hailed with joy by all but Matienzo and Delgadillo, who pretended that the new magistrates were simply to fill the places of the president and the two oidores, made vacant by death and absence. Whether it had been entertained or not, the illusion was rudely dispelled when the four oidores came on immediately from Vera Cruz. Convinced at length, with becoming impudence they covered their criminal hearts with the garb of humility, and when their judges approached the city they were foremost to render homage during the pompous reception. The oidores entered Mexico in accordance with the instructions they had received. Just before they reached the city a box containing the royal seal was placed on a richly caparisoned mule, on each side of which walked two oidores, the seniors in advance, marching under a rich canopy of silk, borne by the noblest in the land, whereon were emblazoned in all the pride of heraldry the arms of Castile and Aragon. They took their seats on the 12th of January, 1531, their instructions and the ordinances for their government being read in full audience, after which each of the four, placing the documents upon his head, promised obedience. The president did not arrive until September from Santo Domingo, where he had been waiting the arrival of his associates.[1] They took possession of the finished palace of Cortés, according to orders, although not readily agreeing with him upon the price.[2]
- ↑ Hearing at last of their arrival in New Spain, he set out and reached Vera Cruz September 23d. There seems to have existed an impression that he would not come. No one desired his presence more than Quiroga, who, on the 14th of August, wrote to the India Council urging that the bishop of Santo Domingo be not allowed to decline the position of president, for the state of affairs in New Spain demanded his presence. He added that no soldier should be placed at the head of affairs but a man of letters, whose conscientiousness, experience, and freedom from avarice fitted him for the position; such a man was Fuenleal, as he, while in Hispaniola, had had ample opportunity of judging.
- ↑ This was the western building, with the shops, and 20,000 pesos de oro was demanded for the whole, but the audiencia paid him barely half that amount for the main building, returning the shops which yielded a rental of 3,000 pesos or more. Cortés demanded more, and was still complaining of delayed payment in 1533. Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 550-1. It was proposed in 1537 to buy also the shops, but during the interval of commu-
