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FIRST. WHICH DECLARES WHO DON HERNANDO DE SOTO WAS, AND HOW HE OBTAINED THE GOVERNMENT OF FLORIDA.2 Captain Soto was the son of an esquire of Jerez de Badajoz. He went to the Indies of Castile when Pedririas Davila3 was governor of the Indies of the Ocean Sea. There he found himself with nothing else his own except his sword and shield. Because of his good qualities and courage, Pedririas made him captain of a troop of horse, and by his order he went with Hernando Pizarro4 to conquer Peru. There, according to the report of many creditable persons who were there, he distinguished himself over the other captains and principal persons, both at the seizure of Atabalipa,5 lord of Peru, and in making the entrance into the city of Cuzco, and in all other places where they encountered resistance, and where he happened to be. For that reason, aside from his part in the treasure of Atabalipa, he got good repartimiento, from which in time he collected one hundred and eighty thousand cruzados,6 which he took to Spain, with what fell to him as his share. Of this, the emperor took [by loan] a certain part which was repaid to him [Soto] by six hundred thousand reales7 with interest in the silks of Granada, while all the rest was delivered to him at the casa de contratacion8 in Seville. He employed servants, including a majordomo, grand master of ceremonies, pages, equerry, chamberlain, footmen, and all the other servants requisite for an establishment of a gentleman. From Seville, he went to court, and at court was accompanied by Juan de Aiiasco,9 of Seville, Luis Moscoso de Alvarado,IO Nuiio de Tobar, and Juan Rodriguez Lobillo. With the exception of Juan de Aiiasco, all the others had come with him from Peru; and each brought fourteen or fifteen thousand cruzados. They all went well and expensively dressed; and Soto, although because of his cupidity he was not liberal, yet since that was the first time he had to appear at court, spent very liberally, and went about closely attended by those I have named and by his servants and many others who came to him at court. He married Doiia Isabel!! de Bobadilla, daughter of Pedrarias Davila, conde de Puiionrostro. The emperor rewarded him by making him governor of the island of Cuba and adelantado of Florida, with the title of marquis to a certain part of the lands he might conquer.!2 ...

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