CHAPTER XLII.

_How we elected Hernando Cortes captain-general and chief justice

until we should receive the emperor's commands on this head; and

what further happened._

I have already remarked how the relatives and friends of Diego Velasquez

united to stop our further progress, and bring about our return to Cuba.

Cortes, on his part, however, was no less active, and managed with his

friends to get himself appointed our captain-general. In this the

following personages acted the chief part: Alonso Hernandez

Puertocarrero, Pedro de Alvarado, with his four brothers Jorge, Gonzalo,

Gomez, and Juan; further, Christobal de Oli, Alonso de Avila, Juan de

Escalante, Francisco de Lugo, myself, and many other cavaliers and

officers.

Francisco de Montejo soon perceived what our intentions were, and kept a

sharp look-out upon everything that was going on. I was drawn into this

affair in the following manner: at midnight, Puertocarrero, Escalante,

and De Lugo, to whom I stood somewhat related, both of us, moreover,

being born at the same place, called upon me in my quarters, and said,

"Bernal Diaz del Castillo, take your arms and follow us: we are to

accompany Cortes, who is going to make the rounds." When we had arrived

at some distance from my hut, they again commenced, "We have something

to tell you, sir, but you must keep it a secret, for it is of great

importance, and those of Diego Velasquez's partisans who mess with you

must know nothing about it. We are of opinion that Cortes does not act

rightly towards us. At Cuba he made known that he was going out to found

a colony, and now we hear that he was not empowered to do so, but was

merely sent out to barter for gold, and then to return to Cuba with all

we should make. If this takes place, we are altogether ruined men, and

Diego Velasquez will himself comfortably pocket the gold, and keep it,

as he has on previous occasions. Do but reflect, sir, that this is the

third expedition of the kind which you have accompanied, that you have

spent your whole in them, and undergone so many fatigues, risked your

life, and suffered from wounds, all for nothing. This we cannot allow.

We cavaliers are sufficient in number, your friends one and all, and we

must insist that Cortes founds a colony here, in the name of his

majesty; we must also find means to acquaint our sovereign immediately

with this. Promise that you also will be one of us. We have united to

elect Cortes our captain-general. It would, indeed, be rendering God and

our king a great service."

To all this I answered that I considered it equally inadvisable to

return to Cuba, and that I was quite ready to give my consent towards

electing Cortes captain-general and chief justice, until his imperial

majesty should have communicated his wishes to us on that point. As this

plan went round from one to another, the partisans of Diego Velasquez,

who were much more numerous than we, soon got wind of it, and boldly

asked Cortes what intrigues had been set on foot to form a colony here?

and why he should shirk from rendering the account which was due to him

by whom he had been appointed head of the expedition? Diego Velasquez

would certainly be ill pleased with such proceedings: we could not do

otherwise than re-embark: all his intrigues with the men were useless:

to found a colony, we were in want both of provisions, men, and

everything else to ensure success. Cortes, without showing the least

irritability, answered, that he was quite of their opinion, and had not

the remotest intention to act contrary to the instructions and wishes of

Diego Velasquez, and immediately issued orders that every one who had

come with him should repair on board by the next day.

As soon as we others, who had confederated, heard this, we declared to

Cortes that he was doing wrong in thus wishing to deceive us. At Cuba he

had publicly announced that he was going out to found a colony, and now

it appeared it was merely for the sake of trafficking. We begged of him,

for the sake of God and our king, not to break his word, but to found a

colony, as was required of us, to promote the interests of his majesty

and the service of God. It would be impossible for us to return here at

any future time, as the inhabitants would certainly not permit us to

land: but, if a colony was once founded, soldiers from every island in

these parts would come flocking hither in order to assist us. Diego

Velasquez had deceived us when he falsely announced that he was

empowered by his majesty to found colonies: we were, therefore,

determined to found one, and left it to the choice of the others if they

wished to return to Cuba. Cortes at first refused to comply, and only

submitted after much begging and entreating; as the saying goes,

What you desire

Is my wish.

He, however, made the condition that we should nominate him chief

justice and captain-general, and, what was worse, that a fifth part of

the gold should fall to his share which remained after deducting the

fifths for his majesty: concerning all which and everything else, the

royal secretary Godoy was to draw up a formal deed. Upon this we

resolved that a town should be built, and called _Villa Rica de la Vera

Cruz_, as we arrived off this coast on Holy Thursday, and stepped on

land on Good Friday. The addition of Villa Rica (rich town) was owing to

what Puertocarrero had some time previous said to Cortes, "He might look

upon these rich countries,--he would know how to govern them;" meaning

to say thereby, that he wished Cortes to be appointed captain-general.

After the ceremony of laying the first stone of the town was ended, we

nominated the alcaldes and regidors. The chief alcaldes were Alonso

Puertocarrero and Francisco de Montejo: Cortes purposely appointed the

latter because he was not on the best terms with him. To give all the

names of the regidors would be superfluous, and it must suffice to

mention their names as they appear in the course of this narrative. We

also erected a pillory inside the town, and a gallows outside. Pedro de

Alvarado was appointed city-major; Christobal de Oli, colonel; Juan de

Escalante, alguacil-major; treasurer, Gonzalo Mexi Mexia; book-keeper,

Alonso de Avila; standard-bearer, a certain Corrar, as Villareal, who

first filled this post, had got into disgrace with Cortes about an

Indian female of Cuba, and was obliged to relinquish it. Achoa of Biscay

and Alonso Romero were nominated alguacils of the camp.

The reader will wonder that I have not yet mentioned the name of one of

our principal men, Gonzalo de Sandoval, though he was such a renowned

officer, being second to Cortes only, and particularly distinguished by

our emperor himself. There is no other reason than that Sandoval was

still very young, and that we did not make so much of him and other

brave officers then as we did subsequently, when we saw all his real

qualities developed in a manner that drew forth unbounded praise from

Cortes and every soldier: indeed he was considered equal to Cortes

himself.--Gomara has likewise related a good deal respecting these

matters, of which he has been ill informed. I could not leave this

unnoticed, however beautiful his style of writing may be, in which his

strength really lies.