party had been killed some seven moons before at a city in the interior.[1] He contented himself with accepting the reports, and returned to curry favor with the new ruler, who rewarded his devotion with the office of alcalde mayor[2]
Salazar and Chirinos eagerly circulated his statements with the authoritative declaration that Cortés was indeed dead. To impress this upon the people solemn funeral honors were ordered by the local authorities to be held throughout the country. The sermons on the occasion were duly tempered in deference to the hostile feeling of the ruling faction. At Mexico a monument was erected in the parish church, and a sum of money was assigned from the estate of Cortés to pay for masses.[3]
The evident effort to enforce the acceptance of this view, and by men of Salazar's intriguing nature, excited doubts among many. Such suspicions were regarded as mischievous to their projects, and the governors forbade their expression under heavy penalty. Juana Ruiz de Marcilla, wife of Valiente, secretary to Cortés, not only criticised the permission to marry granted to women whose husbands had left on the Honduras expedition,[4] but loudly declared that the followers of Cortés were not such poltroons as
- ↑ Albornoz gives the report with detail. Cortés had maltreated the lord of Cuzamelco, a lake city, seven days' journey from the coast — evidently Itza — and the natives had resolved to be avenged. At the next camp they fell upon the sleeping forces with sword and fire, and slew the greater number. The remainder, including Cortés, were sacrificed, not a man escaping. Carta, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., 1. 485-6.
- ↑ Libro de Cabildo, MS., November 2, 1525. 'Afirmó que era muerto y trajo ciertos Indios que lo decian.' Ocaña, Carta, in Id., 526. He swore before Cortés afterward that he never affirmed the death of his party; he merely reported the native rumors. He sailed on to Cuba. Hist. Verdad., 221. Herrera intimates that Ordaz pretended to have made greater investigations than he did, in order not to be regarded as intimidated by the natives. He comments on Salazar's neglect to properly search for a party engaged on royal service. dec. iii. lib. vi. cap. xi.
- ↑ When Cortés sued for the recovery of this and other funds, Juan de Cáceres nicknamed the rich, bought the masses for his benefit! Bernal Diaz, loc. cit.
- ↑ Chiefly with a view for the governors to obtain possession of two of these women. Their new husbands were given repartimientos, and conveniently withdrew from the city. Herrera, dec. iii. lib. vi. cap. xii.
