History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521Bancroft, Hubert Howe
History
History of Mexico, Volume 1, 1516-1521
Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Mexico -- History
VELAZQUEZ PLANS A NEW EXPEDITION—GIVES THE COMMAND TO
HIS NEPHEW, JUAN DE GRIJALVA—WHO EMBARKS AT SANTIAGO AND
STRIKES THE CONTINENT AT COZUMEL ISLAND—COASTS SOUTHWARD TO
ASCENSION BAY—THEN TURNS AND DOUBLES CAPE CATOCHE—NAMING
OF NEW SPAIN—FIGHT AT CHAMPOTON—ARRIVAL AT LAGUNA DE
TÉRMINOS—ALAMINOS, THE PILOT, IS SATISFIED THAT YUCATAN IS
AN ISLAND—THEY COAST WESTWARD AND DISCOVER THE RIVERS SAN
PEDRO Y SAN PABLO AND TABASCO—NOTABLE INTERVIEW AT THIS
PLACE BETWEEN THE EUROPEANS AND THE AMERICANS—THE CULHUA
COUNTRY—THEY PASS LA RAMBLA, TONALÁ, THE RIO GOAZACOALCO, THE
MOUNTAIN OF SAN MARTIN, THE RIVERS OF ALVARADO AND BANDERAS,
AND COME TO THE ISLANDS OF SACRIFICIOS AND SAN JUAN DE ULUA.
As Diego Velazquez talked with Córdoba’s men, and with the captives,
Melchor and Julian, and examined the articles obtained from the
natives, their superior kind and workmanship, and the gold and
images taken from the temple at Catoche by Father Gonzalez, all grew
significant of yet greater things beyond. The hardships attending
the expedition were light to him who did not share them, and the late
commander being now dead, the governor found himself free to act as
best suited him.
He determined at once on a new expedition. There was a young man who
seemed admirably fitted for the purpose, Juan de Grijalva, a gentleman
of the governor’s own town of Cuéllar, nephew of Velazquez, though
some deny the fact; he was twenty-eight years of age, handsome,
chivalrous, courteous, and as honest as he was brave. He had been
with the governor for some time, and the wonder was how so bad a
master should have so good a man. There was no lack of volunteers,
two hundred and forty[14] coming forward at once; among them several
who afterward became famous. Two caravels were added to the two
brought back by Córdoba, making in all, refitted and equipped, four
vessels, the _San Sebastian_, the _Trinidad_, the _Santiago_, and the
_Santa María de los Remedios_. The pilots and many of the men from
the former expedition were engaged, and some natives of Cuba were
taken as servants. Grijalva, as commander of the armada, directed
one vessel, and Pedro de Alvarado, Alonso Dávila, and Francisco
de Montejo,[15] were appointed captains of the others. Grijalva’s
instructions were not to settle, but only to discover and trade.[16]
License was obtained from the Jeronimite Fathers, who stipulated that
Francisco de Peñalosa should accompany the expedition as veedor. As
priest, attended one Juan Diaz,[17] and Diego de Godoy went as notary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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