The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining RegionsBattell, Andrew
History
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions
Battell, Andrew
Angola -- Discovery and exploration; Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Discovery and exploration
[308] Hence this, the oldest church of S. Salvador, became known as
_Egreja da Vera Cruz_. In it the Christian kings of Kongo were formerly
buried; but when the Devil took up its roof and carried the body of the
unbelieving D. Francisco to hell, their coffins were removed to other
churches (see post, p. 121). Other churches, subsequently built, are S.
Salvador, N. S. do Socorro, S. Jago, S. Miguel, dos Santos, de
Misericordia, S. Sebastian.
[309] Frei João had died soon after reaching the capital.
[310] Paiva Manso, pp. 2-4.
[311] Paiva Manso, pp. 6-76, publishes quite a series of letters and
documents bearing upon the reign of Affonso, and dated between 1512, and
December 15th, 1540. Cavazzi makes him die in 1525, but in letters
written between February 15th, 1539, and December 4th, 1540, the King
refers to D. Manuel, who was about to go to Rome, as his “brother.” If
the letters had been written by his successor Don Pedro II Affonso, Don
Manuel would have been an uncle, and not a brother.
[312] Cavazzi calls him Mpanzu a kitima; D. Lopez invariably _Mpangu_.
[313] King Affonso, whose account of this battle may be read in Paiva
Manso, p. 8, does not mention the flaming swords, but there can be no
doubt that they were seen, for they were introduced in the coat-of-arms
subsequently granted to the King. D. Lopez (p. 82) substitutes the
Virgin for the white cross seen during the battle. Cavazzi (p. 273), and
others, down to Father Eucher (_Le Congo_, Huy, 1894, p. 36),
unhesitatingly accept this miracle. The Rev. W. H. Bentley most
irreverently suggests a solar halo; but such a phenomenon might account
for flaming swords, but not for the Virgin and St. James.
[314] On this embassy, see the documents printed by Paiva Manso, and
also Damian de Goes, _Chron. do Rei D. Emanuel_, vol. iii, c. 37.
[315] _Alguns Documentos_, p. 419.
[316] On this mission, see _Alguns documentos_, pp. 277-289, for the
instructions given to Simão da Silva; Paiva Manso, pp. 5-12, or King
Manuel’s letter, and D. Affonso’s manifesto; and also Damian de Goes,
_Chronica_, vol. iii, cc. 38-39.
[317] This coat-of-arms is fully described by King Affonso himself
(Paiva Manso, p. 11), as follows:—The field _gules_, and the chief of
the coat _azure_, quartered by a cross-fleury _argent_. Each quarter of
the chief charged with two shells, _or_, on a foot _argent_, bearing a
shield _azure_, charged with the five plates of Portugal. The field
_gules_ is charged with five arms holding swords, _or_. An open helmet,
_or_, with a royal crown surmounts the coat. Crest: the five swords.
Supporters: two idols, decapitated, with their heads at their feet. The
coats figured on Pigafetta’s map and by Cavazzi, p. 274, are much less
elaborate, but are both charged with five swords. The arrow in the
latter is one of the royal insignia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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