( ASS ) 



Cortes fent an exprefs to his Majefly, and alfo to his patrons at 

 court, informing them of his arrival, and alfo of the death of his friend 

 Sandoval, whofe merits and fervices were known to his Majefty, and 

 for whofe lofs he was pleafed to exprefs great regret; The Quke of 

 Bejar and the Count of Aguilar, on receiving the intelligence, waited 

 on his Majefty, but found him in pofTeffion of it by the letter of Cortes. 

 His Majefty feemed to have at prefent a convi(fl:ion of that officer's loy- 

 alty, for which his friend the Duke of Bejar had been three times obli- 

 ged to engage his life, for he was pleafed to order that in all the cities 

 and towns through which Cortes pafTed, he fhpuld be received with 

 the, highefl honour. 



When he arrived at Seville he -was entertained there by the Duke 

 of Medina Sidonia, who made him a prefent of feveral beautiful horfes. 

 From thence he proceeded, to attend the nine days devotions to our Lady, 

 of Guadeloupe. Donna Maria, wife of the commendador Don Fran- 

 cifco de los Cobos, v/ith many other ladies of great rank arrived at the 

 fame time. As foon as Cortes had paid his devotions, given charity to 

 the poor, and ordered mafs to be faid, he went attended by all his re- 

 tinue of cavaliers to pay his refpeds to Donna Maria, the beautiful lady 

 her fifler, and the many others of diftinguifhed rank, who were in hey 

 company. Here Cortes had an opportunity of exhibiting that polite- 

 nefs, gallantry, and generofity, in which he furpaffed all men. H9 

 made prefents of golden ornaments of great value, to all, but more ef- 

 pecially to Donna Maria and her fifter : , and to each lady he gave a pen- 

 ache of green feathers, richly ornamented with gold. He then produ- 

 ced his Indian dancers who threw the flick from one foot to another, 

 to the. aftonilhment of the, fpedators, and in addition to all this, undcr- 

 ftanding thajt one of the mules belonging to the fifter of Donna Maria 

 was unable to travel, he caufed to be purchafed for her two of the fineft 

 that could be procured for money. He alfo waited the departure of thof^ 

 ladies for the court, attending them upon the journey and providing 

 magnificent entertainments for them,, the honours of which he did 



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