Cortés will not proceed with the expedition just then; but after arranging his affairs he joins, to the delight of the general, who follows his advice implicitly, as he had done in former campaigns. After their victorious return Cortés enjoys greater honors than ever. Peralta, who also gives the story at length, states that Cortés surprised Velazquez asleep. At the request of the governor he gave himself up to the jailer in order to be formally released. _Nat. Hist._, 58-62. Still Peralta is a little confused. [76] She was received by Cortés in Mexico, after the conquest, with great distinction; but died in about three months after her arrival. [77] Las Casas, who, as usual, will have a fling at Cortés, writes: ‘Tuvo Cortés un hijo ó hija, no sé si en su mujer, y suplicó á Diego Velazquez que tuviese por bien de se lo sacar de la pila en el baptismo y ser su compadre, lo que Diego Velazquez aceptó, por honralle.’ _Hist. Ind._, iv. 13. Among Cortés’ children a natural daughter by a Cuban Indian is mentioned, _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 238, but it is not likely that Cortés would ask the governor to stand godfather to a natural child. The same writer makes Velazquez the groomsman or sponsor at the marriage. ‘Fue su padrino, quando Cortés se velò con Doña Catalina;’ _Id._, 13; _Vetancvrt_, _Teatro Mex._, pt. iii. 109. Although compadre is not unfrequently used as a mere term of friendship, it is not likely to have been applied by a marriage padrino; hence the title of co-father indicates that it originated at the font. [78] An office granted only to men of note and to leading conquistadores. _Solis_, _Hist. Mex._, i. 46. It conveyed the title of ‘muy virtuoso señor,’ the governor being called ‘muy magnífico señor,’ _Pacheco_ and _Cárdenas_, _Col. Doc._, xii. 225, and permitted the holder to walk side by side with the governor. _Herrera_, dec. ii. lib. iii. cap. xii. ‘Auia sido dos vezes Alcalde en la Villa de Sãtiago de Boroco, adõde era vezino: porque en aquestas tierras se tiene por mucha honra.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 13. He does not refer to him as alcalde at Santiago de Cuba, where the fleet is fitting out, as he clearly states. Gomara, _Hist. Mex._, 4, mentions merely that he was here before the quarrel with Velazquez. Some writers assume that Santiago de Cuba is the same as Santiago de Baracoa, but Herrera, _loc. cit._, and others, observe the distinction. CHAPTER V. SAILING OF THE EXPEDITION. 1518-1519.