CHAP. XV. The Story of Father Ephraim, and how he was put into the Inquisition at Goa by a surprisal.

THE Chek, who had marri'd the Eldest of the Princesses of Golconda, not be∣ing able to perswade Father Ephraim to stay at Bagnabar, where he promis'd to build him an House and a Church, gave him an Ox and two Men to carry him to Maslipatan, where he staid to embark for Pegu, according to the order of his Superiors. But finding no Vessel ready to set sail, the English drew him to Madres∣patan, where they have a Fort call'd St. George, and a general Factory for every thing that concerns the Countreys of Golconda, Pegu and Bengala. They over-perswa∣ded him that he might reap a fairer Harvest in this place, than in any other part of the Indies; to which end they presently built him a very neat House, and a Church. But in the conclusion, the English sought not so much the interest of Father Ephraim, as their own. For Madrespatan is but half a league from St. Thomas, a Sea-Town upon the Coast of Cormandel, indifferently well-built, as for∣merly belonging to the Portugals. In that place there was a very great Trade, especially for Calicuts, and a very great number of Merchants and Workmen liv'd there, the greatest part whereof desir'd to inhabit at Madrespatan with the Eng∣lish, but that there was no place for them to exercise their Religion in that place. But when the English had built a Church, and perswaded Father Ephraim to stay, many of the Portuguezes quitted St. Thomas, by reason of the frequent Preaching of Father Ephraim, and his great care as well of the Natives, as of the Portu∣gals. Father Ephraim was born at Auxerre, the Brother of Monsieur Chateau de Boys, Counsellor of the Parliament of Paris; who was very happy in learning Languages, so that in a little time he spoke English and Portuguez perfectly well. But now the Clergy of St. Thomas-Church seeing Father Ephraim in so high a re∣putation, and that he drew the greatest part of their Congregation to Madrespa∣tan, were so enrag'd against him, that they resolv'd to ruine him. And thus they laid their plot. The English and Portuguezes being neer-neighbours, could not choose but have several quarrels one among another, and still Father Ephraim was appli'd to for the composing their differences. Now one day it happen'd, that the Portuguezes quarrell'd on purpose with some English Mariners that were in St. Thomas-Road, and the English came by the worst. The English President re∣solving to have satisfaction for the injury, a War broke out between the two Na∣tions: which had ruin'd all the Trade of that Countrey, had not the Merchants on both sides been very diligent to bring things to an accommodation: not know∣ing any thing of the wicked contrivance of particular persons against Father Ephraim. But all the interposition of the Merchants avail'd nothing: the Friar must be concern'd in the affair, he must be the Mediator to act between party and party, which he readily accepted. But he was no sooner enter'd into St. Tho∣mas, but he was seiz'd by ten or twelve Officers of the Inquisition, who shipp'd him away in a Frigat that was bound at the same time for Goa. They fetter'd and manacl'd him, and kept him two and twenty days at Sea, before they would let him once put his foot a-shoar: though the best part of the Mariners lay a-shoar every night. When they came to Goa, they staid till night before they would land Father Ephraim, to carry him to the Inquisition-House. For they were afraid, left if they should land him in the day, the people should know of it, and rise in the rescue of a person, who was in an high veneration over all India. The news was presently spread abroad in all parts, that Father Ephraim was in the Inquisi∣tion, which very much amaz'd all the French-men. But he that was most sur∣priz'd, and most troubl'd at it was Friar Zenon, the Capuchin, who had been for∣merly Father Ephraim's Companion; who after he had consulted his friends, re∣solv'd to go to Goa, though he were put into the Inquisition himself. For when a man is once shut up there, if any one have the boldness to speak to the Inquisi∣tor, or to any of his Councel in his behalf, he is presently put into the Inquisition Page  86 also, and accounted a greater Offender than the other. Neither the Arch Bishop nor the Vice-Roy themselves dare interpose; though they are the only two per∣sons over whom the Inquisition has no power. For if they do any thing to offend them, they presently write to the Inquisitor and his Council in Portugal, and as the King and the Inquisitor-General commands, they either proceed against, or send those two great persons into Portugal.

Notwithstanding all these considerations, Father Zenon, taking along with him the Sieur de la Boulay,, a decaid Gentleman, goes to Goa; where, when he arriv'd, he was visited by some friends, who advise him to have a care not to open his mouth in the behalf of Father Ephraim, unless he intended to bear him company in the Inquisition. Father Zenon seeing he could do nothing at Goa, advis'd the Sieur de Boulay to return to Surat: and goes himself directly to Madrespatan, more particularly to inform himself concerning the reason of Father Ephraim's being sent away. But when he understood how he had been betraid at St. Thomas, he resolv'd to have satisfaction, and without acquainting the English-President, com∣municates his design to the Captain that commanded in the Fort: Who being in∣cens'd, as were all the Souldiers, at the injury done Father Ephraim, not only approv'd, but also promis'd Father Zenon to assist him in his design. Thereupon the Father sets his spies; and understanding by them, that the Governor of St. Tho∣mas went every Saturday-morning, early, to a Chappel upon a Mountain half a league from the City, dedicated to the Virgin-Mary, he causes three Iron-Bars to be fix'd in the window of a little Chamber in the Covent, with two good locks to the door, and as many padlocks. And having so done, he goes to the Governor of the Fort, who was an Irish-man, and a very stout person; who with thirty Souldiers, and Father Zenon, issu'd out of the Fort about midnight, and hid them∣selves till day near the Chappel, in a part of the Mountain, where they could not be discover'd. The Governor of St. Thomas came exactly, according to his custom, a little after Sun-rising; and as soon as ever he alighted from his Pallequin, was immediately surpriz'd by the Ambuscade, and carri'd to Maslipatan, into the Cham∣ber in the Covent which the Friar had provided for him. The Governor thus surpriz'd, made great protestations against Father Zenon, and threaten'd him with what the King would do when he should come to hear what he had practis'd against the Governor of one of his Garrisons. To which Father Zenon said no more, but only that he believ'd that he was better us'd at Madrespatan, than Fa∣ther Ephraim was us'd at the Inquisition at Goa, whither he had sent him: That if he would obtain liberty for Father Ephraim to return, he would leave him in the same place where they had seiz'd his person, with as much Justice, as he had to send Father Ephraim to Goa,. Many people came to the English President, de∣siring him to use his authority for the Governor's liberty. But his answer was, that the Governor was not in his jurisdiction, neither could he compel Father Ze∣non to release him, who had been one of the Authors of the injury which had been done his Companion. So that he contented himself only to desire of Fa∣ther Zenon that his Prisoner might dine at his Table in the Fort, promising him to return him when he should require his body; a request which he easily obtain'd, but could not so easily keep his word. For the Drummer of the Garrison being a French-man, with a Merchant of Marseilles, call'd Roboli, then in the Fort, two days after came to the Governor, and promis'd him, for a good reward, to pro∣cure his escape. The agreement being made, the Drummer in the morning beat the Reveillez sooner than he was wont to do, and lowder, while Roboli and the Go∣vernor let themselves down at a corner of a Bastion that was not very high; and were presently as nimbly follow'd by the Drummer; so that Madrespatan and St. Thomas being but half a league asunder, they were all three in the Town before their escape was known. The whole City greatly rejoyc'd at the return of their Governor, and immediately dispatch'd away a Barque to Goa to carry the news. The Drummer also and the Merchant set sail at the same time, and when they came to Goa with Letters of recommendation in their behalf, there was no House or Covent which did not make them Presents: The Vice-Roy also himself caress'd them extremely, and took them into his own Ship to have carri'd them into Por∣tugal along with him; but both he and the two French-men dy'd at Sea.

Page  87 Never did any Vice-Roy depart from Goa so rich as Don Philippo de Mascareg∣nas; for he had a great parcel of Diamonds, all large stones, from ten Carats to forty. He shew'd me two when I was at Goa, one whereof weigh'd 57 Carats, the other 67 and an half; clean Stones, of an excellent water, and cut after the In∣dian manner. The report was that the Vice-Roy was poison'd in the Ship, and that it was a just punishment of Heaven, for that he had poison'd several others, especially when he was Governor of Ceylan. He had always most exquisite poi∣sons by him, to make use of when his revenge requir'd it: for which reason, ha∣ving rais'd himself many enemies, one morning he was found hung in Effigie in Goa; when I was there in the year 1648.

In the mean time, the Imprisonment of Father Ephraim made a great noise in Europe; Monsieur de Chasteau des Bois his Brother complain'd to the Portugal Em∣bassador, who presently wrote to the King his Master to send a positive command by the first Ships, that Father Ephraim should be discharg'd. The Pope also wrote, declaring that he would excommunicate all the Clergy of Goa, if they did not set him at liberty. But all this signifi'd nothing. So that Father Ephraim was be∣holding for his liberty to none but the King of Golconda, who had a love for him, and would have had him have staid at Bagnagar. For the King was then at Wars with the Raja of Carnatica, and his Army lay round about St. Thomas's. Hearing there∣fore what a base trick the Portuguezes had plaid with Father Ephraim, he sent Or∣ders to his General Mirgimola to lay siege to the Town, and put all to Fire and Sword, unless the Governor would make him a firm promise that Father Ephraim should be set at liberty in two months. A Copy of this Order was sent to the Governor, which so alarm'd the Town, that they dispatch'd away Barque after Barque, to press the Vice-Roy to use his endeavours for the release of Father Ephraim. Thereupon he was releas'd; but though the door were set open, he would not stir, till all the Religious Persons in Goa came in Procession to fetch him out. When he was at liberty he spent 15 days in the Convent of the Capu∣chins. I have heard Father Ephraim say several times, that nothing troubl'd him so much all the while of his imprisonment, as to see the ignorance of the Inquisitor and his Councel, when they put him any question: and that he did not believe that any one of them had ever read the Scripture. They laid him in the same Chamber, with a Maltese, who never spoke two words without a desperate oath; and took Tobacco all day, and a good part of the night, which was very offensive to Father Ephraim.

When the Inquisitors seize upon any person, they search him presently; and as for his Goods and wearing-Apparel, it is set down in an Inventory, to be return'd him again in case he be acquitted; but if he have any Gold, Silver, or Jewels, that is never set down; but is carri'd to the Inquisitor to defray the expences of the Process. They search'd the Reverend Father Ephraim, but found nothing in his Cloak-pockets, unless it were a Comb, an Inkhorn, and two or three Hand∣kerchiefs. But forgetting to search the little Pockets which the Capuchins carry in their sleeves toward their armpits, they left him four or five black-lead pens. These Pencils did him a great kindness. For the Maltese calling for such a deal of Tobacco, which is always cut and ti'd up in white-paper, for the profit of the seller, who weighs both Tobacco and Paper together: these Papers Father Ephraim kept very charily, and with his Pencil wrote therein whatever he had studi'd at any time: though he lost the sight of one of his eyes, through the darkness of the Chamber, which had but one window, half a foot square, and barr'd with iron. They would never so much as lend him a Book, or let him have an end of Candle; but us'd him as bad as a certain Miscreant that had been twice let out already with his Shirt sulphur'd, and a St. Andrews-Cross upon his stomach, in company with those that are lead to the Gallows, and was then come in again.

Father Ephraim having staid 15 days in the Convent of the Capuchins to re∣cover his strength after 20 months imprisonment, return'd for Madrespatan, and passing through Golconda, went to return his humble thanks to the King of Gol∣colda and his Son-in-law, who had so highly interess'd themselves for his liberty. The King importun'd him again to stay at Bagnagar, but seeing him resolv'd to re∣turn to his Convent at Madrespatan, they gave him as before, an Oxe, two Ser∣vants, and Money for his journey.