Cortes. The first two
captains who ran in with their vessels were Martin Lepuzcuano and
Castromucho, and they surrendered to Vallejo, who then immediately
repaired to the mouth of the harbour with the two vessels, and commanded
Juan de Grijalva either to run into the harbour or to quit his present
station without delay and put to sea again. This message Grijalva
answered by firing a broadside at him; but Vallejo was not to be daunted
by this, and repaired on board Grijalva's vessel in one of his own
boats, accompanied by a royal secretary, and handed over to him letters
from Alvarado and father Olmedo, who made large promises to him in the
name of Cortes. While Grijalva was perusing these letters, the rest of
the vessels ran one after the other into the harbour, so that no other
resource was left him than to follow their example, and to yield up his
sword to Vallejo, who had demanded it of him in the name of Cortes,
though he, with all the other captains, were immediately set at liberty
again, according to the advice of father Olmedo, who always said it was
most pleasing to God and to our emperor when disputes were settled
without spilling any blood.

When Garay found what a miserable state his affairs were in, that a
portion of his men had deserted, and that the rest had rebelled against
him; how two of his vessels had foundered at sea, and the rest had
declared for Cortes, his despondency was at its height. He earnestly
requested Cortes' officers to deliver up to him again his troops and his
vessels, and declared that he would return to the river Palmas, and thus
put an end to all further disputes. These officers, in reply, wished him
every success in this undertaking, and said they would order all his men
who were strolling about the country to repair to his standard again,
and reembark with their general; they promised also to furnish him with
a good supply of provisions and other matters. Garay was highly
delighted with this offer, and the strictest orders were accordingly
issued to seize all the men who had rebelled, and to take them into the
presence of Garay: but all threats proved fruitless, and the few of
Garay's soldiers who were recaptured maintained that their agreement was
to serve in the province of Panuco, and that their oath did not bind
them to follow their general's standard anywhere else. They even used
stronger language than this; and declared, without any reserve, that
Garay did not possess the req