considerable share of power, involving the right of interfering with many of the gubernatorial measures, particularly those connected with treasures, tributes, and revenue generally.[1] The first step toward asserting their power was to demand the reimbursement of certain funds appropriated by him from the treasury and expended on necessary expenditures against rebels; and further, to refuse allowing his claims for other larger sums disbursed in promoting the welfare of the country.[2] These differences were adjusted in a spirit of great moderation on both sides, for Cortés was restrained by fear of the possibly hidden power of the officials, and they by hopes of gifts and grants that might flow from a man so influential as the captaingeneral, and reputed to be immensely rich. The time for pranks over royal prerogatives had passed; what the conquerer desired most of all now was to have high position confirmed to him, so that he and his heirs might therein rest secure. Therefore no rupture took place at this time between him and the king's officials, and when he left for Honduras in the autumn all were in apparent accord. In secret reports, however, the jealousy and enmity ever present in high places appeared, and this coming to his ears, he wrote to the king in his defence. With Estrada, who figured at Mexico in the early spring of 1524,[3] his intercourse was exceedingly cordial.
This policy of placing one official to watch another was quite in accord with the spirit of the age, and seemed to rulers necessary for the control of officials far removed from the heavy machinery of. home government. In the eyes of Spanish grandees Cortés
- ↑ They brought special orders to collect the almojarifazgo tax of 712 per cent on imports. Fonseca, Hist. Hacienda, v. 7, 8.
- ↑ 'Pues auia hecho las armadas para sus malos fines.' Herrera, dec. iii. lib. v. cap. xiv.; Zumárraga, Carta, in Ramirez, Doc., MS., 273-4. Albornoz estimated the sum due by Cortés at 72,000 castellanos. Carta, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xiii. 72-3. Cortés admits 60,000 and odd castellanos, Cartas, 365.
- ↑ See allusion to him in March. Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 37. Salazar arrived in the autumn. Cortés, Cartas, 318,
