A more conspicuous role was filled by Father Olmedo, universally respected for his prudent zeal and humility, his devotion to Cortés and the soldiers, and his kind interest in the natives. Not only this: he was in a remarkable degree for the age free from that excessive zeal which controlled the conquerors, and stained so many of their acts; and he possessed an admirable clearness of mind and knowledge of the world, which made him the trusted adviser and agent of his leader, and saved the army on more than one occasion from dangerous imprudence. When Cortés left for Honduras in 1524 he placed him in charge of the religious interests with which he was concerned; but the good friar died shortly after, deeply regretted by his countrymen and the natives.[1] His departure did not affect the financial interests of the church, for the tithes were duly collected, amounting in 1523-4 to five thousand five hundred and fifty pesos de oro for Mexico city alone.[2]
- ↑ He was buried at Tlatelulco, in Santiago sanctuary. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 211. It is said that he had baptized 2,500 persons. Granados, Tardes, 296, sends him off to Spain, and Zamacois, as usual, hazards several doubtful assertions.Some time before this friar Melgarejo came from Spain, to grant indulgences for blasphemies, outrages, on defenceless natives, and similar sins and crimes, and set out on his return in 1522 with a considerable sum, which was captured by French corsairs.
- ↑ They were farmed out, and the money used by the royal treasurer for building churches, buying ornaments, and paying priests. Medellin and Vera Cruz tithes were worth at least 1,000 pesos; those of other settlements are not given. Córtes, Cartas, 321.
1525, before the municipality of Mexico to obtain the confirmation of a land ant. Libro de Cabildo, MS. In June 1529 he testified at the residencia of Alvarado. Ramirez, Proceso, 124. Soon after he was killed during a tumult between the Popolucas at Quecholac, together with three or four soldiers, and was partly eaten by the natives, of whom the ringleaders were burned for their crime. Testimony of Indians, in Concilios Prov, 1595-65, 11-15. The body is said to have been deposited at Tlascala. Torquemada, iii. 71-2; Cabrera, Escudo de Armas, 215. In the hermitage of S. Estévan, adds Vetancurt, who doubts the statement of Gonzalez Dávila that he was buried at Puebla. Teatro, ii. 146. Puebla was not founded till 1531-2. Brasseur de Bourbourg treats of his career with some pains, but makes several radical blunders.
