ordering the works of San Juan de Ulua enlarged, he set out for Mexico with a light escort of twenty-five or thirty halberdiers, and his twelve servants armed with pikes. In Jalapa he rested eight days, and became satisfied that the country was peaceful. At Tlascala and Puebla he was accorded a warm reception, and in return he thanked the caciques and the people for their loyalty, in the king's name. On the 19th of October he arrived at the capital, and took formal possession of his offices.
After due investigation he became convinced that the audiencia had acted with severity, and he so wrote the crown. On the day of his arrival he ordered away the military force at the royal buildings, leaving a few men to guard the prisoners.[1]
Meanwhile, contrary to the viceroy's orders sent them from Puebla to stop proceedings in the conspiracy cases, the oidores had hurried them forward, and now Céspedes de Cárdenas, fiscal of the audiencia, demanded the sequestration of the marqués del Valle's estates. This the viceroy and a majority of the council refused to grant, and Falces resolved to send the marquis to Spain.[2] As regards Luis Cortés, the court sentenced him for high treason to be beheaded, and to forfeit his estate. The viceroy at first affixed his signature to the sentence; there may have been treason in the heart of the accused; but in the review of the case it was modified, and the prisoner was condemned to loss of property and ten years' service in the north of Africa at his own cost. Most of the other prisoners were released.
- ↑ According to his report the monthly cost of the guard was 2,060 pesos, without including the captain's pay, the powder, and other necessary expenses. Falces, Informe, in Mora, Mej. Rev., iii. 429. Ceinos, the senior oidor, and ethers tried to persuade him that a revolution was certain, and referred to the Franciscan friar Diego Cornejo to corroborate their statement, but he felt satisfied that no revolt was intended. Id., 431-4.
- ↑ Much kind attention was paid Cortés by Falces, who allowed his friends to see him at all hours, day and night, and even visited and was visited by him. This offended the oidores. The marquis also became reconciled with Baltasar de Aguilar Cervantes and others of his former enemies who made advances on hearing that jueces pesquisidores would soon come out from Spain.
