_Marcos de Aguilar dies, and in his will appoints the treasurer
Alonso de Estrada governor; and of other matters._
I have already stated, in the former chapter, that Marcos de Aguilar was
in a miserable state of ill health, yet the physicians contrived to keep
him alive for the space of eight months by means of goats' milk and
other nourishing food; but, in addition to his other diseases, he was at
length attacked by a malignant fever, which soon put an end to all his
miseries. By his will he appointed Alonso de Estrada his sole successor
in the government, with the same restrictions as he himself had received
from Ponce de Leon.
The inhabitants of Mexico, however, and particularly those Spaniards
who had settled in the provinces, placed not the slightest confidence in
Estrada's capability of governing, as he did not evince sufficient
energy to offer any resistance to the tyrannical conduct of Nuno de
Guzman, who, a couple of years previously, had arrived from Spain with
the appointment of governor of Panuco. This man, without any ceremony,
added whole districts from the territory of Mexico to his province; he
paid not the least attention to the instructions he had received from
the emperor, and altogether behaved like a furious madman. Among other
things, he hung a nobleman of distinction named Pedro Gonzales de
Truxillo, who had settled in Mexico, without any form or trial, merely
because he had declared that his commendary was not subject to his
government but to that of Mexico, as his possessions were not
comprehended in the province of Panuco. In like manner he had the
audacity to serve several other Spaniards, and he paid not the slightest
attention to the remonstrances of the governor Estrada.
The chief authorities of Mexico and the rest of the distinguished
cavaliers of the town, seeing how little this tyrannical neighbour cared
for their governor, and what little support they had to expect from the
latter against the oppression and encroachments of the other, they
begged Estrada to give Cortes an equal share in the government with
himself, assuring him that the service of God and the true interests of
his majesty imperatively demanded this. However, Estrada obstinately
refused to listen to their proposal, though others again affirm that
Cortes himself was the person who declined in any way to interfere in
the government, to put it out of the power of his enemies to say that he
was striving by some means or other to raise himself to the head of the
government again, and thereby give them an opportunity of confirming
their suspicions which they had begun to rumour abroad against him,
namely, that Marcos de Aguilar had died by his hand. In short, after
many conferences, it was agreed that Sandoval, who was alguacil-mayor,
and highly respected by every one, should jointly govern with Estrada,
who himself approved of it in every way, though some persons maintained
he had merely conceded in the hopes of marrying his daughter to
Sandoval, and of obtaining for the latter the appointment of governor of
New Spain, which at that time was not considered of so much importance
as at the present day.
After every arrangement respecting the government of the country had
been settled between Sandoval and Estrada, the latter was advised by his
friends to despatch a vessel forthwith to Spain to forward his majesty
an account of everything that had taken place, and to draw up this
account in such a manner as if he had only taken Sandoval as a
colleague in order to avoid giving Cortes a share of the government.
Cortes' enemies also profited by this opportunity to despatch their
letters to Spain, in which they calumniated our general in the foulest
manner; they stated right out that he had poisoned Garay, Leon, and
Aguilar, and that it was his intention to put the veedor and factor to
death; the whole of which, however, were most barefaced and scandalous
lies. To all this was added, that about the same time the accountant
Albornoz, who was never well inclined towards Cortes, went to Spain to
injure him in every possible manner. After his majesty and the council
of the Indies had read all the letters and despatches, which seemed to
vie with each other in their complaints against Cortes, and were
moreover confirmed by Albornoz, all the former accusations respecting
his treatment of Narvaez, Tapia, and his conduct towards his first wife,
Dona Catalina Suarez la Marcaida, were harrowed up again, and actually
gained credit in all their distortion. The emperor, therefore, came to
the determination to appoint Estrada sole governor of New Spain; he
confirmed all his previous acts and deeds, gave him power to distribute
the commendaries according to the best of his judgment, and ordered that
the factor and veedor should again be set at liberty and reinstated in
all their former possessions.
A vessel was immediately despatched from Spain with these his majesty's
commands, which soon arrived in Mexico; but this was not all, for his
majesty also ordered the comendador-mayor of the order of Alcantara, Don
Pedro de la Cueva, to equip three hundred soldiers at Cortes' expense,
to repair with these to New Spain, there to make inquiries into the
complaints which had been made against Cortes, with full power, if he
should find them founded in truth, to cut off his head. In the same way
the comendador was to punish all those who had acted against the real
interests of the crown; he was to take away all the townships in
possession of Cortes, and to distribute them among the veteran
Conquistadores. His majesty likewise ordered that a royal court of
audience should be appointed at Mexico, as a supreme court of justice.
The departure of the comendador-mayor, however, was so long deferred,
that at last it was given up altogether; for it met with great
opposition at court, and the comendador was either not supplied with so
large a sum of money as he had asked for, or perhaps the duke of Bejar
had again espoused Cortes' cause, as on former occasions.
But to return to the treasurer Estrada. He grew excessively vain and
proud when he found himself so highly favoured by his majesty as to be
appointed sole governor of New Spain; and he had been assured that the
emperor knew he was a son of his catholic majesty king Ferdinand. The
first thing he did therefore was to despatch his cousin Diego de
Mazariegos as captain to Chiapa, to institute an inquiry into the
conduct of Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman, to whom Marcos de Aguilar had
intrusted the chief command in that province, but who plundered and
oppressed the inhabitants in the most shameful manner. In the same way
he began to make preparations to subject the townships of the Zapotecs
and of the Minxes, and to make success more sure they were to be
attacked from two different points at the same time. The troops which
were to operate on the north side he gave in command to a certain
Barrios, who had previously been captain in Italy. He was a man of great
courage, had but recently arrived from Spain, and must not be confounded
with Cortes' cousin Barrios, of Seville. The number of his troops, on
this expedition, amounted to above one hundred men, including several
musketeers and crossbow-men. But this expedition terminated very
unfortunately, for scarcely had he arrived in the Tiltepec townships,
when one night he was suddenly attacked by the natives, and Barrios
himself killed, with seven of his men. The greater part of the remaining
troops were wounded, and the whole of them would undoubtedly have been
cut to pieces if they had not made a precipitate retreat to Villa-Diego
and the neighbouring friendly districts.
This, I think, is a sufficient proof of the difference between the
veteran Conquistadores and the troops newly arrived from Spain, who have
not the slightest notion of a war with Indians or of their artifices;
and thus miserably did this expedition terminate.
The second body of troops were to fall into the Zapotec territory from
the side of Guaxaca, and were commanded by an officer named Figuero,
who, it was said, had likewise previously been a captain in Spain; one
thing is certain, he stood on a most confidential footing with the
governor Estrada. He had a like number of troops under his command as
Barrios, but also men recently arrived from Spain. As soon as he reached
the territory of the Zapotecs, he despatched a messenger to a certain
Alonso Herrera to repair to his camp. This Herrera had been sent with a
detachment of thirty men into these provinces, during the administration
of Marcos de Aguilar.
Figuero had, no doubt, been empowered to take the command over Herrera,
for the latter obeyed his orders and arrived in his camp; but they had
not been long there together before a terrible dispute arose between
them, which ended in their drawing swords, and in Herrera severely
wounding Figuero, besides three soldiers who came up to defend him. As
the latter officer, on account of his wounds was unable to use his arm,
he gave up all idea of marching to the mountains of the Minxes, which
were very difficult of access; besides which, his men had no notion of
the warfare of this country; so that in the end he solely turned his
attention towards discovering the burial places of the caziques, to open
their graves for the sake of the gold ornaments which the inhabitants of
olden times were accustomed to bury with their chiefs. This employment
he prosecuted with so much vigour, and his endeavours proved so
successful, that he collected in this manner above 100,000 pesos worth
of gold, and with this treasure, added to some other valuable matters he
had found in two of the townships, he determined to retire, and he
consequently relinquished the expedition against the Zapotecs and Minxes
altogether. He then returned to Mexico with the intention of spending
his money quietly in Spain; for which purpose he shortly after set sail
from Vera Cruz, but had not been long at sea before he was overtaken by
so terrific a storm that the vessel, he himself, with five other
passengers and all his gold went to the bottom.
Thus terminated all the governor Estrada's warlike undertakings against
these provinces, nor was the rebellion put down until we, the
inhabitants of Guacasualco, marched against them and completely subdued
the country; though it was no very easy matter for us either, and as the
cavalry was of no use among the high mountains there: I was obliged
three several times to march out against these tribes; for if we did
subdue them during the spring and summer months, they were sure to
revolt again when the rainy season set in, and they put every Spaniard
they could lay hold of to death. But as we each time vigorously pursued
them to their retreats, they at length sued for peace, and then it was
that the town of San Alfonso was founded in their country.
The governor Estrada, in the meantime, was determined that Herrera
should not go unpunished for wounding his friend Figuero, and issued
orders for his apprehension; but he had escaped to the mountains before
the arrival of the alguacils, who, in order not to return with empty
hands to Mexico, brought back with them in chains a soldier, whom
Herrera had generally about his person. This man's name was Cortejo, and
he was a hidalgo by birth, yet the governor without so much as bringing
him to trial, ordered his right hand to be cut off.
About this time also one of Sandoval's grooms got into high words with
one of the governor's servants, so that at length they drew swords and
wounded each other. Even this paltry affair the governor thought it
worth his while to resent, and he ordered one of the groom's hands to be
cut off. Cortes and Sandoval were not then in Mexico, but had retired to
Quauhnahuac, partly to enjoy more peace and get out of the way of the
constant cabals, and partly to bring about a good understanding between
two caziques of the latter place who had come to blows with each other.
They were, however, immediately informed of what had taken place in
Mexico, and with the severe punishment with which Sandoval's groom was
threatened. They hastened, therefore, to Mexico, but too late to prevent
the sentence being put into execution.
Cortes was so enraged at this insult, that he said the most bitter
things to the governor in Sandoval's presence, which alarmed him to such
a degree that he considered his life in danger from him, and he formed a
body guard for the protection of his person, and only selected for this
purpose men in whose fidelity he could place implicit reliance. In
order, however, still further to strengthen his party against Cortes, he
liberated the veedor and factor, who, in acknowledgment for this, hinted
to him that he ought to banish Cortes from Mexico, for he would never be
able to govern in peace, and the demon of party-spirit would always be
sowing discord as long as this man was allowed to remain in the city.
This counsel was followed by the governor, who signed the banishment of
Cortes, and ordered it to be notified to him. Cortes said he gladly
obeyed these commands, and thanked God from the bottom of his heart that
things had now come to such a pass, that persons of worthless character,
unworthy of the offices they filled, should banish him from a country
and a city, in the conquest of which he and his companions in arms had
endured every species of hardship, fought numerous severe engagements,
and so many brave soldiers had lost their lives. He was now himself
determined to repair to Spain, there to acquaint his majesty with what
was going on in Mexico, and to demand justice against people who repaid
all the past favours he had bestowed upon them with base ingratitude.
Cortes quitted Mexico without delay, and repaired to the township of
Cojohuacan, which was his own property, where, however, he only stayed
for a short time, but travelled from thence to Tezcuco, and a few days
after to Tlascalla. The governor Estrada, in the meantime, began to
repent of what he had done; for when his wife, Dona Marina Gutierrez de
la Caballeria, a most excellent and virtuous woman, learnt that her
husband had liberated the veedor and factor, and had then banished
Cortes from Mexico, she was seized with sudden grief, and said to her
husband, she hoped the Almighty would forgive him his ingratitude
towards a man who had befriended him in every way, and bestowed upon him
so many lucrative commendaries. She advised him to do all in his power
to regain his friendship, and to persuade him to return to Mexico; for
otherwise his own life would be in constant danger. These circumstances
are said to have made a deep impression on the governor, and he
regretted exceedingly that he had banished Cortes, and liberated the
factor and veedor; though they, as sworn enemies of the former, were
ready to serve him in every possible manner.
About this time, also, father Don Julian Garces arrived from Spain, in
order to enter upon the new bishopric of Tlascalla, of which he was
appointed bishop. He was a native of Arragon, and a very eloquent
preacher, and, in honour of the emperor, he took the name of Carolense.
This prelate highly disapproved of Cortes' banishment, and as soon as he
heard of it he determined to bring about peace and friendship between
the former and the governor. With this good object in view, he repaired
to Tezcuco, where he embarked in a couple of canoes, with two priests
and a monk, who had accompanied him, for Mexico. As intelligence of his
approach had reached this town, the whole of the clergy in grand pomp,
the chief authorities, the Conquistadores, and all the officers and
soldiers then in Mexico went out to meet him. Nor had he scarcely been a
couple of days here before the governor begged of him to become mediator
between himself and Cortes, and to persuade the latter to return to
Mexico; for which purpose he then withdrew the order of banishment. The
bishop, indeed, tried his utmost in this matter; but Cortes would listen
to no adjustment of differences, and continually moved about from place
to place, always accompanied by a considerable number of cavaliers and
other persons. Cortes' principal object at the present moment was to
collect as much gold as possible for his journey to Spain; for which
purpose he not only mortgaged his own property, but even that of his
friends who were resolved to stand by him. His example was followed by
Sandoval and Tapia, who were determined to accompany him on his journey.
Cortes, during his stay in Tlascalla, was likewise visited by several of
the inhabitants of Mexico and of other towns, as also by all those
soldiers who had not received any commendaries; even the caziques of
Mexico waited upon him, and offered him their services: and as at all
times there are persons fond of change and rebellion, who are most
pleased when everything is in uproar and confusion, many likewise
advised him to set himself up for king of New Spain, for which, they
said, he could not choose a more favorable opportunity than the present,
and they would lend him every support. Cortes, however, showed so little
inclination to listen to proposals of this nature, that he ordered two
persons, who had made similar proposals to him, to be imprisoned, as
guilty of high treason, and for a length of time made every semblance as
if he intended to hang them.
A proposal of the same nature was made to him, in a letter from Mexico,
by some turbulent characters of this town; though many persons were of
opinion that this was merely the vile attempt of a certain party to
catch some expression from Cortes which would lay him open to suspicion.
But as his fidelity to the emperor was not to be shaken, he dismissed
every one with indignation from his presence who durst whisper such
thoughts to him, threatening to have them hung immediately if they ever
again durst mention such things to him.
In the same way these rebellious spirits sought to arouse Cortes by
their vile projects; they did their utmost to alarm the governor and the
factor, assuring them that Cortes had not the remotest idea of leaving
for Spain, but had merely spread this rumour to hide his real
intentions, which were, to assemble as large a body of men as he
possibly could, to fall suddenly upon them; and that the caziques of
Mexico, Tezcuco, Tlascalla, and of all the townships situate on the
lake, were only awaiting the word from him to commence hostilities. The
governor, the factor, and the veedor were so excessively alarmed at
this, that they repeatedly importuned the bishop to inquire what Cortes'
real designs were; they even wrote to the latter himself, begged his
pardon, and made all manner of offers to him.
The bishop, therefore, repaired to Cortes, in order to make another
attempt to bring about a good understanding between all parties; but
when he found how kindly he was received in every part of the province,
when he found the excellent spirit which reigned among the inhabitants
themselves, and was informed how indignantly Cortes had sent away those
evil counsellors from his presence, he wrote word to the governor that
he was the most loyal cavalier and the most faithful servant of his
majesty, and that the present age could not show a second person of his
worth. The governor might rest assured that Cortes positively intended
to repair in person to the imperial court in Spain, and that he had no
other design whatever. For the rest, continued the bishop, he could
assure him that he had drawn universal odium on himself by Cortes'
banishment. This letter the bishop concluded with these words: "O, senor
tesorero Estrada, what a terrible affair is this, which you have so
wantonly caused!"
I forget whether Cortes, before leaving for Spain, again returned to
Mexico, to make the necessary arrangements for the care of his property
during his absence; I only know that he intrusted the licentiate
Altamirano, Diego de Ocampo, Alonso Valiente, and Santacruz Burgales,
but particularly the first mentioned, with the conduct of those matters.
Cortes had, among other things, a curious collection of the various
kinds of birds found in New Spain, besides two tigers, several small
jars of liquid amber, dried and fluid balsam, four expert Indian clowns,
several rope-dancers, and three dwarfs of so monstrous a shape, that one
could scarcely recognize the human form in them; also several Albinos of
both sexes, who could scarcely see out of their eyes: all of which were
objects that could not fail to create universal astonishment in Spain,
and the whole of them he intended as a present to his majesty. The
caziques of Tlascalla likewise begged he would take along with him three
young men of the most distinguished families of their country, one of
whom was the son of the old blind Xicotencatl. Besides these, several of
the Mexican caziques followed in his suite.
Cortes was just about preparing for his departure, when intelligence
arrived that two fast-sailing vessels had put into Vera Cruz, direct
from Spain, with letters, the contents of which will be found in the
following chapter.