already represented to the crown that unless a Spanish town was established in his diocese little progress could be made in the way of either spiritual or temporal improvement, and he applied for permission to found one. The necessity was, however, so evident that, confident of the approval of the king, the audiencia authorized the beginning of the work before the receipt of instructions from the crown.[1] According to Motolinia, the work was begun on the 16th of April,[2] and from Bishop Zumárraga's statements we learn that the site first selected was situated on low ground, and that it had been decided before he left New Spain, in 1582, to remove the town to a higher position.[3]
Although great assistance had been given to the settlers by supplying them with native labor from the neighboring towns of Tlascala, Tepeaca, and others, during the first three years the colony did not make that progress which the promoters of it had hoped.[4] The cause was the uncertainty as to the royal orders
- ↑ By cédula of January 18, 1531, the queen approved of the plan by instructing the audiencia to found a town on an eligible site. Puga, Cedulario, 68.
- ↑ There is some deserepancy about the date of the founding of Puebla, but that given by Motolinia is well supported. Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., i. 232; Concilios Prov., 1555-65, 243. Salmeron, writing on the 30th of March, 1531, uses these words: 'Se comienza á ensayar la Puebla de los Angeles,' Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 196; yet on August 14, 1531, he describes the town as fairly built, containing a church, public structures, four hostelries,and 50 houses,and the settlers already engaged in agriculture. Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série 11. tom. v. 163-5, 187-90. Vetancurt gives April 16, 1530, as the date when the first mass was said, which statement is corroborated by Motolinia. Vetancurt, however, errs in asserting that the work was begun by permission of Fuenleal, as the president had not yet arrived in New Spain. Chron., 47. Zamacois states the city was founded in 1533 as a measure resolved upon by Fuenleal and the audiencia. Hist. Mex., iv. 562. Some minor authorities give the year 1531, and others 1532, as the date of the founding of this town.
- ↑ Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xvi. 560-2. The new town was built on the margin of the river Atoyac. The site was five leagues south of Tlascala, 20 leagues east of the city of Mexico, and 40 leagues west of Vera Cruz. Upon it were very ancient ruins, those, according to tradition, of the city of Quilaxcolapan, founded centuries before by Vemecat and Xicalantoalt. Another name given to this ancient city was Vasipalan, meaning 'country of snakes.' Medina, Chron. de San Diego de Mex., 242-3. Quilaxcolapan signifies the 'place where entrails are washed,' the name being derived from the custom of throwing into the streams near by the entrails of human victims sacrificed by the Tlascaltecs. Alcalá, Descrip. Puebla, MS., 15.
- ↑ Salmeron, in a letter dated November 1, 1532, states that the colony was on the decrease. Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série ii. tom. v. 207.
