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。