The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
By these bright prospects and the friendly disposition which Cortesevinced towards him,
Garay's spirits were again raised, and I am surethat everything would have been fulfilled as
agreed upon betweenthem, if Providence had not disposed otherwise.
Garay soon after inhabited the house of Alonso Villanueva, as Cortes was making great
alterations in his palaces. This Villanueva hadupon one occasion been despatched by Cortes
to purchase horsesin Jamaica, but really I am unable to say whether previous or subsequent
to this time; at all events, Garay and he were very intimate friends, wherefore he had
requested permission of Cortes to inhabitthe latter's house.
[Pg 156]
Narvaez was still in Mexico at this time, and renewed his formerfriendship with Garay. As
may naturally be supposed, each relatedto the other his misfortunes, and as Narvaez was a
man of a haughtydisposition, he said smilingly to Garay on one occasion: "What very fine
things, Señor Adelantado, have been told me by several of the men whohave deserted your
troops! They assert, that on every occasion whenyou wished to encourage your officers you
used to say: 'We must show ourselves brave men and fight valiantly about with Cortes'
soldiers, and not allow ourselves to be cozened as Narvaez was.' But what say you now,
Señor? I lost one of my eyes in the battle Ifought with Cortes; lost my army and all my
property in the courageousdefence which I offered, and indeed it was no joke to defeat me.
No one in the world can have greater luck than this man; but it mustbe remembered that he
has officers and soldiers who lend him themost vigorous assistance in all his undertakings,
which alone has renderedit possible for him to have the good fortune of an Octavius, the
victorious career of a Julius Cæsar, and the endurance of a Hannibalin battle."
To which Garay replied, "That it was unnecessary for him to mentionall this, for the deeds
spoke for themselves;" and indeed, addedhe, "where will you find another man who would
dare, after destroyinghis fleet, to penetrate with a handful of men in the midst of acountry
so thickly populated, in order to wage war against powerfulstates and large cities?"
Narvaez then mentioned other heroic deeds of our general, and inthis way they discoursed
for a length of time with each other aboutthe wonderful conquest of New Spain! Garay,
soon after, even beggedCortes to grant Narvaez and his wife permission to return to the
islandof Cuba. This lady, whose name was Maria Valenzuela, possessedgreat wealth, and
she had formerly known Cortes at Cuba, and waseven related to him. She had herself also
petitioned Cortes to liberateher husband. Our general now not only granted this request, but
also gave Narvaez 2000 pesos to defray the expenses of his voyage.Narvaez could scarcely
find words to thank Cortes sufficiently for so much kindness, and promised him, by
everything that was holy, neverunder any circumstance whatever to go against his interests.
But to return to Garay, whose unfortunate expedition terminated inthe following manner.
On Christmas eve of the year 1523 he accompanied Cortes to church in order to attend
midnight mass, performedby father Olmedo; after church they both returned home inhigh
spirits and sat down to breakfast, when it appears that Garay, who was not in very good
health, caught cold by standing in a draught, which ended in pleurisy, accompanied by a
violent fever. The medical men bled and purged him, but the disease continually grew
worse, sothat father Olmedo was desired to inform him of the danger he wasin, that he
might confess, while he was yet able, and make his lastwill. Father Olmedo accordingly
disclosed to him that his end wasdrawing nigh, and he ought to think of preparing for death
as a goodChristian and an honest cavalier, that he might not lose his soul inthe next world,
as he had his riches in this. "Your advice is good, father," answered Garay; "I wish to
confess this very night, to receivethe holy sacrament, and to make my last will." All this he
fulfilled with great devotion, appointed Cortes with father Olmedo hisexecutors, and four
days after rendered up his soul again to his Godand his Creator.
[Pg 157]
It is peculiar to the climate of Mexico that those who are attackedby pleurisy, generally die
within three or four days; this we experienced to our great sorrow in Tezcuco and
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