hastened to take up positions which rendered further or effective resistance useless. Indeed, little opposition was offered, owing in part to a secret arrangement with the captains.[1] Alarmed by the noise, and suspecting the truth, Grijalva prepared to take steps for recapturing the vessel, When Vallejo's notary came with the formal demand for him to leave the river or to anchor under the fort, he sternly rejected the favorable propositions made, and signalled to his consorts to open fire on the captured vessels, he himself setting the example.[2] Nothing daunted, the resolute Vallejo made conspicuous preparations for defence, probably in a great measure for effect. Whether real or not they succeeded, for abandoned by the land forces, and tired of waiting for further developments, with vessels rapidly decaying under the attack of worms, the captains all refused to expose themselves to needless danger. Grijalva could do nothing alone, and so after a brief conference he yielded,[3] only to be made a prisoner, together with a number of his officers and crew, whom Alvarado replaced with trusty men.
Ocampo now stepped in to play his part. With an air of magnanimous consideration he ordered nearly all of the prisoners to be set at liberty.[4] He thereupon declared himself ready to extend every aid to
- ↑ Castromocho and Martin de San Juan, according to Cortés. Salazar writes Juan de Lepuscuano and Torre Mocho. Hist. Cong., 108. 'As worthy of being called good mutineers as Ovalle of receiving the term captain,' says Oviedo. Nearly all the authorities follow the diplomatic version of Cortés that these captains voluntarily surrendered, either by persuasion, or intimidated by the formal notifications issued. Lúcas speaks on the other hand of a treacherous capture, attended by pillage; but he takes an extreme view, and does not perhaps believe in the perfidy of the captains.
- ↑ A number of shots being fired. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 710.
- ↑ Herrera assumes that Ocampo arrived in the midst of this excitement, and exhibited the royal cédula, whereupon Grijalva followed the other ships into the harbor. dec. iii. lib. v. cap. vi. Cortés is contradictory about the date of the occurrence, whether before Ocampo's arrival or after; but a statement in Provision, loc. cit., confirms Bernal Diaz in giving Alvarado at least a share in the capture.
- ↑ With restoration of all effects, writes Cortés, who naturally seeks to place his acts in the best light, Cartas, 294-5; but the followers of Cortés managed nevertheless to retain the best and largest portion of their arms and belongings.
