第10章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Vanished Arcadia",免费读到尾

  Thearrobaisabouttwenty

  fivepoundsweight。

  ThehigglingofthemarketnothavingprovedeffectualintheadjustmentofthesumtobepaidbytheGovernor,apriest,oneJuanLozano,whohadbeencondemnedtoimprisonmentbyhissuperiorsforhislooselife,andwhohadtakenrefugewiththeBishop,hitonastrokeofveritablegenius。AtaconferencewhichtookplacebetweentheBishopandseveralnotablesoftheplace,includingtherectoroftheJesuits,Lozanogaveitashisopinionthat,iftheGovernorrefusedtopay,ageneralinterdictshouldbeproclaimed。

  TherectoroftheJesuitsretiredindignantly,and`Pe\\reLozano,retroussantsarobelepoursuivitencrianta\\pleinete^te,ets\'exprimantendestermespeuseansa\\saprofession。\'

  BythistimeAsuncionmusthavebeenlikeamadhouse,fornooneseemstohavebeenastonished,oreventohavethoughthisconductsingular。

  TheBishop,alwaysreadytotaketheworstadvice,gotreadyforhistask,andonEasterEveembarkedupontheriver,leavinghisVicar

  Generalunderorderstoproclaimthegeneralban。Thiswasdone,andtheedictsocontrivedastocatchthelucklessGovernorineverychurch。Thepracticaleffectwastocloseallthechurches,fortowhateverchurchtheGovernorwentthepriestrefusedtocelebratetheMass。Severalotherpersonswerementionedintheban,whichwaspostedupbelowacrucifixinthechoiroftheCathedral。

  AsDonBernardinohadomittedtostatetheparticularoffencesforwhichtheywerecondemned,thegeneralconfusionbecameintense,andnooneattendedMass,sothatthechurchesweredeserted。

  Afteralittlesomeofthechurchesopenedinaclandestinemanner,othersremainedclosed,andthefollowersoftheBishopandtheGovernoralternatelyassembledinarabble,andthrewstonesatallthechurches,dispensingtheirfavoursquiteimpartially。ThevariousreligiousOrders,nottobebehindhand,alsotooksides,theJesuitsgivingastheiropinionthattheGovernor,nothavingawaruponhisback,wasreallyexcommunicated;

  theDominicansholdingthattheBishop,inthegeneralinterest,oughttoabsolvehim。He,armedwiththeopinionofthelatterOrder,marchedtothedwellingoftheBishop\'sVicar

  General,and,havingnailedupbothdoorsandwindows,sentatrumpetertotellhimheshouldnotleavehishousetillabsolutionhadbeengranted。

  Stillnothingcameofit,andthentheGovernordidwhatheshouldhavedoneatfirst:hesentastatementofthewholeproceedingstothehighcourtatCharcas。ThishighcourtAudienciawassituatedrightinthemiddleofwhatisnowBolivia,milesawayfromLima,halfaworldfromParaguay,atleasttwothousandmilesfromBuenosAyres,andseparatedfromChilebythewholeCordilleraoftheAndes。

  Evento

  daythejourneyfromParaguayoftenexceedsamonth。

  Charlevoix。

  TheBishop,nottobeoutdone,alsopreparedastatement,inwhichheaccusedhisadversaryofallthecrimesthathecouldthinkof,andconfirmedhisstatementwithanoath。Thechapter,thinkingthingswereinanimpossiblecondition,besoughtthatthefinelaidontheexcommunicatedfolkshouldberaisedorlessened,asitappearedtothemtherewasnotmoneyinthetowntosatisfyit。

  Cardenasrefused,andthusfourmonthselapsed。SoonafterthisarrivedoneFatherTruxillo,oftheOrderofSt。Francis,whocamefromTucumanasVice

  Provincial。Cardenas,thinking,astheywerebothFranciscans,thatTruxillomustneedsbefavourabletohiscause,madehimhisVicar

  General,withpowertobindandtounloose

  thatis,tofreetheexcommunicatedfolkfromalltheirdisabilitiesif,onexamination,itseemedgoodtohim。Truxillo,whowasquiteunbiassedastomattersinAsuncion,lookedintoeverything,anddeclaredtheGovernorandeverybodyoughttobeabsolved。Hefurthergaveitashisopinionthat,theaffairhavinggonetothehighcourtatCharcas,hecoulddonothingbutgiveaninterimdecree。DonBernardinoheardthenewsatItati,anIndianvillageafewmilesoutsideAsuncion。FromthencehewenttoasomewhatlargervillagecalledYaguaron,andshuthimselfupinaconvent,afterdeclaringeveryoneexceptthesuperiorclergy

  undertheseverestcensureoftheChurchiftheyshoulddareapproach。

  NotabadplaceforprayerandmeditationisYaguaron。Ascoreortwooflittlehouses,builtofstrawandwoodandthatchedwithpalm

  leaves,straggleonthehillsideabovetheshoresofagreatcamalote

  coveredlake。

  Parrotsscreamnoisilyamongstthetrees,andredmacawshoverlikehawksoverthelittlepatchesofmaizeandmandiocaplantedamongstthepalms。

  Roundeveryhouseissetagroveoforange

  trees,mingledwithlemons,sweetlimes,andguayabas。Insidethehousesallissocleanthatyoucouldeatfromanyfloorwithlessrepulsionthanfromtheplatesatafirst

  classhotel。Aplacewherelifeslipsonaslistlessandluxuriantasthegrowthofabanana,andwhereateveningtime,whenthewomenoftheplacegotofetchwaterinalonglinewithearthenjarsbalancedupontheirheads,thegoldenageseemslessimprobableeventhaninTheocritus。ToYaguaronthehigherclergyflockedtointercedeforthegoodpeopleofAsuncion,allexceptFatherTruxillo,who,knowingsomethingofhisBishop,didnotgo。Thathewaswise,eventsprovedshortly。Twocanons

  DiegoPoncedeLeonandFernandoSanchez

  heimprisonedintheirrooms,callingthemtraitorstotheirBishopandtheirChurch。

  Deputationscamefromthecapitaltobegfortheirrelease,butallinvain。TheBishopansweredthemthathehadsethismindtopurgehisdioceseoftraitors;andthetwocanonsremainedinprison。

  Afteradetentionwhichlastedfortydays,theyescapedandfledtoCorrientes,whichmusthavelookeduponAsuncionasavastmadhouse。

  Truxillo,whoseemstohavebeenamannotquitesoabsolutelydevoidofsenseastheotherclergy,endeavouredtoorganizeareligious`coupd\'etat\';

  but,mostunfortunately,aletterhehadwrittentosomeofthesanerclergyfellintotheBishop\'shands。Excommunicationsnowpositivelyrainedupontheland。TheGovernor,theJesuits,theDominicans,eachhadtheirturn;but,curiouslyenough,thepoorerpeoplestillstoodfirmtoCardenas,thinking,nodoubt,amanwhotreatedalltherichersortsoharshlymustdosomethingforthepoor。

  Nothing,however,wasfurtherfromthethoughtsofCardenas,whothoughtthewholeworldcircledroundhimself。TheBishop\'snephewhavingreturnedtoCorrientesandhisformernaughtylife,DonBernardino,castingaboutforanothersecretary,cameononeFranciscoNieto,anapostatefromtheOrderofSt。Francis,andlivingopenlywithanIndianwoman,bywhomhehadason。HimtheBishopmadehischaplain,thenhisconfessor;andpoorNietofoundhimselfobligedtosendhisIndianwifeawayinspiteofallhisprotestsandhiswishtoliveobscurelyashehadbeenlivingbeforehiselevationtothepostofsecretary。

  AveritablebeachcomberFatherFranciscoNietoseemstohavebeen,andthetypeofmanyaEuropeaninParaguay,whoasksnobetterthantoforgetthetediumofourmodernlifeandpasshisdaysinalittlepalm

  thatchedhutlostinaclearingofawoodornearsomelake。

  Camaloteisaspeciesofwater

  lilywhichformsathickcoveringonstagnantriversandlakesinParaguayandintheArgentineRepublic。

  SoinAsuncionthingswentfrombadtoworse。Suchtradeasthenexistedwasatastandstill,andbandsofstarvingpeopleswarmedinthestreets,whilsttheincursionsofthesavageIndiansdailybecamemorefrequent。

  Infact,Asuncionwasbutatypeofwhattheworldwouldbeunderthedominationofanyofthesectswithoutthecounterpoiseofanycivilpower。TheGovernor,seeingthemiseryoneveryside,determined,likeanhonestman,topocketuphisprideandreconcilehimselfwithCardenasatanyprice。So,settingforthwithallhisstaff,hecametoYaguaron。There,likeapenitent,hehadtobearareprimandbeforetheassembledvillageandengagetopayafinebeforetherancorouschurchmanwouldrelievehimfromtheban。

  TheweaknessoftheGovernorhadtheeffectthatmighthavebeenexpected,andheavyfineswerelaidonallandsundrywhohadinanymannerdispleasedtheBishoporleanedtotheothersideinthecourseofthedispute。

  Rightinthemiddleofthestrugglebetweentheclericalandlayauthorities,abandofoverthreehundredGuaycurusappearedbeforethetown。

  Unluckily,allthechiefofficersofthegarrisonwereexcommunicated,andthusincapableofdoinganythingtodefendtheplace。

  FoolishasCardenasmostindubitablywas,hisfollydidnotcarryhimsofarastoleavethecapitalofhisdiocesequiteundefended。

  Still,hewouldnotgivewayfirst,andonlyatthemomentwhentheIndiansseemedpreparedtoattackthetown,attheentreatyofa`piousvirgin\',heraisedtheexcommunicationontheGovernorandhisofficersforfifteendays。TheGovernor,insteadof,likeasensibleman,seizingtheBishopandgivinghimtothe`cacique\'oftheGuaycurus,ledouthistroopsanddrovetheIndiansoff。ThatverynighthefoundhimselfoncemoreunderthecensureoftheChurch,andtheconflictwithhisopponentmorebitterthanatfirst。TheViceroyofPeru,theMarquisofMancera,indignantattheweaknessoftheGovernor,wrotesharplytohim,reprimandinghimandtellinghimatoncetoasserthimselfandforcetheBishoptoconfinehimselftomattersspiritual。OntheGovernor\'sattempttoreasserthimself,theanswerwasageneralinterdictlayingtheentirecapitalundertheChurch\'sban。Onthis,hemarchedtoYaguaronwithallhistroops,resolvedtotaketheBishopprisoner;buthe,seeingthetroopsapproach,wentoutatonce,fellontheGovernor\'sneck,andstraightwayabsolvedhim。

  Aftertheabsolutioncameabanquet,whichmusthavebeenalittleconstrained,onemightimagine,andevenlessamusingthantheregulationdinner

  partyoftheLondonseason,whereonesitsbetweentwohalf

  nakedandperspiringwomeneatinghalf

  rawmeatanddrinkingfierywineswiththethermometerateightyintheshade。ThusdisembarrassedfromtheGovernor,DonBernardinoturnedhisattentiontotheJesuits,andsignifiedtothemthatheintendedtotaketheeducationoftheyoungoutoftheirhands。

  ThiswasamortalaffronttotheJesuits,astheyhavealwaysunderstoodthatmen,justastheotheranimals,canonlylearnwhilstyoung。

  Harduponthisnewstep,Cardenasissuedanedictforbiddingthemtopreachorhearconfessions。AsfortheGovernor,theBishopdidnotfearhim,andthepoorerpeopleofAsuncionhadalwaysinclinedtotheBishop\'sparty,eitherthroughterroroftheChurch\'sbanorfromtheirnaturalinstinctthattheBishopwasagainsttheGovernment。

  ButCardenassawclearlythat,todealashewishedwiththeJesuits,hemustentirelygaintheGovernor\'sconfidence。ThishetriedtodobysendingtohimoneFatherLopez,ProvincialoftheDominicans。

  ThisLopezwasanableandapparentlyquitehonestman,forhetoldtheGovernorthatthewishofCardenaswastoexpeltheJesuitsfromParaguay,andfromtheirmissions,warninghimatthesametimenottoallowhimselftobemadeuseofbytheBishopinhisdesign。

  Fromthatmomentthetwoadversariesseemedtohavechangedcharacters,andDonGregoriobecameascautiousasachurchman,whereastheBishopseemedtoloseallhisdiplomacy。

  Toalltheprotestationsoffriendshipwhichwereaddressedtohim,theGovernoransweredsoadroitlythattheBishopfellintothetrap,andthoughthehadsecuredapartnertohelphimintheexpulsionoftheJesuits。Finally,atYaguaron,duringasermon,heformulatedhiscelebratedchargesagainsttheJesuits,which,setonfootbyhimin1644,eventuallycausedtheexpulsionofthewholeOrderfromAmerica,and,thoughrefutedathousandtimes,stilllingerinthewritingofallthosewhotreatthequestiondowntothepresentday。

  Thechargeswereseveninnumber,andsoingeniouslycontrivedthatroyal,national,anddomesticindignationwereallarousedbythem。

  ThefirstwasthattheJesuitspreventedtheIndiansfrompaying1

  theirannualtaxestothecrown。Secondly,thattheJesuitskeptbackthetithesfromBishopsandArchbishops。2Thirdly,hesaidtheJesuitshadrichminesintheirpossession,andthattheproductofthesemineswasallsentoutofthecountrytothegeneralfundatRome。

  ThistheJesuitsdisprovedonseveraloccasions,but,asoftenhappensinsuchcases,proofwasofnoavailagainstthefollyofmankind,towhomitseemedincrediblethattheJesuitsshouldburythemselvesindesertstopreachtosavages,unlesstherewassomecountervailingadvantagetobegained。EventhefactthatattheexpulsionoftheCompanyofJesusfromAmericanotreasureatallwasfoundatanyoftheircollegesormissionsdidnotdispeltheconvictionthattheyownedrichmines。ThefourthchargewasthattheJesuitswerenotparticularaboutthesecretsoftheconfessional,andthattheyusedtheinformationthusacquiredfortheirownselfishends。

  Further,thatFatherRuizdeMontoyahadacquiredfromtheKing,underamisapprehension,aroyaledict,3givingtheterritoryofthemissionstotheJesuits,thustakingthefruitsoftheirconquestfromtheSpanishcolonists。Fifthly,thattheJesuitsenteredParaguaypossessedbutoftheclothesupontheirbacks,thattheyhadmadethemselvesintothesovereignrulersofagreatterritory,butthathewasgoingtoexpelthem,astheVenetianshadexpelledthemfromVenetia。4

  Sixthly,thateventhePortugueseofSanPaulodePiritinangahadexpelledthem。5Hislastassertionwasthathehimself,togetherwiththeBishopofTucumanandothers,hadsecretordersfromtheKingtoexpeltheJesuitsfromtheirdioceses,butthattheotherBishopslackedthecouragewhichheCardenaswasthenabouttoshow。

  Hewoundupallbysayingthat,oncetheJesuitsweregone,theKingwouldonceagainenjoyhisrights,theChurchbeonceagainrestoredtofreedom,and,lastly,thattherewouldbeplentyofIndiansforthesettlerstoenslave。Quitepossiblyenough,thepublic,evergeneroustoafaultwithotherpeople\'sgoods,caredlittlefortherightsofaKingwholivedtenthousandmilesaway;

  andasfortheChurch,itseemsmostprobabletheyfailedtoseetheperilthatsheran。ButwhentheBishopspokeofenslavingtheIndians,theysawtheJesuitsmustgo,forfromtheconquesttheJesuitshadstoodbetweenthesettlersandtheirprey。Allthingsconsidered,DonBernardinomadearemarkablediscoursethatSundaymorninginthepalm

  thatchedvillagebythelake,fortheechoofitstillresoundsinthereligiousworldagainsttheJesuits。

  1Thiswasuntrue,astheJesuitmissionswerenotatthattime1644

  apportionedintoparishesundertheauthorityoftheJesuits,andsuchtributeasthenwascustomarywasallcollectedbygovernmentofficials。

  2Thiswasalsountrue,asthetitheswereneverregulatedinParaguaytill1649。

  3Thisaccusationwasquiteuntrue,fortheedictreferredtowasnotobtainedundermisapprehension,butafteracompleteexpositionofallthefacts。Moreover,itwassubsequentlyrenewedonseveraloccasionsbytheSpanishKings。

  4TheVenetiansdidnotexpeltheJesuits,theyleftVenetiaoftheirownaccord。

  5FathersMontoyaandTanowentrespectivelytoRomeandtoMadridtolaythesorrowsoftheIndiansbeforetheKingandPope。

  HavingobtainedtheedictfromtheKingthatCardenasreferredto,andabrieffromthePopeUrbanVIII。forbiddingslavery,theyhadthehardihoodtoappearwithinthecityofSanPauloandaffixbothedictstothechurchdoor。Aswastobeexpected,thePaulistasimmediatelyexpelledthemfromtheirterritories,andhencethesemi

  truthofthesixthchargemadebyBishopCardenas。

  Likeothermenafteranotablepronouncement,itismostprobablethatCardenaswasunawareofthefullimportofhiswords。

  Perhapshethoughtasspeakerswillthatallthebestportionsofhissermonhadbeenleftunsaid。Bethatasitmay,heshortlyturnedhisthoughtstoothermattersofmoredirectimportancetohimself。

  Injudgingofhislife,itshouldnotbeforgottenthat,byhissermonatYaguaron,heplacedhimselfuponthesideofthosewhowantedtoenslavetheIndians。Perhapshedidnotknowthis,andcertainlyhispopularityamongsttheIndiansoutsidethemissionswasenormous。HisnextadventurewastotryandejecttheJesuitsfromafarmtheyhad,calledSanIsidro。TheGovernorhavingforbiddenhimtodoso,hearmedanarmyofhispartisanstoexpeltheJesuitsfromtheircollegeinthecapital。

  OutsideAsunciontheLieutenant

  Governor,DonFranciscoFlorez,mettheBishop\'ssecretary,FatherNieto,whoinformedhimoftheenterprise,exhortinghimtoenlistthesympathiesoftheGovernorinsogoodacause。

  Florez,abetterdiplomatistthanhiscommandingofficer,seemedtoapprove,andnaturallydeceivedpoorFatherNieto,who,likemosthypocrites,becameaneasypreytohisowntacticswhenusedagainsthimself。

  FlorezinformedtheGovernoratonce,andhesenttotheJesuits,andputthemontheirguard。NextdayhemettheBishop,andtoldhimthathisenterprisecouldnotsucceed,astheJesuitswereunderarms。

  NodoubthelearnedtheseartificesinhiscampaignsagainsttheIndiansofArauco,oritmayhavebeenthat,likeotherswhohavehadtostrivewithchurchmen,helearnedtobeatthemwiththeirowncontroversialarms。TheBishopfellcompletelyintothesnare,and,thinkingtheGovernorwasafastfriend,confidedallhisplanstohimfortheexpulsionoftheJesuitsandtheconquestofthemissionterritory。

  JustthenCaptainDonPedroDiazdelVallecamefromLaPlata,andgaveDonBernardinoanewdecisionoftheHighCourtofCharcas,tellinghimtoliveinpeacewithallmen,andgovernhisdiocesewithzeal。

  Hecertainlywaszealoustoanextraordinarydegree,ifnotjudicious。

  Therefore,theverymentionoftheword`zeal\'musthavebeenpeculiarlyoffensivetosuchazealousman。Theletterwentontosaythatallthefineshehadexactedwereillegal,andcommandedhimtogivebackthe`yerba\'whichhehadextortedfromhisinvoluntarypenitents,andinthefutureliveonbettertermswithallaroundhim。Toallofthishepaidnonotice,aswastobeexpected,but,toavoidreturningthe`yerba\',sentalettertohisofficerstohaveitburned。Thisletter,whichhedenied,wassubsequentlyproducedagainsthimintheHighCourtatCharcas。

  SeeingtheGovernorwasbentonfrustratingorondeceivinghim,hetriedtogetfromDonSebastianLeon,whoheldanofficeundertheGovernor,anedictoftheEmperorCharlesV。,whichhehadheardwasinthearchives,andwhichprovidedthat,incaseaGovernorshoulddieorbedeposed,thenotablesoftheplacehadpowertoappointaninterimGovernortofillhisplace。

  Ifsuchapapereverexisted,itmusthavebeenaveryearlydocumentgivenbyCharlesV。atthefoundationofthecolony,fornothingwasmoreopposedtothetraditionsofSpanishpolicythroughoutAmerica。

  DonSebastianLeonhavinginformedtheGovernor,thelattersawthatthingswerecomingtoacrisis,andthateitherheortheBishopwouldhavetoleavetheplace。Notbeingsureofallhistroops,andtheBishophavingthepopulaceuponhisside,hesenttotheJesuitmissionsforsixhundredIndians。Thusthesupremacyoftheroyalgovernmentfelltobesupportedbymenbutjustemergingfromasemi

  nomadlife,whoowedthetinctureofcivilizationtheypossessedtothecalumniatedJesuits。

  OnmanyoccasionsarmiesofIndiansfromtheJesuitmissionsrenderedimportantservicestothecrownofSpain:notonlyagainstthePortuguese,butagainstEnglishcorsairs,andinrebellions,asinthecaseofCardenas;oraswhen,intheyear1680,PhilipV。wrotetotheGovernorofBuenosAyrestogarrisontheportwithacontingentofIndiansfromtheJesuitreductions;in1681,whentheFrenchattackedtheportwithasquadronoffour

  and

  twentyships;

  andatthefirstsiegeoftheColonia,in1678,whenthreethousandIndiansmarchedtotheattack,accompaniedbytheirJesuitpastors,butunderthecommandofSpanishofficers。

  Funes,`HistoriaCivildelParaguay,Buenos

  Ayres,yTucuman\'。

  AnarmyfromtheJesuitmissionsconsistedalmostentirelyofcavalry。

  ItmarchedmuchlikeaSouthAmericanarmyoftwentyyearsagowaswonttomarch。Infrontwasdriventhe`caballada\',consistingofthesparehorses;thencamethevanguard,composedofthebestmountedsoldiers,undertheir`caciques\'。

  Thenfollowedthewivesandwomenofthesoldiers,drivingthebaggage

  mules,andlastlysomeherdsmendroveatroopofcattleforthementoeat。

  WhenJesuitsaccompaniedthearmy,theydidnotenterintoaction,butweremostintrepidinsuccouringthewoundedunderfire,asFunes,inhis`HistoriaCivildelParaguay\',etc。,

  relateswhenspeakingoftheirconductatthesiegeoftheColoniain1703。

  Forarmstheycarriedlances,slings,`chuzos\'broad

  pointedspears,lazos,andbolas,andhadamongstthemcertainverylongEnglishgunswithreststofirefrom,notveryheavy,andofagoodrange。

  EachdaytheaccompanyingJesuitssaidMass,andeachtowncarrieditsparticularbannerbeforethetroop。Theygenerallycamped,ifpossible,intheopenplain,bothtoavoidsurprisesandforconvenienceinguardingthecattleandthe`caballada\'。InalltheterritoriesofSouthAmericanosuchquietandwell

  behavedsoldierywastobefound;

  forinChile,Peru,Mexico,andGuatemala,thepassageofanarmywassimilartothepassingofaswarmoflocustsinitseffect。

  ThetestimonyofFunesisasfollows:`A/juiciodetestigoocularnoesma/sadmirablelasangrefriadesuscapellanes\'

  `HistoriaCivildelParaguay\',bookiii。,cap。viii。。

  DonBernardino,onhisside,wasoccupiedinanimatingthepopulaceagainsttheJesuitswithallthefervourofanApostle。Naturally,hefirstcommencedbylaunchinghisusualsentenceofexcommunicationagainstthem,andhavingdonesoreturnedagaintoYaguaron。Thisvillage,likeotherParaguayanvillages,manyofwhichintimesgonebyhavebeenthescenesofstirringepisodes,retainsto

  daybutlittletodistinguishit。

  Naturehasprovedtoopowerfulinthelong

  runformentofightagainst。

  Oneverysidethewoodsseemreadytooverwhelmtheplace。

  Grassgrowsbetweenthewoodenstepsoftheneglectedchurch;

  seibos,lapachos,espinillosdeolor,allboundtogetherwithlianas,encroachtothevergesofthelittleclearingsinwhichgrowsmandioca,lookinglikeafieldofsticks。Alldaytheparrotsscream,andtoucansandpicafloresdartabout;ateveningthemonkeyshowlinchorus;

  atnightthejaguarprowlsabout,andgiantbatsfastenupontheincautioussleeper,or,fixingthemselvesuponahorse,leavehimexhaustedinthemorningwiththelossofblood。

  WhenCardenasusedtheplaceasasortofAvignonfromwhichtosafelyutterhisanathemas,itmusthavewornadifferentaspect。

  Nodoubtprocessionsandceremonieswerecontinual,withcarryingaboutthesaintsinpublic,acustomwhichtheParaguayansirreverentlyrefertoas`sacandoa/luzlosbultos\'。Messengers`chasquis\',nodoubt,cameandwentperpetually,asisthecustomincountriessuchasParaguay,wherenewsisvaluableandhorsefleshcheap。Theretoflocked,toamoralcertainty,allthebrokensoldierswhoswarmedincountrieslikePeruandParaguay,withIndian`caciques\'lookingoutforworktodowhenwhitemenquarrelledandthroatsweretobecut。Priestswentandcame,friarsandmissionaries;andCardenasmostcertainly,wholovedeffect,gaveallhisemeraldringtokiss,andmadethosepromiseswhichleadersofrevoltlavishoneveryoneintimesofdifficulty。

  Literally,`takingouttheblockstoair\'。Theeffigiesaremadeofhardandheavywood,andIrememberonceinConcepciondeParaguayassistingonaswelteringdaytocarryaMadonnaweighingaboutfivehundredweight。

  WhentheIndiancontingentarrived,theGovernormarcheduponYaguaron,althoughtheairwaspositivelyluridwithexcommunications。

  TheBishop,rushingtothechurch,wasinterceptedbytheGovernor,whoseizedhisarmandtriedtostophim。Cardenasstruggledwithhim,anddeclaredhimexcommunicatedforlayinghishandupontheanointedoftheLord。But,mostunfortunately,therewasnoFitz

  UrseathandtoridtheGovernorofsoturbulentapriest。

  AmulattowomanrushedtotheBishop\'said,togetherwithsomepriests。

  ThisgavehimtimetogainthealtarandseizetheHost,whichheexposedatoncetothepublicgaze,andforthemomentallpresentfellupontheirknees。TurningtotheGovernor,heaskedwhathewantedwitharmedmeninachurch。TheGovernorrepliedhehadcometobanishhimfromParaguay,byorderoftheViceroy,forhavinginfringeduponthetemporalpower。Cardenas,takenaback,repliedhewouldobey,and,turningtothepeople,tookthemallforwitnesses。TheGovernor,nodoubtthinkinghewasdealingwithanhonestAraucanchief,retired。TheBishopimmediatelydenouncedtheGovernorinafurioussermon,afterwhichheleftthechurch,carryingtheHostinfullprocession,accompaniedbythechoirsingingthe`PangeLingua\',followedbyabandofIndianwomenwiththeirhairdishevelled,andcarryinggreenbranchesintheirhands。

  Hethenreturnedtothechurch,andfromthepulpitdenouncedtheGovernor,who,standingatthedoorsurroundedbyagroupofarquebusiersblowingtheirmatches,answeredhimfuriously。

  TheproverbsaysinParaguay,`Nosefiademulanimulata\'。

  Thehonours,sotospeak,beingthusequallydivided,itremainedforonesideortheothertonegotiate。Cardenas,knowinghimselfmuchablerinnegotiationsthanhisadversary,proposedaconference,inwhichheborehimselfsoskilfullythathemadetheGovernorconsenttodismisshisIndians,andallowhimsixdaystomakehispreparationsfortheroad。Thissettled,atdeadofnighthesetoutforthecapital。

  Arrivedthere,heshowedhimselfinpublicinhisgreenhat,havinguponhisbreastalittleboxofglassinwhichheboretheHost。

  Abandofpriestsescortedhim,allwitharmsconcealedbeneaththeircloaks,inthetruespiritoftheChurchmilitant。Thebellswererung,andeveryeffortstrainedtoraiseatumult,butallinvain。

  HehadtothrowhimselfforrefugeintotheconventoftheFranciscans。

  Atoncehesetabouttofortifytheplacetostandasiege。Inseveralplacesheconstructedembrasuresforguns,andpiercedthewallsformusketry。

  But,thinkingthathisbestdefencelayinthefollyofthepeople

  aspublicmenalwayshavedone,anddo

  hesenttotheCathedralforastatueoftheBlessedVirgin,andanotherofSanBlas,andplacedthematthegate。Then,rememberingthatcalumnywasamostserviceableweapon,heputaboutthetownareportthattheIndiansfromthemissionshadpillagedYaguaron,andthattheyeventhenweremarchingontheplace。AgainrecurringtotheedictofCharlesV。,whichhepretendedtohavefound,heissuedaproclamationthat,asthepresentGovernorwasexcommunicated,andthereforecouldnotgovern,theofficebeingvacant,heintendedtonominateanotherinhisstead。Hissubsequentbehaviourshowsmostclearlythathewishedtonominatehimself。

  AgainbothsidessentoffarelationoftheirdoingstotheHighCourtofCharcas。DonBernardinowroteinhisthattheJesuitshadofferedtheGovernorthirtythousandcrowns,andplacedathousandmenathiscommand,ifhewouldexpeltheBishopfromthecountry,underthebeliefthatheDonBernardinoknewoftheirhiddenminesinthemissionterritory。Hiswitnesseswerestudentsandpriests,andoneoftheseprovingrecalcitrant,theBishophadhimheavilychained,andthensuspendedoutsidetheconventoftheFranciscans。

  Thisdrastictreatmenthadthedesiredeffect,astorturealwayshaswithreasonablemen,andthepoorwitnesssigned,butafterwardsprotested,thusgivingagoodexampleinhimselfofthetruthoftheSpanishsaying,`Protestandpay\'。

  `Pagaryapelar\'。

  Bythistimethepatienceandlong

  sufferingoftheGovernorwerequiteexhausted。HethereforesenttotheBishoptosayashipwasreadytotakehimdowntheriver,andatthesametimeremindedhimofhispromiseatYaguarontoobeytheorderoftheViceroyofPeru。Hesentthemessagebytheroyalnotary,GomezdeCoyeso,whoaccordinglyrepairedtotheconventofSanFrancisco。Atthedoorapriestappeared,armedwithajavelin,whothreetimestriedtowoundthenotary,onwhichtheGovernorstationedabandoffiftysoldiersattheconventgate,inspiteofthepresenceofthestatuesoftheBlessedVirginandSanBlas。

  Then,havingpublishedanedictthattheBishopwasdeposed,heproceededtoelectanotherinhisstead。

  Oneofthecanons,DonCristobalSanchez,whohadgovernedthedioceseduringtheinterregnumbeforetheadventofDonBernardino,stilllivedinretirementnearthetown。TheGovernorapproachedhimwiththerequestthathewouldoncemoretaketheinterimchargeuntiltheKingshouldsendanotherBishoptoreplaceCardenas。

  Sanchezconsented,ontheunderstandingthattheGovernorwouldguaranteehispersonalsafety。Thisbeingdone,SanchezwastakentotheJesuitcollegeasthesecurestplace。

  SoitfelloutthateverythingconcurredtostrengthenthehatredoftheBishoptotheJesuits。TotheJesuitcollegecametheGovernorandallthenotables,and,havingtakenSanchezinprocessionthroughthestreets,theyplacedhimontheBishop\'sthroneintheCathedral,andinvestedhimwithallthepowerthathehadheldbeforethecomingofDonBernardinoCardenas。TheproclamationsetforthbytheGovernoralludedtotheinformalityoftheconsecrationofDonBernardino,andtohisactionsduringhistimeofpower。

  AtlasttheBishopsawthathemustgo。So,afterlaunchingasupremeanathema,andafterhavingexpressedhisgreatunwillingnesstotarrylongerinacitywherehalfthepopulationhadincurredthecensureoftheChurch,andmarkedwithacrossthosechurcheswherehepermittedMasstobecelebrated,hewentonboardtheship。

  Beforeembarking,hedrewasilverbellfromunderneathhiscloak,andtothesoundofithesolemnlyproclaimedthetownaccursed。

  ThebellsoftheFranciscanconventandtheBishop\'spalace,accordingtohisorders,alltolledloudly。Thiscausedsomuchconfusionthat,inordertoappeasethetumult,theauthoritiesorderedthebellsofallthechurchesinthetowntoring。

  Enteringthevessel,DonBernardinosathimselfuponthepooponalowstool,withalltheclergywhowerefaithfultohimgroupedaboutthedeck。Withhimhehadthesacredwaferinaglassbox,andnotfaroffagroupofsailorsontheforecastleloungedaboutsmokinganddrinking`mate\'whilsttheyplayedatcards。

  SomeoneremindedhimitwasnotfittingthatGod\'sBodyshouldthusbeseensoneartosailors,andthereforetheBishop,accordingtothecustomoftheChurchincasesofaccidentordesecration,consumedtheoffendedwafer,andpeacedescendedontheship。

  Thus,in1644,hetookhisfirstdeparturefromtheplacewhereforthelasttwoyearshehadbroughtcertainlyratheraswordthanpeace。

  Hisfriendsassuredthepublicthat,atthemomenthesteppedonboardtheship,starswereseentofallfromheaventowardsthechurchofSt。Luke,andpassedfromthencetotheepiscopalpalaceanddisappeared;

  thatatthesametimeaslightshockofearthquakehadbeenexperienced;

  thatstoneshaddancedabout,andseveralhillshadtrembled。

  Thesun,quitenaturally,hadappearedblood

  red;troubleanddesolationhadenteredeveryheart,andanimalshadprophesiedwoeanddestruction,predictingruinandmisfortunetothetowntillthegoodBishopshouldreturnoncemore。

  TheeventsofthepasttwoyearsinParaguayhadnotbeenfavourabletotheconversionoftheIndians。Notonlyinthemissions,wheretheneophyteshadseenthemselvesobligedtofurnishtroopsagainsttheirBishop,butintheterritoryofParaguayitself,theIndianshadnothadagoodexampleofhowChristianscarryoutthedutiesoftheirfaith。Asageneralrule,theIndianunlikethenegro

  careslittlefordogma,butplaceshisbeliefentirelyingoodworks。

  PerhapsonthisaccounttheJesuits,alsobelieversingoodworks,havehadthemostsuccessamongstthem。Bethatasitmay,theJesuits,afterthedepartureoftheBishop,foundthatmanyoftheirrecentconvertshadfallenawayandgonebacktothewoods。

  WhilstJesuitsinParaguaywereseekingtoconverttheIndians,andwhilsttheGovernor,nodoubt,wasthankinghisstarsfortheabsenceofhisrival,inRomethequestionoftheBishop\'sconsecrationfilledallminds。FromMay9,1645,toOctober2ofthesameyearnolessthanfourcongregationsofthePropagandahadbeenheldaboutthecase。ThePopehimselfwaspresentatoneofthem。

  Nothingwasarrivedattill1658,whenfinallytheconsecrationwasdeclaredinorder,butnotuntilDonBernardinowasappointedtoanothersee。

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