200 PALAFOX VICEROY HIS GOOD AND EVIL. 



he unluckily, remarked that he liked best the horse that was offered 

 by Portugal! It is difficult to believe that such trifles would affect 

 the destiny of empires, when they were discussed by grave states- 

 men and monarchs. But such was the miserable reign of Philip 

 IV. ; — the most disastrous indeed, in the annals of Spain, except 

 that of Roderic the Goth. Folly like this may justly be attributed 

 to the imbecile king, who witnessed the Catalan insurection, the 

 loss of Rousillon, Conflans, a part of Cordana, Jamaica, and, above 

 all, of Portugal ; and who, moreover, recognized the independence 

 of the Seven United Provinces. 



Don Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, 

 Bishop of Puebla — Chosen Archbishop of Mexico, 

 Visitador of New Spain, &c. &c, 

 XVIII. Viceroy of New Spain. 



1642. 



The administration of Palafox as viceroy was of but short dura- 

 tion. He occupied the colonial throne but five months, yet, during 

 that brief space, he did something that signalized his name both 

 honorably and disgracefully. He seems to have been ridiculously 

 bent upon the sacrifice of all the interesting monuments which 

 were still preserved from the period of the conquest as memorials 

 of the art and idolatry of the Aztecs. These he collected from all 

 quarters and destroyed. He was evidently no friend of the friars, 

 but sought to build up and strengthen the secular clergy whose 

 free circulation in the world brought them directly under the eyes 

 of society, and whose order made them dependent upon that society, 

 and not upon a corporation, for maintenance. During his short 

 reign he manifested kindness for the Indians ; caused justice to be 

 promptly administered, and even suspended certain worthy oidores 

 who did not work as quickly and decide as promptly as he thought 

 they ought to ; he regulated the ordinances of the Audiencia ; pre- 

 pared the statutes of the university ; raised a large body of militia 

 to be in readiness in case of an attack from the Portuguese ; visited 

 the colleges under his secular jurisdiction ; and, finally, in proof of 

 his disinterestedness, refused the salary of viceroy and visitador. 



