CHAPTER XII.
FLOOD. FAMINE, AND ECLIPSE.
1688-1692.
Monclova’s Administration — His Successor, the Conde de Galve — The Pirates Driven from the South Sea — War with France — Pirates in the North Sea — The Armada de Barlovento — Union of Spanish and English against the French — Drought and Flood — Loss of Crops — Excesses of the Soldiery — Death of María Luisa — The Drainage System — Portentous Events — The Bakers Refuse to Bake — Efforts of the Viceroy.
The successor to the marqués de la Laguna was the conde de Monclova,[1] who made his public entry into the capital on the 30th of November 1686, and whose administration lasted for nearly two years, when he was appointed viceroy of Peru.[2] He is represented by the chroniclers of the period as an upright and vigilant ruler, and the charges brought against him at his residencia were even more frivolous than those preferred against his predecessor.[3] Little worthy of
- ↑ Don Melchor Portocarrero, Lasso de la Vega, conde de Monclova, comendador de la Sarza en la orden de Alcántara, of the royal council of war, and of the junta of war of the Indies. Reales Cédulas, ii. 3. He was commonly known as Brazo de la Plata on account of his false arm, his own having been lost in battle. Lorenzana, Hist. Nueva España, 27. His wife was the Doña Antonia de Urréa. Ibid. He had several children, of whom four accompanied him. Vetancvrt,, Trat. Mex., 16.
- ↑ October 15, 1688. Ibid. He embarked at Acapulco, May 11, 1689. Rivera, Gob. Mex., i. 264.
- ↑ There were but six trifling charges. Zamacois, v. 445. Among other measures adopted by the viceroy was one compelling all the religious who were without license to return to Spain. He also enforced a law forbidding creoles to serve among the troops in Vera Cruz. During his administration the condition of the natives did not improve. They suffered most in the missions of Rio Verde and Tampico, and in Nuevo Leon. There the Spaniards robbed them of their wives and daughters, sold their young children as slaves, and deprived them of their best lands. The friars appealed to the king in their behalf, but to little purpose. Id., 263-4.
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