Next day, the cabildo or council of Mexico, all the civil and military officers, and all the veterans who were present in the capital, were ordered to assemble; and in the presence of all these, the licentiate Ponce de Leon produced his commission from his majesty.  Cortes kissed it, and placed it on his head as a mark of respectful submission, and all present declared their ready obedience.  The licentiate then received from Cortes the rod of justice, in token of surrendering the government into his hands, saying:  “General, I receive this government from you by the orders of his majesty; although it is by no means implied that you are not most worthy both of this and of a higher trust.”  The general answered, “That he was always happy in obeying the commands of his majesty, and was the more satisfied on the present occasion, because he would have an opportunity to prove the malice and falsehood of his enemies.”  De Leon replied, “That in all societies there were good and bad men, for such was the way of the world; and he trusted that both would be repaid in kind.”  This was all the material business of the first day.  On the next, the new governor sent a respectful summons to Cortes, who accordingly waited upon him, and they had a long private conference, at which no one was present except the prior Ortiz:  Yet it was believed that the conversation was to the following effect.  De Leon observed, that it was the wish of his majesty that those who had most merit in the conquest of the country should be well provided for in the distribution of plantations, those soldiers who had first come from Cuba being more especially considered:  Whereas it was understood that they had been neglected, while others who had newly arrived had been gratified with unmerited wealth.  To this Cortes answered, that all had got shares in the division of the country; and that it could not be imputed to him that some of these had turned out of less value than others:  But it was now in the power of the new governor to remedy this inequality.  The governor then asked why Luis de Godoy had been left to perish in a distant settlement, when the veterans ought to have been allowed to enjoy the comforts of established possessions in Mexico, and the new settlements assigned to new colonists:  And why Captain Luis Marin, Bernal Diaz, and other approved veterans had been neglected.  Cortes answered, That for business of difficulty and danger, none but the veterans could be depended on:  But that all these were soon expected to return to Mexico, when the new governor would have it in his power to provide for them.  De Leon next questioned him rather sharply about his imprudent march against Christoval de Oli, which he had undertaken without permission from his majesty.  Cortes said, That he looked upon that measure as necessary for his majestys service, as such an example might have dangerous effects on officers entrusted with subordinate commands; and that he had reported his intentions to his majesty before he set out on this expedition.  De Leon questioned him likewise on the affairs of Narvaez, Garay, and Tapia; on all of which subjects Cortes gave such answers that the governor seemed perfectly satisfied.