( 463 ) 



what they had got, the only perfons deprived being Albornoz of his 

 new year's gift, one Villaroel, and Villegas. 



As foon as the members of the court heard that they were to be 

 fuperceded, they refolved to difpatch agents to Caftille with plenty of 

 witnefles, fuch as were fit and well prepared for their purpofe, to vouch 

 for the propriety of their condudi. It was determined to proceed to the 

 election of the agents who were to be fent on this occafion, and for this 

 purpofe all the veteran conquerors, with many other perfons of confider- 

 ation, met in the great church, where the perfon was to be chofen by « 

 vote. Guzman and the oydors recommended the fadtor Salazar, and 

 although they had committed fome improprieties, yet as they had in 

 the main adled fo well by us in the diftribution of property, we were 

 all well inclined to vote for the perfon recommended by them, and 

 which they expected us to do. When we had all affembled for the 

 purpofe in the great church, there was fuch a noife and outcry fet up 

 by perfons who had no bufinefs there, but had crouded in, that it was 

 hardly pofTible to proceed to the election. It was ordered that all who 

 had not been fummoned fhould quit the place, but it was to no effecflj 

 they v/ouid not go, and at laft the queflion was obliged to be put to the 

 whole. Since thofe who had no bufinefs there would neither quit the 

 place nor be iilent, it may be judged what kind of an eled;ion it was. 

 When v/e perceived how matters were going, it was agreed amongft 

 us to adjourn until the following day, at the houfe of the prefident of 

 the council, and none were fummoned but perfons of one way of think- 

 ing. Of courfe it was amicably decided. In confequence of an adjufl- 

 ment, two agents were to be chofen, one, Anthonio de Carvajal, on- 

 the part of the oydors, and another, Bernardino Vafquez de Tapia, on. 

 that of Cortes. However it appeared to me that both were equally de- 

 voted to the views of the prefident ; and . it v/as natural enough, for 

 the latter had rendered much more, fervice to our interefl in his fhort 

 time, than Cortes had done during the long period of his power* But 

 fuch 15 the natural loyalty of the Spaniards, that we were rxiore attached; 



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