Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/91

Rh The archbishop showed himself no less energetic in collecting and wording his evidence, in which he figured as a martyr to religion. The viceroy had interfered also in his jurisdiction, and had persecuted clergymen and oidores for daring to expostulate. In support of his representation he did not hesitate to include the declarations of aged nuns, who professed to have beheld the viceroy's adherents in the form of demons, and to have heard a supernatural voice denounce the marquis for his disobedience to the prelate. To another had been reveled that those who attacked the palace were souls from purgatory led by their guardian angel.

As for the viceroy, his documents and letters of defence were, after long delay, given an opportunity for transmission in the treasure fleet; but this was wrecked, with the loss of two millions of precious metals, and Gelves' majordomo, Juan de Baeza, went down with the documents in his-charge. Some earlier reports by him and his adherents appear, however, to have reached Spain.

The court was not a little astonished and perplexed on receiving the news from Mexico. It could not well