302 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



The two commiflioners above mentioned were hardly 

 departed when Cortes, who was continually revolving 

 fome great defign in his mind, put a plan in execution, 

 which alone would have been fufficient to have proved 

 his magnanimity of foul, and immortalized his name. 

 In order to deprive his foldiers of every means, and con- 

 fequently of every hope of return to Cuba, and to rein- 

 force his little army with all the failors, after punifhing 

 two foldiers with death, who had treacheroufly confpir- 

 ed to fly off in one of the veffels, and inflicted a lefs 

 rigorous chaftifement on three of their accomplices, he 

 prevailed by argument and entreaty on fome of his con- 

 fidents, and one of the pilots, in whom he placed the 

 utmoft truft, to pierce one or two of the veffels fecretly, 

 to perfuade every one that they had foundered from be- 

 ing worm-eaten, and to make a report to him that the 

 others were no longer fit for fervice on the fame account, 

 having lain three months clofe in port. Cortes availed 

 himfelf of this deceit that his people might not confpire 

 againfl; him, finding himfelf reduced to the hard neceflity 

 to conquer or die. Every thing was done according to 

 his command, and with the confent of all his people, after 

 having brought the fails, cordage, and every thing elfe 

 which could be of ufe on fliore. " Thus," fays Robert- 

 fon, " by an effort of magnanimity, to which there is 

 " nothing equal in hiftory, five hundred men agreed of 

 cc their own free-will to {hut themfelves up in an enemy's 

 " country, full of powerful and unknown nations, de- 

 " prived of every means of efcape, having no other re- 

 u fource left than their perfeverance and valour." We 

 do not doubt, that unlefs Cortes had executed this defign, 

 the bold undertaking which he was then meditating 

 would have been impofiible; for the foldiers would 



have 



