[p. 235]

Year 1623, Society 84

  1. A new College was created in the Province of Congo this year, or rather with the name of College.  The kingdom borders Angola to the north.  The beginning began with small steps from the Equator to Austrum.  The Portuguese discovered it in the year 1485.  In the year 1491 the king embraced the Roman faith.  The king was named João and the queen Leonor since these were the names of the Portuguese rulers.  The missionary priests who followed were men who were poorly educated and lacked virtues.  In the meantime whatever good seeds the first ones had sown were corrupted by their successors.  The condition of the nation was poisoned by lust which they have been given beyond measure.  Those who are reputed to be learned in religion remember the Lord’s Prayer, the Angelis, and the Apostle’s Creed; they can recite the office of the Holy Virgin, but they did not understand what they recited.
  2. The small fruit which we have obtained in this nation is explained in its place, from which nevertheless they fixed the seat of Luanda, always there was a desire of establishing a home there that would remain so that they could tend to this nation.  While it was not a firm home form whence the laborers were able to be nurtured in the present year brought forth the opportunity of a foundation.
  3. João Correia de Sousa, the Governor of Angola began a wicked war against Pedro the king of Congo in 1620.  Since he had invited the society of Jagas to be his allies he was superior in strength [and] defeated the Congo people and he allowed the Jagas, a most gluttonous nation of cannibals to be fed and sated with the flesh of the Congo people because they very cruelly spared neither age nor sex.  Because of this there was a great fear among the Portuguese who were trading in this kingdom.
  4. King Pedro being of the opinion [that] this destruction of the Congo arose from their most corrupt moral licentiousness, persuaded himself that if God was willing to punish the kingdom for its crimes, that only men of the Soceity of Jesus could placate God for the Congo people.  Therefore when he had led his own men into a battle line in order to throw back the Portuguese, who after that great battle in which they had put to flight the rulers of Bamba and Pemba, remained in the kingdom.  He gave letters to our rector at Luanda, to send Pedro  some of the Society in order that they erect a stable home in the royal city.  The Portuguese who were in the army of the king wrote in the same opinion.
  5. Before the king had conceived these thoughts God inspired the mind of a rich citizen, Gaspar Alvares, to approach the Society and establish  a College in Congo for him. He only needed the king’s willingness to crown his work, and he began immediately seeking admission to the Society.  The Rector was amazed that both were willing at the same time.  Immediately he designated Fathers Matheus Cardoso and Miguel Afonso to lay the foundation with Antonio Sequeira as coajudator.
  6. João Correa de Sousa the Portuguese Governor disturbed matters in this way.  Incensed with rage against the College, because our people had not approved the wicked war in the Congo, he ordered P. Jeronomo Vogado, Antonio Amaral and Mateus Cardoso to be placed in a hanging net, as was the custom of the region, and having been seized they were taken to a ship and carried away to Portugal.  Because of the same wickedness he had ordered Gaspar Álvares to complain diligently so that he subjected him to the axe although he knew that he had joined the Society whose statue he placed under the sword of the public executioner.
  7. In the meantime Duarte Vas and Gaspar Álvares fled to Pinda in the harbor of the Zaire River  after they had boarded a ship bound for Portugal.  But when a ship willing to take both of them arrived, it happened that they were summoned by the Lord of Sonho to join him; the ship waited for them for three days, and sailed away when they did not come to it.  Then the king of Congo invited them into his city and received them with exceptional signs of good will.  With this they decided to found the college.
  8. In the month of October they returned to Luanda because a new governor had arrived from Portugal.  João Correa de Sousa, being hated by all the people  abandoned his governorship and left without the king’s command and sailed to Spanish America, but having been brought to Lisbon he died in the filthiness of the prison his crimes deserved.  The Fathers who were driven to Portugal advised the Viceroy of de Sousa’s impiety and of the war against all laws and right and totally alien by a Christian.  Further they made it known that the King of Congo’s spirit was well disposed to the Portuguese.  King Phillip, knowing these things, wrote a good will letter to the Congo king and entrusted maintaining a firm friendship with the Congolese to the new governor.
  9. The setting out of the fathers brought that advantage into Portugal, because P Cardoso ordered a little book of Christian teaching that he translated from Portuguese into the Congolese language printed..  In the month of August new workers came  to Luanda to help, new priests, the Italians Francesco Giattino, Francesco Suzana, Francesco Baconi, Giovanni Baptista Fredrico, and the Portuguese Antonio Machado, Francisco Pereira, Domenico Lourenço, Estevão Rodrigo and João de Paiva.  They carried letters patent to P Duarte Vaz appointing him Rector of the college of Luanda.
  10. When from the Congo with Gaspar Duarte approached to Luanda, he thinks having been animated by the new aids from the new foundation.  He sent Mguel Afonso with the coadjutant Antonio Sequeira to Congo to start the first buildings of the College.  They were received by King Pedro and his dynasts  with the greatest signs of good will.  He himself  designated a space for the building. But the Ministers of the absent Bishop hindered the possession, pleading that was the right of their lord alone Nevertheless moved by our prayers he chose another site and he has given a great advantage to the ministers of the Society.   Immediately most feeble or poor building has begun to be built.The king himself often was present in order that by seeing him, they workers might be urged in their work.  At the same time the Catchecism was explained to innumerable crowds [p. 236] of people.   The king offered the necessary food and building supplies.  Up to this point from the weakest beginnings of that college in the city of Salvador which is the metropolis and the royal court of the Congo King.  The unhappiness of that heaven sky to alien strangeness showed the great business of the Society while we did not desert the station as the following years will be set out.

[p. 241]

Year 1624 Society 85

  1. 13. The College of Congo where a beginning was made in the last years has experienced various changes.  King Pedro, the Second of this name, wished to be the Founder [of the College].  For that reason at the beginning of this year he gave the best villa (the natives call it an Embole) to the college so that in his kingdom successors hold a settled donation.  For with these people the royal donations are of no importance or strength unless the successors confirm these again:  all right of receiving is extinguished at the death of the king.
  1. 14. The death of the 40 year old on April 13 of this year less than six months after the start of the college deprived anyone thinking to make the College firm to have a rich return [from whence it had contained goods with very much hope]. The thing itself demands that we remember a little further the virtues of who has deserved well and has been instructed with the most holy morals.  Certainly whom the most corrupt faults of a nation have been looked at the need of the teacher of a sane doctrine seems by a miracle because he has lived so Christian a life.
  1. 15.  Pedro the 15th Congo king was endowed with the gifts that nature bestows on the best leaders.  He lived among his own people as a rose flourishes among thorns.  He was so observant of wedded chastity that he was unwilling to allow girts to serve the queen, but only women of advanced age.  He revered  the passion of Christ and the Virgin mother with the sweetness of an intimate piety.  For that reason he had proclaimed that he would fast on Fridaysand Sundays.  On these days he purified his soul with confession.  He was almost remade of the gods.  During this time he beat his body and abstained from wine which among this people is admirable, as most of them are dedicated to Bacchus.  On Good Friday, he stopped all his activities, even with his wife and sons, to surrender himself  to silent meditation on the passion of the Lord.
  1. 16.  He visited the churches of the city daily barefooted, even during stormy nights, accompanied by a few [companions]. Everyday he had taken refuge in the Hours of the Blessed Virgin and other prayers, he never omitted the sacrament of mass at which time the priest lifted up the host  when the pillow has been left he placed his knee on the ground and with the greatest reverence he worshipped the heavenly victim.  Generous toward the poor even being present  he consoled those that were sick by word and by alms.  On the Feast of the greater Virgin he washed the feet of twelve of those in need of a hebdomas [the 7th day of a disease supposed be the critical period].  While lying  at the table while the Dynasts were standing around in accordance with the custom he was accustomed to speak only about shunning vice and acquiring virtue.  This was such a regular custom of his, that when the Dynasts, speaking among themselves wish to indicate that the king had reclined at the table, there is already a new saying for it:  “the preacher is in the pulpit.”
  2. 17.  He did not admit men who he knew led a ruined  life to service in the palace. He did not know an obscene word.  His most frequent sermon concerned advancing the faith with the neighboring kings.  While he was still the Duke of Bamba he sent a presbyter who touched some heathen  people with the sacred fluid.  He showed himself a prudent and very friendly Father, not a master, in his accomplishments.  God tried Pedro’s virtue by most difficult tests before he was raised to the royal throne.  A powerful Dynast denounced him for infamy at the king’s palace by accumulating false testimony.  Twice driven into exile, twice stripped of all his possessions once in the area of the Court in the presence of the people he was deprived of all his clothes the most disgrace that a person could have.
  3. 18.  After he had tolerated the most severe hardships, Divine providence carried him to the throne of the kingdom in order that he might save a nation that was completely perishing.  In the 2nd year of his reign he faced no small political movments .  Add to this the most wicked Congo war brought by the Portuguese Governor João Correa [de Sousa] who sought to keep Pedro from ascending the throne of the kingdom.  Because when he was not able to hinder it when the various dynasts of the king had been subdued  he invaded the kingdom itself with war.  In these times of calamity, like the parent of all, he protected the Portuguese who were in the Congo while the Congolese were reigning.  He especially regretted the troubles brought by the President of the Luanda Municipal Council, the royal Praetor and the fathers of the Society because they defended the right of that one.
  1. [p. 242] 19.  That admirable thing existed because all harsh disasters and misfortunes themselves happened on Fridays, thing truly of a happy Sabbath when these things had been dedicated to the despair at those to the passion of the Lord. When after the things had been made peaceful he was about to enjoy rest the best and greatest God whose plans are not  not a mortal thing to follow, called him to hid rewards and the kingdom was not about to perish.  Having contested his last struggle with suitable religious ceremony when the prize money had not been accepted only on account of the vomiting he departed from the living on April 13th which then fell on a Sunday.  As if he knew death was threatening him though the whole running down of his spring hunger  he honored his soul by some and by other the most pious exercises.  To all good men it seemed that this perverse nation did not deserve to enjoy so holy a king for a long time.
  1. 20.   It is customary of these nations to elect [rulers]   Garcia, the Duke of Bamba the first born son of the King Pedro ascended to the throne at the age of 20 years.  In electing him, most of the men were moved by the sanctimony of his father [OK?].  As long as he used the advisers of his father, prudent men, he ran the helm of the … Following in the footprints of his father, he confirmed the same villa by means of a donation.  He also threw in  40 cofos of zimbos.  Cofos are the measures of zimbus, a kind of mussel shell, which is money among the Congolese, as they do not strike coins from metal as cultured nations do.  But this sum was designated under the same condition, that each successive king had to confirm it.  The cofus are worth 50 cruzados in Portuguese money above 2 thousand by which the king believed 10 of our people are nourished.
  1. 21.  Immediately he wrote to the Rector of the Angolan College to send two assistants.  The priests Francisco Giattino and João de Paiva went.  They set out from Luanda on the last day of July, and on September 5th they entered the king’s court and were received very kindly by him.  In that very place he asked Father Giattino to have a meeting on the day of the birth of the Virgin.  Since the king did not offer to excuse him he had to obey.
  1. 22. On the day of the Virgin while the king, together with the Dynasts, were gathered in the greatest temple to hear the sermon, at which time Father Giattino approached to seek the benediction from the priest making the rites, the canons rose from their seats and the other clerks, shouting with alien voices from their own positions and places, [said] that the church was theirs, so that they hindered the service.  Some were saying that they were not going to cultivate the vine and let the Fathers of the Society collect the grapes.  Thus when things have been disturbed the king with his own take flight into his palace.  The Nemesis of God did not tolerate so great  to go unpunished. For having been aroused by mutual hatred they themselves were torture for themselves.  On account of accusations some have been driven into exile others have been deprived of good times  some have been thrust down into prison.  In these times and other difficult mattes there was no consolation except to gain the protection of our people.
  1. 23.  Shortly Father Giattino and de Paiva fell ill with very serious diseases which were especially very long lasting because there was no food and medicine  available to prevent the fevers.  In the month of October while Simão Mascarenhas the bishop was dying the king sent a letter to the Pope by which he asked that someone of the Society move to the Congo islands.  Further he entrusted the care of building the chapel of the College to 4 Magnates.  Since the builders had no heap of work they built the first church in the area by the 1st of November.  It was dedicated to Saint Ignatius protojacenti and it was the first which those consecrated in the overseas region.  On the 11th of November with a great concourse while the king was present with his own men the first stone having been positioned to the building of the college he managed to cut the name Jesus and King Garcia by whose expense the work was erected.  Since our people were permitted by good health they devoted themselves entirely in teaching the people.

[p. 224]

Year 1625 Society 86

  1. 10.  In Congo there was another appearance of a common thing in this year.  In the beginning Garcia was a good king, [but] following his perverse natural inclinations when his father’s wise councilor was driven away, he chose other men very similar to himself [as councilors]. He killed every good man from among his own men, illegally plundering all their possessions.  their sins to confirm  their souls before death.  A few councilors and ignorant men threw everything into disorder when the bishop, Brother Simão Mascrenhas died, and these disagreements extended into the next year, obtaining an ecclesiastical ban.
  1. 11. These misfortunes did not touch our people.  The roads to Luanda were made impassable and the letter was intercepted. The people became too inactive  in the business of eternal salvation.  Barbarous indignant against the Fathers because when the morals have been approved the presbytirum of the dead king and the confession of Garica himself whom Impulse had driven into exile, our people who were about to console looked after the and even safeguarded his innocence.  Having been condemned to capital punishment and the Dynasts seeking one of our Confess sent to him to cleanse his soul Barbarus refused to give his agreement.  When he did not permit the father into his sight.  P Jatinus Prosector finding fault with his cruelty, because he forbade confession to those about to die, wrote to him himself.  Unless he should lay aside his savagery, regions would be left in the lurch when the work of the Society was placed.  By his response he kept the words soften in appearance than the deeds.
  1. 13. P. Matheus Cardoso first Rector of the College among the storms of these affairs came to Luanda near the end of August who had returned from Portugal, when Mondius his adjutant had been accepted as a companion, since the king did not receive happiness from the arrival of this one, the Rector who was speaking that he who was about to go into Luanda with a delay sent when it was not pleasing to him that he had approached into Congo.  Because the impious one was fearing war by the Portuguese Prefect he pretending a peaceful mind admitted the rector into the colloqium and the greetings.  When a few days had rolled by he offered something useful to the College an attractive villa  5 or 6 leagues distant from the city.
  1. 14.  The Rector, considering the instability of the nation, the other disadvantages of his habitatio and the small profit form his work laid an imposition on the Fathers, they should write in the paper the reasons which made  to either preserve or destroy this seat (foundation) in order that it might be proposed to the moderator of this order.  In the meantime the Rector is crushed by a grave illness when medicine and a drug is lacking he succumbed to the death on October 28.  For very many years he had labored in the Evangelical harvest among the Angola people [245] P Joanne Correa driven into Lusitania intrusted to the Praefict a little book of P Ign Mort about the dialogues of the Christian doctirne turned in to the language of Congo and even Mbundu with a great profit for the souls.   He nominated Father Miguel Afonso as Protector.
  1. 15. Since this nation is accustomed to be moved often by revolutions, the Fathers devised some holy craftiness.  Father Giacinto introduced on the sixth religious festival on the 40th public flogging with a corrupt exhortation while sweet sounding musical instruments sounding while the public flogging was happening.  On the sixth day of S. P. Ignacio he sent a very agreeable dialogue for the play.  P. Miguel Afonso divided the boys into a company who on every single day were running through the different streets of the city singing the Christian mysteries.  Because of this it has happened that secular songs have become extinct.  God approved of the holy habit by a common benefit.  Tigers and panthers who at night approached the city were tearing apart the bodies of domestic animals and sometimes of humans from which thing the piety of this king has begun the animals have attacked the city no more.  When on account of other reasons this singing ceased again the forenamed wild animals infested the city in the meantime when the holy custom has been renewed the city has been freed from wild animals insults.
  1. 16.  Father João de Paiva opened a Gymnasium [school] of the Latin language for the sons of the Portuguese and the Congo boys showing the appearance of mental powers.  The dialogues of the Christian catechism have been added which on certain days the pupils declaimed through the busier crossroads of the city as a great consolation for the people.  H. Mondius coadjutant set up a school of the alphabet not only for the boys but even some noble men assembled with a zeal of learning the Portuguese idiom which Mendious taught at the same time with the letters.

[p. 247]

Year 1626  Society 87

  1. 12.  The College in the kingdom of Congo has been tossed by diverse fluctuations as far as possible since the Republic has been disturbed by the king’s tyranny which since the Moxicongos, thus the nobles are called, they thought about putting aside the dignity from the king.  When they are preparing a siege operation our men debate among themselves the very great uselessness from these heads.  Because the roads to Luanda were blocked since the commera of our people with these superiors and the Luandan College from whence provisions are sent and the necessities for performing the sacrummissia, the one consolation to those living in the so unhappy kingdom.  Because those subdued were able to live immune from the command of the superiors, especially if they cling to the king.
  1. 13.  Because the letter was intercepted we are not free to report everything to the Superiors lest it expose allies to the danger of dishonor.  Because there will not be freedom in engaging in our ministries since the king does not permit those condemned to capital punishment to be aided in morale.  The people are shut out form our home because of fear of the king.  Since the king scarcely or rarely admitted us to the colloquium.  A return to Luanda is denied unless there is a promise of returning to the Congo.
  1. 14.  Those having commanded very much the business to God the highest summary as of these affairs are written on the charts, they take care that they are handed over to the king and to inform him except by those that are safe one whatever they propose is not able to oppose the Society in this region.  To demand that he responded what things seemed to him himself in order that a plan being congenial to our affairs and is able to be made and the Superior are able to be taught.  Within a month and a half no response has been given.  After this delay he wrote mere well sounding words.  Therefore they gave the letter written in Latin to the Superior in order that they are not able to be understood if they are intercepted.  A kind of changeable in behavior disease grew among these nations, the disease has proceeded through all the people with a great slaughter of the mortals while the king is unharmed so that he was a double whip of the Numinis.
  1. 15.  All tired because of the cruel domination of Garcia the king invited Manuel Jordão Duke of Sundi to free them.  After this one has established a very large army he led troops to the royal metropolis.  While rather obscure rumors were increasing about the hostile army the king sent our Miguel Afonso to placate Jordão.  While a message covers concerning the vanity of rumor he ordered Pater to sent out.  But after a little knowing indeed that Lord approaches he sends P. Paiva who having been received in a friendly manner does not wish to leave the road.  Then he asked three things in order that the temples might not be violated, that blood might not be poured that the affairs of the Portuguese not be snatched away.  He promised Jordão that care must be employed that these things are observed and it has not been done otherwise.
  1. 16.  The king heard seriously Paiva returning and telling what had happened.  One of the worst counselors against whom Jordão was coming a more aroused one said to the king the Pater has done no other thing that determine with Jordão a manner of waging war.  In these precarious times it is permitted that the king had only 600 men in arms he decreed to expect the enemy and to guard the city.  But while at night was stretching itself those armed men when the king had been deserted took themselves into flight.  The king himself with the queen and a few domestics fled into the lands of the Count of Sonho his own father’s brother hoping that he would be restored by him.  But [the Count of] Sonho whom even Garcia had offended sent to him that he stay in certain towns and he would treat with him thorough messengers about these affairs.  There Garcia having delayed for three months:  he lost his wife and the wandering mother of the parent Pater in whom he confided very much on account of the huge authority of the woman among the Congo Dynasts.
  1. 17.  Jordã0, having made certain about the flight of the king sent those who understood but they were not able to follow.  Near the end of April entering the city he placed Ambrosio nephew of Alvaro on the royal throne p. [248] already 50 years old as then he seemed of a mature mind although the day itself showed otherwise.  Immediately by the order of the king and the Moxicongos, P. Jatinus went to Luanda he informed the Portuguese Governor why Garcia had been deprived of his kingdom.  It is scarcely permitted nevertheless he persuaded the Prefect trying to restore Garcia.  He abstained from such a plan and recognized Ambrosius as the king.  Thus when the affairs had been settled and when the journeys had been executed Giacinto returned into Congo.
  1. 18.  Garcia having been oppressed by a deep sorrow died on the unlucky day of June 23.  On a happier day of 10 March Jeronimo Mendes coadjutant undertook the work of educating the boys in this region.  We felt the loss of the man in this scarcity of allies.  The reputation of S. P. Ignatius the allies has been increased while the palace of the king and the greatest temple were burning the remaining things [nice if relics] have been carried out by Father Miguel Afonso and Protoparentis the dangerous fire was extinguished.  The king wrote to Philip and the Pope asking that a bishop of the Society be sent.

[p. 249]

Year 1627  Society 88

  1. 9.  Father Antonio Machado Villaregalensis ceased to be among mortals in Angola on the 27 of August in Tras-os-Montes province, the brother of Fran Machia who while traveling to Ethiopia has obtained martyrdom.  After the theological studies he sought to be sent into Angola when the plan has been especially communicated is with the Superiors.  In Angola after he has accompanied the Portuguese to war after the battle has been set on foot he himself is saved by a divine influence for the arrows fell at his feet rather than striking him.  While the infection was dominating he has bought aid to the wretched ones he lost his soul in his tasks at the Altars of charity.
  1. 10.  Sulp and the constant guardian spirit of the nation in the Congolese College. Restored the sometimes tranquil and the sometimes stormy affairs.  In the first two months in engaging in the ministry everything ceased to the vow.  At the beginning of March Father Miguel Afonso had been seized by disease he was sick for a space of three months.  For this reason it was necessary that Father João de Paiva since the ministry has been abandoned to supervise the care for the sick one since the other ally had not survived.  For Father Giacinto with Seq his adjutant at this time lingered in Luanda transacting the business of the king about which things it has been told in the last year.
  1. 11.  Nevertheless Paiva did not omit the public action of flagellation by a leading the way [or acting as harbinger] exhortation.  Since the sacred temple was not in area as large as the so great number that most be seized the flagellation happened in the area before the doors of the temple.  It was not a matter of any inconvenience in the case of the blacks since they beat only the back and it became the custom of these themselves to advance on the naked men from the head to the navel especially those covered above the skin with a little garment which they themselves call ecute [nkutu].  There were especially amazed when he notted the image Ecce Homo to the people when their backs had been bloodied.  Since the hand does not seem moving the image they believed the skill hides something that must be stunned.  This strangeness calls with those too uncultured people not only urban but even the townsmen of neighboring places.
  1. 12.  It is not permitted for a long line for quiet piety since the evil demons are being offended their camps are abandoned.  The people and the Dynasts having congregated into our temple utter a cry of distress to the King; they having received certain oaths by which they bound themselves to the affairs that that have been transacted and at least must be communicated:  to be covered under by these dangerous plans to the king.  The believing king sent in the deep of the night a public crier who running through the city announced all are to be present at the following daybreak in the area of the palace.  As they break the sleep, first the cymbal agitates which those accompanying the public crier carried.  When all the men have come together in the area after the rising of the sun one of the Magnates who has come forth said:  it has been made known to the king at the temple of S. Ignatius the oaths and the dangerous plans; he who knew must be punished atrociously unless immediately bring forth everything to the king.  All having been struck with fear suddenly held back from entering the College.  Then Father Afonso although very feeble when Father Pavia met the king and complains from false testimony against the fidelity of the society when the faith of no men was more virtuous towards their kings that they having been drawn have not come to the Congo by an opportunity since they experienced an unhealthy region.  The business of he himself has been believable to no other than Giacinto.  He asks that the order the traitors of them to be present in order that they be found guilty of lying.
  1. 13.  The king investigating how thoughtlessly he had acted threw all blame then into the Ministry who did not know how to explain his good will, then into the people who had wickedly interpreted.  Therefore while these two were imploring with the voice of the public crier of these men proclaimed [250] to the people:  there had been ;lies which they had spoken to the king’ they were able whoever wished to go to the home and temple of the society.
  1. 14.  After a few days had passed a large (not small) disorder arises.  The Governor of Luanda wished to punish 5 sobas, African petty rulers who said that he had been put under the Congo of the king.  The king bearing this painfully pronounced in the presence of his own men that the mind of the Portuguese governor stretches to such an extent that he had reasons of his own authority of subduing the Congo Kingdom.  Constantly the M…had been enflamed so that when arms had been taken up in the manner of those declaring war they made attempts to various charges and recharges against the door of the College and the homes of the Portuguese.  When injuries and threats had been hurled against the Portuguese all mourning; hear was from Governor of Luanda with whom Giacinto kept within bounds all things to the desire of the Congolese when
  1. [16 by misprint] When the dialogue had been prepared for the stage in celebration of the St Ignatius the king spiritlessly [or downtrodden] desires to be present at the temple.  They persuaded an occupation for the wretched one to conceal the plot to remove the king himself from the throne and to lift up a new king.  The king, who, has been seized by this fear sent scouts and heavily armed men who stood around the College at the same time he himself accompanied by soldiers came.  He has looked around with watchful eyes in order that not any mine [in siege operations] should burst forth.
  1. 16.  The letter of PN Generalis had been received to which he replied to the thrown in the way difficulties of making firm a settlement in this kingdom.  He endows with perseverance; he does not put off the conversion of souls on account of storms that have arisen which always the evil demon aroused.  They take care to have a favorable king; he will write to King Philip to be favorable to the business.  The letter of King Philip and of the Governor of the Portuguese affair came to the Congolese by whom he has been particularly restored P. Giacinto approaching with his ally Sep. from Luanda completed his happiness.  As an indication of his pleased mind the king sent as a gift to the College money worth 250 xxx and increased the usual money to be given in the turning year.
  1. 17.  Since there were 4 and they were rejoicing in good health they were running about through the villages and neighboring hamlets of the city.  When instructions drove the root, they approved cure for the teaching of the catechism and of reseaking something from black.  Under the end of the year they had erected 2 soldalities João de  Paiva constructed one dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity.  In this alone noble adolescents have been admitted who exceeded the 12th year before the contract of matrimony.  Father Giacinto founded another sacred one to Saint Ignatius to Albo this one none other than Magnates, either married or bereaved of a spouse have been included.  There were the licos of all men:  to teach the Christian doctrine to uncultured and ignorant men especially to the members of their own household”  once in a month to appease their conscience through hom…[male offical]; to be fortified by the holy bread; to engage in other practices of Christian piety.  These sodalities were a very great influence in cultivating the sons as time teaches.

[p. 253]

Year 1628 Society 89

  1. 20.  Congolese College struggled with both fortunes two sodalities about whom in the last year all approached to the sacred works.  The same zeal of piety which had seized the men stimulated the more noble women.  Therefore the women acquired through their men and sons in order that a sodality is founded on behalf of these themselves.  Father Miguel Afonso is obedient to the vows of these women.  It has been dedicated the sodality of the Holy Virgin of the people and it appropriate to the sex has been confirmed by laws.  Into it have been included whatever matrons are more illustrious by birth very many queens and wives of former kings of these and the rest were moved to virtue and holy morals.
  1. 21.  A storm having arisen against the Fathers and sodalities by the clerics has not been lacking.  It has spread into the people.  The work in the Congo was not to be by the men of the Society.  Because they lead a leisure life they have set up these sodalities in order that they entice the people to themselves by cleverness [or skill].  The clerks are deprived of their advantages by which they nourish life.  They stretch our minds to such an extent that when the Magnates and the people have been founded to themselves nothing is moved in the kingdom unless to the decisions of those themselves.  The Vicar boasted to the Bishop when the Bishop approached from Portugal that he would fix the entrance of the College by structures and by keys.  Counselors of the king warned him himself he should be on guard of the Fathers:  The gave come into Congo to subdue the kingdom.  By these tricks of the sodalities they gradually spread out a way to so great a crime.
  1. 22. They gave the names of hypocrites to the sodalities who after they had uncovered the enormous crimes in the case of the clerks, they revealed light crimes for the Father in order that they invent virtue.  Among these suspicions the king was compelled by these and the other lies of the clerics to send those who kept watch over all things which are done in sodalities among these movements.  Manuell Jordã0, Duke of Sundi approaches the city of G. Martius.  After the king has been greeted he threw some Magnates of the soldiatity of S P Ignatus into chains and he ordered them to be dragged long into a cruel manner.  Rumor has communicated that the king has written to [the Duke of] Sundi that he come rather swiftly to snatch him from death which the Ig Sodal has determined to inflict on the eighth of March.
  1. 23. In vain as the Fathers were fearing the sodalities were renewing in engaging in pious exercises.  These having been bound showed outstanding patience Divine goodness provides in so many difficulties.  For Jordanis having been accused because he influenced the kingdom has been [254] condemned to death no one except the Father can free from the last punishment by whose prayers his life has been spared, but he has been exiled to an island of the Zaire River there in need of all things he spends his life full of hard labor.  The Dynastae have been loosened from chains.  While the king was leading his troops into the line of battle not others have been more faithful and not no dear to the Sodalities.  Besides these annoyance of the soul they have suffered the most severe diseases of our body.  To renew their strength Father Miguel Afonso with Sequeira his adjutant went to Luanda.  Father Giacinto almost laboring with his last breath when the help of S P. Ig has been called upon P. J. avoided death.
  1. [p. 256] 15. The Congolese College has experienced not a few hardships.  Although King Ambrosio has known the faithfulness of the S. C and of our people and thus he showed himself`benevolent I order to visit often P. Jatinuis who was sick.  The Clerks nevertheless were not ceasing to move his mind against us by the lies of those clerks.  They had persuaded the king that men of the sodalities had been sent by the Spanish king after the minds of all had been bound the Spanish would be able easily to lead back the Congo into their own power.  They had persuaded that these are the skills of that one for delivering up the power.  The king was not able to conceal any longer the conceived hatred against the Fathers.  Among the cups [drinking] he spoke about the methods of bring injuries against the Fathers.  To those entering the palace in the presence of these and the Portuguese he loaded with shameful deeds.  When these were scattered into the people because of the fear o f the king all hold back from our commerce.
  1. 16. Barbarus of the sodalitiy thought when all of the 2 congregations must be slaughtered at this time by which means the brotherhood were about to come to the faithful practice he opened his mind [L says misprint for menten not mentem] to the Magnates in a few words by a dance in order that on the determined day the do not intervene.  But that one honoring God more than a tyrant declared to the Fathers what the king was setting in motion.  Thus all fled destruction.  During this time a conspiracy had been planned against the king.  First his judges were sod. Cong. who they accused of being participants of so injurious a plot.  Fifty of the conspirators placed their necks to the blade of the public executioner.  Only one of the sodalities perished among them.  But the mind of the king was instructed by the persuasions of the clerks that he not apply the faith to those testing the faithfulness by so many trials.
  1. 17.  In the month of September Father Duarte Vaz, the new Rector of the miserable College with S. Gl his co-helper came into the city.  The king, pretending a so pleasing entrance of the father ordered that they the soldartatum of the army be renewed a little after the letter about Luanda had been received, letter written against the Society again his mind is turned to Europe more quickly.  That came forth as the singular proof of the providence of God because although the king cherished a hostile mind for the Fathers often he sent gifts, wax for the temple and money for the expenses of the College.  He wrote to the fathers that through the rest thrown to him was an unknown person who had warned he aided his ele…..  He there the remaining sweet odor in the bedroom and says he strongly desires to know who that person would be.  Between this variety of affairs those always awaiting sad events from happy ones we passed the present year in this College.

[p. 260]

Year 1632 Society 92

6.

  1. 6.  In the Angolan College strenuous work has been devoted to the blacks who must be educated.  During this time 12 or 13 thousand blacks were transported to the Portuguese and Spanish America.  Pacconio worte a short catechism in the language of the region to imbue the blacks by the mysteries of the faith.  They were especially pleasing to Pacconio who must be hearing them because he used the idiomatic of the nation.  The same priest went to Masangano through the 40th and after the excultum city he has traveled through the villages and the pagan neighborhoods.  In the city of the king of Dongo form our people helped the neophytes.  The Portuguese had carried this king into the throne.  When the king has died whom Dongenius the counterpart of the divine power worshipped, he left several sisters.  The kingdom has been offered to the senior one called Ginga.  She has been reared in Luanda and cleansed by baptism.  She lived on an unmarried life just like the queen of the Amazons  she governed the army a warrior female without a doubt she was going before her own people increasing the spirits of all the people and filling the roles of the best leader.  Since she did not watch faith owed to the Lusitanians nay rather she offered asylum to their slaves fleeing to her with a great financial loss of the Lusitanians she has been deprived of the kingdom by the Lusitanians.
  1. 7.  Before the end of the affairs to this year of those watching the death of H. Gouvez, the brother of our Fr Gouvez seemsw not tho have passed unnoticeably in silence who dies not aid enough the Professa Home to his elemosyne and especially does not offer the sacred vestiuar of the temple in which the buried one lies with this epigraph written on the tomb in marble: The grave of D of the brother Hur de Gouvea, who was Bishop 7th and we are speaking insincerely of Fingtimus.  Where even the lump of food of the mother of that one and of the sister Agnes de Gouvea he died and was buried 11 July 1631.

[p. 262]

Year 1633 Society 93

  1. 6.  Few men who spent their life in the Congo College were never with a limitation of their term.  Alvarus the fourth of this name and not being more than 13 years of age had succeeded Ambrosius the king.  Daniel Silva leader of Bamba king his paternal uncle prepares with his desire of dominating an army under the pretense of freeing his nephew from plots with which some Magnates were plotting to overthrow him.  With this well sounding pretense hiding his ambition with an army of 12 thousand men he approached to the royal city.  In two days he has been made the power of all affairs.  The king with his men flees to the lands and the protection of Soyo leader.
  1. 7.  Father Miguel Afonso threatening ruin is about to overthrow [the Duke of] Bamba and he addresses his nobles but he beats something bronze.  Now that one leads his army of 50 thousand into the battalion and near a not very large river on the following day he measures off lays out a camp that must be thrown across.  The Magnates of the kingdom oppose the minor one at a distance but having trusted in God and for the sake of fairness in the forest near the river they erect a cross in the presence of this they beat themselves, asks for divine help and the protection of Saint Ignatius of whose association they were.  When tears and brnslons has been poured forth they say You God be a witness for us.  You the sky which covers us you the earth which nourishes us; you the bloody blaze.  You the altars and crosses you the forest and the rivers finally all mortals and immortals be our witnesses we neither plotted fraud nor took up arms against our king.  For this reason we urge that are countless enemies form the front line by the sea for that Zaire river.  One hopes there is for us in God and for the sake of fairness and righteousness.  The affair itself shows our prayers are not in vain.
  1. 8.  Garcia Quipaco, a bold youth crossed the river with part of his troops in order to keep the enemy from the water.  While the military trumpets are sounding they engage in battle.  When the arrow of [the Duke of] Bamba has been twisted, he fell.  When the leader is falling all commit their safethy to their feet with an outstanding terror.  Quipaco pressing with his foot [the Duke of] Bamba rolling himself in his own blood.  Safety was the one who through his own men had watched had fled into the forest with his servant.  There they received the one that has been found among their enfolding forearms.  They kiss his hand, they honor him as their kng and lead him among great applause into the royal palace.  After God they attribute the glorious victory to the holy Ignatius whom they chose as Patron, whom those fighting demand.  The king himself and Magnates write to our Luandan rector the order of the whole affair in order that they might participate in the common happiness with himself.  Father Francesco Giattino after he had spent 12 years in Angola as if because of the…

[p. 269]

Year 1636 Society 96

  1. 6.  Because of the disturbed affairs fears have not yet ceased in the Congolese college.  King Alvaro the Fourth, having obtained a  suitable age for the throne, assumed the governing of the kingdom.  But it was not permitted for him the king to live for a long time; for a suddenly having collapsed onto the earth he died.  He was thought to have been killed by poison.  An illegitimate brother of the same name, having been called Alvaro the Fifth succeeded him.  A certain distinguished man, Gregroio, who conquered the others in the house of the new king by his influence sought form him to make his own brother Daniel the Duke of Bamba after Alvaro Afonso has been driven out from his honor.
  1. 7.  Alfonso knew about the planned injury.  Since he who must be killed under a plausible pretense was called into the royal city together with Garcia Quipaco his brother, he decreed that he and his own people were to be guarded by arms.  The king and Gregorio after a large army had been prepared rush into Bamba.  Here after he was met the king and after he has killed the king and others of the distinguished men, he conquered the army with his own troops.  He sends to the city messengers leading the way and our men who instruct that he comes to make peace, that he ahs never been lacking for the king that he has been compelled to defend his honor and his life and that he will not even be harmful to his enemies.
  1. 8.  There was Alvaro Afonso one of the sodality of St Ignatius, the best Christian man of mature age and wisdom.  After he entered the city he joins all the ranks of the kingdom into an open site of the city and he orders that they themselves chose a king.  They are to be on their guard against dragging him to the throne.  It was not the truth—there was no public vote for Alvaro Afonso.  After he has assumed the name of Alvaro the Sixth he began to manage the republic.  Immediately he gave letters full of duty to our Luandan rector.  At the same time he zealous asked that Father Miguel Afonso not be called to Luanda if he should pursue such a thing, the Congo nation must be sadden of whom Michael, the counterpart of a very sweet parent, was a devotee.
  1. 9.  On the first of September from Luanda a soldier P. Jacinto Leonardo who was about to turn his attention to the rectory CC entered the city on the 13th day of the month of the same Salvator, within three or four days he is seized with by a very serious disease.  Often the king and Garcia Quipaco his brother visits that one.  When the disease is conquered by a cure on the 5th day of Ocotober he began his life that would remain.  At Rome now a priest greater in age than 40 and a man of noted moral integrity had entered the society.  Portuguese Assistens invited him still a young man to the Angolan mission who desired nothing more eagerly than to bring his soul to health.  He has embraced gladly the offered opportunity.  He conformed himself totally to the divine will to seek an extent while occupied in a necessary sailing no dangers disturbed him.  To those saying that a storm has arisen, the ship would sink all would perish.   He responded very peacefully.  Let the ship be sunk, let us perish if God wishes it.  If for the sake of joking he is accused of impiety.  Nothing must be regarded with anxiety unless the will of God decrees it.
  1. 10.  At Luanda a Grammarian permeated his pupils with the most hold morals [hard to read this].  Beside courage he instilled them with political sophistication.  Often joining all the scholars into one group he established useful comparison about things pertaining to the soul.  Just things are celebrated while the king and Magnates are present with how much preparation they are able to happen among these people.  João de Paiva had returned to Luanda for the sake of his restored health.  In the college alone was Father Miguel Afonso with Sebastião Gonçalves Co supporter.
  1. 11.  In Angola Hollandus a pirate against Benguela vex the sea by repeated attacks when the commerce with Luanda has been intercepted.  The Luandan Governor armed some ships to drive the enemy. He demands from our Rector a priest who would accompany the soldier and inspire him against the enemy and was an aid for a wounded one.  Father Francesco Pacconio boards the ship.  A battle has been fought vigorously.  We took…

Year 1637 Society 97

  1. 15.  Gregorius had not yet freed the Congolese College from the dangers about which in the preceding year it was reported:  after the king had been defeated and was falling in battle Gregorio consulting his own interests departed to the region of Mbata.  As there was unrest he aroused the people against the King Alvarus the sixth.  And when his army had been assembled he hastens into the city and into the senate of the region.  He hides nothing from the king”  he himself leads his assembled troops into the enemy country.  Miguel Afonso relying on the hope that he would bend the minds of Gregorio and the others so that they might listen to their own king and might finally finish the bloody business enters the camp and asks for the opportunity of meeting with Gregorio.  He is received with singular compliance.  Gregorius responds to the one asking for a reason:  he and his comrades that mist be wounded severely by the army are not able to speak safely in the presence of the armed king.  The king ought to be received back into the city and to dismiss the army.  Then he will go for inspection of that one.
  1. 16.  In the meantime the king, fearing that Miguel would be retained by the enemy orders that it be reported through the camp with the voice of the public crier, the sounding tool, in the region which the blacks call nkunku  that five slaves and other girts must be given to a solider who preserved Michael unharmed.  After these things Miguel is present for the response:  the king thinking that that a law unworthy to him is being written and it is not fitting for him to retreat. According to the custom of his nation on which ever day he had retreated a soldier when discipline has been loosened, the king has been deserted he will fall onto his native soil.  That fact also happens in the camp of the enemy because Gregorius also promised with the same ceremony 5 slaves and fits to the savior of Father Miguel Afonso.  So on both sides there was equal concern about the safety of a man most famous to them.
  1. 17.  Since the enemy was unwilling to lay aside their arms, the king since he had no hope for peace with standards spread and with trumpets sounding leads his army against the enemy.  So great a fear seized Gregorio and his troops that they did not sustain the first attack:  each one flees where his fear seizes him.  Gregorio brought back from his flight paid with punishments for his crimes.  For in the presence of the king he has been struck with whips when his feet and hands had been fastened, his head has been torn off.  He having been mangled in vain his parts having been burned by fire and having been tossed must be devoured by dogs.  It happened before the battle that a witch (veneficus) persuaded Gregorio that a victory must be obtained if the soldiers should carry hanging horns of deer drenched with poison (veneficiis)  When these facts were known King Alvaro commanded none of this soldiers to proceed into battle line lest he should carry a cross hung from his belt.
  1. 18.  Before P. Michael brought together the battle line.  He went into their Collegium After he heard the confession of the king having been fortified by divine banquets he is thrown with a cruel disease to his bed.  Afonso most happy with his successes. Fortunately having entered the city he goes to his home from there the Canons proceed in order to lead under into the greatest temple and the Senate as he was a most pious man he ordered the statue of the most holy virgin which he had iwthhim I the camp to be carried (edferri) under an umbrella.  After he had put on his superpelliceus He proceeds with a vessel containing incense (thuribulum I N) in his hand (the case of manum is worng) before the statue and honors Magna Mater with a pleasant fragrant flame. He gives thinks on account of the defeat of the enemy.