A Vanished Arcadia

第8章

Therefore，beforehestartedforMadrid，theProvincialimpresseduponMontoyatoapproachtheCounciloftheIndiesandtheKing，andrepresenttothemthatitwasimpossibletoguaranteetheexistenceofthereductionsagainsttheMamelucosunlesstheIndianswereallowedtoprovidethemselveswitharms。SoFatherMontoya，thoughhewaschargedtopressforvariousreforms，wasmostespeciallyimpresseduponthispoint。

HewastotelltheKingthattheIndianswerenottobeallowedtokeeptheirarmsthemselves，butthattheywouldbekeptbytheJesuits，andservedouttotheIndiansincaseofanattack；then，thatthearmswouldnotcostapennytothetreasury，butbeallpaidoutofthealmscollectedforthepurposebytheCompany；lastly，andthiswasatruestrokeofJesuitpolicy，that，toinstructtheIndianshowtoshoot，theywouldbringfromChilecertainJesuitswhointheworldhadservedassoldiers。OneseesthembroughtfromthefrontiersofAraucania，andfromtheoutpostsofthetrans

Andeantowns，halfsacristan，halfsergeant，instantinprayer，andyetwithalookaboutthemlikeaseriousbullterrier

afittingkindofpriestforafrontiertown，andsuchascouldalonebefoundamongsttheJesuits。

Aboutthistime(1639)thethirdinvasionoftheMamelucostookplace，andFatherAlfaro，whohadbeenleftinchargeofthemissionsontheUruguayandParana，wasshotbyaMamelucowithacrossbow，andfelldeadfromhishorse。TheGovernorofParaguay，onhearingofit，marchedwithanarmy，and，havingkilledtwoorthreehundredoftheMamelucos，tooktherestprisoners，andcarriedthembacktoAsuncion。There，tothedisgustofalltheJesuithistorians，hemenacedthemwiththewrathofHeavenandletthemgo。

Thefeelingsofachurchman，whenhisownprivilegeisthususurped，maybecomparedtothoseofastrictgame

preserverwhoseeshiscovertspoached。Itisnotsomuchthedamagethatisdoneasthepersonalinsultandthehumiliationwhichhesuffersinhispride。

Inthisyear，too，theIndiansofthemissionsrenderedtheirfirstarmedservicetotheStatewhichafterwardssooftendrewontheminitsnecessityandtreatedthemsoill。

TheGovernorofBuenosAyres，DonPedroEstevanDavila，wassettingoutuponanexpeditionagainstatribeofIndianswhohadtakenrefugeintheislandsoftheLakeYbera。

EightyoftheIndiansweresent，and，beingwellledandarmed，contributedconsiderablytowardssuccess。NextyearasecondcontingentwasrequiredbytheGovernorofTucuman，anddulysenttohisassistance。

Historyseemstorepeatitself，andfoolishsoldiersandothersnevertogainexperience；fortheGovernor(PadredelTechoinhis`HistoriaParaquaiae"tellsus)，havingmadewarinFlanders，couldneverbedissuadedthatthesamesystemwasnotsuitableforwarfareinAmerica。Accordingly，hesetoutingoodorder，butneglectedtosendoutscouts，andconsequentlyfellintothemiddleoftheCalchaquisstronglyentrenchedwithinamarsh，attackedthemwitharush，lostheavily，andhadtoretiretoTucuman。

ButallthistimeFatherMontoyaandDiazTanowerestrivinginRomeandatMadridwiththePopeandwiththeKing。

UrbanVIII。，atthattimeGod"svicegerentfortheChristianportionoftheworld，receivedDiazTanokindly，listenedtoallhehadtosaywithinterest，promisedhimhishelp，andgavehimaPapallettermenacingtheMamelucoswiththewrathofGod。FromRomeFatherTanowenttoMadrid，andthencetoLisbon，whencehesailedarmedwiththeprotectionofthePopeandaccompaniedbyafreshbandofzealouspriests。

ArrivedinRiodeJaneiro，hepublishedthePapalletter，andfixeditonthedoorsoftheJesuitCollegeandonthoseoftheirchurch。HeseemsonthisoccasiontohavebeenwantinginthechiefJesuitvirtue，prudence，orattheleastheseemstohavemistakenthecharacterofthepeopleamongstwhomhewas。MostofthecolonistshavingrelationswiththeMamelucoswereindignant，andamobbrokeinthedoorsbothofthecollegeandofthechurch。TheriotgrewsoseriousthattheGovernorconvokedacouncil，andcitedFatherTanotoappear。

Hecameandspoke，andintheeyesofthechiefpeopleoftheplacemadeouthiscase；butthemultitude，caringnotmuchforreason(andnothingforphilanthropy)，becamemorefurious，butwasappeasedatlastbyapetitionbeingsentinprotesttothePope。

ButifthesethingspassedinRiodeJaneiro(whichDelTechoreferstoas`oppidosanctorum")，whatwasthefuryofthepeopleinSanPaulo，theverycentreoftheMamelucos，whentheVicar

GeneralpublishedthebriefbyorderofDonPedroAlbornoz!Thepeopleroseimmediately，andmenacedtheVicar

Generalwithinstantdeathunlessheinstantlywithdrewthebrief。Thisherefusedtodo，althoughforcedonhiskneesandwithanakedswordheldathisthroat。Hiscouragequietedthem，andtheydrewupanappealwhichtheytriedhardtomakehimsign，butheagainrefused。Themob，havingdemandedthebrief，wastolditwasinthecollegeoftheJesuits。Thithertheywentpost

haste，andweremetuponthestepsbytheSuperior，dressedincanonicalsandholdingtheholywaferinhishand。Hespoke，andmostofthemfellprostrateonthegroundbeforetheBodyofourLord。Othersstoodupright，andsaidthat，whilsttheyadoredtheHolySacramentwiththeirwholesouls，theywouldnotsufferthattheirslaves，whoweretheirchiefestproperty，shouldbesetfree。Anatheist(orsomekindofProtestant)criedouttofireuponthepriest，buthehadnosupport。TheSuperiorthengavethemacopyofthebrief，andtheyreturnedtotheVicar

GeneraltoaskforabsolutionforanycensureoftheChurchtheymighthaveincurred；

butheforthethirdtimewasobdurate，andletthemwelterintheirsin。

ThenewsoftherevolutionwhichliberatedPortugalfromSpainhavingjustreachedthetown，theJesuitshadtoretreatfromit，leavingtheinhabitantsenragedagainstthemandmoredeterminedthanbeforetopushtheirforaysintoParaguay。Butthetimewaspastfortheirincursions，forFatherRuizMontoyahadprosperedatMadrid，andsecuredevenmorethanhehadhopedforwhenhestartedonhisquest。

OnarrivingatMadrid，whichhedidafteraprosperousjourneyoffourmonths，hewaitedontheKing(PhilipIV。)，andlaidbeforehimandcommissarieschosenfromtheIndiesandCastilethefollowingpoints:

1。Thatthelawof1611，whichprovidedthatnoIndians，unlesstakeninajustwar，shouldbereducedtoslavery，shouldbeputintoeffect。

2。ThatthePopeshouldbeapproachedtoconfirmthebriefsofPaulIII。andClementVIII。，whichcontainedthesameprovisions。

3。ThatthosewhodidnotconformtotheseinstructionsshouldbehandedovertotheInquisitiontobejudged。

4。ThattheIndianswhohadbeenenslavedbythePaulistasshouldbeatoncesetfreeandtheaggressorspunished。

TheKingafterdeliberationgrantedeverypoint，and，further，regulatedthetributewhichtheIndiansweretopay。Allthiswaseasytoenact，but，likemostotherlaws，notquitesoeasytoputintoeffect。

Moreover，astherevolutionwhichseparatedPortugalfromSpainhadjustoccurred，allSpanishthunderagainsttheMamelucoswasofbutsmallaccount。Montoyathenpressedthedemandforlicensetousefirearmsinself

defenceagainsttheMamelucos。

TheKingafterdeliberationgrantedthislastpoint，andfromthattimetheincursionsoftheMamelucosceasedinParaguayandgenerallythroughoutthemissionterritory。ThenalsotherewassetonfootthatJesuitmilitiawhichrenderedsuchgoodservicetothecrown，butwasthecauseofsomuchmurmuring，asitprotectedthemissionIndiansbothfromthePaulistasandfromtheinroadsoftheSpanishcolonists。

ThisseemstoprovethemaliceofthosewhosetaboutthattheIndiansofthemissionspaidnotaxestotheCrown。

FatherMontoyaneverreturnedtoParaguay，wherehehadfoughtsolonganddonesomuchforthepoorIndians。Apparentlyitwasnotwrittenthatheshouldseetheresultsofallhisefforts，for，havingembarkedatSevilleforPeru，hewasdetainedatLimaonbusinessoftheOrder。

FromthencehewenttoTucuman，and，havingreturnedtoLima，diedagedseventy。TheViceroyandthechiefmembersoftheAudiencia(withwhomhehadstruggledallhislife)accompaniedhisbodytothegrave，anditissaidthatseveralmiraclesshowedforththegloryheenjoyedinheaven。

Thatmaybeso，andiftheyhappened(astheywellmayhavedone，for，afterall，amiraclereallyexistsforthosewhocreditit)，ifHeavenhashonouredhim，"tismorethanmanhasdone:

foreveninParaguayhisnameisnotremembered，thoughitremainsenshrinedintheneglectedpagesofmanyadustyLatinoraSpanishbook。

Vieyra，thegreatPortugueseJesuit，saidthatallmiracleswerepossibletoGod，butyetthathehadneverheardthatourLordhadevercuredanyoneoffolly。

ButallthetimethatFathersMontoyaandDiazTanowereinEuropeaseriousdangertotheJesuitswasgrowingup。AtthediscoveryoftheNewWorld，theFranciscanshadbeenthefirstofalltheOrderstogoout。SomehadaccompaniedColumbus，somewerewithCortesinMexico。

AlmagroandPizarro"shostshadtheirFranciscanchaplains。

Inhiscommentaries，AlvarNunezrelateshowhemetsomeoftheOrderinBrazil。Lastly，thefirstofallthesaintsoftheNewWorldwasaFranciscan。

In1638theFranciscansintheprovinceofJujuydisputedwiththeJesuitstherighttocertainmissions，accusingthem，asPadredelTechosays，`ofputtingtheirsickleintotheirripeningcorn。"

Whatcouldbemoreannoyingifitweretrue?AsifaWesleyanmissioninthePaumotusGroupshould，afterhavingsheditsBiblesanditsblanketslikedryleaves，suddenlyfindanemissaryfromBabylonitselfarriveandmarkthesheep!

NowaprovinceoftheArgentineRepublic。

`HistoriaParaquariae"，bookxii。，cap。xii。

ButfromJujuythedissensionsspreadtoParaguay，wheretheFranciscanshadseveralmissionsextendingfromYutitoCazapa，thusbeingalmostwithintouchoftheJesuitGospellersinSantaMaria，upontheeasternbankoftheTebicuari，whichboundstheirterritory。

Thesejealousiesmighthavegonesmoulderingon，andneverburstoutintofire，hadnottheappointmentofaFranciscantotheseeofParaguaycausedtheflamestoflareoutfiercely。

Hadafirebrandbeenwantedtostirupstrife，nonebettercouldhavebeenfoundthanDonBernardinodeCardenas，whowasjustthenappointedtothebishopricofParaguay。

ChapterIV

DonBernardinodeCardenas，BishopofParaguay

Hislaboursasapostolicmissionary

Hisambitionsandcunning

Pretensionstosaintliness

Hisattemptstoacquiresupremepower

QuarrelsbetweenCardenasandDonGregorio，thetemporalGovernorDonBernardinodeCardenasfirstsawthelightinthetownofLaPlata，

capitaloftheprovinceofCharcasinBolivia，or，asitwasthencalled，AltaPeru。Thedateofhisbirthisuncertain，butitwouldappeartohavebeenintheearlyyearsoftheseventeenthcentury。AtanearlyageheenteredtheFranciscanOrder。

LaPlatawassometimescalledChuquisaca，andisto

dayknownasSucre。

AstheFranciscanshadhadthehonourofhavingfurnishedtothecalendarthefirstsaintcanonizedintheNewWorld，itseemstohavebeenthedreamofCardenasfromhisearliestyouthtoemulatehim。

Inthisdesireheseemstohaveactedingoodfaith，andallhislifethedreamofsaintshiphauntedhim。

Charlevoixsays`hemadearathersuperficialstudyoftheology，andthenengagedinpreaching，inwhich，withmemory，assurance，andfacility，hefounditeasytosucceedinacountrywherebrilliantgiftsaremoreesteemedthansolidlearning。"Certainlyapreacherwithoutassurance，memory，andfacilitywouldscarcelyhavesucceededinanycountry；andinwhatcountryintheworldisbrilliancynotfaresteemedabovethedeepestscholarship?Besides，`hewasamanofvisions(`hommea\visions")andrevelations，whichhetookgoodcaretopublish。"Visionsaregenerally，inthecaseofsaints，confinedtothesoul"seye，andrevelationtotheinwardear；

if，therefore，therecipientofthemdoesnotmakethemknown，theyruntheriskofbeinglost。Inaword，accordingtoCharlevoix，

hewas`oneofthemostcompleteanddangerousecstaticsthateverlived。"

`Hisfirstsuccesses"(whetheraspreacherorecstaticarenotspecified)

causedhissuperiorstonamehimguardianoftheircollegeofLaPlata。

Theysoonrepentedoftheirchoice。NosoonerwashenamedSuperiorthanhesoughttoqualifyhimselfforsaintshipbyasortofroyalroad。

Saintsareofseveralclasses，and，inlookingthroughthecalendars，itstrikesonehowdifferentseemtohavebeenthemethodsbywhichtheyseverallyattainedtheirgoal。

`HistoireduParaguay"，vol。i。，bookix。，p。478。

Charlevoix，vol。i。，bookxi。DeanFunes，inhis`EnsayodelaHistoriaCivildeParaguay，BuenosAyresyTucuman"，vol。ii。，bookiii。，p。10(BuenosAyres，1816)，saysofhim:

`Seadquirio/muyenbreveunareputacionmasbrillantequesolida。"

PrinceJuanManuel，intheprefacetohis`FiftyPleasantStoriesofPatronio"，saysthat，`amongstthemanystrangethingsourLordGodmade，Hethoughtgoodtomakeonemarvellousinspecial

thatis，that，ofthenumberlessmenwhoareonearth，notoneentirelyresemblesanyotherinhisface。"Hemighthavesaidthesameofsaintsandoftheirways。

One，likeSt。FrancisofAssisi，treatshisfather(asitseemstome)

butscurvily，andyettoeveryothercreatedmanandalltheanimalsheisabrother。ThesaintofAvilafoundsconvents，mingleswithmenofbusiness，andhasvisionsintheintervalsofherjourneyingthroughSpainuponanass。

Again，anotherpreachestotheIndiansortheJapanese，givesuphissubstance，begshisbreadfromdoortodoor，andleavesthedevil"sadvocatescarcelyaquilletoraquiddityagainsthim。

Lastly，youfindagainstthenamesofsomemerelythedocket`virgin"or`martyr"，astheircaseorsexmayserve。

DonBernardinoadoptednoneofthesemethodsofprocedure。

Carryingaheavycross，withashesonhisheadandshouldersbared，followedbyallhispriests，hesalliedoutonedaytodisciplinehimselfinpublic。Thisplandidnotsucceedwithalltheworld，forhissuperiorsorderedhimtoremaininsidehisconventgates。

Thereheremained，and，ashisLifeinformsus，profitedbyhisretreattostudyHolyScriptures，andtosuchgoodeffectthat，thenexttimehepreached，hecharmedhishearersbyhiseloquence。

SoonafterthistheArchbishopofLaPlataheldaprovincialcouncil，withtheobjectofreformingthemoralsoftheIndiansinhisdiocese。

Cardenas，beingafluentspeaker，waschosenforthepostofApostolicMissionary。Fromthistimedatesthebeginningofhisfame。

InthosedaysalltheIndiansoftheCharcas，andgenerallyofallPeru，weresunkinmisery，butlittleremovedfromslaves，andtheirreligionwasamixtureofChristianityandpaganism

justthekindoffolkafluentpreacherofthestyleofCardenascouldworkupon。

Allthroughtheprovincehemadehisapostolicprogress，preaching，converting，andconfessing，everywhereprecededbyhisfameasseerofvisions，miracle

worker，andrecipientofcelestiallight。

Hetookhisway，dressedlikeapilgrim，onfoot，carryingawoodencross，andfollowedbyamultitudeofIndiansfromtowntotown。

ReligioninAmerica(CatholicorProtestant)hasalwaystendedtoreverttotheoriginalEasternform，fromwhich，nodoubt，itsprung。Theinfluenceofthevastplainsandforests，andthegreatdistancestotravel，haveintroducedthesystemofcampmeetingsamongsttheProtestants，whereastheCatholicshaveoftenheldasortofambulatorymission，thepeopleofonevillagefollowingthepreachertothenext，andsoon，inthesamefashionasinPalestinethepeopleseemtohavefollowedJohntheBaptist。

SoonthenewswasspreadaboutthattheIndianswhofollowedCardenashadtoldhimofrichmines，ontheconditionthathewouldnotdivulgethesecrettotheSpaniards。AtthattimethesearchformineswascarriedalmosttomadnessinPeru。Evento

day，inalmosteveryminingtown，amysterious，poverty

strickenmansometimesapproachesyouwithgreatprecaution，and，drawingfromhispocketanobjectwrappedingreasypaper，declareswithoathsthatitis`rosicler"

(redsilverore)，andthatheknowswheretherearetonsandtonsofit。

InMexicothecuriousclassofminersknownas`gambusinos"

rovethroughthevalleysoftheSierraMadrearmedwithpickandpan，passingtheirlivesinhuntingmines，aspigshunttruffles。

Iftheycomeuponamine，theynevertrytoworkit，butsellthesecretforatriflingsum，and，drinkingoutthemoney，startonagaintofindtheminesworkedbytheAztecs，tillanApachebulletorarrowstopsthem，theirElDoradostillahead，ortheyarefoundbesidetheirpickandshoveldeadofthirst。

NeitherinMexiconorinPerudothingsgrowlessintelling，andwemaywellsupposethestoriesoftheminestheIndianstoldtoCardenasbecamecolossal；foratlasttheAlcaldeofCochabambawroteonthesubjecttotheCountofSalvatierra，theViceroyofPeru。

AsCharlevoixsays，`itseemedasifitallworkedtotheadvantageoftheholymissionary，who，notcontentwithsavingsouls，didnotforgettheinterestsofhisnativeland。"Inthemiddleofhistriumphs，beingrecalledtoLima，noonedoubtedthatitwasinordertoconferwiththeViceroyaboutthesupposititiousmines。Others，again，imaginedthatamitrewasdestinedforthesuccessfulevangelist，andthereforemany，evenquitepoorpeople，pressedforwardtoofferfundstohelphimonhisway。Withquiteapostolicassurance，hetookallthatwasofferedtohim，beingcertain，assomethink，that，theminesbeingreal，hecouldsomedayrepaywithusuryallhehadborrowed，or，asotherssaid，beingindifferentaboutthematter，andtrustingtorepayinthatbettercountrywherenousuryexistsandwherenogoldcorrupts。

TheViceroy，beingamanoflittlefaith，senttoinvestigatethesupposititiousmines，butfoundthemnon

existent。

ThesuperiorsofCardenas，asjudiciousasthehigherofficersoftheFranciscanOrderoftenprovedthemselvesthroughoutAmerica，informedhimthathehadgivenoffencetomanybyhispublicscourgingsandprocessionscarryingacross，and，mostofall，thatinhissermonspropositionshadescapedhimofanaturelikelytobringhimunderthecensureoftheHolyOffice。

AconventinLimawasassignedtohimasaretreatandplaceofmeditationonthevirtuesofsubmissionandobedience。

Aswemaywellbelieve，nomanwhofelthehadthestuffwithinhimselftomakeasaintevercaredmuchforobedienceorsubmission，exceptinothers；

soinhisconvent，insteadofmeditatingonhisfaults，hepassedhistimeinwritingamemorialtotheCounciloftheIndies，settingforthhisviewsonthewayinwhichtospreadthegospelamongsttheIndians。

Nothingwasbettercalculatedtowinhimfavour。EveryIndianbaptizedwassomuchyearlygaintotheSpanishGovernment。

Conversionandtaxationalwayswenthand

hand，andthereforeIndianswho，unbaptized，broughtnothingtothetreasury，havingreceivedtheGospeltruths，weretaxedsomuchaheadtoshowthemthatfromthenceforththeywereChristians。

Thus，wefindthatintheParaguayanmissionseachIndianpaidadollareveryyearasasortofpoll

tax，andmostofthedisputesbetweentheViceroysofParaguayandtheJesuitsarosefromthenumberoftheIndianstaxable。TheViceroysalwaysallegedthatthepopulationofthemissionsneverincreased，onaccountoftheJesuitsreturningfalsenumberstoavoidthetax。

Cardenasspeciallyinculcated，inhismemorialtotheCounciloftheIndies，thatitwasnotexpedienttoplacetheIndiansundertheregularclergy，atheoryofwhichhehimselfwasdestinedtobecomeagreatantagonist。

Promotion，asweknow，comethneitherfromtheeastnorfromthewest；

soitfelloutthatduringhisretreat，throughtheinfluenceofhisfriendDonJuandeSolorzano，acelebratedlawyer，whohadheardhimpreachwhenGovernorofGuancavelico，hefoundhimselfnamedBishopofAsunciondelParaguay。Thispieceofluckopenedthedoorsofhisconventtohim，andherepairedatoncetoPotositowaitthearrivalofthePapalBullauthorizinghimtotakepossessionofhisbishopric。ThereheappearedinthehabitofhisOrder，alittlewoodencrossuponhisbreast，andagreenhatuponhishead，acostumewhich，ifnotquitefittingtohisnewdignity，wasatleastsuitedtotheIndiantaste。

Hisbiographerinformsusthat，withoutawordtoanyone，hebegantopreachandhearconfessions。Beingabsolutelywithoutresources，hewasreducedtodistributeindulgencesandlittleobjectsofpiety，andattheendofeverysermontosendhisgreenhatroundtheaudience。

Histalentforpreachingstoodhimingoodstead，andaftereverysermongiftswereshowereduponhim，andacrowdaccompaniedhimhome。

ThepriestofPotosibeingjustdead，DonBernardinotookhisplacewithoutpermission，andsethimselfupinthedoublecharacterofparishpriestandBishoptoholdavisitationthroughoutthediocese。

Somepeopletookthisconductasevidenceofhissaint

likehumilityincondescending，thoughaBishop，toofficiateasamerepriest。

TheArchbishophadadifferentopinion，but，asDonBernardinohadagreatfollowing，hethoughtitbesttodissemblehisresentment。

Cardenashimself，byhisimprudence，furnishedtheArchbishopwithanexcusetogethimoutofthebishopric。

ArichIndian，whomCardenasconfesseduponhisdeath

bed，lefthimtenthousandcrowns。Notcontentwiththat，heinfluencedoneDiegoVargastochangehiswillandleavehimmoney。OnthistheArchbishopwrotetohim，requestingthathewouldgoandgovernhisownsee。Hehadtogo，butleftthetown，whichhehadenteredwithoutafarthing，withalongtrainofmulescarryinghismoney，plate，andfurniture。

WhyhedidnotinstantlygotoAsuncionisnotquiteclear，forinAmericaitwasthecustom，owingtothegreatdistancefromRome，thatBishops，onreceiptoftheroyalorderofappointment，gotthemselveschosenbythechapteroftheirdiocesetogovernprovisionally。

Insteadofdoingthat，hewenttoTucuman，andthencetoSalta，wherehearrivedin1641。

InSalta，hisfirstvisitwastotheJesuitcollege，wherehelaidhiscasebeforetheJesuitfathers，andshowedthemseveralletters，onefromtheCardinalAntonioBarberinidatedin1638，andanotherfromtheKingwithoutadate，naminghimBishopofAsuncion。

OnthestrengthofthesetwolettersheaskedtheJesuitsifhecouldgethimselfconsecratedwithoutthePapalBulls。

Charlevoixallegesthattheydarednotrefusetoanswerinthewayhewished。Whythiswassoisnotsoeasytomakeout，as，evenwithhisgreenhatandwoodencross，hecouldnotatthattimehavebeenaformidablepersonage。TheirwrittenopinionhesentatoncetotherectoroftheJesuitcollegeatCordova，askingforhisopinionandthatofthedoctorsoftheuniversity。

TheanswerreachedhiminSantiagodelEstero，andwasunfavourable。

Onreadingtheletter，Cardenasfellintoamostunsaint

likefury，andtoreitupwithoutcommunicatingittoanyone，noteventotheBishopofTucuman，DonMelchiorMaldonado。Thiswasnotstrange，ashehadcountedonthisBishoptoconsecratehim。

Notwithstandingwhatwasatstake，hewentoninthedioceseofTucumanjustashehaddoneinthatofCharcas，preaching，confessing，andcelebratingMass。DonMelchiorMaldonado，aquietmanofnopretensions，wrotehimaletterinwhichhesaid:`YoucameintomydioceselikeaSt。Bernard；suchisthereputationyouhaveforholinessandpreachingthatmypeoplepaymenorespect，andonlylookonmeasamanofcommonvirtueandmediocretalents。AlthoughIhopeIamnotjealous，still，ImustremindyouthatyouactasifyouwereSt。Paul。"

ABishopofcommonvirtueandofmediocretalentsis，ofcourse，aBishoplost，andonecanwellconceivethatpoorDonMelchiorMaldonadowasplacedinanunpleasantpositionduringthestayofCardenasinhisdiocese。SuchwereDonBernardino"spowersofpersuasionthatatlasttheBishopconsecratedhim。Theceremonywashardlyover，whenaletterarrivedfromtheRectoroftheUniversityofCordovaadvisingBishopMaldonadoagainsttheconsecration。UnluckilyforParaguay，itwastoolatetoundotheaction，andCardenaswasnowinapositiontotakepossessionofhissee。PoorMelchiorMaldonado，BishopofTucuman，had，asithappened，laidhandsalittlehastilyuponthecandidate。

TheCouncilofTrentpronounceduponthecase，andfound`thattheconsecrationoftheBishopofParaguayhadbeenavalidoneastouchingthesacrament(ordination)，andtheimpressionofthecharacter，butthatithadbeenvoidasregardsthepowerofdischargingthefunctionsattachingtothedignity，andthattheBishopandhisconsecratorhadneedofabsolution，whichthesameholycongregationthinksoughttobeaccordedwiththegoodpleasureofthePope。"

AsthesameholycongregationhadpreviouslydeclaredthetakingpossessionofthediocesebyCardenashadbeenillegal，itisdifficultforordinarymindstograsptheirrealopinionofthecase。

FindingthathehadfailedwiththeUniversityofCordova，DonBernardinotookhiswaytoSantaFe，fromwhencehewroteaninsultinglettertothepoorrector。TheletterwasconceivedinsuchoutrageoustermsthattheBishopofTucumanwroteinexpostulation，sayingheexpectedtoseesomethingextraordinaryhappeninParaguayifhegavewaytosuchexcessofpassion。

DonBernardino"susualluckattendedhiminSantaFe。ThistownthenformedpartofthedioceseofBuenosAyres，thoughsituatedaboutfourhundredmilesfromthemetropolis。IthappenedthattheseeofBuenosAyreswasvacant，andthechapterofthecathedralinvitedCardenastovisitthatportionofthediocesethroughwhichhehadtopass。

Cardenaswas，ofcourse，delightedtoshowhistalentsforpreaching，ashehaddonebeforeinCharcasandinPotosi。WhenhearrivedatCorrientestheenthusiasmforhisholinessandtalentswasextraordinary。

InCorrientes，DonBernardinoseemstohavefelt，forthefirsttime，hiscallingandelectionreallysure。Atthetimehelanded(1642)

thelandwassunkinignoranceandsuperstition。Evento

dayinCorrientes(thecityofthesevencurrents)，situatedjustatthejunctionoftheriversParanaandParaguay，closetothecelebratedmissionsoftheJesuits，theinhabitants，livinginacountryalmosttropical，arehalfIndiansintype。

WhatCorrienteslookedlikeinDonBernardino"stimeismatterofconjecture。PerhapsitwasnotgreatlydifferentfromsomeremoteSpanish

Americanfrontiertownssomefive

and

twentyyearsago，saveforthegroupsofSpanishsoldiery，withtheirsteelmorions，trunkhoseandheavyarquebusesloungingabout，andinthematterofthescarcityofhorsesinthestreets。

Nodoubttheself

samelistlessairhungovereverything，andintheplaceofthemodernblueandwhitebarredflagswitharisingsunorcapoflibertystucklikeatrade

markinthecorner，thebloodandorangeSpanishcolourswiththequarteringsofcastlesandoflionsflappedheavilyagainsttheflagstaffofthefort。

TheIndianwomendressedallinwhite，theirhaircutsquareacrosstheforeheadandhangingdowntheirbacks，satwiththeirbasketsoffruitandflowersinthemarket

place。Thetown，asnow，builtchieflyofadobes，withafewwoodenhutsdottedabout，wassemi

orientalindesign。Oneverychurchwerecupolasaftertheeasternfashion，flatroofsoneveryhouse，andeverythingshonedazzlingwhiteagainstthedark，metallic

lookingfoliageofthetrees。

Thestreets，asnow，weresandywater

courses，crossedhereandtherewithtraversesofrough

hewnstonetobreaktheforceofthewaterintheseasonoftherains。

Atnightthefirefliesglistenedamongsttheheavyleavesofthemamayesandtheorange

trees，whilstfromtheChacorosethemysteriousvoicesofthedesertnight，andfromtheoutskirtsofthetownthewailingIndianJarabisandCielitossunginahighfalsettokeytothetinklingofacrackedguitar，butbrokennowandthenbythesharpwarningcry`Alertacentinela!"ofthesoldiersonthewalls。

Couldonehavelandedthere，onewouldhavefeltmuchasasailorfeels，droppedonthebeachofEromangooronsomeyetunbemissionariedislandofthePaumotusGroup。

EmbarkingfromCorrientesuptheriverParaguay，theBishopmettwovesselssentfromAsunciontodohimhonour。WhennightapproachedheputinpracticeoneofthemanoeuvreswhichinPeruhadstoodhimingoodstead。

OneverysideaswarmoflaunchesandcanoesaccompaniedtheshiptoseetheBishop，whomalreadymanybelievedasaint。Heaskedthemalltoretirealittlefromhisship。AlldidsobuttheguardofhonoursentfromAsuncion。Towardsthemiddleofthenightthesoundofscourgingwakenedthem。ItwastheirBishoptryingtopreparehimselfforthedutiesthatawaitedhim。Everysucceedingnightthesamethinghappened。

DuringthedayhecelebratedMasspontificallyuponthedeck。VoyagesupontheriverParaguaybeforethedaysofsteamerstookaconsiderabletime，especiallyaseverynightthecustomwastoanchorortomakefastthevesseltoatree。SoontherumourreachedAsuncionthatasecondSt。Thomaswasonhiswaytovisitthem。St。Thomas，asissaid，oncevisitedParaguay，andacaveinthevicinityofatowncalledParaguari，whereheoncelived，existsto

daytoprovethepassageofthesaint。

FateseemeddeterminedthattheBishopshouldalwaysmeettheJesuits，nomatterwherehewent。

Becomingwearyoftheslowprogressoftheships，hedisembarkedfourleaguesbelowAsuncion，atafarmbelongingtotheCompany。

Hemanagedtodissemblehisresentmentsoperfectlythatnooneknewhehadagrudgeagainstthem。Arrivedatthecapital，hewentatoncetothechurchofSanBlas，thentotheCathedral，wherehecelebratedMassandpreached，hismitreonhishead。

Afterservicehedismissedthepeopletotheirhomestodine，saying，however，thathehimselfwasnourishedbyaninvisiblefoodandbyabeveragewhichmencouldnotperceive。`Myfood"(hesaid)`isbuttodotheworkandwillofHimwhosentme。"Thereforeheremainedinprayerandmeditationuntilvespers，andthatofficefinished，heretiredtothepalaceaccompaniedbyashoutingcrowd。

Inhispositionhisconductwasmostadroit，for，ashisBullshadnotarrived，hemusthaveknownhehadnolegalstatus，andthat，indefaultofthat，hehadtoconquerpublicsympathy。ThechapterneverdoubtedthatDonBernardinowouldplacehimselfentirelyintheirhandsashisBullshadnotarrived。He，however，seemstohavethoughtthattheactofcelebratingMasspontificallyintheCathedralhadputhiminpossessionofhispowers。SohenamedoneCristobalSanchezashisVicar

General。Twoofthemembersofthechapter，DonDiegoPoncedeLeonandDonFernandoSanchez，remonstrated，butaconsiderableportionofthechaptersidedwithCardenas。

ThestrongerpartylefttheCathedralandcelebratedMassinthechurchbelongingtotheJesuits，thusgivingCardenasasecondcauseofoffenceagainsttheCompany。

TheBishop，notbeingsecureofhisposition，hadrecoursetoeveryart

tocatchthepubliceye:fastingandscourging，prayersbeforethealtar，twoMasseseveryday，barefootprocessions

himselfthecentralfigure，carryingacross

eachhadtheirturn。Alongthedeepredroadsbetweentheorange

gardenswhichleadfromAsunciontowardstheRecoletaandtheCampoGrande，heusedtotakehiswayaccompaniedbyIndianscrownedwithflowers，givinghisbenedictionashepassed，toturnaway(accordingtohimself)theplagueandtoinsureafertileharvest。Notbeingcontentwiththeopportunitieswhichlifeafforded，heinstitutedaneveningserviceinachurchinordertopreparefordeath。

Butbesidesputtingintoexecutionallhishistrionictalents，hehadtheadroitnesstoaddresshimselftothosefeelingsofself

interestwhichheknewwereperhapsmorepowerfulthanthoseofadmirationandrespectforhisownsaintlyproceedingsinhisnewdiocese。CretineauJoly，inhis`HistoiredelaCompagniedeJesus"，vol。iii。，p。333

(Paris，1845)，tellsusthatCardenas`parleauxEspagnols，ils"addressea\leursintere^ts，ilre/veillelesvieuxlevaindediscorde……etilaccuselesmissionnairesd"e^treseulslesapo^tresdelaliberte/desIndiens。"