[10] We are duly sensible of the divine super-excellence of Christianity,
    and the gross barbarism of idolatry joined with abominable human
    sacrifices.  Yet, the mere change of two crossed sticks and the images
    of Saint Somebody or Saint Nobody, for the idols of the Mexicans,
    under pretence of introducing the pure religion of the meek and holy
    Jesus, seems in our humble opinion a mere qui pro quo; and, when
    taken in conjunction with the proposed conversion by military
    execution, and the introduction of the bloody tribunal of the
    Inquisition, not one iota less idolatrous or less barbarous.—­E.

[11] Bernal Diaz neglects to accommodate his readers with the very useful
    appendage of dates; it therefore may be proper to remark that the
    Spaniards entered the city of Mexico for the first time on the 8th
    November 1519; and as Cortes left it in the beginning of May 1520, in
    his march against Narvaez, he had now spent about six months in the
    capital of a mighty empire, with hardly 450 soldiers.—­E.

SECTION IX.

Expedition of Narvaez to supersede Cortes in the command, and occurrences till the Defeat of that Officer by Cortes at Chempoalla.

The Bishop of Burgos, who was president of the council of the Indies, bore unlimited sway in that department of the Spanish government during the absence of the emperor in Flanders.  Owing to the representations of Velasquez against Cortes, he sent orders to him to seize and make us all prisoners at every hazard, as rebellious subjects.  Velasquez therefore fitted out a fleet of nineteen ships from the Island of Cuba, in which he embarked an army of fourteen hundred soldiers, eighty of whom were cavalry, eighty musketeers, and eighty crossbow-men, with twenty pieces of cannon, and all necessary ammunition and appointments, giving the command in chief to Pamphilo de Narvaez.  Such was his animosity against Cortes and us for having thrown off our dependance upon him, that he made a journey of above seventy leagues from the Havanna on purpose to expedite the preparations.  At this time, the royal audience of St Domingo and the brethren of the order of St Jerorimo, being satisfied of our loyalty and great exertions in the service of God and the emperor, sent over the oydor Lucas Vasquez de Aillon to Cuba, with positive injunctions to stop the sailing of the armament against us; but as Velasquez was confident in the support of the bishop of Burgos, he gave no heed to the orders communicated to him by Aillon, who therefore went along with the armament, that he might endeavour as much as possible to prevent injury to the public service by his mediation and influence, and be at hand if necessary, to take possession of the country for the emperor, in virtue of his office.