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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 759 of 789
Words from 211217 to 211482
of 219607
