[85] ‘Se puso vn penacho de plumas con su medalla de oro.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 13. ‘Tomo casa. Hizo Mesa. Y començo a yr con armas, y mucha compañía. De que muchos murmurauan, diziendo que tenia estado sin señorio.’ _Gomara_, _Hist. Mex._, 13. [86] Cortés himself was very liberal in advancing money or necessaries. _Puertocarrero_, loc. cit. This cavalier received a horse which Cortés bought at Trinidad with gold fringes taken from his mantle. _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 14. ‘Dio a muchos soldados ... dineros con obligaciõ de man comun.’ _Gomara_, _Hist. Mex._, 12. [87] _Las Casas_, _Hist. Ind._, iv. 450-1; _Herrera_, dec. ii. lib. iii. cap. xi. Bernal Diaz, _Hist. Verdad._, 13, relates the incident as having occurred on the way to Sunday mass. The fool, whom he calls Cervantes, was walking in front of his master and Cortés, uttering nonsense in prose and rhyme; finally he said in a louder voice, ‘By my faith, master Diego, a nice captain have you chosen: one who will run away with the fleet, I warrant, for he has courage and enterprise.’ Duero, who walked close by, sought to check his tongue by striking at him and by shouting, ‘Silence, fool! Don’t be knavish as well, for we know that this pretended jest is not of thyself.’ But the jester persisted in calling out, ‘Hail to my master Diego and his valiant captain! I swear to thee, my master, that rather than see thee grievously regret this foolish step I would hie me with Cortés to those rich lands.’ It was supposed that Velazquez’ relatives had induced the man to make these remarks. [88] Prescott states that Las Casas was on the island at the time. In this he is mistaken. On the other hand, Bernal Diaz was an eye-witness, and tells a very different story. But the tale of the soldier is not so striking as that of the priest, who writes from the statements of Velazquez’ friends, colored by time and distance. The final words which passed between the governor and Cortés, according to Las Casas, in effect were these: ‘Compadre, is this the way you are going? A nice manner, truly, of taking leave!’ To which Cortés makes answer, ‘Pardon me, sir; there are things which must be carried out before they are considered. I wait your worship’s orders.’ _Hist. Ind._, iv. 451-2; _Herrera_, dec. ii. lib. iii. cap. xii.