him in the government,[1] and then turned his attention to his duties as bishop and visitador.[2] The cathedral of Puebla, which had been commenced in the middle of the preceding century, was completed,[3] the viceroy making a donation of 15,000 pesos, and obtaining within four years subscriptions amounting to 150,000 pesos.[4]
The building-was consecrated on the 18th of April 1649, and until the completion of the cathedral in Mexico was the finest church edifice in New Spain.[5] More than a hundred thousand persons were confirmed;[6] the college of San Pedro y San Pablo was founded, with a library of some six thousand volumes; the hospital de la Concepcion for orphans was established; and many other charitable acts[7] gave testimony to the zeal of this worthy prelate.
In October 1642 the nineteenth viceroy of New
- ↑ These Instrucciones, as they were generally termed, should by order of the crown be given by every vacating viceroy to his successor, and were generally rather a résumé of the condition of the country, with suggestions for the best government, than what the title implied. Those of Palafox to Salvatierra, contained in Morfi, Col. Doc., MS., 7-46, reveal a very thorough understanding of the social and political state of affairs in New Spain at that time, and embrace nearly all the important points which then might come under consideration. The character of their author readily accounts for certain stress laid on ecclesiastical coöperation.
- ↑ His residencia was not taken until 1652, and though he had created many enemies no charges were made. 'No resultó. . . cargo, ni culpa alguna . . .ni huuo Demanda, Querella, ni Capitulo.' The council of the Indies published the sentence on August 8, 1652. Satisfacion al Memorial, 31-2; Palafox, Obras, xii. 465-7; xiii. 106-14; Guijo, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., 1st ser., i. 215-16.
- ↑ A royal cedula of January 19, 1640, had directed him to hasten the completion of the building.
- ↑ Rosende, in Palafox, Obras, xiii, 57-60, followed by Touron, Hist. Gen. Amérique, vii. 326-7, places the amount at 400,000 pesos; but the former's statement probably originated in the desire of extolling the glory of his patron. Gonzalez Dávila, Vetancurt, and Calle give the statements adopted in the text. Teatro Ecles., i. 99; Trat. Mex., 62; Mem. y Not., 66. Garcia says that altogether 333,133 pesos 1 real 11 granos were spent. Soc. Mex. Geog., Bol., viii. 175.
- ↑ A description of the cathedral, which contained many costly paintings and sculptures, and is said then to have been equal, if not superior, to the finest in Spain, is given by Rosende in Palafox, Obras, xiii. 55-61; also in Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 48-9.
- ↑ Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 52. Gonzalez Dávila says 60,000 from 1640 to 1645. Teatro Ecles., i. 99.
- ↑ The bishop also established a nunnery, aided in the repairing of more than 50 churches and hospitals, and in the construction of convents.
