Be given up to Velasquez.
Many of us have resolved to take possession of this country under Cortes
for his majesty, electing Cortes for our general until the royal pleasure
is made known, and we expect your vote on this occasion." I concurred with
them heartily in this plan; and we went through all the huts of the camp,
canvassing votes for Cortes.
This affair became soon known to the party of Velasquez, which was more
numerous than ours, and its leaders haughtily demanded of Cortes to desist
from these underhand dealings, as it was his duty to return to Velasquez,
because we were not provided for the establishment of a colony. Cortes
answered mildly, that he would return immediately; but we of the other
party exclaimed against this resolution; saying that he had deceived us by
pretending to have a commission to colonize, when it now appeared he only
meant to trade, and we now demanded him to fulfil his original engagement
with us, as most conducive to the service of God and the king. We asserted
that more soldiers would soon join us, if we were once established; and
that he and Velasquez had drawn us to our ruin, by giving us hopes of a
settlement, which was now denied; and we insisted on Cortes accepting the
command of us, who were determined to try our fortunes in this new country,
while such as chose to return to Cuba were welcome to depart. Cortes,
after affecting for some time to refuse our offer, at length complied, and
was appointed by us captain-general and supreme magistrate, in the name of
the king, and without dependence on Velasquez. The worst part of the
business was, that we assigned him a fifth part at all the gold which
might be acquired, after deducting the share belonging to the king. Being
now formally invested by us with the supreme authority, of which a formal
instrument was drawn up by Diego de Godoy, the royal notary, Cortes
proceeded immediately to the settlement of a town, which was denominated
Villa Rica, de la Vera Cruz. It was called Villa Rica, because of the
words of Puertocarrero formerly mentioned, "behold the rich lands;" and
de la Vera Cruz, because he arrived at this place on Holy Thursday and
disembarked on Good Friday. On this occasion we elected civil magistrates
of the new colony; Puertocarrero and Montejo being the two first alcaldes,
Pedro de Alvarado captain of the expeditions, Christoval de Oli maestre de
campo, Juan de Escalente alguazil major, Gonzalo Mexia treasurer, Alonzo
de Avila contador, Corral standard-bearer, Ochoa Viscanio and Alonzo
Romero military alguazils.
These steps gave great offence to the faction of Velasquez, insomuch that
they used many mutinous expressions, and were almost ready to proceed to
acts of violence. They declared that they would not submit to the usurped
authority of Cortes, being resolved to return to Cuba, according to the
orders and instructions of Velasquez. Cortes declared that he had no
desire to detain any against their inclinations, even if he should remain
alone. This pacified many of the malcontents; but Juan Velasquez de Leon,
Diego de Ordas, Escobar, Escudero, and some others were so violent in
their opposition, that Cortes was obliged to have them arrested, and they
were detained for some time in irons. By a private concert with Cortes,
Juan de Escalente demanded by our authority, that the instructions from
Velasquez should be produced, that we might be enabled to lay a detailed
account of the whole proceedings before the king for our justification.
The tenor of these was, "To return as soon as we had procured all the gold
which could be had." This appeared afterwards to have been a very
necessary precaution, from the steps which were taken against us by Don
Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos and archbishop of Rossano.
[1] Clavigero denominates this part of the Mexican empire by the
incommunicable name of Chalchiuhcuecan. - E.
[2] In the work of Bernal Diaz, the names of these two Mexican chiefs are
Tendile and Pitaipitoque. We have here adopted the orthography of
Clavigero in preference, because he appears to have perfectly
understood the Mexican language; and shall continue to do so in the
sequel without farther notice, as often as his work enables us to do
it with certainty - E.
[3] Perhaps mock-pearls, or the word may possibly be the same with what we
term marcasites. - E.
[4] Clavigero calls this a gilt mask or vizor. - E.
[5] According to Clavigero, there was an ancient tradition current among
the Mexicans, that Quetzalcoatl, their god of the air, had
disappeared long ago, promising to return after a certain period, and
to govern them in peace and happiness; and on the first appearance of
the Spaniards on their coast, observing certain marks of resemblance
between them and their mythological notions of this god, they believed
their god of the air had returned, and was about to resume the
government. - E.
[6] Clavigero alleges that this name neither is nor can be Mexican, but
does not correct the orthography. - E.
[7] According to Clavigero, this plate was thirty palms of Toledo in
circumference and was worth 10,000 sequins, representing what he calls
the Mexican centary, or rather cycle of fifty-two years, and
having the sun in the centre. - E.
[8] By Clavigero this expression is made Teuctin, which he says
signifies lords or gentlemen as applied to all the Spaniards; and that
this word having some resemblance to Teteo, the Mexican term for gods,
made them believe that they were considered as gods by the
Mexicans. - E.
[9] Chiahuitztla, near which Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, the first Spanish
settlement in Mexico was built; but which was afterwards removed to
the dry sands at St Juan de Ulua, where Vera Cruz, the port of Mexico,
now stands.
