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Our Catl,olic Heritage in Texas
are assigned and allow them to keep the soldiers they have always had for the protection of their persons, missions, and churches, not taking their letters and opening them, or hindering them from sending out their mail." He then recommended that the governor be warned in the strictest terms that a continuance of these practices would result in his suspension from office and his replacement by a person capable of governing with greater kindness and gentleness. 51 The recommendations of the A11ditor and Fiscal were approved by the viceroy, who, on May 6, incorporated them in a decree, authorizing Captain Juan Brizeno to warn Governor Franquis that a continuance of his excesses would result in his suspension and to order him to restore the mission guards as advised before, making no pernicious innovations. 52 But Franquis appears to have been in Los Adaes at the time the new orders of the viceroy arrived in San Antonio. Although these were for- warded to him, he again ignored the request that he restore the mission guards and, disregarding the reprimand and ominous warning, he per- sisted in his high-handed policy in regard to the missionaries, the former governor, and all his friends, until he was removed from office in September, when Joseph Fernandez de Jauregui Urrutia, Governor of Nuevo Leon, came to take his Residencia. 53 Parting shots of Governor Franquis. The formal threat and reprimand did not restrain Franquis in his growing animosity against the religious. Just as soon as he returned from Los Adaes, where he had received the royal decree condemning his actions and again ordering him to restore the mission guards, he set about getting new evidence, according to him, of abuses committed by the missionaries. It seems that a group of Indians from Missions Concepcion and San Juan Capistrano, dissatisfied with conditions, came to complain to the governor of the bad treatment they received. The joy with which the governor welcomed this delegation-if he did not actually invite their complaint-may well be imagined. He immediately ordered a public investigation and called fifteen witnesses: 51 Fray Pedro Munoz to the Viceroy, undated; Opinion of the Fiscal, April J 6, 1737; Opinion of the Auditor, April 17, 1737. A.G. M., Misiones, vol. 21, pt. J, pp. 205-210. "Viceregal decree, May 6, 1737, in Testimo de las diligencias ••. A. G. /., Audiencia de Guadalajara, 67-2-27, pp. 1-5. S3The decree for the remova,l of Franquis and the appointment of Fernandez de Jauregui as Juer de Residencia was issued on July 11, but the Governor of Nuevo Leon was unable to arrive in San Antonio until September. A. G. M., Misiones, vol. 21, pt. 2, pp. 4u-412.
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