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108 from the Spanish sovereign an important province; the critical circumstances of the epoch and the abuses wrought by the viceroy's attendants, magnified as they were by the bishop, effectually undermined the king's confidence. Previous orders to exercise a wholesome surveillance were now amplified, and the visitador was ordered to take possession of the government. Simultaneously his services were recognized by offering him the archbishopric of Mexico, vacant since the death of Feliciano de Vega.

These cédulas arrived toward the end of May 1642, and Palafox was not loath to assume the viceroyalty, which office so well suited his ambition. He declined, however, the archiepiscopal see. The latter was in consequence given to Juan de Mañosca y Zamora, the late president of the chancillería of New Granada. He was consecrated by Palafox on the 24th of February 1645. Keeping secret his appointment, the bishop proceeded on the 6th of June 1642 to Mexico, where his exaltation to the highest ecclesiastical dignity had filled with joy the whole population, save the viceroy, who congratulated him with such scant courtesy as to rouse the ire of the bishop, who occupied himself during the two following days with sending letters to Puebla, Vera Cruz, and other places, making known his appointment almost simultaneously. On the eve of Saturday the 9th of June, the final