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

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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… As Guzman refused to appear before the auditors, all they could dofor the present was to forward his majesty an account of the state of affairs in New Spain; for they feared, by employing open force, to create insurrection throughout the country. The council of the Indies, onreceiving this information, despatched to Mexico the licentiate de laTorre, with orders to repair in person to the province of Xalisco, there to institute an inquiry against Guzman, and to take him prisoner toMexico. This licentiate was also commissioned to see that Guzmanrepaid us the money he had obliged us to pay to the wife of Narvaez,as an indemnification for the losses the latter sustained in our expeditionagainst him. The auditors in the meantime continued their investigations, and first of all ordered the possessions of Delgadillo and of Matienzo sold, to pay the demands which were made against them; and as themoneys arising from the sale of their property was not sufficient to satisfy these, they were to be imprisoned. In like manner they servedBerrio, the brother of Delgadillo, who, in his capacity of alcalde-mayor of Guaxaca, had thought proper to exercise every species of oppression.The whole of his property was sold, and he himself thrown into prison, where he died some time after. Another of Delgadillo's relatives, alcalde-mayor of the country of the Zatopecs, shared a similar fate. [Pg 346] The new auditors were altogether strictly honest and just in theirproceedings; they were, indeed, men whose only aim was to serve God,and to watch the true interests of the crown. They were unwearied intheir labours to promote the happiness of the Indian population, made the best regulations for their being instructed in the doctrine of our holy faith, and abolished all further marking of slaves. As two of the auditors, Salmeron and Cainos, were far advanced in age, they begged permission of his majesty, after a stay of four yearsin Mexico, to return to Spain, there to spend the large fortunes which they had honestly gained, in peace and retirement. His majesty, beingsatisfactorily convinced of the excellent conduct they had pursued intheir government, readily granted their request. The emperor atthe same time also recalled the president Don Sebastian, to learn fromhim the true state of affairs in New Spain, and soon after appointedhim president of the supreme court of justice at Granada. From thisplace he was some time after removed to Valladolid, made bishop ofTui, soon after bishop of Leon, and then bishop of Cuenca; so thatone episcopal appointment followed the other in quick succession, allof which he obtained by the strict justice he observed in all mattersthat came before him. After this last promotion death called him away,and it appears to me, according to our holy faith, that he is clothedwith the glory of the blessed in heaven. During the stay of this excellentman in Mexico I had often occasion to confer personally with him,and I at all times found him a man of excellent disposition, whoselove of justice knew no bounds. The same kindness of heart he had shown as bishop of St. Domingo, and previously as inquisitor at Seville. The licentiate Alonso Maldonado, whom his majesty appointed presidentand governor of the provinces of Guatimala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, likewise possessed every good quality, and was subsequentlyappointed governor of Yucatan jointly with his father-in-law DonFrancisco de Montejo. The licentiate Quiroga also possessed similar virtues, and was afterwardsmade bishop of Mechoacan. Thus were these excellent menrewarded for their virtues; while Delgadillo and Matienzo returnedpoor and despised to Spain, where they died a couple of years after in obscurity. About this time it pleased his majesty to appoint a viceroy of NewSpain, in the person of the illustrious and excellent cavalier Don Antonio de Mendoza, whose memory will be honoured to eternity. The viceroy brought with him, as the new auditors, the doctor Quesada, of Ledesma, and the licentiate Tejada, of Logroño. As the auditor Maldonado shortly after left for the province of Guatimala, another person wasappointed in his place, [Pg 347] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 228/282
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… named Loaisa, of Ciudad Real. He was a man advanced in age, and, after staying a few years in Mexico, he returned with a handsome fortune to Spain. After him the licentiate Santillana,of Seville, was appointed an auditor, and the whole of these men observedthe strictest justice in their conduct. Their entry into Mexico was uncommonly splendid, and they immediately announced to thepublic that all those persons who had any complaints to make against the late members of the court of audience should forthwith produce them. However, not a single person came forward to offer any, and their government was pronounced irreproachable. The first thing which the viceroy did on his arrival in Mexico was totry if he could not induce Nuño de Guzman to come to terms, withoutusing open force. For this purpose he invited him to Mexico; andwhen he had arrived there, he gave him lodgings in his own palace,treated him with every possible respect, and allowed him to dine everyday at his own table. While Guzman was staying here, the licentiate De la Torre arrived, who was commissioned by his majesty to takeGuzman prisoner, and, after communicating with the viceroy, to bringhim to trial. The licentiate De la Torre finding, however, that theviceroy was very unwilling to assist him in this matter, repaired in personto his palace, seized the person of Guzman, and threw him intoprison, where he remained for several days, until he was set at libertyagain by the viceroy. When the disaffected portion of the inhabitants of Mexico foundthat the licentiate De la Torre was determined to make the minutestinquiry into the late conduct of Guzman, if they could do nothing else, they at least resolved to injure his good name, for which the licentiate's gambling propensity gave them the best opportunity. At that time it was the fashion (particularly for those persons who practised in thelaw courts) to wear a kind of loose coat with very wide sleeves. In one of the sleeves of such a coat belonging to the licentiate, one ofGuzman's partisans ingeniously managed to fasten a small pack ofcards in such a manner that they should not fall out immediately.When the licentiate, accompanied by several distinguished personages, was walking across the large square at Mexico, the person who hadconcealed the cards so contrived it that they dropped one after theother out of his sleeve on the ground, so as to mark his way as he wentalong. At length this was observed by those who accompanied him,and they drew his attention to what was falling from his coat. Thismalicious piece of frolic, as may he imagined, annoyed the licentiate excessively, and he exclaimed, "It appears to me that the people hereare not exactly pleased with the impartial justice I exercise; however,if I live, his majesty shall certainly be made acquainted with the insultwhich has thus been offered to me." [Pg 348] A few days after this trick had been played off upon him, he actuallyfell ill from downright vexation, and died. CHAPTER CXCIX. Cortes returns to New Spain as marquis del Valle Oaxaca, and captaingeneralof New Spain and of the South Sea, accompanied by his wifeDoña Maria de Zuniga, and father Leguizamo and other monks. Cortes having now been so long absent in Spain, and havingmarried a second wife, was very desirous of returning to New Spain,in order to take the management of his property into his own handsagain, and enter into possession of the marquisate which the emperor had bestowed upon him. As he was well aware how matters stood inMexico, he hastened his departure, and embarked with his whole householdand twelve monks of the order of Charity, who were to continuethe good work of conversion commenced by father Olmedo https://www.gutenberg.org/files/32475/32475-h/32475-h.htm 229/282
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The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

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