Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/229

 escape both those who go by the South Sea and those who go by the North; for the South Sea Expedition will go till they either find it or reach the country discovered by Magellanes, and those of the North, as I have already said, until they reach the Bacallaos. Thus on one side or the other we cannot fail to discover the secret. I certify to Your Majesty that, judging by my information, I should have obtained greater returns and rendered greater service to Your Majesty by sending these ships to the countries up the coast of the South Sea, but, as I am informed of Your Majesty's desire to discover this strait, and of the greater service your royal crown would thereby receive, I ignore all other profits and interests to follow this other expedition. May our Lord grant it as it best pleases Him, and may Your Majesty's desire be satisfied, and my desire to serve be likewise gratified.

Your Majesty's officials sent to take charge of Your Royal revenues and assets have arrived, and have begun to take the accounts of those who previously had this charge, which I in Your Highness's name had given them. As these officials will submit the statement which has been kept until now to show Your Majesty, I will not speak of it again, in any particular, but refer myself to their report, believing that it will be one from which Your Majesty may perceive the solicitude and vigilance that I have always exercised in everything touching Your Royal service. Although the occupation of the wars and the pacification of this country has been so great, as is manifested by the above, I have nevertheless not forgotten to take special care to collect and secure the greatest possible revenues for Your Majesty.

It will appear by the copy of the accounts which the said officials send to Your Cæsarian Majesty that I have used some sixty-two thousand pesos in gold from Your Royal revenues in all the necessary expenses of pacifying these countries and the extension of the dominions Your