( 4^9 ) 



The firfl time that Cortes failed from Truxillo for Vera Cruz, he 

 was obliged to put back by contrary winds, the fecond time from an 

 accident which happened to the velTel. He was difpirited by ficknefs, 

 the voyage alfo added to his mental depreffion, and he was apprehenlive 

 of the power of the fador. On his return he ordered a folemn mafs, 

 and prayed fervently to the holy Ghoft to enlighten him as to his future 

 proceedings. It appears that he became infpired with an inclination to 

 flay and colonize the country where he then was j for he fent three ex- 

 prefTes as hard as they could poft to recall us, and bring us back to 

 Truxillo. In his letters he expreffed his determination, which he attri- 

 buted to the infpiration of his guardian angel. When we received this 

 m.effage we beftowed a thoufand maledidlions on Cortes and the ill for- 

 tune which attended him, and told Sandoval, that if he chofe to remain 

 it muft be by himfelf, for that we were determined to proceed to Mex- 

 ico. Sandoval was alfo of our opinion; we therefore returned an an- 

 fwer to this effect, figned by us all, and in a few days received another 

 letter from him, which contained great offers to fuch as fhould be indu- 

 ced to remain, and concluded by faying, that if we refufed, there ftill 

 remained foldiers in Caftille and elfewhere. On receiving this letter 

 we were if poffible more determined than ever to proceed, but Sandoval 

 earneftly entreated, and perfuaded us to halt for a few days, until he 

 could fee Cortes, in the hope of perfuading him to undertake the jour- 

 ney to Mexico. We wrote back in reply, that as he faid he could find 

 foldiers in Caftille, fo could we governors and generals in Mexico, who 

 would give us plantations for our fervices, and that we had fuffered 

 misfortunes enough already by him. With this anfwer Sandoval fet off,, 

 attended by a foldier named Sauzedo, and a farrier, and mounted on his 

 good horfe Motilla, fwearing by his beard that he would not return 

 until he had put Cortes on board the {hip for Mexico, 



Now I mention SandovaFs horfe, 1 mufl obferve of him, that he 

 was the fwiftefl, and the beft dreffed, and fineft figure of any horfe in. 

 New Spain : he was of a dark chefnut colour, and fuch was the fame 

 of Motilla, that it reached the ear of his Majefty, to whom Sandoval 



intended 



