( SOS ) 



amongrt us, the companions of Cortes, but the Emperor was at that 

 time in Barcelona, preparing to embark for Flanders. Had Cortes im- 

 mediately after the conquefl divided this country into five parts, and 

 afligned one of the richeft and befl: of the fifths for his Majefty ; allot- 

 ted one fliare and a half for himfelf, for churches, monafkries, and 

 municipal properties, as alfo for a fund wherefrom his Majefty could 

 reward cavaliers who ferved him in Italy or againft the Turks and 

 Moors ; and divided the other two fifths and a half, by grants in per- 

 petuity to us, we (hould have been all fatisfadtorily provided for. As 

 our Caefar was fo chriftian a monarch, and as the conqueft of this coun- 

 try coft him nothing, he would have readily granted us thefe favours. 

 But we at that time did not know how to apply for juftice, nor to 

 whom to reprcfent our fervices or our injuries, except to Cortes himfelf, 

 who did in the bufinefs as he thought fit. We therefore remained with 

 the little which had been afligned us, until we faw that Don Francifco 

 de Montejo who went to wait upon his Majefty in Europe obtained the 

 appointments of adelantado and governor of Yucatan, eftates in Mexico, 

 and other rewards. Diego de Ordas alfo, who went to court, obtained 

 an encomienda of St. Jago, and diftridts in New Spain. Then Don 

 Pedro de Alvarado went to kifs his Majefty's feet and was made adelan- 

 tado and governor of Guatimala and Chiapa, commander of the order 

 of St. J^go, and obtained diftridis of lands. Laft went Cortes, who 

 was created a marquis, and appointed captain general of the South Sea. 



When we the conquerors therefore faw, that thofe who did not 

 reach his Majefty's prefence had no one to fpeak in our favour, we 

 fent to petition that whatever lands thenceforward fell vacant, fhould be 

 diftributed in perpetuities amongft us, according as our claims were 

 fubftantiated, as was the cafe before the firft court of royal audience 

 held in Mexico, whereof Nuno de Guzman was prefidcnt. His Ma- 

 jefty's exprefs dire(5lions to Nuno de Guzman were, to throw the whole 

 property of New Spain into a mafs, and then to make the divifions 

 more equal, deduding in due proportion from the immoderate grants of 



Ttt Cortes. 



