soners, and they were sent to Mexico, where some of them, says Cogolludo, "were burnt for Lutherans."

Another calamity also befell Yucatan during the time of Diego de Santillan, in a great famine which happened in 1571, in consequence of the failure of the crops of maize; and, tired of the unproductiveness of his appointment, Santillan petitioned the King to allow him to resign the government of Yucatan, and grant him another more lucrative. His request was acceded to, and he was sent to Tucuman, being succeeded in the peninsula by Francisco Velasquez Guijon, who arrived in Merida in 1573, and remained till 1577.

The period of office appears to have been fixed henceforward at about four years, as the following governors appear in regular succession :-Guillen de Las Casas, from 1577 to 1582; Francisco de Solis, from 1582 to 1586; Antonio de Voz-Mediano (an exception to the rule), from 1586 to 1593; and Alonso Ordoñez de Navarez, till 1596. In the last-named year-whether from death or displacement, has not been ascertained-the government of Yucatan was temporarily vested in the person of Don Carlos de Samana y Quiñones by the viceroy of New Spain. Don Diego Fernandez succeeded to the permanent administration, and during the period of his government occurred the death of Philip the Second of Spain. The form in which his son and successor was proclaimed in this remote region may be worthy of a passing illustration.

The Royal Cedula, announcing the death of Philip the Second and the succession of Philip the Third, having been duly received, the proclamation was made with the same ceremonies that were observed in Old Spain. the 18th of April, 1599, the inhabitants of Merida and

On

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APPEARANCE OF AN ENGLISH CORSAIR.

CHAP. XI.

all the surrounding districts being assembled in the Plaza Mayor of that city, the King's letter, acknowledging the oaths and obligations under which he assumed the crown, was read in the presence of the Governor and all the authorities, and Francisco Martin Redondo, the Alferez Mayor, advancing to the point of the platform, raised the royal standard, and, in a clear voice, uttered these words three times :-" Yucatan, Yucatan, Yucatan, Cozumel and Tabasco, for the King, Don Philip, our lord, the third of that name, whom God preserve for many years!" and every one, uncovering, replied in a loud voice, "Amen, Amen, Amen !1"

The successor to Don Carlos de Samano y Quiñones was Don Diego de Velasco, the son of the Conde de Niebla, who was sent out by the King in the year 1597. A memorable event is recorded of that year in the appearance, off the port of Campeachy, of a squadron of English pirates commanded by Captain William Park2. He remained to windward of the harbour with a large ship, a tender and a launch, until he found means to communicate on shore with a certain Juan Venturate, who agreed to facilitate his entrance into the town. Park disembarked his men, and surprised the place in the middle of night, killing and plundering the inhabitants in true piratical fashion. The confusion caused by this sudden attack was heightened by the absence of the

Alcaldes, one of whom resided at a country-house at some distance, and the other at a convent outside Campeachy. Messengers were however despatched to them immediately, and a force was collected; but the Alcalde did not venture to march till daylight, when they found the town still given up to sack and pillage. They posted their men at the ends of the streets to cut off the retreat of the pirates, and a sanguinary fight took place, which lasted for two hours, at the end of which Captain Park fell mortally wounded, and his party succeeded by a desperate effort in carrying him off with them to the shore, where some of their number had been left to secure their embarkation. They were harassed by the Spaniards to the water's edge, and lost several men, besides leaving a great part of their booty behind them. The pirates took revenge for their discomfiture by informing the inhabitants of the treachery of their fellow-townsman Venturate, and he was put to death on the spot. As soon as the English had returned to their vessels, a ship was manned with troops which were sent from Merida, and put out to sea under the command of Alonso de Vargas Machuca. A sharp skirmish took place, and the English tender was captured, when the pirates, finding the resistance they met with so great, after hovering about for seventeen days, finally took their departure, and Don Alonso, carrying his prize to Campeachy, landed there, and returned to Merida, where he was received in triumph.

In the following year however another squadron of English pirates reappeared in still greater force, and made a descent upon the island of Cozumel, where, for a time, they established themselves, after detaching one of their vessels to the Rio de Lagartos, called by the

177

CHAPTER XII.

THE VARIOUS TRIBES OF INDIANS IN THE PENINSULA OF YUCATAN.VILLAQUIRAN'S REPORT.-CLIMATE AND GENERAL ASPECT OF YUCATAN. -GEOGRAPHY OF THE PENINSULA.-ATTEMPTED PACIFICATION OF THE LACAN DONES.-UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT OF FATHER CASILLA.-APOSTASY OF THE INDIANS.-FATE OF FATHER DOMINGO DE VICO.-WARLIKE MEASURES RESOLVED ON.-EXPEDITION OF QUIÑONES.-HIS INDIAN AUXILIARIES.-RENDEZVOUS AT COMITLAN.-MARCH TO THE LAKE OF LACANDON.-SIEGE OF THE CITY. THE FAVOURABLE OMEN. -NEGOTIATIONS.-VESSELS LAUNCHED ON THE LAKE.-CAPTURE AND BURNING OF THE CITY.-TOTILTEPEQUE TAKEN.—PUCHUTLA CAPTURED. RETURN OF QUIÑONES.- -RESULTS OF THE EXPEDITION.

Ar the period of the conquests of Guatemala and Yucatan, there remained between those provinces a considerable tract of country peopled by savage Indians, known by the appellation of Itzaex, Petenes, Lacandones, Acalans, Manches, Choles, Quiches, Puchutlas, Tirumpics, and others. The details which we have already given of the march of Cortes, and the religious missions of Las Casas into the Tierra de Guerra, will have afforded some indications of the condition and character of these barbarous tribes; but it is to the ample accounts which have been given by the Spanish historian Villagutierre1,

Here is the title of Villagutierre's work in all its lawyer-like and Castilian prolixity: "Historia

de la Conquista de la Provincia de el Itza, reduccion, y progressos de la de él de Lacandon, y otras Na