Bishop Julian Garcés, the first appointed prelate in New Spain, had died in 1542 at the advanced age of ninety,[1] deeply regretted for his unobtrusive earnestness and his unostentatious benevolence. His successor, Pablo Gil de Talavera, appointed in 1543, survived his arrival in 1545 only a few days,[2] and the see was bestowed on Martin Sarmiento of Hojacastro, lately comisario of the Franciscans in New Spain, who emulated Garcés in earnest zeal, and showed himself ever the self-denying friar. He died in 1558,[3] and was succeeded by Fernando de Villagomez,[4] who ruled till 1571, when the vacancy was filled by the promotion from Michoacan of Bishop Morales y Molina. He lived only until 1576, after which Diego Romano, canon of Granada and inquisitor, was appointed, with the additional task of taking the residencia of Viceroy Zúñiga and of the audiencia at Guadalajara.[5] The selection proved admirable, for Romano possessed high administrative ability, combined with energy and zeal, and showed himself a patron of education by founding several colleges.
- ↑ Vetancvrt, Trat. Puebla, 50; Monum. Domin. Esp., MS., v. 50. Calle writes 1543, Mem. y Not., 62, and Alcalá, Descrip. Puebla, MS., 51, has 1541. He was buried in the Dominican convent. Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 80-4.
- ↑ He was a native of Navamorquende and professor of canonic law at Valladolid university. His friend Fuenleal, the former president of the audiencia at Mexico, secured his appointment. Concilios Prov., 1555-65, 244.
- ↑ August 30th. Vetancvrt, Trat. Puebla, 51. 'Duró todo su gobierno hasta 19 de Octubre de 1557,' says Lorenzana, Concilios Prov., 1555-65, 245, but Gonzalez Dávila favors 1558.
- ↑ Lorenzana, ubi sup., points out that Vetancurt errs in calling him Bernardo. He was appointed February 10, 1559, and characterized as 'perspica, instructos, perfulgens.'
- ↑ He was born in 1538, and after studying at his native place of Valladolid, he became a doctor at Salamanca university.
principal, containing the school and novitiate, the college of San Luis, and the Recoleccion de San Pablo. The Austin friars possessed one convent devoted to serious studies; it was the novitiate, with more than 40inmates. The Carmelite convent, founded in 1586, was to contain, as a relic, one half of the cloth with which the virgin Maury wiped off the tears of her son; well authenticated. It owned also a piece of the true cross. The Jesuits had a college, and it is barely possible that the friars of San Juan de Dios had a hospital. Vetancvrt, Trat. Puebla, 54-5; Id., Chron., 132, 148; Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 154. By cédula of February 24, 1561, the city received the title of 'muy noble y muy leal,' and in 1567, the right of electing three alcaldes, one for Atlixco. Among its colleges was San Luis, a Dominican institution founded in 1558.
