MAGNIFICENT OBSEQUIES.

23

then the cathedral chapter, the municipality, the university corporation, and the commercial representatives carried it successively, the oidores taking it from the last station into the cathedral, where it was placed in a lofty position, amid a blaze of lights. As the alféreces approached they lowered the standards, and placed them at the foot of the coffin. On the left rested Guerra's coat of arms; on the right were the cross and the guidon. After service the coffin was buried at a late hour by the high altar, on the evangel side. It was a grand and glorious casting-forth.

During the novenary each religious order came to chant masses, assisted by ecclesiastic and civil bodies. On March 7th the members of the procession marched in the same order as before to the cathedral, where the vigil was chanted, and a funeral oration delivered in Latin. The following day the funeral sermon was preached by the dominican provincial.49

50

The government now passed into the hands of the audiencia, and the senior oidor, Pedro de Otalora, a pious man, took possession of the palace. Affairs were by no means such as to require a strong hand at their head; yet the loss of the recognized chief seems to have created an unsettled feeling, and the revelation of an intended uprising among the negroes so alarmed the capital that on Monday and Thursday the customary religious processions of the week did not take place. On the evening of Thursday a trampling of feet was heard, with much grunting and yelling, and the cry spread that the negroes were upon them. The panic-stricken people either closed their doors or fled for protection toward the palace, and terror reigned until morning, when the cause of the uproar appeared in a drove of pigs for the Satur

50

Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 205–7; Sosa, Episcop. Mex., 52–4. Hombre desinteresado de las cosas de esta Vida, y mui gran Ministro,' is Torquemada's estimate of him. i. 767. Among his associates are mentioned the licentiates Diego Nuñez de Mosquecho and Pedro Juarez de Molina.

day slaughter, which had been mistaken for a negro advance.51

This play upon the feelings of people and audiencia could not be allowed to pass unavenged, and thirtythree unfortunate blacks were convicted on doubtful evidence and hanged.52 As during a previous interregnum, the government sought to cover its weakness under a mask of cruelty. A measure against outbreaks on the part of negroes was attempted by means of a decree ordering free persons of their race, including mestizos, who possessed no trade, to enter the service of known masters and take up their abode with them.53

The audiencia's rule terminated with the entry into Mexico, on October 28, 1612, of the thirteenth viceroy, Diego Fernandez de Córdoba, marqués de Guadalcázar, and his consort María Rieder. His rule proved exceedingly quiet, though at one time a cloud appeared in the form of a freebooter. The Dutch had for some time struggled for a foothold in the Moluccas, and to promote this effort their East India Company in 1614 despatched a well-equipped fleet of six vessels, under Joris Spilbergen,55 with instructions to do what damage he could to Spanish shipping and interests on his way, notably to the fleet between Manila and Acapulco. He left Texel in August, touched at the Brazilian coast, passed through Magellan Strait in April 1615, and began a series of petty and cautious raids on the

51 Panes assumes that this false alarm served to defeat the intentions of the negroes by rousing the people. Monumentos Domin. Esp., MS., 94-5.

52 The bodies were exposed in different parts, till public health demanded their removal. Four of the victims were women. Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 13. Torquemada makes the total number 36.

53 Pena de docientos açotes.' Decree of the audiencia April 12, 1612. Montemayor, Svmarios, pt. ii. 49.

54 Lorenzana writes Riedrer. Cortés, Hist. N. Esp., 21.

55 Also written Georg Spilberg, von Spilbergen, Spilberger. The flag-ship was the Zon, and the next, the Halve Maen, under command of Jansen. Two of the vessels were smaller, and built for speed. The force carried was 1,200 men besides sailors; so at least declares Osten, a member of the expedition who escaped to New Spain, and whose account appears to have been over looked by Burney and others. See Nicolai, Newe vnd Warhaffte Rel., 17-18. He, Purchas, and Gottfried differ on several points, about names, dates, etc.

FREEBOOTERS AGAIN.

25

25

Pacific coast of South America. In this occupation he was interrupted by a fleet of eight vessels under Rodrigo de Mendoza, who had vowed to capture the Hollander. Fortune favored the latter, however, and the Peruvians retired with a loss of two vessels, one of them under command of the vice-admiral, who preferred to go down with his ship rather than surrender. On the 10th of October Spilbergen appeared before Acapulco, sadly in want of fresh provisions and anti-scorbutics for his sick crews. He would prob

56

ably have helped himself but for some well-timed shots which intimated that the place was prepared. "Hanging out a flagge of peace, two Spaniards came aboord, and they agreed to exchange Prisoners for Sheep, Fruits, and Prouision, which was accordingly performed. On the 15th Melchior Hernardo came aboord, to take view of the fleete, which had vanquished the Kings. He was Nephew to the Vice-Roy

56 The Castle had seuentie Brasse Pieces, hauing intelligence eight moneths before of their comming.' Purchas, His Pilgrimes, 1, pt. ii. 84.

of New Spaine, and was kindly entertained of the Admirall." The squadron left Acapulco on October 18th and cruised off the coast for some time, capturing a California pearl-fishing vessel with two friars.57 A consort vessel, under Iturbide, proved more fortunate in bringing safe to port a cargo of pearls, including one valued at the then high price of four thousand five hundred pesos.58

Spilbergen now proceeded to Salagua, or Santiago Bay, where several of his men, while in quest of fresh provisions, were killed and captured by an ambuscaded party which is said to have been commanded by the navigator Vizcaino. The fleet passed on to Santiago, and to Navidad, where a captured monk procured lemons on being promised his liberty. When the time came to fulfil the promise, the crews objected to lose so valuable a prisoner, and Spilbergen had to quell a mutiny to keep his word with the monk.

Toward the end of November sail was set for Cape San Lucas, there to watch for the Manila galleon; but the wind proving unfavorable the prows were turned for the Ladrones and Moluccas, and after staying here awhile Spilbergen completed the circumnavigation of the globe with a portion of his fleet. While falling short of the anticipated results of the voyage, Le confirmed the opinion of his ability as a navigator.59

While disaster was averted from Acapulco, it overtook the opposite port of Vera Cruz in another guise. New Vera Cruz, as it was called, to distinguish it from the old town on Rio Antigua, which still lin

57 Cardona, the captain, and a portion of the crew escaped by swimming ashore. The authorities differ as to whether the vessel was on the way from or to California. She was incorporated into the fleet under the name of the Pearlship,' says Osten, ubi supra.

58 Venegas, Not. Cal., i. 202-4; Cardona, Mem., 46; Mota-Padilla, Cong. N. Gal., 272-3.

59 For an account of the voyage, see, besides the authorities quoted, Gottfried, Newe Welt, 454 et seq.; Boss, Leben der See-Helden, 393-402; Kerr's Col., x. 157-8; Berenger, Col. Voy., i. 262, 288-93; Burney, Chron. Hist. Voy., ii. 330-53.

RULE OF GUADALCÁZAR.

27

gered, had rapidly risen from a landing-station, known by the name of Buitron, the chief settler, to receive in 1615 the title of city. But the buildings were hastily and irregularly constructed, chiefly of wood, and when, in December 1618, a fire broke out in the barracks, the flames spread under a strong north wind, and consumed the best part of the place, inflicting a loss of over two million pesos. Prompt aid was given toward rebuilding on a safer and more regular plan.

60

On February 13th the whole country was startled by an earthquake which lasted for a quarter of an hour, and extended from Central America far northward. "It demolished buildings, rent hills and mountains, disclosed deep caverns, and brought forth new lakes. Rivers flowed with black waters. At sea terrible sights were seen, and many vessels went under. Fish sought refuge on land from their natural element."61

Owing to the insecurity of the road between Vera Cruz and Mexico, infested by robber bands, the town of Córdoba was in April 1618 founded in the foothills, on the more southern route later followed by the railroad to the capital. Its prosperity was soon assured by extensive sugar and tobacco plantations, and it received also a share of health-seekers from Vera Cruz, as did the more important town of Orizaba, to the west, where sanitary facilities still attract people. Córdoba received its name from the vice

63

62

co Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 263. In the beginning of 1619, says Alegre, Hist. Comp. Jesus, ii. 115. Panes, Veracruz, MS., 2; Lerdo de Tejada, Apuntes, 267. A decree was thereupon issued ordering government buildings to be separated from other edifices fully 15 paces, and urging the employment of night watches. Recop. de Indias, ii. 27.

61Corrió quinientas leguas de Norte à Sur, y mas de sesenta de Este á Loeste.' Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro, i. 59. This author writes at 11:30 A. M. on February 14th.

62 In May 1714, an earthquake ruined many buildings. In 1850 it counted 4.500 inhabitants. Dicc. Univ., ii. 549. Incited by the faulty accounts in Villa-Señor y Sanchez, Theatro, Dr Rodriguez, curate at Córdoba, prepared a full history and description of the town which was published at Mexico in 1759, under the title of Cartilla, Historica y Sagrada Descripcion de Cordova, 4to, 164 pp. He gives the names of the first 30 settlers, the coat of arms, and other interesting material. See also Cordara, Hist. Comp. Jesus, 175.

The order of San Juan de Dios erected here a hospital about this time.