One of their first acts was a renewal of the oath of allegiance to the king, the queen-mother, and the young prince Felipe, in accordance with special instructions. This was administered after solemn mass by the bishop, on a raised and decorated platform, first to the audiencia, then to the officers of the municipality and leading citizens, in the presence of the assembled subjects. A similar procedure was exacted in all the settlements of the country.[1] After a preliminary investigation the residencia of the late audiencia was proclaimed, and an embargo placed upon their property including Guzman's Pánuco estates.[2] Now for the first time dared the oppressed give vent to the feelings pent up during a long series of indignities and outrages, and haste was made from all parts to testify against the tyrants, and to claim damages. The claims of Cortés' attorneys alone ageregated some two hundred thousand pesos de oro. Matienzo and Delgadillo naturally threw the chief blame on the absent Guzman, but there was enough immediate evidence to cause their arrest, the former, as the least guilty, being confined merely to the city limits, while the insolence of the latter was softened by a term of prison seclusion.[3]The suit against them proved strong, Cortés alone gaining a hundred verdicts,[4] and they
nication with Spain on this point property doubled in value, and Mendoza objected to pay the 50,000 ducats demanded. Cortés' other house was then valued at 60,000 castellanos. Mendoza, Carta, in Id., ii. 200-1. See letter of oidores in Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série ii. tom. v. 161, on payments, and Puga, Cedulario, 37-8, on royal order to buy. The occupation of this house involved the audiencia in certain meddling with municipal affairs, which was resented by the city council. Appeals were addressed to the home government and resulted in a cédula granting one oidor the right to assist in the cabildo sessions. Id., 109-10.
- ↑ Torquemada, i. 605, describes the ceremony, and adds: 'Y esta fue la rimera Jura, que huvo en estas Indias.'
- ↑ Which consisted of slaves and live-stock, the whole insufficient to cover the 'dix mille pesos qu'il a pris dans le trésor royal.' Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série ii. tom. v. 139. Delgadillo had hastened to convert his property into money. Id., 174.
- ↑ Matienzo was even trusted so far as to be sent to Pánuco to report on the slave-trade there. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 228.
- ↑ Yet not all he sought, for his suits against them and Guzman continued until after his death. See Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xxix. 296 et seq., xxiv. 462. They were mulcted 40,000 pesos de oro in 1532, for 25 of those suits. Cartas de Indias, 748.
