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De Soto and 11'/oscoso Beyond tlte 11/ississippi., I5J7·I543
from Peru or the Italian wars, contributed in no small measure to the general enthusiasm. On April 6, 1538, just fourteen days before the expiration of the time stipulated by the grant, De Soto set sail from San Lucar with a fleet of seven large and three small vessels, on which over six hundred soldiers, besides the royal officials, the missionaries, and many women and children embarked. 3 Proudly, amidst the blowing of trumpets and general rejoicing, the young adelantado, accompanied by his wife Isabel, left the shores of Spain which neither of them was ever to behold again. In addition to his fleet of ten vessels, he commanded a Spanish ftota of twenty other ships as far as Cuba, which were destined for Mexico. After a relatively uneventful trip, he arrived in the port of Santiago, Cuba, the latter part of May. For a few months De Soto busied himself in gathering supplies of cassava bread, salt meat, and hogs; buying horses; and enlisting recruits. At the same time, he visited all the posts of the island . While thus engaged, he despatched Juan de Aiiasco on two different occasions to reconnoiter the coast of Florida. Although Aiiasco obtained little or no information, he succeeded in capturing two natives who later served as interpreters. By the spring of 1539, all was in readiness for the start for Florida. Leaving Juan de Roxas as his lieutenant in Cuba, De Soto departed from his wife and set sail on Sunday, May 18, 1539, with nine vessels, on board of which went six hundred lancers, targeteers, crossbowmen, and arquebusiers, well armed and fully equipped, besides the sailors; and twelve missionaries, well supplied with all the necessary vestments, orna- ments and equipment for the Sacrifice of the Mass. A surgeon, with medicines, bandages and other accessories also went on the expedition to treat the sick and wounded, as well as a cooper, a ship's carpenter, several caulkers, and a Genoese shipbuilder who was to prove of great service. In addition to the men there were provided about two hundred and fifty horses, numerous hogs, and several greyhounds.' Seven days later, on May 25, he reached the coast of Florida, but it was not until May 28 that he landed in a bay which he called Espiritu Santo. 3 Gentlemen of Elvas, "Relation" (Bourne, E. I., ed. Narrative of the Career of Hernando de Soto), I, 5-10; Garcilaso, op. cit., 8; Herrera, op. cit., Vol. 3, p. 160. 4 The number of men and horses varies in the different accounts. Cf. Gentlemen of Elvas, "Relation"; Biedma, "Relation"; in Bourne, op. cit., also Garcilaso, op. cit., p. 21.
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