Storia do Mogor 358.3.5

358.3.5

After such an authentic decree, drawn up in terms so strong, how can the Lord Bishop of San Thomé attribute to us error and falsehood because we allege an order of his Holiness? And how is he able to assert that the mission to the Malabārīs in Pondicherry does not belong in any manner to the Capuchin fathers: [221] 'and that in no way do they appertain to the reverend Capuchin fathers either by order of his Holiness or mine, as falsely alleged.' After that, gentlemen, his Lordship dares farther to write to you that, by a consideration of the decrees, it will be seen that not one of them says a single word about the parishes of Pondicherry. 'Let your lordships call for the decrees, and you will see whether any one of them speaks a single word about the parishes of Pondicherry.' But if the decrees do not speak of them, to what end, then, gentlemen, upon their presentation to Monsignor with a request to have them put into execution according to their tenor, did he write the following words? 'The Reverend Father Guy Tachard has already seen this petition and the decrees of the Sacred Congregation. Dated San Thomé, February 12, 1706. (Signed) The Bishop of Meliapur.'