laborers. As usual, corruption crept in to counteract the intended benefits. Speculators found it lucrative to engage, with connivance of the judge, a large nuinber of the Indians, and hire them to others at higher rates. This abuse became so great that the system had to be abandoned.37

In pursuance of this step, and with a view to remove cause for revolt, an important decree appeared in 1609, commanding that provisions and clothing must be sold to Indians at reasonable prices, and that those who attempted to defeat this measure should be punished. In the mining districts the Indians were to be gathered into villages and given land to cultivate, and churches and hospitals. Those who settled in these villages were to be exempt for six years from the usual repartimientos; but they must not leave the place. Since it was necessary to encourage work and progress among all classes, repartimientos must be maintained till the increase of slaves and voluntary workers allowed them to be reduced or abolished. Not more than one seventh of a village population should be called away at a time, in due turn, nor must they be sent to a very distant place or one differing greatly in temperature from that to which they were used. The pay must be fair, and cover the time for coming and going to work. The time and nature of labor should not be exceeded or changed. None could be condemned for crimes to personal service, nor could encomenderos exact it in lieu of tribute. The carrying of loads was restricted, particularly where beasts of burden could be introduced. Not long before this a law had been issued exempting from enco

38

37 Clamaron los Indios...con instancia, bolver à lo pasado.' Torquemada, i. 726.

38 An earlier decree prohibited even voluntary carrying of goods, but this could not be obeyed. Those in charge of herds should not be held responsible for lost stock. Officials connected with repartimientos must be men well known for kindness and probity; they could accept fees only from the employer. Further minor regulations are given in Montemayor, Svmarios, 21626, 14, 15; Órdenes de la Corona, MS., ii. 139. This important letter was dated May 26, 1609. In accordance with its tenor Velasco regulated the hours of labor and other matters.

REFORM MEASURES.

19

miendas, and from tribute for ten years, all hitherto unsubdued Indians who voluntarily gave allegiance to church and king.39 It was a measure well calculated to aid the missionaries and to promote a peaceful conquest. In the settled regions on the other hand we find a contrast in the confirmation of encomiendas to the third and fourth life.

The execution of reform measures was by no means easy, but Velasco sought to do his duty, and though exercising no undue severity he brought upon himself the hostility of a large class. His friendly feeling toward the natives is displayed in several recommendations, notably that of giving to them all the land required, leaving only the balance to Spaniards. His zeal was not overlooked, for in 1609 he received the title of marqués de Salinas, and two years later promotion to the presidency of the India Council." So distinguished a preferment could not be refused, and he set sail for Spain June 12, 1611,* leaving behind the reputation of a wise and humane ruler, against whom the only objection may be an excessive leniency which served well for the time, but left the seed of future troubles.43

42

As his entry into the government had been preceded by a comet, to which his successful rule lent a favorable significance, so his departure was attended by an eclipse of the sun; and the terror which this phenomenon inspired received fresh impulse two months later from an earthquake whereby a number of build

39 This law was issued on November 25, 1607, and confirmed in 1671 and 1672. Montemayor, Svmarios, 2.

40 Advertimientos, in Instruc. Virreyes, 256.

"Together with 20,000 ducats 'ayuda de costa.' He already received a pension of 6,000 at the end of his former rule in Mexico, and now his children were granted additional allowances. The title of marquis appears to have been issued in 1607, Calle, Mem. y Not., 55, though Vetancurt intimates a year or two later. Trat. Mex., 13.

12 Exercising the power of viceroy to the day of sailing. Torquemada, i. 767. Calle writes 17th of June.

43 His partiality for the Dominicans is spoken of in Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 202. Already very aged, he did not long survive his promotion.

ings were destroyed in different parts, notably at Mexico, involving the loss of several lives.44

Although Velasco ruled until the day of his departure, the successor to the viceroyalty was already to be found at Mexico in the person of Archbishop García Guerra, a Dominican, born about 1560 at Fromesta, near Valencia, of a noble house. As prior at Valladolid he managed to gain favor in the eyes of Felipe III., and a first result was his appointment to the vacancy caused by the death in October 1606 of García de Santa María y Mendoza, archbishop of Mexico. This prelate had been prior of the convent at the Escorial, general of the Jeronimite order, and a great favorite of Philip II., who named him one of his executors. The successor to the throne extended this favor by conferring on him the archdiocese in New Spain which he administered in a satisfactory manner, living ever the humble life of a friar, yet staining his memory by the bigoted act of defacing native sculptures. While the destruction was not so serious as that caused by the iconoclast Zamárraga, Santa María deserves even greater condemnation than this earlier bishop, whose vandalism finds excuses to a certain extent in the conversion-zeal of his period, and in its inferior enlightenment.

46

Guerra made his entrance into Mexico as prelate September 29th, and by his wise rule confirmed the royal choice to such extent that with the promotion of Velasco came his own appointment as twelfth vice

The eclipse was total and lasted till 6 P. M. June 10th. Torquemala, i. 768. The earthquake occurred on August 26th. En ocasion que por mandado del Arçobispo Virrey...se corrian toros.' Sigüenza y Góngora, Carta, MS., 15; Id., Parayso Occid., 24. There were more than 40 shocks within 30 hours, says Father Franco. On December 27th a rain of ashes fell at Mexico, Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 203; and Mota-Padilla, who places the eclipse on April 15, describes a similar shower in Colima, caused by the eruption of the volcano. Conq. N. Gal., 271. In the same month of the following year another earthquake occurred. Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 257.

45 Of the family of De la Vega Guerra. His parents were Andrés de Rojas and María Guerra. He professed as a Dominican in 1578, at Valladolid, where he became preacher and prior. Gonzalez Dávila writes his name De Enguerra. Teatro, i. 44; Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 198–200.

46 As Torquemada, iii. 208, regretfully points out.

DEATH OF GUERRA.

21

roy. It was the second time that the supreme political and ecclesiastical power had been vested in one man, and, as the benevolence and sagacity of Guerra were recognized, his inauguration June 19, 1611, created wide-spread joy. This was not to be of long duration, however. Guerra had for some time been an invalid, a fall from his carriage being one of the causes, and soon a cold caught during an exposure to rain laid him low with fever. The phlebotomy so prevalent among doctors of the time tended to weaken him; and when an operation was demanded on an abscess he sank under it February 22, 1612, at the age of fifty-two. Manifestations of grief were both general and profound, and the obsequies surpassed in solemnity any that had so far been conducted in New Spain. A description may prove interesting.

48

The embalmed body, arrayed in pontifical robes of purple taffeta garnished with gold and silver, rested in the chapel on a catafalque, covered with black goldbordered velvet, and surrounded with candles. The interior of the chapel was draped in black. The head of the corpse reclined on a black velvet cushion, ornamented with gold and silver, and bore on the brow a mitre. Close to it rose the guidon of the captaingeneral, a rank held by the deceased in virtue of his office as viceroy. At the left shoulder rested the pastoral staff, and in the right hand the archiepiscopal cross; at the feet were two royal maces of gilt silver, and between them the prelate's hat.

For three days a constant stream of visitors appeared at the chapel to give a last look at the beloved face, while friars and clergy held vigils, masses, and chants

He had been staying at the convent in Atlacubaya, and entered by way of Tlatelulco, under arches and amidst great pomp, on a Sunday. Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 202; Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 13. Cavo dates his power from June 17th; and Lorenzana, from June 12th. Concilios Prov., 1556-65, 216, he counting no doubt Velasco's departure.

48 Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., ubi sup. Cavo states that the carriage accident occurred while he as viceroy was inspecting certain public works, and this injured one of his ribs, giving rise to the abscess. Tres Siglos, i. 256. On the 29th of January a solemn procession had been held to implore restoration of his health.

here as well as at other temples. The bells tolled solemnly all the while, and nearly every person exhibited some token of mourning, especially officials and men of means.

On the 25th a vast concourse gathered at the palace to escort the body to the cathedral tomb. First marched the school children with white lighted tapers; then came thirty-eight brotherhoods, according to age, with standards, crosses, and other paraphernalia; the different monastic orders, closing with the Dominicans, to whom belonged the deceased, followed by over four hundred members of the clergy, the prebendaries of the chapter being last. Then came the coffin, having at the feet the prelate's hat, and a cap with white tassel, the insignia of a master of theology. Behind were borne the cross and guidon, draped in black, between two kings-at-arms. On either side of the coffin strode. the viceregal guard, while halberdiers assisted in keeping back the crowd. Following the guard came the deacons; the commercial court; the university representation, with sixty-four of its graduated doctors bearing the insignia of the faculty; the municipality, preceded by their mace-bearers; the audiencia, with three nephews of the deceased; the royal officers, bearing a black standard with royal arms in gold; three companies of infantry in lines of seven, with arms reversed, marching to the sound of four muffled drums and two fifes; the maestre de sala of the viceroy, bearing aloft on a half-pike the arms of the deceased, gilded on a black surface; the master of horse and chamberlain, leading a steed in deep mourning with a long train; another gentleman of the court, on horseback, bore the guidon of captain-general, with royal arms on crimson velvet. The procession closed with the servants of the palace, led by the majordomo.

Between the palace and the cathedral five catafalques had been erected, to serve as resting-places for the coffin as it was transferred to different bearers. The oidores bore it from the chapel to the first station;