Vol. VII, No. 3.] Frey Joao da Cruz, O.S.A. ( + 1638). 55 
[NV .S.] 
The commonly accredited opinion in modern works on 
Hugli ! is that Frey Joao da Cruz was taken to Agra (1632-33) 
with other priests and 4,000 prisoners and cast before an infu- 
riated elephant. However, by a miraculous interposition of 
Providence, he escaped unhurt and obtained from Shéh Jahan 
not only the release of the captives, but a grant of 777 bigahs 
of land near the Bandel of Hugli. 
Asiaticus quotes a Portuguese text obtained from the 
‘¢ Archives ’’ of Bandel (cf. Pt. I, Sketches respecting Bengal, 
Calcutta, 1803, p. 49), and as he speaks elsewhere (cf. p. 52) 
of the Life of Frey Joio da Cruz, we are led to believe that 
the passage was copied from the Life by Frey Lawrence of 
Grace. 
The text is as follows: ‘‘ The day came when the martyr- 
dom was to be accomplished. This was in the year 1633. The 
Emperor ordained that the Very Rev. Father Frey Joao da 
Cruz be cast at the feet of an infuriated elephant, to be 
torn to pieces in his presence and that of the whole of 
his court; but, the elephant forgetting his natural fierceness 
knelt at the feet of the said Father and paid him his obei- 
sance (fez lhe cortezias) and defended him with his proboscis.” 
The whole Court and the Emperor too, seeing so great a pro- 
digy, were unanimous in confessing that the said Very Rev. 
Father Frey Joio da Cruz was a servant of God. He was 
instantly brought before the Emperor and was told by him to 
ask whatever he wished, for he would be granted it all. For 
this he gave him three days’ time; but the said Father an- 
swered he did not need so much time [for reflection]: he 
wished only that His Majesty should let him free to return to 
Bengal, and together with him all the Christian captives.” 
Unfortunately for Asiaticus and a host of writers who seem 
to have taken their inspiration from him, nothing allows us 
so far to believe that the Friar was taken to Agra. i 
gives us (cf. Itinerario, Ch. LXXXI) the names of the 
four priests, two Augustinians and two secular priests, who 
ed tho 
vicissitudes of Frey Joio da Cruz (Ch. LXXXII), he men- 
tions nowhere his captivity nor the interesting scene of 
his rescue. And yet Manrique was in Arakan from 1629 to 
Assumption’s (0.8.A.) Martyrologium Augustinianum, Ulyssipone, ex 
iguez, : 
typographia Dominici Rodri MDCCLIX, Vol. II, June 11th, p. 182. 
1 CE : : 
the Archdiocese of Agra, Simla, 1907, pp. 211-214. es 
Asiaticus, commenting on the text, rather than translating it, 
wrote: “ The elephant, at sight of the friar, lost his native ferocity 
and gently ‘ caressed’ him with his proboscis.’’ 
