( 438 ) 



Domingo, of the intcrpofition of the Duke of Bejar, and the appoint- 

 ment of Luis Ponce de Leon. The licentiate at this period of which I 

 am writing, had arrived at Medelhn. The fuddennefs of his coming 

 rather furprifed Cortes, who when he received the intelHgence, was 

 performing his devotions in the church of St. Francis. He earneflly 

 prayed to the Lord to guide him as feemed beil: to his holy wifdom, and 

 on coming out of the church fent an exprefs to bring him information 

 of all particulars. In two days after, the licentiate fent him his Ma- 

 jefty's orders to receive him as refident judge in Mexico, and Cortes in 

 confequence thereof difpatched a perfon with a meflage of compliment, 

 and defiring to know which of the two roads to the city he intended to 

 take, that he might make fuch preparations as were proper for the re- 

 ception of a perfon of his rank. The licentiate fent him back an anfwer, 

 thanking him for his polite offers, and declaring his intention to repofe 

 after the fatigues of his voyage for a little time, where he was. This 

 interval was bufily employed by the enemies of Cortes, who reprefented 

 to the licentiate that it was his determination to put the fadlor and vee- 

 dor to death, before his arrival, and that it was neceffary for him to 

 take good care as to his own perfon, for as to all thefe civilities of Cor- 

 tes, they were only intended, by afcertaining the road that he intended 

 to take, under the colour of preparation to do him honour, the more 

 effediually to fucceed in his intention to affaffinate him. They alfo 

 mifreprefented every tranfadion in which Cortes had been concerned. 



The perfons whom the licentiate principally confulted were the 

 alcalde major Proano, a native of Cordova, and his brother the alcalde 

 of the citadel, named Salazar de la Pedrada, who Ihortly after his arri- 

 val died of a pleurify, Marcos de Aguilar a licentiate or bachelor, a fol- 

 dier named Bocanegra de Cordova, and certain fathers of the order of 

 St. Domingo, the provincial of whom was one Fray Thomas Ortiz. 

 He had been a prior fome where that I do not now recoiled, and all 

 thofe who came with him defcribed him to be a man more fit for world- 

 ly affairs than thofe which particularly concerned his holy office. With 



thefe 



