HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



273 



was no one among them who knew fo well how to unite 

 prudence and difcretion with the ardour of youth, bra- 

 very and intrepidity with humanity, modefty with merit, 

 and humility with fuccefs. He died in the flower of his 

 age at a place of Andalufia, on his way to the court of 

 Spain with Cortes. 



As foon as all the preparations^ for the voyage were 

 made, the governor of Cuba, from the fuggeftions and 

 infinuations of the rivals of Cortes, recalled his commif- 

 fion, and ordered him to be imprifoned ; but thofe who 

 were charged with his apprehenfton had not courage to 

 attempt it, from feeing fo many refpe&able and brave 

 men united to fupport the part of their new general ; fo 

 that Cortes who had not only fpent all his own capital in 

 preparations, but alfo contracted large debts, retained 

 his poft in fpite of his enemies ; and having all things in , 

 order and readinefs, weighed anchor from the port of 

 Ajaruco upon the ioth of February, 15 19. The arma- 

 ment confided of eleven veflfels, five hundred and eight 

 foldiers, divided into eleven companies, one hundred and 

 nine feamen, fixteen horfes, ten pieces of cannon, and 

 four falconets. They fleered under the direction of the 

 pilot Alaminos, to the ifland of Cozumel, where they 

 recovered Jerom de Aguilar, a Spanifh dean, who, going 

 from Darien to the ifland of Hifpaniola a few years be- 

 fore, had been fhipwrecked on the coaft of Yucatan, and 

 was made a flave to the Indians. Hearing of the arrival 

 of the Spaniards at Cozumel, he obtained liberty from 

 his mafler, and joined the fleet. From long commerce 

 with the Yucatanefe, he had learned the Maja language 

 which is fpoken there, on which account he obtained the 

 office of interpreter to Cortes. 



Vol. II. M m From 



