Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/365

 for purposes which I have not succeeded in accomplishing. I can easily believe that, perhaps, they partly believed this, as such rumours are current, but they are contrary to the facts, and I am fully confident that the first use of the touchstone will suffice to discover the counterfeit. As to what they say about my possessing the large portion of the land, I admit this to be true, and I have likewise had for my share a good sum and quantity of gold; but I declare it has not been sufficient to raise me above poverty, and free me from debt, for I owe more than five hundred thousand pesos in gold, to pay which I do not possess a single peso; because, if my share has been large, the expenditures have been greater, for I have consumed very large sums, not in buying lands, nor in founding entails, nor acquiring any sort of property for myself and heirs, but in extending the dominion and patrimony of Your Highness in these parts, and in gaining and conquering many kingdoms and lordships for Your Excellency, and exposing myself to risks and dangers.

These malicious men will never be able to conceal, or defame with their viperous tongues, these services, because, by examining my books, it will be found  Cortes Renders Account that I have spent in these conquests more than three hundred thousand pesos in gold belonging to my own fortune and household; having finished with that, I have spent sixty thousand pesos in gold, belonging to Your Majesty, which were not used for me, for I never touched them, but they were paid out on my vouchers for the cost and expenses of this conquest. Whether they have been profitably spent or not may be seen by the patent results which are manifest to all. Respecting what they say of my not sending the revenues to Your Majesty, this is also manifestly contrary to the truth, because, in the short time which has elapsed since I came here, more treasure has been sent to Your Majesty than from all the