guese reached its climax on the 13th of August 1641, the day of St Hippolytus. When the usual procession of the banner met a body of soldiers with their Portuguese captain, the customary salute of lowering the flag was refused on the ground of the duke's absence.[1] The Spaniards, though greatly incensed, merely changed their route, and made no attempt to punish their insolent neighbors. Palafox, who soon afterward returned to Mexico, represented to the viceroy the necessity of punishing the captain and of adopting energetic measures to prevent an outbreak of the Portuguese, who became more haughty from day to day. Escalona agreed with the bishop, but could not be induced to take any active steps, although the representations were repeated.[2]
While the viceroy and Palafox were yet quarrelling, information reached Mexico that the Portuguese in Brazil had rebelled, and that a mutiny had occurred in Cartagena, New Granada.[3] The zealous visitador immediately held consultations with the members of the audiencia, the inquisition, and a number of prominent persons, and all urged him to reason with the duke, and call his attention to the impending danger. The dismissal of the Portuguese captain and those of his countrymen who held office under the crown, and the disbanding of the companies of Portuguese soldiers, were deemed necessary. An attempt to obtain an interview with the viceroy failed, owing to the latter's discourtesy; and when the bishop explained his views in a letter,[4] the duke's answer was,
- ↑ No reason is assigned why the viceroy failed to assist. 'El portugutes dijo: que no hallándose en él (the procession), S. E. á ningun otro abatiría su bandera.' Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 10-11.
- ↑ Palafox, in his letter to the king, mentions the disrespectful language of the viceroy, saying that the latter, on one occasion, told the bishop's chaplain: 'por ahí dicen quo me alzo con esto, si eso fuese así, yo sería rey, y mi obispo papa.' Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 60. There is no doubt that, as well on this as on other occasions, the viceroy made merry with the serious remarks of the bishop, who really suspected a conspiracy.
- ↑ Cartagena de las Indias, as it was then called, to distinguish it from that of old Spain.
- ↑ 'Con maravillosas razones y profunda reverencia le proponia la reformacion del capitan portugues, y todos los demas puntas convenientes.'
