﻿570 ACCOUNT OF THE ST. THOMe' CHRISTIAXS 



RON HA to restore liim, and to afford him in futuic 

 every possible protection and assistance. 



In the mean time, the St. 1 liomt Cliristicms had 

 applied to the then patriarch of Eabyton, as soon as 

 they heard of the confinement and subsequent trans- 

 portation of tiieir Archbishop to Portugal, for a new 

 metropolitan, wiiom tliey obtained in tlie person of 

 Mar Abraham. But he had liardly taken posses- 

 sion of his see, when jMar Joseph returned from 

 Europe, with his Diplomas from Donna Catha- 

 RiNA. The consequence was an immediate schism, 

 and tlie whole Malabar Christians divided them- 

 selves into two parties, one adlieringto Mar Joseph, 

 and the other to Mar Abraham. But Mar Jo- 

 seph being supported by the whole power of the 

 Porfiwuese m^\Q\:r\w.(i\-\\, he soon Q-ot the better of his 

 antagonist, whom the Rajas ot Cochin, and Faroor, 

 received orders to seize, and to deliver to the com- 

 mandant of Cochin, in order to be sent to Europe. 

 The vessel on board of which he was, happening to 

 touch at Mosambique, he found means to make his 

 escaj)e, and to reach Babylon over land ; but, in- 

 stead of returning to lilalabar, he resolved to go of 

 his own accord to Rome, wliere he did not fail to 

 captivate the mind of Pope Pius IV. in such a man- 

 mer, that his lecantation of the Nestorian heresy was 

 gladly received, and himself newi}^ ordained, and 

 consecrated and loaded with the highest ecclesiastical 

 dignities; though amongst his papers- were found 

 afterwards a protestation of liis stedtast adherence to 

 liis former Doctrine, the abjuring ot which, he said, 

 was the only resource to save his life. lie had also 

 written letters to the same effect to India, which fell 

 afterwards into the hands of the Archbishop De 

 Menezes. 



The Portuguese clergy, however, \vere not less 

 displeased with the conduct of Mar Joseph ; v.dio, 

 notwithstanding all his promises to the Queen, and 

 his protestations made to the Archbishop of G'oisr, and 



the 



