who later declined the bishopric of Guatemala. A prior's term never exceeded two years.
In 1550 an order had been issued to segregate from the province of Santiago in Mexico all convents and houses existing in Chiapas and Guatemala, and they went to form a part of the newly created province of San Vicente de Chiapas y Guatemala. This took effect from August 15, 1551.[1] As the chief convent belonging to the order was in a state of rapid decay, notwithstanding heavy expenditure by the friars, in 1552 the king ordered that it should be rebuilt at the expense of the crown.[2]
Among the Dominicans who distinguished themselves in Mexico, aside from provincials, are Juan Lopez Castellanos, Hernando de la Paz, Juan de Alcázar, noted for his great eloquence in the Spanish, Mexican, and Zapotec languages; Diego Osorio, afterward visitador to Peru, who declined the bishopric of Carthagena, and to whom the university of Mexico paid doctor's honors at his funeral. Pedro de Pravia was a learned man who held the office of definidor in the order, as well as other positions of honor and trust. He declined the mitre of Panamá, and on the departure of Archbishop Moya for Spain was left as governor of the archdiocese, which office he filled till
- ↑ The request came from the province in Mexico, whose rulers did not approve of a very extended area, preferring to provide a requisite number of ministers so that every place within its territory could be properly attended to. Dávila Padilla, Hist. Fvnd., 110-11. August 8, 1551, the king ordered that each Dominican friar should be allowed yearly one and one half arrobas of wine for sacramental use. Puga, Cedulario, 182; Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, 532-5.
- ↑ Real Cédula, in Col. Doc. Inéd., xxvi. 205; Puga, Cedulario, 185; Mex. Col. Leyes (1861), i., Introd. xlvii.
de la Cruz, 1541, who declined the see of New Galicia; Pedro Delgado, 1544; he refused the see of Las Charcas; Domingo de Santa María, 1547; Andres de Moguer, 1550; Bernardo de Alburquerque, 1553, later bishop of Oajaca; Domingo de Santa María, 1556; Pedro de la Peña, 1559, who became bishop of Quito; Cristóbal de la Cruz, 1562; Pedro de Feria, later bishop of Chiapas; Juan de Córdoba, 1568; Domingo de Agninaga, 1572; Gabriel de San Joseph, 1576; Andres de Ubilla, 1581, became bishop of Chiapas, and later chosen for Michoacan; Domingo de Aguinaga, 1585; Gabriel de San Joseph, 1589; Pedro Guerrero, 1593; Pascual de la Anunciacion, who after one year resigned; the office then went into the hands of the vicario general and visitador; and Juan de Bohorques, 1599, who afterward was bishop of Venezuela, and later of Oajaca. Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 284-5.
