FRAY PAYO ENRIQUEZ DE RIVERA.

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years, had been appointed archbishop in November 1666, but died in May of the following year.

A general feeling of satisfaction prevailed when the appointment of Rivera as viceroy became known, for the fame he had acquired in Guatemala, and during his pastoral labors in the capital, had justly won for him the good opinion of the people. It had been through his influence that the Bethlehemites, established in Guatemala since 1653,57 and the first religious order created in America, were induced to extend their labors to Mexico. The congregation of San Francisco Javier, which had not been recognized by the king, were persuaded by the archbishop to cede their house to the new-comers. The latter to the number of four, Francisco de la Misericordia, Gabriel de Santa Cruz, Juan Gilbó, and Francisco del Rosario, the superior, took possession of the building, and being aided by the viceroy, and the count of Santiago, were enabled ere long to open a hospital for convalescents, and subsequently also a church, the former on the 31st of May 1675, and the latter on March 25, 1677,50 and gradually their labors extended more and more, the example given by the viceroy Rivera, in defraying the expenses of the hospital for every first day of the month, having been followed by other donations from prominent citizens. Later, however,

58

eulogy is bestowed on him for his untiring zeal during an epidemic, which in 1643 swept away a great part of the population of Michoacan. Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro, i. 130-4; Romero, in Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, la ép. viii. 543-4. Before and after the succession of Ramirez to the archbishopric, noisy disturbances had occurred between the members of the chapters, two parties having sprung up, both of which claimed a right to the most important offices. The dissensions lasted from 1665 to 1667 and excited considerable scandal in the city. Robles, Diario, i. 7-10, 39-47.

57 See Hist. Cent. Am., ii. 666-7, this series, for the establishment of the order in Guatemala.

58 García, Hist. Beth., ii. 110, gives the first name, probably by misprint, as Francisco de la Miseria; Vetancurt speaks only of three brothers, mentioning one as Francisco de San Miguel, in which he is followed by Cabrera. Escudo de Armas, 429; Trat. Mex., 37. Orozco y Berra, Mem. Ciud. Mex., 133, says two brothers began the foundation at Mexico.

59 Robles, Diario, i. 189, 232; Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 37; Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 55; Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, 12. Orozco y Berra, Mem. Ciud. Mex., 133, differs, assigning the dates as May 29, 1675, and February 12, 1677, respectively.

hospitals for sick persons in general, and primary schools for children, were founded, together with houses where food and shelter were provided for travellers and strangers. The members lived according to monastic rules after the Augustinian rites, but were subject to secular jurisdiction. Their four vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and hospitality were binding only while they remained in the brotherhood, but after a membership of three years they were allowed to bind themselves for life by an additional

VOW.

61

60

On his departure from New Spain in 1680 the viceroy further showed his regard for the order by making a donation of a thousand pesos and presenting them with all his carriages. Rivera proved himself no less capable as a military leader than as a prelate, and indeed it was necessary that at this epoch, when the coasts of New Spain were continually infested with corsairs, the one at the head of affairs should possess the qualities of a soldier. Meetings were convoked, and measures adopted to prepare against threatened depredations. A council was held in February 1675 to discuss the means of raising a force of nine hundred men, asked for by the governor of Campeche. Soon afterward news reached the capital from Habana that a hostile force of about fifteen hundred men was preparing to land between old and new Vera Cruz, and immediately steps were taken to place that port in a state of defence. Ammunition was sent there, companies of cavalry were raised, and guns placed at the

60 The bull of Pope Clement X., issued in 1674, placed the order under the jurisdiction of the bishop, Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, 12, but the royal cédula of February 29, 1676, permitting its establishment in Mexico, forbids the establishment of a convent, que no ha de ser ereccion Eclesiastica, sino sugeta é incorporada al Real Patronato...apartando todo aquello, que puede tener color de Convento, ó Casa Religiosa, ó Eclesiastica, expressly placing it under secular jurisdiction. Montemayor, Svmarios, 11. For the rules of the order see García, Hist. Beth., ii. 174-97.

61 A detailed account of the Bethlehemite order will be found in García, Hist. Beth., ii. 100 et seq. Vetancurt, Trat. Mex., 37-9, gives also many particulars, as the founder, Pedro de San José Vetancur, was a near relative to him.

DEFENCE AND DEVELOPMENTS.

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openings of the streets. The inhabitants, however, began to leave the town, taking with them their valuables.62 Fortunately the alarm proved to be false, for on the 19th of June 1675 letters from Habana were received stating that no enemy had appeared as yet, and the panic subsided. At about the same time rumors spread of other projected invasions on the South Sea coast, and preparations had also to be made in that direction. At greater or less intervals similar news was received during the following years.63

In 1678 the pirates operated successfully against Campeche, and during the same year exaggerated reports announced the presence of eleven sail in sight of Vera Cruz. A meeting was hastily summoned, the treasure ready for remittance to Spain was sent to Jalapa, and the despatch of the fleet delayed. It was soon learnt that the hostile force consisted of but one vessel, which, defying the Spaniards, had been so daring as to enter the port of Vera Cruz and reconnoitre. This feat was afterward repeated by another ship, but as the garrison had been reënforced by the viceroy no attack was made.

Much difficulty was found in raising the required force for the Philippine Islands. Many of the soldiers dreading the climate would desert before reaching Acapulco, and new schemes had to be devised to obtain recruits. Thus in 1677 all criminals willing to enlist were pardoned, and one hundred and twenty-five pesos a year given them as pay. Still, only a small number could be induced to accept this offer.

While Rivera was actively engaged in discharging

62 So says the contemporary author, Robles, Diario, i. 191. Still Zamacois speaks of the extreme valor of the inhabitants, who 'grasping their swords anxiously awaited the moment to cross them with those of their enemies.' Hist. Méj., v. 424.

63 In April 1676 it was said that preparations were made at Jamaica to capture the treasure fleet. Some months later rumors spread that Pánuco had been taken by the enemy. Robles, Diario, i. 216-19. The following year several vessels cruised in the neighborhood of Alvarado but escaped the pursuit of an armament sent against them. Id., 237-8, 242-3. Panes, Vireyes, MS., 104, speaks of serious losses caused to the English by the gallant resistance of the inhabitants of Alvarado.

the more urgent duties of his position, he by no means neglected internal affairs. The pavements of the city were repaired, improvements were made in the viceregal palace, and the drainage labors were concluded in 1675. In 1676 it had also been decreed that gold be coined in Mexico, but it was not till 1679 that the first pieces were stamped. On that occasion the viceroy and the audiencia repaired to the mint, to witness the first coinage. Rivera's pastoral labors, however, did not suffer from the multitude of worldly affairs which claimed his attention, as was proved by the numerous consecrations of bishops, churches, altars, and temples, held by him. There was no great religious festival at which he failed to attend, and occasionally he would ascend the pulpit and preach. During the thirteen years that he wore the mitre, he visited twice all the different parts of his diocese. 64

On several occasions the archbishop-viceroy had requested of the crown and the holy see that he might be removed from office, but both were unwilling to dispense with the services of so faithful a servant.65 At last the king granted his petition, on account of his impaired health, but desirous of retaining him in his service, offered him the bishopric of Cuenca, and the presidency of the India Council. In September 1680 the new viceroy arrived at Vera Cruz, and in the following month Rivera formally delivered over the government. He remained, however, in Mexico, where his residencia was being taken by the oidor Frutos Delgado. On the 27th of February 1681, the latter published the sentence, ac

66

For details see Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 25–6; Robles, Diario, i. 116–324, passim; Sosa, Episcop. Mex., 144-5. The latter authority asserts that Rivera forbade, in 1670, all public processions on account of the disorders and excesses to which they gave rise.

65 Repeatedly since 1675 rumors had reached Mexico of the appointment, and sometimes even of the arrival at Vera Cruz, of a new viceroy, but they had always proved unfounded, and in every instance the people rejoiced that this was the case. Robles, Diario, i. 197–201, 216-17, 222-3, 236–7, 260, 270-1. 66 Robles, Diario, i. 318. Sosa, Episcop. Mex., 149, without assigning an authority, says the 3d of May 1681.

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quitting the ex-viceroy of all the charges preferred against him.7

Four months later, on the 29th of June, he took leave of his flock in the cathedral, and the following day left Mexico. The viceroy, at whose right side he was seated, the audiencia, and the tribunals accompanied him to Guadalupe; the ringing of the bells gave notice to the entire population of the departure of their beloved prelate, and fervent prayers were offered in all the churches for his safe return to Spain. 68

On reaching Puerto Real in Spain, he resigned the two high positions to which the king had recently promoted him, and retired to the convent of Santa María del Risco. Still leading a pious, humble life, he received while there further marks of favor from a grateful sovereign. The king granted him a yearly rental of four thousand ducats, to be defrayed by the royal treasury of Mexico, and the pope gave him the privilege of entering any church of Spain dressed in the archiepiscopal garb. On the 8th of April 1684 he breathed his last, and when the news of his decease reached Mexico, imposing funeral services were held in several of the churches to honor the memory of one whose name was deeply graven on the hearts of the people.70

69

67 This decision was formally ratified by the India Council on the 23d of December of the same year. The same body recommended Rivera as worthy of the king's further protection. 'Declaró assimismo ser digno, y merecedor de que su Magestad empleasse su persona... en aquellos y otros mayores puestos, condignos á su ajustado obrar.' The tenor of the sentence is given in Ribera, Sentencia, 1-4.

68 Limes 30, dia triste para Méjico, se fué el Illmo y Exmo señor maestro D. Fr. Payo Enriquez de Rivera,' says Robles, Diario, i. 324. C. M. Bustamante in the Diario Curioso of Rivera, 18, makes the blunder of stating that Rivera ruled 17 years as viceroy, from 1663 till 1680.

69 Lorenzana, in Concilios Prov., 1555-65, 222, 291-2, says in one place 1684, in another 1685; the latter date has erroneously been adopted by Juarros, Guat., 284.

10 For fuller and additional references to authorities bearing on the preceding chapters see Torquemada, iii. 596–7; Alegre, Hist. Comp. de Jesus., i. 43-65, 201-3; ii. 64, passim; iii. 6-108, 165-72, 224-6, 251-2, 299; Cortés, Hist. N. Esp., 22-6; Pinelo, Relacion, 4; Calle, Mem. y Not., 46, 54-8, 66, 73, 81-7, 122; Seriano, Prólogo, MS., 7-9; Villa-Señor y Sanchez, Theatro Mex., i. 17-18; Robles, Vida del Arzbpo. Cuevas, 148, passim; Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 65 et seq.; ii. 34, 91-2; Ribas, Hist. Triumphos, 735–44, Arricivita, Crón. Seráfica, 158-206, 517-18; Carriedo, Estudios Hist., 115; Concilios