"GUILLÈN LAMPORT (1615-1659)

Known in Mexico as Guillèn or Guillermo Lombardo de Guzmán, born in Wexford, Ireland. He claimed to be of noble descent, and suggested he was an illegitimate son of Phillip III of Spain.

A cultured man, he learned four of five languages, among them Greek and Latin. He studied mathematics, theology, rhetoric and philosophy, amongst other disciplines.

He arrived in Mexico in 1640 with the viceroy Diego López Pachego, Marquès de Villena, as part of a group in his service. Using political and theological arguments, he formulated a plan for the independence of New Spain in which he proposed to be king of the Americas, and emperor of the Mexicans. His plan was denounced before the court of the Inquisition on the 26th of October, 1642, for which he was imprisoned 17 years. It had been intended that he would be burned at the stake, for apostasy and sectarian rebellion, at the execution site that was in the Almeda Centrale, in front of the Convent of San Diego (now the Colonial Art Museum).

During his captivity he wrote his 'Royal Psalter' with ink made by hand, and with bedcloth as paper, where he developed his ideas.

For all this, he is considered the precursor of our independence."