NO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 



531 



so that even the Portuguese, following his example, so 

 regulated their actions that the soldiers became like citizens, 

 the citizens like priests, and all so agreeable and friendly 

 to the natives that nobody would have imagined that 

 they were two such opposite nations. Christian piety in- 

 creased in the same manner, and also the exaltation of our 

 Holy Catholic faith; in the promotion of which he was 

 ever watchful, bringing about conversion by so many sound 

 measures that Ceylan began to resemble more a Spanish pro- 

 vince—there being scattered over the Island many convents 

 and monasteries of Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustins, and 

 Jesuits, which were full of the most virtuous and learned 

 subjects. There were also a great many churches and 

 hospitals in whose service and administration the Portuguese 

 showed an example to all by their liberality. Nor was least 

 of all the solicitude of the Governor in all sacred matters. 

 He made them to be reverenced and the ministers to be 

 obeyed, giving them the jurisdiction and homage due to them 

 in all ecclesiastical affairs, abstaining himself from all 

 concern over the persons and things belonging to them, and 

 using the greatest care and circumspection not to go beyond 

 the limit of his power and commit sacrilege (as so many 

 ministers have done in the freedom of the absolute power 

 they have vested in them whilst governing in the name of 

 their king), being nothing more than a protector and de- 

 fender of the Church and its ministers : for God holds 

 him to be His defender whoever concerns himself about the 

 preservation of His rule. He never went beyond the lawful 

 limits of his powers, as that would have been what the 

 infidels would have wished : he considered that if his vassals 

 feared God and reverenced the things that belonged to Him, 

 his kingdom would be the happiest and the most lasting 

 of all. Love of religion, united with justice in military and 

 civil affairs, accompanied his Government ; transgressors 

 were punished, virtue favoured, trade carried on with honesty, 

 valour rewarded, and vice looked on with abhorrence even 

 by the most froward. 



