[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 338.18 # Storia do Mogor 338.18 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 338.18 - **Language:** English ### [338.18.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.1) I may give as an example what happened in Bengal a few months ago \[1704\] to seven gentlemen, the chief officials of the said Compagnie Royale of France. Their fault was not to have acted as they \[the Jesuits\] wished, and complaints against them were sent to France. These were listened to, the Jesuits having the greatest people at court under their control. The gentlemen were : (1) Monsieur Regnault, the second, next to Monsieur Dulivier, the director ; he was a merchant and in the council. As a councillor he declined to agree to what Father Queren, Jesuit, wanted, holding it to be prejudicial to the said company. By this refusal the father became his enemy (as is their custom when anyone refuses to do their will). (2) Monsieur Soulaz, merchant, and second councillor, who refused to communicate to the said father the news received from various places, whereby he considered himself aggrieved. (3) Monsieur Chesenault, manager of the domains. It would take me too long to tell the story of the reasons that turned the father against this gentleman, but he publicly threatened him that he would take his revenge. The other four officials were all friends who had united for the benefit of the said company, and declined to submit to what the said father demanded. They were dismissed in a body from the service, without any regard for their being married or their having served so many years faithfully, and their earning \[198\] profits for the company. ### [338.18.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.2) Men of all nations were much distressed at this act, knowing well that the persons involved were men of merit. The said father ruled over and interfered in things that it is not convenient for me to speak of. We have to point out that the Lord Patriarch had been sent to visit China, where he was to make an inquiry and draw up a true report. During some years there has been talk that the Jesuits offer up sacrifices and use ceremonial copied from the Chinese. As to this question, I have my doubts if the Lord Patriarch will be able to introduce any remedy for these disorders. He will need to put into use the greatest discretion. But I did not meet with any signs of such; for when the Abate di San Giorgio arrived here at Madras, he at once displayed a desire for information as to the lives of the Christian priests and the customs of this country, and also wanted particulars of the Hindu religion. He came across many deviations which gave him little satisfaction. He was then advised that I could give him information. He suspected I might be a friend of or sent by the Jesuits, seeing that such emissaries were very necessary to them in this anxious occasion; and he was aware that they would not speak themselves, in order not to be held at Rome for idolaters. ### [338.18.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.3) I paid a visit to the said Abate di San Giorgio, and addressed to him these words: 'Sir, may it please you to do me the favour of telling me, before we converse, if your honour is a Jesuit or their representative.' This question threw him into confusion; his colour fled, but he answered me mildly: 'I am a missionary priest, sent to find out the truth.' After that opening we had a long conversation. We came to talk with great intimacy and freedom, until at last I said to him: 'Here is the Fourth Part of my book, and with it the account of the Hindu religion, which your honour can read and consider, or you can send them on to his Excellency. In them you will find much besides what we have spoken of. You can remove these evils if you choose, and you can make inquiry at Pondicherry as to my truthfulness. If there is anything wrong in what I allege, here is my head as a guarantee.' After \[199\] having read my Fourth Part, he gave it back to me, saying that God had permitted these things to be thus. He would neither listen to my advice nor believe the interested parties. ### [338.18.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.4) A few days having passed, I went to Pondicherry to interview the Lord Patriarch and try to obtain freedom for the people of Madras, and for the fathers along with them, from further persecution. Upon this subject I had a long talk with the said Lord. Finally, he said to me he had already written to Europe; at the same time he showed resentment against the Governor of Madras for replying to his letter of civility without giving him the titles he enjoyed, and other details; also for not receiving the Abate as he ought to have been received. The latter was a man of high quality and of noble family, who had filled posts of distinction. I observed from this talk that the Patriarch esteemed more the vanities of this world than success in maintaining and augmenting Christianity. He paid no attention to the ceremonial adopted by the said Jesuits in Pondicherry, and he went to live in their college. Yet he had given a promise to Monsieur Tixer, missionary, that he would go to live at his convent. I know not the reason, although it was a place better fitted up than the other. ### [338.18.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.5) At his departure the said Lord Patriarch enjoined on the Jesuits that they must follow the ceremonial of the Roman Church, and none other. But they go on ever as before, just as they please. When about to go on board, accompanied by various friars and secular priests, he showed some emotion, and said : 'God pardon those who are the ruin of the Christian congregation of Madras,' and, tears falling from his eyes, he embarked. I have found that a judge who has an interest can never do real justice. As an example, I refer to Portugal, where there was a judge upright and impartial. An old woman presented him with four ripe figs out of season. Without thinking, he took them and ate them. When he came to pay the old woman, she declined to be paid, and begged him to have compassion upon her and her son, then in prison. The judge repented him of having eaten the figs, and being angry, and although he had received a gratification \[200\], said he could do nothing to the prisoner except as the law prescribed, nor would he favour him. ### [338.18.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.6) Another order of judges I have also seen, who left criminals to suffer for years, continually giving them hopes of deliverance, and dragging money from them. When the culprits had nothing more to give, they passed on them sentence of death. Thus the man's family was left ruined. Yet these judges had forgotten that there was still a Creditor to whom they have to render an account for not obeying the commandments, and for paying no heed to the warnings and lessons that He gives us. Let us go back to speak of the Portuguese. I have noticed with this race that if anyone gives them good advice, they are suspicious, and betray their feeling that there was no necessity for it. Sometimes they do the very contrary to what has been suggested, in order not to admit that advice has been received. Of this I shall give some instances from what happened to them in the year 1639. ### [338.18.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.7) The Portuguese were then masters of the fortress of Malacca, and possessed considerable power both by sea and land. The Dutch determined to take the place, and appeared off it with six ships, all well armed, under command of a general called Collumbo. On their arrival near the port, the Portuguese sallied out to meet them with six ships, well equipped. There was a stout fight, and the Dutch were defeated. The victors, returning to port elevated by their success, believed there were no more difficulties to encounter. Some old and experienced men advised them to pursue and seize the opportunity of annihilating the enemy. Such counsel was not in accord with their sense of honour; they chose to be offended, and retorted that the advice of those who stayed on land was not required. They took to feasting and passing the time in games. The Dutch without loss of time re-formed their fleet, and next year (1640-41) came against them in greater strength. Renewing their exertions, they came out victorious, destroyed the Portuguese fleet, and invested the fortress. Finally, owing to the quarrels in the garrison, it was forced to surrender. ### [338.18.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18.8) The Dutch made ready for a new enterprise \[201\], and resolved to become masters of the city of Ceilão (Ceylon). On receiving this information, the Portuguese prepared thirty vessels, laden with provisions and materials of war, and sent them to relieve the place under convoy of five large ships of war (galliçoens), all of which had three tiers of heavy guns and a numerous crew of fighting men. On drawing near the port, they discovered there five Dutch ships. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.18) · Pramāṇa