( '86 ) 



haved ill in his abfence, dearly anfwer for it. Cortes then took his 

 leavCj embracing Montezuma twice, which the king returned, and 

 Donna Marina acquitted herfelf fo well in her office, that (he made the re- 

 paration a very melancholy one. Montezuma promifed to do all that 

 Cortes defired him, and offered to affift him with five thoufand troops ; 

 an offer which Cortes, knowing indeed that he had them not to fend, 

 declined, by faying, that he required no aid but that of our Lord Jefus 

 Chrift J but he rcquefted that the king would caufe due attention to be 

 given to that part of the temple which was confecrated to our holy reli- 

 gion. Having parted from Montezuma, he fummonned Alvarado and 

 the garrifon of Mexico, and addreffmg them in a body, he charged them 

 to watch well, and not fuffer the king to efcape from them, promifing, 

 at his return, if they did their duty properly, to make them all rich. 

 The clergyman Juan Diaz, and certain other fufpedbed perfons, he left 

 with Alvarado. 



We then fet out on our march by the city of Cholula, fronj 

 whence we fent to the chiefs of the Tlafcalans, requiring them to aflift 

 us with a force of four thoufand warriors. They replied, that if it was 

 againft Indians, they were very ready to go; but if againft our coun- 

 trymen, they begged to be excufed. They fent us however twenty 

 loads of fowls. Cortes alfo wrote to Sandoval to join him, with all his 

 force, at a place called Tampinequeta, or Mitalaquita, twelve leagues 

 from Cempoal. We marched without baggage, in regular order, and 

 with two confidential men, foot foldicrs, a days journey before us; 

 they did not keep the diredl road, but went by thofe where cavalry 

 could not pafs, enquiring for intelligence concerning the army of Nar- 

 vaez. 



When we had proceeded fome diftance upon our march, one of 

 our advanced parties met with four Spaniards, who turned out to be 

 thofe of Nafvaez, with the proofs of his commiflion of captain gene- 

 ral. On our coming to where they were, they faluted Cortes with great 

 refped, and he immediately difmounted, in order to confer with them.^ 



Alonzo 



