WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES — VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 157 



437. Besides these there are many large shops of merchandise, and 

 Spanish and Indian artisans of every craft, who practice their pro- 

 fessions with skill ; accordingly, with this abundance of everything, 

 there is nothing lacking in this famous city. It has a very fine Cathe- 

 dral, built by the most Christian Marques del Valle Don Fernando 

 Cortes right after he conquered that kingdom and took the city; as 

 bases of the pillars, he used some heathen stone idols. When he had 

 come back to Spain, he fell ill in Seville ; they carried him up to 

 Castilleja de la Cuesta, half a league away, to the villa of the most 

 excellent Count of Olivares, to recuperate ; but he died there — that 

 Alexander of the New World — on December 2, 1547, at the age of 

 63. The first time he returned to Spain and was lying ill at Toledo, 

 he was visited by the Emperor Charles V, as it told by Gabriel Laso 

 de la Vega in his "Elogios de Varones Ilustres," folio 51. He left his 

 name immortalized by having won that country itself, and its souls 

 for Heaven, whither he went to rest for his reward and recompense 

 for the great services he rendered to both Majesties, divine and 

 human. 



438. Since Mexico City has grown so large and wealthy, they have 

 built another splendid Cathedral ; and although it is not yet finished, 

 it can vie in size and richness with the best of all Christendom. It 

 has other parish churches such as those of Santa Catalina Martyr, 

 Vera Cruz, San Anton, and other churches in which the Holy Sacra- 

 ments are administered to the faithful. 



Chapter XX 



Of the Splendid Convents of Friars To Be Found in the City of 

 Mexico. 



439. There are in Mexico City splendid and famous convents of 

 friars, with sumptuous temples, richly and perfectly appointed, with 

 large incomes and charitable contributions which support them. All 

 of them maintain schools of Arts and Theology ; the chief one, Santo 

 Domingo, is one of the best and richest to be found in the Indies, 

 and I doubt whether there be its equal in Spain. It has over 200 

 friars, many of whom are highly educated and great preachers. In 

 this splendid convent they teach Arts and Theology ; the church has 

 become a glowing coal of gold, with great majesty of chapels along 

 its sides. Although the foundations have sunk more than 5 feet below 

 ground level, the convent is an excellent one, with large cloisters and 

 dormitories, well designed and carried out. 



