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of what fteps they had taken, to Caftille. His Majefty was then in 

 Flanders, where it was laid before him. Had De Avila been here at 

 the time of Tapia's arrival he might have been very troublefome, for he 

 was an adherent of the Bifhop of Burgos, and had been bred up in his 

 houfc. For thefe reafons, and by the advice of Almedo, Cortes to put 

 him in good humour gave him the diftritt of Cuatitlan, one of the 

 richefi; in that country. He alfo prefented him with a confiderable 

 quantity of gold, and a much greater of kind words and promifes, by 

 which he won him fo completely over to his intereft that he afterwards 

 fent him as his agent to Cafhlle; at which time feveral gigantic human 

 bones were tranfmitted, together with a quantity of gold, pearls, and 

 valuable jewels. The bones were found in a temple at Cuyoacan ; they 

 were prodigioufly large, and fimilar to thofe which we had procured in 

 Tlafcala and fent to Caftille. The agents alfo brought over with them 

 thl-ee tigers, and many other things of a curious nature, which I do 

 not recoiled:. One part of their bufinefs was to tranfmit memorials to 

 his Majefty from the council of Mexico, and from us the conquerors 

 of New Spain, requefting that he would fend us over holy men of good 

 life and example, as bifliops and clergymen. Alfo praying, that in 

 confideration of our meritorious fervices, all offices of honour and emo- 

 lument fhould be given amongft us, and the government to Cortes, as 

 the only fit and proper perfon. Alfo that his Majefty would be pleafed 

 not to fuffer any fcholars, or men of letters to come into this country, 

 to throw us into confufion with their learning, quibbles, and books. 

 We further reprefcnted the infufficiency of Chriftoval de Tapia, who 

 was only fent by the Biftiop of Burgos to effedt a marriage be- 

 tween the faid Tapia, and the bifhop's niece. Donna Petronila de Fon- 

 feca. We alfo deprecated the interference of the biftiop in the affairs of 

 this country as being obftrucStive of our plans of conquefts for his Ma- 

 jefty 's fervice, adding that we were ready to receive his Majefty 's com- 

 mands, proftrate on the ground, but had thought it our duty to inform 

 him of thefe particulars, which had been artfully kept from his know- 

 ledge. All this, and more, was reprefented in the fulleft light, for his 

 Majefty 's information, and to do away the mifreprefentations of the faid 



Biftiop 



