seing the great treasure that Grijalua had brought what a rich land the countrey newely discouered was Also he pretended that the gouernor would be chieftain of the fléet although his kinesman were not fit for the roome The gouernor also thought that he being slacke Cortez would also be slacke But yet he séeing Cortez earnestly procéed he sent one Amador de Larez a principal maÌ„ to intreate him to leaue off the voyage coÌ„sidering the Grijalua was returned and that he would pay him al the costs charges that he had layd out Cortez vnderstaÌ„ding the gouernors minde made answere vnto Larez that he wold not leaue of the Iorney for very shame nor yet breake the agréement made And also if Valasques would send a Nauy for his owne account he woulde be contente for quoth he I haue alreadie my licence and dispatch of the fathers gouernours And theÌ„ be conferred with his friendes to knowe their mindes if that they would fauour and beare him coÌ„pany at whose handes be found both ready helpe and friendshippe Hee sought then for money and toke vp vpon his credit foure M. Castlyns in gold of his friend Andreas de Duero of Pedro de Xerez others With that which money he bought two ships 6. horses much apparel began to furnish a house kepe a good table for coÌ„mers goers he went also armed like a captaine many wayting atteÌ„ding vpon him whereat diuerse murmured saying that hee was a Lord without rente In thys meane whyle came Grijalua to the Cittie of Sainte Iames de Cuba but hys kinseman the gouernour woulde not loke vppon hym bycause he had leste and forsaken so riche a lande Also it grieued him inwardlye that Cortez procéeded thitherward so strong and mightye and coulde by no meanes disturbe or lette hym and to sée the greate traine that wayted vppon hym wyth manye of them that had byn the other voyage with Grijalua yea if that he should disturbe him bloud shedde would follow in the Citie So that he was forced to dissemble his sorow Yet as many affyrme hee commaunded that hee shoulde haue no victuals solde vnto hym Nowe Cortez departed from thence proclayming himselfe for General and that the gouernour Valasques had nothing to doe wyth hys Nauie requesting his soldiers to enbarke themselues wyth such victuals as they had He also bargayned wyth one Fernando Alfonso for certaine Hogges and Shéepe that were prepared for the shambles and gaue vnto hym a chayne of golde and brouches for payment and also moneye to pay the penaltie that the butcher fel into for not prouiding the Cittie And so he departed froÌ„ Saint Iames de Baracoa the eightéenth of Nouember with about thrée hundred Spaniardes in sixe shippes The nauie and men that Cortez caried with him to the Conquest COrtez departed from Saint Iames de Barocoa with small prouision of victuals for suche a number of men and also for the nauigation whyche as yet was vncertaine And beeyng out of that parte he sent Pedro Xuarez Gallinato with a Caruell to Iâ—ymaica for vittailes commaunding him that those things which he should there buy to goe therwith to Cape de Corrientes or to S. Anthonies point which is the farthest part of that Iland Westward And he himselfe wente with his companye to Macaca and boughte there greate quantitie of bread and some Hogges of one Taymaio Then he procéeded to the Trinitie Ilande and there boughte an other Shippe of one Alonso Guillen And of perticulare persons he bought thrée Horses and fiue hundred bushels of Corne. And being there at roade he had aduice that Iohn Nonez Sedenio passed that way with a Shippe laden with victuals for to make sale thereof at the Mynes Wherevppon he sente Iames de Ordaâ— with a Caruel well armed for to take him and to bring him vnto S. Anthonies point Ordas went and tooke him at the Channell de Iardines and brought him to the place appointed Sedenio broughte the register of his marchandise whiche was greate store of bread Bacon and Hennes Cortez gaue him chaynes of golde and other pieces for payment and a bil for the rest In consideration whereof Sedenio wente with him to the Conquest In the Trinitie Ilande Cortez gathered togyther two hundred men more who had bin in Grijalua hys company and were dwellers in that Iland and in Matancas Carenias and other Villages and sending his ships forward he went with his men by land to Hauana which was then inhabited on the South side in the mouth of the riuer called Onicaxinall but there they would sell him no prouision for feare of the Gouernour Velasques But yet one Christopher Galsada rentgatherer to the Byshoppe and receyuer for the Popes Bulles solde to him great store of Bacon and bread of that Countrey called Maiz and other prouision whereby his fléete was reasonably prouided c. And then he beganne to distribute his men and vittayles aboorde eache vessell in good order Then came Aluarado with his caruell with his other friendes Christopher de Olid Alonso de Auila Francisco de Monteio manye others of Grijalua hys company who had bin to talke with the Gouernoure Velasques And among them came one Garnica so called with letters for Cortez from Velasques wherein he wrote desiring him to abide there for that he meant to come himselfe or else to send vnto hym to treate of matters profitable for them both Also the sayd Gouernour sente other secret letters to Iames de Ordas and others requiring them to apprehende and take prisoner Cortez Nowe Ordas did inuite Cortez to a banket aboorde his Caruel thinking by that meanes to catche Cortez in a snare and so to carrie him prisoner to the Citie of Saint Iames de Barocoa but Cortez vnderstood the matter and fayned hymselfe to be very sicke and also fearing some vprore he went aboorde his Shippe Admirall and shot off a péece of Ordinance giuing warning to his Nauie to be in a readinesse to make sayle and to follow him to Saint Anthonies poynte whiche was done with expedition and there in the Towne of Guani Guaniga he mustered his men and found fiue hundred and fiftiâ— Spanyardes wherof fiftie were Marriners He deuided them into eleuen companies and appointed these persons following for Captaynes that is to say Alonso de Auila Alonso Fernandez Porto Carrero Iaimes de Ordas Francisco de Monteio Francisco de Morla Francisco de Salzeda Iohn de Escalante Iohn Velasques de Leon Christopher de Olid and one Escouar and he himselfe as Generall tooke one Company He made these many Captaynes bycause his whole fléete was eleuen sayle and that eache of them shoulde seuerally be Captayne both of Shippe and men He also appoynted for chiefe Pilote Antonio de Alamines who had taken charge before with Francisco de Hernandez de Cordoua and Grijalua c. He carried also 200 Indians borne in the I le of Cuba to serue and to carrie baggage also
captayne Garay their generall for theyr sayd Captaine pretended that conquest as first discouerer of the same certifying moreouer that hée was determined to inhabite twentie leagues distaÌ„t from that place Westwarde neare vnto Nahutlan whiche nowe is called Armeria Cortes answered that they should returne vnto their shippes and to will theyr Captayne to come to Vera Crux with his nauie and there they woulde commune togither aboute his comming and if he stoode in néede of any thing it shoulde be prouided And if it were as they reported that he was comen on the Kings affaires he woulde gladly fauour his procéedings considering that he and all his were there in seruice of his highnesse how muche more beyng all of one nation They answered that in no wise their captaine nor none of his army would come ashore nor yet come where as Cortes was With this answere Cortes vnderstood the matter and layde holde of them and went and placed himself in ambushe behinde a little hill of sande whiche stoode right ouer agaynst the shippes beyng neare sunne sette slepte there that night till daye approched and the mornyng farre spent hopyng that Garay his Pilote or some of his company woulde come ashore meanyng likewise to apprehende them for to be certified what course they had made and what hurte they had done and findyng them guiltie to sende them prysoners into Spayne likewise he desired to knowe whether they had spoken with any vassals of Mutezuma and seyng they came not a lande his suspition was the greater Cortes commaunded thrée of his men to chaunge apparell with the thrée messengers that came from Garay and this done caused them to goe to the Sea side wauyng with theyr clokes and callyng for the shippe boate Now those of the shippes thought by theyr apparell that they were their owne menne and came with a dozen persons in the skiffe with Crossebowes and Handgunnes Then Cortes his men whiche were clothed in other mens garments hidde themselues among bushes as who woulde say they were gone into the shadowe for to flée from the great heate of the Sunne being at that time highe noone and bicause they should not be knowen The Mariners of the skiffe set a lande twoo men with Hargabushes and other two meÌ„ with Crossebowes and an Indian who went straight way to the bushes thinkyng to finde their fellowes Then stept forth Cortes and caught them before they coulde gette aborde the skiffe although they meant to haue defended themselues so that one of them who was a Pilote hauing his Hargabushe ready charged would haue shot at captaine Hircio assuredly if his match and pouder had bene good he had slayne him When the general aborde the ships perceiued this deceit he would abide no loÌ„ger coÌ„mauÌ„ded to make saile not tarying for his skiffe By these seuen meÌ„ taken at two times Cortes was satisfied also certified how captain Garay had sayled along the coast séeking Florida and arriued in a riuer the King of that prouince was called Panuco where they founde little golde barteryng aborde their shippes all theyr golde passed not thrée thousande Castelins but in exchaunge of things of small value nothing contented Garay on that voyage bycause the quantitie of golde was small and not fine With this newes Cortes returned to Zempoallan with his men which he brought in his company and there concluded and fully agreed with those Indians to pull downe theyr Idols sepulchres of their Cassikz whiche they did reuerence as Gods perswading them to worship the God of heauen And after this doctrine their league of friendship was effectually established and with other townes adioyning against Mutezuma Those Indians gaue vnto him gagues to be alwayes faithfull of worde promisse and offered vnto him as many men fitte for warre seruice as he woulde require Cortes receiued the gagues which were of the principallest persons of the townes as Mamexi Teuch and Tamalli he tooke also a thousand Tamemes that is to say men that are carriers who ordinarily taketh his burden vpon his backe which is halfe a hundred waight and those fellowes followe the campe with their bagge bagage These men serued for horses to draw the ordinance and to carrie other munition and victuals Hovv Olintlec exalted the mightie power of Mutezuma COrtes departed froÌ„ Zempoallan leauing that towne named Siuillia toward Mexico the sixtenth day of August of the same yéere with 400. Spaniardes and fiftene horses sixe péeces of ordinance and 1300. Indians with the carriers meÌ„ of Cuba And wheÌ„ Cortes departed froÌ„ Zempoallan he had not one vassall of Mutezuma in his campe to leade them the way towarde Mexico for al were fledde seing the new league or else by commaundement of their Lord and the Indians of Zempoallan knew not well the way The first thrée dayes iourney the army passed through the countrey of their friendes were louingly receyued and lodged especially in Xalapan The fourth day they came to Sicuchimaâ—l whiche is a strong place situated on a hill side very craggy and the way to passe there vnto is made with force of mans hande as a stayre And if the inhabitants thereof would haue resisted the entraunce with great difficultie bothe footemen horsemen mought haue entred the towne but as afterwarde appeared they were commaunded by Mutezuma to lodge them and also to honour them The rulers of that towne sayde to Cortes that for as muche as he wente to visite their Prince Mutezuma he should assure himselfe that they were and would be his friendes This towne hath many villages and farmes beneath in the playne for Mutezuma was alwayes prouided there of 5000. men of warre Cortes gaue great thankes to the Lorde for his curtesse and good entertaynement muche estéeming the good will of this Lord Mutezuma and so departed from thence and wente to passe ouer a mountayne very high the passage whereof he named Nembre de dios bycause it was the first that he had passed beyng so asperous and highe that there is none suche in all Spayne for it conteyned directly vpright thrée leagues and hath in many places grapes and trées with hony And discendyng downe on the other stâ—â— of that hill they came to a towne called Theuhixuacan whiche is a forte and friende to Mutezuma where our army was receyued and entertayned as in the other towne behinde And from thence he traueled thrée dayes in a countrey inhabitable and passed some necessitie of hunger much more of thirst bicaâ—se all the water that they founde was saltishe and many of his men for wante of other dranke thereof whereof they fell into sickenesse and sodamely fel a meruaylous Hayle with great colde whiche increased their griefe yea and the Indians of their company thought there to ende theyr liues some of the Indians of Cuba died there through nakednesse not being accustomed to so cold a countrey After the fourth iourney of euill way they ascended vp
graunted to his request and incontinent appoynted eyght Indians of the which four were Goldsmythes who had knowledge and vnderstanding of Mynes and the other foure were guydes for the iourney He commaunded them that by two and two they shoulde goe into foure prouinces that is to say Zucolla Malinaltepec Tenich and Tutepec with other eyghte Spanyardes whiche Cortez appoynted to haue knowledge of the riuers and mynes of gold and to bring a moster of the same The eyght Spanyardes departed on their iourney with the other eyghte Indians with tokens from Mutezuma Zucolla is 80. leagues from Mexico and the Lord therof is subiect to Mutezuma who shewed vnto the Spanyardes thrée riuers with golde and gaue of each riuer a moster thereof although it were but little for with want of knowledge they knew not wel the māner how to get it out of the riuer These messengers in their iourney too and fro passed through thrée prouinces full of people and habitatiō with good buildings frutefull ground and the people of the one of them called Tlamacolapan are of good reason and iudgemente and better apparelled than the Mexicans Malinaltepec is 70. leagues from Mexico from whence also they brought mosters of golde the which is had out of a great riuer by the naturals of that Countrey Tenich standeth vp towarde the head of the same riuer of Malinaltepec who are people of another language and would not permitte our men to haue relation of the thing that they sought The Lorde of that place is called Coatelicamatl who is not subiecte to Mutezuma nor yet is his friende thinking that his men hadde bine spyes but when he was enformed who they were he gaue the Spanyardes licence to be resolued of their affayres but straitly commaunded that the Indians of Mexico should not presume to come into his dominion When the Mexicans hearde these newes they required the Spanyardes not to credite that Cazike saying that he was an euill and a cruell man and would surely kill them Our men were somewhat amazed fearing to talke with Coatelicamatl although they hadde his licence séeyng the people of the countrey armed with Launces of fiue and twenty foote lōg but yet at lēgth leauing cowardise aside they procéeded forwards Coatelicamatl receyued thē curteously and shewed them sixe or seauen riuers with golde out of the which graynes of golde were taken in his presence who gaue the same moster vnto them and sente also his Embassadors to Cortez offering his lande and person vnto him with certayne mantels and Iewels of golde Cortez more reioyced of the Embassage than of the gold and presents knowing thereby that Mutezuma hys enimies desired his friendshippe but Mutezuma and hys counsell liked not the matter for although Coatelicamatl is no great Lord yet his people are good souldyers and his countrey full of wildernesse of Rockes and Mountaynes The other that wente to Tutepec which standeth néere the sea coast and twelue leagues frō Malinaltepec returned likewise with moster of golde of two Riuers and brought newes that the Countrey was fit to buylde vppon with hope to reape muche golde finding once an arte to get it out of the riuer Cortez hearing these news prayed Mutezuma to build a house there in the name of the Emperoure Charles who incontinente sente thither workemen and labourers whyche within two monethes hadde built a greate house and other thrée little houses round aboute it with a ponde of water full of fishe and fiue hundred Duckes and a thousand fiue hundred Turkie cockes and hennes and muche housholde stuffe so that the gifte was worth twentie thousand Castlins of golde He gaue vnto hym also twenty bushels of the grayne called Centli readye sowen and two thousand stockes of trées called Cacauatl whiche bringeth forthe the fruite Cacao that serueth for money and meate Cortes began this husbandrye but yet made not an ende thereof with the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaiz and the vprore in Mexico whiche shortly followed He also besoughte Mutezuma to certifie him if there were any sure porte or harbor on the Sea coast where the Spanish nauie mought ride in safetie he aunswered that he knew of none but that he woulde sende to make enquirie thereof And forthwith he commaunded all that coast to be painted in a cloath made of cotten woll with all the riuers bayes créekes and capes that were within his dominion In all the same portrayture did not appeare anye porte skale or sure roade sauyng a gulfe that falleth out of the Mountaynes which place is now called the harbor of Saint Martine and Saint Anthonie in the prouince of Coazacoalco The Spanyards thought the same to be a straight or passage into the South sea to passe vnto the Maluccos and spicerie but they were deceiued although they beléeued the thing that they desired Cortes for this purpose sent tenne Spanyardes all good marriners and Pylots in companye of the Indians that Mutezuma sent on that voyage at his owne cost They departed and came to Chalohicoeca where firste they came aland the which place is now called S. Iohn de Vlhua They wente 70. leagues along the coast without finding any Riuer although they mette with many brookes of shallowe water not fytte for a roade for Shyppes They aported at Coazacoalco the Lorde whereof was enimie to Mutezuma hys name was Tuchintlec who friendly receyued the Spanyardes for he hadde intelligence of them at their lying at Potonchan He gaue vnto them boates to sounde and séeke the Riuer where they found sixe fadome in deapth and wente vppe that Riuer twelue leagues wher they descryed many great townes and it séemed a fruitefull soyle This Cazike Tuchnitlec sente vnto Cortes with the Spanyards certayne gold precious stones and cloth of cotten with apparrell made of skynnes and tygers requesting his friendship and to admitte him tributarie to the Emperour paying yéerely a certayne portion of his riches with suche condition that the Indians of Culhua should not enter into his iurisdictiō Cortes muche reioysed with these messages and was glad of the finding of the faire riuer for the Marriners hadde enformed him that from the riuer of Grijalua vnto Panuco was no riuer to be found but I beléeue they were deceyued Cortes returned backe agayne some of those messengers with a present of Spanish ware for Tuchnitlec and to be better enformed of all his meaning with a special charge to knowe the cōmoditie of that porte and Countrey who went and in shorte time returned wel satisfyed of their demaund wherevpon Cortes sente thyther Iohn Velasques de Leon for Captayne of a hundred and fifty Spanyardes with commission to build a fort The imprisonment of Cacama King of Tezcuco THe weake courage and stomake of Mutezuma caused his subiectes not onely to murmure but also to seeke meanes of rebellion especially his nephew Cacamazin Lorde of Tezcuco who was a stoute yong man and an honorable and one that receiued greate griefe of his Vncles imprisonment and séeing that
certayne number of his mē to goe a land to a Towne which was néere the place where they were arriued and they foūd the towne wrought with Masons worke and good building but they founde no creature therein yet in some houses they foūd cloth made of cottē woll and certaine Iewels of gold Also they entred into a high tower made of stoneworke néere the sea side and there they founde nothing but Idols of earth and stone With this newes they returned to Cortez and enformed him what they had séene and also many faire sowē fields of Maiz and great store of hiues of Bées and many trées of fruites and also presented vnto him the gold and other things that they had foūd Cortez reioyced with the newes but yet maruelled that the people were fledde considering that when Grijalua was there they had not so done wherby he iudged that his nauie béeyng greater caused them to feare and flie and likewise he feared least a snare were prepared for him Then he cōmanded to vnship his Horses for thrée causes the one to discouer the Countrey and the other to fight if néede were and also to grase thē hauing there abūdance Also he vnshipped his mē of warre and sent them to discouer the land And in the thickest of the Mountaynes they found four women and thrée childrē whome they brought to Cortez so that not vnderstanding their language by signes tokens they ymagined that one of thē was the mother to the children mistresse to the other women The pore creatures bewayled theyr captiuitie Cortez made muche of them apparrelled the mistresse as wel as he might with Spanish attire and to hir scruants he gaue loking glasses and sissers and to the little children other toyes to play withall vsing no dishonestie towards thē And thē he determined to send one of the wenches to call hir maister and to enforme him how well they were intreated In this meane season came certaine spies lurking a farre off by the cōmandement of their Lord who was called Calachuni to bring newes of his wife what else passed Cortez receyued them gētly gaue vnto them certayne trifles and sent others to their Lord and returned thē with embassage on his behalfe his wiues to desire hym to come vnto him and to sée those folke from whome he had fledde promising that neyther his person nor none of his countrey should receyue anye molestation of him nor of any of his company Calachuni vnderstāding this friendshippe and also with the loue hée bare to his wife and childrē came the next day following with all the Townesmen in whose houses the Spanyards were lodged who woulde not permitte that their guestes should giue place And the Lorde commaunded that they should be wel entertayned and frō that day forward prouided them of bread fishe honey fruite Calachuni spake and saluted Cortez with greate humilitie and ceremonie and euen so was he louingly receyued wel entertained Cortez did then declare vnto him the commoditie that would ensue vnto him by that nation And also presented vnto him his cōpany many toyes which were vnto thē of small valewe but muche estéemed among them yea more than golde And moreouer Cortez cōmaunded that all the golde and other things that his men had taken in the Towne shoulde be broughte before him and placed it so that euery Indian knewe his owne and was restored vnto them whereat they were not a little ioyfull wondering at the liberalitie of the straungers and departed both merrie and riche with their straunge giftes and went throughout al the Iland shewing to their fellowes their presentes commaunding them in the name of Calachuni their Lord to returne euery man to his house with their wiues and children commending highly the honest and gentle nature of the straungers With this newes and commaundemente euery man returned to his house and Towne from whence he had fledde And after thys sort their feare was past and they prouided the Camp abundantly of honey bread waxe fishe and frute all the time that they abode in that Iland The Indians of Acusamil gaue nevves to Cortez of certaine bearded men NOw Cortez seeing these Indians quiet and wel pleased and also very seruiceable he did determyne to take away theyr Idols and to giue them a remembraunce of Iesu Christ borne of the Virgin Mary by one Melchior a fisherman and very rustical who had bin ther before with Francisco Hernandez de Cordoua who declared vnto them that Cortez his Lord and captaine would enforme them of a better god and better lawes than those which they maintained The Indians answered that they were contented therewith and went with them vnto their temples and there brake downe their Idols and celebrated diuine seruice teaching them to adore and worshippe Christ crucifyed so that they were verye attentiue to the doctrine and ceased sacrifise of men which they were wōt to vse These Indians did wonder much at the shippes and horses yea and marueyled as muche at our colour and beardes so that many times they would come and féele them and signifyed vnto them by signes and tokens towardes Yucatan that there were fiue or sixe bearded men Then Cortez considering how profitable it wold be to haue an interpreter to vnderstand and to be vnderstood he besought Calachuni that he would appoint a messenger to carrye a letter to the bearded men who were in the power of a great Lord and Tyrant and Calachuni found none that durst take that iourney in hand fearing that they should be slaine and eaten Cortez seing this entreated with faire words thrée of the Indians that serued him to accept the iourney and gaue thē rewards for theyr labour yet the Indians excused them saying that they should be slayne notwithstanding with faire promises and rewardes they accepted the voyage so that Cortez wrote with them this letter following WOrshipful sirs I departed from Cuba with cleuen saile in my fléete furnished with fiue hundred and fiftie Spaniardes and I arriued here at Acusamil from whence I write you this letter The people of this Ilād haue certifyed me that there is in that countrey fiue or sixe bearded men and in al pointes like vnto vs they can not here enforme me of anye other signes or tokens but hereby I do coniecture and certainely beleue that ye be Spaniards Both I and these gentlemen of my company do come to discouer and inhabit this land we hartily pray you that within sixe days after the receite hereof ye come vnto vs without any excuse or delay and if ye so doe al we of this nauie wil gratifye your gentlenesse good seruice that ye shal do vnto vs I do send you a Vergantyn wherin you may come two shippes for your safeconduct Hernando Cortez THis letter being written there was found an inconuenience which was they knew not how to carrye the letter so secretly that it might not be séene they taken
and celebrated the feast vpon their knees and the multitude of Indians likewise and departed to their meate Cortez desired them within two dayes to come agayne to theyr diuine seruice And that day was Palme sunday And so they did and brought an infinite number of men women and children of other villages with them whych was straunge to behold And there generally gaue theyr vassalship to the king of Spaine into the handes of Hernando Cortez with protestation of perpetuall friendship with the Spanish nation So that these were the fyrste vassals that the Emperour had in the new Spayne And this feast and ceremony ended our men toke shipping with the palme boughes in their handes In this doyng Cortez deserued no lesse prayse than in his victorie for he vsed wisedome with manhoode in all his doings he lefte those Indians with a newe faith and the towne frée and without hurt he toke none for slaues nor yet any spoyle nor exchaÌ„ged his merchaundice for any thing although he aboade there twentye dayes The towne is called in the Indian tongue Potonchan that is to saye a place that stincketh and our menne named it the victorie The Lord as ye haue heard was called Tauasco and therefore the firste Spaniardes that came thyther named the riuer Tauasco but Grijalua called it after hys owne name whose name and remembraunce will not so soone be forgotten And truely all those that do discouer newe countreys ought to make perpetuall their owne names This town doth containe neare fiue and twentye thousand houses as some say but as euery house staÌ„deth by himselfe like an Iland it seemeth much bigger than it is in déede The houses are great made of lime stone bricke others there are made of mood wal and rafters couered with straw or bordes Their dwelling is in the vpper part of the house for the greate moystnesse of the riuers and lakes and for feare of fier they haue theyr houses separated the one from the other Without the towne they haue more fairer houses than wythin for their recreation and pleasure They are browne people and go almost naked and eat mans flesh sacrificed Their weapons are bowes and arrowes slyngs darts and lances The armour wherwith they defend themselues are Targets and skulles made of woodde or barke of trées and some of gold very thinne They haue also a certayne kinde of harneis made of cotten wooll wrapped aboute their stomacke The good entertainement that Cortez had in Saint Iohn de Vlhua CAptaine Cortez and his company beeyng embarked sayled weast wards as nye the shoar as thei might And this coast hauing no harbors they founde no place where they might Anker safely with their greater vessels vntil they arriued vpon Mandie thursday at Saint Iohn de Vlhua whiche séemed a good harbor for them The Indians of this place call this harbour Chalchicoeca there the fleete came to Anker They were not so soone at Roade but incontinente came two little boates named Acalles enquiring for the Generall of the Fléete who when they came to hys presence dyd humble reuerence vnto him and sayde vnto hym that Teudilli the Gouernoure of that Prouince sente to knowe what people they were and what they woulde haue and whether they meante to stay there or procéede farther Aguillar dyd not well vnderstande that language Cortez caused them to come aboorde hys Shyppe gyuyng them thankes for theyr paynes and visitation Hée made vnto them a banket of Wyne and Conserua and sayde vnto them that the nexte day followyng hée woulde come alande and talke with the Gouernoure whome hée besoughte not to alter him not hys people wyth hys commyng a shore for he meant not to molest hym but rather to pleasure and profyte hym To that these messengers were rewarded wyth certayne gyftes they eate and dranke but yet suspected euill although they lyked the Wyne well wherefore they desired to haue thereof and also of the Conserua to presente vnto theyr Lorde whyche was giuen them and so departed The nexte daye béeyng good Friday Cortez came alande wyth hys Boates full of menne and broughte hys Horses and artillerie a shore by little and little wyth all hys menne of warre and two hundred Indians of Cuba whyche serued to toyle and laboure Hée planted hymselfe in the best scituation that hée coulde fynde among the Sandy bankes on the Sea syde and there pytched hys Campe and hauyng néere that place manye trées they builte them Cotages with boughes From a little Village that was at hand came many Indians to gaze at things so straunge and the like neuer séene vnto them and brought with theÌ„ gold to barter for suche toyes as the two little Boates had broughte from them before They brought also bread and meate readie dressed after their vse likewise to sell Oure men chaunged wyth them beadestones of glasse looking glasses sissers kniues pinnes and suche other wares whereof the Indians were not a little glad returning home to their houses shewing their neighbours The ioy and pleasure that these simple soules tooke with these trifles was so greate that the next day they came agayne wyth other Indians ladeÌ„ with Iewels of gold Turkie Hennes bread meate and fruite that suffised for all the Campe and for the same they receyued nedels and beadestones of glasse but the poore soules thought themselues therewith so riche that they knewe not where they were with ioy and pleasure yea and they thoughte that they hadde deceyued the Straungers Nowe Cortez séeyng the greate quantitie of golde broughte and bartered so foolishly for trifles of no valewe proclaymed throughout all hys host that no Christian shoulde take any golde vppon greate penaltie and that they shoulde all shewe as though they knewe not to what purpose the golde serued and that they passed not for it bycause they shoulde not thynke that the desire thereof had broughte them thyther and so they did dissemble that great demonstration of golde to sée what was meante thereby and whether the Indians hadde brought that golde to proue whether theyr commyng was for that or no. On Easter day in the morning came Teudilli the Gouernour to the Campe from Câ—tosta hys dwellyng place whyche was eyght leagues from thence He brought attendyng vpon his person foure thousande men without weapon and the most part well clothed some of them with garments of Cotton riche after their manner And others naked laden with victuals in great abundance whiche was straunge to sée Teudilli according to their vsance did his reuerence to the Captaine burning frankinsence and little strawes touched in bloud of his owne bodye he presented vnto him the victuals and certayne Iewels of golde very riche and well wrought and other things made of feathers very curious straunge and artificiall Cortez embraced him in his armes and receyued hym ioyfully saluting all hys company He gaue to Teudillâ— a coate of silke a brooche and a coller of glasse with many other péeces of
Haberdashe wares whiche was highly estéemed of him The talke of Cortez vvith Teudilli AL the former talke was had without an Interpreter bycause Ieronimo de Aguillar vnderstoode not thys language bycause it differed muche from the spéeche of the other Indians whereas hée hadde bin captiue for whyche cause Cortez was somewhat carefull bicause he would largely haue discoursed with Teudilli It chanced that among those twentie women giuen hym in Potonchan one of them stoode talking with a seruaunte of Teudilli bycause she vnderstoode them as menne of hir owne language Cortez espying this called hir aside and promised hir more than libertie so that she woulde bée a trustie and faithfull interpreter betwixte hym and those Indians and that hée woulde estéeme hir as his Secretarie And further demanded of hir of what lignage she was then she aunswered that she was naturall of the Countrey that bordered vpō Xalixco and of a towne called Viluta daughter vnto riche parentes and of the kinrede of the Lorde of that lande And béeyng a little girle certayne Merchantes dyd steale hir away in tyme of warre and brought hir to be solde at the fayre of Xicalanco whyche is a greate Towne néere Coasaqualco not farre distant from Tauasco and after this forte shée came to the power of the Lord of Potonchan This woman was Christened Marina She and hir fellowes were the firste Christians baptised in all the newe Spayne and she onely with Aguilar were Interpreters betwixt the Indiās and our men Nowe Cortez béeyng assured of hys true Interpreters hée celebrated hys accustomed deuine seruice and Teudilli wyth hym and after they hadde dyned in Cortez hys Tente in presence of many Spanyardes and Indians Cortez enformed Teudilli howe that hée was vassall to the Lord Charles of Austria Emperour of the Christiās and Kyng of Spayne and Lorde ouer a greate parte of the worlde whome great Kings and Princes dyd serue and obey and that all Princes were glad to bée hys friendes for his Vertue and myghte And hée hauyng aduertisemente of that Countrey and Lorde thereof had sente him thyther to visite hym on hys behalfe and to enforme hym of certayne secrete matters the effecte whereof he hadde in wrytyng Sir quoth Teudilli I am very glad to heare the Maiestie and Vertue of the Emperoure youre maister but you shall vnderstande that my Lorde the Emperoure Melzuma is as greate and as good a Prince as he And I doe muche maruell that there shoulde hée anye so greate a Prince in the whole worlde but yet according to youre request I wyll certifye hym and knowe hys pleasure for I trust quoth he in the clemencie of my Prince that youre newes and message shall hée acceptable vnto him and you well recompensed for your paynes Cortez then commaunded al his men to set themselues in order of battayle with pife and drumme and to skirmishe before Teudilli And that the horsemen shoulde runne and the ordinaunce shotte of to the entent that Mutezuma shoulde be aduertised thereof The Indians did much beholde the gesture apparell and beardes of our men they wdndered to sée the horses runne they feared the brightnesse of the swordes and at the noyse of the ordinaunce they fell flatte to the ground thinking that the heauens did fall And the shippes they held opinion was the God of the ayre called Quezalcoual◠whiche came with the temples on his backe for they dayly looked for him Teudilli dispatched the poste to Mexico to Mutezuma aduising him of all that he had séene and demaunded golde of him for to giue vnto the Captayne of that newe people Bicause Cortez had inquired of him whether Mutezuma had gold or no he answered yes mary quoth Cortez I and my fellowes haue a certayne disease of the harte and golde helpeth vs This message wente from the campe to Mexico in one day and a night whiche is 210 myle and the poste caried paynted the horses and horsemen vpon them the maner of theyr armour and howe many péeces of ordinaunce they had what number of bearded men there were and as for the shippes he had giuē aduise as soone as they arriued shewing the greatnesse and quantitie of them All these things aforesayde Teudilli caused to be paynted in cloth of Cotton very liuely that Mutezuma mought sée it The cause that this message wente so farre in so shorte a space was they had certayne places that postes attended as we may say horsepostes which gaue alwayes from hand to hande the paynted cloth they doe runne on foote faster in this forte then by horsepost and is more of antiquitie than horsepost Also Teudilli sent to Mutezuma the garments many other things whiche Cortez had giuen him whiche things were afterwardes founde in the treasorie of Mutezuma The present and ansvvere that Mutezuma sente vnto Cortez AFter the message sente and the answere promised Teudilli tooke his leaue and within twoo flight shoote of Cortez his campe he caused a thousande cotages of boughes to be made lefte there twoo principall men as Captaynes ouer two thousande persons men and women and then departed for Cotosta hys dwellyng place The twoo Captaynes had charge to prouide the Christians of all things necessarie and the women serued to grynde their corne and make bread of Maiz and to dresse theyr fishe and flesh and other victuals and the men serued to carrie the dressed meate to the Christians cāpe and wood water grasse for the horses and al other necessaries and this they passed eight dayes In this meane season returned the poste with a riche and gentle present whiche was many couerlets and clothes of cotton white and of other colours wrought many tuffes of feathers very fayre and some things wrought with golde and fethers quantitie of Iewels and péeces of golde and siluer twoo thinne whéeles the one of siluer whiche wayde 25. markes with the signe of the Moone and the other whéele of golde which wayed a hundreth markes made like vnto the Sunne with many leaues and beasts a very curious péece of worke these two things they helde for Gods in that countrey giueth thē the colours of the metall that is likest thē euery whéele was two yardes a half broade and so proportionally in compasse round aboute this present was estéemed at 20900. Ducates This present shold haue bene giuen to Grijalua if he had not so soone departed as the Indians reported He also gaue vnto Cortez this answere that Mutezumas his Lorde was very gladde to know to be friend to suche a mighty Prince as the king of Spayne was and that in his time should arriue in his countrey such new people the like neuer séene before that he was readie to shew them al pleasure honour requesting him to sée what things he stoode in néede of for y time that he meant to abide there as well for himselfe as for his ships army and deceasse and it should be prouided abundantly yea
they were not accustomed to pay of whiche number their Lorde of Zempoallan was one of them and other his neyghbours who many tymes helde him warre to be frée from his tiranny and bondage but yet sayde they it preuayled not for his hoste was greate and his warriers valiant Cortez receyued greate pleasure to finde in that countrey dissention and discorde among some Noble menne and at deuision among themselues thynking thereby the better to bryng his purpose to passe He gaue thanks vnto those Indians for their aduise offeryng vnto them his fauour helpe and friendshippe praying them to come often to his campe and so tooke his leaue of them with his commendations to their Lorde and sente him certayne presents with aduertisement that shortly he would come and sée him yea and also serue him Hovv Cortez vvent to suruey the Countrey with foure hundreth men AT the ende of tenne dayes came Teudilli backe againe and brought certaine cloth of Cotton and other things made of feathers well wrought for recompence of the thyng sente vnto Mexico And warned Cortez to departe for at that tyme there was no remedie to sée Mutezuma and to looke what was necessary for his prouision and furniture and it shoulde be prouided offeryng the same seruice at any time that hée shoulde happen to come that way Cortez would not accept the offer saying That he would not departe from that countrey vntill he had bothe séene and talked with Mutezuma The gouernour Teudilli yet agayne replied that he shoulde not contende therein and with those wordes departed from hym The nexte night followyng be with all those Indians as well men as women whiche attended to serue and prouide the Spanishe campe wente from thence so that in the mornyng all the cotages were emptie where those seruitors had bene Cortez suspecting this alteratiō prouided himselfe with preparation for battayle finding the matter contrary to his expectation he deliberated to séeke a sure roade or harbor for his nauie also a good plotte or situation to buylde vpon for then he fully meant to obtayne perpetuitie to conquere the lande considering that he had found such great tokens of gold plate other riches there aboute within a whole league cōpasse was no fit place for the purpose for why all was sandy ground such as tossed too fro with the winde with other morish groūd not méete for habitation In consideration wherof he sent Francisco de Monteio with two vergantines and fiftie men to runne along the coast vntill they should finde some reasonable poart and good scituation to build vpon Monteio procéeded on his voyage and sayled in sighte of lande vntill he came to Panuco withoute finding anye port or harbor sauing the shadowe of a Rocke whyche stoode somewhat distant from the land a sea boord so that at thrée wéekes ende he returned backe agayne with the foresayde newes Hauing runne so little a way he fell into suche terrible currants that although he made waye wyth oares and sayles yet the sayde Currant forced hym backe agayne Also he broughte newes that the Indians of that coast did let themselues bloud offering the same vnto them vpon little strawes in token of friendship or deitie The relation of Monteio contented not Cortez yet notwithstandyng he pretended to goe to the shade or succoure of the Rocke bycause hée was enformed that néere that place was two fayre Riuers wyth store of wooddes necessarye for tymber and fyre woodde greate quantitie of stones to builde with fayre pastures and ground for tyllage although the harbour was not sufficiente for hys Nauie and contratation bycause that roade was without defence and open vppon the Northe which is the winde that most ruleth with greatest hurte vpon that coast And also considering that Teudilli and hys menne were departed fearing also the want of victuals and likewise that hys Shyppes myghte perishe vppon the shore he commaunded to lade aboorde all theyr stuffe and hée wyth foure hundred menne and all his Horses followed on the hygh way that the Indians hadde gone After hée hadde iourneyed thrée leagues hée came to a fayre vadeable Riuer and passing ouer the Riuer hée found a towne not inhabited for the inhabitantes thereof were fledde with feare he entred into a great house which séemed the place of the Lorde of the Towne built with timber and earthen walles the foundation whereof was raysed with handie worke about a fadome high the roofe was couered with strawe but of a fayre strange workemanshippe inwardes with many greate pertitions some full of pottes of honey and Maiz with other grayne whiche they kéepe in store all the yeare other roomes had cloth of Cotten wool wrought with feathers golde and siluer Cortez commaunded Proclamation to be made that none of his company shoulde take any thyng away vppon payne of deathe onely victuals excepted to the intente to obtayne the good will and friendship among the Indians There was in that Village a Temple whiche hadde a little Tower with a Chappell on the toppe and twentie steppes to come vnto the Chappell where they found some Idolles and many bloudy papers and much mans bloud of those which hadde bin sacrificed as Marina dyd certifie They found also the blocke where vppon they vsed to cutte open the menne sacrificed and the razors made of Flint wherewyth they opened their breastes and plucked out their heartes béeyng aliue throwing them vppe toward Heauen as an offering and after this done they annoynted their Idolles and the papers they offered and then burned them This sight put a great compassion yea and a feare among our Spanyards who did beholde these things From this Village they went to other thrée or foure and found none aboue two hundred houses and all without people yet well prouided with victuall as the firste towne was Cortez returned from thence to discharge his Shippes and to take order to sende for moe men and with desire to beginne habitation in these affaires he occupyed hymselfe tenne dayes Hovv Cortez rendred vp his charge and office with pollicie WHen Cortes was come where his Ships were and the residue of his company hée began this talke saying Now my louing friends and fellowes ye doe sée what greate mercy God hathe shewed vnto vs in bringing vs safe and in health to so good and riche a Countrey as by manifest signes and tokens we haue alreadye séene yea and howe plentifull of meate inhabited of people better clothed and of more iudgement and reason than the others whiche ye haue séene since your firste comming also better buildings fieldes of grayne and corne yea and it is to be thought that the things not yet séene doe surmount all that hithervnto ye haue playnely séene Wherefore wée ought to giue most hartie thankes vnto God and to beginne oure habitation héere whereas we shall enioy the grace and mercy of god And to bryng this matter to passe me thinke best that we abide héere vntill we may finde
a better port or scituation Also that we make a wall or Castell for oure defence if néede shou'de happen for the people of this land hath little ioy of our comming and abiding héere It was then considered that frō that place they might the sooner haue friendshippe and contractation with the Indians and Townes nexte adioyning as Zempoallan and others whyche were enimies to Mutezuma and béeyng in this order once placed they myghte discharge their Shyppes and sende them incontinent to Cuba Santo Domingo Iamayca Borriquen and other Ilandes or else to Spayne for more men armour and Horsses and for clothing and victuals Moreouer it was thought iust and méete to sende relation of all their procéedings to the Emperoure theyr King and maister with the demonstration of golde syluer and other riches which they had in their power And bycause all these things should be done in good order Cortez determined as Captayne generall to appoint a Counsell Aldermen and Iudges And also ordeyne all other offices that shoulde be necessary and néedefull to rule and gouerne a Citie whych he then pretended to edifie and erecte the whiche Magistrates should fully commaund vntill such time that the Emperour should otherwise prouide in matters conuenient for his seruice After this diligence put in vre he solemnely tooke possession of all the land in the name of the Emperour Charles King of Castill with all the actes and ceremonies as to such a matter apperteyned And demaunded of Francisco Fernandez notarie appoynted that he shoulde gyue vnto him by testimonie in writing all the actes done therein All his company aunswered that they did very well allowe hys procéedings and praysed and also approued hys determination besieching hym to procéede accordingly sithence they were come to serue and obey hym Then Cortez named Judges Aldermen Attorney Serieant Notary and Towneclearke and all other officers apperteyning to the good gouernement of a Citie in the name and behalfe of the Emperoure hys naturall Lord and delyuered incontinent to the Iudges white roddes to beare in their handes in token of Iustice and named the newe Citie to be builte The ryche Towne De la vera Crux bycause that one goodfriday they had entred into that land After these things finished Cortez began before the saide Notary another act in presence of the iudges who were Alounso Fernandez Portocarero and Frācisco de Monteio in whose handes he made cession and dyd desyst from all rule and offices whiche heretofore he had receiued which was his gouernership captaineship and general discouerer recetued in the Chauncerie of Santo Domingo at the handes of the presidentes who were there chiefe of the kings counsell and presidents likewise be protested not to vse the power and auctority of the gouernour of Cuba Admirall of India for so much the now none of them had any rule or gouernement in that Countrey which he and his fellowes had newely discouered and begun to enhabite in the name of the king of Castil as his naturall subiectes The which auctoritie he likewise required to be set downe in recorde and to haue a copie of the same Hovv the soudiours chose Cortez for Captaine generall and chiefe ruler in Iustice AL the newe officers toke possession and charge of their offices and entred into the towne house to counsel according to the vse and custome of Castill In the which congregation or counsel then holden many matters were had in question as touching the good gouernemente of the common weale And among many other things they al agréed to electe Hernando Cortez for captaine generall and chiefe Iustice and to giue vnto him full power and authority for all matters appertayning to the wars and conquest vntill such time as the Emperour should otherwise prouide with this determination the next day following al the Aldermen Iudges and Counsellers went vnto Cortez and sayde vnto him Sir we haue greate néede of a guide and captaine for the warres to procéede vppon the conquest of this countrey wherfore vntil such time as the Emperour shall prouide therein they all besought hym to accepte that office and charge approuing him a man most fit for the same both to rule and gouerne for the great experience that they had séene of his courage wisdome and pollicie and by Vertue of their offices did cōmaund him to accept the same saying that in so doing God and the king shoulde bee faithfully serued And they woulde thankfully gratify the same knowing that at his hands they should be ruled with iustice vsed with humility be preserued with diligence and strength And for that purpose they had chosen him for that office giuing vnto him their ful whole authority submitting thēselues vnder his hands iurisdiction defence Cortez accepted the charge at smal entreating for he desired nothing so much And being in this sort elected general the counsel said vnto him Sir you do wel vnderstād that vntil such time as we shal bee better planted in this countrey we haue not wherwith to maintaine our selues but only with suche things as are abord our shippes Therfore it may please you to commaund it to be brought a shore and that you take therof what shal seme good vnto you for your houshold and familie and the residue may be taxed at a reasonable price and so to be deuided among them for payment they wold al binde thēselues or else the presently it should be deducted out of the stocke after that the kings sift parte were subtracted Likewise they desired him to value his ships and artillery bycause they would make like payment for the same and that frō thence forwards the ships should serue in common for to passe to the Ilāds for bread wine clothes weapons horses and other things which should be néedeful for the new towne and army for therby shey mought be better cheape prouided than if merchants should prouide them consideryng alway they seke for excessiue gaine saying that if it would please hym to accepte thys offer and request they would thankfully requite the same Cortez aunswered that at the time he made his preperation and furniture in Cuba he ment not to sel his prouision as others vsed to do but he would and did frankely giue it vnto them although hee had spent his goods and indetted himselfe therin And incontinent he commaunded the maisters of the ships and pursers to bring a lād al their victual to the town house requiring the Aldermen to deuide it equally to euerye man his part without making any difference of him or of any other for quoth he in time of neede of victuals that yongest hath as muche allowaunce as the eldest And although I am indetted and do owe more than seauen M. Duckets I giue this victuall al franckly vnto you And as cōcerning the ships I wil do the which shal be most cōuensēt for you al. And quoth he I wil determin nothing to be done with thē but wil first giue you aduertisemēt
footeplayers that played before Mutezuma WHen his table was taken vp and his seruitors gone to meate Mutezuma sate stil then came in the suiters that hadde any affayres to deale with him barefoted for all the persons did vse that reuerence excepte some Princes his kinsmen as the Lordes of Tescuco and Tlacopan and a fewe others and béeing colde weather they vsed to weare olde ragged clothes vppon theyr riche garmentes Al suiters vsed to make thrée or foure curtesies not loking toward his face and speaking vnto him their heads downewardes and in that order retyred backe agayne Mutezuma aunswered his suiters very grauely with lowe voyce and in fewe words and not to al suiters for others his secretaries or counsellers that stoode by answered for him and hauyng their aunswere they returned backewardes not turning their tayles to the prince After these businesses done hée vsed some recreation hearing Iesters or songs wherein he delighted much or else to looke vpon the players who play with their féete as we doe with oure handes These haue a cudgell like vnto a pastlers rowler whiche they tosse high and lowe as it were a bal in the ayre straunge to beholde They vse other playes to passe the tyme in such an order that it séemed maruellous to the lookers on Cortez broughte into Spayne some of these players Also they vse Matachines in suche sorte they do play that they stand each vppon others shoulders and he that standeth highest sheweth many feates Sometime Mutezuma did beholde the players who played at a game called Patoliztli whiche is muche like oure Tables and they play with beanes squared like dice which they call Patolli and throw them out of both their hands vpon a matte or else vpon the ground where are made certaine strikes vpon which they set downe the chance that is throwen and at this game they play all that they haue and many tymes they valew theyr owne bodyes and play that into captiuitie and to remayne a slaue I meane such as are common gamesters of small estate The Tennis play in Mexico SOmetimes Mutezuma went to the Tennis Courte Their ball is called Villamaliztli and is made of the gumme which commeth from a trée called Vlli. This trée groweth in a hote Countrey The gumme being kneded togither and so made roūd is as blacke as pitch and somewhat heauie and very harde for the hande but yet good and light to rebound and better than our windballes They play not at chases but at bādie or at check that is if the ball touch the wall it loseth They maye strike the ball with any part of their body but there is alwayes a penaltie if they only strike not with the buttoke or side whiche is the finest play wherefore they vse a skynne vpon eache butttocke They play so many to so many for a packe of mantels or according to the abilitie of the players Also they play for golde and feathers and sometime for their owne bodyes as they vse at Patolli which is there permitted lawfull The Tennis Court is called Tlachco and is a Hall long and narrow but wyder vpwards than downewardes and higher on the sides than at the ends which is an industrie for their play The house is always white and smooth in the side walles they haue certain stones like vnto mylstones with a little hole in the middest that passeth through the stone the hole is so small that scarcely the ball maye passe through but hée that chanceth to strike the ball into the hole whiche seldome happeneth winneth the game and by an auntiente lawe and custome among Tennis players he ought to haue the clokes of all those that stande and beholde the play on that side that the ball went in and in some Tennis Courtes the halfe of the garmentes of them that stande lookyng on The winner is then bounde to make certayne sacrifice to the God of the Tennis play and to the stone where the ball entred The beholders of the play woulde saye that suche a wynner should be a thiefe and an adulterer or else that he shoulde dye quickly They vsed in the Temple of the Tennis play two Images of the God of the ball which stoode vpon the two lower walles Their Sacrifice was celebrated at midnighte with many Ceremonies and Witchcraftes and songs for that purpose Then came a Prieste from the Cathedrall Churche wyth other Religious persons to blesse the Sacrifice saying certayne diuelishe prayers and throwing the ball four tymes in the Tennis court In thys order was the Tennis play consecrated and after thys consecration it was lawfull to play or else not for this dilligence was firste to be done when any Tennis Court or play was newly built The owner of the Tennis Courte also woulde neuer suffer any to play vntill he had first offered something to the Idoll theyr superstition was so great Mutezuma broughte the Spanyardes to behold this pastyme and gaue thē to vnderstande that he delyghted much in thys game and also to sée our men play at Cardes and Dyce The number of vviues that Mutezuma had in his house MVtezuma had many houses as wel in Mexico as without for his recreation and pleasure as also for his ordinary dwelling To write of al it should be tedious but where his continual abyding was he named Tepac that is to say Pallace And that Pallace had twenty dores or gates which had their outcomming into the cōmon streates It hath thrée courtes and in the one standeth a fayre fountaine many halles and a hundred chambers of twentie-thrée and thirtie foote long an hundered bathes hot-houses and although the building was without nayles yet very good workmanship The walles were made of masons work and wrought of Marble Iaspe and other blacke stone with vaines of redde like vnto rubies and other stones whiche glistered very fayre the Rooffes wer wrought of Tymber and curiously carued the Timber was Cedre Cipers Pynetree the chambers were painted and hong with cloth of cotten and clothe made of Conneys haire and feathers The beddes were poore and of no vallew for they were nothing but Mantels layde vpon mattes or vpon Hay or else mattes alone fewe men lay within those houses There were a thousande women and some affyrme that there were thrée thousand accounting gentlewomen seruaunts and slaues the most were noble mens daughters Mutezuma toke of them for himselfe those that liked him best and the others he gaue in mariage to Gentlemen his seruaunts The saying was that he had at one tyme a hundreth fiftie women hys wiues with childe who through the perswasion of the Deuill tooke Medicines to caste theyr creatures bycause they knewe that they shoulde not inherite the state these hys wiues had many olde women for their Guarde for no man was permitted to looke vpon them The shielde of armes that is sette in his pallayce and likewyse carried to the warres is an Eagle soryng vpon a Tiger hys talents bente as takyng
morning he ascended vpwarâ—â— on this hill and sente hys scoute of foure footemen and foure horsemen to discouer who found the way stopped wish great trées newly cutte downe and placed crossâ—wise in the way but they thynking that yet for war 〈◊〉 was not so procéeded forthe as well as they â—â—ght liâ— at length the let with great hugiâ— trées was such that they could passe no further and with this neweâ— were forced to returne certifying Cortes that the Horsemenne coulde not passe that way in any wyse Cortes demaunded of them whether they hadde séene anye people they aunswered 〈◊〉 wherevppon he procéeded forwarde with all the Marsenâ—◠〈…〉 thousande footemen commaundyng all the residue of hys armye to followe hym wyth as muche 〈…〉 myghte hée so that wyth that companye whyche he carried with him he made waye takyng away the trées that were cutte downe to disturbe his passage and in this order in short time passed his host without any hurt or daunger but with great payne and trauell for certaynely if the enimies had bin there to defende that passage oure menne hadde not passed for it was a verye euill way and the enimies also thoughte the same to be sure with the trées whiche were crossed the way wherevppon they were carelesse of that place and attended their comming in playne grounde for from Tlaxcallan to Mexico are thrée wayes of the whiche Cortes chose the worst ymagining the thing that afterwards fell out or else some hadde aduised him howe that way was cléere from the enimies And béeing past this crooked passage they espyed the lake of Mexico and gaue vnto God moste hartie thankes for the same and there made a solemne vowe and promise not to returne vntill they had wonne Mexico or lost their liues They abode there and rested themselues till all the whole armyâ— were come togither to descende downe into the playne for nowe they myghte descrye the fires and beacons of theyr enimies in sundrye places and all those whyche hadde attended theyr commyng by the other two wayes were now gathered togyther thynkyng to sette vppon them betwixte certayne bridges where a greate company aboade exspecting theyr commyng but Cortes sente twenty Horsemen who made way among them and then followed the whole armye who slewe manye of them wythoute receyuyng anye hurte And in thys order they came to Quahutipec whiche is of the iurisdiction of Tezcuco where they abode that nyghte and in that place founde neyther manne nor Woman but not farre off was pytched the Caâ—â—e of the Indians of Culhua which myght be néere a hundred thousand men of warre who were sent by the Seniors of Mexico and Tezcuco to encounter oure armye in consideration whereof Cortes kept good watch with tenne Horsemen and all his Souldyers were warned to be in readynesse at a call if néede should happen The next day in the morning he departed from thence towarde Tezcuco whiche standeth thrée leagues distante and procéeding on their iourney foure principal persons inhabitantes of Tezcuco mette with them bearing a rod of golde with a little flagge in token of peace saying that Coacuacoyozin their Lord had sent them to desire him not to make any spoyle in his Countrey and likewise to offer his friendship praying also that it might please him with his whole army to take his lodging in the Towne of Tezcuco where he shoulde be well receyued Cortes reioyced with this message although he suspected that it was a fayned matter but one of them he knewe verye well whome he saluted saying My comming is not to offend any but rather to do you good I will also receyue and hold your Lord for a friende with condition that hée doe make vnto me restitution of the treasure whyche hée tooke from fiue and fortie Spanyards and thrée hundred Tlaxcaltecas all the which were by his commaundemente also slayne of late dayes They aunswered that Mutezuma caused them to be murthered who had likewise taken the spoyle and that the Citizens of Tezcuco were not culpable in that fact and with this aunswere they returned Cortes went forward on his way and came to Quahutichan and Huaxuta which are suburbes of Tezcuco where he and all his host were plentedâ—â—â—y prouided of al things necessary and threw downe the Idolles This done hée entred into the Citie where his lodging was prepared in a great house sufficient for him and all the Spanyardes with many other the Indian friends And bycause that at his first entry he sawe neyther women nor children hee suspected some treason and forthwith proclaymed vpon payne of death that none of his men should go out The Spaniards began to triumph in their lodgings and chaÌ„bers placing euery thing in good order In the euening they went vp into the Zâ—â—ies and galleries to beholde the Citie which is as bigge as Mexico and there they sawe the greate number of Citizens that fledde from thence with their stuffe some towardes the mountaines and others to the water side to take boate a thing straunge to sée the great hast and stirre to prouide for themselues at the least ther were twentie thousand litle boates called Conoas occupyed in carying houshold stuffe and passengers Cortes would fayne haue remedied it but that night was so nygh at hand that he coulde not He would gladly also haue apprehended the Lord but he was one of the first that fledde vnto Mexico Cortes caused many of the Citizens to be called before him and hauing in hys company a yong gentleman of a noble house in that couÌ„trey who was also last christened had to name HernaÌ„do Cortes being his godfather who loued him well sayde vnto the citizens that this new Christian lord Don HernaÌ„do was sonne vnto Nezaualpincintli their louing Lord wherfore he required them to make him their king considering that Goacnacoyocin was fled vnto the enimies laying also before them his wicked fact in killing of Cacuza his own brother only to put him from his inheritance kingdome through the enticemente of Quahutimoccin a mortal enimie to the Spaniards In this sort was Don Hernando elected king and the fame therof being blowen abroade manye citizens repayred home againe to visite their newe Prince so that in short space the citie was as wel replenished with people as it was before and being also well vsed at the Spaniardes handes they serued them dilygentlye in all thyngs that they were commaunded And Don Hernando aboade euer after a faithfull friende vnto the Spaniardes and in short tyme learned the Spanishe tongue and soone after came the inhabitants of Quahutichan Huaxuta and Auntenco to submytte them selues crauing pardon if in any thyng they had offended Cortez pardoned them and gaue them licence to departe home vnto their houses Quahutimoc Coacnacoijo and other magistrates of Culhua sente to rayle vppon those townes for yéeldyng themselues to the Christians but they layde hold vpon the messengers and brought them vnto Cortes of whome he enformed himselfe of the state of Mexico and
on the lande It was suspected to be a pestilence for one of them infected another There were in his company many Gentlemen ech of them had an office There was a Frier who was a very slaunderous fellow reported that Cortes had poysoned the Licenciat and also that the Licenciat had an expresse order from the Emperour to cut of Cortes his head as sone as he had taken the Vare of Iustice from him The subtle Frier had thought to haue gotten money of the one and thankes of the other and at the ende had nothyng Hovv Cortez came into Spayne WHere one Alonso de Estrada gouerned the state of Mexico as substitute of Marcus de Aguillar accordyng to the Emperours commaundement Cortes considered with himselfe that it was not possible for him to haue agayne his office except he wente personally to the Emperours court where he had many aduersaries and fewe friendes so that he was afflicted on euery side yet he in fine determined to goe into Spayne as well for businesse of importaunce of his owne as also matters touchyng the Emperour and his new kingdoms whereof I will reherse particularly some As touchyng his owne causes first he beyng a man of good yéeres went to marry hoping to haue children vnto whom he might leaue the profite of his labour and payne also to appeare before the King his maister face to face and to enforme his Maiestie what Landes and Kyngdomes hée had wonne and brought vnto his royall crowne To signifie lykewise vnto hym of the dissention among the Spanyardes hys subiectes in Mexico and to answere for himselfe to any false reportes whiche had bene made agaynst hym And finally to receyue a condigne rewarde for hys worthie and faythfull seruice Cortes beyng in these imaginations there was brought a letter vnto him from the reuerend father Garcia de Loaisa ghostly father vnto the Emperour and afterwarde was ordeyned Cardinall in the whiche letter he conuited him earnestly to come vnto Spayne to the entent that the Emperours Maiestie mighte bothe sée and know him assuring him of his friendshippe After the receyte of this letter he made al the hast possible to departe vpon his iourney ceasing from his voyage whiche he had in hande for to inhabite the riuer De las Palmas Before his departure he dispatched twoo hundred Spaniardes thrée score and ten horsemen with many Mexicans for the countrey of Chichimea to inhabite there finding the lande riche of siluer mines as it was reported giuyng vnto those men expresse order that if the people of that prouince did not entertayne them with friendship that then they should accept theÌ„ as enimies and forthwith to make warre and to take them for slaues for that they are a barbarous people He wrote his letter to Vera Crux to prepare with all spéede twoo good shippes and for that purpose he sent Pero ruiz de Esquiuel who was a Gentleman of Siuill But he wente not on the iourney for a moneth after they founde him buried in a little Iland of the lake with one hande out of the graue whiche was eaten with dogges and foule he was buried in his dublet and his hose he had one onely wounde in his forehead And a Negro his slaue who wente in his company was neuer hearde of nor yet the Canas and Indians that wente with him so that the truth of his death was neuer knowen Cortes made an Inuentary of his moueable goodes whiche was valued at twoo hundred thousande Castlins of golde he left for gouernour of his owne estate the Licenciat Altamiranâ— his kinsman with other two friends he furnished twoo shippes and proclaymed frée passage and victuals vnto all those that would goe in his coÌ„pany he shipped for his owne account a thousand fiue hundred markes of siluer twentie thousand Castlins in good gold and ten thousand Castlins of base golde He tooke in his company Gonsalo de Sandoual Andres de Tapia and other of the chiefest of the conquerours He brought with him a Sonne of Mutezumas another Sonne of Maxixcas who was become a Christian named Don Lorenso with many other Indian Gentlemen of Mexico Tlaxcallan and other cities eight players with a cudgell twelue tenis players with certaine men women of that countrey who were white of colour and other dwarfes deformed persons He brought also wilde beasts as Tigres other strange beastes called Aiotochtli and one Tlaquaci Moreouer he brought a great number of mantels made of feathers Conny heare Targets bushes or tuffes of galant feathers and looking glasses of stone In fine he came lyke a great Lorde arriued in Spayne in the ende of the yéere 1528. the Courte being then in Tolledo The newes of his arriuall was blowen through out all Spayne and euery one desirous to sée him The honour vvhiche the Emperour shewed vnto Hernando Cortes with rewarde THe Emperour receyued Cortes magnifically and to giue him the greater honour he went visited him at hys owne lodging The Emperour beyng in a readinesse to passe into Italy to be there crowned with the Emperiall crowne Cortes went in his maiesties company vnto the Citie of Saragoza whereas his Maiestie calling to remembrance his worthy seruice valour of his person made him Marques del valle de Huaxacac according to his desire on the .vj. of Iuly An. 1528 and Captayne generall of the newe Spayne with all the prouinces and coast of the south sea chiefe discouerer and inhabiter of the same coaste and Ilandes with the twelfth parte of all that after that tyme should be discouered for a sure inheritaunce to him and his discendentes he offered vnto him also the habite of the order of Knighthoode of Saint Iames the whiche offer Cortes refused bycause there was no rent gyuen with the habite but he besought his Maiestie to graunt vnto him the gouernmeÌ„t of Mexico the whiche request the Emperour denied bycause that no Conquerour shoulde thinke that the office of gouernment and iustice is due vnto hym for the like demaunde was desired of the kyng Don Fernando by Cristouâ—l Colon who firste discouered the India and also the great Captaine Gonsalo Hernandoz de Cordoua who conquered Naples Cortes deserued muche and also the Emperour gaue him much to honour him as a most bountifull and gratefull King who neuer taketh away that whiche once he giueth He likewise gaue vnto Cortez all the kyngdome of Michuacan but hée had rather haue had diuers other townes whiche he demaunded many other great fauours and rewardes he receyued at the Emperours handes but the principall are those before declared The Mariage of Cortez WHen it was knowen in Spayne that the lady Catherin Xuares wife vnto Cortes was deceassed in India by intercessours he was assured vnto the Duke of Beiar his brothers daughter who was named the Lady Iane of Zuniga hyr fathers name was Don Carolus de Arrellano Earle of Aguilar This Lady was a bewtifull Dame and hyr brethrene noble personages
himselfe and moreouer they decked them with feathers garlands and floures Many of these sort of people do go to the slaughter with ioyfull countenaunce dauncing demaunding almes through the Citie for their sacrifice all the whiche almes is due vnto the priestes When the gréene corne was a foote aboue the ground they vsed to go vnto a certain hil whiche was appointed for such deuotion and there sacrifised two children a boy and a girle of thrée yeares of age to the honor of Tlaloc god of water beséeching him therefore deuoutlye to haue alwayes a care to prouide them water these children were frée borne and therfore theyr hartes were not taken out of their bodies but after that their throtes were cut their bodies were wrapped in a new mantel and then buried in a graue of stone The feaste of Tozoztli was when the fields of Maiz were growen two foote high then a certaine summe of merchandise was gathered among the dwellers in the towne wherewith were bought foure little slaues betwixt the age of fiue and seuen and they were likewise sacrificed to the god Tlaloc for continuall shoures of rayne And those dead bodies were shut vp in a caue appointed for the same purpose The beginning of this sacrifice of foure children was at the time when in foure yeres space it rayned not in the whiche season the springs were dryed vp and al gréene things perished wherfore they were forced to leaue the countrey and went to inhabite at Nicaragua In the moneth and feast of Hueitozotli when the corne fields of Maiz waxed ripe then euery one in generall gathered his handful of Maiz and brought it vnto the temple for an offering with a certaine drinke called Atuli whiche is made of the same Maiz. They brought also the swéete gum Copalli to sense the gods which do cause the corne to growe and all that night they ceassed not dauncing without drunkennesse At the beginning of summer they celebrate an other feast called Tlaxuchimcaco with all kinde of Roses and swéete floures that might be gotten and thereof they vsed to make garlands to set vpon the Idols heades and so spente all that day in dauncing And to celebrate the feast called Tecuilhuitli al the gentlemen and principall persons of ech prouince do come vnto the Citie on the euening of the feast and then they apparell a woman with the attire of the Gods of salt who daunced among a great company of hir neighboures But on the nexte day she was sacrificed with all the Ceremonies and solempnitie accustomed and al that day was spent in gret deuotion burning of incense in the fire pannes of the temple The merchants who had a temple by themselues dedicated to the god of gaines made their feast vppon the day called Miccailhuitl wherein they slewe many slaues in sacrifice which they had bought and banqueted that feast with mans flesh dauncing al the day The feast of Vchpaniztli they sacrificed a woman and afterward hyr bodye was flayne and hir skinne put vppon an Indians backe who daunced two days a row with al the townsmen which were apparelled in their best attire to celebrate the feaste The day of Hatamutztli the feast is kept in Mexico where they enter into the lake with a great nuÌ„ber of Canoas there they drown a boy a girle in a litle boat which they cause to be sonke in such sorte that neuer after that boat appeareth again and they hold opinion y those children were in company with the Goddes of the lake So that that daye was spente in feasting in the temples and annoynting the Idols chéekes with gum called Vlli. There were some Images that had their faces two ynches thicke with that gum The order of certaine religious women ON the backe side of euerye greate Temple in euerye Cittie was made a greate Hall or lodgyng standing alone where as manye women did eate drincke lodge leade their liues And although suche houses had no orders they aboad there sure ynough These women which lay in the houses of the Goddes were of sundry intentions But none of them came to abide there al their life time although among them wer some olde women Some entered into those religious houses being sicke and disseased hoping there to recouer theyr health others came thither through pure néede and necessitie to be there relieued other some came thither to be good and vertuous and some entered into the religion hoping that the Goddes woulde giue vnto them riches and long life But generallye their comming thyther was to haue good husbandes and manye chyldren eche of them vowed the time that shee woulde or ment to abide in that order and after that time expired they marryed The first thing that they did comming into the religion was to polle their heads to be knowen froÌ„ others Their offices were to spinne cotton wool and feathers and to weaue cloth for to apparel the Goddes and themselues to swepe the yarde and lodgings of the temple for the stayres and high chappels the ministers themselues did make cleane they vsed also to let them bloud in certaine partes of the body to offer to the Diuellish Idols On euery festiual day they went on procession with the priestes but it was not lawful for them to presume to go vppe the stayres of the temple nor yet to sing They liued on almes for their kinsefolke being rich did mayntaine them with almes as a charitable seruice done vnto the Goddes their foode was boyled flesh and hote bread to the intent that they should offer therof to the Goddes that they might tast of the smoke of that victual they vsed to eate in communitie and lay altogither in one dormitorye as a flocke of shéepe they lay alwayes in theyr clothes for honestie sake and also to be the sooner ready in the morning to serue the Gods to go to their worke And yet I know not why they shold put off their clothes for they went almost naked On the holy dayes they vsed to daunce before the Gods and she that either talked or laughed with any religious or secular person was reprehended for the same And if any of them committed whoredome then both the man the woman were slain yea they belieued that all suche offenders fleshe woulde rotte and consume away and especially those which had lost their Virginity in the time of their religion So that with feare of punishmente and infamie they were good women al the while that they aboade there Hovv the Diuell appeared to the Indians THe Diuell did many times talke wyth the priestes and with other rulers and perticular persons but notwith al sorts of men And vnto him to whom the Diuel had appeared was offered presented great giftes The wicked spirit appeared vnto theÌ„ in a thousand shapes and fashions finally he was conuersant and familiar â—mong them very often And the fooles thought it a greate wonder that Gods would be so familiar with mortal men Yea they not
Iames Velasques of the great present sent vnto the Emperour to the intent it shoulde be taken from their attorners passing néere the porte of Hauana with all the letters and relations of their businesse bycause the Emperoure shoulde not sée it to conceyue well of their procéedings Then Cortez began to be agréeued in earnest and apprehended diuers of them whose confessions being taken the matter was manifestly knowen to be true and there vppon according to the processe hée condemned those that were most culpable and caused forthwith two of them to be hanged who were Iohn Escudero and Iames Cermenio pilot and condemned Gonsalo de Vmbria and Alonso Penate to be whipped and incontinent execution was done all the rest being pardoned With this correction Cortez was more feared and also estéemed than before he was for certainely if he hadde vsed gentlenesse he should neuer haue tamed them yea and if he had not loked to them in time he had bin spoyled for their pretence was to haue aduertised Iames Velasques who would haue preuented them of their Shyps and present and yet afterwarde he sente a Caruell after the sayd Ship although it were too late Cortez caused all his Shippes to be sunke and broken vpon the shore a most worthy facte COrtez purposed to goe vnto Mexico and would not gyue his Souldyers to vnderstand it bycause they shoulde not refuse the iourney through the talke of Teudilli especially hearing that the Citie of Mexico was situated vpon water whyche they imagined to be excéeding strong as in effect it was and to the intent that they should all follow hym although againste their willes he determined to spoyle all his Shyppes which was a strange case perillous and a great losse His intent throughly weyed he little estéemed the losse of his Shippes to withstand his men from disturbance of his enterprise for doubtlesse they woulde haue stayed him yea and rebelled if they hadde knowen his minde and pretended purpose He did secretly accord with one of the Maisters of hys Fléete in the nighte season to bore holes in them that thereby they myghte synke wythoute anye remedie to recouer them agayne Also he requested the other Maisters and Pylots to publish among the army that the Shyppes were so rotten and wormeaten that they were not fytte to goe to sea agayne and that they shoulde when they chanced to espye him and many of his Souldies togither come and certifie him openly of the estate and force of the sayde Shippes bycause that afterwardes they shoulde not laye any fault to his charge According to this instruction the Pylots and Maisters did accomplish his commaundemente for shortlye after they espyed him among a flocke of his companye and then came they vnto him saying Sir your nauie is not to make any moe voyages by reason that they are all leake and spoyled rotten and worme eaten wherfore according to our duetie we do certifie you thereof to prouide therein as you shall see cause All the Souldiers gaue credite to their tale bycause the Shippes had bin there more than thrée monethes And after long talke aboute the matter Cortez commaunded that they shoulde profite themselues of them the best that they myght and as for the Hulles let them sinke or runne a shore fayning great sorrow for so great a losse and want of such prouision And in this manner they lette runne a shore fyne of the best Shyppes fauyng theyr Ordinance vittayles sayles Cables Ankers ropes and all other tacle and shortely after they spoyled other foure vessels but that was done wyth some difficultie bycause they beganne to surmise the intente of Cortez and beganne openly to saye that Cortes meant to carrie them to the slaughter house He then pacifyed them wyth gentle wordes saying what is he that will refuse the warres in so riche a Countrey if there be any of you that wyll leaue my companye hée or they may if please them returne to Cuba in a Shyppe that yet remayneth And this hée spake to knowe howe many were the cowards meanyng in tyme of néede to haue no trust or confidence in them Then dyuers shamelesse persons demaunded licence to returne to Cuba but they were suche as loued no warres There wer also others that said nothing who woulde gladly haue retourned séeyng the greatenesse of the Countrey and the multitude of the people but yet they were ashamed to shewe cowardise openlye Cortez knowing his souldyers mindes commanded the other Ship to be sunke so that then they were all without hope to goe out of that Countrey at that time exalting and praysing the noble minde of Cortes shewed in that worthy facte Certaynely it was a déede necessary for the present time and done by the iudgement of a stout Captayne although he lost much by his Shyppes and abode without succour of the sea There are few of these examples which are not of valiant personages as was omiez Barbaroza with the cut arme who a few yeares past brake seauen Galleys and Foystes to winne thereby Bugia as largely I do write thereof in battayles of the sea in our dayes Hovv the inhabitants of Zempoallan brake downe their Idolles EVery day séemed long to Cortes with the desire to sée Mutezuma He nowe began to publishe openly his iourney and departure and chose out of the body of his host a hūdred and fiftie mē which he thought sufficient to leaue for safegard of the new towne and fort which was almost finished and appoynted Pedro de Hircio their Captaine leauing with them two Horses and two small péeces of Ordinance wyth many Indians to serue them and fiftie Townes round about them in faithfull friendship and league out of the which Townes they might alwayes haue at their néede fiftie thousande men of warre and he departed with the residue of his Spanyardes towarde Zempoallan whyche mighte be foure leagues from thence and was scarcely come to the Towne when newes was broughte hym that foure Shippes of Francisco Garray sayled along hys coast and were in sight of Vera Crux With this newes he returned incontinent with a hundred of his men suspecting euill of those Shippes At his comming to Vena Crux his Captaine there enformed him how he had gone himselfe to know what they were and from whence they came and what they would but coulde speake with none of them Cortes beyng informed how they roade at anker toke Captaine Hircio and certaine of his company to expect their commyng ashore suspectyng them muche bicause they roade so farre off being by signes and tokens willed to come into the Harbor Cortes hauing wandered neare thrée miles mette with thrée Spaniardes whiche came from the shippes the one of them sayde that he was a Notary and the other twoo were to serue for witnesses in their affayres which was to ascite and notifie certaine wrytings whiche they shewed not and also to require Cortes by vertue of the same to come and make repartitiō of that countrey with