gentleman of the governor’s own town of Cuéllar, nephew of Velazquez, though some deny the fact; he was twenty-eight years of age, handsome, chivalrous, courteous, and as honest as he was brave. He had been with the governor for some time, and the wonder was how so bad a master should have so good a man. There was no lack of volunteers, two hundred and forty1 coming forward at once; among them several who afterward became famous. Two caravels were added to the two brought back by Córdoba, making in all, refitted and equipped, four vessels, the San Sebastian, the Trinidad, the Santiago, and the Santa María de los Remedios. The pilots and many of the men from the former expedition were engaged, and some natives of Cuba were taken as servants. Grijalva, as commander of the armada, directed one vessel, and Pedro de Alvarado, Alonso Dávila, and Francisco de Montejo,2 were appointed captains of the others. Grijalva’s instructions were not to settle, but only to discover and trade.3 License was obtained from the Jeronimite Fathers, who stipulated that Francisco de Peñalosa should accompany the expedition as veedor. As priest, attended one Juan Diaz,4 and Diego de Godoy went as notary.
Embarking from Santiago de Cuba the 8th of April, 1518, and leaving Cape San Antonio on Saturday,5 the first of May, they fell to the south of their intended course, and on Monday sighted the island of Cozumel,6 which they named Santa Cruz,7 “because,” says Galvano, “they came to it the third of May.” After passing round the northern point on the sixth8 in search of anchorage, the commander landed with a hundred men, and ascending a high tower took possession of the country; after which, mass was said.