( 27 ) 



vcrywdl. His funds were very inadequate to this expencc, for he was 

 much indebted and diftreffed, although he had a good eftate; being very 

 extravagant, both as to himfelf and the drefs and ftate of his wife; but 

 certain merchants, his friends, named Jaime or Jeronymo Tria, and 

 Pedro de Xeres, perceiving that he was riling in the world, and fortune 

 likely to favor him, advanced him four thoufand crowns in money, and 

 merchandizes alfo, upon his property. With this, he caufed to be made 

 a flandard of gold and velvet, with the royal arms and a crofs embroi- 

 dered thereon, and a latin motto, the meaning of which was, " Brothers 

 *'fo!low this holy crofs with true faith, for with it we (hall conquer.'* 



It was proclaimed by beat of drum and found of trumpet, that all 

 fuch as entered the fervice in the prefent expedition, fhould have their 

 fliares of what gold was obtained, aud grants of land, as foon as the 

 conquell was effecfted. I muft obferve, that notwithftanding this was 

 announced to be by his Majefty's commiffion and authority, the Chap- 

 lain Benito Martinez had not yet returned from Caftille. The procla- 

 mation however was no fooner made, than by general inclination, as 

 well as the private influence of Cortes, volunteers offered themfelves 

 every where. Nothing was to be feen or fpoken of but felling lands to 

 purchafe arms and horfes, quilting coats of mail, making bread, and 

 falting pork for fea ftore. Above three hundred of us affembled in the 

 town of St. Jago. The principal perfons in the family of the governor 

 entered with US; Diego de Ordas his firfl: Major Domo was fent by 

 him as a fpy upon Cortes, whom he already began to fufpecl, although 

 he diffimulated : and F. de Morla, Efcobar, Heredia, Ruano, Efcu- 

 dero, Ramos de Lares, and many others were ail adherents of the 

 governor. 



The relations of Velafquez flill continued to be much diifatisfied 



with him, and envious of the fortune of Cortes upon this occafion ; 



they knew that a bitter enmity had fubfifted betw^een the tw o on account 



of certain circumflances attending his late marriage, and they omitted 



nothing that could be done to induce the governor to revoke his com- 



E 3 1—— 1 inifTion. 



BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY, 



1894 



LIBRARY. 



