_How Cortes, after setting sail, was twice obliged to put back into
the harbour of Truxillo; and what further happened._
Cortes, after setting sail from Truxillo two several times, was again
obliged to put back into the harbour; the first time on account of a
tremendous storm which arose, and the second time on account of the
foremast snapping in two. As our general was suffering both bodily and
mentally, and had been severely attacked by sea-sickness, he determined
to postpone his voyage to Mexico to a more favorable season of the year;
which he felt the more inclined to do, as he feared the factor might
seize his person, and throw him into prison. After he had put back for
the second time into Truxillo, he desired father Juan, who had set sail
with him, to perform the mass of the Holy Ghost, to make a solemn
procession, and to supplicate the Almighty, and the Holy Mary our Lady
the Virgin, to enlighten his understanding, and lead him in that path by
which he could exert himself most in the holy service of God. By this
means, it appears, he was enlightened by the Holy Spirit not to leave
this province at present, but to continue its colonization. He then
despatched three couriers to us in all haste, with orders for us to
discontinue our march to Mexico, and to proceed with the further
conquest of the country, as his guardian angel, he said, had pointed out
this course to him.
When these commands were made known to us, we were ready to burst with
rage; we poured out a thousand maledictions upon the man who seemed
entirely deserted by his previous good fortune, and who was now working
out our total ruin. We boldly told Sandoval to his face he might remain
in this country if he liked, but we were determined not to be completely
ruined, and would continue our march to Mexico. Sandoval acknowledged
that we were in the right, and said he would only request of us to halt
until he had informed Cortes of the resolution we had come to, and we
had received his answer in return.
We then drew up a letter, which was signed by every one of us, and we
despatched it to our general by the same couriers who had brought us his
commands. His answer speedily arrived, in which vast promises were made
to all those who would consent to remain in this country for the
present; but at the very top of the letter was put: "I have only to tell
those who do not choose to obey my commands, that there are plenty of
soldiers in Spain."
When we received this answer, we were determined to give ourselves no
further trouble about him, and forthwith to continue our march to
Mexico; but Sandoval entreated us so earnestly, and with so much
kindness, to have patience for a few days longer, as he would repair in
person to Truxillo, to persuade Cortes to embark, that we consented to
write an answer to his last letter, in which we requested him to take
our present position into his consideration, and to remember that all
our misfortunes were owing to this expedition. It was in supporting his
cause, we said, that our possessions had been sold by public auction,
and our Indians given away to other persons. Those among us who had left
wives and children in New Spain were up to this time without any tidings
of them. We therefore urgently begged of him to embark for Mexico
without delay. With respect to the taunt which he threw out against us,
of there being plenty of soldiers in Spain, we, in our turn, could
remind him that there were also numbers of governors and celebrated
captains in Mexico at present, who would be too happy to receive us, and
to return our Indians to us; wherefore we were not exactly dependent on
his kind considerations.
With this letter Sandoval set out for Truxillo, accompanied by Pedro de
Sauzedo the snub-nose, and Francisco Donaire the blacksmith. When
Sandoval was mounting his motilla, he made a solemn oath that he would
do all in his power to persuade Cortes to embark for Mexico.
Since I have mentioned Sandoval's motilla, I may as well take the
opportunity of saying a few words of this splendid horse. This animal
was remarkably well trained for the field of battle, was of a dark
chesnut colour, and so exquisitely beautiful in its proportions, that
there was nothing to equal it in New Spain. The fame of this horse was
so great, that it even reached the ears of the emperor, which induced
Sandoval to present it to his majesty. While I am speaking about horses,
I remember that Sandoval once offered to exchange one of his horses for
mine, which was likewise a powerful and well-trained animal; indeed I
had paid Avalos, the brother of Saavedra, 600 pesos for it, after I had
lost a former one in our attack upon the township of Zulaco, for which I
had paid a similar sum. I took Sandoval's offer, and we made an
exchange; but I had scarcely done so, when it was killed in an
engagement. I had now only a miserable young colt left, which I
purchased from the merchants who had put into Truxillo with the two
vessels above mentioned.
Sandoval, before his departure, addressed us in the most affectionate
terms, and appointed Luis Marin chief in command during his absence. We
quartered ourselves in the Marayani townships, and afterwards in the
large township of Acalteca, where we were to await Sandoval's return.
When Cortes had read our letter, he appeared greatly perplexed,
particularly as he had sent out all his troops under his cousin Saavedra
against the Indians, who had risen up in arms, and refused all further
obedience to him. Sandoval, with Pedro Sauzedo, and father Juan, who
likewise longed to return to Mexico, might say what they liked; it was
all to no purpose; our general obstinately refused to embark.