The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c28.115

v1.c28.115

The first conversion is recorded by Ricio in a letter of 1601; not perhaps a real conversion, since Ricio says that the person baptised was a child (menino), 6, who might have died soon after. As a matter of fact Laerzio says in 1604 that “no conversions were made till now” 7. In 1606, Fr. Roiz wrote from St. Thome that in Chandragiri the Fathers had baptised six persons who were their servants; at the same time he says that "there is no hope of more conversions, because these negroes (sic) are very obstinate in their diabolic doctrines, about which I have before written to Your Reverence; they certainly acknowledge that our doctrine is good, but they say that theirs is also good and that they can obtain salvation by professing it. Hence they want to keep it, since it is according to their own customs and received from their ancestors" 1. At the end of the same year, 1606, Coutinho announces that besides the six Christians of Chandragiri, there are five more in Vellore 2. In 1607, Laerzio informs Fr. General that Fr. Rubino has made some Christians in Chandragiri 3. But Fr. Rubino himself writes that the persons converted were only four; there were besides eight others who were then being instructed. "We are working as much as possible to propagate our holy faith", he says, "but janua clausa est (the gate is shut), and great grace of God is required to open it; we must incessantly knock at it again till it be opened. Our knocking however from outside will be nothing, if God does not from the inside knock with his divine inspirations, as we hope He will do" 4. In the following year, 1608, the few Christians of Chandragiri were persecuted by the governor of the town 5, while Coutinho baptised an old man at Vellore 6.