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At this time arrived at the port of Villa Rica, Chriftoval de Tapia, 

 veedor of the Ifland of St. Domingo, with a commiflion to take upon 

 him the government of New Spain, by order of his Majefty, and un- 

 der the dirediion of the Bifhop of Burgos. He brought with him letters 

 from the faid Bifhop of Burgos to Cortes and many others of his army, 

 recommending him, to be honoured by us as governor of New Spain, 

 and befides thofe which were clofed and fealed, he had alfo with him 

 letters filled up and which he was authonfed to addrefs as he faw occa- 

 lion for his own intereft. Great promifes were held out to fuch as 

 would come over to the new governor, and violent threats of punifh- 

 ment to thofe who made any oppofition to him. Tapia firft prefented 

 his commiffion to Alvarado, then commandant in Villa Rica. Alvara- 

 do received it with the higheft refped:, and faid that as he was not able 

 of himfelf to decide any thing, it would be neceffary to aflemble the 

 ■alcaldes and regidors of the town, to have the commiflion verified be- 

 fore them, and alfo to prove the manner in which it had been tranf- 

 mitted, that they might know for a certainty that it came in a proper 

 form from his Majefly's hand. This did not exatflly agree with the 

 views of Tapia. Being advifed to proceed to Mexico and produce his 

 commiflion to Cortes himfelf, he forwarded the letter of the bifhop, 

 and alfo wrote to Cortes upon the fubjed; of his miflion. The flile of" 

 the letters was fmooth and perfuafive,. but the anfwer of Cortes was ten. 

 times more fo. Cortes immediately fent exprefTes to fome of the differ- 

 ent officers he had detached, ordering them to go and meet Tapia who 

 had already fet out for Mexico, but was, in confequence of the direc- 

 tion of Cortes, met on the road by Alvarado, Sandoval, De Soto, Val- 

 denegro, Captain Andres de Tapia, and the reverend father Fra Malga- 

 rejo. Thefe gentlemen; with much compliments and ceremony, induced 

 Chrifloval de Tapia to go to Cempoal ; they there requefled to fee his 

 commiflion, which being verified, and acknowledged, they placed it 

 on their heads in token of refpedt and fubmifTion; but in regard to the 

 admitting him as governor by the virtue of it, that was quite another 

 affair ; it was firfl: neceffary to know what his Majefly's pleafure was 

 touching the affairs of New Spain, the true flate of which had beea 



conccaleci 



