( m ) 



Barba, who was his intimate friend. He had been heutenant under 

 Velafquez at the Havannah, and had now brought with him thirteen 

 foldiers and two horfes ; he alfo brought letters from Velafquez the go- 

 vernor of Cuba to Narvaez, who was thought to be by this time all pow- 

 erful in New Spain, ordering him, if Cortes was not already dead, to 

 fend him to Cuba, that he might be thence tranfmitted to Caftille, fuch 

 being the (3ired:ions of the bifhop of Burgos. As foon as Pedro Barba 

 arrived in the harbour, the officer whom Cortes had appointed admiral 

 went to vifit him, taking with him in his boat a ftrong crew, with 

 their arms concealed. When he came on board, he faluted Barba and 

 the reft courteoufly, and enquired after the health of the governor of Cu- 

 ba. The others in their turn enquired after Narvaez, and what had 

 become of Cortes. They were told that Cortes was a fugitive with 

 about twenty of his companions, and that Narvaez had eftablifhed him- 

 felf, and was in poffeffion of great riches. They then invited Barba 

 and the reft on ftiore to refrefli themfelves, to which they aflenting de- 

 fcended into the boats, where they were bid to furrender themfelves in- 

 ftantly prifoners to Cortes. They had no alternative, and were obliged 

 to fubmit. The fhip was difmantled, and the captain and crew fent to 

 us in Tepeaca, to our great fatisfa6lion, for though we did not fuffer 

 much in the field, yet continual fatigue had made us very unhealthy, 

 five of our foldiers having died of pleurifies within a fortnight. With 

 this party came Francifco Lopez, afterwards regidor of Guatimala. 

 Barba was exceedingly well received by Cortes, who was informed by 

 him that he might expe<5l the arrival of another fmall veflel with provi- 

 fions, within the fpace of a week, which accordingly happened. On 

 board the laft mentioned fliip came a gentleman, native of Medina del 

 Campo, by name Rodorigo de Lobera, eight foldiers, and one horfe. 

 Our friends purfucd the fame method with this veffel that they had done 

 with the former, and with the fame fuccefs. The party joined us in a 

 few days, it being no fmall fatisfadion to us, thus to find our army re- 

 cruiting its numbers. 



The new king of Mexico having fent large bodies of troops to thcfe 



provinces 



