from the Spanish sovereign an important province; the critical circumstances of the epoch and the abuses wrought by the viceroy's attendants, magnified as they were by the bishop, effectually undermined the king's confidence. Previous orders to exercise a wholesome surveillance were now amplified, and the visitador was ordered to take possession of the government. Simultaneously his services were recognized by offering him the archbishopric of Mexico, vacant since the death of Feliciano de Vega.27

23

These cédulas arrived toward the end of May 1642,2 and Palafox was not loath to assume the viceroyalty, which office so well suited his ambition. He declined, however, the archiepiscopal see.29 The latter was in consequence given to Juan de Mañosca y Zamora, the late president of the chancillería of New Granada.30 He was consecrated by Palafox on the 24th of February 1645. Keeping secret his appointment, the bishop proceeded on the 6th of June 1642 to Mexico, where his exaltation to the highest ecclesiastical dignity had filled with joy the whole population, save the viceroy, who congratulated him with such scant courtesy as to rouse the ire of the bishop, who occupied himself during the two following days with sending letters to Puebla, Vera Cruz, and other places, making known his appointment almost simultaneously. On the eve of Saturday the 9th of June, the final prepa

27

Diego de Guevara, archbishop-elect of Santo Domingo, had taken possession of the see in the name of Vega, and ruled until his death. Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 64.

28 The contemporary narrator, in Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 18, says March 23d, which is likely to be a misprint, or incorrect reading of the original manuscript. The time given in the text is supported by the personal statements of Palafox, and intimated by Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 14.

29 Gonzalez Dávila asserts because he had vowed not to accept any other see but that of Puebla.

30 A native of Marquina in Biscay. He was educated in Mexico, studied in Salamanca, and held later, among other offices, that of inquisitor at Cartagena and Lima. Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 25. Some call him Mañosca, others Zamora; the first, his maternal name, was with preference adopted by him. Panes mentions him as Juan Saenz de Mayorca y Zamora. Vireyes, in Monmentos, Dom. Esp., MS., 99.

31 It is also said that Escalona circulated reports that Palafox owed his elevation to his influence.

THE INEVITABLE BLOW.

109

rations for the stroke were made in the city of Mexico, as the viceroy intended to retire to Chapultepec. At a late hour of the night, after previously informing the members of the inquisition, and ordering them to be ready for action, the members of the audiencia were summoned to his house and shown the royal cédulas, which they obeyed, recognizing Palafox as viceroy. Subsequently the city council, municipal and royal officials, and a number of prominent citizens, who had been assembled, were likewise acquainted with the king's will, and all declared their willingness to obey.

During the same night, by order of Palafox, the maestre de campo, Antonio Urrutía de Vergara,32 with thirty resolute men took possession of and guarded the entrances to the viceregal palace, allowing all who so desired to leave it, but none to enter. This done, word was sent to the new viceroy, together with the information, that everything within the palace was quiet and that there was not the least suspicion. Others had secured the prison, the mint, the house where the royal seal was kept, and several public buildings.

Confident as was the bishop that his conduct could not fail to meet with the approval of the people, he still deemed it but prudent to have an eye to his own safety. At five o'clock the next morning everything was ready, and the oidor Andrés de Pardo de Lagos," accompanied by two alcaldes, the fiscal, and a secretary, proceeded to the palace to notify to the duke his downfall.34

Escalona was asleep when Lagos and his companions entered, and awoke to find the party on bended knee, as they apprised him of the king's latest resolution. The secretary handed him the cédula, but he

32 He is sometimes only called Vergara, in other instances Urrutia. 33 In some places he is called Lugi or Lugo.

34 Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 14-15, expresses his astonishment that they could enter the palace without encountering opposition. He forgets evidently that the guard, although only subject to the immediate orders of the viceroy, would not fail to obey those of the maestre de campo, the second commander, who, as has been shown, sided with the bishop.

returned it with the request that it be read to him. This was done, and raising himself on his shoulder he listened, speechless with surprise, to the words of his sovereign, who, under pretext of bestowing on him greater favors, bade him deliver up the reins of power to the archbishop and return to Spain. "This is a hard blow, but the orders of the king must be obeyed," was his answer. Informed that his successor had already assumed office and demanded his early departure from Mexico, he left the capital between seven and eight o'clock, poorly equipped and with a scanty retinue, and retired to the convent of the barefooted Franciscans at Churubusco, a few miles distant. When the inhabitants awoke, they learned with amazement how close to the verge of rebellion the province had been, and that but for the prudence and energy of the new viceroy the stain of sedition had been branded on the most noble and loyal city of New Spain. Such was at least the manner in which the friends of the bishop justified his conduct, and though the people believed it for a while, they were soon undeceived.

37

On the 10th of June Palafox inaugurated his rule, and his first measure was to place under embargo all the property and papers belonging to his predecessor, whose residencia he immediately began to take. The conduct of Escalona and of certain of his friends and attendants who were in prison, was closely scrutinized; but all efforts failed to secure evidence of the suspected conspiracy. The people, always inclined to sympathize with the unfortunate,

85 En un coche de dos mulas, mal aliñada la persona y con un solo page.' Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 21.

36 The son of Escalona in his complaint to the king says erroneously that the bishop took these measures on the night of a Sunday, which would have been June 10th. Escalona, Defensa in Vir. Instruc., MS., 1st ser., no. 1, 1-2. Lorenzana, referring to the Libro de Cabildo, says Palafox entered into office on the 9th. Hist. N. Esp., 23.

37 Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 14, followed by Zamacois, Hist. Méj., v. 330, makes the improbable assertion, that the duke's property was sold at auc

REFORMS INSTITURED.

111

ere long pitied the duke on account of the new viceroy's harsh proceeding, explaining his alleged malefeasance as the calumniations of his enemies, and his mistakes in the government as originated by the bad counsel of his advisers. Later events seemed to justify this opinion, and having remained in the convent of Churubusco till the end of 1642 Escalona removed to the small town of San Martin, about sixteen leagues from Mexico, and three months later returned to Spain. Here he vindicated his conduct so satisfactorily that the king intended to reinstall him in office, but afterward bestowed on him the viceroyalty of Sicily and a grant of six thousand pesos of rental. His opinion was also consulted about the government of New Spain, and among other suggestions he made was that of resuming the expeditions to California. There is no doubt that he became a victim to the visitador's ambition or scruples, and that on account of his innate indolence his friends and attendants were allowed too much influence in the control of affairs, but no evidence has been produced strong enough to convict him of disloyalty.3

39

Whatever the reasons which controlled the conduct of Palafox in all affairs where Escalona was concerned, once in charge of the highest magistracy of New

38 With him he took written testimony of the city council, other corporations, and many prominent persons, giving evidence of his innocence.

39 El Venerable Señor Don Juan de Palafox y Mendoza... justificado en el Tribunal de la Razon, Mexico, 1831, pp. 79, published by Carlos María de Bustamante. This work forms part of the Voz de la Patria, and contains documents bearing on the altercations between Escalona and Palafox. The first is a relation, written by a contemporary, apparently a friend of the bishop, but full of valuable information and less biassed than might have been expected. The second is a memorial to the king by the son of the ex-viceroy, asserting the duke's innocence and severely accusing Palafox. Another, apparently coetaneous copy exists in my manuscript collection under the title Escalona, Defensa. The last document is the bishop's reply to the king concerning the charges preferred against him. Both the memorial and the reply, partial as their origin necessarily stamps them, add few historical facts to the first document, but are valuable because they reveal occasionally the reasons which guided the two antagonists. Of later writers, most have adopted the version that the removal of Escalona was an act of unnecessary caution in view of the slight reasons against him; others, like Alaman and

Spain he proved himself well fitted for the position. The abuses which his predecessor had permitted in the management of the public water-works and the granary were corrected; crime was severely punished; and frequent public sessions were held, often presided over by the viceroy himself.40 The affairs of the royal treasury, of late a mine of wealth for unscrupulous officials, were reorganized, but Palafox himself did not draw any of the salary due him as visitador and viceroy.

Vera Cruz and Acapulco were fortified according to orders from Spain, the duties of maestre de campo more clearly defined, and twelve new companies of militia organized for purposes of defence. The viceroy then directed his attention to the improvement of ecclesiastical and educational matters. He made reforms in the affairs of the church, visited the convents, framed statutes for the university, and, though a protector of the Indians, was sometimes severe in his endeavor to outroot such superstitions as still lingered in their minds. To that end a number of ancient statues and idols, kept by preceding viceroys as tokens of victory, were demolished."

In the mean time a new viceroy had been appointed by the crown, and to him Palafox delivered the reins of power, after a rule of five months,2 during which brief term he gave unquestionable proof of ability and disinterestedness. By order of the king, he gave to his successor a collection of 'instructions' to guide

Ribera, confine themselves to a mere statement of the facts, without expressing their opinions. In addition to the authorities already quoted I refer the reader for more details to Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 14; Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 11-15; Alegre, Hist. Comp. Jesus, ii. 237-8; Alaman, Disert., iii. app. 28-9; Rivera, Gobernantes, i. 132-41.

40 Dió audiencia...en que hablaban en dos dias cuantos no habian podido hablar á S. E. en dos años.' Palafox, el Ven. Señor, 23.

41 This iconoclasm has been severely censured, and justly so, because a number of curious and doubtless valuable relics have thus disappeared. If he had simply put them among other objects of idol-worship, the bishop would also have attained his purpose and remained exempt from the just charge of intolerance and fanaticisin.

42 Touron is in error when he states that Palafox ruled three years as viceroy. Hist. Gen. Amérique, vii. 361.