Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/553

Rh beneficial. It was a comfort to his master Charles to know that his interests in that quarter were watched, and that the official cruelties and robberies were not greater than usual. Nevertheless, he had not accomplished much, and yet it was time for him to return to Spain. One more duty devolved upon him, however, before his departure from the country.

In 1546 he convened all the bishops of New Spain at Mexico for the purpose of deciding what was best for the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants. Even here arose complications. All the bishops were assembled except Las Casas, now bishop of Chiapas, who was known to be on his way to the capital. A nervous excitement prevailed upon the approach of the champion of Indian rights and liberty. Mendoza, fearing disturbances on the part of the encomenderos should Las Casas enter Mexico at that time, ordered him to be detained at a certain distance from the city. Of course it was universally known that he had been the main-spring in the efforts to deprive the colonists of their repartimientos. After some time the prohibition to continue his journey was removed, and entering Mexico Las Casas took up his abode in the Dominican convent. Mendoza and the oidores, not to appear lacking in the respect due a prelate, sent him a greeting of welcome. Imagine their surprise when they received word in return, "Do not find it strange," said Las Casas, "that I come not to you in person, to thank you for the favor extended to me; I have excommunicated the viceroy and members of the audiencia for having given sentence to cut off the hands of a clergyman in Oajaca!

After the discussion of general ecclesiastical matters, the assembled prelates attempted to enter upon the important topic of Indians and encomenderos, by the