[Footnote 422: This probably refers to her supposed immaculate purity
even after the birth of the Saviour. - E.]
Don Alexius with much labour and toil convinced them of their errors and
converted them to the true faith, so that whole towns were baptised and
reconciled to the Roman see. He even held a provincial synod at
Diamper, all the decrees of which were confirmed by the Pope; and
Francisco Rodriguez, a Jesuit who had assisted the archbishop on this
important visitation, was made bishop of that diocese. On the breaking
up of the synod, Don Alexius visited all the churches in these parts.
While in the country of the queen of Changanate, visiting the church
of Talavecare, one of the most ancient in those parts, they shewed him
three plates on which were engraven certain privileges and revenues
granted by the king of Ceylon, at the time when the Babylonians Zabro
and Proo[423], were in that country. At this place likewise Don
Alexius met Topamuta Pandara, king of Gundara[424] in the
neighbourhood of Changanate, to whom he presented a letter from king
Philip giving him the title of brother, for having allowed liberty for
the exercise of the Christian religion in his dominions[425].
[Footnote 423: Only a few pages before these men are named Xanio and
Prod; but we have no means of ascertaining which are the right
names. - E.]
[Footnote 424: These petty kings of small districts in the South of
India are now known by the titles of Polygars; and the hereditary female
chiefs are stiled Rana.
