their late General to be so desperate, and the disaffection of his followers to be so great, that the inflated confidence and presumption of Narvaez led him into fatal security, from which the ill success of his first measure did not arouse him. He commissioned Guevara, a priest, to demand the surrender of Vera Cruz, who made the requisition with such insolence, that Sandoval seized him and his attendants and sent them to Mexico.*

Cortes received them as friends, and condemning the severity of Sandoval, set them immediately at liberty. By this clemency seconded by caresses and presents, he drew from them all the information he required, relative to the force and intentions of Narvaez. He learned that this commander regardless of the interest of his sovereign, had commenced his intercourse with the natives, by representing Cortes and his followers, as fugitives and outlaws, guilty of rebellion against their own king, and of injustice by invading the Mexican empire; and had declared that his chief object in visiting the country, was to punish the Spaniards who had committed these crimes, and to rescue the Mexi

*B. Diaz gives an amusing account of this transaction. "Guevara insisting on executing his mission, called to the notary Vergara, to take out his authority, which he was preparing to do, But Sandoval stopped him saying, 'Look you, Vergara, your papers are nothing to me. I know not, whether they be true or false, originals or copies; but I forbid you to read them here. And by heaven if you attempt it, I will this instant give you a hundred lashes.' At this Guevara cried out, Why do you mind these traitors, read the commission.' Sandoval then calling him a lying knave, ordered them all to be seized; whereon a number of Indians who were employed about the fortress having been prepared for the purpose, threw nets over them, like so many damned souls, and making them fast, instantly set off with them, on their backs, for Mexico; they hardly knowing, if they were dead or alive; or if it was not all enchantment, when they travelled in such a manner post haste, by fresh relays of Indians, which were in waiting, and saw the large and populous towns which they passed through, with a rapidity which stupified them."

cans from oppression. He perceived, also, that these unfavorable misrepresentations had reached Montezuma, and with them, assurances from Narvaez that he would soon free the monarch from the subjection under which he laboured. That prince readily entered into a secret intercourse with the newly arrived General, and courted him as one superior in dignity and power to those whom he had hitherto so highly revered; and the inhabitants of several districts adopting the same views, openly revolted from Cortes.*

XVI. The difficulties of Cortes were of a most extraordinary character, which served only to display his still more extraordinary ability. To await the approach of Narvaez in Mexico, seemed inevitable perdition, for while the Spaniards pressed him from without, the inhabitants would eagerly seize the favorable opportunity to avenge their manifold injuries: If he should abandon the capital, set the captive monarch at liberty, and march upon the enemy he must relinquish the fruits of his previous toils and victories, which could not be recovered without extraordinary efforts and infinite danger. Negotiation with Narvaez was hopeless, as well on account of the haughtiness of his temper as the nature of his instructions. This however, for the justification and success of his ulterior measures, he resolved to attempt.

In this work of pacification, he employed father Olmedo; sending before him Guevera and his companions, with instructions to attempt the fidelity of the officers. Narvaez scornfully rejected every offer of accommodation, and was with difficulty restrained from laying violent hands upon the mediator. But with the officers his emissaries had grea

The deserters whom Narvaez had received, had acquired sufficient knowledge of the Mexican language to serve as interpreters.

ter success.

The letters from Cortes and his principal companions, addressed to their late associates of Cuba, united with the presents of the former and the wishes honestly entertained for the prevention of civil war, which threatened utterly to destroy the Spanish power in Mexico, induced them, generally, to declare for an immediate accommoda

Narvaez not only disregarded their advice, but treated some of the officers with great severity, and publicly proclaimed in the most contemptuous terms, Cortes and his adherents, rebels and enemies to their country. Further communion between the officers of the two armies propagated widely the disaffection which had sprung up in that of Narvaez, and which did not advance the more slowly, that the same Andres de Duerro who had originally recommended Cortes to the favor of Velasques, was now in authority with Narvaez, and received the strongest assurances of obtaining wealth and consideration from Cortes pursuant to a contract made between them at Cuba.* In a word, so effectually were Cortes' means of corruption employed, that the principal officers of the new army became thoroughly devoted to his interests, some inferior ones joined his standard and he was promptly apprized of every resolution and movement in the enemy's camp. Narvaez upon discovering the state of his army, was irritated almost to madness; he set a price upon the head of Cortes and his principal adherents;t and arrested and shipped to Cuba, the magistrate Vasques de Aillon, who had been sent by the Jeronimite Friars, representing the king in America, to Cuba, to interpose

* Diaz says, that by this agreement Cortes was to divide equally with Duerro and De Lares, the gold he should acquire. That the latter was dead, but that Cortes sent to Duerro, at this time, two Indians laden with gold, and made to him the most magnificent promises.

B. Diaz. Solis. Clavigero. Robertson.

between Velasques and Cortes, and had now accompanied the expedition for the like purpose.

XVII. Narvaez marched from the place of his landing to Chempoalla, where he was favorably received by the Cacique as the friend of Cortes. But the Indian was much surprised and disconcerted when he beheld the supposed ally seize all the gold, the robes and the women, which Cortes had obtained here and which had been confided to his care.

XVIII. Having failed, as he expected, to conciliate Narvaez, Cortes determined immediately to advance upon him, and try the fate of arms. He left Alvarado in command of an hundred and fifty men in Mexico; and to this slender garrison he committed a great city, with the wealth he had amassed, and what he esteemed of still greater consequence, the custody of the imprisoned monarch. He endeavoured to conceal from Montezuma the real cause of his march, labouring to persuade him that the newly arrived strangers were his friends and fellow subjects, and that after an interview with them, they would together return to their own country. The captive prince, unable to comprehend the designs of the Spaniards, or to reconcile what he now heard with the declaration of Narvaez, and fearful of betraying any distrust of Cortes, promised to remain quietly in the Spanish quarters and to cultivate the friendship with Alvarado that he had uniformly maintained with him.*

*Herrera. Robertson. But Bernal Diaz gives a different account of this interview with Montezuma. He says, "that Cortes having waited on Montezuma previous to our march, the king offered him assistance against his more numerous foes; but asked an explanation of the charges which Narvaez had made against Cortes and his party. The General replied, that he had refrained to speak to his majesty on this subject, lest he should grieve him; that it was true, that he and Narvaez were subjects of the same monarch, but utterly false, that we were traitors; the king of Spain he said ruled many countries, the inhabitants

He left with Alvarado eighty-three men, and seven horses, taking with him one hundred and eighty soldiers, which were increased by the addition of seventy men under Sandoval. Allowing, therefore, for a small garrison at Villa Rica, it would seem that the force brought by Cortes had been reduced one half. He dreaded most the superiority of his enemy in cavalry, and against this, he made able provision. Having observed that the Indians in the province of Chinantla used spears of extraordinary length and force, he armed his soldiers with this weapon, and accustomed them by frequent exercises to its use. During his march to Chempoalla, he made repeated efforts toward accommodation. But Narvaez requiring that Cortes and his followers should recognise him as Governor of New Spain, by virtue of the powers derived from Velasques, and Cortes refusing to submit to any authority, not founded on a commission from the emperor himself, under whose immediate protection he and his adherents had placed their

of some of which, were braver than others; that we were all natives of Old Castile, and called true Castillians, and that our opponents were commanded by a Biscayan: that his threats to destroy us were little to be regarded, since we were upheld by our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Blessed Mother; that his majes ty would soon see the difference between them and us, as he hoped soon to bring back these boasters with him as prisoners. He also expressed his hope that Montezuma would to his utmost, endeavour to prevent any insurrection in the city, as he certainly would, on his return, make those who behaved ill dearly answer for it." Solis, says, "that, in reply to questions relative to the disunion between subjects of the same prince, Cortes informed Montezuma that this captain, so intemperate in his language, should rather be considered as inconsiderate and mistaken in zeal than disobedient to his master. he visited the coast under the authority of a lieutenant of the king, who residing in a distant island knew not the recent wishes of the Court; and that whatever misunderstanding might exist, would be speedily removed by an interview, for which pur pose he was about to hasten to Chempoalla."-Solis. vol. ii. chap. 7.

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