( '87 ) 



Alonzo de Mata the principal perfon, was then proceeding to read the 

 documents ; but Cortes cut him fhort, by afking him if he was a roy- 

 al notary, adding, that on producing his commifTion he fhould be obey- 

 ed, but if he had it not, he could not be permitted to read any fuppofed 

 orders; that thofe of his Majefty he fubmitted to, proflirate on the 

 ground, but defired to fee the original. Mata, frightened, and hold- 

 ing in reality no office under, the crown, did not know what to fay ; 

 but Cortes relieved him from his embarrafment, and he halted here, to 

 give them time to refrefli themfelves. Cortes told them our deftination, 

 and that he was ready to receive any meffage from their general, of 

 whom he never ufed a difrefped:ful expreffion ; but he talked privately 

 with thefe perfons, and ufed arguments of fo convincing a nature, that 

 before they feparated, he made them completely his friends. On their 

 return, they were loud in their praifes of Cortes, and his generofity j and 

 of the magnificence of our appearance; for many of our foldiers bore 

 ornaments of gold, upon their arms, and chains and collars of the fame 

 about their necks. Sandoval and his party joined us on the next day, 

 at the rcndezvouz ; they were in all about fevcnty. With them came 

 the five who had quitted Narvaez, and who were moft gracioufly re- 

 ceived by Cortes. Sandoval told him, that he had fome time before 

 fent two foldiers, difguifed like Indians, into the quarters of Narvaez x 

 their complexions refembled the natives, and each brought a load of 

 fruit to fell. They went dire(5tly to the habitation of the brave Salvati- 

 erra, who bought their fruit for a firing of yellow beads ; he then fent 

 them to get grafs for his horfe, on the banks of a little river; they 

 brought the lafl load about the hour of vefpers, and having fed the horfe, 

 they fat there till night, during which time they heard Salvatierra ob- 

 ferve to fome of his afTociates, what a lucky moment they had come at, 

 to get the feven hundred thoufand crowns, from that traitor Cortes. 

 As foon as it was dark, our foldiers got out of the houfe unobferved, 

 taking with them the horfe, faddle and bridle, and on their way they 

 met with another horfe which was lame, and which they alfo feized 

 and brought off. Cortes laughed heartily when he heard it, and wc 

 afterwards learned that Salvatierra had diverted all the army of Narvaez 



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