{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 50,
  "chapterName": "1693. A Letter of John de Britto from Oriour Prison",
  "pageFrom": 56,
  "pageTo": 56,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 56,
      "ocrText": "56\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nnatives were kept to people the town; the slaves passed to the\nservice of the Company. Honourable men were allowed to take\naway what they had on their backs, and perhaps a small bundle\nof clothes; but on getting on board, upon disembarking, and even\nduring the voyage, they suffered much and lost even the little they\nhad.\n50. A LETTER OF JOHN DE BRITTO FROM ORIOUR\nPRISON (1693 A.D.)\nOne of the successors of Robert de Nobili, John de Britto suffered\nmuch during his missionary career. This letter was written with\ncharcoal from the prison of Oriour on 3 February, 1693, and was\naddressed to Fr. Laynez. Cited by Ferroli, The Jesuits in Malabar,\nvol. II, p. 86.\nMy dear Father, through Raganappan, my Catechist, thou\nhast learnt of what has happened in my prison up to my departure\nfor Ramnadpuram. On the 28th January I was obliged to appear\nbefore a tribunal. I was told I was condemned to death. I was\nbrought to the spot, where I was to die, and all was prepared when\nthe Raja, fearing an uprising, gav gave the order to separate me from\nmy dear children, the other other Confessors of Jesus Christ, in order to\nhand me over to his brother Udayarthevar. He charged him to\nexecute me without delay. On the 31st January I reached the place\nof Udayarthevar. The journey was full of hardships. On the\nsame day Udayarthevar sent for me. We spoke at length on\nreligion. Then I was brought back to prison, where I find myself\nstill, and in constant expectation of death, which I shall endure for\nGod. The hope of obtaining this happiness led me twice to India.\nTrue it is, to secure such happiness has cost me much, but the\nrewards which I hope from God are worth all these, and even\ngreater, pains. The crime of which I am accused is none other\nthan that I preach the true religion of God, and that, therefore\nthe idols are no longer worshipped. What an honour to suffer\ndeath for such a crime. It fills me with joy and consolation in the\nLord. Soldiers guard me closely; hence I can write no more..\n51. EAST INDIA COMPANY CHARTER OF 1698\nThe British East India Company charter of 5 September 1698\ncontained provision for the appointment and support of chaplains.\nThe following extract from the charter of 1698 is cited in C. J. Grimes,\nTowards an Indian Church, Appendix II, pp. 223-224.\nAnd we do hereby further will and appoint, that the said\nCompany, hereby established, and their successors, shall constantly",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}