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faw the fouls of Cortes, Donna Marina, and Sandoval, burning in 

 flames of fire; and that he had been fo terrified thereat, as to have re- 

 mained ill ever fince. Another man of good reputation alfo came to 

 the fador, and told him that the quadrangles of Tefcuco were haunted 

 by evil fpirits, which the natives faid were the fouls of Donna Marina 

 and Cortes. All thofe falfehoods they invented to ingratiate themfelves 

 with the fa(5lor. 



At this time arrived in Mexico the captains Francifco de las Cafas, 

 and Gil Gonzales de Avila, the fame who beheaded Chriftoval de Oli. 

 Las Cafas on his arrival publicly afferted the exiftence of Cortes, and 

 reprobated the condudt of the fadtor, but declared that fhould it be the 

 cafe, as then believed, that we were all dead, Alvarado was the only 

 proper man to put in the place of Cortes, until his Majefly's further 

 pleafure fhould be known. Alvarado being written to on the fubjed: 

 fet out for Mexico, but growing apprehenfive of fome attempt upon 

 his life, he thought it moft prudent to return to his diftrid:. The fadtor 

 had at this time collected what gold he could lay his hands upon, to 

 fupport his negotiations at court. In this he was oppofed by almoft 

 every other officer of the government of New Spain, who determined 

 among themfelves, not to permit him exclufively to make reprefenta- 

 tions of the tranfadlions there, but to fend likewife their own ftatements 

 at the fame time, and by the fame opportunity with his. When the 

 fador found that he could not bring over Las Cafas, Gonzalez de Avila, 

 and the licentiate, to fupport his views, he caufed the two former to be 

 arrejfted and profecuted for the alleged murder of De Olij and by his 

 wickednefs, and the preponderance of his power, procuring their con- 

 demnation, it was with the greatefl difficulty that their immediate exe- 

 cution could be prevented, by appealing to his Majefty. He was 

 obliged however to content himfelf with fending them prifoners to Caf- 

 tille. He then fell upon the licentiate Zuazo, and fent him off to Vera 

 Cruz, and there embarked him for the Ifland of Cuba, as was alleged, 

 to anfwer for his condud while he was judge there. He next feized 

 Rodrigo de Paz, and demanded of him an account and furrender of the 



I i i treafure 



