ing in cassave-bread, tobacco, and smoked bacon, to last us on
our voyage to the Havannah, where they were to be fully equipped, for at
that time there was neither beef nor mutton to be had in Cuba. In the
meantime, however, Diego Velasquez could not make up his mind to whom
he should intrust the command. Some cavaliers certainly mentioned Vasco
Porcallo, a captain of great renown, and related to the earl of Feria,
who, it was said, would shortly arrive to take the command. This man,
however, did not suit Diego Velasquez; he feared his daring spirit, and
was apprehensive that once having the armament under his command he
would declare himself independent of him. Others again spoke of Augustin
Bermudez, Antonio Velasquez Borrego, and Bernardino Velasquez, who were
all three relatives of Velasquez. We soldiers, however, would not hear
of any other than Juan de Grijalva, who, besides being a brave officer,
bore an unblemished character; a man moreover who fully understood the
art of commanding. While such like rumours were afloat, the affair was
secretly settled, by two confidants of Diego Velasquez, Andreas de
Duero, secretary to the governor, and Almador de Lares, the royal
treasurer, with Hernando Cortes. Cortes was a cavalier of rank, a native
of Medellin, and son of Martin Cortes de Monroy, and of Catalina Pizarro
Altamirano, both descendants of two ancient noble families of
Estremadura, though then in rather straitened circumstances. Cortes had
an Indian commendary in Cuba, and had been recently married to Dona
Catalina Suarez Pacheco, daughter of the late Diego Suarez Pacheco of
Avila, and of Maria de Mercaida of Biscay; and sister to Juan Suarez
Pacheco, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain, took up his abode
in Mexico, where he had a commendary. This marriage proved very
expensive to Cortes, and had even occasioned his imprisonment. Diego
Velasquez favoured the family of Cortes's wife, who had been averse to
the match: but I must leave this for others to expatiate upon, and
rather confine myself to the principal subject in this place, which is,
to acquaint my reader that the above-mentioned confidants of Diego
Velasquez did all in their power to obtain the appointment of
commander-in-chief for Cortes; who, on the other hand, had promised to
share equally with them all the profits arising from the gold, silver,
and jewels, which pending this expedition should fall to his share,
which might turn out very consi