Cortés now made a formal demand upon him to continue the residencia, but received answer that he possessed merely the power of a ruler.[1]
Cortés still retained the office of captain-general, with the administration of Indians, as the most experienced and needful person for the position, and in this capacity he issued a decree promoting the good treatment of his charge. Certain clauses were deemed objectionable by his opponents,[2] and quite an outcry was raised. Galled by the recent opposition to his appointment, and encouraged by success, Aguilar readily listened to the proposal to curtail the power of his rival. As a preliminary step he conveyed the imprisoned Salazar from the house of Cortés to the regular prison. This created a certain commotion, and a number of armed adherents presented themselves to support the remonstances of their chief. The governor now issued an order forbidding armed assemblies, and then called on Cortés to show cause for retaining the office of captain-general, or to resign. Finding his opponents intent on creating trouble, which under the circumstances might affect his interests at court, Cortés surrendered the office, under protest.[3] One reason for this arbitrary action of
- ↑ Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xxvi. 235-7. Bernal Diaz assumes that Cortés was driven to make the demand by the clamor of his enemies. Hist. Verdad., 219; but he is probably wrong.
- ↑ Spaniards were ordered not to leave the towns wherein they were settled without his permission, nor to sell their grain — lest their dependents suffer want, it would appear. Testimony in Cortés, Residencia, i. 294. It was said that he wished to sell his own stock of grain, and make the people dependent on him.
- ↑ Which is recorded in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xxvi. 241-6. In case of Indian troubles he was to resume the office, says Estrada, Carta, in dd., xiii. 85, who appears to have used his persuasion in favor of Aguilar. Ocaña, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., i. 533-4, does not fail to cast imputations on Cortés. Blank orders should be sent to arrest him and his adherents so that witnesses may freely testify against them. Cortés pours his complaints over these outrages committed by an incompetent judge. He demands that the residencia be taken so that his loyalty may be manifested. Carta, in Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 118-22. One reason for the outcry against the decree had been the use of the title governor, which Cortés claimed that he could use in virtue of recent royal letters being so addressed to him.
for Cortés' reassumption of office are given in Pacheco and Cardenas, Col. Doc., xxvi. 256-80. Ocaña seeks to show that the recognition of Aguilar was due to the persuasion of Estrada and Albornoz. Carta, in Icazbalceta, i. 530.
