Hovv Iames Velasques sent Pamfilo de Naruaiz against Cortes.
Iames Velasques béeyng sore agréeued, with desire of reuenge against Cortes, not only for his expences at the time of preparation of Cortes his fléete, whiche was but small, but of méere hatred of the present honor & prosperitie of Cortes. Wherevpon he inuented greate causes and quarrels againste him, saying and alleaging, that Cortez hadde not giuen accompt of his procéedings vnto him, béeyng Gouernoure of Cuba, and Cortez his Deputie, but rather without his consent and knowledge, had sente to Spayne to the King, aduise of his discouery, as who would say, that was treason, or an euill facte: but chiefly his fury was, knowing how Cortes had sent an honorable present, with the Kings parte or portion of treasure vnto Spayne, yea and whole relation of the discouery, with Francisco de Monteio, and Alounso Fernandez Portocarrero, the whiche procéedings Iames Velasques meant to disturbe, for that he hadde layde in ambushe a coupell of caruels, to haue taken Cortes hys presente, and messengers, the whiche his pretence and purpose tooke no place, so that with the prosperous newes of Cortes, his furie and madnesse the more encreased, ymagining still his destruction.
A noble Iudge.
And being occupyed in these fonde ymaginations, it happened that his Chaplin, one Benito Martine, broughte letters from the Emperoure vnto him, with title and letters pattentes, of Generall and chiefe Gouernour of all that then was discouered, inhabited, and conquered in the land and coast of Yucatan. With this newes, Velasques began to triumph, not only so much for the honor, as also to driue Cortez from Mexico. Wherevpon, he incontinent prepared this Fléete or Nauie of eleuen Shyppes, and seauen Vergantines, with nine hundred men, and fourescore Horses, and appoynted one Pamfilo de Naruaez for Captayne Generall, and his Deputie in the regiment of the Countrey: and for his more quicker dispatch, he himselfe wente with him throughout that Ilande, till they came to Guaniguanico, whiche is the Westermost harbor of the Ilande, and being there Naruaez ready to departe for Mexico, and Velasques to returne to Cuba, came the lisenciat Lucas Vasques de Aillon, a chiefe Iudge of Santo Domingo, in name of the whole Chancery, to require Velasques vpon great penalties, that he should not permitte or suffer Pamfilo de Naruaez to procéede on that voyage agaynst Cortes, whiche woulde bée cause of Murther, ciuil warres, and other mischiefes among the Spanyards, yea and that Mexico should be in daunger of losing, wyth all the rest that was conquered, and in quiet to the Kings vse, saying vnto him moreouer, that if there were anye discorde betwéene them for goodes, or poyntes of honor, that then it did apperteyne to the Emperoure to iudge, and determine the cause, and not that he himselfe should be iudge in his owne cause, vsing force against the other partie, praying them for the seruice of God and the King, that if they would goe to conquere, that then they shoulde séeke other Countreys, hauing so good an armye and fléete, and Countreys ynough to séeke. This diligēce, request and authoritie of the Licentiate Aillon, to Velasques and Naruaez preuayled not: he séeyng their obstinacie and little regarde to him being a chiefe Iudge, determined to goe with Naruaez in his Shippe, to lette and disturbe the greate hurte that might follow, thinking there in the newe Spayne to perswade Naruaez, better than in the presence of Velasques, yea and also if néede should bée, to be a meane of quietnesse betwixt them.
Pamfilo de Naruaez tooke shipping in Guaniguanico, and sailed till he came néere vnto Vera Crux with al his fléete, and hauing intelligence that there were a hundred and fiftie Spanyards of Cortes his band, he sente vnto them a Priest, with one Iohn Ruiz de Gueuara, and Alonso de Vergara, to require them to receyue him for their Captayne and gouernoure. But the newe Citizens would giue no eare to their talke, but rather apprehended them, & sente them prisoners to Mexico to Cortez, to aduertise hym of their embassage, wherevpō Naruaez vnshipped his men, horses, armor, & artillery, & wēt wt thē directly to Zēpoallā. The Indian Comarcans being as well friends to Cortez, as vassals to Mutezuma, gaue vnto him golde, mantels, and vittayles, thinking that they had bin Cortez his men.
The substance of a letter that Cortez wrote vnto Naruaez.
