Our Catholic Heritage, Volume I

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I I I . I

Our Catholic Heritage in Texas

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seventh the fourth, one-sixth the fifth, and the royal fifth during the last five years. All settlers who came after the first year were asked to pay the royal fifth from the beginning. He was empowered to have full juris- diction over all islands and lands discovered by him. He was not, how- ever, to take in his company any person who was not a subject of the king. It is of interest to note that Guzman was instructed to find out upon his arrival in the province if there were any persons settled there, who had fled from Spain during the revolt of the Communes. All such should be driven out to avoid possible trouble. 82 In the instructions given to Luis Ponce de Leon, the ]uez de Residencia, who was to exercise full authority in New Spain, while he investigated the actions of Cortes, the king said: "As you know, we have appointed Nuno de Guzman our Governor of Panuco, and Victoria Garayana in place of the Adelantado Francisco de Garay, deceased. We have ordered him to proceed to the port of Panuco immediately upon landing. Should he require your aid or assistance to enter the land or to govern it, you are to give him all aid possible, this being of great service to us." He was further enjoined to allow no difference to arise between them concerning the limits of their respective jurisdictions, which might prevent them from working in full cooperation for the benefit of the best interest of the king. 13 Guzman in the Pamteo Region. But in spite of the strict orders of the king, Guzman did not proceed to the Panuco region with the celerity desired. It seems that he left Spain in company with Luis Ponce de Leon early in 1526, but when he arrived in Hispaniola, instead of going on, he remained in the island almost a year, presumably because of sickness. He also made an extensive visit to Cuba. It was during this time that he came under the influence of the friends of Diego Velazquez, who were the inveterate enemies of Cortes. The fact that his kinsman, Gonzalo de Guzman, was at this time Governor of Cuba was perhaps one of the reasons 1%Lo que Nuiio de Guzman, Gobernador de Ia Provincia e Rio de Panuco e Vic- toria Garayana, ha de hacer en el cargo, tocante a Ia buena Gobernacion de Ia dicha Tierra y recabdo de la Hacienda, pr mandado de S. M. Afio de x 534 (?) ( I 524-2 5), in Pacheco y Cardenas, Docummtos lneditos, XXIII, 4 x 0-4 x 4; Capitulacion con Juan Ponce de Leon sobre el descubrimiento de la Isla de Beniny (sic) Afio de 1512, in Ibid., Vol. XXII, 26-37. 13 Lo que el Licenciado Luis Ponce de Leon, Juez de Residencia de la Nueva Espaiia, ha de bacer en el dicho cargo, tocante a la buena Gobernacion de la Tierra ..• November 4, 1525, in Pacheco y Cardenas, Documentos fneditos, Vol. XXIII, 368-382.

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