His progress, however, was arrested by an event that spread terror throughout the country. Two young officers, named Contreras, had revolted because a royal decree had forbidden them to hold Indian "encomiendas," and in a short time made themselves masters of the colony.

They regarded the Indians as slaves, and treated them with frightful cruelty. Valdivieso, after remonstrating with them in vain, went to Spain to lay the matter before Charles V, who promised to put a stop to the outrage, and selected him for the bishopric of Nicaragua.

He was consecrated in 1532, and sailed some days afterward. The Contreras received him with honor, and conducted him with pomp to the cathedral. For some time he lived in peace, but Charles V was too busy with his wars in Europe to remember his promises to the bishop, who found himself alone in the struggle with the two tyrants. At first he employed all the means suggested by prudence, humble prayers, pathetic exhortations, and public and private remonstrance, and at last he threatened excommunication, and then the Contreras determined to get rid of him.

He knew they intended to murder him but, seeing that reproofs and entreaties were useless, he went to the cathedral on Sunday, fulminated a bull of excommunication against the tyrants and their adherents, and declared them separated from the assembly of the faithful.

This energetic measure did not produce the expected effect. The Contreras, accompanied by some soldiers, went to the bishop's house, He was conversing quietly with a few monks of his order, when one of the brothers rushed on him and plunged his sword twice into his breast up to the hilt. His last few moments were passed in praying for his murderers.

VALDIVIES0, Antonio de (val-de-ve-ay'-so), Central American R. C. bishop, born in Spain; died in Nicaragua about 1535. He was a Dominican, passed some years as a missionary in Santo Domingo, and was then sent to Mexico, being assigned the province of Nicaragua as the scene of his missionary labors. The natives of this country were much less savage than those in other parts of America, and after he became acquainted with their language he was wonderfully successful. His progress, however, was arrested by an event that spread terror throughout the country. Two young officers, named Contreras, had revolted because a royal decree had forbidden them to hold Indian "encomiendas," and in a short time made themselves masters of the colony. They regarded the Indians as slaves, and treated them with frightful cruelty. Valdivieso, after remonstrating with them in vain, went to Spain to lay the matter before Charles V., who promised to put a stop to the outrage, and selected him for the bishopric of Nicaragua. He was consecrated in 1532, and sailed some days afterward. The Contreras received him with honor, and conducted him with pomp to the cathedral. For some time he lived in peace" but Charles V. was too busy with his wars in Europe to remember his promises to the bishop, who found himself alone in the struggle with the two tyrants. At first he employed all the means suggested by prudence, humble prayers, pathetic exhortations, and public and private remonstrances, and at last he threatened excommunication, and then the Contreras determined to get rid of him. He knew they intended to murder him but, seeing that reproofs and entreaties were useless, he went to the cathedral on Sunday, fulminated a bull of excommunication against the tyrants and their adherents, and declared them separated from the assembly of the faithful. This energetic measure did not produce the expected effect. The Contreras, accompanied by some soldiers, went to the bishop's house, He was conversing quietly with a few monks of his order, when one of the brothers rushed on him and plunged his sword twice into his breast up to the hilt. His last few moments were passed in praying for his murderers.