{ 456 ) 



with a grace peculiar to himfelf, infomuch that Donna Maria de Men- 

 doza began to entertain thoughts of an alliance between her fifler and 

 Cortes. However in marriages as in other cafes it is the hand of God 

 which leads us, and therefore no more need be faid upon the fubjedt. 

 Donna Maria was fo taken with the politenefs and generofity of Cortes, 

 that fhe wrote to the commendador of Leon faying, that the fame of 

 Cortes and his heroic adions was far fhort of the judgment which muft 

 be formed of him, by thofe who had the good fortune of his acquain- 

 tance, and brought over her hufband completely to his interefl. 



When our general arrived at court, his Majefly was pleafed to 

 appoint the apartments to receive him, and his friends came out in a 

 body to meet him on the road. On the enfuing day he went b}' per- 

 miffion to throw himfelf at his Majefty^s feet, being attended by the 

 DukeofBejar, the admiral of the Indies, and the commendador of 

 Leon. His Majefty com.manded him to rife, and Cortes, after a fhort 

 enumeration of his fervices, and vindication of his condud: from the 

 afperfions of his enemies, prefented a memorial wherein the whole was 

 fully detailed. His Majefty having received it, commanded him to 

 rife, and immediately honoured him with the title of Marquis del Valle, 

 and the order of St. Jago, He alfo gave him an eftate to maintain his 

 new dignity, and confirmed him captain general of New Spain and of 

 the fouth feas. Cortes, thus loaded with honours, retired from the 

 royal prefence to receive in a few days a flill greater than all. Shortly 

 after his arrival in Toledo he fell dangeroufly ill; when the Emperor 

 heard it, -he did him the honour of paying him a vifit in perfon. He 

 however recovered in a fhort time, and the particular favour of his 

 Majefty encouraged him to affume a rank and charader equal to his 

 high title. One funday that his Majeily was at mafs in the cathedral, 

 and feated according to cuftom with his nobility each in his proper fta- 

 tion, Cortes, defignedly as it is faid, cam.e there late, and after all were 

 feated; and pafling before the whole of them, took his place next to 



the 



