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Cortes answered, "that he did not consider it advisable to
return without having even seen the country. Up to this moment we had no
reason to complain of ill luck; on the contrary, God had everywhere lent
us his support. If we had lost any of our men, such things were to be
expected in warlike undertakings. We should first explore the country
more thoroughly; and with regard to provisions, there was sufficient
maise in the country, with which we must make a shift for the present."

By these arguments Cortes succeeded in quieting the partisans of Diego
Velasquez; yet it was of short duration, for they held secret meetings,
and commenced setting all manner of intrigues on foot to bring about our
return to Cuba: how far they succeeded we shall presently see.

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 cer

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