Notes for FRANCISCA NUNEZ-DE-CARVAJAL-Y-DE-LA-CUEVA:__MEXICO CITY - SUNDAY DECEMBER 8, 1596__By Richard G. Santos__A carnival air has overtaken Mexico's Tenochtitlan, (Mexico City) capital of the Vice Regency of New Spain. It started Friday night as some Native Americans of Aztec descent began to set up concession stands. The vendors could be seen throughout the Plaza Mayor known as El Zocalo in front of the National Palace and Cathedral. A private Auto de Fe was held within the Cathedral yesterday during High Mass. It is customary for government officials, wealthy people with political connections and members of the church to be penanced in private away from public view. This usually includes sexually active priests and nuns, pedophiles, secretly married priests and other members of the Church. As a rule, punishment for members of the Church is to be transferred from the churches or convents where they have committed their offenses. They are also sentenced to recite a certain number of prayers and rosaries.__The main event of this Auto de Fe by the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition occurred today, December 8, Second Sunday of Advent. Six men were punished for minor offenses such as being habitual liars and blasphemers. Two of them were punished for having said that sex between consenting adults was not a sin or crime. Their tongues were ripped from their mouths to the cheers of the Native Americans witnessing Europeans being punished. The Aztecs who rightfully have many grudges against the Spaniards, also cheered when some of the men were castrated. The cheers drowned the screams and cries of pain.__Seven women were found guilty of practicing witchcraft. Two men and one woman were found guilty of bigamy. They were stripped to the waist and given 200 lashes each. Jeronimo Rodriguez (age 50) and Francisco Rodriguez (age 21) were found guilty of not reporting their relatives to the Inquisition for being Crypto Jews who practice their religion in secret. Both have been sentenced to serve on the Manila Galleons as unpaid oarsmen. Treated as slaves, poorly fed and constantly whipped, the life expectancy of oarsmen is seven years. Ana Baez, 28 year old wife of Jorge Alvarez was accused of being a Crypto Jewess. She was physically tortured but never admitted or confessed anything against herself or anyone else. Her personal property and that of her family was confiscated by the Inquisition which is not convinced of her innocence.__Twenty-five men and women were accused, tried, tortured and found guilty of being Crypto Jews. They have converted to Catholicism and accepted baptism. Their property, businesses and estates have been confiscated. They have been sentenced to life in prison and must wear a sanbenito which is a sleeveless poncho-like yellow garment with a large red cross on the chest. They will live at the jail of the Inquisition but during the day will join the many beggars wearing sanbentios seen throughout the city. The bones of two Crypto Jews who had passed away were placed in boxes and carried under straw filled effigies to be burned at the end of the day. Eight Crypto Jews managed to escape so they will also be burned in effigy. Among the escapees are Miguel Rodriguez de Matos, also known as Miguel de Carvajal and his brother Baltazar Rodriguez de Matos, aka de Carvajal. They are nephews of conquistador Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva, the founder of the Nuevo Reyno de Leon. It has been reported they are now living in Rome where they are protected by the Vatican and have changed their last name to Lumbroso or Lumbrano in honor of their brother Luis Rodriguez de Matos, aka Luis de Carvajal, aka Iosef Lumbroso (the enlightened).__Burned at the stake were Crypto Jews Manuel Diaz (36 years of age from Fondon, Portugal), Portuguese born Beatriz Enriquez de la Paiva, said to be "over 50 years of age" and the widow of Simon Rodriguez de Paiva who had died in Nuevo Leon, their son 22 year old son Diego Enriquez de Paiva and 35 year old Manuel de Lucena born in Guarda, Portugal. These men and women were given the option of a last minute conversion to Catholicism. Those who chose to become Catholic were strangled with a wire before being set afire. Not all were dead when the flames were ignited.____Last to be burned at the stake, and the main attraction at this Auto de Fe, was the Rodriguez de Matos - Carvajal y de la Cueva family. The head of the family is Francisca Nunez de Carvajal y de la Cueva, widow of Francisco Rodriguez de Matos. She is the sister of Nuevo Leon founder-conquistador Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva. Her children to be burned are Leonor, wife of fugitive Jorge de Almeida (Nunez-Rodriguez de Rivera-Castellanos-Fonseca-Hernandez), Isabel (widow of Gabriel de Herrera), Catalina (wife of fugitive Antonio Diaz de Casarez) and Luis Rodriguez de Matos, also known as Luis de Carvajal el mozo (the younger). Because he claims to have experienced apparitions by God while in jail, as well as before, during and after torture, Luis has changed his name to Iosef Lumbroso (the enlightened). One of the Inquisitors stated he had never met such a learned religious person and that if Luis had lived in the days of the Old Testament he would have surely been one of the Prophets in the Bible. As reported above, sons Miguel and Baltazar managed to escape arrest and are appearing in effigy. Meanwhile, 16 year old Anica and 22 year old Mariana, who suffered a nervous breakdown and has been declared mentally unstable, will be present to witness the burning of their mother, brother and sisters. Mariana keeps repeating an interesting question. That is, "Which is better? To believe and say you do not believe, or not to believe and say you believe?"__The Native Americans and some mestizos started lining the parade route overnight. The desfile de la verguenza (parade of shame) started at the Palace of the Inquisition some four blocks from El Zocalo. All prisoners had their hands tied in front of them. Tied securely to their hands were a large green candle, a rosary and a prayer book. All prisoners, men and women alike, were stripped to the waist and lashed as they marched toward El Zocalo. Those prisoners whose legs had been broken or dislocated under torture and could not walk, rode burros. They were also topless and being lashed. The women tried their best to cover their nudity but to no avail.__Two large stages were constructed at the main square where the Aztec Templo Mayor used to stand and now features the Cathedral and National Palace. The largest and most decorative stage was for the Inquisitors and dignitaries. Among the latter was the Bishop of Manila who read the sermon. The personal representatives of the Viceroy and Audiencia de Mexico (the Mexico City based Supreme Court) also attended. The Inquisitors have complained to the King that the highest ranking government officials have been boycotting the Autos de Fe and have not fully cooperated with the Inquisition.__The second stage was in the shape of a half circular pyramid. The people to be punished for lesser sins and crimes occupied the base. Those to be burned alive were at the top of the half moon pyramid. Minor stages serving as punishing areas were placed throughout El Zocalo as prisoners were lashed, tongues ripped, eyes gouged, hands severed and men castrated depending on their crime and punishment. There was also a section for family members not being punished but forced to observe the punishment of their relatives. They were brought to witness the event and learn what can happen to sinners, criminals, non-Catholic Christians and Jews.__The nine Crypto Jews, all members of the Rodriguez de Matos - Carvajal y de la Cueva family, were taken to the Plaza de San Hipolito towards late afternoon. As one final insult, or perhaps to encourage a last minute conversion, all men and women about to be burned were stripped to a loin cloth as they were tied to the post, surrounded with lumber and covered with oil. They were given one last chance to accept baptism and die as "good Catholics". That meant being strangled with a wire instead of being burned alive. It did not matter what they chose because Grand Inquisitor Alonso de Peralta had already ordered the soldiers and priests to make sure they were all strangled. He did not want any Jew, and especially this family, to die as martyrs to their Faith. He also did not want the Native Americans or any other person to admire their devotion and commitment to the Law of Moses. Therefore, the women were strangled then set on fire. Luis the younger, or Iosef the Enlightened as he chose to call himself, refused all pretenses and was burned alive. Peralta issued a statement saying he had converted but those present know better. Their ashes were collected and scattered in the wilderness surrounding Mexico City "so that no trace or memory would remain of the family and their Faith". Only time will tell how history will deal with Don Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva, founder of Nuevo Leon, his sister Francisca, her children and especially Luis de Carvajal el mozo (he younger), aka Iosef "The Enlightened". There has been talk of dispersing the colonists brought from Spain and Portugal in 1580 for the founding of the Nuevo Reyno de Leon. Time will tell.__AUTHOR'S POSTCRIPT:__Mariana Rodriguez de Matos, aka Mariana Nunez de Carvajal y de la Cueva, was burned at the stake on March 25, 1601. She had become a sincere and devout Catholic so it was recorded "she died well". Anica Rodriguez de Matos, aka Anica de Leon Carvajal y de la Cueva, was burned at the stake at 69 years of age on April 25, 1649. She was considered a "Jewish sainte" by those who knew her. One of Anica's great grandsons was denied permission to enter a seminary to become a priest due to his Jewish ancestors and especially Anica. Dominican Fray Gaspar Rodriguez de Matos, aka de Carvajal brother of Anica had been penanced in 1590 and lived the rest of his life as a cloistered low ranking Dominican Friar. The in-laws of the Rodriguez de Matos - Carvajal y de la Cueva family survived. None of the descendants thereafter and today carry Carvajal or Carvajal y de la Cueva as their last name. The flames of ignorance and intolerance killed the name at the stake. The 1580 Nuevo Reyno de Leon in time gave birth to Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas and colonial Texas.__(Ramo de la Inquisicion, Archivo General de la Nacion de Mexico; Mexico City)__This (or a slightly abridged version) will be my December 8, 2004 column in the Zavala County Sentinel____Children of FRANCISCA NUNEZ-DE-CARVAJAL-Y-DE-LA-CUEVA and FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ-DE-MATOS are:__i. DOMINICAN FRAY GASPAR4 DE CARVAJAL, b. 1556, Benavente, Spain; d. Abt. 1600, Oaxaca, New Spain (Mexico).__Notes for DOMINICAN FRAY GASPAR DE CARVAJAL:__A Dominican priest, serving in Mexico City. Source: The Martyr by Martin A. Cohen.__ii. ISABEL RODRIGUEZ-DE-ANDRADA, b. 1560, Benavente, Spain; d. 08 Dec 1596, Mexico City, D. F., New Spain (Mexico); m. GABRIEL DE HERRERA1, 1578, Astorga, Spain; d. 1578.__Notes for ISABEL RODRIGUEZ-DE-ANDRADA:__Om March 13th, 1589, in the City of Mexico (Mexico City), she was arrested by the Inquisition.__Source: The Martyr by Martin A. Cohen.__Notes for GABRIEL DE HERRERA:__A merchant, he had studied for the priesthood at the University of Salamanca.__iii. BALTASAR RODRIGUEZ, b. 1563, Benavente, Spain; d. Pisa, Italy; m. ANA.__Notes for BALTASAR RODRIGUEZ:__He used the alias name of Francisco Ramirez.__iv. CAPTAIN LUIS DE CARVAJAL, THE YOUNGER, b. 1566, Benavente, Spain; d. 08 Dec 1596, Mexico City, D. F., New Spain (Mexico); m. JUSTA MENDEZ-ENRIQUEZ; b. Abt. 1572, Seville, Spain.__Notes for CAPTAIN LUIS DE CARVAJAL, THE YOUNGER:__A.K.A. Luis Rodriguez de Matos, Luis Rodriguez Cavajal, and Josef Lumbroso.__He meet Justa Mendez, but never married her.__v. CATALINA DE LEON-Y-LA-CUEVA, b. Abt. 1567, Benavente, Spain; d. Aft. 1594, New Spain (Mexico); m. ANTONIO DIAZ-DE-CACERES1, Mar 1585/86, Panuco, Vera Cruz, New Spain (Mexico)1; b. Abt. 1541, Santa Comba Dao, Portugal; d. Aft. 1593, New Spain (Mexico).__Notes for ANTONIO DIAZ-DE-CACERES:__In Lisbon, he served as a page for the Count of Vimioso.__Source: The Martyr by Martin A. Cohen.__vi. LEONOR DE CARVAJAL-Y-ANDRADA, b. 1568, Benavente, Spain; d. 08 Dec 1596, Mexico City, D. F., New Spain (Mexico); m. JORGE DE ALMEIDA, Mar 1585/86, Panuco, Vera Cruz, New Spain (Mexico)1; b. 1555, Bisseo, Portugal; d. Aft. 1595.__vii. MARIANA NUNEZ-DE-CARVAJAL, b. 1572, Benavente, Spain; d. 25 Mar 1601, Mexico City, D. F., New Spain (Mexico); m. (1) JORGE DE LEON; m. (2) HECTOR DE FONSECA; d. New Spain (Mexico).__Notes for MARIANA NUNEZ-DE-CARVAJAL:__At 14 years of age, she was engaged to her mother's cousin, Jorge de Leon.__The marriage was destine not to take place.__Her 2nd engagemet was to Hector de Fonseca.__Source: The Martyr by Martin A. Cohen.__viii. MIGUEL DE CARVAJAL, b. 1577, Medina del Campo, Spain; d. Pisa, Italy.__Notes for MIGUEL DE CARVAJAL:__He used the alias name of Diego Jimenez.__ __ix. ANICA DE CARVAJAL, b. 1579, Medina del Campo, Spain; d. 25 Apr 1649, Mexico City, D.F., New Spain (Mexico); m. CRISTOBAL MIGUEL, Abt. 16011.__Notes for ANICA DE CARVAJAL:__She is known as Dona Ana de Leon. She died of breast cancer.__ ____