( '97 ) 



V 



«* have written to his Majefty, giving a full account of thefe countries, 

 * ' and requeuing that the government of them may not be beflowed on any 

 " unworthy perfon, and that we, fearing the effed: of the arts and influ- 

 *' enceof the Bilhop of Burgos, and of the Governor of Cuba whom he 

 " favors, had refolved to maintain his Majefty's government and 

 ** right in this country, until his royal mandate duly authenticated 

 ** fhould be produced to us, which we would then as in duty bound, 

 ** obey, proftrate upon the earth. You alfo recolle6t how we have fent 

 " the treafure obtained by us to his Majefty. Now therefore, advert- 

 '* ing to other matters, I muft remind you how often you have all been 

 ** at the point of death in various wars and battles, how we have fuf- 

 " fered from fatigues, and rains, and winds, and hunger, flceping on 

 ** our arms, on the ground and in fnow. Not to mention above fifty 

 ** of our countrymen dead, and your own wounds as yet unhealed, our 

 ** fufferings by fea and land, the perils of Tabafco, Tlafcala, and of 

 " Cholula, where the vefTels were prepared in which we were to have 

 '* been boiled, and our perilous entry into Mexico. In addition there- 

 ** to many of you have been on expeditions of adventure antecedent 

 •* to this, and have rifqued and loft your properties, and now gentle- 

 ** men, Narvaez comes, and maligns and afperfes us with the great 

 " Montezuma, and immediately on landing proclaims war againft us, 

 '* with fire, fword, and rope, as if we were infidel Moors.'* As foon 

 as Cortes had concluded this he proceeded to exalt our perfon s and valour 

 to the (kies, and after an abundance of the moft flattering promifes he 

 concluded by obferving, that Narvaez came to deprive us of our lives, 

 and properties; that he had imprifoned his Majefty's oydor, and that 

 it was uncertain if he held his command by any more than the favor of 

 the Bifhop of Burgos, It was therefore neceffary, hefaid, for us, as faith- 

 ful fubje6ts, to fight in defence of his Majefty's rights, our lives, and 

 properties, and he now demanded to hear our determination. 



Our officers and foldiers all replied, that we were ready and deter- 

 mined to conquer or die ; and we warned him not to fay any more about an 

 accommodation, or partition of the country, for that if he did, we 



would 



