The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
to take the government of New Spain into their own hands if they observed that the
treasurer Alonso de Estrada and the accountant Albornoz beganto govern badly, they allied
themselves with the licentiate Zuazo, alcalde-mayorof Mexico, Rodrigo de Paz, alguacilmayor,
Andreas de Tapia,Jorge de Alvarado, and the whole of the veteran Conquistadores
then staying in that city. When they thought their party was sufficiently numerous, they
came forth with their commissions, and maintainedthat they alone were the real governors,
and that neither the treasurernor accountant ought to have any share in it whatever. This
createdterrible factions in the city, which ended in a regular battle, and manywere killed on
both sides.
The factor and the veedor, in the end, gained the upper hand, andcast their two opponents,
with several of their adherents, into prison.But the opposite party was not put down by this,
and not a day passed without a conflict between the two, while the inhabitants became
continuallymore embittered against the new governors, who distributedthe Indians among
their creatures and other worthless fellows. Norwas it long before the triumphant party fell
out among themselves.The licentiate Zuazo was obstructed, in every way, in the exercise of
hisoffice, and Rodrigo de Paz was even thrown into prison for siding withhim. The latter
had done all in his power to bring about a reconciliationbetween the four claimants to the
governorship, in which he hadfortunately succeeded; but this harmony was of no longer
durationthan eight days, when hostilities again burst out between them.
About this time, also, the provinces of the Zapotecs and Minxes,besides the extensive and
well-fortified township of Coatlan, again revolted,and the veedor Chirinos marched against
them in person, atthe head of some Spanish soldiers, all of whom had but recently arrived
from Spain, and were, consequently, little accustomed to Indian warfare.This campaign put
the royal treasury to vast expense, althoughnothing but debauchery and gambling went on
in the camp; while theveedor put the money into his own pocket which he ought to have
given the Indians, in exchange for their provisions. The inhabitantsof Coatlan, finding the
Spaniards little upon their guard, fell suddenlyupon their encampment one night, killed a
number of the men, andwounded a great many more. The factor, upon this, despatched one
of Cortes' officers, Andreas de Monjaraz, who was a close adherent ofhis, to the assistance
of his associate in office; but Monjaraz's aid was of very little use, as he was suffering
severely from virulent swellingsin his groins, so that he was scarcely able to move about.
The Indianswere each time victorious, and it was greatly feared the Mexicans themselves
would rise up in arms. Notwithstanding all these unfavorablecircumstances, the factor was
very diligent in accomplishing his mainobject, which was, to forward his majesty, and the
comendador-mayor of Leon, Don Francisco de las Cobas, as much gold as he could
possibly scrape together, to gain their good wishes, particularly as about that time the
rumour was fast spreading that Cortes and the whole of us hadbeen cut off by the Indians in
a township called Xicalango.
[Pg 283]
During these troubles, Diego de Ordas, whom Cortes had despatchedto Spain, returned to
Mexico, and had been, as I have above related,highly honoured by his majesty. When he
saw the party-spirit whichwas raging, and that a total anarchy must soon follow, he united
himself closely to the factor, and declared that he would repair in person to the coast of
Honduras, to gain some certain information with regard to thefate of Cortes. He actually
fitted out a large vessel and a brigantine, and sailed along the coast until he arrived at
Xicalango, where, as I have mentionedin a former chapter, Simon de Cuenca and Francisco
de Medinaperished, with all their men. The accounts which Ordas could gatherhere went
to confirm all that had been rumoured respecting our totaldestruction. He therefore returned
to New Spain, and wrote word tothe factor, without going on shore, that there was now no
doubt ofCortes having perished, with all who accompanied him on the expedition.After
despatching this letter to Mexico, he immediately set sail for Cuba, in order to purchase
cows and horses there.
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