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258

ESTRADA’S RULE.

provided with supplies, he concluded to seek one of the Spanish settlements on the Pacific coast of America. After great hardships, to which the captain among others succumbed, the vessel was brought into Cihuatlan harbor, in Zacatula province.^[1]

Aided by the advice of her officer, Cortés began to prepare for his expedition, but neither Aguilar nor the royal officers were disposed to promote the aims of a rival, even when duty pointed the way, and he was obliged to meet not only the whole expense but the opposition of the officials.^[2] The fleet consisted of the flag-ship Florida, the Santiago of nearly the same size, and the small brigantine Espíritu Santo, all well armed, and carrying provisions for a year. The command was intrusted to a cousin of Cortés, Álvaro de Saavedra Ceron, with the title of captain-general.^[3]

After a few days' trip up the coast by the brigantine, to a port named Santiago, the expedition left Cihuatlanejo on the 31st of October 1527. The two smaller vessels were soon lost to sight, never to be heard of again, and the flag-ship continued her course

↑ In July 1526, under command of Fortunio de Alango. On first arriving off the strange coast, a clergyman named Arraizaga volunteered to try for the shore, half a league distant, in a big box, the only means of conveyance left. Upset by a wave, he sought to swim ashore, but would ha~e perished had not some natives come to his aId. He was not a little delighted to find himself in Spanish domains, and to be received with kindness. Herrera, ubi sup.; Gomara, Hist. Mex., 280-1; Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 488. The port where the vessel entered is also called Macatan.
↑ The men he required were taken for different military operations, etc. The expedition cost him over 60,000 pesos de oro, as per accounts rendered. Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 215-16. The details of cost are given in Col. Doc. Inéd., ii. 405-15. The king ordered the authorities of New Spain to repay the amount, Cédula of April 1, 1529, but it was understood that the disobedience of the order would not be regarded with disfavor. The amount formed one of the many standing claims of Cortés, for which he was ever pressing.
↑ Luis de Cárdenas commanded the Santiago, and Pedro de Fuentes the brigantine. According to Herrera, dec. iv. lib. i, cap. vi., they carried 50, 45, and 15 men, respectively. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 232, adds a vessel and increases the force to 250 'soldiers;' but this must be a mistake, though Herrera gives, erroneously perhaps, an armament which required a larger crew. The instructions for the different officers, and letters for Cabot, the kings of Ceba and Tidore, and others, dated May 27, 1527, are given in Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 127-69; Navarrete, Col. de Viages, v. 442-64. No land must be taken possession of, and no trading undertaken, except by Saavedra, or in his presence.

[1] In July 1526, under command of Fortunio de Alango. On first arriving off the strange coast, a clergyman named Arraizaga volunteered to try for the shore, half a league distant, in a big box, the only means of conveyance left. Upset by a wave, he sought to swim ashore, but would ha~e perished had not some natives come to his aId. He was not a little delighted to find himself in Spanish domains, and to be received with kindness. Herrera, ubi sup.; Gomara, Hist. Mex., 280-1; Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xii. 488. The port where the vessel entered is also called Macatan.

[2] The men he required were taken for different military operations, etc. The expedition cost him over 60,000 pesos de oro, as per accounts rendered. Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 215-16. The details of cost are given in Col. Doc. Inéd., ii. 405-15. The king ordered the authorities of New Spain to repay the amount, Cédula of April 1, 1529, but it was understood that the disobedience of the order would not be regarded with disfavor. The amount formed one of the many standing claims of Cortés, for which he was ever pressing.

[3] Luis de Cárdenas commanded the Santiago, and Pedro de Fuentes the brigantine. According to Herrera, dec. iv. lib. i, cap. vi., they carried 50, 45, and 15 men, respectively. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Verdad., 232, adds a vessel and increases the force to 250 'soldiers;' but this must be a mistake, though Herrera gives, erroneously perhaps, an armament which required a larger crew. The instructions for the different officers, and letters for Cabot, the kings of Ceba and Tidore, and others, dated May 27, 1527, are given in Cortés, Escritos Sueltos, 127-69; Navarrete, Col. de Viages, v. 442-64. No land must be taken possession of, and no trading undertaken, except by Saavedra, or in his presence.

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