The Fair Gods: The Arrival by Ricardo Santos Bell

Author:Ricardo Santos Bell [Bell, Ricardo Santos]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amazon Kindle
Published: 2024-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

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The next day, de Godoy entered the names of the town’s officers into the new franchise. He attached the governor’s charter, making it part of the new license by which they would govern their new township. Yet, the notary had a problem, which he brought before Cortés and his captains during the evening meal.

“Your pardon, Don Hernán,” de Godoy said, “but I have no name for this place we call home.”

Cortés started to laugh and grasped the notary by the shoulders. “I suppose you will have to excuse us, my dear Esteban. Fighting men usually have something other than important things on their minds.” He turned to his men, a smile still on his lips. “Gentlemen, it seems we have a problem. To complete our registry of this magnificent city, we need a name. Not just any name, but one that will survive the ages.”

One man shouted, “Santa Maria de la Nueva España in honor of our Blessed Virgin, mother of God.”

“San Cristóbal, patron of travelers,” another offered.

Díaz stood and quieted everyone. “This new land has brought us great riches. It would be fitting to recognize this when naming our town. I suggest we call it Villa Rica.”

Earthenware cups and the pommel of daggers pounded the table in a sign of acceptance.

Father Olmedo stood slowly and looked at his companions as they grew quiet. “And, might I add, we should pay tribute to our dear Lord for his help settling this new land. It would behoove us to recognize his beneficence by adding the reason for being here. By that, I mean the conversion of the heathen to the way of the cross.”

“Then we shall, Father,” Cortés said. “Henceforth, this place we now establish as the first settlement in New Spain and a colony of our sovereign, King Carlos, shall be called Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz in recognition of the riches found here and the true cross we serve.”

It was a beginning, but a beginning taken thoughtfully and legally, at least in the eyes of the freebooting Spaniards. Their conquest of an entirely unknown part of the world had begun.

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