Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/348



In the yeere 1520. the licentiate Lucas Vasques de Aillon and other inhabitants of S. Domingo furnished two ships, and sent them to the Isles of Lucoyos to get slaues, and finding none they passed along by the firme land beyond Florida, vnto certaine countreys called Chicora and Gualdape, vnto the riuer Iordon and the Cape of Saint Helena standing in 32. degrees toward the north. They of the countrey came downe to the sea side to see the ships, as hauing neuer before seene the like: The Spanyards went on land where they receiued good entertainment, and had giuen vnto them such things as they lacked. But they brought many of them into their ships and then set saile and brought them away for slaues: but in the way one of their ships sunke, and the other was also in great hazard. By this newes the Licentiate Aillon knowing the wealth of the countrey, begged the gouernment thereof of the Emperour, and it was giuen him: whither he went to get money to pay his debt.

About this time Diego Velasques gouernour of Cuba hearing the good successe of Cortes, and that he had begged the gouernment of New Spaine, which he held to be his, he furnished out thither against Cortes 18. ships with 1000. men and 80. horses, whereof he sent as generall one Pamphilus de Naruaez. He came vnto the towne called Villa rica de la vera Cruz, where he tooke land, and commanded those of the countrey to receiue him as gouernour thereof; But they tooke his messenger prisoner, and sent him to Mexico where Cortes was. Which thing being knowne of Cortes, he wrote letters vnto Naruaez not to raise any vprore in the countrey which he had discouered, offering him obedience if he had any commission from the Emperour; but he corrupted the people of the countrey with money: Whereupon Cortes went from Mexico and tooke Naruaez prisoner in the towne of Zampoallan and put out one of his eies.

Naruaez being thus taken prisoner, his armie submitted themselues to Cortes, and obeied him. Whereupon presently he dispatched 200. soldiers vnto the riuer of Garay, and he sent Iohn Vasquez de Leon with other two hundred vnto Cosaalco, and withall sent a Spanyard with the newes of his victorie vnto Mexico.

But the Indians being in the meane time risen, hurt the messenger. Which being