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Show THE HISTORY MEXICAN OF NEW FACTS LEADING 62 Having made known his authority formally and declared himself of as governor of all lands which might be discovered, the officers people, Christians, Moors, Jews, Gentiles and of whatever creed beside they and might be; him they called Papa, which means admirable, greatest, father Thus St. Peter was preserver, since he is father and governor of all men. obeyed and for King, taken lived at that time, and tificate were afterward continue to the end of ‘¢Qne of the Popes spake, as Lord of the Universe of the Superior and Lord by who those so likewise have all the rest been held, who to the Ponelected; and thus has it continued until now, and will things. who succeeded him to that seat and dignity of which I world, made a gift of these islands and main of the our Lords, in Ocean sea, to the said Emperor and Queen, and their successors, that these kingdoms, with all that is in them, as is contained in certain writings Thus are their Highthereupon took place, which may be seen if you desire. said gift; nesses King and Queen of these islands and continent, by virtue of they and as Sovereigns and Masters, some other islands, and nearly all where have been proclaimed, do serve them have received their Majesties, as subjects with should, and will good and served, and obeyed resistance, no and imme- diately without delay, directly as they were informed, obeying the religious men whom their Highnesses sent to preach to them and teach our Holy Faith, of their entire free will and pleasure, without reward or condition whatsoever becoming Christians which they are; and their Highnesses received them joyfully and benignly, ordering them to be treated as their subjects and vassals were, and you are held and obliged to act likewise. ‘Wherefore, require I entreat and you can, as best you to understand this well which I have told you, taking the time for it that is just you should, to comprehend and reflect, and that you recognize the Church as Mistress and Superior of the Universe, and the High Pontiff, called Papa, in its name, the Queen and King, our masters in their place as Lords, Superiors and Sovereigns of these islands and the main by virtue of these gifts, and you consent and give opportunity that these fathers and religious men, declare and preach to you as stated. If you shall do so you will do well in what you are held and obliged; and their Majesties, and I, in their royal name, will receive you with love and relinquishing charity, in service, that with them and may deem you wish except, when Catholic Faith, informed your freedom and well. women, yourselves you You do with shall not be required of the truth, you as nearly all the inhabitants and children may estates, Christians, to become desire to be converted without liberty all perfect to our Holy of the other islands have done, and when his Highness will confer on you numerous privileges and instruction, with many favors. ‘‘Tf you do not do this, and of malice you be dilatory, I protest to you, war up0P that, with the help of Our Lord, I will enter with force, making when I will you, from all directions, and in every manner that I may be able, subject you to obedience to the Church and the yoke of their Majesties ; and 1 will take the persons of yourselves, your wives and your children, to make slaves, sell and dispose of you, as their Majesties shall think fit, and I will take your goods, doing you all the evil and injury that I may be able; as to vassals who do not obey but reject their master, resist and deny him ; and declare to you that the deaths and damages that arise therefrom, will be your fault and not that of his Majesty, nor mine, nor of these cavaliers who came And so as I proclaim and require this, I ask of the Notary here that with me. he give a certificate; and those present I beseech that they will hereof: be ’’ witnesses. FIRST SPANISH EXPLORERS 63 the expedition laid before him their commissions, all of which were duly approved by Narvaez. Just what effect the reading of the summons to the naked barbarians had upon them is not recorded. It takes no vivid imagination, however, to picture their actions. Little did these savages care about the mighty Don Carlos, and much less did the high-sounding words of the proclamation appeal to them. Their concern was their personal safety, and, according to Alvar Nufiez Cabeza de Vaca, they sought it in flight. There was no interpreter to communicate to them the claim that the Pope was the father and ruler of all men, the king, Lord and Superior of the universe, and this farcical ceremonial only brought forth signs and menaces from the Indians commanding the ‘‘servant, messenger and captain’’ of the ‘‘ever victors, never vanquished Sovereigns of Leon and Castilla’’ to leave the country. Two days afterwards, Narvéez, with a substantial escort, accompanied by Alvar Nufiez Cabeza de Vaca and two other officers, jourThey marched in a northerly neyed inland on a short excursion. direction until evening, when they came to a large bay, extending far into the interior,®° upon the shore of which they made camp until the next day, when they returned to the fleet. Narvaez now gave orders that the brigantine should sail along the coast of Florida and make search for the harbor that Miruelo, the pilot, said he knew, although as yet he had failed to find it, and could not inform the officers where they were, nor could he give information as to the location of the port, and that if the harbor were not found, to proceed to Havana and bring provisions from the ship which had been left in command of Alvaro de la Cerda. After the departure of the brigantine, Narvaez returned inland, He marched along the coast, with his continuing his explorations. small party, for a distance of four leagues, capturing four Indians, who conducted them to their town at the head of the bay. Here was found some unripe corn, and the Spaniards saw four dead bodies covered with deer-skins, and deposited in cases similar The bodies to those used in Castile for containing merchandise. They also found some pieces were burned by order of Narvaez.*1 50 The western arm of Tampa bay. 51 Bandelier, Mrs. Fanny, The Journey of Alvar Nuftez Cabeza p. 12: ‘‘There is a discrepancy here between the statement de Vaca, note, of Cabeza de Vaca |
