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224 men, and they told such wonderful stories of our riches in their camp that many of the officers wanted to make peace with Cortes.

As soon as our troops arrived at Tanpaniguita we despatched that remarkably shrewd man, Padre de Olmedo, with a letter to Narvaez. Towards the commander the friar comported himself in a particularly humble manner, but he made secret overtures to a number of gentlemen and gave some of them bars of gold. We also sent other skilful mediators. But, to pass briefly their work, let me say that in the end all negotiations proved useless, and finally we continued our march to Cempoala and halted in a beautiful meadow skirting a brook, about four miles from the town. We now posted sentinels of entirely trustworthy men, and Cortes assembled us round him, as he sat on horseback, and begging a few minutes' silence, spoke to us in this wise:

"You well know that Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, named me captain general—but not because there are not many gentlemen among you worthy of the post—and that you left Cuba thinking you were coming to settle in this country. I was preparing to act up to the publication, and was ready to return to Cuba and render account to Diego Velasquez, when your honors ordered—yes, compelled me to form a settlement here in the name of our emperor, a settlement that, thanks to God, has