Book I. Travels in Ihdia 85 



chap. xv. 



The Story of Father Ephraim, and how he was pit into the Inquifition 



at Goa by a fiirfrifal. 



TH E Cbtkj who had marri'd the Eldeft of the Princeffes of Golconda, not be- 

 ing able to perfwade Father Ephraim to ftay at Bagnabar, where he promis'd 

 to build him an Houfe and a Church, gave him an Ox and two Men to carry him 

 to Maflipatan, where he ftaid to embark for Pegu, according to the order of his 

 Superiors. But finding no Veflel ready to fet fail,the Bnglijh drew him to Madref- 

 patanjivhcrc they have a Fort call'd St.George^nd a general Factory for every thing 

 that concerns the Countreys of Golconda, Pegu and BengaU. They over-perfwa- 

 ded him that he might reap a fairer Harveft in this place, than in any other part 

 of the Indies ; to which end they prefently built him a very neat Houfe, and a 

 Church. But in the conclufion, the Enghjh fought not fb much the intereft of 

 Father Ephraim, as their own. For Madrefpatan is but half a league from St. 

 Thomas, a Sea-Town upon the Coaft of Cormandel, indifferently well-built, as for- 

 merly belonging to the Portugals. In that place there was a very great Trade, 

 efpecially for Calicuts, and a very great number of Merchants and Workmen liv'd 

 there, the greateft part whereof defir'd to inhabit at Madrefpatan with the Eng- 

 hjh, but that there was no place for them to exercife their Religion in that place. 

 But when the Bnglijh had built a Church, and perfwaded Father Ephraim to ftay, 

 many of the Portugueses quitted St. Thomas , by reafon of the frequent Preaching 

 of Father Ephraim, and his great care as well of the Natives, as of the Portu- 

 gals. Father Ephraim was born at Auxerre, the Brother of Morfieur Chateau de 

 Boys, Councilor of the Parliament of Paris; who was very happy in learning 

 Languages, Co that in a little time he fpoke Enghjh and Pmnguez. perfectly well. 

 But now the Clergy of St. Thmtas- Church feehig Father Ephra'rr.i in fo high a re- 

 putation, and that he drew the *5~ateft part of their C ngregation to Madrefpa- 

 tan, were fo enrag'd againft him r , that they refb'v'd co rumt him. And thus they 

 laid their plot. The Englijh an^ Portugueses being neer-neighbours, could not 

 choofe but have feveral quarr^fcne among another, and lr II 1 Father Ephraim 

 was appli'd to for the compofing tneir differences. Now one day it happen a, that 

 the Portugueses quarrell'd on purpofe with fome Enghjh Mariners that were in 

 St. Thomas-Road, and the Enghjh came by the worft. The Enghjh Prefident re- 

 viving to have fatisfaction for the injury, a War broke out between the two Na- 

 tions : which had ruin'd all the Trade of that Countrey, had not the Merchants 

 on both fides been very diligent to bring things to an accommodation : not know- 

 ing any thing of the wicked contrivance of particular perfons againft Father 

 Ep/jraim. But all the interpofition of the Merchants avail'd nothing : the Friar 

 rauft be concern'd in the affair, he mull be the Mediator to act between party 

 and party, which he readily accepted. But he was no fooner enter'd into St. Tho- 

 mas, but he was feiz d by ten or twelve Officers of the Inquifition, who fhipp'd 

 him away in a Frigat that was bound at the fame time for Goa. They fetter'd and 

 manacl'd him, and kept him two and twenty days at Sea, before they would let 

 him once put his foot a-fhoar : though the beft part of the Mariners lay a-fhoar 

 every night. When they came to Goa, they ftaid till night before they would land 

 Father Ephraim, to carry him to the Inquifirion-Hvufe. For they were afraid, 

 left if they fhould land him in the day, the people fhould know of it, and rife in 

 the refcue of a perfon, who was in an high veneration overall India. The news 

 was prefently fpread abroad in all parts, that Father Ephraim was in the Inquifi- 

 tion, which very much amaz'd all the French-men. But he that was moft mr- 

 priz'd, and molt troubfd at it was Friar Zenon, the Capuchin, who had been for- 

 merly Father Ephraims Companion ; who after he had confulted his friends, re- 

 folv'd to go to Goa, though he were put into the Inquifition himfelf. For when 

 a man is once (hut up there, if any one have the boldnefs to fpeak to the Inquifi- 

 tor, or to any of his Councel in his behalf, he is prefently put into the Inquifition 



alfo. 



