LatAm Digital Edition and Gazetteer

298

CARACAS.

3. George of Spira, a German knight, nominated by the Weltzers in 1533 : he died in 1540, leaving the title of provisional governor to,

4. Captain Juan de Villegas, a title which was enjoyed but a few days, inasmuch as the audience of St. Domingo, immediately upon their hearing of tlie death of Spira, appointed,

5. Don Rodrigo do Bastidas, bishop of that holy church ; he governed till the year 1541, and being promoted to the bishopric of Puertorico, the government in the mean time devolved upon,

6. Diego Boica, a Portuguese gentleman, a knight of the order of Christ ; he was confirmed in the government by the audience of St. Domingo ; but in a very few days after he was superseded by,

7. Enrique Rembolt, a German ; who also governed a very short time, inasmuch as the excesses that he committed, and the clamours of the inhabitants of Toro, obliged the above tribunal to send out,

8. The Licentiate Frias, fiscal of that royal audience ; he entered upon his functions in 1642, until the royal nomination of,

9. The Licentiate Juan Perez de Tolosa, native of Segovia ; a very learned and prudent man : he was chosen by the Emperor to settle the disturbances which had arisen from the administration of the Weltzers; for which reason he deprived them of it ; he entered Coro in 1546 ; and although he had not fulfilled the three years of his appointment, he was, on account of his tried abilities, confirmed in his office for another three years, and died in 1548.

10. Juan de Villegas, nominated as intermediate governor by his antecedent, until the arrival of the proprietor,

11. The Licentiate Villacinda, nominated by the Princess Doña Juana, who, in the absence of her father, the Emperor, held the reins of government in Castilla ; this governor took the reins in 1554, and died in 1557, leaving the government in charge of the alcaldes.

12. Gutierrez de la Peña, nominated provisionally bythe audience of St. Domingo ; he entered upon his functions in 1557, until the year 1559, when arrived,

13. The Licentiate Pablo Collado, who governed until the year 1562, when, on account of the appeals made against him to the audience of St. Domingo, this court sent out an inquisitorial judge, who might call him to account, and order him back to Spain : this was the Licentiate Bernaldes, whom they called “ Ojo de Plata,” (Eye of Silver), he having the defect of one of his eyes supplied by

this artificial means. He having, therefore, displaced the former governor, took the management of affairs upon himself, until the arrival of the proper person, who was nominated by the king in 1563.

14. Don Alonzo de Manzanedo, who governed a very short time since ; being of a very advanced age, he soon fell sick, and died in 1564.

15. The Licentiate Bernaldes; who having gained a certain reputation for the strictness, affability, and justice, with which he conducted himself in his provisional government, was nominaled a second time by the audience of St. Domingo, with the general acclamation of the province ; he governed until the year following, 1565, when arrived,

16. Don Pedro Ponce de Leon, a branch of the illustrious house of the Dukes of Arcos ; he had been alcalde of Conil, came to the government in the aforesaid year, and died in 1569.

17. Don Juan de Chaves, a native of Truxillo in Estremadura ; who was living as a citizen at St. Domingo at tiie time that he was appointed as provisional governor by the audience, as soon as the death of the former was known to them : he entered upon the government the same year, and held it until the year 1572.

18. Diego Mazariego ; who entered Coro in the above year, and governed until 1576, when his successor arrived, who was,

19. Don Juan Pimentel, a branch of the house of the Counts of Benavente, knight of the order of Santiago ; also the first governor who established his residence in the city of Santiago. He was called from thence to take the charge of the government, which he exercised until the year 1582, when his successor arrived.

20. Don Luis de Roxas, native of Madrid ; he entered Caracas in 1583, reigned until 1587, when he was succeeded by,

21. Don Domingo de Osorio, commander of the galleys, and chief officer of the customs of the island of St. Domingo ; at which place he was residing when he received advices relative to his succeeding the former governor : he filled his office with much diligence, and obtained considerable renown, and in the year 1597 was promoted to the presidency of St. Domingo.

22. Gonzalo de Piña Lidueña, who governed until 1600, when he died of an apoplectic fit ; and in the interval the audience of St. Domingo appointed,

23. Alonzo Arias Baca, citizen of Coro, and son of the renowned Dr. Bernaldes, who liad governed