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Ulagre of the artillery. To thefe he liberally diftributed his gold, and 

 alfo, more privately, to Andres de Duero, with an earneft invitation ta 

 . him to vifit Cortes. Narvaez foon began to fufped: what was the real 

 objed of Olmedo, and was inclined to feize and make him prifoner 

 which being known to Duero, who had great influence with Narvaez,, 

 not only on account of his fituation, but alfo from their being fome way 

 related, he reprefcnted to him the impropriety of committing fuch an 

 outrage againft a perfon of a holy function. He alfo furmifed to him 

 the great probability that the foldiers of Cortes might be eafily won over 

 to him by a little attention and pplicy. Having by thefe arguments and 

 other fimilar ones appeafed Narvaez for the prefent, he took his leave, 

 and informed Olmedo of what had paffed. Narvaez fhortly after fent 

 for Olmedo, who waited on him, and defired permillion to fpeak to him 

 in private, and there in a laughing manner began to tell him how he 

 knew that he had given orders to take him prifoner, whereas there was, 

 not a perfon exifting more devoted to his feryice, and that he knew to 

 a certainty many perfons in the army of Cortes would be very glad to fee 

 him delivered into the hands of his excellency ; indeed he would venture 

 to fay our whole army was of that opinion, and as a proof of it, he af- 

 fured him, that he poffefled a letter full of abfurdities, which Cortes 

 had written by the perfuafion of thofe who wilhcd. to deliver him up, 

 and which was indeed fuch ridiculous , fluff that he had been once or 

 twice inchned to throw it away, but would with his permiflion now 

 bring it to him. He accordingly went, as he faid, for the letter, pre- 

 tending he had left it in his baggage, but in reality to call to Duero and 

 others, to defire them to be prefent as witneffes at the deUvery of it. 



Duero, in order to carry on his plan of getting an interview with 

 Cortes, then propofed, that fleps fliould be tajcen to open a communi- 

 cation between them and him, to which Auguftin Bermudez a fecret; 

 friend of Cortes added, that Duero and Salvatierra fhould be feni upon 

 the buflnefsj this he did knowing the character of Salvatierra, who was 

 not at all difpofed to the expedition. It was at lail fettled, that Duero 

 fhould wait on Cortes to invite hira to a meeting for the purpofe of ac-. 



commodatioo. 



