[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.