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a, and
without saying a single word to Cortes despatched several of his chief
officers to Narvaez, with a present in gold and other things; and
commanded the inhabitants to furnish him with provisions.

Narvaez, in his message to Motecusuma, calumniated Cortes and all of us,
telling him we were nothing but a parcel of thieves and vagabonds, who
had fled from Spain without the knowledge of our emperor, but his
imperial majesty having been informed that we were in this country
committing all manner of depredations, and that we had even imprisoned
its monarch, had ordered him to repair hither with his flotilla and
troops, to put an end to these disorders and liberate the monarch. He
had likewise received orders to put Cortes and all his men to the sword,
or take them alive and send them prisoners to Spain, where death awaited
them. This sober language the three soldiers, who understood the Mexican
language were to translate to Motecusuma's messengers, to whom Narvaez
at the same time sent a present of some Spanish goods.

Motecusuma was not a little delighted with this message, particularly
when he learnt the number of Narvaez's vessels, of his cannon, and his
1300 soldiers. He, of course, thought it would be an easy matter for
Narvaez to overcome us, and as his messengers had seen the three
treacherous rascals who had deserted to Narvaez, he found the more
reason to believe all the scandal the latter had said concerning Cortes.
Besides which he received an accurate description of the whole armament
from his artists, who had immediately depicted on cotton cloth
everything they saw. He therefore sent a second message, accompanied by
more valuable presents in gold and cotton stuffs to Narvaez, with strict
commands to the inhabitants of the coast to supply him with plenty of
provisions.

Motecusuma had received intelligence of the arrival of the flotilla off
the coast three days before Cortes. When the latter, as usual, one day
paid a visit to the monarch he found him in particular good spirits, and
asked him what had occasioned it? Motecusuma replied, that he found
himself in better health than he had done for some time past.

Cortes, who was very much surprised at this sudden change in the
monarch, called upon him a second time that day, and now the latter
began to fear our general was cognizant of the arrival of the flotilla.
To remove all suspicion from his mind, therefore, he thought it better
to break the news to him himself. "I have just this moment, Malinche,"
said he, "received the information that an armament of eighteen vessels,
with a great number of soldiers and horses, has arrived in the harbour
where you landed. Pictures of the whole armament have been transmitted
to me. This, no doubt, is no news to you, and I thought from your second
visit to me this day, you came to bring me the intelligence yourself,
and that now there was no need for you to build new vessels. Though I
may have felt hurt that you wished to keep all this a secret from me,
yet, on the other hand, I am delighted at the arrival of your brothers,
with whom you can now return to Spain; which thus removes all
difficulties at once."

When Cortes heard this and saw the painting which the Mexicans had made
of all the vessels, he exclaimed in the excess of his delight: "Praise
be to God, whose assistance always comes at the right time!" Indeed the
whole of us greatly rejoiced at this news, we galloped about on our
horses, and fired salute after salute.

Cortes, however, began to consider it in a more serious light than he
had done in the first moments, as he now plainly saw that this armament
was sent out against us by Velasquez; and he communicated his
suspicions to us all, and by great presents and promises he made us
pledge ourselves not to act any way against his interests; which we did
the more readily, as the commander of this new armament was totally
unknown to us. Our joy was now excessive, not only on account of the
gold which Cortes gave us from his private purse, but at the arrival of
this flotilla, which we saw the Almighty had sent to us in our distress.

CHAPTER CXI.

 _How Pamfilo Narvaez despatches five persons to Sandoval, the
 commandant of Vera Cruz, with summons to surrender up the town to
 him._

After Narvaez had received every information about Vera Cruz from the
three deserters, he determined to despatch thither a priest named
Guevara, who was a capital hand at talking, and a certain Amaya, a man
of great distinction, and a relative of Velasquez; besides a secretary
named Vergara and three witnesses, whose names I have forgotten. These
gentlemen were to announce his arrival, and summon the town to
surrender; and, to make sure work, were provided with a copy of Narvaez
appointment.

Sandoval had already been apprized of the arrival of Narvaez by the
inhabitants. But as he was a man who was always upon the alert, and
possessed of great penetration, he immediately guessed that the armament
was fitted out by Velasquez, and that his object was to gain possession
of Vera Cruz; he therefore instantly adopted every precaution, and
commenced by sending all the invalid soldiers to the Indian township
Papalote, merely retaining those who were in good health. He then posted
watches along the road leading to Sempoalla, which Narvaez would be
obliged to take if he marched to Vera Cruz. Sandoval also made his men
promise him neither to surrender the town to Velasquez nor any one else,
and that none of his men might forget their promise he ordered a gallows
to be erected on an elevated spot outside the town.

When the outposts brought Sandoval information that six Spaniards were
approaching the town, he retired into his own house to await their
arrival; for he was determined not to go out to receive these guests,
and had also issued orders to his men not to quit their quarters, nor
exchange a single word with the strangers.

When, therefore, the priest Guevara and his companions arrived in the
town, they only saw some Indians, who were working at the
fortifications, but not a Spaniard to speak to; they walked straightway
into the church to pray, and then repaired to Sandoval's house, which
they recognized from its being the largest one in the town.

After the first greetings had passed between them, the priest began his
discourse by stating to Sandoval what large sums of money Velasquez had
expended on the armament which went out under the command of Cortes,
who, with the whole of the men, had turned traitors to the governor; and
concluded by saying, that he came to summon him in the name of Narvaez,
whom Velasquez had appointed captain-general, to deliver up the town to
him.

When Sandoval heard this, and the expressions which reflected dishonour
on Cortes, he could scarcely speak, from downright vexation; at length
he replied: "Venerable sir, you are wrong to term men traitors who have
proved themselves better servants to our emperor than Velasquez has, or
your commander; and that I do not

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