MOTA, Alonso de la (mo-tah), Mexican R. C. bishop, born in the city of Mexico about 1550; died in Puebla, 15 April, 1625. He was graduated at the University of Mexico and appointed pastor of Chiapa, which parish is still known as Chiapa de Mota. He afterward went to Spain, and was nominated successively by the king for the deaneries of the cathedrals of Michoacan, Puebla, and Nexico. He declined the bishopric of Nicaragua and Panama, but was obliged to accept that of Guadalajara, which he occupied from 1599 till 1607, when he was appointed coadjutor of the bishop of Tlaxeala. In 1601 he pacified the Indian tribes of the Topia mountains, and on his return visited the warlike Tepehuanes, converting many of their caciques by means of their Aztec interpreters, which language he spoke fluently. He also founded in the city of Puebla the College of San Ildefonso for the Jesuits. He wrote " Historia y Descripcion de la Nueva Galicia, sus Ciudades y Puertos, Indios tributarios y de encomienda," the manuscript of which is in the Royal library, and "Relacion del alboroto y pacificacion de la Sierra de Topia," which was published by Father Torquemada.