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us great lords and princes and I know not what. To the more loud 

 he gave fome fmall prefents, and to Cardenas, he fecretly promifed tQ 

 fend three hundred crowns for his wife and children. This Cardenas 

 was afterwards very troublefome to him. 



As all men are avaricious, as with moft the defire of acquiring 

 increafes with what they poUefs, and as it was well known that a great 

 quantity of valuable pieces of gold was taken out of the treafury, fuf- 

 picion naturally fell on fevcral. Juan Velafquez de Leon had then 

 fome large chains of gold, and trinkets and ornaments of that metal, in 

 the hands of the king's workmen, and the treafurer Mexia knowing of 

 it, and alfo how he had procured the gold, laid claim to themj but 

 De Leon refilled, faying it had been given him by Cortes, before 

 it was ran into bars j to w^hich the treafurer replied, that Cortes had con- 

 cealed enough, and taken enough from his foldiers already, without 

 giving him fo great a quantity. The quarrel rofe fo high between 

 them, being both valiant men, that they drew their fwords, and before 

 they could be patted each had received two wounds. Cortes on hearing 

 it ordered them to be put in arreft, and in chains; this he did to keep 

 up appearances, having privately fpoken to De Leon who was his par- 

 ticular friend, and defired him to fubmit quietly; and the other he re- 

 leafed in confideration of his office as treafurer. Velafquez was a ftrong 

 -man, and ufed to walk much backwards and forwards in the apartment 

 where he was confined. Montezuma hearing the rattling of his chains, 

 enquired who it was; and being told, he interceded with Cortes for 

 him, on the firfi: opportunity. Cortes laughing replied that Velafquez 

 was a mad fellow, -who if he did not keep him confined, would go up 

 and down .the country robbing his majejfty's fubjecfts of their gold. 

 The good king faid, if it was only on that account he was detained, he 

 would fupply his wants, and begged that he might be releafed. Cortes 

 affed:ed to make, a favor of it, but at length agreed, declaring that he 

 would banifli him from head quarters. Accordingly he went as far as 

 Cholula, but .in fix days returned, richer, by tlie king's gold, than 

 when he went. After this Cortes and Mexia were never great friends. 



The 



