CHAPTER IV.
KING AND COLONY.
1624-1639.
Defence Measures — The Dutch at Acapulco — Corsair Raids along the Coast of Yucatan — The Barlovento Squadron — Royal Loans and Extortions — Inundation of Mexico — Proposed Removal of the Capital — Relief Measures and Drainage Projects — The Huehuetoca Tunnel — San Felipe the Protomartyr of Mexico — His Irregular Life and Beatification — The Hermit Lopez — Viceroy Cadereita — The Prelate Zúñiga — The First Creole Archbishop.
In order to guard somewhat against the recurrence of such happenings as the Gelves outbreak, greater precautions were observed by the home government, as we have seen, in selecting the heads for political and ecclesiastical affairs; additional instructions were issued to guide them in their relation to others, and a certain limitation of power was for a time at least imposed; the king for instance taking upon himself to appoint the commandants and magistrates of leading ports, strongholds, and towns,[1] who had hitherto been commissioned by the viceroy. Cerralvo retained for some time the enlisted troops and erected suitable barracks,[2] while the enrolment list of volunteers was preserved for cases of need.
These volunteers really constituted a part of the general system of militia, formed already by Cortés, in connection with encomiendas, and extended over set-
- ↑ In Calle a number of these appointments are enumerated. Mem. y Not., 168.
- ↑ In 1628 the city asked for their disbandment for 'no quedan ceniza del suceso del 15 de Enero de 1624,' but this request was not granted till two years later. Cedulario Nuevo, i. 351. The cost of maintaining them appears to have been wholly borne by the desagüe fund, which was thus drained of 89,853 pesos. Fonseca, Hist. Hac., v. 358-9.
