A LIBRARY FOR MY YOUNG COUNTRYMEN. EDITED BY THE AUTHOR OF “UNCLE PHILIP’S CONVERSATIONS.” VOLUME IV. ADVENTURES OF HERNAN CORTES. THE ADVENTURES OF THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO [Illustration: colophon] By the Author of “Uncle Philip’s Conversations” NEW YORK D. Appleton & Company 200 Broadway. THE ADVENTURES OF HERNAN CORTES, THE CONQUEROR OF MEXICO. BY THE AUTHOR OF “UNCLE PHILIP’S CONVERSATIONS.” NEW YORK: D. APPLETON & CO., 200 BROADWAY. PHILADELPHIA: GEORGE S. APPLETON, 148 CHESTNUT ST. MDCCCXLIII. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, BY D. APPLETON & CO., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. STEREOTYPED BY REDFIELD & SAVAGE, _13 Chambers Street, New York_. NOTE. The writer of this volume has thought it best not to encumber a book written for the young, with references to authorities. He owes it to himself, however, to say, that he believes he has made no statement for which authority may not readily be produced. To any older readers, who may possibly glance at the volume, he would remark, that he is indebted for his materials principally to Antonio de Herrera, Bernal Diaz, Antonio de Solis, Torquemada, Clavigero, Don Telesforo de Trueba y Cosio, Venegas, the letters of Hernan Cortes, the English historian Robertson, and our own lamented countryman, R. C. Sands, Esq. TO THOSE OF MY YOUNG COUNTRYMEN, WHO ARE DISPOSED TO GATHER FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY, A STORY OF REAL LIFE, STRANGER THAN ANY TALE OF ROMANCE, This Volume IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, BY THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.