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CHAPTER IX. 



Cortes goes to Europe-, is created Marquis of the Valley 

 of Guaxaca. Account of various tranfatiions and occurrences 

 in Old and New Spain. Death and character of the Marquis 

 of the Valley, 



(>ORTES now received letters from the prefident of the Indies, the 

 Duke of Bejar, and feveral other of his friends, informing him of the- 

 necefTity of his appearance in Caftille, to do away the mahgnant accufa* 

 tions of his enemies. Others alio inforn-ied him of the death of his father 

 Martin Cortes. Having performed the funeral obfequies to his father, 

 he ordered two (hips to be purchafed, which he ftorcd with fuch quan- 

 tities of provifions of every kind, that the overplus when he arrived in 

 Spain, would have fufHced for a two years voyage. 



For making thefe preparations he employed his major domo who 

 w?is named Efquival. This officer croffing the lake of Mexico to Ayot- 

 cingo in a large canoe with fix Indian rowers and one Negro, and hav- 

 ing fome ingots of gold in his poffeffion, was way-laid and murdered 

 fomewhere on the lake. . The manner of his death never was known, 

 neither canoe, Indians, or Negro, ever being traced. The body of 

 Efquival was found four days after in a fmall illand, half eaten by birds 

 of prey. There were many fufpicions entertained about this affair; the 

 man was faid to be a great boafter of the favours he received from the 

 ladies. There were alfo other bad ftories told of him, which gave rife 

 to fufpicions of fuch a nature as I cannot relate; no great enquiry w;as 



made. 



