Note XXXVII‑16 — Chapter XXXVII · GUATEMALA AND CHIAPAS. 1701-1800.

The Dominican prior of Tecpatlan, Fray Franco Montoya, happened to be at Ciudad Real during Segovia's preparations for the campaign. He had never seen artillery other than that which was on the ship that brought him from Spain, but he offered to construct either a mortar or a cannon. He made a mortar which was of much service, chiefly because of the horror it caused among the Indians, who called it the madre de escopetas. Id., 99.