( 46i ) 



We were fentenced to pay a fine of a certain quantity of gold, and to be 

 banifhed to the diftance of five leagues from Mexico. However the 

 fentence was but flightly enforced, the banifhment being remitted and 

 very few paying the fine. 



The enemies of the Marquis del Valle now took a new ground of 

 attack againfl: him, which was, that he had embezzled the treafure of 

 Montezuma and Guatimotzin, and that he was anfwerable to the fol- 

 diers, not only for that which he had appropriated to his own ufe, but 

 alfo for that which he had fent to Europe as a prefent to his Majefty, 

 and which had been captured by the corfair Juan Florin. A long ca- 

 talogue of other demands followed, every one of which he was con- 

 demned upon, and his property fold for the payment. One Juan Xu- 

 ares his brother-in-law was alfo at this time brought forward, to demand 

 juftice in open court for the murder of his filler Donna Catalina, ofFerr 

 ing to produce witnefTes of the manner of her death. Many of us the 

 friends of the Marquis, feeing the attacks that were made againft him, 

 met by appointment and under the licence of an alcalde, at the houfe of 

 one Garcia Holguin, where we entered into a refolution to renounce all 

 claim to the treafure; but when the oy dors heard, our bufincfs, they 

 ordered us alt to be arrefied, as they allegedj for meeting without per- 

 miffibn. We produced to them the licence, \y.hich; we had obtained 

 for the purpofe, but they, to keep up appearances, banifhed us to the 

 diftance; of five leagues from Mexico. We were however allowed to re- 

 turn; though we flill thought our felves hardly treated enough. 



New matter for confufion was now brought forward; a proclama- 

 tion was iffaed that all perfons of Indian defcent, or of that of Moors, 

 who had been burned or * enfanbenited by the holy inquifition,. as far as 

 the fourth degree from their anceflors who had thus fuffered^ fliould 

 quit New Spain within four- months from the date thereof, _ on pain of 

 lofing one half of their properties, it wag. mod wonderful . to- fee. what 

 hoils of accufers and informers ftarted up at once on this occafion, and 



what 



* San Benito; a drefs put on criminals. 



