( '96 ) 



the ford which we muft pafs." Twenty of the cavahy were alfo to pa- 

 trole during the whole night in and about the quarters of Narvaez. All 

 this was done by the advice of his officers, who wiflied to get back un- 

 der fhelter, and who defpifed Cortes, faying it was abfurd to fuppofe 

 he would come to attack them with his pitiful handful of men, and 

 that if he had advanced, it was only a mere oftentation, in order to in- 

 duce them to come into terms. 



When Narvaez returned to his quarters, he promifed publicly two 

 thoufand crowns to whoever killed Cortes or Gonzalode Sandoval. He 

 placed as fpies at the ford, one Gonzalo Carrafco who lives now in La 

 Puebla, and another foldier of the name of Hurtado. He alfo filled his 

 own quarters with Soldiers armed with mufqiiets, crofs-bows, and 

 partizans, and did the fame by thofe of the Veedor Salvatierra, Gamar- 

 ra, and Juan Buono. 



As foon as we had arrived at the river which runs through the 

 fertile meadows at about a leagues diftance from Cempoal, trufty perfons 

 being fele6led and fent to the outpofts, our Cortes fummoned us all, of- 

 ficers and foldiers, around him, where he was on horfeback, and earneft- 

 ly enjoining filence, addreffed us as follows. " Gentlemen, it is well 

 ** known to you that D. Velafquez governor of Cuba feledted me for 

 *' your captain general, not that your number did not contain many 

 *• equally worthy ; and you alfo recoiled: how it was believed by us, and 

 publicly proclaimed, that we came to colonize, when in reality our 

 inftrudiions went no farther than to barter with the natives. You al- 

 ** fo recoiled: my determination to return to Cuba, in order to give an 

 *• account of my miffion to him by whom I was entrufted with it, but 

 " that by your command I was required to flay and colonize in the 

 '* country for his Majefty's fervice, as, thanks to God, has been done, 

 '* and a wife determination it was. You alfo made me as you recolledt 

 *' your captain general, and chief magiftrate, until his Majefty's plea- 

 •* fure was known, and we have in confequence rendered effential fer- 

 *' vice to our God and Monarch. I muft now remind you how we 



have 



