第11章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Vanished Arcadia",免费读到尾

  Justaboutthistime1644

  45arumourwassetonfootthattheJesuitshaddiscoveredminesneartheirreductionsontheParana。TheserumourswerealwayssetaboutwhentherewasnothingelsebymeansofwhichtoattacktheJesuits。AnIndianbythenameofBuenaventura,whohadbeenaservantinaconventinBuenosAyres,onthisoccasionwastheinstrumentusedbytheirenemies。Forashorttimeeveryonebelievedhim,andexcitementwasintense;but,mostunluckily,Buenaventurahappenedatthezenithofhisnotorietytorunawaywithamarriedwoman,and,beingpursued,wasbroughttoBuenosAyres,andtheninpublicincontinentlywhipped。InanyothercountryBuenaventuraafterhispublicwhippingwouldhavebeendiscredited,butaletterarrivedfromtheBishopofParaguay,tellingtheGovernorofBuenosAyresthattheminesreallyexisted。AtthattimeanewGovernor,oneDonJacintodeLara,hadjustarrived。BeingnewtoAmericaanditsways,hestartedouthimselftotrythequestion,andwithfiftysoldiers,takingBuenaventuraashisguide,wenttothemissions。

  Asmighthavebeenexpected,onthejourneyBuenaventuradisappeared,thistimealone。`Cettefuiteluidonnabeaucoupa\\penser,\'

  saysCharlevoix。Buthavinggonesofar,theGovernordeterminedtotrythequestionthoroughly。

  FatherDiazTano,oneofthebestandhardest

  workingmissionarieswhoeverenteredParaguay,besoughttheGovernortosatisfyhimselfandsearchtheirterritoryforgoldandsilver,andrequestedhimtocallupontheBishopforconfirmationofthestatementshehadmade。

  Thishedid,andthen,accompaniedbyhissoldiers,beganhissearch。

  Hegaveoutthatthefirstmantofindamineshouldbeatoncepromotedtobecaptainandhavealargereward。

  Afterseveraldays\'march,andhavingfoundnomines,letterswerebroughthimfromtheGovernorofParaguayandfromtheBishop。

  Thefirstinformedhimthathehadheardrumoursofmines,butnothingcertain。Theseconddeclinedtospecifythemines,whichthusweredestinedtoremainforever,sotospeak,`inpartibus\'。

  Buthegaveadvice,andgoodadviceisbetterthananymine,whetherofsilverorofgold。HetoldtheGovernortostartbyturningouttheJesuits,andhewouldfindtheprofitsoftheirexpulsionjustasvaluableasmines。

  WhetherthisalsomadetheGovernorpensiveIdonotknow,but,luckily,theJesuits,whowereconcernedinexposingtheimposture,hadcomeonBuenaventura,andbroughthimironedtotheGovernor。

  He,afterhavingtriedtomakehimconfesshisimposturewithoutsuccess,condemnedhimtobehung。TheJesuits,withtheiraccustomedhumanityoringenuity,beggedforhislife。Thiswasaccordedtothem,andonceagainBuenaventurareceivedagoodsoundwhippingforhispains。

  ThusendedthejourneyofDonJacinto,withoutprofittohimself,exceptsofarastheexperiencegained。NodoubthesawandmarkedtheJesuittowns,thechurchesbuiltofmassivetimberorofstone,andthecontentedairofIndiansandpriests,whichalwaysstruckalltravellersinthosetimes。Hesawthecountlessherdsofcattle,thecultivatedfields;enjoyed,nodoubtforthefirsttimesincearrivinginSouthAmerica,thesenseofperfectsafety,atthattimetobeexperiencedaloneinMisiones。Butindespiteofhisexposureoftheimposture,therumourastotheexistenceoftheminesneverdiedout,andlingersevento

  day,inspiteofgeologicalresearchinParaguay。

  WhilstthiswasgoingoninMisiones,intheremoteandrecently

  converteddistrictoftheItatines,inthenorthofParaguay,theexamplesetbytheBishophadborneitsfruit。TheIndiansbecameunmanageable。

  Oneofthechiefsbrokeintoopenrebellion,andwoundedaJesuitfathercalledArenasattheveryaltar

  steps。Soonthegeneralcorruptionofmannersbecamealmostuniversalthroughoutthedistrict。This,Ifancy,mustbetakentomeanthattheIndiansrevertedtopolygamy,fortheJesuitsalwayshadtroubleinthismatter,beingunabletopersuadetheIndiansoftheadvantageofmonogamy。

  Butmostfortuitously,justasthegeneralcorruptiongainedallhearts,atigerrushedintothetown,and,afterkillingfourteenpeopleandsomehorses,disappearedagainintothewoods。

  TheJesuits,everreadytotakeadvantageofeventslikethese,calledontheIndianstoseeinthevisitationofthetigerthewrathofHeaven,andtoleavetheirwickedways。

  TheIndians,alwaysaswillingtosubmitastorevolt,submitted,andthegoodfathers`prirentlepartidefaireuncoupd\'autorite/,quileurre/ussit,\'asCharlevoixrelates。

  Theydecoyedthechief,hisnephew,andson,intoanotherdistrict,wheretheyseizedandshippedthemofftwohundredleaguestoaremotereductionacrosstheUruguay。TheSpaniardsusedtosayofFerdinandVII。,whenhehadcommittedanygreatbarbarity,`HeisquiteaKing\'`EsmuchoRey\',andtheIndiansoftheItatinesesteemedtheJesuitsfortheir`coupd\'autorite\'inthesamemannerastheSpaniardstheirKing。

  HisusualluckattendedCardenasinhisexileinCorrientes。ThistownformedpartofthedioceseofBuenosAyres,whichhappenedtobevacantatthetime。

  HethereforetookuponhimselftoactjustashehadactedinParaguay

  appointedofficersofjustice,heldordinations,andinstitutedacampaignagainsttheJesuitsofthetown。

  Whilsthewasthusoccupiedinhisfavouritepastimeofusurpingotherpeople\'sfunctions,twocitationsweresenthimtoappearbeforetheHighCourtofCharcas。Hedisregardedthem,andsentastatementofhiscasebythehandsofhisnephewtotheBishopofTucuman。IntheletterhesetforthallhiscomplaintsagainsttheGovernorofParaguay,callinghimaviolatoroftheChurch,aheretic,andgenerallyapplyingtohimallthosetermsinwhichathwartedchurchmanusuallyexhaleshisrage。

  MixedupwiththiswasadetailedaccusationoftheJesuits,towhoseaccounthelaidallhismisfortuneswhilstinParaguay。

  Lastly,hecalledupontheBishopofTucumantosummonaprovincialcounciltocondemnthemonstrousheresieswhichheattributedtotheJesuits,remindinghimthattheCouncilofTrenthadrecommendedtheholdingoffrequentprovincialcouncils,andstatinghisopinionthat,unlessacouncilwerecalledatonce,theBishopwouldincuramortalsin。

  TheanswerCardenasreceivedfromTucumanwasmostironicallycouchedinthebeststylethathislong

  sufferingfriendwasabletocommand。

  AfteraddressingCardenasas`yourillustriouslordship\',heproceededtodemolishallhisstatementsinsuchamannerastoarguethathehadhadmuchpracticewithrefractorypriestsinhisowndiocese。

  HetoldhimthattheJesuitsweretheonlyOrderinParaguaythatreallyworkedamongsttheIndians。HeremindedhimthatfromthatOrderthe`secondPaul\',i。e。,St。FrancisXavier,hadhimselfissued。Heaskedhimwhether,asachurchman,hethoughttheyearlysumoftwelvethousandcrownsgivenbytheKingoutofthetreasuryofBuenosAyrestowardstheJesuits\'workwasbettersaved,orthatthethousandsofIndianswhomtheJesuitshadconvertedshouldbelosttoGod。Andastoheresy,hesaidhewasnojudge,leavingsuchmatterstothePope;

  butthatnooneaccusedtheJesuitsofcorruptionintheirmorals,orofanyofthegreatercrimestowhichthegreatfragilityofhumannaturerendersusliable。HeremindedhimtheJesuitshadmadenoaccusationontheirpart,butalwaysspokeofhimwithmoderationandrespect。

  Andastoaprovincialcouncil,hesaidthatitwasimpossible,forthefollowinggoodcause:TheBishopofMisquewastooinfirmtotravel;

  theBishopofLaPazwaslatelydead,andtheseestillvacant;

  theBishopofBuenosAyresonlyjustarrived,andtoomuchoccupiedtoleavehisdiocese。Therefore,theonlyBishopsavailablewerehimselfandCardenas,andthattheyneverwouldagree。

  MisqueisatleastfifteenhundredmilesfromTucuman。

  `Moreover,\'heremarked,`whatisitthatyourillustriouslordshipwishesmetodo?

  `ToadviseaBishop?

  `Godhasonlygivenmethechargeofmyownsheep。YourlordshipknowsaswellasIdohowaBishopshouldcomporthimself。\'

  Hefinishedwithaquotation,sayingthataBishop\'sstatewasnottolie`insplendorevestium,sedmorum;nonadiram,sedutomnimodumpatientium。\'

  WhatCardenasrepliedisnotsetdowninanyhistorywhichhascomeundermyobservation,butwhathemusthavethoughtiseasytodivine。

  TheGovernorofParaguay,notcontentwithhavingputhiscasebeforetheSupremeCourtofCharcas,sentalsototheCouncilGeneraloftheIndiesinSeville,detailingallthevagariesoftheBishop。TheJesuitsalsoempoweredanofficertorepresentthemthere。

  Duringthesepreparations,andwhilsteveryonewasoffhisguard,theGuaycurusendeavouredtosurprisethecapital,andwouldhavedonesohadnotsomeregimentsofGuaranisarrivedintimefromthemissionterritory。Thisshouldhavebeenanobject

  lessontothosewhoalwaystriedtoshowtheJesuitsinthelightofenemiestotheauthorityoftheKingofSpain。Nothing,however,provedoftheleastavail,andthoughonseveraloccasionstheSpanishpowerinParaguaywasonlysavedbytheexertionsoftheJesuitsandtheirIndians,thecalumniesofCardenashadtakentoodeeproottobedispelled。

  Meanwhile,inCorrientes,CardenasschemednightanddaytoreturntoParaguay。InhisowncityofLaPlatanaturallyhehadsomefriends,andthesedidalltheycouldtogethimreinstated。

  Inspiteofalltheirefforts,anordercamefromCharcasforhimtoleavethecityunderpainofbanishment。AnyonebutCardenaswouldhavebeendisconcerted;he,though,pretended,asintheorderhewasstillstyledBishopofParaguay,thatbeforeleavingforCharcas,topresenthimselfbeforethecourt,hehadtogotoAsunciontonameaVicar

  General,andtowardstheendof1646heembarkedupontheriverforParaguay。

  `QuelohagansalirdenuestrosReynosySen~orioscomoagenoyestran~o,porimportarassiparalaquietuddeaquellasProvincias,yalserviciodesuMajestad。\'

  TheGovernorwasonthealert,andsentavesselwithorderstoturnhimback,whichorderwascarriedoutinspiteofhisremonstrances,andhereturnedtoCorrientesinamiserablestate。

  ThencameanothercitationtoappearatCharcas,andanintimationthathewasappointedBishopofPopayan。AsPopayaninNewGranada

  wasatleastthreethousandmilesfromAsuncion,hisjoyattheappointmentmusthavebeenextreme。

  Hisfortunesnowseemeddesperate;ashesaidhimselfinalettertotheKing,`atanadvancedagehecouldnotundertakesogreatajourney\';

  andoneverysidehisenemiesseemedtohavegottheupperhand。

  In1648achangecameovereverything。DonGregorioHinestrosawasremovedfromParaguay,andanewGovernor,DonDiegoEscobardeOsorio,appointedinhisplace。ImmediatelythenewsreachedCardenashesetoutforParaguay。ArrivingatAsuncion,hisfriendsallmethimandtookhiminprocessiontotheCathedral。HisfirstthoughtwastorenewhispersecutionoftheJesuits。Mostunfortunatelyforthem,DonJuandePalafox,BishopofPuebladelosAngelesinMexico,whohadhimselfinMexicohadmanyquarrelswiththeJesuits,wrotebeggingCardenasandalltheBishopsofSouthAmericatojoinagainstthem。

  ThisPalafoxwasafterwardsbeatified,andeveninhislifetimeenjoyedthereputationofasaint,sothathislettergreatlystrengthenedCardenas。

  Notwithstandingthis,PalafoxinsubsequentworksofhisduringthetimethathewasBishopofOsmainSpainsaidmanythingsinpraiseoftheworkdonebytheJesuitsinParaguay。

  ThenewGovernor,himselfamemberoftheSupremeCourtofCharcas,hadneverbeenbeforeinParaguay,andthereforeresolvedtotreattheBishopasDonGregoriohaddonewitheveryrespectduetohisstation。

  TheBishopwantednothingbetter,andsawatoncehehadanotherfooltodealwith。ThereforehemadenosecretofhisintentionofnotcomplyingwiththecitationofthecourtatCharcas,andsethimselfatoncetopreachagainsttheJesuits,andstiruppopularresentmentagainstthem。

  Unluckily,proofwaswantingofthecrimesheallegedtheyhadcommitted,soheresortedtothedeviceofgettingapetitionsignedbyallandsundry,askingfortheexpulsionoftheOrderfromParaguay。Likeallpetitions,itwaslargelysignedbywomenandbychildrenandbythosewhohadneverthoughtbeforeaboutthematter,butlikedtheopportunitytowritetheirnamesafterthenamesofothers,assheepgothroughagapormembersgivetheirvotesoutofmeresympathy

  inthehighcourtofParliament。

  Thisdevicehavingtakentoomuchtime,blankdocumentswerepassedaboutforalltowriteuponwhatevertheyimaginedtothedisadvantageoftheJesuits。Byanuntowardchance,abundleofthese,senttotheagentoftheBishopinSpain,wastakenonthevoyagebyanEnglishcorsair。TheworthypiratenodoubtaProtestantwas,ifwecanbelievetheJesuits,extremelyscandalizedatthebadfaithofthosewhousedsuchmeansofwreakingtheirmalevolence。

  SoallseemedonceagaintosmileuponDonBernardino,whonodoubtresumedhisflagellations,hismidnightservices,andhissayingoftwoMasses,andonceagainbecametheidolofthepeopleofAsuncion。

  Butinthenorth,inthewilddistrictofCaaguayu,hardbythemountainsofMbaracaya,closetothegreat`yerbales\',

  theJesuitshadformedtwotownsamongsttheIndians。

  ThesetwotownsweredestinedtobetheoutpostsofthecountryagainsttheincursionsofthewildIndiansfromtheChaco。

  A`yerbal\'isaforestchieflycomposedofthe`IlexParaguayensis\',fromtheleavesofwhichthe`yerbamate\',or`Paraguayantea\',ismade。

  TheBishopprevailedupontheGovernortolethimturnouttheJesuitsandreplacethembypriestsofanotherOrder。Thisbeingdone,theIndiansalldeserted,leavingthedistrictquiteuninhabited。

  ThecourtatCharcas,hearingofthisfolly,sentanordertotheGovernortosendtheJesuitsback。AyearwaspassedinceaselesssearchingofthewoodsanddesertsfortheIndians,butonlyhalfofthepopulationcouldeverbepersuadedtoreturn,andFatherMansilla,theex

  missionary,diedofthehardshipsthatheunderwent。

  FromthatdatedowntothetimeofDr。Franciacirca1812

  35,thedistrictremainedadesert。Franciauseditasapenalsettlement,andto

  day,saveforafewwild,wanderingIndians,knownasCaaguas,andasparsepopulationofyerba

  gatherers,itstillremainsalmostunpopulated。

  Meanwhile,thegeneralindignationagainsttheJesuitsseemedtoinfectallclassesofthepopulation。Certainly,thecitizensofAsuncionhadgoodandsufficientcausesofcomplaintagainsttheJesuits。

  OnseveraloccasionstheeffortsoftheJesuitsandtheirIndiansalonehadsavedthecapitalfromthewildIndians,andbenefitsarehardtobear,ifonlyfromtheirrarity。

  Popularhatred,tothefullasidioticasispopularapplause,fellchieflyuponFatherDiazTano

  hewhohadsavedtenthousandIndiansfortheKingofSpaininhiscelebratedretreatbeforetheMamelucosdowntheParana

  andhewasfrequentlyinsultedinthestreets。

  FatherAntonioManquiano,aquietandlearnedman,wasalmostmurderedinopendaybyafuriousfanatic,whofelluponhimwiththeopenlyexpressedintent`toeathisheart\'。

  ThiswasthemomentCardenaspitchedontodeclaretheentireOrderoftheJesuitsexcommunicated。Ashehadbeenayearawayfromthesceneofhisformerexploits,peoplewerenotsousedtoexcommunications,andthereforetookthemseriously。

  AtthiseventfuljuncturetheGovernor,DonDiego,diedsosuddenlythatsuspicionsofhishavingbeenpoisonedwerearoused。

  Scarcewashedeadthanallthepopulationassembledatthepalacetoelectaninterimsuccessor。Thiswasamostimportantthing,astocommunicatewithSpaintook,attheveryshortesttime,abouteightmonths。ByacclamationthechoicefellontheBishop,whothusfoundhimselfheadofthespiritualandthetemporalpoweratonce。

  Theelectionwasabsolutelyillegal,astheSpanishlawprovidedthat,ifaGovernorofParaguayshouldchancetodie,thenominationofaninterimsuccessorshouldrestfirstwiththeViceroyofPeru,andfailinghimwiththeHighCourtofCharcas。

  CardenasbasedhiselectiononthepretendededictoftheEmperorCharlesV。,but,ifhehadacopyoftheedict,neverproducedit。Asusual,`goodmendaringnot,andwisemencaringnot\',butonlyfoolsandschemerstakingpartintheelection,noseriousoppositiontohisusurpationwasencountered。

  CardenasneverdoubtedforamomentthatthefunctionofaGovernorwastogovern,andhebeganatoncetodosowithawill。

  Xarque,aSpanishwriter,givesthefollowingcuriousdescriptionofhowhesetabouttogetthepeopleonhissidetoexpeltheJesuits:

  Xarque,bookii。,cap。xl。,p。30。

  PreachingonedayintheCathedral,aftertheconsecrationheturnedtowardsthepeople,and,showingtheholywafer,said,`Doyoubelieve,mybrethren,thatJesusChristishere?\'

  All,beingtruebelievers,answeredasonemanthatsuchwastheirbelief。

  Inthesamewayasatascientificlecture,whenthelecturerholdsupsomesubstance,andsays,`Youallknowwellthatcalciumtungstateorbariumhydrocyanidehasthisortheotherproperty,\'

  thehearersnodassentlikesheep,beingafraidtocontradictsoglibastatementfromsoeminentaman。

  ThensaidCardenas,`BelieveasfirmlythatIhaveanorderfromtheKingtoexpeltheJesuits。\'Thepeopleallbelieved,andCardenasforgottotellthemthatbytheexpulsionoftheJesuitstwentythousandIndianswouldpassintohispower,whomhecouldthendistributeamongsthisfriendsasslaves,asheproposedtodividetheIndiansofthemissionsamongsttheParaguayannotablestowinthemtohisside。

  BeingattheheadofeverythinginAsuncion,Cardenasnolongerhesitated,butorderedanofficer,DonJuandeVallejoVillasanti,withatroopofsoldierstomarchtothecollegeoftheJesuits。

  Thishedid,andfindingthegatesallbarred,heburstthemopen,and,enteringthecollege,signifiedtotherectoranorderfromtheGovernordulycountersignedbytheBishoptoleavethecitywithallhispriests,andtoevacuateallthemissionsontheParana。TherectoransweredthattheJesuitshadapermissionfromPhilipII。,renewedbyhissuccessors,tofoundacollege,andFatherTanoexhibitedthedocuments。

  Villasanti,whohadbutlittlelovefordocuments,snatchedtheparchmentsfromhishand,andthesoldiersforcedtheJesuitsinabodytotheportlikesheep。Theretheyweretiedandthrownintocanoesalmostwithoutprovisions,andsentoffdowntherivertoCorrientes,thecertainhavenofthepartyinParaguaywhichhasgottheworstofanelectionorarevolution,andwishestogaintime。

  ArrivedinCorrientes,DonManuelCabral,apiousofficer,receivedtheminhishouse,and,curiouslyenough,thepopulationwelcomedtheJesuitswithenthusiasm,andpressedthemearnestlytobuildacollegeinthetown。

  TheircollegeatAsuncionwastreatedlikeatowntakenbystorm:

  pulpitandfont,confessionalsanddoors,allweretorndownandburnt,and,withaviewofjustifyingwhatwasdone,theBishop\'spartisansspreadareportthat,astheJesuitswereheretics,theirtemplewasunclean。

  Thepopulation,moreartisticinitsinstinctsthantheBishop,refusedtoallowthealtar,whichhadbeenbroughtfromSpain,tobedestroyed。Besidesthealtar,therewerealsostatuesofSanIgnacioandSanFranciscoXavier。ThesetheBishopwishedtoturnintoSt。PeterandSt。Paul。WiththisdesignhegavethemtoanIndiancarpentertoworkupon。Thepoormandidhisbest,butonlymanagedtoturnouttwomonstrousblocks,whichlookedlikenothinghuman。

  AstatueoftheBlessedVirginwhichhadtheeyesturneduptoheaventheBishopwishedtoalter,andreplacetheheadbyanotherwiththeeyesturneddowntoearth,asbeingmorebefittingtothestatue\'ssex。

  Thepeople,lessmadorsuperstitiousthantheBishop,refusedtoallowit,andtheimage,too,wasplacedintheCathedral。

  In1649theexpulsionofanOrdersopowerfulasweretheJesuitscausedsomecommotionthroughtheworldatlarge。Miracleshappenedopportunelytostrengthenwaningfaith。Afireplacedroundtheirchurch,thoughitdestroyed,refusedtoblacken;andropesfixedtothetowerofthechurch,althoughattachedtowindlasses,refusedtopullitdown,sothatthetowerandchurch,thoughgutted,stillremainedalmostintact,and,ontheJesuits\'return,wereeasilyrepaired,andservedasamonumentofvictory。

  Uneasyliestheheadthatwearsamitre,aspoorCardenasfoundout。

  HispopularitysufferedsomedecreasebythelackoftreasurefoundintheJesuits\'college,forhehadalwaysdangledmillionsinprospectivebeforethepeople\'seyestoengagethemonhisside,and,mostunluckily,hehadnomillionstobestow。So,tomakeallthingsright,hesentFrayDiegoVillalontoMadridtorepresenthisinterests。

  ThisVillalonhasleftsomecuriousmemoirsinthecasewhichhesubmittedtotheCounciloftheIndieswhichsatinSeville。

  TheJesuitsupontheirsidewerenotinactive。ByvirtueofabriefofGregoryXIII。theyhadtheprivilegeofappointinganofficialcalledajudgeconservatorincaseswheretheirhonourortheirpossessionswereattacked。ThereforeFatherAlfonsodeOjedawassenttoCharcastoarrangeaboutthecase。AtCharcastheyfoundthatCardenashadbeenbeforethem,andhadinstitutedproceedingsagainsttheirOrderintheHighCourt。FatherPedroNolasco,SuperioroftheOrderofMercy,wasappointedjudgeconservator。HeatoncesummonedtheBishoptoappearbeforehim,andarrangedtotrythecaseandheartheevidence。

  Cardenashavingrefusedtoappear,sentencewentbydefaultagainsthim。

  TheHighCourt,beingconvincedthatthepretendededictoftheEmperorCharlesV。didnotexist,appointedDonAndresGarabitodeLeontobeinterimCaptain

  GeneralofParaguay,andgavehimpower,ifnecessary,torestoreorderbyforceofarms。ThecourtthenissuedadecreesummoningCardenastoappearatonceatCharcasandgivehisreasonswhyhehadhadhimselfmadeGovernorandhadexpulsedtheJesuitsfromParaguay。ItthencommunicatedwiththeMarquisofMancera,ViceroyofPeru,whoquiteconcurredinitsdecisionastoCardenas。

  ApparentlyupontheprinciplewhichprevailsamongstMohammedansofalwaysappointing,firstanofficer,andthenacaliphtothatofficertodothework,theHighCourtofCharcasalsoappointedacommandertoproceedtoParaguay,pendingthetimethatDonAndresshouldfeelinclinedtostarthimself。Asthecaliph\'snamewasSebastiandeLeon,itisnotimprobablethathewasarelationofthefirst

  appointedman。

  DonSebastiandeLeonseemstohavebeeninParaguayalready,forbothCharlevoixandXarqueagreethatheandhisbrothers,aftertheexpulsionoftheJesuitsbyCardenas,hadretiredtoanestatesomedistancefromAsuncion。Attheestatethenewsofhisappointmentreachedhim,andmusthaveplacedhiminamostdifficultpositionastowhattodo。

  OnseveraloccasionsinthevariousrebellionswhichoccurredinSouthAmericaduringtheSpanishrule,menwereappointedtoquellrebellions,pacifycountries,andrestoreorder,andallwithoutanarmyoranyforcesbeingplacedattheircommand。ThiswasthecasewiththecelebratedLaGasca,whowassentfromSpaintoputdowntherebellionofGonzaloPizarro,andsucceededinsodoing,thoughheleftSpainwithoutasinglesoldierinhistrain。

  InthisconnectionitistoberememberedthatnoneoftherebellionsinSpanishAmericafromthedaysofCharlesI。i。e。,theEmperorCharlesV。

  tothoseofCharlesIII。werefortheobjectofseparationfromthemetropolis,butmerelyrisingsagainstGovernorssentoutfromSpain。

  ItseemsthatbothinPeruandParaguaytheverynameoftheimperialpowerwasabletodrawhundredsofmentothestandardofwhateverofficerheldacommissionfromMadrid,suchasthatheldbyGarabitodeLeonorbyLaGascaontheParana。

  AtfirstDonSebastiandidnotshowhimselfinAsuncion,butsentoutmessengersoneverysidetosummonsoldiers,requisitionhorses,andcollectprovisions。HealsosenttoCorrientestotelltheJesuitshewasreadytoreinstatethemintheirpossessions。

  DonBernardinomeanwhilewaspreparingforthegreatadventureofhislife。

  HeseemstohavebelievedmostfirmlythatnopoweronearthhadanyrighttoremovehimfromthegovernorshipofParaguay。

  InaletterwhichheaddressedtoDonJuanRomerodelaCruz

  hesaysheisonthepointofdistinguishinghimselfbyheroicexploitsandgreatvictories;thathehadonhissidejusticeandforceamostuncommoncombination;thattheentirecapitalwasfavourabletohim;andthathewasresolvedneithertoreadmittheJesuitsnortorecogniseDonSebastiandeLeonasGovernor。

  Charlevoix,bookxii。,p。115。

  Asuncionwasonceagainconvulsed,andallwaspreparationfortheholywar。

  TheBishophadgivenoutthatangelsweretohelphim,andthissoreassuredhissoldiersthattheyprovidedthemselveswithcordstobindtheIndiansinthearmyofDonSebastianLeon,thinkingtheywouldfallaneasypreytothem。Thismatterofthecordsexplains,perhaps,whythepopulationofAsuncionwasalmostunanimousinfavouroftheBishop。

  InthearmyofDonSebastian,aswellasthemilitiaoftheprovince,marchedthreethousandIndiansfromtheJesuitreductionsontheParana。

  TheSpaniardsofthecapitalwerealldeterminednottokillanyofthem,butkeepthemaliveforslaves,andhencethecordswithwhichtheyarmedthemselves。

  ThesacredgeneralissimoledouthisarmyfromAsuncioninperson,celebratingMasshimself,andthenheadinghistroopslikemanyanotherSpanishecclesiastichasdonebeforeandafterhim,andcontinueddoingeventothelatestCarlistwar。

  ThearmiesmetnotfarfromLuque,inalittleplainknownastheCampoGrande。Anopenplainwithsandysoil,whichgavethehorsesagoodfooting,withseverallittlestagnantpoolsinthecentrewherethewoundedmencoulddrinkandwashtheirwounds,withamostconvenientforestonallsidesforthedesertersandthecowardstohidein,madeagoodbattlefield。ThevillageofLuque,groupedrounditschurch,andwithalittleplazainthemiddleinwhichsatParaguayanwomensellingmandioca,chipa,1andrapadura,2

  withsacksofmaizeandofmani,3stoodonthesummitofalittlehill。

  Upontheplaintheearthisred,andlooksasifabattlehadbeenfoughtuponitandmuchbloodspilt。Inalldirectionsrunlittlepaths,worndeepbythefeetofmulesandhorses,andinwhichtheriderhastolifthisfeetasifheweregoingthroughastream。ToAsuncionthereleadsoneofthedeep

  sunkroadsplantedwithorangeandparaiso4trees,constructedthusasBarcodelaCenteneratellsusinhis`Argentina\'soastobedefensibleagainsttheIndiansafterthecountrywasfirstconqueredbytheSpaniards。

  1Chipaisakindofbreadmadeofmandiocaflour。

  2Rapaduraisakindofcoarsesugar,generallysoldinlittlepyramid

  shapedlumps,doneupinabananaleaf。

  Itisstronglyflavouredwithlye。

  3Maniisground

  nut。[\"Peanut\"inAmericanEnglish。

  A。L。,1998。]

  4TheparaisoisoneofthePaulinias。

  OntheBishop\'ssidehardlyasoldierbutthoughthimselfanemissaryofGod,ordoubtedofthevictoryforamomentinhisheart。Angelsthemselveshadpromisedvictorytotheirleader,who,tomakeallthingssafe,hadissuedaproclamationpunishingsurrenderwiththepainofdeath;

  sotheystoodquietlyinarrayofbattlewaitingtobeattacked。

  Uponhisside,DonSebastianLeon,seeingtheattitudeoftheenemy,immediatelyorderedanadvance,andchargedhimself,withallhiscavalry,upontheBishop\'smen。They,withthefirmnessthatfanaticssooftenshow,stoodfirmlyintheirranks,thinkingthemselvesinvulnerable。

  Theirvalourprovedbutmomentary,foratthesecondchargetheybroketheirranksandfled。Flightturnedtorout,andDonSebastianhavingcommandedthattheyshouldnotbepursued,theystillfledon,nomanpursuingthem。

  TheGovernorthenenteredthecapitalwithoutresistance。

  Ontheplazahestopped,andhavinggatheredupthewoundedwithoutrespectofparty,hesentthemtothehospital。

  Then,havingseentothesafetyofthetown,herodetotheCathedraltogivethankstoGodforhavingpreservedhimfromthedangersofthefight。

  DressedinhisrobesandseatedonhisthronewasCardenas。DonSebastianenteredthechurch,dismounted,andkissedhishandrespectfully,likeatrueSpaniard,andaskedhimceremoniouslytodeigntogivehimthebatonofthecivilpower。Cardenasanswerednotaword,buthandedhimthebaton,andthenretired,accompaniedbyallhispriests。

  ThevictorydidnotterminatetheworkofDonSebastian。

  Afterareasonableinterval,andbeforewitnesses,hecitedtheBishoptoappearbeforethecourtofCharcas。TheBishoppromisedtoobey,thinkinghehadanotherDonGregorioHinostrosatodealwith,butquitedeterminednevertocomply,actingaccordingtothecustomofGovernorsinSouthAmerica,who,whenanorderreachedthemfromMadrid,eitherabsurdorquiteimpossibletoexecute,solemnlyanswered,`Iobey,butIdonotcomply,\'savingbythephrasethehonouroftheirsovereignsandthemselves。UpontheirsidetheJesuitspressedthejudgeconservator,FatherNolasco,toissuehissentence,andfreethemfromthechargesunderwhichtheylay。

  Thishedid,andgaveashisopiniontheywerequiteinnocentofallthatCardenashadlaidtotheiraccount。

  `Obedesco,peronocumplo。\'

  Asinapalace,thingsgoslowinSpain,anditwasnottill1654

  thataroyaldecisionconfirmedthejudgmentofNolasco,andfreedtheJesuitsfromallthechargesraisedagainstthem。

  `Cosasdepalaciovandespacio。\'

  Orderrestored,Cardenasdeprivedofhisusurpedauthority,andtheJesuitsreinstated,thetemporarycommissionofSebastianLeonwasatanend。Thereforeheretiredagaintoplanthismandiocaunderhisownguayaba

  tree。YetfeelingransohighthathewashardlysafefromthevengeanceofthepartisansofCardenas,sothathefoundhimselfoncemoreobligedtosummonthemilitiaoftheprovince,andleadthemtoaperfunctorycampaignagainstthePayaguas。

  TheseIndianstheearlierhistoriansoftheconquest,BarcodelaCenteneraandRuiDiazdeGuzman,describeasriver

  pirates,almostlivingincanoes,anddashingoutonanypassingSpanishvesselthattheythoughtweakenough。TheJesuitsMontoyaandDobrizhoffertellusthattheywentnaked,paintedinmanycolours,withahawk\'sorparrot\'swingpassedthroughthecartilageoftheirleftear,andthattheywere,ofalltheIndiansofParaguay,themostindomitable。Afew,whenIknewParaguaysometwentyyearsago,hungroundAsuncion,squalidandmiserable,passingtheirtimeinfishingincanoes,andasattachedtotheirownmodeoflifeaswhenthefirstdiscovererscalledthem`sweet

  waterpirates\'andthe`mostpestilentofalltheIndiansontheriverParaguay。\'ThePayaguaschastised,DonSebastian,upononepretextoranother,didnotdisbandhistroops,keepingthemalwaysbyhim,andthusmakingthepositionoftheBishopquiteuntenable,tillbydegreeshisfollowersfellawayandlefthimalmostdesertedandhispartyalldissolved。Seeingthegamewasup,theBishop,afterhavingnamedoneDonAdrianCornejoashissuffragan,tookhisdeparture1650forCharcastoappearbeforethecourt。

  Foreighttumultuousyearshehadkepthisbishopricinaperpetualturmoil,havingbeentheevilgeniusoftheland。

  Whatsortofmanhereallywasishardto

  daytojudge,forXarque,Villalon,Charlevoix,andDeanFunes,whochroniclehisdoings,wereall,ononesideortheother,partisans。TheJesuitscondemnhimasaspoliator,theFranciscansholdhimupasonewhofoughtthroughouthislifeforthehonourofthefounderoftheirrule。Tracts,books,andpamphletsforandagainsthimhavebeenwritteninnumbers,andinthehistoryofthetimesinParaguayhisnamebulkslarge。

  Onethingiscertain

  thattheIndianslovedandreveredhim,andfollowedhimuptotheend。EveninCharcas,wherehelivedforyearsuponapensionoftwothousandcrownsallowedhimbytheKingwhilsthiscasedraggeditswearycoursetoRome,Madrid,backtoPeru,andthentoRomeagain,theIndians,whenheappearedinpublic,greetedhimwithflowers。Hemayhavebeenasaint:somanymenaresaints,andtheworldknowsthemnot。Hemayhavebeenaschemer;buthemadenothingbyhisschemesexceptthebarrenhonourofhisconsecrationtotheseeofParaguay。Apreachercertainlyhewas,ableandwillingtodrawcrowds,afterthefashionofallthosewhohavethegiftofwords。

  DeanFunes,inhis`EnsayodelaHistoriaCivildelParaguay,BuenosAyresyTucuman\'bookii。,cap。i。,p。10,sayshewas`Dotadodeuntemperamentomuyfacildeinflamarse,deunaimaginacionviva,deunamemoriafeliz,ydeuningenionovulgar。\'

  Headstrongandobstinate,throughalonglifehehatedvigorously,thinkingallthosewhodifferedfromhimwereaccursedofGod。

  AstrenuousmemberoftheChurchmilitantonearth,hewasatleastapersonality,andthosewhoreadthehistoryofhistimemustreckonwith,andtakesidesfororagainst,himafterthefashionofthemenwithwhomhepassedhislife,whotoamanreveredhimasasaint,orlookeduponhimasadevilsenttoplaguemankind。

  ArrivedinCharcas,hesoonfelloneviltimes,althoughatfirsthemadesomepartisans。StilllookingbacktoParaguay,hepassedhistimeindrawingoutpetitionstotheKing;then,onebyone,allhisfriendsfellfromhim,exceptsomefaithfulIndians,whoconsideredhimasaint。

  Hisdreamsofsaintshipwerenotfulfilled,forhisnameneverfiguredinthecalendar。Yearsdidnottamenoryetdidhopeevercompletelyleavehim;forinoldbooksIfindhimalwaysprotesting,evercomplaining,andstillstriving,till,in1665,PhilipIV。inpitymadehimBishopofSantaCruz。AsentencefromtheregistersoftheConsistoryatRomeinformsusthat,asBishopofLaPaz,inhisownprovinceoftheCharcas,heleftofftroubling,andrestedfromhisagitatedlife。

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