Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/89

Rh which gave rise to the popular commotion that caused him to abandon the palace, such as disobeying royal orders; withdrawing right of appeal; preventing the audiencia from administering justice and fulfilling the duties of their office; suppressing letters and interfering with the free use of mails to the court and elsewhere; proclaiming that no will but his own should prevail, even in spiritual matters, to which end he had exiled the archbishop and imprisoned the oidores. These and other outrages had so irritated the people as to compel the audiencia, by common acclamation, and by cédulas providing for such cases, to assume government and save the country from ruin. Tribunals, secular and ecclesiastic bodies, and citizens generally had further required them to retain this power for the safety of all. The efforts of the marquis to resume his late office were, under the circumstances, dangerous to peace, and he was ordered to desist, under penalty of being held responsible for any trouble and disaster that might arise in consequence. He was, moreover, commanded to obey the audiencia.

Without the power to enforce his demands Gelves could merely continue to issue protests while declaring that he would do nothing that might cause disturbance. Yet he objected to certain measures of the audiencia as tending to irritate the people against him, and sent proclamations to municipalities and citizens commanding them and other similar bodies in New Spain to maintain order and oppose the scandalous and disloyal acts to which the despotic and inimical conduct