( 50' ) 



country higher in eftimation, becaufe we well know that Peru has 

 been involved in cruel civil wars, whereas we have remained, and will 

 continue to do fo, our breafts proftrate on the earth in fubmiffion and 

 allegiance to our lord the King, and ready to expofe aud devote our lives 

 and fortunes in his fervice. 



Let the curious reader confider the number of cities of New Spain, 

 which from their being fo many, I will not detail ; our ten bifhoprics, 

 not including the archbifhopric of the noble city of Mexico, the three 

 courts of royal audience, together with the fucceffion of governors, 

 archbifhops, and bifliops, our holy cathedrals and monafteries, Domi- 

 nican, Francifcan, Mercenarian, and Auguftin, our hofpitals with the 

 extenfive remiffions and pardons attached to them, and the Santa Cafa 

 of our Lady of Guadeloupe with the holy miracles there performed every 

 day, and let us give thanks to God, and to his blelTed mother our Lady, 

 for giving us grace and fupport to conquer thefe countries, where fo 

 much chriftianity is now eflablifhed* 



Let it be alfo remembered, that in Mexico there is a univerfity 

 wherein are ftudied and learned grammar, theology, rhetoric, logic, 

 philofophy, and other fciences. There is alfo a printing prefs for books 

 both in Latin and Romance, and in this college they graduate as licen- 

 tiates and do(5lorSj to which I might add many other inftances to en- 

 hance the value of thefe countries, fuch as the mines of filver, and other 

 difcoveries, whereby profperity and grandeur redound to the mother 

 country. If all which I have now faid does not fuffice, let the wife 

 and learned read my hiflory from beginning to end, and they will then 

 confefs, that there never exifted in the world men who by bold atchieve- 

 ment have gained more for their Lord and King, than we the brave 

 conquerors; amongft the mofl valiant of whom I was confidered as one, 

 and am the moft ancient of all. I fiy again that I,— I myfelf, — I, am 

 a true conqueror: and the mofl ancient of ail. 



I will 



