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 now this instant punish you for this
affront, is merely owing to your being a priest. Go, therefore, in the
name of God, to Mexico; there you will find Cortes, who is
captain-general, and chief justice of New Spain. He will answer you
himself; here you had better not lose another word."

At this moment the priest, with much bravado, ordered the secretary
Vergara to produce the appointment of Narvaez, and read it to Sandoval,
and the others present. Sandoval, however, desired the secretary to
leave his papers quietly where they were, as it was impossible for him
to say whether the appointment was a lawful one or not. But as the
secretary still persisted in producing his papers, Sandoval cried out to
him: "Mind what you are about, Vergara! I have already told you to keep
your papers in your pocket; go with them to Mexico! I promise you, the
moment you proceed to read a single syllable from them, 100 good lashes
on the spot. How can I tell whether you are a royal secretary or not?
First show me your appointment; and if I find you are, I will listen to
your papers. But, even then, who can prove to me whether your papers are
true or false?"

The priest, who was a very haughty man, then cried out, "Why do you
stand upon any ceremony with these traitors? Pull out your papers, and
read the contents to them!"

To which Sandoval answered: "You lie, you infamous priest!" and ordered
his men immediately to seize those gentlemen, and carry them off to
Mexico.

He had hardly spoken, when they were seized by a number of Indians
employed at the fortifications, bound hand and foot, and thrown upon
the backs of porters. In this way they were transported to Mexico, where
they arrived in the space of four days; the Indian porters being
constantly relieved by others on the road.

These gentlemen were not a little surprised at this rough treatment; but
the deeper they advanced into the country, the more astonished they
grew, at the sight of the large towns and villages, where they stopped
to take refreshment. They were, it is said, very doubtful within
themselves whether all was not enchantment, or merely a dream.

Sandoval had sent Pedro de Solis, Orduña's son-in-law, as alguacil, to
accompany the escort; and he likewise informed Cortes, by letter, of
everything that was going on at the coast, and of the name of the
captain who commanded the flotilla. The letter even arrived before the
prisoners in Mexico; so that Cortes was apprized of their approach when
they were still at some distance from the town.

He immediately despatched some men with a quantity of the best
provisions, and three horses, for the most distinguished of the
prisoners, with orders that they should be immediately released from
their fetters. He likewise wrote them a letter, in which he expressed
his regret that they should have met with such harsh treatment from
Sandoval, and that he would give them the most honorable reception.
Indeed he even went out to meet them himself, and escorted them into the
town.

The priest and his companions--after they became acquainted with the
vast extent of Mexico, and the number of other towns built in the lake,
saw the quantity of gold which every one of us possessed, and the noble
and open countenance of Cortes--were quite enchanted; and they had not
been above a couple of days with us before Cortes succeeded so well to
tame them, by kind words, fair promises, jewels, and bars of gold, that
they, who had come like furious lions, now returned back to Narvaez as
harmless as lambs, and offered to render our general every service in
their power. Indeed, when they had arrived in Sempoalla, and given
Narvaez an account of all they had seen, they spoke of nothing else to
his men than of the policy to make common cause with us.

I will, however, break off here, and acquaint the reader with the letter
which Cortes wrote to Narvaez.

CHAPTER CXII.

 _How Cortes, after he had gained every information respecting the
 armament, wrote to Narvaez, and several of his acquaintances who had
 come with him, and particularly to Andreas du Duero, private
 secretary to Velasquez; and of other events._

Cortes was a man who never allowed the smallest advantage to escape; and
whatever difficulty he might be in, he managed to get out of it. But it
must also be remembered, that he had the good fortune to command
officers and soldiers on whom he could place every reliance under all
circumstances, who not only lent a powerful arm in battle, but likewise
assisted him with their prudent counsel. In this way, then, it was
unanimously resolved in council, that a letter should be despatched by
Indian couriers to Narvaez, written in the most affectionate tone, with
offers of our services to him, and begging of him not to excite a
rebellion in the country, which would certainly be the case if the
Indians observed we were at enmity with each other. This letter was to
be delivered to Narvaez before the return there of Guevara. We expressly
wrote in this friendly tone, as our numbers were so very small in
comparison to his, and because we were first desirous of knowing how he
was inclined. Besides this, we employed other means to gain friends
among Narvaez's officers, which seemed no great difficulty, as Guevara
had assured Cortes that the latter were not on the best terms with their
commander, and that a few bars of gold, with a few chains of the same
metal, would soon pave the way. In this letter Cortes informed Narvaez
how both he and all his men were rejoiced at his arrival here; in
particular himself, as they were old friends. He also desired he would
not connive at the liberation of Motecusuma, as the consequences would
be a rebellion in the city, and throughout the whole country, which
would be the destruction of both his troops and ours, as we should be
overwhelmed by numbers. He could not help drawing his particular
attention to this circumstance, as Motecusuma of late seemed greatly
changed in his behaviour towards him, and the inhabitants were upon the
point of rising up in arms, from the message which Motecusuma had
received in Narvaez's name; but he was convinced that he was too prudent
and sensible a man, and would not have sent such a dangerous message at
such a critical period, if he had not been misled by the three
scoundrels who had run over to him. To make a good finish to the letter,
he begged to say that Narvaez was at liberty to dispose of his person
and of his purse, and he would await his commands.

Cortes at the same time wrote to Andreas de Duero and Vazquez de Aillon,
and accompanied these letters with some gold for themselves and his
other friends. Aillon, besides this, privately received some other gold
bars and chains. He also despatched father Olmedo to Narvaez's
head-quarters with a good stock of these persuasive articles, consisting
in various trinkets of gold and precious stones of great value.

The first letter which Cortes had sent by the Indian courier reached
Narvaez's quarters bef

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