ALMANZA DEPARTS XUARES VICEROY. 



163 



the palace to see the viceroy on a matter of business for his con- 

 vent, and had been forced to wait a considerable time without 

 being finally honored with an audience. The petulant friar re- 

 garded this as a slight upon the brotherhood, and, shortly after- 

 wards, whilst preaching in the cathedral, declared, with a sneering 

 and offensive purpose against the viceroy, that " in the palace all 

 became equal, and that no difference was made between ecclesi- 

 astics and secular folks ! " 



The viceroy could not permit so flagrant a breach of decorum 

 and so dangerous a taunt in a popular appeal, to rest unrebuked. 

 He therefore demanded the punishment of the pulpit critic, and 

 the Audiencia ordered Rivera to depart forthwith for Spain. But 

 the haughty monk in order to avoid the disgrace of expulsion, 

 united the whole body of his fraternity in the quarrel, and singing 

 the psalm " In exitu Israel de iEgipto," they departed from the 

 city by the road leading to Vera Cruz. The viceroy seems to have 

 been moved by this act of the brotherhood, and immediately wrote 

 to Rivera in soothing terms requesting him to return to Mexico 

 where justice should be done him. The Franciscan returned, but 

 soon after received a royal order to depart for Spain. 



In 1580, the abundant rain caused again an inundation of the 

 capital, and Don Martin Enriquez was about to engage in the 

 construction of the celebrated canal of Huehuetoca, when he was 

 removed to the viceroyalty of Peru. 



Don Lorenzo Xuares, Conde de la Coruna, 

 V. Viceroy of Mexico. 

 1580 — 1583. 



Don Lorenzo Xuares, Conde de la Coruna, was appointed by 

 the king, successor of Almanza, and made his triumphal entry into 

 the city of Mexico on the evening of the 4th of October, 1580. 

 The gay and affable character of this personage at once attracted 

 the people and the colonial court ; and in consequence of the rapidly 

 increasing population, wealth, and luxury of New Spain, as well 

 as from the unreserved demeanor of the viceroy, it was supposed 

 that a golden age had arrived in the history of Mexico, which 

 would forever signalize the administration of Xuares. 



Perhaps the viceroy was too lenient and amiable for the task 

 that had been imposed on him in America. The epoch of specu- 

 lation and adventure had not yet passed by, and of course, the 

 corruption which ever follows in their train required still to be 



