During this same year the viceroy's covetousness was again a cause of offence to Palafox. The late archbishop elect, Feliciano de Vega, had died intestate, soon after his arrival at Acapulco, leaving property valued at eight hundred thousand pesos, and a controversy arose as to whom belonged the administration. The bishop claimed it in virtue of his office as visitador, and commissioned his vicar-general, Bartolomé de Nogales, to make an inventory. But the property, or at least the greater part, had already been seized and placed in safe-keeping by the oidor, Melchor de Torreblanca, by order of the viceroy; and when Nogales proceeded to comply with his instructions, he was strongly rebuked by Escalona, and also by Palafox, who yet strove to remain on good terms with the duke. Nogales returned in disgust to Spain;[1] and the bishop, also annoyed, abandoned his claim and retired to Puebla.[2]
During the first days of April 1641 news reached Mexico that Portugal and Catalonia had risen in revolt, and were at war with Spain in defence of their proclaimed independence. The people of Mexico became alarmed, for the viceroy was a near relative to the chief of the Portuguese insurgents, the duke of Braganza, and there was a large number of that nationality in the country. Many of them were wealthy and influential, and had always been treated by Escalona with marked favor. Fears were entertained that the insurrection might spread to the New World, and the duke's behavior apparently justified this apprehension. Cédulas had been sent to the
- ↑ 'Diciendo no queria estar en tierra donde tanto ataba las manos á la justicia la contemplacion de los señores vireyes.' Palafox, El Ven. Señor, 9.
- ↑ The money disappeared mysteriously; 'murieron (the 800,000 pesos) como su dueño muy apriessa.' Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 65. Torreblanca was later suspended from office and banished to Tacuba, for the term of five years. In 1650 the council of the Indies pronounced a severe sentence against him—perpetual removal from office, exile from the New World, for ten years from the court, and a fine of 15,000 ducats. Guijo, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., 1st ser., i. 107. All this implies that frauds were committed in the administration of the estate.
