Note XXV‑12 — Chapter XXV · NICARAGUA AND COSTA RICA. 1601-1700.

On the death of Bishop Valtonado the hospital was abandoned until 1650, when a company of priests came from Mexico and took charge of it. Santos, Chron., 481-82. Valtonado's successor was Hernando Nuñez Sagredo, who, says Gonzalez Dávila, 'Fve Calificador de la Inquisicion de Cuenca, y del Consejo Supremo.' He fulfilled the duties of his office 'como buen pastor' and died in 1639. Previously to Sagredo Agustin de Hinojosa and Fray Juan Baraona Zapata were appointed; but both died before reaching their diocese. Next appears the name of Alfonso Briceño, a zealous and learned man, who wrote 'dos Tomos de Teologia Escolastica.' He took charge of the bishopric in 1646, and died in 1649. Hist. Ecles., i. 240-244. In 1651 Alonso de Cuevas Dávalos, dean of the cathedral of Mexico, refused the prelacy of Nicaragua, and according to Figueroa, Vindicias, MS., 75, Alonso Bravo de Laguna received the mitre, though his name is not mentioned by Alcedo or Gonzalez Dávila. In 1655 Fray Tomás Mansa was appointed bishop. Vetancvrt, Menolog., 135 (Mexico, 1697), confirmed in Guijo, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., série i. tom. i. 323, but finding that Dávalos was still in office declined to take charge of the diocese. Id., 387. Soon after his arrival he died from eating too much fish. Id. The decease of Dávalos occurred in 1659. Medina, Chron. San Diego Mex., 240. Juan de la Torre y Castro was appointed bishop in 1562, and died suddenly within seven leagues of Granada on the 27th of June, 1663. Fray Alonso Bravo, an eloquent preacher and an accomplished scholar, was elected prelate in 1665. Vetancvrt, Menolog., 136; and Robles, Diario, in Doc. Hist. Mex., série i. tom. ii. 3.