all that are subject to her are immediately under Christ without owing any reverence to the Roman Bishop they say likewise That the Roman Church is fallen from the Faith having perverted the Canons of the Apostles by the force of Heretical Emperors Arms and that the Romans are Hereticks for not celebrating in leavened Bread which has been the inviolable Custom of the Church derived from our Saviour and his Holy Apostles that all the Bishops that followed Nestorius ought to be much esteemed and when named to be stiled Saints and to have their Reliques reverenced That Matrimony is not a Sacrament that it may be dissolved for the bad conditions of the Parties That Vsury is Lawful and there is no Sin in it Also the Book of Timothy the Patriarch where in three Chapters The most Holy Sacrament of the Altar is blasphemed it being impiously asserted in them That the true Body of our Lord Christ is not there but only the Figure thereof Also the Letter which they pretend came down from Heaven called the Letter of the Lord's day wherein the Roman Church is accused of having fallen from the Faith and having violated the Domingo or Lord's-day Letter Also the Book called Maclamatas wherein the distinction of two Persons in Christ and the accedental Union of the Incarnation are pretended to be proved at large and are confirmed with several false and Blasphemous Similitudes Also the Book intituled Vguarda or the Rose wherein it is said That there are two Persons in Christ that the Union of the Incarnation was Accidental that our Lady brought forth with Pain and the Sons of Joseph which he had by his other Wife being in company went for a Midwife to her with other Blasphemies Also the Book intituled Camiz wherein it is said That the Divine Word and the Son of the Virgin are not the same and that our Lady brought forth with Pain Also the Book intituled Menra wherein it is said That our Lord Christ is only the Image of the Word that the Substance of God dwelt in Christ as in a Temple that Christ is next to the Divinity that Christ was made the Companion of God Also the Book of Orders wherein it is said That the Form and not the Matter is necessary to Orders and the Forms therein are likewise Erroneous that there are only two Orders Diaconate and Priesthood that Altars of Wood and not of Stone are to be Consecrated there are also Prayers in it for those that are converted from any other Sect to Nestorianism in form of an Absolution from the Excommunication they had incurred for not having followed Nestorius and of a reconciliation to the Church Also the Book of Homilies wherein it is said That the Holy Eucharist is only the Image of Christ and is distinguished from him as an Image is from a true Man and that the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ is not there nor no where else but in Heaven That the whole Trinity was Incarnate that Christ is only the Temple of the Divinity and God only by Representation that the Soul of Christ descended not into Hell but was carried to the Paradise of Eden that whosoever affirms the contrary errs and that we therefore err in our Creed There are therein likewise some Letters of some Heretical Synods in which it is said That the Patriarch of Babylon is not subject to the Roman Bishop with an Oath to be taken to the said Patriarch as the Head of the Church wherein People Swear to obey him and him only and not the Bishop of Rome Also a Book intituled An Exposition of the Gospels wherein it is every where pretended to be proved That there are two Persons in Christ and that Christ as a pure Creature was obliged to adore God and stood in need of Prayer that he was the Temple of the most Holy Trinity that Christ's Soul when he died descended not into Hell but was carried to the Paradise of Eden which was the place he promised to the Thief on the Cross That our Lady the Virgin deserved to be reproved for having vainly imagined that she was Mother to one that was to be a great King looking upon Christ as no other than a pure Man and presuming that he was to have a Temporal Empire as well as the resâ— of the Jews That the Evangelists did not Record all Christ's Actions in Truth as they were they not having been present at several of them which was the reason why they differed from one another so much That the Wise Men that came from the East received no favour from God for the Journey they took neither did they believe in Christ that Christ was the adopted Son of God it being as impossible that he should be Gods Natural Son as it is that Just Men should be so that he received new Grace in Baptism which he had not before that he is only the Image of the Word and the pure Temple of the Holy Spirit that the Holy Eucharist is only the Image of the Body of Christ which is only in Heaven at the right hand of the Father and not here on Earth That Christ as pure Man did not know when the day of Judgment was to be That when St. Thomas put his Hand into Christ's Side and said My Lord and my God! he did not speak to Christ for that he that was raised was not God but it was only an Exclamation made to God upon his beholding such a Miracle That the Authority that Christ gave to St. Peter over the Church was the same that he gave to other Priests so that his Successors have no more Power or Jurisdiction than other Bishops That our Lady the Virgin is not the Mother of God That the first Epistle of St. John and that of St. James are not the Writings of thole Holy Apostles but of some other Persons of the same Name and therefore are not Canonical Also the Book of Hormisda Raban who is stiled a Saint wherein it is said That Nestorius was a Saint and Martyr and suffered for the Truth and that St. Cyril who persecuted him was the Priest and Minister of the Devil and is now in Hell That Images are filthy and abominable Idols and ought not to be adored and that St. Cyril as a Heretick invented and introduced them There are also many false Miracles Recorded in this Book which are said to have been wrought by Hormisda in confirmation of the Nestorian Doctrine with an Account of what he suffered from the Catholicks for being obstinate in his Heresy Also the Book of Lots into which they put that they call the Ring of Solomon with a great many more Superstitions for the choice of good Days to Marry upon and for several other uses wherein are contained many Blasphemies and Heathenish Observances as also all other Books of Lots and for chusing of Days the Synod prohibits under the same Censure Also the Book written after the manner of â€
nor no need of any created assistance to help her to bring forth or afterwards there being nothing in her but what was pure the Eternal Word made Flesh springing out of her Womb the Claustrum of her pure Virginity being shut when the time determined in the Consistory of the Holy Trinity was come to the great Spiritual Joy and satisfaction of the said Blessed Virgin for which reason she ought truly to be stiled the Mother of God and not only the Mother of Christ and that when she departed this Life she was immediately carried up into Heaven where by a particular privilege due to her Merits she enjoys God both in Body and Soul without waiting for the general Resurrection there being no reason why that Body out of which there was most Holy Flesh formed for the Son of God made Man should as other Bodies be dissolved into Dust and Ashes but that it should be immediately exalted and glorified and placed high above all the Quires of Angels as Holy Mother Church sings and confesseth concerning the whole of which matter the Impious Nestorian Hereticks have spoke and writ even in the Breviaries used in this Bishoprick a great many Blasphemies and Heresies Decree VII THe Synod is with great sorrow sensible of that Heresy and perverse Error sown by the Schismaticks in this Diocess to the great prejudice of Souls which is That there was one Law of St. Thomas and another of St. Peter which made * Two different By all this which the Synod calls Two Laws the Christians of St. Thomas meant only That the Churches planted by the Apostles in divers Regions had nothing of Superiority or Jurisdiction over one another which is a most certain and ancient truth two different and distinct Churches and both immediately from Christ and that the one had nothing to do with the other neither did the Prelate of the one owe any obedience to the Prelate of the other and that they who had followed the Law of St. Peter had endeavoured to destroy the Law of St. Thomas for which they had been punished by him all which is a manifest Error Schism and Heresy there being but one Law to all Christians which is that which was given and declared by Jesus Christ the Son of God and preached by the Holy Apostles all over the World as one Faith one Baptism there being but one Lord of all and one Catholick and Apostolick Church of which our Lord Christ God and Man who Founded it is the only Spouse and one only Universal Pastor to whom all other Prelates owe obedience the Pope and Bishop of Rome Successor in the Chair of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord Jesus Christ bequeathed that Supream Authority and by him to his Successors which Catholick Doctrine is necessary to Eternal Life Wherefore the Synod doth command all Parish Priests and Preachers to Treat often of this matter by reason of the great need there is of having this Bishoprick well instructed therein Decree VIII FOr that till the very time of the most Illustrious Metropolitan entring into this Diocess there was a certain Heresy twice repeated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and twice more in the Divine Office in calling the Patriarch of Babylon the Universal Pastor and Head of the Catholick Church in all places and as often as they happen to name him a Title that is due only to the most Holy Father the Bishop of Rome Successor of the Prince of the Apostles St. Peter and Vicar of Christ on Earth the Synod doth therefore command in virtue of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred that no Person of this Bishoprick Secular or Ecclesiastical shall from henceforward presume by Word or Writing either in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in the Divine Office or in any other occasion to bestow that Title on the said Patriarch of Babylon or on any other Prelate besides our Lord the Bishop of Rome and whosoever shall dare to contravene this Order shall be declared Excommunicate and held for a Schismatick and Heretick and shall be punished as such according to the Holy Canons And whereas the Patriarchs of Babylon to whom this Church was subject are Nestorians the Heads of that cursed Sect and Schismaticks out of the Obedience of the Holy Roman Church and Aliens from our Holy Catholick Faith and are for that reason Excommunicate and accursed and it not being lawful to joyn with such in the Church in publick as stand Excommunicate Wherefore this Bishoprick upon its having now yielded a perfect Obedience to the most Holy Father the Pope Christ's Vicar upon Earth to which it was obliged by Divine Authority and upon pain of Damnation shall not from henceforward have any manner of dependance upon the said Patriarch of Babylon and the present Synod does under the said precept of Obedience and upon pain of Excommunication to be ipso facto incurred prohibit all Priests and Curates from henceforward to name the said Patriarch of Babylon in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or in any other Divine Office in the Prayers of the Church even without the false Title of Universal Pastor but instead thereof shall name our Lord the Pope who is our true Pastor as also of the whole Church and after him the Lord Bishop of the Diocess for the time being and whosoever shall maliciously and knowingly act the contrary shall be declared Excommunicate and otherwise punish'd at the pleasure of his Prelate according to his contumacy Decree IX WHereas all the Breviaries used in this Church are Nestorian and by the commands of Prelates of the same Sect on a certain day the impious and false Heretick Nestorius is Commemorated in this Bishoprick and a Day is kept to his Honour and at other times Theodorus Diodorus Abbaratho Abraham Narsai Barchauma Johanan Hormisda and Michael who are also Nestorian Hereticks were likewise Commemorated Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus being commemorated on the Friday after the Nativity and on the seventh Friday after that Abraham and Narsai and all the above-named and all of them on every Thursday in the Year in the said Nestorian Office and every day in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Divine Office and notwithstanding in some places they have not of late named Nestorius Theodorus and Diodorus but do still continue to name Abraham Narsai Abba Barchauma Johanan Hormisda and Michael in the Blessing that the Priest gives to the People at the end of the Mass wherein they desire Hormisda to deliver them from evil being his Disciples as also on all Fridays in the Year they commemorate as Saints the said Hormisda Joseph Michael Johanan Barchauma Barianda Rabba Hedsa Machai Hixoiau Caurixo Avahixo Lixo Xaulixo Barmun Lixo Metidor Cohada Israel Ezekiah Lixo David Lixo Barai Israel Julianus Haudixo c. who were all Nestorian Hereticks and as is evident from the said Masses and from their Lives Commemorations
Bolognia with the splendid Title of the Armenian Patriarch This Humor was carried on by one Elias who likewise pretended to be chose Patriarch of Babylon he sent several Nuncio's to the Pope with the Submission of the Babylonish Church and a Confession of Faith but these Nuncio's spoiled their business by over-acting their Parts for it having been discovered that the better to support their Pretence of the Chaldaean Church agreeing with the Church of Rome in all things they had tore several Pages out of their Church-Offices they were dismissed with disgrace However this did not discourage Elias as indeed what will a hungry Monk from sending one Adam Camara his pretended Arch-Deacon to Rome three Years after that misfortune who together with his Patriarch's Letter delivered to the Pope a Book of his own composing concerning the Reconciliation of the Chaldaean Church to the Roman which he desired might be diligently examined In his Letter he told Paul V. That let Hereticks do what they will he for his part was resolved never to go against the Holy Precepts of the Apostles and Orthodox Fathers who had all affirmed the See of great Rome to be the Head of all other Sees but would always confess that the Roman Church was the Mother of all the other Churches in the World and that all that did not own her to be so were accursed It 's observable that this Elias had a stretch of Courtship beyond his begging Predecessors which was his assuring the Pope That all their Clergy anciently had their Orders immediately from Rome and that that Custom continued till several that were going to Rome on that Errand were murdered by the way which having several times happened the Pope when he came to hear of it did of his free Grace say Let us ordain them a Patriarch and not only so but permit them to chuse him that so they may not perish thus by the way And thus said good Elias we received all the Authority we pretend to from Rome and not from our selves as they pretend to do and the greater Wretches they who trample upon the Canons of the Apostles and the Laws of the Fathers It is from this blind Story that the Roman Doctors have endeavoured to persuade the World that all the Babylonish Bishops do own that they derived their Power of Ordination from the Western Fathers meaning the Bishops of Rome no doubt Now what crude Stuff is this that those hungry Monks served up to the Pope and was as greedily swallowed at Rome there being not the least Colour of Truth in any part of the Story For as to the ancient Custom that is so confidently affirmed it is plainly contradicted by the 33d Arabick Canon of the Council of Nice which tho' not the genuine Canons of that Council are yet very ancient The Canon runs thus Canon 33. Let the See of Seleucia which is one of the Eastern Cities be honoured likewise and have the Title of Catholicon and let the Prelate thereof ordain Arch-Bishops as the other Patriarchs do that so the Eastern Christians who live under Heathens may not be wronged by waiting the Patriarch of Antioch's leisure or by going to him but may have a way opened to them to supply their own Necessities neither will any injury be done to the Patriarch of Antioch thereby seeing he has consented to its being thus upon the Synod's having desired it of him From which Canon it is plain That the Church of Seleucia or Babylon was anciently subject to the Patriarch of Antioch who of all the Patriarchs was their nighest Neighbour So that if the Chaldaean Bishops do own that they derived all their Authority from the Western Fathers as is pretended they do they must mean by the Western Fathers the Bishops of Antioch And as to its being said That the Chaldaean Bishops do to this day own that they had their Ordinations from the Western Fathers meaning the Bishops of Rome the falshood of that Pretence appears evidently not only from what has been said but from the whole Tenor of the following Synod and of all the late Reports of the Portuguezes concerning that Church As it does likewise That all those Patriarchs of Babylon who came to Rome notwithstanding the great Noise they made in this Part of the World were mere Impostors never owned by the Churches they pretended to be Patriarchs of Father Simon speaking of this in the 93 Page of his Histoire Critique confesseth their magnifying the Pope's Power as they did to have been a piece of gross Flattery but withal will have it to have been Pardonable in such poor Wretches who would not otherwise have been suffered to have approached the Pope to whom they came into Europe on purpose to make their Court for as he observes upon the same occasion few or none of the Oriental Prelates ever applied themselves to the Pope but for the promoting of some particular Interest which was one reason why the reunions they pretended to make did not last long But tho' for some time these mock Prelates being supported by the Pope made a shift to keep the face of a Church at Charamet none of them ever daring to go to Mosul yet after a little time the true Chaldaean Prelates obliged them to leave Charamet from whence they retired to Zeinalback a yet remoter Place on the borders of Persia where from little in a short time they dwindled to nothing The Prelates of Babylon we see were anciently stiled Bishops of Seleucia a City not far from Ctesiphon from whence it was that Simon who suffered Martyrdom under Sapor is stiled Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon of which City we meet with this following Account in Strabo Babylon was anciently the Metropolis of Assyria which now Seleucia of Tigris is near to which is a great Village called Ctesiphon where the Kings of Parthia used to spend the Winter to spare Seleucia that it might not be continually oppressed with Soldiers and Scythians but notwithstanding this Change of the Metropolis as the Country all about is still called Babylon so the Natives tho' Born in the very City of Seleucia are still called Babylonians from the Region and not Seleucians In the Bibliotheca Patrum there is a Treatise of Paradise translated out of Syriack into Latine by Masius writ by one Moses Bar Cepha who is stiled Bishop in Bethraman and Bethleno and Curator of the Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Mozul or Seleucia Parthorum This Moses flourished in the Tenth Century But it is time to leave these Sham Prelates who run so fast to Rome of their own accord and return to the true ones who were forc'd to go thither much against their Wills After the Christians of the Serra had heard of their Arch-Bishop's being sent a Prisoner to Portugal despairing of ever seeing him again they sent secretly to Mar Simeon Patriarch of Babylon desiring him to order them a new Arch-Bishop who straightways sent them one Mar Abraham who having gotten
Church was so much incensed he was obliged at last tho' contrary to his Inclination to send a Franciscan Friar to the Arch-Deacon with authority to take his Subscription to the Roman Creed and to require him to punish the Priests who had beat the Boy for naming the Pope in his Prayers The Arch-Deacon having nothing to object against the Franciscan Friar and being extreamly desirous if it was possible to keep the Arch-Bishop from coming into the Serra tho' he refused to Subscribe the Creed of Pius IV. yet condescended to Subscribe a Confession of Faith wherein he professed himself a Catholick and that he believed as the Church believed but without naming the Roman or acknowledging the Pope as universal Pastor of the Church he is furthermore said upon the Arch-Bishop's signifying his dissatisfaction at the ambiguous Profession he had made to have given his consent publickly to that of Pius IV. being read to him in Portugueze of which he did not understand a Syllable But let that be as it will it is certain that he continued still to teach that the Pope was the head of his own Church but had nothing to do with that of St. Thomas The Arch-Bishop not being able to brook such things any longer fix'd a day for his going towards the Serra and when the Viceroy and the whole Clergy beg'd of him not to expose his Person to such visible danger they could have no other answer from him but this That his life was but too secure in this case seeing he had never merited enough to entitle him to the Honour of being a Martyr However lest his Humility might deceive him in passing a Judgment upon himself he did not think fit to trust too much to his want of Merits and for that reason went attended with a good Guard he had also a Commission to treat with all the Princes of Malabar about Peace and War and particularly to engage the Samorim to assist the Portugueze to take Cunahle a Fortress lately possessed by a company of Mahometan Pyrates who did very much disturb the Portugueze Trade upon that Coast This Nest of Pyrates was first built by one Pate Marca a Mahometan who having in a short time enriched it strangely with the Spoils of the Portuguezes both by Sea and Land left it at his Death to his Nephew Mahomet Cunahle Marca This Mahomet was Governour or rather Prince of it at this time and as he was nothing inferior to his Uncle in Courage or Conduct so he had Fortified the place so as to make it absolutely one of the strongest Garrisons in the Indies neither did he insult the Portuguezes only but the Malabars also and particularly the Samorim in whose Country Cunahle stood and who had given leave to his Uncle to fortifie that place on purpose to incommode the Portugueze And tho' the Portugueze Historians will have it that he took this Affair of Cunahle only in the way to his Visitation yet by the course of his procedure one would be tempted to think that it was what principally carried him to those Parts On the 27th of December 1598. the Arch-Bishop Embarked upon a Gally Commanded by Don Alvaro de Menezes and on the day of Epiphany arrived at the Bar of Cunahle where he joined the whole Portugueze Armada Commanded by the Viceroy's Brother he was saluted with all the Guns and Musick of the Fleet and having called a Council of War and heard the several Opinions of all the Captains concerning the best way to take Cunahle he dispatched the resolution they had come to thereon to the Council of State at Goa a most Apostolical beginning of a Visitation After having put the Siege of Cunahle into a good Posture he departed with a good Convoy to Cananor where he continued 16 days and then sailed to Cochim where he was splendidly received by the Governour and the whole City at the Stairs they had made on purpose for him to Land at Next day when the Magistrates of the City came to Complement him at his House he acquainted them with his design of reducing the Christians of St. Thomas before he returned to Goa desiring their assistance therein which they frankly promised him The day following His Grace having called the common Council of the City together recommended the enterprise of Cunahle to them whom he made so sensible of how great importance it was to their City above all others to have that Fortress wrested out of the hands of the Mahometan Pyrates who had lately made themselves Masters of it that they immediately caused 150 Men to be Raised and Armed at their own Charge whom together with a great quantity of all sorts of Ammunition they sent upon five stout Ships to joyn the Armada before Cunahle the Arch-Bishop also to give the more life to the enterprise sent one of the best of his own Manchua's or Yachts mann'd with his own menial Servants along with them The King of Cochim was much troubled to hear of the Arch-Bishop's being so hot upon the reduction of Cunahle being sensible that a Peace betwixt the Portuguezes and the Samorim without whose assistance by Land it wou'd be hard for them to reduce that Fortress must be the Consequence of the enterprise And as there had been nothing the Kings of Cochim had been always more careful to hinder such a Peace which they than did on purpose to keep the Portuguezes in a closer dependance upon them so the present King following the wise measures of his Ancestors endeavour'd by a Stratagem to destroy the Confidence he saw the Portuguezes had already reposed in the Samorim To which end he sent his Chief Justice and one Joan de Miranda a Gentleman of Cochim to wait upon the Arch-Bishop and to acquaint his Grace from him that he had received certain advice from some Spies he had in the Samorim Cabinet-Council that that Prince whenever the Portuguezes Landed instead of joyning with them had determined to cut them all off in revenge of the many Injuries they had done his Ancestors of which danger he thought himself obliged both as a Friend and a Brother in Arms to the King of Portugal to advise him The Arch-Bishop who understood the Intrigues of Princes as well as any Man living returned the King his Thanks for his Intelligence but withal sent him word that they were resolved to trust the Samorim in this occasion and the rather because they did not want Power to be revenged on all that should deceive the King of Portugal either in Peace or War The King when he found his Plot had not succeeded according to his expectation resolved to divert the Samorim from sending an Army to Cunahle by making a War presently upon the Caimal or Prince of Corngeira his Friend and Allie and having with incredible expedition got an Army of 60000 Men together he sent to let the Arch-Bishop know that before he marched he designed to wait upon him The Arch-Bishop tho' he did
together with clear Confirmations of the Truth of what we meet with in the Fourteenth and other Decrees of the Third Action of this Synod to wit That the Three great Doctrines of Popery the Pope's Supremacy Transubstantiation the Adoration of Images were never believed nor practised at any time in this ancient Apostolical Church but on the contrary were rejected and condemned by her and that in her Publick Offices So that upon what we learn from this Synod and History I think one may venture to say That before the time of the late Reformation there was no Church that we know of no not that of the Vaudois abating that one thing of her being infected with the Heresie of Nestorius of which too she is cleared by one of the Roman Communion that had so Few Errors in Doctrine as the Church of Malabar If the Synod I here publish should be well received as I have reason to hope it will by all Protestants and lovers of Truth upon the account of the clear Discoveries it makes of the forementioned Popish Errors having never been at any time the Doctrines of the Universal Church which we know is confidently affirmed and much boasted of and for further satisfaction in so important a Matter the above-named History should be desired I shall be ready to translate and publish it with all expedition alone and in the same Volume with this of the Synod together with the best Account I can procure of the Church of Malabar and the other Oriental Churches that were never within the Bounds of the Roman Empire for it is in those Churches that we are to expect to meet with the least of the Leaven of Popery As to the Synod to prevent all surmises of its being a Piece either forged by some Protestant or of no Authority in the Church of Rome tho' set forth by a Member of her Communion I have together with the whole Title Page which tells where when and by whom it was printed translated and published all the Licences that it came out with And if any should suspect the Translation if they please they may satisfie themselves of its Fidelity by having recourse to the Original in the Bodleian Library at Oxford to which as the safest as well as noblest Repository of Books in the World I design to give it I have here and there added some short Remarks upon some Passages which will not I hope be unacceptable to the Reader The DOCTRINES wherein the Church of Malabar agrees with the Church of England and differs from that of Rome 1. SHe condemns the Pope's Supremacy 2. She affirms that the Church of Rome is fallen from the true Faith 3. She denies Transubstantiation or that Christ's Body and Blood are really and substantially in the Eucharist 4. She condemns Images and the Adoration of them as Idolatrous 5. She makes no use of Oils in the Administration of Baptism 6. She allows of no Spiritual Affinity 7. She denies Purgatory 8. She denies the necessity of Auricular Confession 9. She knows nothing of Extream Vnction 10. She allows her Priests to Marry as often as they have a mind and Ordains such as have been married three or four times and to Widows without any scruple 11. She denies Matrimony to be a Sacrament 12. She holds but two Orders Priesthood and Diaconate 13. She Celebrates in Leavened Bread 14. She Consecrates with Prayer 15. She denies Confirmation to be a Sacrament In the Account that is given of the Doctrines of the Church of Malabar in the Eighteenth Chapter of the First Book of the Visitation SHe is said 1. Not to adore Images 2. To hold but Three Sacraments Baptism the Eucharist and Order 3. To make no use of Oils 4. To have had no Knowledge of Confirmation or Extream Unction 5. To abhor Auricular Confession 6. To hold many enormous Errors about the Eucharist insomuch that the Author of the History saith he is inclined to believe that the Hereticks of our Times meaning Protestants the revivers of all forgotten Errors and Ignorances might have had their Doctrine about the Eucharist from them 7. To Ordain such as have been married several times and to Widows and to approve of her Priests marrying as often as they have a mind 8. That she abhors the Pope and the Church of Rome as Anti-Christian in pretending to a Superiority and Jurisdiction over all other Churches A Diocesan SYNOD Of the Church and Bishoprick of ANGAMALE Belonging to the Ancient Christians of St. Thomas in the Serra or Mountains of MALABAR Celebrated by the most Reverend Lord Dom Frey Aleixo de Menezes Archbishop Metropolitan of Goa Primate of the Indies and the See being vacant of the above-named Bishoprick by virtue of two Briefs of the most Holy Father Pope Clement 8th on the third Sunday after Pentecost being the 20th day of July in the Year of our Lord 1599. in the Church of All-Saints in the Town and Kingdom of Diamper Subject to the King of Cothin an Infidel in which the said Bishoprick with all the Christians thereunto belonging submitted it self to the Pope and the Holy Roman Church Printed at Conimbra in the Shop of Diogo Gomez Laureyro Printer to the University in the Year of our Lord 1606. THE Father of the Society of Jesus intrusted with the revising of Books in Conimbra having perused the Synod mentioned in the following Petition and the Inquisition of the said City having upon his Approbation given Licence to Print the same we do Order That after it is Printed it be together with the Book Intituled The Journey of the Serra or Mountains transmitted to this Council that it may be compared with the Original and Licensed without which it shall not be made publick Marcos Teixira Ruy Piz de veiga I Have perused this Synod and to me it appears to be a Work that deserves to be Printed for besides the sound Doctrine contained therein it will be of great Use and Consolation to all and very necessary to the extirpating of the Errors Schism and Heresies sown by Hereticks and particularly the Nestorians in the ancient Christianity planted in the Indies by the Apostle St. Thomas Octob. 23d 1605. Joan Pinto BY virtue of a particular Commission to us granted in this behalf by the Council of the General Inquisition of these Kingdoms having seen the Information of Father Joan Pinto Revisor of this City we give Licence for the Printing of the Book Intituled The Synod and the Journey of the Serra provided that after it is Printed it be sent to the said Council to be compared with the Original and to have leave to be made publick Jan. 11. 1606. Joan Alvarez Brandon It may be Printed Conimbra 25th of Feb. 1606. The Bishop Conde THE PUBLICATION and CALLING OF THE SYNOD DOM Frey Aleixo de Menezes by the mercy of God and the Holy Roman See Archbishop Metropolitan of Goa Primate of the Indies and the Oriental Parts c. To the
command that all that is above related be punctually observed according to the Decrees of the Holy Council of Trent which has been received by this Church in this Synod declaring all Marriages not celebrated in this Form or not by the Parish-Priest before two Witnesses to be null and the Parties not to be Married neither are they to be permitted to live together as Man and Wife And the Priests who shall presume to Marry without leave from the Parish-Priest or Ordinary shall be suspended from their Orders and Benefices for one Year without Indulgence and the Marriage shall be declared void and the Parties shall be obliged to Marry again in the foresaid Form The Synod doth furthermore declare That the Contracted may be Married by the Parish-Priest of either of the Parties tho' the ordinary Custom is to be Married by the Parish-Priest where the Woman lives Decree II. WHereas Matrimony ought to be celebrated with words signifying a present Consent and in many places of this Diocess it is commonly celebrated with words signifying only a Consent for the time to come Therefore the Synod doth command That when the Persons that are to be Married come to the Door of the Church the Parish-Priest or some other Priest having his or the Prelates Licence being in his Surplice with his Stole and at least two Witnesses present shall ask them if they are pleased to Marry and if they say they are or express their Consent by some other evident signs the Priest then shall take one end of his Stole and laying it on the Palm of his left Hand shall take the right Hand of the Bride and lay it on the Stole and lay the Palm of the right Hand of the Bridegroom on the Palm of the right Hand of the Bride in form of a Cross and covering both their Hands with the other end of the Stole and laying his own right Hand upon all so that the Hands of both Parties and both the ends of the Stole are betwixt the Priest's Hands after having blessed them with the sign of the Cross he shall say In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen and shall make the Bride say first I N. receive thee N. for my lawful Husband so as the Holy Mother Church of Rome doth command and shall afterwards make the Bridegroom say the same words I N. receive thee N. for my lawful Wife so as the Holy Mother Church of Rome doth command and after they have both said these words the Priest shall say I by the Authority I have do join you in Matrimony in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Amen after which he shall sprinkle them both with Holy Water saying By this sprinkling of Holy Water the Lord give you Health and Blessing Amen And if neither of the Parties was ever Married before they shall then be carried before the Higâ— Altar where being upon their Knees the Priesâ— shall give them the Blessings as they are in thâ— Roman Ceremonial of the administration of thâ— Sacraments which is to be translated into Syriaâ— and to be used in all Churches but if eitheâ— of the Parties have been Married before he shall not then give them the said Blessings but dismiss them after having said a Prayer in the Church Decree III. THat there may be no Frauds in Matrimony and that the Impediments which if they were known would hinder the same may be discovered and that in all things we may conform our selves to the Decrees of the Holy Council of Trent the Synod doth command That what is ordained by the said Holy Council be punctually observed to wit That the Parties to be Married shall have their Banns published by the Vicar or by one appointed by him on three Sundays or Holy-days in the Churches where the Bridegroom and Bride live when the People are assembled at Mass in this Form N. born in such a place does purpose to Marry N. the Daughter of N. and N. born in such a place wherefore if there be any that know any Impediment they must declare it upon pain of Excommunication And the Vicar in case he has any lawful Impediment declared unto him shall not Marry the Parties before he has made the Prelate acquainted therewith that so he may determine what is just to be done therein which Publications cannot be dispensed with by any but by the Prelate or one representing him And in case it is probable that if such Publications are made there are those that will maliciously endeavour to hinder the Marriage tho' in such a case the parties may be received without them yet for the better discovery of other Impediments that may happen to be therein they cannot be joined together nor receive the Blessings tho' capable thereof before the publications are made in the Churches without the Prelate should be pleased to dispense therewith to whose Prudence and Judgment the Holy Council of Trent has committed the whole of this Matter and the Priest who shall receive any couple without a License from the Prelate before such publications have been made shall be suspended from his Office and Benefice for six months Decree IV. THis Synod conforming it self in all things to the Holy Council of Trent doth command that in every Parish there be a Book as was ordered as to Baptism wherein the Vicar of the Church shall write the Names of the Married Persons and the Place day of the Month and Year and the Names of the two Witnesses commonly called the Padrinhos where they were Married registring them thus On such a Day of such a Month and Year I N. Vicar of the Church naming the Saint to whom it is dedicated in such a part naming where the said Church is did joyn N the Son of N and N. to N. the Daughter of N. and of N. born in such a place both at the gate of the Church according to the Holy Council of Trent the Witnesses were N. and N. to which the Vicar and the two Witnesses shall sign their Names and when any Priest shall by a License from the Vicar or Prelate marry any couple he shall write On such a day of such a Month and Year I N. a Priest by a License from the Vicar of such a place or from the Bishop if he granted the License did receive at the gate of the Church N. naming him the Son of N. and N. naming his Parents born in such a place naming the Town according to the Holy Council of Trent the Witnesses were N. and N. to which the said two Witnesses and Priest shall put their Names which Book shall be kept among the Registers of the Church and the Prelate at his Visitations shall see that there be no fault or neglect therein Decree V. AS Holy Matrimony is a Sacrament and as such conveys Grace it ought therefore to be received with great Purity and Holiness wherefore this Synod conforming
it self to the Holy Council of Trent doth exhort and admonish and command all that are to be Married that at least three days before the celebration of this Sacrament they do confess themselves and being caâ—able do receive the Holy Sacrament of the Euâ—harist neither shall the Vicars receive them before they have complyed with this Obligation concerning which they shall make diligent Enquiry The Synod doth furthermore command That all Marriages be celebrated in the Church and that the Parish-Priest do not accommodate himself to the negligence of those who do not care to be seen to marry in the Church but declaring withall that wheresoever Matrimony is celebrated if it be done by a Parish-Priest and in the presence of two Witnesses it is true and valid tho' the Parish-Priest ought not to Marry any out of the Church but upon very urgent Reasons Decree VI. THere have been always in the Church even under the Old Law prohibited degrees of Kindred within which Matrimony was not to be celebrated and being celebrated was null and that not only as to such as were prohibited by a Divine Natural Law as betwixt Persons in the first degree and betwixt Brothers and Sisters but as to others also who are prohibited by a Divine positive Law wherefore the Synod doth declare that the degrees at this time prohibited in the Church without which Matrimony cannot be celebrated without a Dispensation and being celebrated is void are only to the fourth degree inclusive of Consanguinity and of Affinity only to the second degree as first Cousins second Cousins third Cousins fourth Cousins by Father and Mother and the same degrees are prohibited in the Kindred of Affinity betwixt the Kinsfolk of the Husband and Wife with whom either of the Parties have been Married and besides that the Kindred in the first and second degree only with such or of those with whom either of the Parties have at any time had unlawful Carnal Knowledge beyond which degrees there are no other of Carnal Kindred that can hinder Matrimony but in all these that have been mentioned all Marriages that are made are null and of no force and all those that have Married so do live in the Mortal Sin of foul Fornication but if any upon just and reasonable accounts shall desire to Marry within any of these degrees that are prohibited only by a positive Law they must have * Recourse The Church of Rome seems to have multiplied prohibitions in Matrimonial matters for no other end but to get the more Money by Dispensatiâ—ns In Romana Curia saith Didâ—acus Abulensis adeo frequentes dispensationes ad Matrimonia contrahenda inter Consanguineos ut juris Canonici prohibitiones hac in pâ—rte nullis sint impedimento nisi â—iâ— qui pauperes sunt nec patrimoâ—iâ—m habent unde possint aliquam â—â—mam pro obtinenda dispensatione â—â—igare I have a rate by me of Matrimonial Dispensations which is too long to be here inserted I had it from a Protestant Merchant who upon receiving the rated summ in Portugal had the Dispensation dispatched at Rome and sent to him by the Jews that live there who by reason of their general Correspondence have in a manner ingrossed the whole trade of Dispensations so little is the honour of Christianity regarded by some People where it clasheth with conveniencies Emanuel King of Portugal with a dispensation Married two Sisters notwithstanding his having had a Son by the first and I knew a Nobleman in a certain Popish Country that was both Uncle and first Cousin to his Wife recourse to the Holy Apostolick See for a Dispensation or to their Prelate having power from the said See to do it declaring the degree of Kindred wherein they desire to be dispensed together with the Causes why they do desire it in which the Prelate shall do what he shall judge convenient in the Lord and so the Prelate being impowered by the Holy See to do it shall do it gratis without taking any thing for the dispensation tho' the Parties of their own accord should offer to pay him for it Decree VII BEsides the Carnal Kindred of Consanguinity and Affinity which hinders Matrimony in certain degrees there is also another sort of Kindred that does the same which is called Spiritual Kindred and is contracted in Baptism betwixt the Godfather and Godmother and the Child that is Baptized and the Parents of the said Child and in Confirmation or Chrism betwixt those who offer and present the Person that is confirmed as was ordered in the Decrees of Baptism and Confirmation which Spiritual Kindred of Godfathers and Godmothers and Gossips does so hinder the celebration of Matrimony that without a Dispensation from the Apostolick See or from some authorized by the Pope to that purpose the Matrimony is null and of no force all that live therein living in Fornication and a state of Damnation and if any that are thus a kin have a mind to marry together they shall preferr a Petition as they shall be directed hereafter but are to know that the Church does very seldom or never but for weighty Causes dispense in Cases of Spiritual Affinity Decree VIII WHereas hitherto the prohibited degrees and the reservation of dispensing with the same to the Apostolical See has not been understood in this Diocess the Prelates thereof having dispensed in all degrees prohibited only by a positive Law without having had Authority for what they did so that great numbers by virtue of such Dispensations have lived many Years in a Married Estate without any scruple concerning what was granted by their Prelates for which reason the Synod for the greater security of the Consciences of such People has thought fit that the most Reverend Metropolitan should dispense with them in all the said degrees by virtue of the Apostolick Authority granted to him in these parts to that effect and particularly by the brief of Gregory the XIII of glorious Memory obtained at the instance of the Jesuits and confirmed by our Holy Father Clement the VIII at this time presiding in the Church of God wherefore for the quieting of the Consciences of such as have been Married with the forementioned Dispensations the said Lord with the approbation of the Fathers of the Society doth by the Authority of the said Brief effectually dispense in all and every one of the said degrees of Spiritual as well as Carnal Kindred and Affinity which are prohibited only by a positive Law and with all Persons who have Married within the same with such dispensations so far as of right can or ought to be done as much as if they were here particularly named commanding them for the further security of their Consciences to be * Married By this Decree all the Children born before such Marriages were born Bastards now how many thousand Bastards would such a Decree make in any Country where such Prohibitions concerning Natural and Spiritual Affinity are not regarded Married again
of the Faithful Vicars were also nominated to them all and the Churches that were not able to maintain a Vicar were united The Vicars after they were named were brought in one by one to kiss the Metropolitan's Hand who at the same time gave them their Collation declaring to them the greatness of their Authority and of the Obligations of their Office and commanding the People to acknowledge them as their Parish-Priests and the Shepherds of their Souls After they had all one after another performed this Ceremony they were admonished all together in the presence of the People by the most Reverend Metropolitan to comply with the Obligations of their Function and being all upon their Knees before him he delivered the following Charge to them Venerable and beloved Brethren and fellow Priests and particular Pastors of the Faithful We let you all to understand that we tho' unworthy of it are in the place of Aaron and ye of Eleazar and Ehitaman the lower Priests we are in the place of the Apostles of our Lord Christ ye in that of the Seventy-two Disciples we are to give a strict Account of you at the tremendous Day of Judgment you of the People that are now committed to you Now that we may be all found good and faithful Stewards in our Master's House we do admonish and beseech you beloved Brethren in Christ to remember what we are about to say unto you and which is of most importance be sure to observe it and put it in execution In the first place we do admonish and beseech you in the Lord to have your Life and Conversations unblamable yielding the savour of a good Name and Example to the People of God in suffering no Women and especially those of which the World may entertain any suspicion tho' Slaves to live in your Houses neither are you to converse with any of the Sex you must not fail to rise every Night to recite the Divine Office in the Church which must be performed at some certain hour and after that is done none of you must say Mass otherwise than Fasting and after Midnight forward and in the Holy Habits which must always be kept clean ye shall receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ with all Reverence and Humility confessing your Sins to some approved Confessor with great contrition and sorrow for them but especially if your Consciences do check you for any fault you have committed The Corporal and Palls must be made of Linen neither can they without an Apostolical dispensation be made of any other Cloth and must be always kept clean The Holy Vessels you are always to wash with your own hands and that in other clean Vessels dedicated to that use putting the Water wherein they were washed either into the Font or into some Cistern dug for the purpose in the Church-yard and drying them with all diligence The Altar must be covered with clean Towels of which at the time of Celebration there must be at least three with a Corporal neither must any thing besides Reliques or Sacred things belonging to the Altar be laid upon it The Missals Breviaries and Prayer-Books must be perfect and entire Your Churches must be well covered and both the Walls and Pavements must be kept clean In the Sacristy or â—omewhere near to the High Altar there must be a place to hold Water wherein the Corporals and Holy Vessels are to be washed as also the Hands of those that have touched any of the Holy Oils and in the Sacristy there must be a Vessel with clean Water for the Priests and others that have ministred at the Altar to wash their Hands and a clean Towel to dry them the Gates and Porches of the Churches must be strong and well shut None of you shall take â—he cure of a Church upon you without the Prelate's knowledge and order notwithstanding you should be called to it by the People neither shall any of you leave the Churches you have a Title to nor be translated to another Church without his Order None shall presume to hold more than one Church contrary to the disposition of the Holy Canons The Jurisdiction of no Church shall be divided among many but every Church shall have its own Parish-Priest and Pastor None shall Celebrate any where but in a Church or with any sort of Arms. None shall give the Holy Saâ—rament to any of another Parish without leave from their Parish-Priest In the celebration of â—he Mass ye shall all observe the same Ceremonies that there may be no Confusion nor Scandal The Chalice or Patten must be of Gold Silver Brass or Tinn and not of Iron Glass Copper or Wood. The Parish and other Priests must visit and comfort the Sick in their Parisheâ— Confessing them and giving them the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and the Holy Unctiâ—â— with their own hands admonishing the Siâ—â— when they visit them to desire those Sacramenâ—â— when they shall judge them necessary Nonâ— shall take any Fee for baptizing or for the administring of any Sacrament or for burying the Dead No Child shall die without Baptisâ— through your negligence nor no sick Persoâ— without Confession and the Holy Communiâ—â— None of you shall Drink to excess or be notâ—â— for the same or for being quarrelsom Noâ—â— of you must bear Arms nor eat and drink 〈◊〉 Taverns and Inns. Ye shall not eat with 〈◊〉 Infidel Mahometan Jew or Heathen neithâ—â— shall you imploy your self in Hawking Huâ—â—ting or Shooting What you know of tâ—â— Gospel of Christ of the Holy Scriptures and of good Examples join'd with pure Catholicâ— Doctrine ye shall deliver to the People on the Lord's-day and Holy-days preaching the word of God to the edification of your Flocks You must take care of the Poor and of Strangâ—â—â— and Widows of the Sick and the Orphans 〈◊〉 your several Parishes You must be sure to keâ—â— Hospitality inviting Strangers to your Tableâ— therein giving good Example to others Upon every Lord's-day before Mass ye shall Blesâ— the Water with Salt in the Church with which you are to sprinkle the People taking it out of a Vessel or Pot made for that purpose Ye shall not pawn any Sacred Vessels or Ornaments of the Church neither to Heathen nor Christiâ—n Ye shall not take Usury nor engage your â—elves in Contracts or Farms nor in any Secular â—ublick Office ye shall not alienate the Goods â—hich ye have acquired after ye were in Orders â—ecause they belong to the Church neither â—hall ye sell or change any thing belonging to â—he Church In Churches where there are Bapâ—â—smal Fonts they shall always be kept clean â—nd where there are none ye shall have a parâ—â—cular Vessel for Baptism which shall be put â—o no other use and shall be kept in some deâ—ent place in the Church or Sacristy Ye shall â—each your Parishioners and especially the Chilâ—ren the Articles of the Creed the Pater Noster â—he Commandments of the Law of