voted to his religion,
and it must be particularly borne in mind that the Catholic faith was
never stronger than at that time; yet we find him the least
superstitious of all the Spanish historians on the Conquest, and, in the
34th Chapter, he has shown a mind superior to the times in which he
lived.

If we contemplate the period in which the conquest of New Spain took
place, we can easily imagine that Cortes considered it imperative on
him to plant his religion among the Indians by the power of the sword,
if he could not by kind remonstrances; and we are often reminded of
Joshua in the Old Testament. The Spaniards themselves certainly
entertained that idea; for in the edition of Cortes' despatches
published at Mexico in 1770, his sword is termed, "Gladius Domini et
Gideonis:" yet the Spaniards were not the cruel monsters they have
generally been described during those times. As far as the conquest of
New Spain is concerned, they were more humane than otherwise; and if at
times they used severity, we find that it was caused by the horrible and
revolting abominations which were practised by the natives. We can
scarcely imagine kinder-hearted beings than the first priests and monks
who went out to New Spain; they were men who spent their lives under
every species of hardship to promote the happiness of the Indians. Who
can picture to his mind a more amiable and noble disposition than that
of father Olmedo? He was one of the finest characters, Dr. Robertson
says, that ever went out as priest with an invading army!

We may have become exceedingly partial to a work which has now been
constantly before our eyes for the last two years, yet we can scarcely
imagine that any one could take up a volume, whether a novel or a
history, which he would peruse with more delight than these memoirs.

With regard to the translation, which is from the old edition printed at
Madrid in 1632, we have acted up to the author's desire, and have
neither added nor taken anything away, and have attempted to follow the
original as closely as possible. To the original there is not a single
note, and particular care has been taken not to overburden the
translation with them. In the spelling of the names of the Indian
chiefs, the townships, and of the provinces, we have mostly followed
Torquemada, who is considered more correct on this point, for he lived
fifty years in New Spain, was perfect master of the Mexican language,
and made the history of tha