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King Montezuma, that he came to refcue him, and thereby caufcd fuch 

 a diflurbance in the country, as produced a dangerous war. That on 

 his arrival at Vera Cruz, Cortes had written to him a friendly letter, de- 

 firing to fee his commiffion, to which Narvaez would make no anfwer, 

 but declared war againft Cortes and his companions, notwithftanding 

 that Cortes invited him to, and reprefented the necelTity of, an amicable 

 jundion, for the good of his Majefty's fervice, left all ihould be loft. 

 But Cortes finding that all his offers were negleded, and Narvaez not 

 Oiewing him his Majefty's commiftion, and knowing the mifcondu(5l 

 of Narvaez in feizing his Majefty's oydor, to bring him to puniftiment 

 for fo doing, went to him, determined to fee his authority, and to know 

 the reafon of his condu6t, and that Narvaez had then attempted to fur- 

 prife and feize him, of which he could adduce proofs and witneftes, 

 amongft others Andrez de Duero, who was at that time with Narvaea. 

 In regard to bis caufing the failure of Garay, and poifoning him at 

 breakfaft, it was replied that the failure of the expedition was owing to 

 "Garay's own mifcondud:, and ignorance of the country. That when 

 Garay found his fituation hopelefs, he accepted the friendly offer which 

 Cortes had made him, of an hofpitable reception at Mexico, where an 

 alliance was agreed upon between the families, and Garay was to have 

 had afliftance to cftablifti a colony on the river Palmas ; and that if it 

 was God's will to take him from this life, according to the oaths of 

 the phyficians, by a pleurify, it was not in the power of Cortes to pre- 

 vent it. Cortes alfo proved in anfwer to the charge of having retained 

 his Majefty's fifth, that he had fairly expended it in the fervice, toge- 

 ther with fix thoufand crowns of his own property ; that the fifth which 

 he dedud:ed for himfelf was according to compad:, and in regard to the 

 charge of detaining the fbldiers prize money it was replied, that in the 

 capture of Mexico very little gold remained to be divided, inafmuch as 

 the wealth of the place was almoft all fallen into the hands of the Tlaf- 

 calan and Tezcucan allies. In regard to burning the feet of Guatimot- 

 zin, it was done contrary to the inclination of Cortes, by his Majefty's 

 officers, to force him to difcover where Montezuma's treafure was con- 

 cealed. In anfwer to the charge of his buildings it was ftated, that they 



