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…
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
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