011r Catleolic Hcritage in Texas
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[ 1542] departed this life the magnanimous, the virtuous, the intrepid Captain, Don Hernando de Soto, Governor of Cuba and A delantado of Florida. He was advanced by fortune, in the way she is wont to lead others, that he might fall the greater depth. He died in a land, and at a time, that could afford him little comfort in his illness." 13 It has aptly been said that thus died one of the most indomitable spirits of his age; a leader whose stern resolve and masterly generalship would, but for his adverse fortune, have entitled him to rank with Cortes and Pizarro as having opened in the New World a pathway for the progress of his nation.H Buried first under one of the gates of the town, the fear that the Indians might learn of his death made his companions dig up the body secretly, wrap it in a mantle which was weighted with sand, and carry it in a canoe in the dead of night to be consigned to the bed of the great river he had discovered. 15 Moscoso's marcli to tlee west. After the death of De Soto, the new governor, Luis de Moscoso, called a meeting of the captains and principal persons to consult with them what should be done now. One desire seemed to animate the entire group; to abandon Florida. But the question was how this end could be accomplished in their present plight. "To everyone it appeared well to march west, because in that direction was New Spain, the voyage by the sea being held more hazardous and of doubtful accom- plishment, as a vessel of sufficient strength to weather a storm could not be built. There was neither captain nor pilot, nor needle, nor chart, nor was it known how far it was to the sea. Neither did they have any tidings of it, or if the river took some great turn through the land, or whether it had some fall over rocks where they might fall." 16 It was generally believed they were not far from New Spain, which was estimated to lie some fi ve hundred miles to the west. It was suggested, therefore, to attempt to march overland as far as possible in the hope of reaching an inhabited country, where they might spend the winter and from where they could continue the march to New Spain the following spring. "They were encouraged and emboldened in their determinations," says Garcilaso, "by the memory of certain vague [false] news, which they 13 Gentleman of Elvas (Bourne, ed.), I, 160-161. 14Lowery, S-ja11isli Settlements, 244 . 15 E!vas, 162-163; Garcilaso, 208. HGentleman of Elvas (Bourne, ed.), I, r 65 ; Herrera, o-j. cu., dee. vii, lib. vii, 2341.
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