Conquest of Mexico
fifty soldiers left in the capital under Alvarado. (Probanza fecha en la neuva España del mar océano á pedimento de Juan Ochoa de Lexalde, en nombre de Hernando Cortés, MS.) The account in the Mexican edition is unquestionably an error.
Page 28 (1).—So says Oviedo—and with truth: "If this captain, Juan Velasquez de Leon, had not been on bad terms with his relative, Diego de Velasquez, and had passed over with the 150 men, whom he had brought to Guaçacalco, to the cause of Panfilo de Narvaez, brother-in-law of Velasquez, the enterprise of Cortés would have been ruined."—Hist, de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 12.
Page 30 (1).—Rel. Seg. de Cortés, ap. Lorenzana, pp. 123-124.—Bernal Diaz, Hist, de la Conquista, cap. 11 5-1 17.—Oviedo, Hist, de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 12.
Page 30 (2).—But, although irresistible against cavalry, the long pike of the German proved no match for the short sword and buckler of the Spaniard, in the great battle of Ravenna, fought few years before this, 1512. Machiavelli makes some excellent reflections on the comparative merit of these arms.—Arte della Guerra, lib. 2, ap. Opere, tom. iv. p. 67.
Page 32 (1).—More than one example of this ruse is mentioned by Mariana in Spanish history, though the precise passages have escaped my memory.
Page 40 (1).—Oviedo says that military men discussed whether Velasquez de Leon should have obeyed the commands of Cortés rather than those of his kinsman, the governor of Cuba. They decided in favour of the former, on the ground of his holding his commission immediately from him.
Page 41 (1).—This ascendancy the thoughtful Oviedo refers to his dazzling and liberal manners, so strongly contrasted with those of the governor of Cuba. "For the rest he had a very gallant personality; and his desire for authority, added to the fact that he was generous and open-handed towards those who joined him, while, on the other hand, Diego de Velasquez was extremely unpopular, contributed to Cortés' success in carrying out his plans and retaining his authority and leadership."—Oviedo, Hist, de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 12.
Page 42 (1).—It was in a conversation with Oviedo himself, at Toledo, in 1525, in which Narvaez descanted with much bitterness, as was natural, on his rival's conduct. The gossip, which has never appeared in print, may have some interest for the Spanish reader. "In the year 1535, when the Emperor was in the city of Toledo, I saw there the aforesaid Narvaez, who said publicly that Cortés was a traitor, and if he had His Majesty's permission, he would inform His Majesty of the character of Cortés, how he was a man incapable of truth. And he made many other ugly statements, calling Cortés traitor and tyrant, and ingrate to his lord and to him who at his own expense had sent him to New Spain, namely the Adelantado Diego Velasquez, who had been drained of lands, followers, and money; and many other charges which had an ill sound. And with regard to his arrest, he said much in contradiction of the accepted account. My comment on this is that, with all I heard from Narvaez (and so I told him), I could not acquit him of carelessness, for there had been no need for him to have dealings with Cortés without taking far greater precautions than he had. To this he replied that he had been sold by those in whom he confided and that Cortés had suborned them."—Oviedo, Hist, de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 12.
Page 43 (1).—Herrera, Hist. General, dec. 2, lib. 10, cap. 6.—Oviedo, Hist, de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 47.—Bernal Diaz, Hist, de la Conquista, cap. 123.
Page 43 (2).—Diaz, who had often listened to it, thus notices his eloquence. "Then he began a speech, in such charming style, with sentences so neatly turned, that I assuredly am unable to write the like, so delightful was it, and so full of promises."—Ibid. cap. 121.418
