Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/167

Rh and to one of these was due the discovery of New Spain, as already related.

The conquest accomplished, the soldiers demanded their repartimientos, the main and almost sole reward for their long toil, now that the expected treasures had dwindled to insignificance. Cortés claims that the superior intelligence of the natives in New Spain created a doubt in his mind whether they could be successfully parcelled out in the same manner as the Islanders. He thought at one time that the royal taxes might be applied toward the demands of the army, but recognized that the crown would expect an increase of revenue rather than a diminution. The clamor on all sides, from royal official to soldier, must be satisfied, and so he yielded. In addition to this pretext to cover the action of controlling men, it was argued that the distribution of the natives was the only means to protect them against indiscriminate pillage and maltreatment, and to reclaim them from abominable pagan vices. Without real authority for such measures, Cortés could only make them provisional, but in a letter to the sovereign he explained the justice and necessity for confirming the grants. At a later date he even recommended the general partition of the towns of New Spain among the colonists. The court, however, had just been startled into activity by the outcry of friars and judges over the cruel extermination of the Islanders, and by order of June 26, 1523, repartimientos were forbidden, those already made being revoked. But the step had not been duly considered, and Cortés with the approval of the royal officials took it upon himself to keep the cédula secret. He frankly explained this course to the