( ^6 ) 



the Secretary and 'Confador. Thefe two officers, the particular confi- 

 dential friends of Velafquez, agreed with Cortes to procure by their in- 

 tereft with the governor his appointment to the command of the arma- 

 ment, on condition of his giving them, each, equal parts with himfelf, 

 in the treafure which fhould come to his fliare; for the commiffion was 

 to be extended no farther than barter and obtaining gold, and not to 

 colonization. This being agreed amongft them, the Secretary and Con- 

 tador took fuch meafures, praifing and recommending Cortes, and 

 vouching for his fidelity, to Velafquez, v/ho had ftood as father to him 

 1 at his marriage, that they fucceeded in obtaining the commilTion for 

 him, which, it being the office of the fecretary to draw it up, was done 

 as the proverb fays with very good ink, and fully ratified, according to 

 the wiffi of Cortes. 



As foon as the appointment was made public, to fome it gave fa- 

 tisfad:ion, and others were difpleafed at it.; and one Sunday, the gover- 

 nor going as ufual to mafs attended by the moft refpedlable perfons of 

 the town and neighbourhood, he placed Hernando Cortes by way of 

 diftin6ti©n on his right handj upon which occafion one Cervantes, 

 called the mad, a kind of buffoon, ran before them repeating his abfur- 

 dities fuch as, '* Huzza for my mafler Diego, what a captain has he 

 chofen! And how foon he will lofe his fleet !" With much of that 

 kind, but all having a malicious tendency, Andres deDuero who was 

 prefent cuffed him, and bid him be filent, faying he well knew that he 

 repeated what others put in his mouths but the rogue perfevered, adding, 

 that he would quit liis old mailer, and ^follow the fortunes of Cortes. 

 It was certain that the relations of Velafquez hired him to repeat thofe 

 things under the colour of folly, and to alarm the governor.; but all he 

 faid turned out literally true. 



Cortes immediately on his appointment proceeded with the greatefl 

 a(5livity in making his preparations ; he alfo dreffed and appeared in 

 much greater ftate as to his own perfon than before; wearing a plume 

 of feathers, and a gold medal in his cap, which ornaments became him 



very 



