CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ÁVILA-CORTÉS CONSPIRACY.
1564-1568.
The Audiencia's Weak Rule — Ill-feeling toward the Marqués del Valle — Encomienda Policy — Alonso de Ávila's Masquerade — Plot Against the Crown — Valderrama Returns to Spain — Conspiracy Reported — Great Christening of the Marqués' Twins — Arrest of the Marqués and Others — Trial and Execution of the Brothers Ávila — Marqués de Falces, Third Viceroy — Marqués del Valle Sent to Spain — Falces Deposed by Muñoz and Carrillo — Their Cruel Course — Martin Cortés Tortured — His Courage — Complaints Reach the Crown — Summary Removal of Muñoz and Carrillo — Their Fate — Falces Vindicated — Second Rule of the Audiencia — Sufferings of the Marqués — Final Acquittal — Loss of Domain and Property — His Death — Return of Luis Cortés — Later Life of Martin Cortés.
Upon the death of Velasco the city council of Mexico was seized with a brilliant idea. Would the king please send them no more viceroys! For howsoever good they might be in theory, they were sure to bring friends and dependents, to whom they would give the offices rightly belonging to the conquerors and their sons.[1] This request was sent the emperor on motion of Salazar, by resolution of August 21, 1564. And they desired further that Valderrama should be made the governor, and the marqués del Valle the captaingeneral; and that his Majesty should not regard the clamor of certain friars for an increase of the revenue, as they had only their own interests in view.[2]
- ↑ 'Pues traen á criados á quien hacer las mercedes.' Mex. Col. Leyes, (Mex. 1861), li.-lii. Valderrama urged the prompt appointment of a successor who should not have the presidency of the audiencia; this, he said, could be given to the archbishop, and at his death to a jurist. Cartas, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iv. 364-6, 371-2.
- ↑ Frailes bulliciosos que por conseguir obispados dan arbitrios para aumento de las Rentas Reales, con perjuicio de la tierra.'
