The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c10.78

v1.c10.78

Conquistado, I, p. 152. It obviously presents all the elements of a forgery. The inscription of the supposed tomb: "When Thomas founded that temple, the King of Mailapura granted him the rights over the goods which arrived at the city, that was ten per cent," evidently shows the intention of the Portuguese merchants to reclaim those rights given to one of their ancestors in the faith of Christ by the Sovereign of the place. 2. The very find of the relics and their description as white bones, next to a broken lance, may be regarded as the most barefaced imposture, because there is no doubt that the holy remains of the Apostle were removed to the city of Edessa, in Syria, before the 6th century, as stated by St. Gregory de Tours in his book *De Gloria Beatorum Martyrum*, a work revised in 590. Cf. Migne, *PP. LL.*, LXXI, p. 733. Another account states that his stick was also found next to the relics. *Historia Chronologica*, O Gabinete Litterario das Fontainhas, I, p. 13. 3. The fact that his relics were put into a a China chest or into a silver box, according to others (Cf. *Historia Chronologica*, l. c.) and hidden next to the altar, but never subsequently discovered, clearly shows that the forgery was carefully concocted to explain the fact of the empty tomb carved by their care. 4. The account of the martyrdom sounds like a pious legend of the middle ages, as well as the story of King Perumal of Ceylon going to adore our Lord in the manger at the request of the Indian Sybil. 5. Finally, the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is supposed to have been brought over from Palestine by the aforesaid King Perumal, is another unmistakable sign of the forgery of this narrative.