at Vera Cruz he was apprised by his steward that he was in debt to the amount of $20,000. But he had not to wait long before a larger sum came as a donation, which enabled him to pay off the indebtedness, and to make gifts to the hospitals of Vera Cruz and give alms to the poor. Further information on this interesting man will appear in connection with his life as viceroy of Mexico.[1] Pedro de Právia administered the archbishopric till near the end of 1589, when he died. After that the diocese was governed by the dean and chapter sede vacante.
The successor appointed to fill the office of archbishop of Mexico was the bishop elect of Nueva Galicia, and visitador of Peru, Alonso Fernandez de Bonilla, a native of Córdova. He was elected on the 15th of March, 1592, and it is said that he chose the archdeacon of Mexico, Juan Cervantes, for governor of the archdiocese during his absence, which office Cervantes held till the see was declared vacant by the death in Peru of Bonilla in 1596, shortly after his consecration. The archbishop's remains were interred in Lima.[2] The archdiocese remained vacant till 1601, for, though the friar García de Santa María y Mendoza, of the order of St Jerome, was chosen to the office in 1600 and accepted it, he did not take possession till the following year.[3] By this time the
- ↑ For additional information on Moya y Contreras, see Peralta, Not. Hist., 281-2; Rivera, Gob. Mex., i. 48-9; Leyes, Varias Anot., 7; Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 23; Diar. Mex., vii. 6; Zamacois, Hist. Méj., v. 173, 175.
- ↑ Bonilla had been dean of the cathedral, fiscal of the inquisition, and on April 8, 1583, became chief inquisitor. Panes, Virreys, in Monum. Dom. Esp., M.S., 91; Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 40-1; Sosa, Episcop., 41-2; Dicc. Univ., iii. 396.
- ↑ Sosa, Episcop., 41-3, with his portrait; Panes, Virreys, in Monum. Dom. Esp., MS., 91; Mex. Hieroglyph. Hist., 157, and many others. See also Concilios Prov., 1555-65, 215-16, 340; and Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 40-1.
and sorrow at his departure, carrying gifts and mementos. The Indians hastened to kiss his hands, and the negroes placed at his feet a plate into which they threw money as a fund for his comfort on the journey. This was kept up night and day, and there was no end to the contributions. The concourse became so large at the last moment that the authorities had finally to place guards near the prelate's person from fear that he might be crushed. He had a large popular escort as far as the villa of Guadalupe. Gutierrez de Luna, Biog., in Sosa, Episcop., 37-8.
