On the death of Montúfar the archbishopric of Mexico was conferred on the inquisitor Moya y Contreras, and if zeal and ability alone be considered he deserved the promotion. There are some interesting features in the biography of this remarkable man. Beginning his career as a page of Juan de Ovando, president of the royal council of the Indies, in time he became his private secretary. Having completed his studies at Salamanca we next find him chancellor of the cathedral of the Canary Islands, which office he held until 1570. In 1571 he was ordained a presbyter in Mexico, having formerly filled high ecclesiastic positions in the Canaries, Murcia, and Mexico before this. He was exceedingly charitable, and it is told of him that he would often take whatever money there might be at his disposal and give it to the poor, regardless of the amount.[1]
On the 20th of October 1573 the ecclesiastical chapter placed in his hands the administration and government which had been in their charge since Montúfar's death. He had been confirmed in the office by Gregory XIII. since June 15th, but the bulls
- ↑ On one occasion when his pages were accused of purloining some articles, he said that they were innocent, for the things had been taken by 'un ladron secreto que Dios tiene en esta casa, que no es bien que sepais quien es; baste deciroslo yo.' Sosa, Episcob., 27-32, with his portrait; Concilios Prov., 1555-65, 214-15; Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 35-6; Datos Biog., in Cartas de Indias, 810; fac-sim. of his writing, P, and of his signature in drawing, viii. A number of his autograph signatures may be seen in Concilios Prov., MS. He was a native of Pedroche in the bishopric of Cordova, Spain, and descended on both
against 'Nicolas de Aquino, notario deste Sᵗᵒ officio en Mérida de Jucatan,' and against Francisco de Velazquez de Xixon, governor of Yucatan, and Gomez del Castillo, alcalde ordinario in 1575, for contempt, resulting from the prosecution and imprisonment of Aquino in Mérida by the alcalde supported by the governor, though he had pleaded his privilege of a servant of the inquisition. The case was not terminated, or it may be that the latter portion of the proceedings is missing or lost. In this case the inquisitors were the licenciados Coniella and Ávalos, and the notary Pedro de los Rios. Aquino et al., Proceso contra, MS., 1-141. Other authorities consulted upon this subject are: Vazquez, Chrón. de Gvat., 227; Alaman, Disert., ii. 194; Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 194-5; Arróniz, Hist, y Crón., 77-9; Rivera, Gob. de Méj., i. 45-7; Gaz. Mex. (1784-5), i. 77; Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, 236-7; Diario Mex., viii. 145; Morelli, Fasti Novi Orbis, 244-5; Salazar, Monarq. de Esp., ii. 85-6; Escosura, Conjuration, i. 33-4; Mora, Mej. Rev., iii. 232-6; Codex. Tell. Rem., Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vi. 153; Cartas de Ind., 755, 774; Sosa, Episcop. Mex., 28; Guerra, Rev. N. Esp., ii. 632; Pensador, Mex., 39-50; Dicc. Univ., iv. 272-84; Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, 2da ép. i. 209.
