( 427 ) 



Zuazo concluded by faying, that he feared Mexico was loft, and that 

 he had been fent a prifoner in irons to the place from whence he dated 

 his letter. 



This intelligence rinade us all very fad. It was difficult to fay which 

 of the two, Cortes or the fador, we curfed moft heartily in our own 

 minds. We fecretly gave them ten thoufand maledidtions, and 

 our hearts funk within us. Cortes retired to his chamber, and did not 

 appear to us till evening, when we entreate3 him immediately to haften 

 to Mexico. He replied to us kindly and gently, faying, "dear friends 

 ** and companions, this villain of a fa6tor is powerful. Iflgoandyou 

 *' accompany me he may lay hands upon us by the road, and murder us » 

 '* all. It were better that I went privately with three or four of you, and 

 ** came to Mexico before he was prepared. Let the reft rejoin Sandoval, 

 *• and proceed with him to Mexico." Cortes now wrote to Captain Her- 

 nandez, promifing him every fupport; he fent him alfo two mules 

 loaded with prefents of fuch things as he knew he wanted, entrufting 

 them to the care of a gentleman named Cabrera, a brave officer who 

 was on the ftaff under Blafco Nunez Velo, and was killed in the fame 

 battle with the Viceroy. When I faw that Cortes was determined to go 

 to Mexico, I requefted of him that he would permit me, who had been 

 in all difficulties and dangers by his fide, to attend him upou this occa- 

 fion. He embraced me and faid, "I requeft you my fon to remain with 

 Sandoval. I promife you, and I fwear by this beard, that I confider 

 '* myfelf much beholden to you, and have long done fo.'* However 

 he would not permit me to attend him. 



I remember when we were in the town of Truxillo, a gentleman 

 named Roderigo Manueca, a principal officer in the general's hou(ehold, 

 to divert Cortes, feeing him diftreffed, as he was with good reafon, 

 laid a wager with fome other cavaliers, that he would climb in his ar- 

 mour to the top of the rock, whereon ftood the houfe which the Indi- 

 ans had built for the head quarters. When he had got a confiderable 

 way up he miffed his hold, and falling to the ground, was killed. 



lii 2 Some 



