The encomenderos lived with a great deal of power over the Indians in their lives, and they were a lengthy sea voyage away from the authority figures of Spain. Some began to say they should think of secession, that no one in New Spain needed anything from the mother country any longer. Don Martín, Malintzin’s son, knew these young men well, so he was likely speaking truth when he said that none of them were capable of planning and executing a complex political coup, but were only strutting and shouting like boys. In any event, the talk soon quieted when no firm steps were taken to limit the
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