[180] ‘Le llamarõ Vernal, por ser, como es, vn Cerro alto.’ _Vetancvrt_, _Teatro Mex._, pt. iii. 115. This may have been the origin of the name for the Spanish port, after which Bernal Diaz says it was called. _Hist. Verdad._, 27. He applies the name to a neighboring fort, spelling it in different ways, of which Solis, and consequently Robertson, have selected the most unlikely. Gomara applies Aquiahuiztlan to the harbor. _Hist. Mex._, 49. [181] Bernal Diaz relates with great satisfaction how earnestly the speaker pleaded for his vote, addressing him repeatedly as ‘your worship.’ One reason for their earnestness, he implies, was the superiority in number of the Velazquez party. ‘Los deudos, y amigos del Diego Velazquez, que eran muchos mas que nosotros.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 28-9. He forms this estimate most likely on the proportion of leaders who from jealousy of Cortés, and for other reasons, were addicted to Velazquez; but their men were probably more in favor of the general than of the captains, to judge from the result. The sailors for obvious reasons may have added to the Velazquez number, if not to their strength. [182] ‘Se hazia mucho de rogar: y como dize el refran: Tu me lo ruegas, è yo me lo quiero.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 29. [183] ‘Se puso vna picota en la plaça, y fuera de la Uilla vna horca.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 29; _Vetancvrt_, _Teatro Mex._, pt. iii. 116. This signifies that justice was installed, its officers being next appointed. [184] See note 23, chap. ii., this volume. [185] ‘Nombrónos ... por alcaldes y regidores,’ say distinctly the appointed officers themselves, in their letter to the emperor. _Carta del Ayunt._, in _Cortés_, _Cartas_, 20. Bernal Diaz also indicates that Cortés made the appointments, although he at first says, ‘hizimos Alcalde, y Regidores.’ Yet it is probable that the authorities were confirmed formally as they were tacitly by the members of the expedition; for Cortés, as he acknowledges, had no real authority to form a settlement. [186] _Testimonio de Montejo_, in _Col. Doc. Inéd._, i. 489. ‘Â este Montejo porque no estaua muy bien con Cortés, por metelle en los primeros, y principal, le mandò nombrar por Alcalde.’ _Bernal Diaz_, _Hist. Verdad._, 29. [187] _Herrera_, dec. ii. lib. v. cap. vii; _Torquemada_, i. 587. Bernal Diaz skips the regidores. He thinks Villareal was not reappointed alférez because of a difficulty with Cortés about a Cuban female. _Hist. Verdad._, 29; _Vetancvrt_, _Teatro Mex._, pt. iii. 116. Promotion and other causes gave speedy rise to changes among the officials; Ávila, for instance, becoming alcalde mayor of New Spain, and Pedro de Alvarado alcalde of the town.