Cerrato's administration as president of the audiencia caused grievous offence to the settlers of Guatemala, and in a representation to the king they charge him with being ungenerous, undignified, wanting in zeal for the honor of God, and unconscientious.[XVIII‑52] The grounds of their objection to him naturally originated in his action regarding the protection of Indians, and they bitterly complain of his nepotism in assigning encomiendas to relatives of various degrees. Justice at his hands they could not obtain; consequently many of the best colonists had left the province and others were preparing to do so. Bishop Marroquin's remonstrances with Cerrato only developed hostile feelings in the latter, which were publicly evinced by his absenting himself for a long time from the services of the church,[XVIII‑53] conducted by the prelate. But the settlers in Guatemala were obstinately opposed to any measures which clashed with their own views, and consequently represented matters from their own point of view. Under the first audiencia of the Confines, divided as it was against itself, they had to a great extent maintained their previous position relative to the natives;[XVIII‑54] but in Cerrato they perceived one who recognized them as merciless taskmasters,[XVIII‑55] and possessed both the determination to arrest the existing destructive system, and the courage to inflict punishment upon them for any gross infringement of the law.[XVIII‑56] CHAPTER XIX. THE ECCLESIASTICS IN CHIAPAS. 1550. A CONVENT FOUNDED BY THE MERCED ORDER—CIUDAD REAL APPOINTED A CATHEDRAL CITY—LAS CASAS A BISHOP—HE ATTEMPTS TO ENFORCE THE NEW LAWS—HE REFUSES ABSOLUTION DURING HOLY WEEK—HIS CONTROVERSY WITH THE AUDIENCIA OF THE CONFINES—HE DEPARTS FOR SPAIN—HIS DISPUTE WITH SEPÚLVEDA—HIS APPEAL TO THE CONSCIENCE OF PHILIP—THE AUDIENCIA TRANSFERRED FROM PANAMÁ TO GUATEMALA—DEATH OF THE APOSTLE OF THE INDIES—HIS CHARACTER—THE DOMINICANS IN CHIAPAS. [Sidenote: CIUDAD REAL.]