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BOOK the difaffection of his followers to be fo general, as increased the natural confidence and prefump→ tion of Narvaez. His firft operation, however, might have taught him not to rely on their partial accounts. Having fent to fummon the governor of Vera Cruz to furrender, Guevara, a priest whom he employed in that service, made the requifition with fuch infolence, that Sandoval, an officer of high fpirit, and zealously attached to Cortes, inftead of complying with his demands, feized him and his attendants, and fent them in chains to Mexico....

Cortes deeply alarmed.

CORTES received them not like enemies, but as friends, and condemning the severity of Sandoval, fet them immediately at liberty. By this well-timed clemency, feconded by careffes and prefents, he gained their confidence, and drew from them fuch particulars concerning the force and intentions of Narvaez, as gave him a view of the impending danger in its full extent. He had not to contend now with halfnaked Indians, no match for him in war, and ftill more inferior in the arts of policy, but to take the field against an army in courage and martial difcipline equal to his own, in number far fuperior, acting under the fanction of royal authority, and commanded by an officer of known bravery. He was informed that Nar

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vaez, more folicitous to gratify the refentment BOOK of Velasquez, than attentive to the honour or intereft of his country, had begun his intercourfe with the natives, by representing him and his followers as fugitives and outlaws, guilty of rebellion against their own fovereign, and of injustice in invading the Mexican empire; and had declared that his chief object in vifiting the country, was to punish the Spaniards who had committed these crimes, and to rescue the Mexicans from oppreffion. He foon perceived that the fame unfavourable representations of his character and actions had been conveyed to Montezuma, and that Narvaez had found means to affure him, that as the conduct of those who kept him under restraint was highly displeasing to the king his master, he had it in charge not only to rescue an injured monarch from confinement, but to reinftate him in the poffeffion of his ancient power and independence. Animated with this profpect of being fet free from fubjection to ftrangers, the Mexicans in feveral provinces began openly to revolt from Cortes, and to regard Narvaez as a deliverer no lefs able than willing to fave them. Montezuma himfelf kept up a fecret intercourse with the new commander, and feemed to court him as a perfon fuperior in power and dignity to those Spaniards

B 2

BOOK Spaniards whom he had hitherto revered as the firft of men.

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His delibe

rations con

own con

duct.

SUCH were the various afpects of danger and Gerning his difficulty which prefented themselves to the view of Cortes. No fituation can be conceived more trying to the capacity and firmnefs of a general, or where the choice of the plan which ought to be adopted was more difficult. If he fhould wait the approach of Narvaez in Mexico, deftruction feemed to be unavoidable; for while the Spaniards preffed him from without, the inhabitants, whose turbulent fpirit he could hardly reftrain with all his authority and attention, would eagerly lay hold on fuch a favourable opportunity of avenging all their wrongs. If he fhould abandon the capital, fet the captive monarch at liberty, and march out to meet the enemy; he must at once forego the fruits of al his toils and victories, and relinquish advantages which could not be recovered without extraordinary efforts, and infinite danger. If, inftead of employing force, he fhould have recourse to conciliating measures, and attempt an accommodation with Narvaez; the natural haughtiness of that, officer, augmented by con

• See NOTE I.

fcioufnefs

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1.520.

fcioufness of his prefent fuperiority, forbad him BOOK to cherish any fanguine hope of fuccefs. After revolving every fcheme with deep attention, Cortes fixed upon that which in execution was most hazardous, but, if fuccefsful, would prove moft beneficial to himself and to his country; and with the decifive intrepidity fuited to defperate fituations, determined to make one bold effort for victory under every disadvantage, rather than facrifice his own conquefts and the Spanish intereft in Mexico.

BUT though he forefaw that the contest must be terminated finally by arms, it would have been not only indecent, but criminal, to have marched against his countrymen, without attempting to adjust matters by an amicable negociation. In this fervice he employed Olmedo, his chaplain, to whose character the function was well fuited, and who poffeffed, befides, fuch prudence and addrefs as qualified him to carry on the fecret intrigues in which Cortes placed his chief confidence. Narvaez rejected, with fcorn, every scheme of accommodation that Olmedo propofed, and was with difficulty reftrained from laying violent hands on him and his attendants. He met, however, with a more favourable reception among the followers of Narvaez, to many of whom he delivered letters, either

B3

BOOK either from Cortes or his officers, their ancient

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Marches against him.

May.

friends and companions."

Cortes artfully ac companied these with presents of rings, chains of gold, and other trinkets of value, which infpired those needy adventurers with high ideas of the wealth that he had acquired, and with envy of their good fortune who were engaged in his service. Some, from hopes of becoming fharers in those rich spoils, declared for an immediate accommodation with Cortes. Others, from public fpirit, laboured to prevent a civil war, which, whatever party should prevail, must shake, and perhaps fubvert the Spanish power, in a country where it was fo imperfectly established. Narvaez difregarded both, and by a public proclamation denounced Cortes and his adherents rebels and enemies to their country. Cortes, it is probable, was not much surprised at the untractable arrogance of Narvaez; and, after having given fuch a proof of his own pacific difpofition as might juftify his recourfe to other means, he determined to advance towards an enemy whom he had laboured in vain to appease.

He left a hundred and fifty men in the capital, under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, an officer of diftinguished courage, for whom the Mexicans had conceived a fingular degree of

respect.