( 37° ) 



CHAPTER V. 



' TranfaBions in Old Spain, 



In the year one thoufand five hundred and twenty one, our moH Ho- 

 ly Father Pope Adrian of Lobayana, fucceeded to the fovereign pontifi- 

 cate. He was then governor of Caftille, and . refided in the city of 

 Vittoria, where our agents waited upon him to kifs the foot of his ho- 

 linefs. At the fame time arrived a great nobleman from Germany, 

 called Mofiur de Lafoa, chamberlain to his Majefty, by whom he was 

 fent to congratulate his holinefs on his eledtion. This M. de Lafoa, 

 having heard the heroical actions of the conquerors of Mexico, and the 

 great works they had done for the extenfion of our holy faith, by the 

 converfion and baptifm of fo many thoufands of Indians, was interefled 

 in our behalf, and applied to the Holy Pontiff, requeuing him to acce- 

 lerate the bufinefs wherein our agents were employed. This requeft 

 was readily granted, for independent of what was laid before him by 

 our agents, our holy father had received many complaints againft the 

 Bifhop of Burgos from perfons of high honour and quality, whereby 

 our agents were encouraged to] proceed in a formal accufation againfi: 

 him. Thofe who were moft adlive in the bufinefs were Francifco de 

 Montejo, Diego de Ordas, the licentiate Francilco Nunez coufin to 

 Cortes, and Martin Cortes our general's father, who were afi^fted by 

 many great and powerful noblemen, but principally by the Duke de 

 Bejar J and thus countenanced, they brought forward their charges with 

 great effedt. 



The firft was, that Velafquez had bribed him with a diftricft, with 

 the people of which he worked gold mines. Secondly, that in the 



year 



