Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/711

Rh Nueva Galicia was on July 31, 1548, segregated from Michoacan and made a distinct bishopric, possessing at the time nearly fifty benefices. Compostela was designated as the seat, and Antonio de Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the twelve Franciscan apostles, received the appointment, which he humbly declined, whereupon it was conferred upon Juan Barrios, a knight of Santiago, but he died before consecration and was buried at Mexico.

The position was next tendered to Pedro Gomez Maraver, late dean of Oajaca and counsellor to Viceroy Mendoza, who entered with great zeal upon his duties, but lived only till 1552. The Franciscan Pedro de Ayala assumed the office in July 1555, and assisted at the removal of the seat to Guadalajara, where he laid the foundation of a cathedral. He died in 1569, and was succeeded by the Franciscan Gomez de Mendiola, who ruled from 1571 to 1579, and left so high a reputation for benevolence and sanctity that efforts were made to obtain his beatification. The Jeronimite Juan de Trujillo was appointed successor, but failed to take possession, and the see passed to Domingo de Arzola, a Dominican, lately.