i 422 ) 



lierbs. Faffing El Triumpho de la Cruz, and a place- named Quemara, 

 at length we arrived in the neighbourhood of Truxillo about the hour 

 of vefpers, and faw five cavaliers riding along the coaft. Thefe were/ 

 Cortes and four of his friends, who were taking exercife. When he 

 recognifed us, after the firft furprife at the unexpedied meeting, he dif- 

 mounted from his horfe, and running up, embraced us all with tears in 

 his eyes, fo overjoyed was he to fee us. It made me melancholy to 

 find him fo weak and reduced. Diftiefs and difeafe had worn liim 

 down; indeed he expeded death, and had gotten a Francifcan habit 

 made to be buried in. He had not at this time received any intelligence 

 from Mexico fince he quitted that city. He walked into the town with 

 us, and we fupped with him, wretchedly enough. I had not my fill 

 even of bread or bifcuit. When he had read over the letters relative to 

 the bufincfs of Hernandez, he promifed that he would do all he could 

 to fuppo/t him. The vefTels from St. Domingo had arrived here three 

 days before us. I have already mentioned, that except the horfes and 

 one pipe of wine, their cargoes were nothing but frippery j it would 

 have been much better that they had not come, fince it induced us all 

 to run ourfelves in debt buying their ufelefs trafli. 



While we were relating to Cortes the hardlhips we had fuftained 

 during our late journey, a fhip was defcried at a difirance, making for 

 our port. This veffel failed from the Havannah, with letters for the 

 general from the licentiate Zuazo, alcalde major of Mexico. The hi- 

 dalgo who was captain of the veffel came diredily to kifs the hands of 

 Cortes, and prefented his letters, the fubftance of which the reader (hall 

 be informed of. As foon as Cortes read them he was overwhelmed with 

 ibrrow and diftrefs. He retired to his private apartment, where we 

 could hear that he was fuffering under the greateft agitation. He did 

 not fi:ir out for an entire day ; at night he confeffed and ordered a mals 

 for the enfuing morning, after which he called us together, and read to 

 lis the intelligence he had received, and whereby we learned, that it 

 had been univerfally reported and believed in New Spain that we were 

 all dead, and our properties had in confequence been fold by public 



audtion. 



