Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/653

Rh on New Spain government policy. The impudent utterances of Alonso de Ávila cost him his life.

Many effusions in prose and verse were written to commemorate this bloody episode, the most notable being the funeral narrative by the Mexican poet, historian, and political writer, Luis de Sandoval Zapata, who lived early in the seventeenth century. A notice of this composition will be given elsewhere. Its author exonerates both the Ávilas from any treasonable intent, and assures us that the king's council also did so at a later time. He lays to the malice of informers and the envy and blindness of judges the deaths of many innocent men. We must admit, however, that during the epoch under consideration a plot to bring about the secession of New Spain from the mother country was brewing, so much having been confessed by Alonso de Ávila first, and by the brothers Quesada later; though it certainly was not worthy of the consideration given it by the oidores in their zeal or animosity. Indeed, the depositions of the persons having knowledge of the circumstances show that treason had not been seriously considered. The viceroy, who carefully read the evidence, could not believe that criminality had been intended, and this seems to have been the conclusion arrived at by the king in approving the course of Falces and condemning that of Muñoz and Carrillo.

But, whatever opinion we may hold of the conduct of the Ávilas and others, it is quite certain that the marquis, Martin Cortés, took no part in any plot against the crown. Not that there was wanting cause or inducement; but the risk was too great. With