318 SUBSEQUENT CAREER OF CORTES. [B OOK VII,

As he approached Toledo, then the rival of Ma­ drid , the press of the multitude increased, till he wasmet by the duke de Bejar, the count de Aguilar,and others of his steady friends, who, at the headof a large body of the principal nobility and cavaliersof the city, came out to receive him, and attendedhim to the quarters prepared for his residence. Itwas a proud moment for Cortés ; and distrusting, ashe well might, his reception by his countrymen, itafforded him a greater satisfaction than the brilliantentrance, which, a few years previous, he had madeinto the capital of Mexico .

The following day he was admitted to an au-dience by the emperor, and Cortes, gracefully kneel-ing to kiss the hand of his sovereign, presented tohim a memorial which succinctly recounted his ser-vices and the requital he had received for them.The emperor graciously raised him, and put manyquestions to him respecting the countries he hadconquered. Charles was pleased with the general’sanswers, and his intelligent mind took great satis-faction in inspecting the curious specimens of Indianingenuity which his vassal had brought with himfrom New Spain. In subsequent conversations theemperor repeatedly consulted Cortes on the bestmode of administering the government of the colo-nies ; and by his advice introduced some important

acompañamiento y magestad, que rador.” Lanuza, Historias Eccle-mas parecía de Príncipe, ó señor siásticas y Seculares de Aragón,poderosíssimo, que de Capitán y (Zaragoza , 1623,) lib. 3, cap. 14.vasallo de algún Rey 6 Empe-