Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/320

300 ascending to heaven, shall this act of the first bishop of Mexico forever rise before our minds as dark and unwise. And those fires smouldered, now and then lighted afresh — ay, for centuries before church and laity began to realize what they were doing. How fared the results of Boturini's researches? how fared later the archives of Mexico and of the states to the south?

Notwithstanding the grievous mistake he had committed, Zumárraga's fiery zeal could not fail to achieve also much real good. Quick to observe and of fluent speech, he succeeded in teaching, during the first years at least, a wholesome lesson to the mercenary and indolent of the clergy who formed his staff. Among the settlers this address proved less effective, owing to the shock given to his influence by the audiencias. For the natives he ever appeared a champion, as must be expected from his position as missionary, bishop, and protector. His jurisdiction was rapidly extending with the formation of settlements in different. quarters, and the spread of conversion under the daily increasing band of friars, who were penetrating southward into Oajaca and Guatemala, and north-westward into Michoacan and New Galicia.