It was finally agreed to send the marquis to Spain; but difference of opinion arose as to the best way of getting him to Vera Cruz. The oidores, in furtherance of their plans of compromising Falces, threw the responsibility upon him. Reflecting that a large military escort might create alarm, and a small one be useless if the friends of Cortés should attempt a rescue, the viceroy concluded to let him go on parole to Vera Cruz, and deliver himself up to the general of the fleet, Juan Velasco de Barrio,[1] who was to take him to Spain to be surrendered to the royal authorities. This was done. The marquis was at Vera Cruz on the day stipulated, the 20th of March, having placed his children under Falces' protection, who accepted the trust, but not that of looking after his estates, as the marquis had also asked him.
Together with the marquis were sent to Spain his half-brother Luis, Dean Juan Chico de Molina,[2] and a Franciscan friar. The informer Cristóbal Ayala de Espinosa also went in the fleet to seek preferment for pretended services. Philip was ready enough to distrust his agents in America, yet he disliked to believe evil of the marqués de Falces. But why did not his viceroy write if he was innocent of the charges advanced by his brother officials? Probably it were
- ↑ He based his action not solely on the reasons given in the text, but also on the fact that Cortés' high rank entitled him to trust; 'pues principes, galeras, fortalezas, oficios, y otras cosas de gran calidad se fiaban y entregaban á caballeros hijos dalgo con un pleyto homenage, el cual tenia tanta fuerza de fidelidad y obligacion.' The old chivalrous spirit animated him, it seems. Falces, Informe al Rey, in Mora, Mej. Rev., 424-48; and Falces, Proceso, in Orozco y Berra, Not. Conj., 411-40. The official report of the marqués de Falces, viceroy of New Spain, on the alleged conspiracy of the second marquis del Valle and others to wrest the country from the Spanish crown, is a clear and detailed account of political affairs as he found them on his arrival, and as they continued to the time it was written in 1567. As such it is, judging from the writer's character, well deserving of consideration and credence. It was the same document, wilfully kept back by the king's factor, from which resulted Falces' temporary disgrace and untold evils to Mexico. In the Registro Trimestre, and also in Mora, Mej. Rev., it is stated that the memorial was delivered to the king. But as a matter of fact it was presented to the royal commissioners Dec. 6, 1567, when the fiscal of the audiencia in Mexico preferred charges against Falces.
- ↑ In Madrid he was subjected to the torture, by which he lost the use of one arm. He was also deprived of his rank. Peralta, Not. Hist., 255.
