Book I 



Travels in India. 



Never did any Vice-Roy depart from Goa fo rich as Don Philfpo de Mafcareg- 

 nas -, for he had a great parcel of Diamonds, all large ftones ? from ten Carats to 

 forty. Ke Ihew'd me two when I was at Goa, one whereof weigh'd 57 Carats, the 

 other 67 and an half 5 clean Stones, of an excellent water, and cut after the In- 

 dian manner. The report was that the Vice-Roy was poifon'd in the Ship, and 

 that it was a juft punifhment of Heaven, for that he had poifon'd feveral others, 

 efpecially when he was Governor of Ceylan. He had always molt exquifite poi-» 

 fons by him, to make ule of when his revenge requir'd it : for which realbn, ha- 

 ving rais'd himfelf many enemies, one morning he was found hung in Effigie in 

 Goa ; when I was there in the year 1648. 



In the mean time, the Imprifonment of Father Ephraim made a great noife in 

 Europe ; Monfieur de Chajieau des Bois his Brother complain'd to the Portugal Em- 

 baflador, who prelently wrote to the King his Mafter to fend a pofitive command 

 by the firft Ships, that Father Ephraim mould be difcharg'd. The Pope alfo wrote, 

 declaring that he would excommunicate all the Clergy of Goa, if they did not let 

 him at liberty. But all this fignifi'd nothing. So that Father Ephraim was be- 

 holding for his liberty to none but the King of Golconda, who had a love for him,; 

 andwould have had him have ftaid at Bagnagar. For the King was then at Wars with 

 the Raja of Cafnatica, and his Army lay round about St. Thomas's. Hearing there- 

 fore what a bale trick the Portugueses had plaid with Father Ephraim, he lent Or- 

 ders to his General Mirgimola to lay fiege to the Town, and put all to Fire and 

 Sword, unlefs the Governor would make him a firm promife that Father Ephraim 

 Ihould be fet at liberty in two months. A Copy of this Order was fent to the 

 Governor, which fo alarm'd the Town, that they difpatch'd away Barque after 

 Barque, to prels the Vice-Roy to ule his endeavours for the releale of Father 

 Ephraim. Thereupon he was releas'd ; but though the door were let open, he 

 would not ftir, till all the Religious Perfons in Goa came in Proceflion to fetch 

 him out. When he was at liberty he Ipent 15- days in the Convent of the Capu- 

 chins. I have heard Father Ephraim lay lèverai times, that nothing troubl'd him 

 Co much all the while of his imprifonment, as to fee the ignorance of the Inquifitor 

 and his Councel, when they put him any queftion : and that he did not believe 

 that any one of them had ever read the Scripture. They laid him in the fame 

 Chamber, with a Malt efs, who never fpoke two words without a delperate oath 3 

 and took Tobacco all day, and a good part of the night, which was very offenfive 

 to Father Ephraim. 



When the Inquifitors feize upon any perfon, they fearch him prefently % and as 

 for his Goods and wearing-Apparel, it is let down in an Inventory, to be return'd 

 him again in cafe he be acquitted -, but if he have any Gold, Silver, or Jewels, 

 that is never fet down 5 but is carri'd to the Inquifitor to defray the expences of 

 the Procefs. They fearch'd the Reverend Father Ephraim, but found nothing in 

 his Cloak-pockets, unlefs it were a Comb, an Inkhorn, and two or three Hand- 

 kerchiefs. But forgetting to fearch the little Pockets which the Capuchins carry 

 in their fleeves toward their armpits, they left him four or five black-lead pens.' 

 Thefe Pencils did him a great kindnels. For the Maltese calling for fuch a deal of 

 Tobacco, which is always cut and ti'd up in white-paper, for the profit of the 

 feller,who weighs both Tobacco and Paper together : thefe Papers Father Ephraim 

 kept very charily, and with his Pencil wrote therein whatever he had ftudi'd at 

 any time : though he loft the fight of one of his eyes, through the darknels of 

 the Chamber, which had but one window, half a foot Iquare, and barr'd with iron. 

 They would never Co much as lend him a Book, or let him have an end of Candles 

 but us'd him as bad as a certain Mifcreant that had been twice let out already with 

 his Shirt fulphur'd, and a St. <dndrews-Crofs upon his ftomach, in company with 

 thofe that are lead to the Gallows, and was then eome in again. 



Father Ephraim having ftaid ij days in the Convent of the Capuchins to re- 

 cover his firength after 20 months imprifonment, return'd Cox Maartjpatan, and 

 paffing through Golconda, went to return his humble thanks to the King of Gol- 

 colda and his Son-in-law, who had lb highly interefs'd themfelves for his liberty. 

 The King importund him again to ftay at Bagnagar, but feeing him relblv'd to re- 

 turn to his Convent at Madrefpatanj, they gave him as before^ tftfOxC, two Ser- 

 vants, and Money for his journey. 



