned office as Vicar of the Confraternity. He repeated to them afresh that he had nothing to do with the said plate, nor would have from that day forth. They might dispose of it according as to them seemed appropriate. They accepted the key, and as they left the church they ran against some other brothers in the street. To these men they gave the information that they had received the said key from the hand of the Reverend Father Friar Michel Ange, who, on making it over, had resigned his vicariate of the confraternity. Discussing these matters, some approving and some disapproving the receipt of the key, they arrived finally almost to raising their hands against each other. Such a great disturbance did they create that it was necessary to call in the watch to separate them. As the incident arose close to the gate, the corporal on guard there reported to the captain, and the latter to the Lord Governor, as was his duty and happens usually after any extraordinary quarrel or tumult.
338.11.5
When this strife was over, the president [of the Rosary] went back to Father Friar Michel Ange, and requested him most urgently to be pleased to take back once more the key he had delivered to him. For if he did not, he (the president) ran a risk of receiving a good beating from the other brothers, who took it ill, and were much irritated that he had accepted it outside of a board meeting, and without the consent of all the members. Moved by compassion, the father took the key so as to pacify him for the time, and to avoid the scandal likely to arise among them if he refused. But two days afterwards, being the 18th of the same month [August, 1704], the brothers having met in consultation, he sent them the key of the silver, and made it over to them in the presence of three witnesses. They accepted it, and as to what then passed there is full certainty through those who were present. After that they went together, and drew up an inventory of all that belonged to their confraternity, whether gold, silver, or ornaments. After shutting up the whole in a chest, they carried the key to the house of the president. When that was accomplished, Father Friar Michel Ange sent for them to his cell, and asked them if they were in possession of the key, and whether it had been removed from his control to theirs, so that they could deal with it in whatever way they wished, being its owners and masters. They all replied in the affirmative.
338.11.6
'Then,' resumed the father, 'hand me over a certificate.' They drew it up at once, and in it the president and other officers of the board declared that they had entered into possession of all the articles of gold, silver, et cetera, belonging to their confraternity, kept formerly at their desire by the Father Friar Michel Ange in his control. At this present time, to avoid molestation, he had made over to them everything, at the same time divesting himself of every interest connected with their confraternity. Whereas they had lived under his protection, and the above statements were the truth, they executed this affidavit by swearing on the Holy Gospels, and they also signed at the foot.
338.11.7
As soon as the certificate was completed it was sent to the Very Reverend Vicar-General, who replied to the writing forwarded to him in this form of words : 'I have seen what you write ; it agrees with what he said, which makes it certain that he was not negligent' (he spoke here of the Father Friar Michel Ange), 'for there is no reason for not making over the silver, et cetera.' On the Saturday following, which comes to the 23rd of the same month [August, 1704], the Lord Governor of Madras sent for the president, and reading to him a document sent to him from San Thome, said to him he must explain how they came into possession of the silver, and ordered him forthwith to bring the key of it. This was done without delay, for the president brought it and made it over to the governor. It was not right, nor was it possible, to make the slightest resistance to such a mighty lord.
338.11.8
Next day, Sunday, the 24th of the same month [August, 1704], there was read in the church of San Domingo and in that of Mae de Deus in San Thome a proclamation whereby the president, the officers of the board, the outside procurator, and all the other brothers were declared to have incurred the major excommunication, and were therefore to be shunned. Their crime was the non-delivery of the plate. On the excommunication having been read, some students came out at once to eject publicly the brothers of Madras from the church of Mae de Deus, they having gone there to attend the service. This project was forthwith put into execution to the causing of great scandal. Upon the news reaching Madras there arose such great tribulation among the Catholics that none consented to speak to another, most of them being brothers [of the confraternity]. These men went in troops for three whole days to get themselves absolved. There was such a concourse of people that the Vicar-General grew worried about giving absolution, and to deliver himself from so many troubles declared those only to be affected who had signed the certificate. By this means the people were pacified, and those only who had signed applied for absolution.