{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 34,
  "chapterName": "1545. Xavier’s Letter to King Joao III",
  "pageFrom": 34,
  "pageTo": 34,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 34,
      "ocrText": "34\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\ndeath a large number of the converts, simply because they had\nbecome Christians. Let us give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ\nthat even in our time He does not let us lack martyrs and that while\nHe sees so few souls avail themselves of all His divine mercy and\nindulgence to work out their salvation, He permits, in the mystery\nof His providence, th that human barbarity should fill up the destined\nranks and number of the blessed.\nI have already written you word of how great a friend the\nGovernor of India is to me and to all the Society. He was so angry\nand indignant at the horrible slaughter of the converts, that as\nsoon as I began to speak to him about it, he ordered a powerful\nfleet to be fitted out for the destruction of the tyrant, and I was\nobliged myself to restrain the warmth of his most righteous indig-\nnation. This same Raja who has put the Christians to death has a\nbrother, the legitimate heir of the crown, who lives in exile for\nfear of his brother's cruelty. This prince has promised that, if\nhe is put in possession of his dominions by the Governor, he will\nbecome Christian as well as principal person of his kingdom. The\nGovernor has given orders to his officers to restore him to the\nthrone if he embraces the Christian religion, and to put to death\nthe Raja who persecuted the converts, or to treat him as I shall\nthink proper. I do not doubt that the prayers of the converts whom\nhe has rendered martyrs may win for him the grace to acknowledge.\nhis blindness, and that after doing a wholesome penance he may\nobtain pardon from God for so much crime and barbarity\n34. XAVIER'S LETTER TO KING JOAO III (1545 A.D.)\nThis letter was written from Amboina (Molucas) asking the king\nof Portugal to establish the Inquisition in Goa. It is dated May 16,\n1545. Silva Rego, Documentacao para a Historia das Missoes do\nPadroado Portugues do Oriente, Vol. III, p. 351. Cited in\nA. K. Priolkar, The Goa Inquisition, pp. 23-24.\nThe second necessity for the Christians is that your majesty\nestablish the Holy Inquisition, because there are many who live\naccording to the Jewish law, and according to the Mahamedan\nsect, without any fear of God or shame of the world. And since\nthere are many who are spread all over the fortress, there is the\nneed of the Holy Inquisition and of many preachers. Your majesty\nshould provide such necessary things for your loyal and faithful\nsubjects in India.",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}