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at our eafe, not wandering about the world as is at prefent the cafe, and 

 falling from bad to worfe ; for many of us at this moment are without 

 a morfel of bread to eat,^ and God knows what will become of our 

 children. 



I will now relate what Cortes did, and which I call a very unfair 

 diftribution. To the Veedor Chirinos, the FacStor Salazar, J. de Ri- 

 bera and all thofe who came from Medellin, and to the dependents of 

 great men who flattered and told him pleafing things, he refufed no- 

 thing. Not that I blame him for being generous, for there was enough 

 for all ; but I fay that he ought to have firft confidered thofe who ferved 

 his Majcfty, and whofe valour and blood made him what he was. 

 But enough of this, and now to other matters, for it is ufelefs detailing 

 our misfortunes', and how he treated us like vafTals, and how we were 

 obliged to take to our old trade of expeditions and battles j for though 

 he forgot us in his diftribution of property, he never failed to call on 

 us when he wanted our affiftance. However before I take leave of the 

 fubjedt let me mention, that when Luis Ponce de Leon came to fuper- 

 cede Cortes, we went to the general, to requefl: that he would give us 

 fome^part of that property which his Majefty had at that time ordered 

 that he fliould refign. He then told us, and fwore it, that if he return- 

 ed to his government he would provide for us all, and not do as he had 

 done, for which he was very forry. As if we were to be fatisfied with 

 promifes and fmooth words. 



There had lately arrived certain officers of his Majefty from Old 

 Caftille, amongft whom were Alonzo de Eftrada the treafurer, Conzalo 

 de Salazar the facftor, Rodrigo Albornos the contador, (Juan de Alde- 

 rete being dead,) Pedro Almindes Chirinos the Veedor, and many 

 others. 



One Rodrigo Rangel whom I have already mentioned, now came 

 to Cortes, telling him that he had hitherto acquired no fame in the 

 wars, and wiftied to have a command given him, wherewith to go and 



conquer 



