Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/62

36 up his mind whom he should name as commander. Certain gentlemen put forward a captain of great renown, Vasco Porcallo, related to some earl. This man, however, did not suit Diego Velasquez, for he feared, since the captain was very daring, he would turn against him when once the fleet was in his hands. Others talked of various kinsmen of Velasquez for the place. We soldiers would hear of none other than our Juan de Grijalva, who was himself valiant and knew how to command, and who bore an unstained character.

While like rumors were afloat the affair was secretly settled with Hernando Cortes, a native of Medellin, a gentleman who held a grant of Indians in Cuba. Two favorites of Diego Velasquez had come to an agreement with Cortes. These two did all in their power to induce the governor to appoint Cortes commander-in-chief of the fleet, taking every occasion to praise Cortes, to extol his energy, his courage, his ability to command, his faithfulness in everything entrusted to his charge—for Cortes had promised to divide between the three of them all gains which, during this expedition, might fall to his share, and his spoils might turn out to be very large, for the real design of Diego Velasquez in sending the expedition was to barter with the natives and not to form settlements as was announced and published. In the end Velazquez chose Cortes captain-general.