I N T- R O D U C T- I. O N. • ' v 



f]ty of Saia^nmca, with an intention that he fhould apply himfelf 

 to the ftudy of the law; but having no kind of inclination to this 

 profefiio'nV after fome difiiculties tliat occurred in determining his 

 choice, he fixed upon a refoiution of going to ;the TV eft- J tidies^ 

 and was accordingly fent with recommendatory letters to tiie then 

 Govtn.or of Hifpaniola. He embarked at Seville \n 1 504, and was 

 kindly received at his arrival in the Wefi Indies. Cortez was new in 

 the bloom of youth, very handfome in his perfon, engaging in his 

 behaJ^iour, and amiab'e in his manner ; he fpoke with elegance, 

 very prudent, yet quick to refolve, and ready to execute, of great 

 prefcnce and fleadinefs of mind, joined to invincible courage and 

 fortitude \ a generous contempt of money, and a facility of obliging 

 ail, exempt from mercenary motives. Thefe great qualities in- 

 duced yames V alafques^ on his being appointed Governor of Cuba^ 

 to make Cor.tez his Secretary ; in difcharging which office fome 

 accidents happened, that caufed much difagreement between him 

 and the Governor, and brought Cortez more than once in great 

 danger of life : he, however, found means not only to be recon- 

 ciled to, but gained fuch an afcendant over the Governor, that 

 he was appointed Admiral of a very large fleet fitted out at the 

 expence of the former, in order to make difcoveries ; but even 

 now he was upon the point of being fet afide, by the unlucky 

 expreflion of a fool that was kept by V alafqties, which ftruck 

 him fo deeply with fufpicion in regard to Cortez, that he had nearly 

 refolved to change his Admiral ; this the latter perceiving, took a 



very 



