council-chamber in the afternoon of the 16th of July, observing, however, that the oidores had placed guards and artillery at the outlets of the building, under the supervision of Francisco de Velasco, brother of the late viceroy, who was acting as captain-general; and that though he was offered a seat no mark of distinction was extended to him.[1]
All sat down, and one of the oidores addressed the president to learn his orders. Ceinos then said: "Marquis, hold yourself under arrest by the king."[2] Upon his asking the reason, Ceinos answered, "As a traitor to his Majesty." Cortés seized his sword and indignantly gave his accuser the lie.[3] But seeing the uselessness of resistance, he soon surrendered and was conveyed to a room prepared in the royal buildings, where were confined Luis and Martin Cortés, who had been arrested by the high-sheriff, Juan de Sámano.
Alonso and Gil Gonzalez de Ávila were taken to the common jail.[4] Nor did the oidores stop there; many others were arrested and imprisoned. The people were panic-stricken; every man bethought himself of what he had said. Certain friars were seized and confined in their convents, and clergymen in the archi-
- ↑ He wore a summer dress of damask, a black cloak, and a sword. The author quoted saw him enter and heard him exclaim: 'Ea, que buenas nuevas emos de tener.' Peralta, Not. Hist., 208.
- ↑ Marqués, sed preso por el Rey.' Orozco y Berra, Not. Conj., 48; Torquemada, i. 631.
- ↑ 'Mentis, que yo no soi traidor à mi Rei, ni los ha avido en mi linage.' Id. According to Peralta, Not. Hist., 208-9, the marquis was commanded to deliver his sword, and on asking the reason, was answered, 'luego se dirá;' and that Cortés did not then learn the cause of his arrest, but believed the order for it had come in the despatches just received from the king.
- ↑ Dean Chico de Molina and another clergyman named Maldouado, and Friar Luis Cal, guardian of the convent of Santiago Tlatelulco, appear among the number. Those placed under arrest in their own houses, under penalty of death should escape be attempted, were Luis and Pedro Lorenzo de Castilla, Hernan Gutierrez Altamirano, Lope de Sosa, Alonso Estrada and his brothers, Juan de Guzman, Bernardino Pacheco de Bocanegra, Diego Rodriguez Orozco, Juan de Valdivieso, Nuño de Chavez, Luis Ponce de Leon, Antonio de Carbajal, Fernando de Córdoba, Juan Villafaña, Juan de la Torre, and several others. All these were of the nobility and gentry. Their papers were searched, and abundance of evidence was found against Ávila. According to Torquenada, i. 631-2, some of the strongest evidence was in ladies' billets to him. Orozco y Berra, Not. Conj., 49; Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 9; Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 180.
