( >8o ) 



more magnificent prefents to Narvaez, and could not conceal the fatis- 

 fa6lion which he felt. It was now three days fince he had received this 

 intelligence, without communicating it to' Cortes, who obferved and 

 was furprifed at the alteration which he perceived in him. ' At the ex- 

 piration of that time however, being, from the circumftance of Cortes 

 having paid him two vifits in the courfe of the day, apprehenfive of the 

 general having obtained the knowledge of it through fome other channel, 

 he told him the news, ■ faying, that he had juft that moment received it. 

 Cortes demonftrated the greateft joy, and after Montezuma had fhewn 

 him the reprefentations of it which had been tranfmitted to him, whereby 

 Cortes learned all that it is was neceflary for him to know, he took his 

 leave, and communicated it to his troops, who inftantly got under arms, 

 and fired vollies. We foon however perceived, that. Cortes when by 

 himfelf was very penfive, and fhortly calling us together, he explained 

 to us the evident deftination of this armament, that it was meant againft 

 us, and he now, by gifts, as well as promifes,, as if what we received 

 was his private bounty, inftead of our fair right, made intereft with' 

 us, to continue firm and fteady to him in the conteft which was to 

 take place. 



From the reprefentation of our deferters, Narvaez was induced to 

 fend to the governor of Villa Rica, demanding of him to furrender his 

 command. He entrufted this bufinefs to three perfons, Guevara a man 

 of talents and a clergyman, a relation of Velafquez named Amarga, and 

 one Vergara a fcrivener, who accordingly fet out for Villa Rica. San- 

 doval had received information of the arrival of an armament, and 

 gueffing its objed:, prepared againft an attack. He fent off all his in- 

 valids to an Indian village at fome diftance, and having exhorted his 

 foldiers to ftand by him, he caufed a gibbet to be eredted, and placed a 

 guard on the road of Cempoal. When the deputation from Narvaez 

 arrived at Villa Rica, they did not meet a perfon except Indians, for 

 Sandoval had given orders to the Spaniards not to appear, and remained 

 at home himfelf. They were perplexed how to proceed, but gueffing 

 by the appearance of the houfe that it muft be the governors, after 



going 



