Performing Power

In the letter mentioned in Chapter 2 that the oidores of the audiencia of Mexico sent to the king in 1620 to complain about the authoritarian practices of the viceroy, the judges devoted a great deal of space to what, at first sight, may seem to be anecdotal matters in the relations between the viceroy and the audiencia. For example, the oidores contended that the viceroy had clearly shown his intent to snatch away their power and authority by forbidding them to place black velvet cushions on the floor in front of their seats when they attended church services whenever the viceroy was not present (this being, according to the oidores, the usual custom everywhere in the Indies). ¹ Ironically, it would be a viceroy, the count of Salvatierra, who, years later, would complain to the king because the visitador inspecting the viceroyalty at that time, the bishop Juan de Palafox, argued that the viceroy could not put a cushion on his seat while sitting in the audiencia with the oidores. Whereas the visitador thought that the viceroy should not be sitting high up, lest he differentiate himself from the oidores, the viceroy contended that the cushion, having been used by the viceroys since time immemorial, simply served "to differentiate himself with this little sign from the other ministers." ²