( 4<5a 



what flanders and infamies were brought forward. At iaft it ended in 

 the expLd(ion of two individuals. 



The court was generous in fulfilHng his Majefly's commands, in 

 regard to the old conquerors, who were all well provided for; the great- 

 eft error h committed was, the excefTive licenfe given to the branding 

 Haves. So many were made in the province of Fanuco that it became 

 almoft depopulated. The prefident Guzman, who was of a noble and 

 liberal difpolition, made a new year's gift of a whole diftrid: named 

 Guazpaltepeque, to iVlbornoz who was newly returned from Spain. 

 He brought with him his Majefty's patent, under which he ered:ed 

 fome fugar works in Cempoal, which went to ruin after a few years. 

 The oydor Delgadillo was cenfured on account of his free gifts, for it 

 was noticed that fome rent was referved to himfelf in them, and the 

 confequent extortions and opprefTions of thofe he patronifed were excef- 

 live. The condud; of Guzman was equally reprehenfible; as to the 

 other oydor, Matienzo, he was fuperannuated. The abufes of this court 

 came at length to fuch an excefs, that it was thought proper by the 

 higher powers in Europe, completely to fupercede it, and fubftitute 

 one compofed of perfons of m^ore difcretion. Old Matienzo who was 

 the leaft objedtionable, was fent to Panuco to enquire into and remedy 

 the abufes which had, been committed there. This officer ordered 

 accounts or lifts of the flaves to be drawn out, to prevent them 

 from being arbitrarily tranfported from one province to another, and he 

 revoked the grants which the prefident and the other oydor had made 

 to their friends and clients, beftowing the plantations upon thofe per- 

 fons who were pointed out by his Majefty's inftruftions. Every one 

 then who had acquired the plantations which the) were to deliver up, 

 infifted that they had been granted as a reward of former merits, the 

 proofs of which they endeavoured to adduce, and utterly difclaimed all 

 patronage or protedion from the prefident and oydor. The confufion 

 was extreme. However many if not almoft all fucceeded in keeping 



what 



