Thomas Wentworth Higginson, A book of American explorers

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[122] together, with that which fell to his part, which he brought into Spain. . . . The emperor made him the governor of the Isle of Cuba, and adelantadoor president of Florida, with a title of marquis of certain part of the lands that he should conquer. . . .

When Don Ferdinando had obtained the government, there came a gentleman from the Indies to the court, named Cabeza de Vaca, which had been with the governor Pamphilo de Narvaez, which died in Florida,— who reported that Narvaez was cast away at sea, with all the company that went with him, and how he with four more escaped, and arrived in New Spain; and he brought a relation in writing of that which he had seen in Florida, which said in some places, ‘In such a place I have seen this; and the rest which here I saw, I leave to confer of between his Majesty and myself.’ . . . And he informed them, ‘that it was the richest country in the world.’ Don Ferdinand de Soto was very desirous to have him with him, and made him a favorable offer; and after they were agreed, because Soto gave him not a sum of money which he demanded to buy a ship, they broke off again . . . . .

The Portuguese departed from Elvas the 15th of January, and came to Seville the 19th of the same month, and went to the lodging of the governor, and entered into a court, over the which there were certain galleries where he was, who came down, and received them at the stairs whereby they went up into the galleries. When he was come up, he commanded chairs to be given them to sit on. And Andrew de Vasconcelos told him who he and the other Portuguese were, and how they all were come to accompany him, and serve him in his