The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-03-23
fernando COrtez.
by JAMES PARTON.

teen, who was the torment of his pa
rents, and the leader Of all the mis-
chief going on in that neighborhood.
His parents were of the highest re-
speciality, though reduced in cir
cumstances, and they had given their
son the best education within their
means. During his infancy and child
hood, he had been SO sickly that no
one expected he would live to mature
age; but as he grew older he grew
stronger, and at seventeen he was a
man in stature, and sufficiently robust.
He was then at home, having left the
college Of Salamanca without permits
sion, and was passing his time in love
intrigues and dissipation. regardless
of the remonstrances of his father and
the entreaties Of his mother When,
therefore, he declared his intention Of
Joining an expedition about 60 sail for
America, the good people Of Medellin,
especially those who had daughters,
were not sorry to hear it. His father
had intended him for the legal profcs-
sion, which the youth disdained No
career attracted him except one of adj
venture in the New World which had
been discovered ten years before.
\ few days before the time appoint
ed for the sailing Of the feet, the
young man had a love affair in the
true Spanish style In those days,
Spanish girls were kept almost as Sc
cluded, and guarded almost as care
fully, as the ladies in tho harem of
Turk. Therefore, when a young man
fell III love, instead Of ringing the door
bell and sending in his card, he often
made a rope-laddel, and surveyed the
residence Of the young lady with a
view to ascertain the best mode of get
ting upon her balcony, or into her
window. Our advcnturer proceeded
in this manner In scaling the wall
Of the garden which enclosed the
house wherein lived the object of his
passion. he fell to the ground, and in
jurcd himself SD seriously that he
could not sail with the expedition. 1t
WAS long before he recovered his
health, and still longer before an
other good opportunity occurred of
going to America
This is the first recorded adventure
Of fernando Cortez, the renowned
conquror of Alixico. History intro
duces him to rs falling from a wall, in
the dim light of a Spanish evening.
Two years after, being then nine
teen, he took passage III merchant
vessel, and, after a most compositions
passage, reached the island of Hispan-
lola. then the seat of Spanish power
in America He was at that time a
very handsome young man, graceful,
seli-conlident, superior swordsman,
and horseman, and highly accom-
plished i'm all warlke exercises. On
leaving the ship, he went at once to
the house Of the governor, a friend of
his family The governor being alb
sent upon an expedition, his secretary
received Cortoz with politeness, and.
by way of encouraging Il new conner,
assured him that the governor upon
his return, would doubtless allot to
him a liberal tract of land
Land" sad Cortez. Il come to
find gold, not to plough the ground
like peasant.
Nevertheless, when the governor
offered him portion OF land and a
number Of Indians as slaves, there
being nothing better to take at the
time, Cortez accepted them, and be-
came a planter. The governor also
named him notary of the town, an
Office of some little emolument With
ont entirely neglecting his business,
he now resumed his dissolute habits,
and spent most of his time in love in
trigues, which involved him in several
duels. After seven years of a life like
this, he joined the forces destined for
the conquest of Cuba under Nalasquez,
and displayed, in that affair, SO much
dash, activity, courage and gayety,
that he became favorite of Velasquez,
who named him his secretary.
This friendship was soon changed
into fierce hostility. Cortez, in the
course of his amorous adventures, had
given a promise of marriage to a young
lady, which he was not inclined to
keep. Governor Valasqnez insisted
on his fulfilling the promise. Cortez,
angry at this interference with his
pleasures, joined himself to the enc
mics of Valasquez, and prepared to go
to Spain to intrigue for his recall,
The governor, discovering the plot,
arrested Cortez and would have
hanged him, it is said, but for the in
tercession of friends He threw him
into prison, and caused him to be
chained. Twice Cortez escaped, and
was twice re-captured, and at length
was glad enough to accept his liberty
on condition of marrying the girl he
had betrayed. The governor endowed
the young couple with an extensive
tract Of land in Cuba, and a large
number of Indians. Being now a
married man, he carried on his plan
tation with great yigor, imported cat
tie from Spain, and raised better
crops than his neighbors. Gold hay
inc been discovered upon his land, he
kept many of his Indians at work in
mining it, and SO gradually became a
man of considerable wealth. He is
said to have been n bard taskmaster.
] DOL ,lo,o Lno,cc writes n Spauish