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244 assistance arriving, the further progress of the fire was checked, although it continued to burn fiercely until the following Tuesday. Meanwhile the viceroy was still at the Franciscan convent. At the first alarm the doors of the building were closed, and nothing could induce the terrified inmates to open them, except for the admission of the countess, whose absence had been an additional cause of anxiety. Early in the day she had set out on a visit to the gardens of San Cosme, and was already returning when the outbreak occurred. Upon nearing the plaza the coachman seeing the disturbance turned back and drove hurriedly to the convent, where the countess arrived without mishap. As the riot progressed several persons knocked at the doors for admission, but the friars fearing for the safety of the viceroy and countess refused all admission. Later in the evening several prominent persons came to offer their services to Galve and were admitted.

Informed of the condition of affairs he immediately issued such orders as seemed necessary under the circumstances. As we have seen, the count of Santiago with another official was ordered to summon the citizens and disperse the rioters; the regidor Juan Aguirre de Espinosa received instructions to proceed without delay to the province of Chalco, seize all the corn he could find, and forward it to the city, so that it should arrive by morning; another commissioner was sent to meet the mule train with corn from Celaya, and bring it with all possible speed into the city; all the bakers were notified to make three times the usual quantity of bread, and the butchers and fruit and vegetable dealers were enjoined to provide full supplies for the following day. Next the viceroy despatched couriers to Puebla and other principal towns to warn the authorities, lest the example of the natives in the capital should be followed elsewhere.

Armed citizens patrolled the streets in the Spanish quarters during the remainder of the night, but no