Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/233

 arisen. I say this because, I learned from Gonzalo de Salazar, factor to Your Highness, who arrived two days since, at the port of San Juan in New Spain that he was informed in the island of Cuba, where he stopped, that Diego Velasquez, lieutenant of the admiral there, had had an understanding with Cristobal de Olid, whom I had sent to Hibueras, to revolt against me in his favour. This proceeding seemed so contrary to Your Majesty's service that I am unable to believe it; nevertheless, on the other hand, knowing that the said Diego Velasquez has always sought to work me mischief and to disturb me in every possible way, and even to prevent people from coming to these parts, I do believe it. In that island he imprisons those who go there from here, and oppresses them, taking away their goods, and afterwards bringing judicial proceedings against them so that they, to obtain their freedom and escape him, do and say anything he pleases. I shall inform myself of the truth, and, if I find it to be thus, I think to send to arrest Diego Velasquez and deliver him to Your Majesty; because by cutting the root of these evils — which this man is — all the branches will decay, and I shall be able to make effectual the services I have begun and those which I hope to undertake.

Each time I have written Your Sacred Majesty, I have told Your Highness of the preparation made for the conversion to our holy religion of the Indians  Plans to Convert the Indians of these parts, and I have since besought Your Cæsarian Majesty to provide religious persons of good life and example; but so far very few or almost none have come. It is positive they would obtain great fruit, and I have again to recall it to Your Highness's memory, beseeching you to order some provision in this with all possible haste, because God, our Lord, will be much pleased, and Your Majesty's desire as a Catholic in this matter will be gratified. The procurators Antonio