Page:Letters of Cortes to Emperor Charles V - Vol 2.djvu/333

 were all together in a hall, and many other people were with them discussing certain matters, Francisco de las Casas seized him by the beard and having no other arms, he stabbed him with a penknife with which he had been cutting his nails while walking up and down, crying at the same time, "The time is already passed for suffering this tyranny!" Gil Gonzalez and others of your worship's servants joined with him and disarmed the body-guard, and, in the scuffle which ensued, Cristobal de Olid, the captain and ensign of his body guard, his field-officer, and others, were wounded, taken prisoners, and disarmed, though none were killed. In the midst of the confusion, Cristobal de Olid escaped and hid himself, while the captains, within two hours, pacified the people and secured the persons of his principal adherents; and they proclaimed by the public crier that, whoever knew where Cristobal de Olid was hidden, should declare it immediately under penalty of death. They quickly learnt where he was, and captured him, placing him under good guard; and on the next morning, after giving him his trial, the captains agreed in sentencing him to death. This was executed on his person by cutting off his head, to the great satisfaction of the people who were thus liberated.

It was then proclaimed by the public crier that all who wished to settle in this country should say so, and that those who wished to leave should do likewise; one hundred and ten men said they desired to settle, and the others said they would go with Francisco de las Casas and Gil Gonzalez who were about to return to your worship. Among these former, there were twenty horsemen to which number I and all those here present belonged. Francisco de las Casas provided us with everything we needed, appointed a captain over us, and directed us to come to this coast and colonise for your worship, in the name of His Majesty; and he nominated sheriffs, municipal officers, a notary public, a procurator of the town council, and an alguacil, ordering us to call the town Trujillo; he promised us and pledged his faith as a gentleman, that he would procure from your worship more people and arms and horses for the pacification of the country. He, moreover, left us two interpreters, an Indian woman and a Christian, who understood very well the languages hereabouts. Thus,