We could not use the cords on his head for fear it would pop his eyes out and prevent him from being able to lead us to the treasure. We then increased the twists and wet the cords to create shrinkage, but still no words of confession or repentance spilled from his mouth. Five twists are generally sufficient to elicit the truth, but it did nothing to this madman except excite laughter. As Your Excellency knows, we place the knotted cords around the prisoner's limbs and twist them with a rod. We began the interrogation with the cord-and-water method. However, the dead tell no tales and despite my ardent wish I am forced to simply seek the information by torture rather than dispatching him to el diablo, his master. It is most repugnant to have to question this half-caste son of a puta, a street whore, as if he were a legal person, rather than simply hanging him. I confess, Most Excellency, that the task you have given me is more difficult and odious than the Herculean labor of cleaning the cattle stables of King Augeas. The woman has publicly denied birthing the bastardo but whether that is the truth or she has contrived such a story because of his tainted blood will not be answered until we find her and give her a taste of the truth-extractors we have in this dungeon prison. You also commissioned me to obtain from his lips the whereabouts of the Aztec india who is said to be his mother. Your instructions to me are to pry from his lips the location of the great hoard of booty that he seized by banditry, treasure acquired by insult to His Most Catholic Majesty in Madrid and to you and other citizens of New Spain, the rightful owners thereof.

The examination of this thief and murderer of uncertain parentage and tainted blood has been neither pleasant nor profitable. As a mixed blood, he is without the protection of the law given to Spaniards and indios, and there are no legal prohibitions against either his torture or execution.

Spain by Appointment of His Most CatholicĪs Capitán of the Guard for Your Most Excellency's prison, it has been my duty to examine one Cristóbal, known to all as Cristo the Bastardo, a notorious bandit, seducer of women and leader of rabble.Īs Your Excellency knows, this Cristo is of tainted blood, specifically that category of mixed blood the law defines as a mestizo because his father was a Spaniard and his mother an Aztec india. Maldonato y Pimentel, Conde de Priego, Marquésĭe la Marche, Knight of Santiago, Viceroy of New To His Most Excellency Don Diego Veles de

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