The ships sailed into port, where the captains and crews were at once seized, and were then easily persuaded to join Cortez.

Two ships fitted out by the Governor of Jamaica also put into port, to repair damages after a storm; and their crews were also persuaded, by the liberal promises of Cortez, to abandon their service and join him.

He thus received a reinforcement of at least a hundred and fifty well-armed men, together with fifty horses.
But this was not the end of the good fortune of Cortez.

A merchant ship, laden with arms and military stores, touched at Cuba; and the captain, hearing of the discoveries in Mexico, thought that he should find a good market there.

He therefore sailed to Vera Cruz, where his ship and cargo were purchased by Cortez, and the crew swelled the force under him.
By Christmas everything was ready for the advance The army now amounted to six hundred men, forty of whom were cavalry, with eighty musketeers and crossbow men.