[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) › 338.7 # Storia do Mogor 338.7 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 338.7 - **Language:** English ### [338.7.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.1) In good time Father de Saa's letter arrived, and was by the Lord Patriarch accepted and read — a fortune which others did not obtain ; but there was nothing in those cases to be gained like this, which brought with it a thing that his Excellency so much desired. It is not easy to set forth here the joy with which it was greeted and the rejoicings made in its honour — feasts at Pondicherry, feasts in Cuddalore, feasts in Madras. But in no way was any time lost, because at once they prepared an attested copy, which was lodged among his Excellency's records. The original was sent at the same time to the Lord Governor of Cuddalore — ' When they give thee the little pig,' et cetera. They believed that at once, on view thereof, he would accept the resignation of Father Paulo de Saa, and make over at least one of the churches to the Theatines. But the Lord Governor of Cuddalore, as an experienced man who deals with cases deliberately, also having had in this affair long notice, was at once aware that Father Paulo de Saa had not written the letter on any other ground than the fear of an interdict. He kept the letter, and waited till he saw some other move in the game. ### [338.7.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.2) Meanwhile, until this is disclosed, let us go back once more to the poor Capuchins of Madras, for it was not thought right to leave them in tranquillity in any way. For the better understanding of this the reader is informed that, at the time when the Lord Nuncio sent an order by which he declared the suspension a divinis of these unfortunate men, he sent to the Reverend Father Dom Guilhermo della Valle, a Theatine friar, a patent as parochial priest of Madras, drawn up in Pondicherry on June 14 in the current year \[1704\]. With it was an order that, instead of making the suspension \[of the Capuchins\] public, he should seek rather some device by which he should obtain quiet entry into the Capuchin convent, and exercise the office of parish priest with the approbation of their superior ; but he was to insist on the Reverend Father Friar Euzebio observing the state of suspension in which he had been placed, by not celebrating or exercising any sort of ecclesiastical function. ### [338.7.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.3) The Reverend Father Dom Guilhermo, to whom in this business all warning was needless and all instructions superfluous, failed in no particular that suited and helped forward his purpose. To better secure his object, in addition to clothing himself in the lamb's skin, he shielded himself, a still better disguise, under the best friend that the Capuchins had in India. Soliciting him to be his protector and mediator in respect to what he claimed, he communicated to him in the greatest secrecy what he designed to do. His project was that, after the Capuchins of Madras had given him a cell in their convent, and allowed him to perform all the functions of parish priest, they should abstain from any exercise of their ministry; while he undertook to act in such a way that things should continue in that condition, and the Capuchins remain under suspension from the divine office. They must consent not to prosecute their appeal any further, and if they desisted they would not be persecuted any more. But I say that the joke was not half a bad one — 'to ask for a riding-saddle and carry off a pack-saddle.' ### [338.7.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.4) He said, further, that he had in his possession a patent as parish priest of Madras, but he did not wish to make use of it. Here it seems as if he wanted to make himself out an innocent, thereby better to cover up his sagacity. Feint of a discreet man! invention of a politic person! For he gave as his reason the great obligation he was under to the Capuchins for the kindness received from them (a finely-gilded pill!) in the period of three years and more they had kept him with them in their convent: 'Por la mano lheva el hombre A su casa con que llore.' They had lived like brothers, without the least difference in treatment (we ought to say it was public on the part of the Capuchins, while secret on his, for they to-day are testing it, and Time publishes it). Therein he hoped to recompense those favours, if he could on this occasion help them (considering that the annihilation of the Capuchins was a small matter). If it cost him the blood from his veins, he meant to do it with a high heart. I believe him, and everyone may believe as he pleases or as it appears to him. For Time will disenchant us all, he being a pilgrim capable of dissimulations. Who would not allow himself to be paid in such soft speeches and such honied arguments ? ### [338.7.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.5) But it pleased God that the friend to whom he confided those ideas knew very well how to count three, and though he was not so literate as the Theatine, was not a bit less wily, and thus allowed it to be supposed that he entered into his intentions. For, by refraining from arguing with him, he left it to be assumed that he had understood ; or equally, it might seem that he left discussion over for a better opportunity. This did not hinder him, however, from seeing at once, and that quite plainly, that all this discoursing was directed by the father to his own introduction into the convent, and to deceiving the Capuchins, as if they were so many infants, anointing their lips with honey, and compelling them, through pleasant words and plausible reasoning, to give up their church of their own accord. After that their good relations with the English gentlemen would be at an end. These would never forgive a thing so much to their injury as giving up possession without first getting their consent. For were they not owners of the place, and entitled to appoint at their own pleasure ? Thus the friend imparted the facts to the Capuchins, and these, remembering the advice, Non credas inimico tuo in eternum (Eccles. xii.) would not admit the father to their convent, and at once replied that the nomination of a parish priest for the Madras church did not concern them, but the English gentlemen ; ### [338.7.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.6) nor could the Reverend Father Friar Euzebio desist from continuing his ecclesiastical functions. This reply was at once sent to the Lord Nuncio, who fully perceived that the Capuchins were aware of the trap, and had avoided falling into it. We must assume that he knew equally well the difficulty there was in cajoling them, yet, none the less, he continued to pursue them, it seeming to him that they must, in the end, give in from mere weariness. He next decided on the dispatch to Madras of the negro already mentioned bearing two letters — one to the Reverend Friar Dom Guilhermo, and the other to the Reverend Father Friar Euzebio. The latter paper was a citation sent off, as the superscription purported, from San Thome, but inside without year, month, or day, nor the least indication of where it was issued. In it the friar was summoned to appear at Pondicherry in three days to give reasons for not having observed his order of suspension. This citation was flung down by the servant with studied carelessness in the street in front of the Capuchin convent \[174\] on June 24 \[1704\] during a very dark night. It was picked up by a palanquin 'boy,' who the next day brought it to the convent. ### [338.7.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.7) The citation having been received and read, the Reverend Father Friar Euzebio wrote at once a letter to his Excellency, in which he set forth that, being a prisoner by command of the government, it was impossible for him to leave in order to appear personally at Pondicherry. From this default he apprehended no ill consequence, feeling in conscience that he was in no way guilty ; nor ought his Excellency to hold him to be so, for he had only lately arrived, as was notorious in those parts, where he had not caused any scandal by his acts. For this reason he did not observe the censure launched against him, looking on it as null and void. He proved its nullity by canonical law and by authors whom he quoted in the said letter. Above all, having appealed to the Holy Apostolic See, he no longer recognised his Excellency as his judge. The letter was carried to the Lord Nuncio by the Reverend Father Friar Thomas of Poictiers, a Capuchin present in Pondicherry. The Nuncio declined to receive or look at the letter ; on the contrary, he was much enraged, and used menaces to that father \[Thomas\] for having presented it to him. ### [338.7.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7.8) On June 29 \[1704\], by order of his Excellency, there was fixed up on the gates of Pondicherry a small piece of paper, a palm in length and four fingers in breadth, bearing on it four lines of thick letters, without month, without year, without day or place whence such writing was issued, without the signature or seal of his Excellency, and, finally, having no sort of form. In it was a declaration excommunicating the Reverend Father Friar Euzebio. Not only so, for the same paper was published the following Sunday, reckoned as July 6, at San Thome, and affixed during the night at two different places in Madras. Where was there ever seen so strange a procedure as that of this prelate? The pen might extend itself greatly on this matter, but let us leave to the judgment of the reader what might be said about it. I pass on, not insisting on this beyond a mere mention, to recount other steps taken, at which there will be no less cause of wonderment. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.338.7) · Pramāṇa