( 247 ) 



ly fufpedled, that the treafure which fell to tlie fhare of the garrifon of 

 Villa Rica, and of which thofc who were entrufted with the conveyance 

 were robbed, went after all to Old Caftille, Jamaica and elfewhere. 

 But the ingots of gold in the captains pockets flopped all inquiry upon 

 that head. 



The fiege of Mexico being now determined on, Cortes left a gar- 

 rifon of twenty men moftly lick and wounded, under the command of 

 Francifco de Orozco in the town of Frontera, and proceeded with the 

 reft of his force to the country of Tlafcala, where he ordered timber to 

 be cut for the confbudiion of the veffels to command the lake of Mex- 

 ico. The fhips were to be conftrufted under the directions of Martia 

 Lopez, an excellent fhipwright, and one who wa^ moft highly fervi- 

 ceable to his Majefty*s interefts here in other refpedts^ befides being a 

 valiant foldier. When we arrived at Tlafcala, we found that our good 

 friend and the faithful ally of our Monarch, Maxicatzin, had fallen a 

 vidlim to the fmall pox. Cortes lamented him as if he had been his 

 father, and put on mourning in refpedl to him, as did many of our 

 captains and foldiers. As there was fome difpute in regard to the fuc- 

 cellion, Cortes fettled that it (hould be with the legitimate fon of our 

 friend, as he had de{ired at his de^th; a fhort time previous to which, 

 having fummoned his family into his prefence, he had ftridtly enjoined 

 them never to quit our alliance, as we were undoubtedly thofe who were 

 deftined to rule that country. The other chiefs of that nation offered 

 their affiftance in providing timber, and alfo to aid us in the war againfh 

 the Mexicans. Cortes received their propofals with every mark of at- 

 tention and gratitude, and at that time propofed to one of them, the el- 

 der Xicotenga, to turn chriftian; to which he readily affented, and 

 was baptized in great ceremony by the name of Don Lorenzo de Var-* 

 gas. 



Our fhipwright Lopez managed his bufmefs fo well, that in a few- 

 days he had all his timber cut, fhaped, and marked for each particular 

 part of the veltels. He was afTifted by a good foldier named Andres. 



Nunez, 



