r Oli
leave our head-quarters on this occasion.

Before accompanying Sandoval to Chalco, I must make a few comments on
some observations which fell from several cavaliers, who, on comparing
my account of Cortes' expedition to Xaltocan with that of Gomara,
discovered that I had omitted three things mentioned in his history. One
circumstance was, that Cortes had appeared before Mexico with the
thirteen brigantines, and fought a terrible battle with Quauhtemoctzin's
whole armed force, which had been distributed in the canoes and large
pirogues. The other, that Cortes, when he had advanced up to Mexico
along the causeway had held a parley with the Mexican chiefs, and
threatened to reduce the town by famine: and the third, that he had not
acquainted the inhabitants of Tezcuco with his intention of marching
against Xaltocan, from fear they might betray his designs to the
Mexicans.

The answer I made those gentlemen on these three points was, that at the
time of our expedition against the Xaltocans, our brigantines were not
completed, and that it must appear ridiculous in itself, for the
brigantines to have found their way overland thither, and that our
cavalry and other troops should have taken their road through the lake.
But as we have above seen, when Cortes had advanced along the causeway
from Tlacupa, it was with great difficulty he made his retreat good, nor
had we at that time besieged the town so closely as to be able to cut
off all its supplies of provisions; on the contrary, Mexico was then
still in possession of the districts whence it obtained those supplies.
Everything which Gomara relates as having taken place on that occasion
did not happen till some time after. It is equally untrue when this
historian states that Cortes took a roundabout way in order to conceal
his design upon Xaltocan from the Tezcucans on his march thither; he had
no choice of roads, as there was only one, which led through the
territory of Tezcuco.

These are indeed shocking blunders; but I am well aware that they must
not be laid entirely to the door of Gomara, but for the most part to the
false information which had been furnished him, and this expressly to
bestow all the renown of our deeds of arms on Cortes, and thereby throw
the heroic valour of his soldiers into the shade. What I relate is the
pure truth, and these same cavaliers were subsequently convinced that my
statements were correct. Having thus digressed for a short time I m