to the prospect of a Bourbon successor to the throne of Spain; but more than this, it was whispered that in the event of the monarch's decease, he might be inclined to favor the independence of New Spain, and establish himself as its king.[1] Whether Felipe apprehended any such possible defection or not, it is certain that he recalled Montezuma shortly after his accession, for in November 1701 a cédula arrived from Spain appointing the oidor, Juan de Escalante, as the juez de residencia of the outgoing viceroy,[2] Montañez, having been reappointed to the viceregal chair six months previously.
On the 13th of May following, the conde de Montezuma left for Spain, the countess having preceded him, accompanied by the wives of the oidores. Most writers concur in regarding his administration as a wise and prudent one. He certainly exerted himself in improving the social condition of the capital, and was especially active in the suppression of robbers and criminals. With this object he organized an efficient police force, and enacted severe regulations for the punishment of evil-doers.[3] The riots in 1692
- ↑ Mr Vernon, English secretary of state, in letters addressed at the period to the duke of Shrewsbury, makes the following statement: 'It is said that Montezuma, viceroy of Mexico, would not suffer their plate to come into the hands of the French, and the orders from Spain would not be obeyed while they were looked upon to be under the influence of France.' A more remarkable passage written in June 1699 reads thus: 'The Indians there are very earnest with the countess of Montezuma, who is descended of their race, that she would take upon her the title of queen, which she seems willing to accept; but the conde, her husband, refuses it as yet, though it is thought if the king of Spain dies he will set up for himself.' Edinburgh Review, Oct. 1841, 131. Completely at variance with the above is Bustamante's statement that he caused the destruction of all Aztec relics in order to obliterate all traces of his ancestors 'por congraciarse con la corte de Madrid.' Leon y Gama, Dos Piedras, 81-2, note. As I cannot discover that Montezuma was connected with the royal family of the Aztec monarch otherwise than by marriage and the assumption of the name, Bustamante's deduction seems groundless, and I prefer to attribute the viceroy's action to religious bigotry.
- ↑ The auto de residencia was proclaimed on the 19th of the same month, both in the Castilian and Mexican languages. Robles, Diario, 339; consult also 331, 333.
- ↑ On the 15th of June there were 200 prisoners confined in the principal jail of the city. On the 28th of August the miscreants attempted to escape. They made a large hole in the outer wall, and severely wounded the jailer and porter before they were overpowered. On the following day seven of the ringleaders were publicly flogged through the streets. Id., 326-8.
