Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/725

Rh decided in their favor in 1595. To show his high appreciation of the society and its labors the pope donated for the Colegio Maximo of San Pedro y San Pablo a large number of sacred relics of saints, taken out of the closed graves, and which arrived in Mexico, a portion in 1576 and the rest in 1578. All were placed in the church in their college with unequalled pomp and religious ceremony.

In 1576 there arrived an accession of priests and brothers of the society; and the ranks were further recruited both from colonists and natives. Among those admitted were several churchmen, all persons of high position and recognized talents, one of whom was a descendant of the kings of Tezcuco.

A further increase of Jesuits came in 1579, several of whom played distinguished parts in the country. Father Pedro Diaz, who had charge of this last company, also brought out the commission as visitador to Doctor Juan de la Plaza, who was instructed to relieve Doctor Pedro Sanchez, as he had petitioned for a life