name of Francisco,[1] but to ask for friars to accompany him and spread their faith in his kingdom. This was accorded, and Martin de Jesus, also known as De la Coruña, one of the twelve Franciscans,[2] set forth with two or three companions.[3]
They were well received, and soon a convent and church arose, the latter dedicated to Santa Ana, wherem began their proselyting work. A not altogether politic iconoclasm created a hostile feeling among the people, abetted by the native priests, and but for the decided attitude of the king and his courtiers in favor of the friars, their task would have been difficult. As it was, idol after idol was cast down, and temples were purified of their abominations, or destroyed,[4] and since the wrath of the gods, manifested only in impotent oracles, seemed powerless against the attack of these solitary men, the people recovered from their first shock and began to look more kindly on a religion held by doughty conqueror and patronized by royalty. This change was greatly promoted by the exemplary life of the friars, unselfish, devoid of greed, patient, benevolent, and sympathizing, and these virtues touched the people in particular through the care of children and invalids. With the
- ↑ So Torquemada, iii. 332, assumes, followed by Beaumont, yet it is not unlikely that the baptism took place later, though not after 1529, as shown by Pilar, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., it. 248. Alegre names him Antonio. Hist. Comp. Jesus, i. 92, and so does Chimalpain. Hist. Conq., ii. 78.
- ↑ He is highly spoken of for his charitable character and rigid observance of rules. After working zealously in Michoacan he went with Cortés to California, became guardian at Cuernavaca, returned to Patzcuaro, where he died probably in 1558. Vetancurt says September 25th, omitting the year. Menolog., 185; Datos Biog., in Cartas de Indias, 780; Torquemada, iii. 435-7; Beristain says 1568.
- ↑ Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., 376. In a memorial of Gonzaga five are mentioned: Angel de Saliceto, or Saucedo, later known as Angel de Valcencia, Gerónimo de la Cruz, Juan Badiano, or Badillo, properly Vadier, Miguel de Bolonia, and Juan de Padilla, and Beaumont insists on accepting them, but Torquemada points out that some of these arrived only in 1527. Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., iv. 731, 745-6, takes a ground opposite to the clear statements of Mendieta, and perverts his quoted authority, Torquemada.
- ↑ The chroniclers gravely relate that idols even of gold and silver were destroyed or cast away. 'Juntò vna gran suma de idolos, y à los de metal, y oro los arrojò en lo mas profundo de la laguna.' Vetancvrt, Menolog., 105.
