that which disgraced secular rule. Berlanga arrived in New Spain with ten friars at the beginning of 1532, but when he entered the monastery and presented his appointment as provincial, the prior caused him and his companions to be put in irons.[1] The proceeding reached the ears of the audiencia, and President Fuenleal ordered the immediate release of the friars, who thereupon assumed control of the convent.
In July 1534, copies of the official documents relative to the creation of the provincia were received, and in 1535 Betanzos returned from Spain, invested with the authority of vicar-general. On the 24th of August of the same year he convoked a provincial chapter, by which he was himself elected provincial and Fray Pedro Delgado prior, who succeeded him as provincial in 1538. The organization of the provincia was thus at last effected; but though its creation had given rise to temporary dissension in the ranks of the order, it did not retard their advance or interrupt their labors.
About this time the fierce and man-eating Chontales,[2] who had hitherto scorned to accept civilization at the point of the sword, yielded to the preaching of the devoted Diego Carranza and other Dominican friars. Under the spiritual guidance of these missionaries they cast aside their baser habits, clothed themselves, and changed their contumacious hate to active obedience alike to spiritual and civil superiors.[3] The labors of the friars in Tehuantepec were of a different kind. Aided by King Cociyopa, they erected a magnificent monastery and church, besides making other material progress. In puebla, also,
- ↑ President Fuenleal in letter of April 30, 1532, to the king, speaking of this arrest says: 'Un fray Vicente que se decia prior, le prendió . . . y le hechó unos grillos, y le quito los poderes que traia.' Carta, in Pacheco and Cardenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 210-11.
- ↑ They occupied a considerable portion of the wilder districts of Tabasco. Native Races, i. 645, this series.
- ↑ Búrgoa, Geog. Descrip. Oajaca, ii. 335-6, in which is a description of the condition and mode of life of these people.
