A trifling amount was thus obtained, which was gradually increased by presents and tributes from neighboring provinces; but this proved little among so many, reduced as it was by the royal fifth and the assignment secured by the opportune manœuvre on Cortés' part of offering the choicest pieces of jewelry as a present to the emperor.[1] The share of the horsemen was about one hundred pesos de oro,[2] and that of others proportionately less. Indignation now burst forth anew, and many scorned to accept their share. The treasurer Alderete was included among those suspected of fraud, and to exonerate himself, cast the blame on Cortés. [3]
- ↑ 'Que valia dos vezes mas que la que auia sacado para repartir el Real quinto.' Bernal Diaz, loc. cit. Oviedo, iii. 424, estimates the total royal fifth at over 50,000 pesos de oro, others at less; while a witness in Cortés, Residencia, i. 124, 206, states that Cortés defrauded the crown of the fifth due on some 200,000 castellanos of valuables which came in from the provinces. In the account of the royal officials of June, 1522, the total gold melted between September 1521 and May 16, 1522, is given at 164,404 pesos (evidently de oro) including all obtained since the flight from Mexico. e royal fifth on this, on slaves, etc., but not on unbroken jewels, amounted to 48,000 and odd. Pacheco" and "Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 260-8.
- ↑ 'Cabian los de a cauallo a cien pesos.' Bernal Diaz, ubi sup. Judging from former statements this should read pesos de oro. A horse at this time cost from 450 to 500 pesos, a firelock 100 pesos, etc. Probanza de Lejalde, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., i. 417; Gomara, Hist. Mex., 243.
- ↑ Among the secret charges brought out at the later residencia was that Cortés had the custody of the official dies for marking gold, and by this means defrauded the crown of some 70,000 castellanos. Cortés, Residencia, i. 165, 267. See also note 9. A little consideration would have shown the credulous soldiers that their estimate of treasures was inordinate. During Montezuma's time, when the treasury was fullest, the surrender of its entire contents, together with contributions from provincial towns and rulers, brought about 600,000 pesos de oro to the expedition coffers. A considerable part of this was carried away by the fleeing army, and a larger portion of it lost in the lake. The present spoil must be assumed to have come from what the Aztecs recovered of the lost portion, and from the contributions since received from the provinces. These must have been meagre, since the towns and rulers had been plundered of most valuables, and since but few would contribute to the now humbled and isolated capital city. From these existing treasures the maraud-
ance. Ixtlilxochitl claims to have secured the release of a tortured courtier by expostulating with Cortés, and representing that the Mexicans might revolt if such measures continued. He also sought to procure the release of his brother Cohuanacoch from prison. To this end he ransacked all Tezcuco for treasures, and borrowed from his relatives, and then alone did he succeed. Shackles and confinement had reduced the prince to a pitiable condition. Hor. Crueldades, 54-5. He was afterward baptized as Pedro Alvarado. Cédula, 1551; Dicc. Univ., iv. 165. The desecration of graves by treasure-hunters had been practised before the fall, and when the central temple was captured a discovery of a grave therein with 1,500 castellanos served to direct cupidity in this direction. Cortés, Cartas, 243.
