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foldiers who had exhibited more valour and per feverance than ourfelves, 

 and that it was neceffary to continue to do fo in order to fave our Hves. 

 That with our courage he was well acquainted, as he alfo was with 

 many other circumftances which they had then mentioned. But, that 

 as God had delivered us from thofc great perils, he hoped the fame 

 mercy would be continued to us in future. He then appealed to them 

 if he had ever fhewn himfelf unwilling to (hare dangers with us, 

 which indeed he well might, for he was ever forward on thofe occa- 

 fions, and continued his reply, adding, that as we had wherever we 

 went preached to the ignorant natives the dodtrines of our holy faith, 

 he trufted we fhould ftill receive the divine afTiftance, and that of his 

 patron St. Peter. That as to deflroying our fhips, it was done by good 

 advice; *' And," continued he, '* Gentlemen, our fame will exceed 

 ** far that of the moft illuftrious of our predecefTors, who never, as you 

 ** obferve, dared to take fuch a meafure; and therefore it is better, in- 

 ** ftead of repining, to look forward, and leave all to be guided by the 

 ** hand of God. As to our return, it is true the natives we had left 

 *' behind are now friendly, but if we fecmed to retreat, the very flones 

 ** would rife againft us. Therefore gentlemen, thus it is; bad there, 

 ** worfe elfewhere, better flay as you are, here in a plentiful country, 

 *• and as to what you fay of loffes, deaths, and fatigues, fuch is the 

 " fortune of war, and we did not come here in fearch of paftimes and 

 " amufements. Therefore I beg of you, who are all cavaliers by your 

 " ftation authorized to fet an example, that you no longer will think 

 ** of returning, but do your duty like the valiant foldiers I have always 

 ** found you to be." 



The others replied deprecating ftill the march to Mexico; he then 

 cut them fhort by faying, that according to the fong, it was better to 

 die at once than live difhonored ; and Cortes being fupported in thefe 

 fentiments by all his friends, the complaints of thefe people were ftifled 

 for the prefent, for we all cried out that no more fhould be faid upon 

 the fubjed. 



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