( 340 3 



CHAPTER III. 



Armament of Francifcq de Garay. 



I HAVE already made mention of F. de Garay, who was governor 

 of the Ifland of Jamaica. When he heard of the riches that had been 

 acquired here by Diego Velafquez, and of the fertile countries which* 

 had been difcovered, ftimulated by his avarice, and encouraged by the 

 refledion on his wealth and means, Garray was induced to try hi$ 

 fortune. 



Having therefore fent for, and difcourfed with Alaminos our prin- 

 cipal pilot upon the fubjedl, his account was fo favorable that he de- 

 termined on fending a confidential perfon one Juan de Torralva, to ob- 

 tain from the Bifhop of Burgos the government of the country about- 

 the river Panuco. His application having been fuccefsful he fent an 

 armament of three fhips, with two hundred and forty foldiers, under 

 fhe command of Alonzo Alvarez Pinedo or Pineda, which was defeated 

 by the Indians of Panuco, one fliip only efcaping, and joining us at 

 Villa Rica. 



Garay receiving no intelligence of his firft armament, fent a fecond, 

 which alfo arrived at our port; and having now expended much trea- 

 fure, and learning the good fortune of Cortes, he was more than ever 

 Simulated to make exertions. He therefore fitted out a fleet of thirteen 

 Ihips, and embarked one hundred and thirty fix cavalry, and eight hun- 

 dred and forty foot foldiers, moftly mufqueteers and crofsbow-men. 

 The fleet under his command failed from Jamaica in the year one thou- 

 fand five hundred and twenty three, on the day of St. John, and arri- 

 ved 



