( i!" ) 



how he had often been an eye witnefs of my conduc^l as a brave foldier 

 in battle as well in Mexico as in other places, how I accompanied him 

 in his expedition to Honduras and Higueras, and many other particu- 

 lars which to avoid prolixity I will not relate. The moft illuftrious 

 viceroy alfo, Don Alonzo de Mendoza wrote to his Majefty informing 

 him of what he had learned relative to me from the captains by whofe 

 fide I fought, and his account was in all refpects conformable to that of 

 the Marquis Del Valle. Proofs to the fame purport were alfo prefented 

 on my part to the royal council of the Indies in the year one thoufand 

 five hundred and forty. 



Now, faid I, gentlemen licentiates, are not the Marquis Del Valle, 

 the viceroy D. A. de Mendoza, and my proofs, good witneffes? but 

 if they will not fuffice, 1 will produce you the Emperor our lord Don 

 Carlos the fifth, who by his royal letter, fealed with his royal feal, 

 commanded all viceroys and prefidents, that refpeding the many and 

 good fervices which I had rendered, benefits fhould be conferred upon 

 me and mine. The original letters are now in my pofTefiion, and the 

 copies depofited at court in the archives of the fecretary Ochoa de Luy- 

 ado. Such was my anfwer to the obfervation of the licentiates. 



But to return to my fubjedl, if more teftimony is wanting look at 

 New Spain which is three times larger than our Caftille, and more 

 thickly inhabited by Spaniards, and the great wealth which it fends to 

 Caftille. But I have obferved that the hiftorians Gomara and Illefcas 

 never chofe to relate our heroic actions, leaving all our value and ho- 

 nours in the dark, where they would have remained were it not for this 

 my true hiftory, and afligning fuch great merit to Cortes j in which, 

 although they were right to a certain degree, yet they ought not at the 

 fame time to have forgotten us. 



Of the achievements of Cortes a part alfo of the honour falls to 

 me, for I was one of the moft forward in every battle by his fide, as I 



was 



