from the Spanish sovereign an important province; the critical circumstances of the epoch and the abuses wrought by the viceroy's attendants, magnified as they were by the bishop, effectually undermined the king's confidence. Previous orders to exercise a wholesome surveillance were now amplified, and the visitador was ordered to take possession of the government. Simultaneously his services were recognized by offering him the archbishopric of Mexico, vacant since the death of Feliciano de Vega.[1]
These cédulas arrived toward the end of May 1642,[2] and Palafox was not loath to assume the viceroyalty, which office so well suited his ambition. He declined, however, the archiepiscopal see.[3] The latter was in consequence given to Juan de Mañosca y Zamora, the late president of the chancillería of New Granada.[4] He was consecrated by Palafox on the 24th of February 1645. Keeping secret his appointment, the bishop proceeded on the 6th of June 1642 to Mexico, where his exaltation to the highest ecclesiastical dignity had filled with joy the whole population, save the viceroy, who congratulated him with such scant courtesy[5] as to rouse the ire of the bishop, who occupied himself during the two following days with sending letters to Puebla, Vera Cruz, and other places, making known his appointment almost simultaneously. On the eve of Saturday the 9th of June, the final prepa-
- ↑ Diego de Guevara, archbishop-elect of Santo Domingo, had taken possession of the see in the name of Vega, and ruled until his death. Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 64.
- ↑ The contemporary narrator, in Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 18, says March 23d, which is likely to be a misprint, or incorrect reading of the original manuscript. The time given in the text is supported by the personal statements of Palafox, and intimated by Cavo, Tres Siglos, ii. 14.
- ↑ Gonzalez Dávila asserts because he had vowed not to accept any other see but that of Puebla.
- ↑ A native of Marquina in Biscay. He was educated in Mexico, studied in Salamanca, and held later, among other offices, that of inquisitor at Cartagena and Lima. Vetancurt, Trat. Mex., 2.5. Some call him Mañosca, others Zamora; the first, his matenial name, was with preference adopted by him. Panes mentions him as Juan Saenz de Mayorca y Zamora. Vireyes, in Monmentos, Dom. Esp., MS., 99.
- ↑ It is also said that Escalona circulated reports that Palafox owed his elevation to his influence.
