( 38? ) 



with reverence, ringing the bells, bearing crucifixes and lighted wax 

 candles, and the Spaniards to kneel down and kifs their hands. When 

 they approached Mexico, he went out to meet them and as foon as they 

 appeared, Cortes threw himfelf from his horfe to kifs the hands of the 

 reverend vicar. When the natives faw the general on his knees to thofe 

 reverend fathers, with bare feet and in tattered habits, they were afto- 

 nifhed, and confidering them as gods, they all follov/ed his example, 

 and have continued to do fo ever fince, 



Cortes at this time thought it neceffary to inform his Majefty of 

 his proceedings in the convcrfion of the natives, the rebuilding of the 

 city, and the expedition which he had fent againft the province of Hon- 

 duras under the command of De Oli, who had defer ted, and embraced 

 the party of Velafquez, on which account he had determined to fend a 

 force againft him. He alfo complained of the proceedings of Velafquez, 

 and of the injury his Majefty's fervice had fuftained thereby, as alfo by 

 the partiality of the Bidiop of Burgos, He remitted at the fame time 

 thirty thoufand crowns in gold to his Majefty's treafury, and lamented 

 the unfortunate effedls of thofe abufes, as having prevented him from 

 making an ampler contribution of gold. He at the fame time com- 

 plained of one Rodrigo de Albornos, contador in Mexico, who afper- 

 fed him from private motives, becaufe he had refufed to give him in 

 marriage the daughter of the Indian lord of Tefcuco, adding that he 

 underftood that this Albornos was attached to the intereft of the Bifhop 

 of Burgos, and was accuftomed to write to him in cyphers. 



At this time the news of the bifhop's removal had not reached 

 Mexico. Albornos, before mentioned, fent by the fame vefTcl his accu- 

 fations againft Cortes, charging him with levying excelTivc contribu- 

 tions of gold for his own ufe. That he was fortifying caftles, and mar- 

 rying the daughters of great lords to his private foldiers, infmuating 

 that Cortes was endeavouring to fet himfelf up as an independent king, 

 and ftrongly reprefenting the necelTity of fending an officer with a great 

 force, to fupercede him. Thefe letters came to the hands of the Biftiop 



Ddd 2 of 



