The majority of this 11 page account concerns the expedition sailing around the Yucatan peninsula, thinking it was an island, and trying to land where fresh water could be found, as their water barrels, provided by the good Governor, were not sealed and leaked. The natives used internal lines to gather at landing points and sucker the expedition inland. After two major battles the expedition had 50 dead, with everyone else wounded. The steel amour and swords were the main reason for their survival, and they barely made it into their ships, abandoning and burning their small escort vessel so important to probing coastal operations.

In order to avoid death from dehydration the survivors sailed to Florida, got into a fight with some natives, gathered enough water to see them back to Cuba, and returned, battered, with their commander Francisco Hernandez and three others dying.

Governor Diego Valazquez reported to the council of the Indies that he had made the discovery of the Yucatan.

Bernal Diaz, weary of adventure, attempted an embarrassing business undertaking, from which he emerged utterly destitute, and thinking that his governor cousin might employ him in a soldiering capacity, presents himself, wearing his only possessions at The Governor’s House.

Part 1 of this seven part adaptation of Bernal Diaz’ The Conquest of New Spain will conclude with The Governor of Cassavaland, a novelized version of the dialogue between Bernal and his powerful cousin alluded to in his account.