rhetorician) very devout to our Hoi) Virgin, and his advocates St. Feter, 

 St. Jago, and St. John the Baptift in particular; and charitable to the 

 poor. When he fwore he ufed to fay, "by my confcience!" and when 

 he was angry with any of us, his friends, he would fay, "oh! may 

 you repent it." When he was very angry, the veins in his throat and 

 forehead ufed to fvvell, and when in great wrath, he would not utter a 

 fyllable to any one. He was very patient under infults or injuries; for 

 lome of the foldiers were at times very rude and abufive with him; but 

 he never refented their condudl, although he had often great reafon to 

 do fo. In fuch cafes he ufed only to fay, "be filent," or, " go away 

 in God's name and take care not to repeat this conduA, or I will have 

 " you punifhed." He was very determined and headftrong in all bu- 

 fniefs of war, not attending to any remonflrances on account of danger j 

 an inftance of which he fhewed in the attack of thofe fortreffes called 

 the rocks of the Marquis ; which he forced us to fcale, contrary to our 

 opinions, and where neither courage, counfel, or wifdom, could give 

 any rational hope of fuccefs. Another inftance was given by him at 

 his obftinacy in regard to the expedition againft De Oli. I repeatedly 

 advifed him to go by the mountains ; but he perfifted in adhering to the 

 coaft, whereas if he had gone in the diredlion that I propofed he would 

 have found towns the whole way, of which the following route is a 

 proof i Guacacualco, the high road to Chiapa, from that to Guatimala, 

 and from thence to Naco. Where we had to ered: a fortrefs, Cortes 

 was the hardeft labourer in the trenches ; when we were going into 

 battle, he was as forward as any. 



Cortes was very fond of play, both at cards and dice, and while 

 playing he was very affable and good humoured. He ufed frequently 

 at fuch times, thofe cant expreffions which perfons who game are ac- 

 cuftomed to do. In military fervice he pradtifed the moft ftrid: atten- 

 tion to difcipline, conftantly going the rounds in perfon during the 

 night, vifiting the quarters of the foldiers, and feverely reprehend- 

 ing thofe whom he found without their armour and appointments, and 



Q q q not 



