( 3J6 ) 



concealed from him by the Bifliop of Burgos, who did it to fcrve his 

 own private views, and to favor Velafquez and Tapia, one of whom 

 he intended Hiould marr)' his niece. By all this it was pretty evident to 

 Tapia, that he would not very fpeedily enter upon his office, and the 

 difappointment afted:cd him to that degree that he fell fick. Our cap- 

 tains wrote to Cortes letting him know all that had pafled, and recom- 

 mending him to fend a good quantity of golden ingots, and try their 

 effect in mollifying the fury of the would-be governor. Thefe arrived 

 by the return of the exprefs, and with them they bought from him 

 fome negroes, three horfes, and one of his fliipsj in the other Tapia 

 embarked himfelf, and fet fail for the Ifland of St. Domingo, where 

 he was very ill received by the court of royal audience and the brothers 

 of the order of Jeronymites, he having undert^^en the bufinefs contrary 

 to their exprefs command; but they would not exert their power far- 

 ther againft one patronifed by the Bifhop of Burgos, his Majefty being 

 at that time in Flanders. 



I have formerly made mention of fome particulars relative to an 

 expedition fet on foot by one Garay. It was to colonize and fettle upon 

 the river of Panuco. Cortes had received intelligence of it, and refolv- 

 ed to anticipate him by fending thither a party for the fame purpofe. 

 He alfo now again fent Rangel to Villa Rica as commandant, and or- 

 dered Narvaez to be fent to him at Cuyoacan, where he refided until 

 the palace which he was to inhabit in Mexico was compleated. The 

 reafon he fent for Narvaez was this ; he was told that the latter had held 

 a converfation with Tapia, in which he advifed him to quit the country 

 on as good terms as he could get, and go to his patron the Bifhop o£ 

 Burgos in Caftille, to lay the whole ftate of affairs before him; telling 

 him alfo to profit by the example which his misfortunes fet him,; as, > if 

 he ftaid, he certainly would be put to death, and that fuccefs attended 

 all the meafures of Cortes. When Narvaez was brought before Cortes, 

 he fell on his knees and attempted to kifs his hand, but our general 

 would not permit it; he raifed, and embracing Narvaez, treated him 

 with all refpecSt and regard, tind made him fit by his fide. 



Cortes 



