[683] Two men were drowned in crossing the stream. Herrera, dec. ii. lib. x. cap. ii.
[684] ‘Dos leguas de los contrarios.’ Tapia, Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc.. ‘Fuimos a dormir a vn riachuelo, adõde estava en aquella sazon vna puẽte obra de vna legua de Cẽpoal.’ Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 96. Prescott here evidently follows the erroneous topography of Solis, who confuses this creek with Rio Canoas. Hist. Mex., ii. 85; Cortés, Residencia, i. 249; ii. 50.
[685] ‘Como yo deseaba evitar todo escándalo, parecióme que seria el menos, yo ir de noche, sin ser sentido ... y prenderlo [Narvaez]; ... porque los demás querian obedecer á la justicia, en especial que los mas dellos venian por fuerza.’ Cortés, Cartas, 123-4.
[686] He also stated that offers had been made favorable to him alone, not to them, hence he had declined them. ‘Muera el asno ó quien lo aguija.’ Any other course will disgrace us, was the concluding remark, whereupon we lifted him upon our shoulders and carried him round. Tapia, Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 588-9. ‘Hizo muchas ofertas, y prometimiẽtos, que seriamos todos muy ricos.’ Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 98. It would be his fault, not theirs, if success failed. Herrera, dec. ii. lib. x. cap. ii.
[687] ‘Gonzalo de Sãdoual, Alguazil mayor desta Nueua España, por su Magestad, yo os mando q prendays el cuerpo de Panfilo de Narvaez, e si se os defendiere, matadle, que assi conviene al servicio de Dios, y de su Magestad, y le prendió a vn Oidor.’ Countersigned by Secretary Pedro Hernandez. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 98; Tapia, Rel., in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., ii. 590.
[688] Herrera writes 3000, 1500, and 1000 pesos de oro. Cortés’ acts are said by the men of Velazquez to have been prompted by ‘un diabólico pensamiento é infernal osadía.’ Demanda de Ceballos, in Icazbalceta, Col. Doc., i. 441.
[689] The above agrees chiefly with Herrera, who assigns Sandoval 60 men, and names a number of the leading members of each party. The parties were to keep a stone’s throw apart. One of Cortés’ squads was to look to the cacique’s palace, and another to Alcalde Yuste’s quarters. dec. ii. lib. x. cap. iii. He is evidently confused on many points, and several names are guessed at. Bernal Diaz states that Pizarro, with 60 young men, including himself, was charged to capture the artillery; Sandoval received 60 men; Velazquez de Leon also a force of 60, wherewith to attack Diego Velazquez’ quarters; Cortés remained with a reserve of 20. It is more likely that a higher officer, like Olid, received the order to capture the artillery, rather than the comparatively unknown Pizarro. Velazquez de Leon does not appear to have been detailed for his charge till afterward. Cortés names only Sandoval as the leader of one party of 80 men, he himself following with the remaining 170. Cartas, 123. Solis reverses Herrera’s order. Hist. Mex., ii. 91-2.
[690] The stout cacique had remonstrated with the general on his carelessness, assuring him that Malinche with his Teules was far different. ‘When you least expect it he will be here and will kill you.’ Although the warning was received with laughter, yet the hint was not lost. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 96.
[691] Eighty horsemen and 500 infantry. ‘Y llegó casi una legua de donde yo estaba.’ Cortés, Cartas, 123.
[692] Laet, Nov. Orb., 221; Hakluyt’s Voy., iii. 467.