Before Cortes knew the effect of the cōming of this new fléete, his head was sore troubled, for, on the one side he was glad of the comming of his owne nation, on the other side he liked not so great an armye. Likewise he ymagined, that if they came to succour him, he helde the Countrey for conquered: also if that they were come againste him, he iudged the Countrey to bée lost. He iudged also, that if they were come from Spayne, that then they hadde brought to him the thing loked for, but if they were come from Cuba, be feared ciuil warres. He also thought, that from Spayne could not come so many folke in so shorte space. Finally, he déemed, that his olde enemie Iames Velasques was come personally, but when he knew the whole truth, then was he muche more pensiue, thinking that the thread of his prosperitie was cut asunder, yea and that they would be meane to stoppe the gappes of the whole discouery, both of the secretes of the land, mines and treasure, as also, in the knowledge of the friends or enimies of Mutezuma. It shoulde be also a let to inhabite the places which he had begunne, yea and also to Christen the Indians, whiche was the principall thing that he pretended, yea & a let or stop of many other things begun in ye seruice of God & the prince, fearing also by flying from one inconuenience, to fall into many, and also if he should permit Pamphilo de Naruaez to come vnto Mexico, it shoulde be a meane of hys perdition: if likewise he should encounter him, he feared some rebellion in the Citie, and the setting at libertie of Mutezuma, putting in perill his owne honour, life, and trauayle: and to auoyde all these daungers and inconueniences, he determined remedy. First, he dispatched twoo men, the one vnto Iohn Velasques de Leon, who was gone to inhabite at Coazacoalco, willyng him at the sight of his letter to repaire vnto Mexico, giuing him aduise of the comming of Naruaez and of the great néede that he stoode in, of him & his company. The other messenger he sent to Vera Crux, to bryng full relation of the arriuall of Naruaez, and what was his pretence.
The letter sent to Iohn Velasques, came no sooner to his hande, but forthwith he obeyed and fulfilled the same, contrary to the expectation of Naruaez, for he was his brother in law, and kinsman vnto Iames Velasques. Cortes seing his constancie, had him euer after that tyme in great estimation.
From the Vera Crux came twentie of the townes men with certificat what Naruaez had published, and brought with them a priest, with Alonso Gueuara and Iohn ruiz de Vergara, who had comen to Vera Crux to amotiue the towne, vnder colour that they had brought the commissiō from the king. Cortes on the otherside, sent vnto Naruaez seignior Bartholome de Olmedo, with other two Spaniards, to offer vnto him his friendship, & otherwise to require & commaunde him on the behalfe of the kyng & of his owne, as chiefe iustice of the land, and in the name of the rulers and Aldermen of the towne of Vera Crux, who were then in Mexico, that he shoulde enter peaceably, without making any alteration vntill his auctoritie and commission were séene and allowed, and to make no slaunder or vprore to the hinderāce of the king his maisters procedings.
But al this diligence and letters of Cortes and the other rulers preuailed not, he seing this, set at libertie the priest that was brought prisoner, and sente him vnto Naruaez, with certaine riche collers of gold, and other iewels with a letter, wherein he wrote, that he was more gladder of his comming in that fléete than any other, for the friendship and olde acquaintaunce that had bene betwixt them, desiring him that they mought talke and cōferre togither, alone, for to take order to prohibite wars, sedition, bloudshedde and disquietnesse among them, beyng of one natiō and brethren, requestyng him to shew his cōmission from the king vnto him, or vnto the counsell of Vera Crux, and he would willingly obey it as reason did require: and if he had not brought any such commission, yet he would make some honest agrement with him. Pamfilo de Naruaez seing himselfe strong and mightie, did little regarde Cortes his letters, offers, nor requestes, and chiefly bycause Iames Velasques was sore displeased with Cortes.
The talke of Naruaez to the Indians, and his answere to Cortes.
A foule bragge.
Pamphilo de Naruaez declared to the Indiās that they were deceyued with their opiniō in Cortes, for that he alone was Captayne generall and chiefe Lorde, and that Cortes was but a naughty man, and so were all they of his company which are now in Mexico, who were all but his boyes, and that his present commyng was to cut of Cortes his head, and to chasten the others, likewyse he meant to dryue them all out of the countrey, & then to departe himselfe, and to leaue them in full libertie.
A cruell proclamation.