CHAPTER VII.
VICEROYS TORRES, ALVA, AND ALBURQUERQUE.
1648-1660.
Bishop Torres Governor of New Spain — His Brief Rule — Epidemic — Government of the Audiencia — Viceroy Alva Arrives — His Quiet Rule — Alburquerque Appointed Viceroy — He Governs with Prudence — And Checks Abuses — Loss of Jamaica and the Influence thereof on New Spain — Yucatan Infested by Pirates — Attempt to Assassinate Alburquerque — The Swift Punishment that Followed — Public Rejoicings — Viceroy and Archbishop Recalled — Their Departure and Subsequent Career.
It had been the usual policy with the court of Spain, to appoint the archbishop of Mexico as viceroy ad interim, whenever a sudden vacancy occurred in that office, but on the promotion of the conde de Salvatierra an exception was made, and, as we have seen, the chief magistracy with the title of governor was given to Márcos de Torres y Rueda, then bishop of Yucatan.[1]
He arrived in November 1647, and remained in Tacuba till February 1648, when, learning that a vessel sent for Salvatierra from Peru had arrived at Acapulco, he repaired to Mexico to receive the gov-
- ↑ I have before me a copy of the cédula, appointing him as governor, and dated July 8, 1647. Ordenes de la Corona, MS., ii. 198-9. He was born in Almazan in Spain, and, when a student at Salamanca, won the degree of licenciate in arts among 106 competitors. After holding several important ecclesiastical offices, he was presented to the bishopric of Yucatan in 1644. Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 219. In November 1646 he took possession of his see, the greater part of which he visited in person, attempting on that occasion to introduce several innovations, which appear to have been for the purpose of filling his own pockets. Cogolludo mentions his meanness to the captain who brought him the news of his appointment to the viceroyalty 'auduno tan corto con el Capitan, que dió harto que dezir?' Cogollvdo, Hist Yuc., 701.
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