according to his pleasure and that of his heirs.[1] He had been offered his choice throughout New Spain, although the kingdom of Michoacan was pointed out for selection; but he preferred the fertile valley of Oajaca, together with a few places particularly admired in and round the lake valley, including the two favorite towns of Coyuhuacan and Cuernavaca, which he had fancied from the first, Huastepec, with its famed gardens, Jalapa, the beautiful health-resort lying half-way between Vera Cruz and the plateau summit, the seaport of Tehuantepec, and several places in the fertile province of Matlalzinco. The text of the grant contained the usual ambiguities which enabled opponents to dispute the claim on many points, and reduce it, as will be related in a later chapter. He also received certain lands and lots in and near Mexico city, notably the two palaces, old and new, of Montezuma, and two isles in the lake, Xico and Tepepulco, each about half a league in circumference, and intended for hunting-parks.[2]
- ↑ 'Como de cosa vuestra, propia.' Appeals from him or his alcalde mayor could, however, be made to the king, council, or audiencias; no fortress must be erected without permission; mines and salt-fields were retained for the crown; but the jurisdiction, revenues, and tribute otherwise due to the crown were conceded to him and his heirs. In case of transfer, church and convents could not be included without royal permission; nor could a sale be made without first giving the refusal to the sovereign. The estate was subject to the regulations for government issued December 4, 1528. Possession could be taken from date. This document, wherein Cortes is addressed as 'Don, and (governor and captain-general of New Spain,' is dated at Barcelona, July 6, 1529, and countersigned by Secretary Francisco de los Cobos, the bishop of Osma, who was the president of the Council, and Doctor Beltran, licentiate for the court. Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 291-7. The towns named in the cédula are: Caljmacan (Coyuhuacan), Atlacabuye (Atlacubaya, later Tacubaya), Matalcingo (Matlalzinco), Taluca (Toluca), Calimaya, Quanixaca (Quauhnahuac, later Cuernavaca), Guastepeque (Huastepec), Acapiptla (Acapichtla), Antepeque (Antepec), Tepuzlan (Tepotzotlan), Guaxaca (Oajaca), Cayulapeque (Cuitlopan probably), Tlantequila (Tenquilaba), Bacoa (Tepeaca probably), Teguamtepeque (Tehuantepec, a seaport), Yalapa (Jalapa), Utlatepeque (Huitlatepec), Atroyatan (perhaps Atloixtlan), Quetasta (Cuetlachtlan), Tuztlatapeca (Tuxtepec, evidently), Yzcalpan. Gomara, who differs considerably in spelling, adds Etlan, as the twenty-second town. Hist. Mex., 284. The list of the towns, hamlets, and farms, according to the modified list of 1532, is given in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 500-2. See also Puga, Cedulario, 66-7; Montemayor, Svmarios, 150-2.
- ↑ The latter, known also as El Peñol del Marqués, was the scene of exploit when the first fleet sailed against Tenochtitlan. See Hist. Mex., i. 625, this series. The boundaries of the lots and the land along Tlacopan road are minutely
