Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/363

 greater evils as likely to follow should I not accept, and, though I have defended myself until now and have not yielded, I can see that there do in reality exist some evils. But I desired Your Majesty should be convinced of my purity and fidelity in Your Royal service, which is my chief aim, because thinking otherwise of me, all other good things in this world are nothing to me, and I would rather die. I have therefore put aside everything for this purpose and insist with all my influence upon a certain licenciate, called Marcos de Aguilar, whom the said Luis Ponce brought as [sic]h'eoj'e is'joAvui apj as his successor, requesting and  [sic]entreati Suhim to continue the investigation to its finish. He has refused to do this, alleging insufficient powers, for which I am exceedingly sorry, as there is nothing in the world I desire so much as to have Your Majesty properly informed of my virtues and sins (and this not without reason) for I believe, as an article of faith, that Your Catholic Majesty will grant me ample rewards, not taking into consideration the smallness of my past services, but because Your Majesty is bound to display munificence towards one who has served you with such fidelity as I have.

Nothing of this should be allowed to remain obscure, but all the good and bad of my services should be manifestly and clearly published, for it is a point  Accusations against Cortes of honour with me, to obtain which I have gone through so many trials, and exposed myself to so many dangers. So that I hope that neither God, nor Your Majesty out of respect to Him, will allow invidious and corrupt tongues to deprive me of what I prize most. I neither desire nor ask of Your Majesty any other reward in payment of my services than this. God grant that I shall not live without it. I feel, Most Catholic Prince, that, from the beginning of my expeditions, I have had many and powerful rivals and enemies; yet their wickedness and