Tlascalla: he then insisted on our
return to Vera Cruz, and, upon the whole, spoke in severe terms against
our general. He was very expert in various matters, and was successful
in his undertakings, and hence again obtained the command of Vera Cruz,
though he was not a very good soldier. Cortes, well acquainted with the
man's character, that he was not one of the most courageous, said to
him, in giving him the appointment, rather jokingly, "Your desire of
going to Vera Cruz, Alonso de Grado, is about to be fulfilled. There you
must continue the building of the fortress with assiduity; but have
nothing to do with any warlike movements: it might end equally
disastrous for you as it did for Juan de Escalante!"

While Cortes was thus addressing him, he winked his eye to those who
were present, as much as to say if he were required on the field of
battle, we should have to drag him there by the hair of his head.

When Grado's appointment and instructions were about to be drawn up, he
likewise begged Cortes to confer on him the appointment of
alguacil-major, which Escalante had enjoyed with that of lieutenant. Our
commander, however, told him it had already been conferred upon
Sandoval, but, in a short time, he would give him some further
appointment. He particularly desired him to watch over the interests of
the inhabitants of Vera Cruz as a father, and not allow any harsh
measures to be practised against the Indian population. Lastly, he
desired him to order the smith at Vera Cruz to make two heavy iron
chains, and to forward them, with the anchors we had taken out of our
vessels, immediately to Mexico.

Alonso de Grado's conduct, however, very little corresponded with the
instructions he had received. His behaviour towards the Spanish garrison
at Vera Cruz was haughty to a degree. He required the men to wait upon
him, as if he had been a grandee, and demanded golden trinkets and
beautiful females from the thirty surrounding tribes which were friendly
with us. He no way troubled himself about completing the fortress, and
spent all his time in feasting and gambling. He went even further than
this, and gave way to his former ill-will towards Cortes, by seeking to
gain his friends and others over to the interest of Diego Velasquez, and
proposed that if the latter himself, or any one sent by him, should
appear off the coast, to make common cause with him, and deliver up
possession of the country to him.

Cortes was duly ap