[83] Martínez de Zúñiga, An historical view, II, 180.
[84] Testimonio del Secretario de Cámara (authorized and sworn to by Anda), 13 de Noviembre, 1762, A. I., 107–3–2.
[85] Testimonio del fiscal, Francisco Leandro de Viana. 8 de Marzo, 1763. A. I., 107–3–2.
[86] Rojo’s Narrative, op. cit., Testimonio de D. Antonio Díaz, (ayudante de Rojo) ... 28 de Noviembre de 1762, A. I., 107–3–4.
[87] Montero y Vidal (Historia general, II, 67; see, also, note 114, Blair and Robertson, XLIX, 176) summarizes the life and character of Archbishop Rojo as follows: “This prelate was more imbecile than traitor.... His obstinacy in submitting the Islands to the dominion of the English; his struggles against Anda ... his absolute ignorance of his powers ... his pardonable ignorance of whatever concerned the military defense of the archipelago, his calm submission to whatever the English advised, even in matters clearly opposed to the integrity and interests of Spain ... give an exact idea of the capacity and character of the unfortunate one who had the misfortune in such an anxious time to exercise a command for which he was lacking in intelligence, valor and in all other attributes necessary to its successful accomplishment.”
Le Gentil (Voyage, II, 252) characterizes him as follows: “Archbishop Rojo was a capable man for the management of finances; he was clever in business and very zealous for the service of the king; but he did not understand anything of military affairs; ... he was between two fires, and being of an irresolute disposition, he did not know which way to turn, ... besieged on one side by oidores, on the other side by monks, he would not (otherwise) have waited till the English were on the assault.”
Charges of indecent living and riotous conduct were made by Anda in his various letters to the Archbishop. While the English were at the gates of the city, the prelate was passing his hours with indecent women. Anda stated that Rojo alternated between the dance-hall and the pulpit, leaving to others the question of defense. Anda stated that Rojo had allowed himself to be influenced by the traitorous Santiago de Orendaín, refusing to listen to the more loyal counsel of the king’s ministers (Blair and Robertson, XLIX, 132–160).
Francisco Leandro de Viana, the fiscal, believed that the archbishop neither wished to be a traitor to the king nor to his country, but he asserted that he (Viana) was the only person in the colony who was so charitable in his opinion. He felt that Rojo’s stand was a result of his incapacity, timorousness, irresolution and ignorance. Viana, like Anda, commented on the archbishop’s lasciviousness and immorality (Viana to Rojo, March 1, 1763, A. I., 107–3–2).
Zúñiga, the ecclesiastical historian, seeing through priestly eyes, affirmed that Rojo was guilty of only one error during his rule. This was his engagement to pay four millions of pesos to the English and to deliver up the Islands to them (Martínez de Zúñiga, An historical view, II, 239).
[88] Anda to Rojo, October 20, 1762, Blair and Robertson, XLIX, 153–154.