Note 99 — Chapter XXXIII

Salcedo’s enemies concocted the scheme of imprisoning him, “on the pretext of his arrest being made by the Inquisition, and on a complaint [of his acting] contrary to the Christian faith,” as this would silence all opposition or any attempt to rescue him. They gained over the master-of-camp, Zepeda, who on the appointed night stationed his nephew’s company on guard at the palace, to which he himself repaired—allowing the conspirators to reach the governor’s room unhindered. Through the friars who were concerned in the plot, they summoned many of the leading citizens—under penalty of excommunication for any one who should reveal the matter, or fail to be present that night at the Augustinian convent at a set (and unusual) hour—to assist the commissary of the Inquisition in the arrest of a prominent but unnamed personage on charges concerning the holy faith. In order to give further coloring of reason for this arrest, they consulted beforehand the auditors Bonifaz and Mansilla, and the Audiencia fiscal, Doctor Francisco Corbera y Mejia—“not as officials of the Audiencia, but as lawyers”—all of whom were enemies of the governor. (Ventura del Arco MSS., ii, pp. 528–531.) ↑