Note 70 — Chapter VI · ERCILLA’S IMITATORS

The university of San Marcos was founded in 1553, and was at first carried on in the Dominican monastery. Its creation was confirmed by Pius V, July 25, 1571. It received students from without the order, and the presence of these students in the monastery became, in the course of time, a source of serious disturbance, and the university found temporary quarters elsewhere. In 1574 it received the name of San Marcos, and three years later, in 1577, it was established at its present site. In 1580 the rector acquired jurisdiction over the members of the institution, whether students or officers, in all causes, offences, and crimes relating to the University, and thus became competent to bring the academic community under discipline. But before the university had attained its full development, the colonial mind became paralysed by the terrorizing activity of the Inquisition, which had been established in Peru by the decree of January 25, 1569.