An equally difficult question to decide is the site of the first church,[1] but there is good reason to suppose that the parochial church stood on ground previously occupied by the great Aztec temple, and where the old cathedral was afterward erected.[2] By a bull of Pope Clement VII. this church was elevated in 1530 to the rank of cathedral,[3] so that the first cathedral and the parochial church were identical. But this edifice was only regarded as a provisional one, and during the presidency of Fuenleal the construction of a more appropriate building was begun and completed by the viceroy Mendoza.[4] As time advanced this structure also was too humble in which to celebrate the worship of God with becoming grandeur. A few decades later was laid the first stone of the magnificent edifice which exists to-day.[5]
- ↑ Icazbalceta, after carefully weighing the arguments adduced by Alaman and José F. Ramirez in analyzing the statements of Torquemada, although recognizing the difficulty of proof, comes to the conclusion that the conjecture that the Franciscan church was the first one built in the city of Mexico is probably right and that its site was that occupied by the atrium of the present cathedral. Salazar, Mex. en 1554, 184-202, 213-29.
- ↑ Herrera states that the foundation-stones of the parochial church were idols, 'y començò la mayor' — i. e. iglesia — 'sobre ciertos idolos de piedra q͏̄ siruen por vasas de las colunas.' dec. iii. lib. iv. cap. viii. If this vexed question as to priority and site should ever be solved it will probably be found that the first parochial church and the first Franciscan church were built almost contemporaneously, the former occupying the site of the Aztec temple, and ground which had, according to Vetancurt, been assigned to the Franciscans for a convent, but of which they relinquished their rights as owners, Trat. Mex., 17; and that the latter named church stood near by on the east, in Santa Teresa street. There is evidence which indicates the site of the first cathedral, for Fuenleal, writing to the empress on the 30th of April 1532, suggests the appropriation of 12 out of 25 lots, 'senalados para hacer iglesia, claostra y casa episcopal,' for the purpose of erecting on them buildings for the audiencia. These lots of ground were situated in the plaza between the two houses of Cortes, and the position of those proposed to be appropriated was such, 'questa casa de Audiencia y las dos casas del Marques tengan la iglesia y plaza en medio.' Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 214-15. This subject is discussed at great length and ably by Icazbalceta in Salazar, Mex. en 1554, and by Alaman, Disert.
- ↑ Nueva España, Breve Res., MS., i. 124. From the same bull we learn that the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Speaking of the cathedral Beaumont says: 'cuya titular es la Asuncion de Nuestra Señora.' Crón. Mich., iii. 251.
- ↑ By a cédula, dated August 28, 1532, it was ordered by Prince Felipe that the cost of construction should be divided into three portions, and defrayed respectively by the royal treasury, the encomenderos, and the natives in the diocese. Fonseca, Hist. Hacienda, i. 519-20.
- ↑ Its growth was slow, however; slower than that of the temple at Jerusalem. Forty-two years were occupied in building the outer walls, and it
