Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/775

Rh The other extreme was presented by the nobility of local origin; for that of Spain found no inducement to abandon the sunshine of the court for a barbarous colony, save on temporary official duty. Cortés was the first of this titled nobility, and 'the marquis' long remained a distinctive attribute of him alone. In time, with the growing need of funds by the king, the reward bestowed for distinguished military and diplomatic services was extended to those who chose to promote such service by the gift of money. At first this was somewhat cautiously bestowed, and limited to a cross of Santiago or Calatrava: but in the eighteenth century almost any rich miner or trader might secure the title of marquis or count, or a military title. The ignorance, vulgarity, and want of merit in the holder, subjected the title to ridicule, which, however, decreased as it grew older. The creation usually brought about an entail for its maintenance, a reservation of estate frequent enough among the old creole families. The testamentary bond was not much respected, however, for the audiencias had power to interfere with the property and even to authorize its sale, and only too frequently the heirs squandered their fortune within two generations.

The two great causes affecting population, disease and famine, obtained in New Spain with periodic frequency and great virulence, owing to peculiar climatic conditions and national improvidence. The miasmatic