CHAPTER XII. 

 1522—1547. 



CORTEZ COMMISSIONED BY THE EMPEROR. — VELASQUEZ HIS 



DEATH. MEXICO REBUILT. IMMIGRATION REPARTIMIEN- 



TOS OF INDIANS. HONDURAS GUATEMOZIN MARIANA. 



CORTEZ ACCUSED ORDERED TO SPAIN FOR TRIAL. HIS RE- 

 CEPTION, HONORS AND TITLES HE MARRIES HIS RETURN 



TO MEXICO RESIDES AT TEZCOCO. EXPEDITIONS OF CORTEZ 



CALIFORNIA QUIVARA. RETURNS TO SPAIN DEATH 



WHERE ARE HIS BONES ? 



The royal commission, of which we have spoken in the last 

 chapter, was speedily borne to New Spain, where it was joyfully 

 received by all who had participated in the conquest or joined 

 the original forces since that event. Men not only recognized the 

 justice of the act, but they felt that if the harvest was rightfully due 

 to him who had planted the seed, it was also most probable that 

 no one could be found in Spain or the Islands more capable than 

 Cortez of consolidating the new empire. Velasquez, the darling 

 object of whose latter years had been to circumvent, entrap or foil 

 the conqueror, was sadly stricken by the defeat of his machinations. 

 The reckless but capable soldier, whom he designed to mould into 

 the pliant tool of his avarice and glory, had suddenly become his 

 master. Wealth, renown, and even royal gratitude, crowned his 

 labors ; and the disobedience, the errors, and the flagrant wrongs 

 he was charged with whilst subject to gubernatorial authority, 

 were passed by in silence or forgotten in the acclamation 

 that sounded his praise throughout Spain and Europe. Even 

 Fonseca, — the chief of the council, — had been unable to thwart 

 this darling of genius and good fortune. Velasquez, himself, was 

 nothing. The great error of his life had been in breaking with 

 Cortez before he sailed for Mexico. He was straitened in fortune, 

 foiled in ambition, mocked by the men whose career of dangerous 

 adventure he had personally failed to share ; and, at last, disgusted 

 with the time and its men, he retired to brood over his melancholy 

 reverses until death soon relieved him of his earthly jealousies and 

 annoyances. 



