Early Exploration of the Coast of Texas
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they were; that he had been told that the ships had been sent out by Francisco Garay, Governor of Jamaica, to discover new lands. Escalante had explained to the newcomers that Cortes· had already taken possession of the land; that he had established a villa at Veracruz; and that he would be glad to give them any aid they might need, if they would but come into the port with him. The intruders promised to follow him, but instead they sailed along the coast · to the north and anchored a few leagues below the harbor.17 The strange actions of the unexpected visitors gave much concern to Cortes, who had reason to fear the consequences of interference at this critical moment in his great enterprise. He well knew that Velazquez and Garay were friends who might have joined forces to defeat his purpose. He determined, therefore, to proceed to Veracruz in person to ascertain the real object of the expedition. Taking with him fifty men,1 8 he marched down the coast to the place where Pineda was anchored, which was about three or four leagues north of Veracruz. A short distance from this spot he was met by three men who had come from the ships, one of whom informed him that he was a notary public and that his companions came as witnesses. He proceeded then and there to serve official notice to Cortes, in behalf of Garay, that the land had been discovered by him; that it was his intention to establish settlements and take formal possession; and that Garay desired Cortes to agree to a boundary or definition of the extent of his discoveries so that he might establish a settlement at a spot he had selected about seventeen leagues north of Veracruz. Cortes gave no signs of surprise or apprehension. He politely informed the notary public and his companions that before he could agree to anything, he would have to speak to their commander and see the royal patent or grant to Garay. He asked them to return to their ships and inform Pineda that he would be welcome at Veracruz, where he would receive whatever aid he might need and where they could discuss the subject of the limits of their respective explorations. He assured them that if Garay had a royal patent or grant he was ready to abide by whatever the king commanded. To this the notary public replied that it was useless for him to take such a message back as neither Pineda nor 17 Hernan Cortes, Carta de Relacion, October 30, 1520, in Barcia, Historiaaores Pri,,,itivos, I, 3. 11 Cortes in his Carta does not say how many men he took with him. Gomara in his Cronica says I oo. Diaz del Castillo says 50.
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