The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c27.68

v1.c27.68

8. In order to put an end to these continual disturbances, it seems that the appointment of a Bishop for Sao Thome was proposed, as is clear from a letter of the Viceroy Dom Jeronymo d' Azevedo to the King written in 1613. In this letter the Viceroy states that experience has shown that the citizens of Sao Thome have not improved after the appointment of a Bishop there 1. On the other hand, the Bishop of Cochin was unable to make his pastoral visit through the whole of his diocese on account of its extent 2. Hence Philip III of Spain, moved by these two reasons, requested His Holiness Paul V, to erect a new Bishopric in Sao Thome 3. His Majesty's petition was presented to the Pope by Cardinal Eduardo Farnesse 4. Paul V finally erected the Church of St. Thomas at Mailapur (Mylapore) as the Cathedral of the new Bishopric on January 9th, 1606; and on the same day appointed the Augustinian Friar Fr. Sebastiao de Sao Pedro as its first Bishop, according to the King's request 5. The new Diocese embraced the whole Coast of Coromandel and the kingdoms of Bengal, Orissa and Pegu 6.