Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/756

736 in New Spain, which early in the next century was divided into two provinces.

The Mercenarios, or religiosos of the order of our Lady of Mercy, were originally brought to Mexico by Hernan Cortés, but finding that field already occupied they proceeded to Guatemala, where they established a province. Some of their members went to Mexico in 1582 to attend the university. In 1589 a convent was founded in a house bought by the order in the San Lázaro district of the Mexican capital. This convent was erected into a college in 1593, pursuant to a decree of Viceroy Velasco, which was subsequently confirmed by Philip II. The fathers also obtained permission from the king to found other convents in America, and toward the end of the century one was established in Oajaca. At one time they endeavored to obtain a footing in Yucatan, but the Franciscans prevented them.

In 1580 was brought from Catalonia in Spain by two rich Spaniards, Diego Jimenez and Fernando Moreno, an image of the virgin of Montserrat, a copy