iv 



P R E F A C E, 



He fays that Cortes gave orders, fecretly, for the deftrud:ion of 

 the fhips; whereas it was done by the common; confent of all, to have 

 the afliftance of the mariners. He alfo depreciates Juan de Grijalva 

 moft Linjuftly j he being a very valiant captain. He omits the difcovery 

 of Yucatan by De Cordova, and is in an error again when he fpeaks of 

 the firfl expedition of Garray, as if Garray had come -with it. In what 

 concerns the defeat of Narvaez, his account is conformable to the rela- 

 tions givenj but in that of the wars of Tlafcala he is as erroneous as 

 ever. As to the war in Mexico, where we loft above eight hundred 

 and feventy foldiers, this he treats as a matter of little importance; and 

 he makes no mention of our lolTes in the fubfequent fiege, but fpeaks 

 of it as if it had been a feftival, or a marriage! but why fhould I wafte 

 paper and ink in the detection of his numerous errors; I will therefore 

 proceed with my relation, for according to what the wife fay, the art 

 and beauty of biftorical compofitiort io, to -wrlt\- the tiuthj and proceed- 

 ing upon this rule, with fuch embellifliment and ornament as I fhall 

 hereafter judge expedient, I will relate and bring into full light the 

 conqueft of New Spain, and the heroic fervices of us the true conque- 

 rors, who with our fmall numbers, under the adventurous and brave 

 Captain Hernando Cortes, and with great danger and hardfliips, gained 

 to his Majefly this rich country; for which fervice his Majefty has 

 frequently iflued his orders that we Ihould be amply rewarded. More- 

 over, as a good pilot founds, and difcovers fhoals and fands as he pro- 

 ceeds, by the lead and line, fo will I, with my pen in my hand, expofe 

 mifreprefentations, in my voyage through the hiflory of Gomara, to 

 the haven of truth ^ but if I were to point out every error, the chaff 

 would outweigh the grain. 



My relation will give to hiftorians fufficient whereby to celebrate 



our 



