( ) 



commodation, and the arrangement of their future meafures, at a place 

 which lay at a convenient diftance between the quarters of the two ar- 

 mies, and that there Narvaez was to feize and make him prifoner, for 

 which purpofe he prepared twenty of his foldiers in whom he placed 

 moft confidence. Intelligence of all this was immediately conveyed to 

 Cortes. The reverend father remained at the quarters of Narvaez, hav- 

 ing made out a relationfhip to Salvatierra, with whom he dined every 

 day. 



Our general, on firft hearing of the arrival of Narvaez, fent a fol- 

 dier who had ferved in Italy and underftood perfedlly the management 

 of the lance, to the province of the Chinantans, who had fhortly before 

 entered into alliance with us. They ufed lances much longer than ours, 

 with blades of fharpened ftone. This foldier, named Barrientos, was 

 fent for the purpofe of obtaining from them three hundred of their lances, 

 and as there was plenty of copper in that province, he gave him direc- 

 tions to get two heads made of this metal, for each lance. Thefe were 

 accordingly done, being executed with fuch ingenuity that they exceed- 

 ed the pattern. He alfo obtained the afliftance of two thoufand warri- 

 ors of this nation, who were to rendezvouz at our quarters, armed in 

 the fame manner. Having done this he returned, with two hundred 

 Indians, bringing with them the lances which he had procured for us, 

 and which we found on handling to be extraordinarily good, and we 

 were immediately exercifed with them. A mufter was alio taken of our 

 army, which amounted to two hundred and fix, * including fife 

 and drum, with five mounted cavalry, two artillery men, few crofs- 

 bow-men, and fewer mufqueteers. And this was the force, and fuch 

 the weapons, with which we marched againft, and were to encounter 

 and defeat the army of Narvaez. 



I muft recall the recoUediion of my reader to that part of my narr^l- 

 tive, wherein I related how Andres de Duero, and the Contador de 



Lares, 



* Exclufive of the garrifon of Villa Rica. 



