Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/557

Rh during certain public celebrations, accepting a higher form of address than señoria—excellency being permitted only in late years—obliging the oidores to escort the viceroy to their hall whenever he chose to preside, and expecting them as well as other dignitaries to make ceremonious calls on his birthday, or during his sickness. In other directions his privileges were extended with a view to preserve the dignity of the royal representative. A guard of honor numbering twenty-five was provided to attend him, and later a special posse for the palace. His pay was gradually increased from the six thousand ducats enjoyed by Mendoza, to twenty thousand, and later to forty and sixty thousand pesos. Certain legal fees were added for superintending the drainage work and other duties, exceptional grants being made to favorites, with permission to introduce a certain amount of jewelry and merchandise free of duty. A goodly portion of the government house or palace, and of the buildings at Chapultepec, were set aside for his use, and the service was covered to a great extent from public funds. Liberality in this direction appeared the more necessary, as only too many viceroys had used their position to enrich themselves, either by direct or indirect sale of places, or