( ) 



would enquire, and redlify all. Our captains and foldiers were then 

 curious to know what the fhares came to for each man. On cafting it 

 it appeared, that to each horfeman there came one hundred crowns, 

 and to each infantry foldier 1' forget how much, but no one would ac- 

 cept it. This did not quiet the foldiers ; they murmured loudly and 

 accufed the treafurcr. He to exculpate himfelf faid, that they fhould 

 blame Cortes, who had taken out a fecond fifth for himfelf, and alfo a 

 deduction for lofs of horfes, and had retained from the common flock 

 many pieces of wrought gold to fend to his Majefly. The foldiers of 

 Narvaez who never liked Cortes thoroughly, would not take their pal- 

 try fhares, and as Cortes now lodged at Cuyoacan, in large buildings 

 With white walls, very well adapted for fcribbling on, there appeared 

 every morning libels againil: him in profe or verfe. The idea of one of 

 them was, that as the planets fometimes went a little out of their courfe, 

 but by the order of nature fpeedily reverted to it again, fo it was with 

 Cortes and his ambition. Another faid we were more conqiaered by 

 Cortes than Mexico by us, and that we were not the vidors of New 

 Spain, but the vanquifhed of Cortes. Some faid that he had taken his 

 fifth as general, and a fecond as king; and others again that Velafquez 

 had incurred all the expence, and Cortes reaped all the profit. I recol- 

 lect the words of one only: they were 



** Que trifle efla el alma mea, 

 " Hafla que la parte vea.* 



Many were written in fuch a flile as is not fit for me to relate, and 

 ibme had a turn and witty point in them which I am not able to give. 

 Cortes was a poet, and prided himfelf on giving anfwers in that way 

 to fuch complimentary addreffes as he received; he alfo ufed to reply in 

 pointed epigrams to thefe pafquinades which grew every day more in- 

 decent. One day obferving the walls covered with them he wrote, "a 

 white wall is paper for fools." Next morning was found added, ' 'and for 

 truths." At length Fra Bartholome told Cortes the thing was going too 



far 



* How anxious I am for a partition of plunder!! 



