What happened to the Captain in Mexico, and in his voyage, until
he arrived at the Court of Spain.
No sooner had the crew disembarked, than there were persons who, to
gratify their evil passions, wrote to the Marquis of Montes Claros,
Viceroy of Mexico, and sowed many letters all over the land, trying to
misrepresent and discredit the expedition. I did my best to satisfy
people through others, proclaiming my truthfulness and zeal. I sent
one letter to the Viceroy, asking for orders respecting the disposal of
the ship. They were that I was to deliver her to the royal officers at
Acapulco, as she belonged to His Majesty. I did this, and left Acapulco
on the first day of the year 1607, entering the city of Mexico on
St. Anthony's Day. On that of St. Sebastian the Viceroy received me
kindly, and by his order I made a report and narrative of all that
had happened. Hearing that Don Luis de Velasco, who had been Viceroy
of Peru at the time when I first proposed this voyage, was living
near Mexico, I went to see him, and gave him an account of all that
had happened. He gave me encouragement and showed me much kindness.
Pedro, who was in Mexico, was now very conversant in our language. He
made certain very important statements in answer to questions asked of
him, respecting his country and the surrounding regions; making known
its extent, its food resources and riches, and how there were silver,
gold, and pearls in abundance; and describing the idols they worship,
their rites and ceremonies, and how they ordinarily converse with the
Devil. Showing him some of our things, he gave the names for them in
his language. But in a short time he died, and so did the other native,
Pablo, who was a boy with a very beautiful countenance and disposition.
I again spoke with the Viceroy respecting my departure and my
necessities. He gave me no remedy for them, but treated me with
kindness, and said that he was about to go to Peru, where he had been
appointed Viceroy, and that if I should return during his time he would
issue good orders which all would obey, and that he felt an interest
in my enterprise, which he understood to be a great affair. With this
he took leave of me, and the day of my departure arrived without my
possessing a single dollar to set me on the road. But God helped me
through the kindness of one Captain Gaspar Mendez de Vera and one
Leonardo de Oria, in San Juan de Ulloa, who received me on board his
ship. We arrived safely at Cadiz, where I landed. I sold my bed to
reach San Lucar, where I pawned something else, which enabled me to
go on to Seville. There I sold all I had left to sustain me, and with
500 reals given to me by Don Francisco Duarte, and other help from
my companion, named Rodrigo Mejia, I arrived at Madrid on the 9th of
October, 1607.