( 478 ) 



was difperfed in a ftorm. The veffel on board which the Marquis was 

 being ftranded, he, his fons, and the other cavahers reached the fhore 

 with very great difficulty. His fervants have related, that before he 

 quitted the vefTel, he tied round his arm in a handkerchief a quantity 

 of jewels of ineftimable value, which he wore according to the cuftom 

 of great lords, as we fay "para no menefter,'* or becaufe they are not 

 wanting, but in the confufion of quitting the vefTel by fome accident 

 they were all loft. On account of this difafter to the fleet, the council 

 of war were of opinion to raife the fiege immediately. To this council 

 the Marquis was not fummoned, but he is faid to have declared, that 

 had he been prefent at it he would have given his vote for the continu- 

 ation of the fiege, and that if it had been his fortune to have had fuch 

 brave foldiers as thofe who firft accomj!>anied him to Mexico, he 

 would entertain no doubt of fuccefs. 



The Marquis was now grown old, and he was worn down by fa- 

 tigues; he was therefore very anxious to return to New Spain, but a 

 treaty of marriage was on foot between his eldeft daughter Donna Maria 

 Cortes, for whom he had fent to Mexico, and Don Alvaro Pinez Ofo- 

 rio fon and heir to the Marquis of Aftorga. The lady was to have a 

 fortune of a hundred thoufand ducats, and the Marquis had gone as far 

 as Seville to meet her on her arrival in Spain, but the match was bro- 

 ken off, as it is faid, by the fault of Don Alvaro. The Marquis was 

 greatly difpleafed, and being in a bad fl:ate of health before, he declined 

 fo rapidly that he found it neceffary to retire from Seville to Caftileja de 

 la Cuefta, to attend to his foul, and make his laft teftament. Having 

 arranged all his affairs for this, and the next world, it was the Lord's 

 will to take him from this troublefome flate, on the fecond day of De- 

 cember one thoufand five hundred and forty feven. He was buried 

 with great pomp in the chapel of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, but 

 his remains were afterwards, according to his will, brought to New 

 Spain, and interred in Cuyoacan or Tezcuco, I am uncertain which. 

 In regard to his age, I will give the befl: account that I am able. In 



the 



