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…
annual produce. Besides this, he appointed his own brother Berrio alcalde-mayor of the
town of Guaxaca, where he oppressed and ill-usedthe inhabitants in every possible manner
to obtain gold. This auditorlikewise despatched a person of his own name as commandant
to thetownship of the Zapotecs, whose conduct was equally infamous thereas that of Berrio
in Guaxaca. The other auditor, Matienzo, was aman far advanced in years, and the only one
who had not abused hispower; but against the others so many bitter complaints were made,
and these so well confirmed by letters from the monks and prelates, that the emperor
ordered the council of the Indies immediately to recall all the members of the royal
audience, to severely punish them,and to appoint other men of integrity and intelligence.
His majestyalso desired that an inquiry should be made as to the number of slaveswhich
had been marked in the province of Panuco. Matienzo was commissioned to make the
inquiry, as this aged auditor had showngreater love of justice than his colleagues.
From this moment all the permits which had been given to markslaves were considered as
invalid, and the marking-irons were destroyedwherever they were found, and henceforth it
was forbidden ever againto mark slaves. It was even ordered that a census should be taken
ofall the slaves in New Spain, in order to prevent their being sold out ofthe country, or
even from being sent from one province into another.In the same way it was declared that
every distribution of commendaries made by Guzman and his colleagues to their friends,
relations, andother persons of no worth, should be considered as invalid, and theproperty
these persons had obtained in this manner was immediatelyto be delivered up again.
[Pg 341]
These commands produced endless lawsuits, for those in possessionemployed every artifice
to retain what they had once got. Some maintained they belonged to the body of the
Conquistadores, though there was not a word of truth in it; others asserted that they had
been settledin the country for many years. Some, who could offer no good excuse,asserted,
at least, that they never belonged to the household, or to the table companions of the
auditors; declaring that they had only calledupon these gentlemen from time to time, and
appeared in their suite,to pay them the respect which was due to them in their capacity of
royal auditors. In short, each person defended his property as well ashe could, and, upon
the whole, so successfully, that there were only a few persons who were obliged to
relinquish their possessions. Theaccountant Albornoz was of this number, and he was again
deprived ofthe township of Guazpaltepec, which Guzman had given him as a new-year's
gift. In the same way a certain Villa Roël was obliged to deliver up possession of the
township of Quauhnahuac. Villegas, Guzman's mayor-domo, and other officials and
relatives of the auditors, had toquit their commendaries.
[Pg 342]
As soon as the news arrived in Mexico that the auditors were to becashiered, Guzman and
his colleagues determined to despatch a procurador to Spain, to testify that they had
faithfully fulfilled theduties of their office, and acted up to his majesty's commands. For
this purpose, all the procuradores of the different towns of New Spain then staying at
Mexico, and the most distinguished of the Conquistadores,were desired to assemble in the
principal church, to elect thefactor Salazar, when it would be made to appear as if this man
waschosen by our unanimous consent to repair to Spain, and there to white-washGuzman
and his colleagues. The auditors had fully expected we should have elected Salazar,
particularly as they had been so liberal in their grants of commendaries to the
Conquistadores.
This meeting actually took place, but so many persons forced theirway into the church who
had no voice at all, creating so much disturbanceand noise, that it was impossible to restore
order. We therefore declared to the auditors that it was impossible to proceed with the
businessof the day, and that we would assemble in their private dwellingon the following
morning. But as we plainly saw that their main objectwas that we should select some one
entirely devoted to their interests, wedetermined also that a second agent should be chosen
in Cortes' interest.We then proceeded to the election, and our choice fell upon Bernardino
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