ence, and the oidor Salmeron had already counselled the king to centralize the authority of the marquis by confining his possessions to one portion of the country.[1] The fact is his power over the natives was such as to cause the oidores heartily to wish him back in Spain.[2]
Nor was the assignment of these grants the only cause of dispute. The erection of his palace, the sale of his houses in the city of Mexico to the audiencia, and his claims to lands within the limits of the city were alike productive of grievances and annoyance.[3]
But the treatment of Cortés by the audiencia in his public capacity as captain-general engendered yet stronger feelings of indignation and wounded pride. He could not shut his eyes to the fact that his high office was one more in name than in reality, and his quick perception soon revealed to him that although the crown had recognized his services it did not intend to allow him much control in the guidance of affairs.
- ↑ In March 1531. Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 203-4.
- ↑ In August of the same year Salmeron remarks, 'il a un tel pouvoir sur les indigènes, que d'un seul mot il pourrait tons les faire révolter,' and later adds: 'Il dit. . . qu'il retournera en Espagne. Plût au ciel qu'il le fit; cela serait heureux pour la Nouvelle-Espagne.' Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série ii. tom. v. 196. In the same letter he expresses the conviction that it would be well not to include the township of Antequera Oajaca in the grant, while Oidor Quiroga apprises the king that the assignment to Cortés of the town of Tacubaya, so near the capital, would be greatly prejudicial to the city. Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 427-8.
- ↑ By a letter of the oidores, dated 14th of August 1531, already frequently quoted, the king was informed that Cortés was building in the city a palace more pretentious than any to be seen in Spain, and that the work had been interrupted by the audiencia placing the towns from which the marquis drew his laborers under the corregimiento system. He had, however, been allowed to employ the Indians of Chales, on the condition that he paid them wages. This he had failed to do, and the oidores had stopped the work. With regard to his houses in the city Cortés complains, in 1533, that the audiencia had neither paid him for them, nor were willing to give up the property, not even the traders' buildings which, according to agreement, he was to retain; and he requests the council to interfere in his behalf. Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 550-1. Certain lands lying within the city commons, were granted to Cortés by royal order of July 27, 1524, but he was dispossessed of them by the oidores of the first audiencia. In 1531 he claimed restitution, which was resisted, and the audiencia decided to submit the matter to the India Council. Id., xxix., passim. The queen, in April 1533, empowers the audiencia to investigate the matter and decide according to justice. Puga, Cedulario, 86.
