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Itlf. 



The immortal Phoenix peerlefs fweeps the air j 

 *' To Charles is given ljundlefs rule to bear; 

 ** Zfalous to conquer, at my King's command, 

 ** I in my fervices unrivalled (land. 



This prefent v/as fent to Europe under the care of Diego dc Soto. 

 I am not certain if J. de Ribera, formerly fecretary to Cortes, went 

 with it. I always thought him a bad kind of man, from what I ob- 

 ferved in him at play, either with cards or dice: befides this he had 

 many ill qualities. 



He however was fent to Caftille, and took a fum of money with 

 him for the general's father ; which money he appropriated to his own 

 ufe, and then, unmindful of the obligations he had received,' faid much 

 ill of Cortes j and being very flippant and fluent of fpeech, and having 

 been his fecretary, he obtained credit for what he faid, and combining 

 with the Bifliop of Burgos and others, did him much harm; and 

 would have done more had it not been for the interference of the Duke 

 of Bejar, who proted:ed Cortes on account of a treaty of m.arriage which 

 was then on foot, between our general and a niece of that Duke, na- 

 med Donna Juana de Zuniga. This, combined with the feafonable ar- 

 rival of the prefent, gave a favourable turn to the affairs of Cortes. 



In regard to the golden Phcsnix, I mufl obferve, that the motto 

 gave great offence to many, as they thought it prefumption in Cortes 

 to fay he had no equal in his fervices. But his friends juftly defended 

 him ; for who had extended fo far the fame and power of his Majefly, 

 or brought fo many thoufands of fouls to the dominion of our holy 

 church? They alfo did not forget us his affociates, but declared that we 

 alfo were intitled to honours and emoluments, having earned them, as 

 the Caflillian nobility did thofe enjoyed by their defcendants. 



Ddd ' As 



