A RELATION OF SUCH THINGS AS DON FERdinando de Soto, the Adelantado of Florida

Summary

Which declareth who Don Ferdinando de Soto was, and how he got the government of Florida

Captaine Soto was the son of a squire of Xerez of Badajos. He went into the Spanish Indies, when Peter Arias of Avila was governor of the West Indies. And there he was without any thing else of his owne, save his sword and target: and for his good qualities and valour, Peter Arias made him captaine of a troope of horsemen, and by his commandement hee went with Fernando Pizarro to the conquest of Peru; where (as many persons of credit reported, which were there present), as well at the taking of Atabalipa, Lord of Peru, as at the assault of the citie of Cusco, and in all other places where they found resistance, wheresover hee was present, hee passed all other captaines and principall persons. For which cause, besides his part of the treasure of Atabalipa, he had a good share; whereby in time he gathered an hundred and fourescore thousand duckets together, with that which fell to his part, which he brought into Spaine; whereof the Emperour borrowed a certaine part, which he repaied againe with 60,000 rials of plate in the rent of the silkes of Granada, and all the rest was delivered him in the contractation house of Sivil. He tooke servants, to wit, a steward, a gentleman usher, pages, a gentleman of the horse, a chamberlaine, lakies, and al other officers that the house of a nobleman requireth.