of Acapulco, declined to surrender his post to the relative of Gaviria, who had been appointed to receive it. The public feeling against the viceroy was maintained by libellous notices and abusive songs; and although printers were not as a rule permitted to issue them, no restriction was placed on public delivery.[1] These proceedings received encouragement from the effort of the viceroy to keep secret his hiding-place, even from the oidores. They ferreted it, however, and placed a guard round the convent, ostensibly for his protection, but really to keep him prisoner. They also took precautions to restrict visits by allowing none to enter save with their permission.[2] Many of those who came as visitors or servants were subjected to the indignity of search, and the viceroy's secretary was confined elsewhere so as to be unable to communicate with him.
Notwithstanding the secrecy concerning his abode the viceroy had not failed from the first to let it be known that he was still among the living. On the very evening of his flight he had summoned Inquisitor Juan Gutierrez Flores[3] and Fray Juan de Lormendi, guardian of the convent, and commissioned them to treat with the audiencia for his restoration to power, and for a meeting between them. They must also secure his papers. While considering themselves firmly enough established to follow their bent, the oidores nevertheless thought it necessary to call a
- ↑ Even boys sang couplets on the streets, one of which ran:
'Ahora vivamos en nuestra ley,
Que no hay virey.'The archbishop allowed an abusive attack on the viceroy to be printed by one Cristóbal Ruiz.
- ↑ 'Y que matasen al virey, si instase de hecho en su salida.' Doc. Hist. Mex., série ii. tom. iii. 97. The viceroy's defenders point out that the placing of a few guards at Varaez' asylum had raised a terrible outcry, but none objected to the present violation.
- ↑ Also visitador of Peru. Grambila, Tumultos, MS., 15.
as the fleet for Spain had sailed he assumed command. Guevara at first refused to yield, but certain promises prevailed upon him. The alcalde mayor here maintained himself in his office, however, by command of Gelves. Grambila, Tumultos, MS., 17.
