Tapia offered to undertake the conquest of Querétaro. Collecting a large force in Jilotepec and Tula, in conjunction with other caciques, and provided with a number of arquebuses, they marched to the town now called San Juan del Rio, the inhabitants of which they induced to accept Christianity without bloodshed. Proceeding thence toward Querétaro, when within three leagues of the town, they arrived at a hill called, in the time of Espinosa, Cerrito Colorado. Here was made the agreement to fight without weapons, owing to the fear of the Chichimecs of fire-arms. The conflict was similar to that described by San Luis, and the date assigned to it is the 25th of July, 1531. In the account given by San Luis it is stated that the sun stood still, and that the Apostle Saint James, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Francis appeared. Espinosa's version is that, through the dense cloud of smoke caused by firing the arquebuses, a bright light broke, in which was seen a brilliant cross of white and red, and by its side the figure of Saint James. This miraculous interposition put a termination to the contest.[1] On the spot above which the figure of Saint James was seen, a cross was erected, which became celebrated for its miracles. San Luis had ordered it to be made of wood, but the Chichimecs objected, saying they wanted "una cruz en forma para siempre jamds," or be it an indestructible cross to serve as a boundary monument. They likewise objected to a common stone cross, insisting upon one like that seen: in the clouds. In this dilemma the architect and stone-cutter, Juan de la Cruz, was despatched with fifty caciques for material to build a cross which would satisfy the new converts.
After journeying half a league, praying to God to
- ↑ With regard to the respective claims of San Luis and Tapia for the leadership, I see no reason to doubt chat the former had the chief command, though the latter also bore the title of captain-geueral, which may have been conferred on him years later. San Luis positively asserts that he was the leader and directed the operations im the region of Querétaro, both before and after its conquest. Tapia is mentioned by him as one of his captains in the campaign.
