Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/67

Rh. With this money he ordered two standards and banners worked in gold with the royal arms and a cross on each side and beneath an inscription saying, "Brothers, in true faith let us follow the cross, and victory is ours." He then made known in the name of his majesty and of the governor, and by sound of trumpet and drum, that whatsoever person wished to go in his company to the newly discovered lands to conquer and settle, should have share in the gold, silver and riches gained. To any one who settled there, after the country had been pacified, he promised (although Benito Martinez had not yet returned from Spain with authority to Velasquez to grant this) charge of Indians and landed property.

Upon all the people of Cuba this proclamation made deep impression. Cortes wrote to all his friends in the various towns also, begging them to get ready and join the expedition. Many sold all they had to buy themselves arms and a horse. Others began to prepare cassava bread and salt pork for provisioning the ships, and so make ready the best they could.

But while Cortes was working hard to push forward preparations and get his fleet under way, relatives of Velasquez, feeling themselves aggrieved because Cortes had the headship, and still hoping finally to gain the commission, took every occasion to lower him in the eyes of Velasquez. Fully