1834 ] Account of the Christians on the Malabar Coast. 26$ 



labours, raised him with every demonstration of kindness, congra- 

 tulated him on his reconciliation with the Catholic Church, assur- 

 ing him ofthefiiml reward reserved for those who bring many 

 souls to the purity of the faith . He concluded by urging his imme- 

 diate and public signature of the Articles. The Archdeacon en> 

 treated that he might sign them in private, representing the proba- 

 ble disaffection which the other mode might excite among the peo- 

 ple whom he was desirous to bring over. The force of this argu- 

 ment was instantly admitted, and the oath and subscription to the 

 profession of faith and the ten Articles were made before the Jesuit 

 Francisco Roz, who had been the very soul of Menezes' counsels 

 in the whole transaction. 



Nothing now remained but to arrange the preliminaries of the 

 Synod. It was proposed that it should be held at Angamalcj the 

 Metropolitan Church of the diocese, but the Archbishop had strong 

 reasons for objecting to this. Angamale was not within the terri- 

 tories of Cochin, and the inhabitants were strongly attached to their 

 old religion. It was finally determined that it should assemble at 

 Diampery a short distance only from Cochin, on the 20th of June, 

 1599, the second Sunday after Trinity ; and accordingly both the 

 Archbishop and Archdeacon issued letters, commanding the atten- 

 dance of all priests and four laymen from every town at the time 

 and place appointed. 



The Archbishop on his return to Cranganore composed, and 

 wrote with his own hand, the decrees of the Synod, which were 

 immediately translated from Portuguese into Malayalim. He had 

 taken good care to engage the assistance of the neighbouring chiefs ; 

 and in order to secure the great object — -the majority of votes in the 

 Synod — he ordained no less than fifty Priests in the Church of 

 Paru on Trinity Sunday. These, together with the thirty eight 

 ordained at Diamper a little time before, and others at Carturte, 

 probably amounted to at least two thirds of the whole number 

 present at the Synod, which did not exceed one hundred and fifty 

 three. Many also of the lay delegates he conciliated by consider- 

 able presents, some of great value. 



On the 9th of June he arrived at Diamper accompanied by six 

 Jesuits and his Chaplain, and appointed a Comnuttee of eight 

 Catanars and four laymen, who examined and approved the de- 

 crees which he had prepared. On the 20th of June the Synod 

 was opened with great solemnity, the Clergy of Cochin, with their 

 Choir, the Governor and his OfHcers being present on the occasion. 



