had not come out, and in fact were not received in Mexico until the 22d of November. His consecration by Bishop Morales, of Puebla, took place in the old cathedral of Mexico on the 8th of December.[1]
Not long after the appointment of Moya a serious rupture occurred between him and Enriquez. The apparent cause was trivial, but in its significance serious. The underlying stratum of discord was pregnant with future contention for power between church and state. When Moya received the pallium a farce was publicly represented in which figured as one of the characters a collector of the excise.[2] The viceroy and audiencia interpreted the introduction of this character as the expression of a sarcastic disapproval of an unpopular impost lately established. Stringent orders were issued forbidding the production of such pieces without the sanction of the audiencia. The blame of it all was laid upon the archbishop. The prelate's authority was ignored, and many persons, including such as enjoyed ecclesiastical privileges, were arrested. Henceforth harmony was at an end, and various petty insults were from time to time offered by the viceroy to the archbishop. Moya naturally complained, and had the satisfaction to receive the royal approval of his course, an approval which in
- ↑ During this year, while Moya was still archbishop elect, the corner-stone of the great cathedral was laid with appropriate ceremonies in the presence of the viceroy and all the high functionaries of church and state. In the erection of this edifice Moya took great interest, making it an object of constant attention during the last months of his sojourn in Mexico. He donated to it beautiful paintings that he had brought from Spain, chalices, and costly ornaments, and left it blazing with gold, though still a-building; he also gave it his mitre and pastoral staff, together with a much venerated fragment of the lignum crucis.
- ↑ The viceroy had, in 1573, established the alcabala, or excise, which merchants had till then been exempt from. The measure was very unpopular, and the government had been the object of many a diatribe for it.
sides from families of rank. Moya brought from Spain a little girl two years of age, named Micaela de los Ángeles, supposed to have been of royal blood, and appearing as his niece. She was brought up in a nunnery, and at the age of 13 became insane. The utmost care was taken of her and much money expended in the efforts to restore her reason, but without avail. Sigüenza y Góngora, Parayso Occ., 18.
