I now go beyond the date of my narrative to inform my readers of a circumstance which happened during the viceroyalty of that illustrious nobleman, Don Antonio de Mendoza, worthy of eternal memory and heavenly glory for his wise and just government.  Albornos wrote malignant and slanderous letters against him, as he had before done of Cortes, which letters were all sent back from Spain to Don Antonio.  When he had read all the gross abuse which they contained, he sent for Albornos, to whom he shewed his own letters; saying mildly, in his usual slow manner, “When you are pleased to make me the subject of your letters to his majesty, remember always in future to tell the truth.”

[1] Like the solitary Phoenix, I, without a peer, serve you, who have no
    equal in the world.

[2] In Clavigero, at the close of Vol.  I. this lady is named Donna Jeroma
    Ramirez de Arrellano y Zuniga, daughter of Don Carlos Ramiro de
    Arellano, Count of Auguiller, by Donna Jeroma de Zuniga, a daughter of
    the Count of Benares, eldest son of Don Alvaro de Zuniga, duke of
    Bejar.  After two male descents from this marriage, the Marquisate of
    the Valley of Oaxaca, and the great estates of Cortes in New Spain,
    fell, by various collateral female descents, to the Neapolitan family
    of Pignatelli, duke of Montelione and Terranova, marquis of the Valley
    of Oaxaca, Grandee of Spain, and prince of the Roman empire.—­E.

SECTION XX.

Narrative of the Expedition of Cortes to Higueras.

I have formerly mentioned the revolt of De Oli.  Cortes was much distressed on receiving this intelligence, and immediately sent off his relation, Francisco de las Casas, with five ships and a hundred well appointed soldiers, among whom were some of the veteran conquerors of Mexico, with orders to reduce De Oli.  Las Casas soon arrived at the bay of Triumpho de la Cruz, where De Oli had established his head-quarters; and though Las Casas hoisted a signal of peace, De Oli determined on resistance, and sent a number of soldiers in two armed vessels to oppose Las Casas, who ordered out his boats armed with swivels and musquetry to attack those belonging to De Oli.  In this affair Las Casas was successful, as he sunk one of the vessels belonging to De Oli, killed four of his soldiers, and wounded a great number.  On this misfortune, and because a considerable number of his soldiers were on a detached service in the inland country, for the purpose of reducing a party of Spaniards under Gil Gonzalez de Avila, who was employed in making conquests on the river Pechin, De Oli thought it advisable to propose terms of peace to Las Casas, in hopes that his detachment might return to his assistance.  Las Casas unfortunately agreed to treat, and remained at sea; partly for the purpose of finding some better place of disembarkation, and partly induced by letters