r was quite finished, Cortes desired to read it, and when
he found how faithfully the account was drawn up, and himself so highly
praised, he was vastly pleased, returned us hearty thanks, and promised
us golden mountains. He, however, observed, that it would be better to
make no allusion to the fifth part of the gold which we had promised
him; also to suppress the names of the first discoverers of the
country. Indeed, we subsequently learnt that Cortes, in his account,
never mentioned a word either about Cordoba, or of Grijalva, but
reserved all the honour and merit to himself.

Nevertheless the men were not wanting among us who answered the
objections made by Cortes, saying it was our bounden duty to narrate
every circumstance to his majesty as it had really taken place.

Our agents took charge of the letters, and were bound down by a promise
not to touch at the Havannah under any pretence whatever, nor run into
the harbour of El Marien, where Francisco de Montejo had possessions.
This was done that Velasquez might receive no intelligence of our
doings. They certainly promised, but neglected to observe these orders,
as will be seen.

Everything being now ready for their departure, father Olmedo said mass,
and we commended them to the guidance and protection of the Holy Ghost.
On the 26th of July, 1519, they set sail from San Juan de Ulua, and
arrived pretty soon at the Havannah. Here Francisco de Montejo left our
chief pilot Alaminos no peace, persuading him to sail along the coast in
the direction of his settlement, where he pretended he would take in a
fresh supply of cassave-bread and bacon. Puertocarrero was greatly
displeased with this conduct; however, the landing was effected. The
night following a sailor swam secretly on shore, and forwarded Diego
Velasquez letters from his adherents, giving him an account of all that
had passed. We afterwards learnt that Montejo himself had sent this man,
who, besides this, spread the news everywhere along the route he
journeyed. We shall now see what steps Velasquez took upon this.

CHAPTER LV.

_How Diego Velasquez is informed by his agents that we had sent
messengers with letters and presents to our king, and what further
took place._

Diego Velasquez received intelligence of everything we had done, partly
by the letters which had been secretly conveyed to him, and were said to
be of Montejo's own writing, and partly from the sailor, who swam on