Ch. V.]

RETIRES TO HIS ESTATES.

331

Every thing seemed now to assure a tranquil resi-dence to Cortés. The new magistrates treated himwith marked respect, and took his advice on themost important measures of government. Unhap-pily this state of things did not long continue ; anda misunderstanding arose between the parties, inrespect to the enumeration of the vassals assignedby the Crown to Cortes, which the marquess thoughtwas made on principles prejudicial to his interests,and repugnant to the intentions of the grant . 6 Hewas still further displeased by finding that the Audi-ence were intrusted, by their commission, with a con-current jurisdiction with himself in military affairs . 6This led, occasionally, to an interference, which theproud spirit of Cortés, so long accustomed to inde-pendent role, could ill brook. After submitting to itfor a time, he left the capital in disgust, no more toreturn there, and took up his residence in his city ofCuernavaca .

It was the place won by his own sword from theAztecs , previous to the siege of Mexico . It stood onthe southern slope of the Cordilleras, and overlookeda wide expanse of country, the fairest and most flour-ishing portion of his own domain. He had erecteda stately palace on the spot, and henceforth madethis city his favorite residence . 7 It was well situated

5 The principal grievance al- embodied by Cortés in a memorialleged was, that slaves, many of to the emperor. It is a clear andthem held temporarily by their business-like paper. Carta de Cor-masters, according to the old As- tés k Nufiez, MS.tec usage, were comprehended in 8 Ibid., MS.the census. The complaint forms 7 The palace has crumbled intopart of a catalogue of grievances ruins, and the spot is now only re