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
fought very stoutly Thrée dayes Mutezuma remayned in extréeme payne and at the ende departed his life And bicause it shoulde appeare that his death was of the stripe that they had giuen and not by any hurte receyued at their hands he caused two gentlemē of Mexico who were prysoners to carry him out vpon their backes who certified the Citizens of the certentie of his death that at that presente tune were giuyng battery to the house But yet for all this they woulde not leaue off the combat nor yet the warres as some of our men thought they woulde but rather procéeded on their purpose with greater courage and desire of reuenge And when they retyred they made a pityfull lamentation with preparation to bury their king in Chapultepec On this sorte died Mutezuma who was holden for a God among the Indians Some say that hée desired to be Baptised at the Shrouetide before his death and they prolonged the matter thinking at Easter followyng to haue christened him with honour and triumph But as it happened it had bene better to haue done it at that time according to his request But with the comming of Pamfilo de Naruaez the thyng was also delayed and after hée was wounded it was likewyse forgotten with the troubles that they were in It was credibly enformed that Mutezuma was neuer consentyng to the death of any Spaniarde nor yet in conspiracie agaynst Cortes but rather loued him entierly yet some are of an other opinion and bothe giue good reasons to approue their arguments but the truth could not wel be knowen for at that tyme our men vnderstoode not the language and agayne Mutezuma after his death lefte none to open that secrete The Indians affirme that he was of the greatest bloud of all his linage and the greatest kyng in estate that euer was in Mexico It is also to be noted that when the kingdomes do most florish then are they niest to a chāge or else to change their Lorde as doth appeare in this history of Mutezuma Our men lost more by the death of Mutezuma than the natural Indians if we cōsider the murder and destruction that incontinent did follow Mutezuma was a man very moderate in his diet and not so vicious as other Indiās although he had many wiues He was also liberal and frée harted he was estéemed for a very wise man in my iudgement he was eyther wise in lettyng things passe after that sorte or else a very foole that did not vnderstande their doings he was as deuoute as warlyke for he had bene presente in many battayles it is reported that he wanne and had victory in nine battayles also other nine times victorie man for man in the fielde he reygned seuentene yeares and certaine moneths The combat betvveene the Spaniardes and the Indians AFter the death of Mutezuma Cortes sente vnto his Neuewes and to the other noblemen who mainteyned the warres desiryng thē to come and speake with him and they came vnto whome Cortes spake from the wall where Mutezuma was slayne saying that it were méete that they should ceasse from warre and to chose another king and also to burie the dead and that he woulde come to his buriall as his friende likewise he signified vnto them that for the loue he bare vnto Mutezuma who had intreated for them he had stayed from the finall spoyle of the cittie correction of them for their rebellion and obstinacie But now that he had not vnto whome to haue respect he woulde bothe burne their houses and chasten them if that they submitted not themselues to his friendship They answered that they woulde neyther leaue the warres nor yet estéeme his friēdship vntill they saw thēselues in their libertie and their wrongs wholly reuenged yea and that without his counsell they coulde elect the King vnto whom of right the kingdome did apertaine And sithens the Gods hath taken our welbeloued Mutezuma we will giue his body a Sepulchre as vnto such a King doth apperteyne yea and if he would goe and beare his friend Mutezuma company to the Gods that then he should come forth and they would quickly dispatch him and as for the residue they would haue rather warre thā peace yea and that they were not menne that did yéelde with wordes Also séeing their King was dead for whose respecte they ceassed to burne their houses rost their bodyes and eate their fleshe but nowe quoth they if ye depart not we will not dally long time with you Cortez finding them stoute and stubborne liked not the bargaine Againe he knewe well that their meaning was that if they hadde departed from the Citie to haue spoyled and murthered them by the way And séeing that their liues rule and gouernement consisted in strength of hand and good courage he came forth in a morning with the thrée engines foure péeces of Ordinance and fiue hūdred Spanyards and thrée thousand Tlaxcaltecas to fighte with the enimies and to burne and spoyle their houses They broughte the engines néere vnto certaine greate houses whiche stoode néere vnto a bridge casting theyr scaling ladders on the walles and so gote vp to the toppe where manye people were and there combated awhile but shortly turned to their forte againe without doing any greate hurte with one Spanyarde slayne and manye wounded and also the engines broken and spoyled yea the multitude of Indians were so thicke and flewe vppon the Ordinance in suche sorte that they had no leysure to discharge them The stones came also so thicke from the house toppes that the engines were soone at an ende And the Citizens hauing housed them againe in the forte and lodging began to amende the hurt done in their houses and to recouer the stréetes that were lost also the great Temple in the Tower whereof fiue hundred principall men hadde fortifyed themselues wyth vittayles stones and long Launces piked with yron and flint stone verye sharp but truly they did most hurt with stones This Tower was high and strong as I haue before declared and stoode néere vnto the Spanyardes forte whiche from that tower receiued muche hurt Although Cortes was somewhat sadde and heauie yet he ceassed not like a good Captayne to comfort and encourage his menne and alwayes was the firste man at any brunt or assay and hys heart coulde not permitte him to remaine penned vp in that sort wherefore he toke thrée hundred Spanyardes and went to assiege the high tower Thrée or foure dayes he ceassed not that enterprise but coulde not come to the toppe being so high a thing and manye persons in defence of the same well prouided with fitte munition for the purpose so that our men came dayly tumbling downe the stayres flying to their house with broken pates so that our Spanyardes dysmayed more and more and many murmured at the matter you may well iudge howe Cortes his heart was afflighted for the Indians encreased still in courage hauing the better hand and dayly victory from the
who were highly in sauour with the Emperour And Cortes to matche with so honorable an house and lynage he iudged himselfe fortunate and well maried Among many Iewelles whiche Cortes broughte with him were fiue moste riche and fine Emeraldes whiche were valued at a hundreth thousande Duckets the one was wrought lyke vnto a Rose an other like a Cornet an other lyke a fishe with the eyes of golde whiche was a maruellous péece of worke beyng wrought among Indians an other péece was wrought lyke vnto a bell with a great and a riche pearle for the clapper garnished with golde ingrauen about with letters whiche sayde Blessed is he that created thée The fifth was made lyke a cuppe with the foote of gold and had foure little chaynes of gold that were ioyned all at the top togither in a great pearle and the brimme of this cuppe was of gold with this verse ingrauen rounde aboute Inter natos mulierum non surrexit maior For this onely péece the Merchantes of Geneua did offer fourtie thousand Ducates for to sel the same again to the great Turke But at that tyme Cortes woulde not giue it for any money although afterwarde he lost them all in the warres of Argel beyng there with the Emperour It was told Cortes that the Empresse desired to haue those péeces meaning to demaunde them of him and that the Emperour shoulde pay for the same for whiche cause he sent them to the Lady his newe wife with many other Iewelles before he came at the Courte and there when he was enquired for them he answered and excused himselfe for then certaynely he gaue suche Iewels vnto his Espouse that the lyke neuer Lady had in Spayne And after he was maried to the Lady Iane of Zuniga he departed with hyr to the newe Spayne with title of Marques Hovv the Chancery vvas first placed in Mexico and certayne Diuelishe pretences wrought against Cortes BEfore Cortes his cōming into Spayne Pamfilo de Naruaez his old enimy wēt vp down in the Court procuring the conquest of the riuer De Palmas Florida where at the laste he died and alwayes when he saw time conuenient he made cōplaints against Cortes yea and to the Emperours owne hand he deliuered a scrole of many articles amōg the which was one wherein he affirmed that Cortes had as many barres of gold and siluer as in Biscay were barres of yren and offered to proue the same but although it was not true yet it was suspicious He also earnestly procured that he should be punished saying that he had plucked out one of his eyes killed with poyson the Licenciat Luys ponce de Leon Francisco Garay Through his many and importunate petitiōs it was determined to send to Mexico Don Pedro de la Cueua who was bothe fierce and seuere and Lorde stewarde of the Emperour his house and afterwarde made general of the ordinance and chiefe Comendador of the order and Knighthood of Alcantara who findyng the accusation true should cut off Cortes his head But as God woulde in the meane season came the testimoniall from the Doctor Hoieda and the Licenciat Per◠Lopez Phisitions who had cured the persons that were reported to haue bene poysoned whervpon that commission ceased And when Cortes came into Spayne Don Pedro de la Cueua would many times laugh and iest with him saying From farre places long lies The Emperour and his councell of India prouided a Courte of Chancery in Mexico as chiefe place where as all controuersies and matters of righte throughout the new Spayne mighte there be determined and also to correct the mutimes and partes taking among the Spanyardes likewise to take residence and accompte of Cortes and to be satisfyed both of his seruice and offences Moreouer that they should visite the officers and royall Treasorie there Munio de Gusman was appoynted president and gouernoure with other foure Licenciates for Iudges to accompany him He departed toward Mexico Anno 1529. and at his comming he began to vnderstande in his regimente and office with the Licenciate Iohn Ortiz for the other thrée Iudges died by the way Cortes béeing nowe absente and vppon his iourney toward Spayne this newe Iudge made a terrible residence and condemnation againste him and commaunded all his goodes to be solde by out-thrappe for a greate deale lesse than hys goodes were worth and in his absence they called him by Proclamation but if he hadde bin there present his life had bin in daunger although face to face some respect is had and it is an ordinarie rule that the Iudge sheweth rigoure against him that is absent This hatred was not only against Cortes but also againste his friendes for hée apprehended Pedro de Aluarado who was newly come from Spayne bycause he spake in the fauour of Cortez laying to his charge the rebellion of Mexico when Naruaez was there He also apprehended Alonso de Estrada manye others doing manifest wrongs vnto them In shorte space the Emperour had more complayntes against Nunio de Gusman and the other Iudge than had bin héeretofore againste any other wherevpon he was put out of office in the yeare 1530. His wrongful dealing in iustice was not onely proued in Mexico but also in the Court of Spayne with many persons that were come from thence so that the nexte president and Iudges that went thither did pronounce Nunto de Gusman and his fellowe for partiall Iudges and enimies vnto Cortes and condemned him to pay all his goodes whiche were euill solde But whē Nunio de Gusman vnderstoode that he was put out of office he then was afraide and tooke his iourney against the Teuchichimecas séeking after the Towne of Culhuacan from whence the Mexicans descended He caried in his company fiue hundred Spanyardes whereof the most were horsemen and many of them went as prisoners and against their willes In Mechuacan he tooke prisoner the King Caconcin who was a great friende vnto Cortes a seruitor vnto the Spanyards and vassal to the Emperour and as the fame goeth he tooke from him tenne thousande markes of plate and much golde and afterward burned him and many other Gentlemen and principal persons of that kingdome bycause they shoulde not complayne saying that a dead dogge biteth not He tooke from thence sixe thousand Indians for the seruice of his army and with them conquered Xalixco whiche is nowe called the new Gallizia He abode there vntill the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mondoza and Chancery of Mexico caused him to be apprehended who sent him prisoner into Spayne to giue accompte of his office If Nunio de Gusman had bin so good a gouernour and Iudge as he was in bloud a Gentleman he had then enioyed the best plot of all the West India but he behaued himselfe euill both with the Indians and Spanyards The same yeare that he came from Mexico went thyther for president Sebastian Ramirez who was a Bishop and had in time past bin
certayne Negros with some Indian womeÌ„ and sixtéene Norses Mares with great prouision of Bacon corne bisket hennes wine oyle pease and other fruites with great store of Haberdash as Belles necklaces beades of glasse collers points pinnes purses nedels girdels thredde kniues sissers pinsars haÌ„mers hatchets Shirts Coyses headkerchiefes handkerchiefs bréeches coates clokes cappes Marriners bréeches all that which MerchaÌ„dise he deuided amoÌ„g his nauie The Ship Admiral was of the burthen of a huÌ„dred Tunnes Other thrée Shippes of the burthen of eightie Tunnes the péece All the residue were small withoute ouerloppe and vergan ines The deuice of his enfigne or aunciente was flames of fire in white and blewe with a redde crosse in the middest and bordred round with letters in the Lattine and Spanishe tongs which signified this in effect friends let vs follow the Crosse and with liuely faith with this standerde we shall obteyne victorie The premisses as ye haue hearde was the furniture that Cortez prouided for his iourney and with so small a thing he conquered so greate and mightie an Empire strange Countreys vnknowen at that time There was neuer Captayne that did with like army ouercome so infinite a people bring both theÌ„ and their couÌ„trey vnder subiectioÌ„ He caried no money to pay his souldiers but was rather much indebted to others at his departure And to say the truth there néeded any money to make pay to those souldiers that went to the CoÌ„quest for if they shuld haue serued for wages they would haue â—one to other places néere hand But in India euery onâ— preteÌ„deth the state of a noble man or else great riches Now all the fléete being in readinesse as ye haue hearde Câ—rtez he gaâ—an exhortation to his coÌ„pany as followeth The Oration that Cortez made to his Souldiers MY louing fellowes and déere friendes it is certayne that euery valiant manne of stoute courage doth procure by déedes to make him selfe equall with the excellente men of his time yea and with those that were before his time So it is that I do now take in haÌ„d such an entarprise as godwilling shall be héereaster of greate fame for myâ—e heart doth pronosticate vnto mée that we shall winne greate and rich Countreys and manye people as yet neuer séene to anye of oure nation yea and I beléeue greater Kingdomes than those of oure Kinges And I assure you that the desire of glory dothe furthèr extend than treasure the whiche in forte mortall life doth obtayne I haue now prepared Shippes Armor Horses and other furniture for the warres with victuall sufficient and all things that are vsed as necessary in Conquestes I haue but at greate costes and charges wherein I haue not onely employed myne owne goodes but also the goodes of my friendes yet me thinketh that the employmente thereof dothe encrease my treasure and honor We ought louing fellowes to leaue off small things when great matters doe offer themselues And euen as my trust is in God euen so greater prâ—â—â—e shall come to our kings and a nation of this 〈…〉 than hath héeretofore of any other I doe notâ—â—â—â—s how acceptable it will be to God our sauiour for whose 〈◊〉 I do chiefly and willingly hazard my goods and trauel I will not nowe it â—t of the perils and danger 〈…〉 I haue passed 〈…〉 good men doe rather 〈…〉 We dot now attempt and begâ—◠〈…〉 good and iust and the almighty God in whose name and holy faith this voyage is begonne will assuredly graunte vnto vs victory and the time will shew the end of things well begonne Therefore we will now haue an other manner in our procéedings than eyther Cordoua or Grijalua hadde whereof I meane not nowe to dispute for the presente time doth hasten vs away but at our arriuall we will do what shall séeme vnto vs conuenient Héere déere friends do I lay before you great gaynes but wrapped in greate trauell yet Vertue is an enimie to idlenesse c. Therefore if you will accept hope for Vertue or Vertue for hope and also if ye forsake me not as I will not forsake you I will with Gods help make you in shorte time the richest men that euer passed this way I doe sée you are but fewe in number but yet such men of haughtie courage that no force or strength of Indians can offende Likewise wée haue experience that Christ our sauiour hathe alwayes fauoured our nation in these parties Therfore my déere friendes let vs now in Gods name depart ioyfull exspecting good successe according to our beginning c. The entrance of Cortez into the Iland of Acusamill WIth the aforesayd communication Cortez gaue great hope to his coÌ„pany of waightie matters yea and great admiration of his person so that all his company had an earnest desire to procéede on that ioyney And Cortez likewise reioyced to sée his men so willing and incontinente they embarqued themselues and after their prayers made vnto God hoysed vp their sayles and with faire winde departed the eighttenth day of Februarie Anno 1519. And beyng at Sea he willed all his nauie as the vse is to haue S. Peter for their patrone warning them alwayes to follow the Admirall wherin he went bycause he carried a light for the night season to guide them the way whiche was almost East and West from S. Anthonies point being the nerest part of Cuba to Cape de Cotoche which is the first laÌ„d point of Yucatan whither they were bounde so that being there they might run aloÌ„g the coast betwene the North point and the West The firste night the Hernando Cortez begaÌ„ to passe ouer the gulfe betwéene Cuba Yucatan being little aboue lx leagues the winde rose vp at Northeast with much force so that all the Fléete were separated without sight the one of the other yet by the accompt that their Pilots kept they arriued all sauing one at the Ilande of Acusamil although not at one time and those that last ariued wer the Admirall and Captayne Morla his Ship who had lost his Ruther but by shoting off a pece Cortez vnderstood his necessitie and came vering to him and amayned his sailes to succour him being in the night season Yet when the day appeared it pleased God that the rage of the tempest ceassed being cléere day they found agayne their Ruther and trimmed the Ship and made sayle and sayled that day and the next following without sighte of land or any of the Fléete But the third day they arriued at a cape or point of land called Womens cape Cortez coÌ„manded Morla to follow him directing his course to séeke the residue of his Fléete and arriued in this forte at the Iland of Acusamil and there found all his nauie excepte one whereof they hearde no neweâ— in many dayes after The people of that Ilande beholding suche a straunge sight were in great feare and admiratioÌ„ so that they gathered their stuffe and wente vp into the Mountaynes Cortez caused a
who would fayne haue corrected them but it was not then tyme wherefore he determined to leade them with sufferaunce and spake vnto them as followeth The Oration made by Cortez to his Souldiers MAisters and louyng friendes I did choose you for my fellowes and ye chose me for your captaine and all was for the seruice of God and the augmenting of his holy faith also the seruice of our soueraigne Lord the King now Emperour and next for our owne commoditie I as yée haue séene haue not fayled nor yet displeased yée nor yée likewise haue otherwise done to me vnto this day But now I do féele faintnesse in some yea and an euill will to goe forwarde in the warres whiche we haue in hande but God be praysed it is now finished at the least the ende is vnderstood what it may be and also the wealth that may follow as partely you haue séene but much without comparison of that you haue not séene whiche is a thing that doth excéede the greatnesse of our wordes or thoughts Feare not my louyng fellowes to goe and abide with me God forbidde that I should thynke yea or that any shoulde reporte that feare vexeth my company or else disobedience to their Captayne whiche is a perpetuall infamie if wée shoulde leaue this Lande this Warre this way already made and returne as some doe desire shall wée then lyue at reste loytring as well and loste folke God forbidde that euer oure nation shoulde haue suche a name hauyng warres of honour And whether I pray shall the Oxe goe where he shall not helpe to ploughe the grounde doe yée thinke peraduenture that yée shall finde lesse people worse armed and not farre from the sea I doe assure you that in so thynkyng yée séeke after fiue féete for a Catte yea and you shall trauell no way but that you shall méete some euill passage as the Prouerbe sayth yea and farre worser than this that we haue in hande For why God be thanked since wée came into this Countrey we neuer wanted meate friendes neyther money nor honour For nowe yée sée that yée are estéemed more than menne yea as persons immortall and Goddes if it mighte be spoken for these Indians beyng so many and without number and so armed as ye your selues affirme yet can they not kyll one of vs and as touchyng theyr weapons you sée that they are not poysoned as the Indians of Cartâ—gena Veragna and the Caribez doe vse whiche haue killed many of our nation therewith dying as madde menne ragyng And if there were no other cause than this onely you shoulde not séeke others with whome to warre I doe confesse that the Sea is somewhat farre from vs and neuer Spaniarde trauelled so farre into the mayne lande of India as wée haue done for why nowe we leaue the Sea a hundreth and fiftie myles behinde vs nor yet euer any hath come so neare Mexico where Mutezuma dothe reside from whome suche messages and Treasure wée haue receyued It is nowe but thrée score myles thyther and the worste is paste as you doe sée if we come thither as I truste in Iesus wée shall then shall we not onely gette and winne for the Emperoure oure naturall Lorde a riche Lande greate Kingdomes infinite Vassalles but lykewyse for oure selues muche riches as Golde Siluer Pretious stones Pearles and other commoditie and besides thys the greatest honour that euer any nation did obtayne For loke howe great a King this is howe large his countrey is and what greate multitude of people hée hath so muche the more is our glory Besides all this wée are bounde as Christians to exalte and enlarge oure Catholyke fayth as wée haue begonne aboâ—â—â—ng Idolatrie and blasphemie agaynst our Sauiour Christe takyng away the blouddy Sacrifice and eatyng of mannes fleshe so horrible and agaynste nature and many other grieuous sinnes so muche here vsed for the foulenesse whereof I name them not And therefore I saye feare you nor yet doubte you the victorie consideryng that the worste is paste Of late wée ouercame the Indians of Tabasco and also an hundreth and fiftie thousande this other daye of the Tlaxcaltecas who haue the onely name of breakers of Lyons iawes so with Gods helpe you shal be Conquerers of the reste if ye faynt not and folowe me All hys company was pleased and contente with this comfortable exhortation and those that were faynt harted recouered strength And hys valiaunt Souldiers recouered double courage those who hated him began to honour him and in conclusion he departed from thence excéeding welbeloued of all his company But all his former talke was very néedefull as time then requyred for why some of his as you haue heard were desirous to returne likewise vpon dissention rebellion mought haue growen and he forced to returne to the sea coaste where all his toyle and trauell taken had bene lost Hovv Xicotencatl came for Embassadour to Cortez his Campe. Cortez had not so soone made an ende of his talke when Xicotencatl came entryng into the campe who was chiefe and generall captayne in Tlaxcallan of all the warres he brought in his company fiftie persons of auctoritie to kéepe him coÌ„pany They approched neare where Cortes was and saluted eche other according to the vse of their countrey Their salutations ended and the parties setten downe Xicotencatl began the talke saying Sir I am come on mine owne behalfe and also of my fellow Captaine and Lieuetenant Maxixca and in the name of many other noble personages and finally in the name of the whole state and common weale of Tlaxcallan to beséeche and pray you to admitte vs into your friendshippe and to yéelde our selues and countrey vnto your King crauyng also at your hande pardon for our attempt in takyng armes agaynst you wée not knowyng what you were nor what you sought for in our countrey And where we presumed to resists and defende your entrance we did it as agaynst straungrrs whome we knewe not and suche menne as we had neuer heretofore séen and fearyng also that you had bene friendes to Mutezuma who is and alwayes hath bene our mortall enimy And these things wée suspected seyng Mutezuma his seruaunts in your company or else we imagined that you were comen to vsurpe our libertie the whiche of tyme without memory we haue possessed as our forefathers did with the shedyng of their bloud And of our owne naturall prouision we wante cotten woolle to clothe vs wherfore in tyme paste we wente as naked as we were borne but some of vs vsed other clothe to couer our nakednesse made of the leaues of the trée called Metl and Salte also wée wanted of which twoo things so necessarie to humayne lyfe Mutezuma had greate store and other our enimies with whome we are rounde aboute enuironed And lykewise where wée haue no golde stones of value or any riche thyng to barter with them of very pure necessitie many times we are forced to sell our owne bodies to buy
to set vp a Crosse for remembrance of the death and passion of Iesu Christe borne of the virgin Marie The whiche their promisse was well fulfilled for after that day the Spanyardes coulde neuer heare nor finde of any moe sacrifice But yet there abode in their hartes a mortall rancor the whiche coulde not long be dissimuled Truely in this worthy facte Cortes gotte more honour than though he had ouercomen them in battayle The burning of the Lorde Qualpopoca and other Gentlemen AFter twentie dayes that Mutezuma had bene prysoner returned the messengers who had gone with the seale for Qualpopoca and brought him his Sonne and other fiftene principall persons with them the whiche by inquirie made were culpable and partakers in the counsell and death of the nine Spaniardes Qualpopoca entred into Mexico accompanied like a greate Lorde as he was beyng borne vpon his seruaunts shoulders in rich furniture As sone as he had saluted Mutezuma he his Sonne were deliuered vnto Cortes with the other fiftene Gentlemen Cortes placed them asunder and commaunded them to be put in Irons and theyr examinations taken they confessed that they had slayne those Spaniardes in battayle Cortes demaunded of Qualpopoca if he were subiect to Mutezuma why quoth he is there any other Prince to whome I might be in subiection giuing almost to vnderstand that he was a Lorde absolute Cortes answered that a farre greater Prince was the King of Spayne whose subiects vnder colour of friendship and salfeconduct he had slayne But quoth he nowe shalte thou make payment thereof And beyng agayne more straighter examined they confessed that they had slaine two Spaniards by the aduice and inducement of the greate prince Mutezuma and the residue were slayne in the warres and had assaulted their houses and entred their countrey wherefore they helde it lawfull to kill them Through the confession pronounced by their owne mouthes sentence was giuen against them and they condēned to be burned whiche sentence was openly executed in the market place in sight of all the people without any mutine or slaunder and with great silence terrour feare of the newe maner of iustice which they sawe there executed vpon so noble a man in the chiefe seate and kyngdome of Mutezuma beyng gestes and straungers The cause of the burnyng of Qualpopoca AT the time that Cortes departed from Vera Crux he left in cōmission to Pedro Hircio to procure to inhabite in that place which is called Almeria not to permit Francisco de Garray to soiourne there for so much as once he was driuen frō that coast Now Hircio to fulfill his cōmission sente to requyre those Indians with peace and friēdship and to yéeld themselues for vassals of the Emperour Qualpopoca Lorde of Nahutlan which is now called as aforesaid Almeria sent to aduertise Pedro Hircio that he could not come to yéelde his obedience for the enimies that were in the way but if it would please him to sende some of his men for the securitie of the way he would willyngly come vnto him Hircio hearing this answere sent foure of his men giuing credite to his message and for the desire he hadde to inhabite there When the soure Spanyardes came into the prouince of Nahutlan there mette with them many armed men who slew two of them and made thereof a great triumph the other two escaped sore wounded and returned with that newes to the Towne of Vera Crux Pedro Hircio beleeuing that Qualpopoca had done that iniurie armed out agaynst hym fiftie Spanyardes and ten thousand Indians of Zempoallan with two horses and two péeces of Ordinance Qualpopoca hearing this newes came with a mightie power to driue them out of his Countrey and in that encounter seauen Spanyardes were slayne and many Zempoallanezes but at the ende he was ouercome his Countrey spoyled and Towne sacked and many of his army slaine and taken captiues The prisoners declared that by the commaundement of the greate Lorde Mutezuma all this vprore was attempted by Qualpopoca it mighte well be for at the houre of death they confessed the same But some affirme they sayde so but to excuse themselues and to lay the fault to the Mexicans Hircio wrote these newes to Cortez béeyng in Chololla and through these letters Cortez apprehended Mutezuma as is afore declared Hovv Cortez put a payre of giues on Mutezuma his legges BEfore the execution of Qualpopoca and hys fellowes Cortes declared vnto Mutezuma that Qualpopoca and his company had confessed that by hys aduice and commaundemente the nine Spanyardes were slayne wherein he had done very euill they being his friendes and guestes but quoth he if it were not in respect of the loue I beare vnto you this matter shoulde not in this sort be shut vp and then knocked a payre of giues on his legges saying he that killeth ought to be killed according to the lawes of god These things did Cortes bycause he shoulde occupye himselfe in his owne griefe and sorrow and to let other mens passe Mutezuma waxed pale with countenāce of death through the great feare that he was in séeyng himselfe in Irons a new and strange thing for suche a great King excusing himselfe that he was innocent of the facte And as soone as the execution of burning was done Cortez commaunded to put away the Irons that Mutezuma ware offering him libertie and willing him to goe vnto his owne pallace who reioyced much to sée himselfe out of the Irons and gaue Cortes most hartie thankes and refused to goe home to his owne pallace surmising that the offer was but wordes or else fearing least his subiects woulde kyll him séeing him out of the Spanyardes power for permitting himselfe to be taken prisoner and so to be kept Hée sayd also that if he went from them his subiectes woulde rebell and compell him to kill the Spanyardes Truly the poore simple soule was of small hearte and courage to suffer himselfe to be taken prisoner and after his imprisonment woulde neuer procure libertie Cortes offering it vnto him and many of his noble men desired him And remayning in that order there was none in Mexico durst offende any Spanyard for feare of displeasing him for Qualpopoca came 70. leagues with only warning him that the great Lorde had sent for him shewing hym the figure of his seale yea and al the péeres of his realme that dwelte farthest off were ready to obey hys commaundementes Hovv Cortez sent to seeke for Mines of golde into diuers places COrtez had a greate desire to know howe farre the Empire of Mutezuma dyd extende and what friendship was betwixte him and other Kings and Princes Comarcans and also to gather togither a good summe of gold to send to Spayne to the Emperoure for his custome or firste parte with full relation of the Countrey people and things happened vntill that day Wherefore he prayed Mutezuma to shew him where the mynes were from whence he and his subiectes had the golde and plate Mutezuma
treasure and lordshippe so greate a Citie and Kingdome but also to bewayle the sorrowfull estate that he himselfe stoode in seyng the moste of his men wounded hurte and knowyng not whyther to goe for that he was not certayne of the helpe and friendship of Tlaxcaltecas Yea and what harde hart woulde not haue relented to behold the dead bodies who a litle before had entred that same way with suche magnificall triumphe pompe and pleasure But yet hauing care of those whom he had lefte on the firme lande he made haste to Tlacopan This sorowfull night which was the tenth of Iuly in An. 1520. were slaine aboute 450. Spaniardes 4000. Indian friends and. 46. horse yea as I iudge all the prisoners which were in his company If this mishap had fortuned in the day time possible so many and so great a nūber had not perished But where it fortuned by night the noyse of the wounded was sorrowful of the victors horrible and feareful The Indians cried victory calling vpon their diuelish and filthy Goddes with ioy pleasure our men being ouercome cursed their vnfortunate lot yea the hower and he that brought them thither others cried vnto God for succour others sayd helpe help for I stande in daūger of drowning I know not certenly whether moe perished in the water or the lande hopyng to saue themselues by swimming and leapyng ouer the sluces and broken places for they say that a Spaniarde was no sooner in the water but an Indian was vppon his backe They haue great dexteritie skill in swimming so that catching any Spaniarde in the water they would take him by the one arme and carrie him whither they pleased yea would vnpanch him in the water If these Indians had not occupied themselues in taking the spoyle of those that were fallen and slaine certenly one Christian had not escaped that day but in fine the greatest number of Spaniardes that were killed were those that went moste laden with golde plate and other iewels those whiche escaped were they that carried least burdens the first that with noble courage made way to passe through the troupe of Indians Nowe wée may safely say that the couetous desire of gold wherof they had plenty was cause of their death and they may answere that they died riche After that those whiche had escaped were paste the calsey the Indians stayed and followed them no further eyther for that they contented themselues with that whiche they had done or else they durst not fight in open fielde But principally it is thought that they abode to mourne and lament for the death of Mutezuma his chyldren not knowing till then their sorrowfull ende But nowe seyng the thyng present before their eyes they wrang theyr hands and made a pitifull dole and crie and the rather bycause they themselues had slayne them against their willes The battayle of Otumpan a notable victory THe Inhabitants of Tlacopan knewe not how our men came spoyled hurie and ouer throwen and againe our men stoode in a maze and knew not what to doe nor whither to goe Cortes came vnto them cēforted them placed them in order before him requyring them to make hast vntill they might come into the broadefield before such tyme as the men of Tlacopan should heare of the newes passed so to arme thēselues and to ioyne with fourtie thousande Mexicans who after the mournyng for their friends came marchyng after them He placed in the vantgard the Indians his friēds and passed through certayne tilled grounde and continually fought as they went vntill they came to a high hill where was a tower and a Temple whiche is called our Lady churche at this day The Indians slewe some of the Spaniardes whiche came in the reregard and many of their Indian friends before they could get vp to the toppe of the hill They loste muche of the golde that had remayned and with greate hazarde escaped through the multitude of Indians with life their horses whiche remayned aliue were foure and twentie who were tyred both with trauell and hunger the Spaniardes their maisters with the residue coulde scarsely stirre hande or foote with wearinesse of fightyng and penurie of hunger for al that day and night they ceassed not from fight eating nothing at all In this Temple were reasonable lodgings where they fortified themselues as well as they myght and dranke one to an other but theyr supper was very slēder After their simple feast was ended they went and beheld an infinite number of Indians whiche had beset them almost round about makyng a maruellous shoute and crie knowyng that they were without victuals whiche onely is a warre worser than to fight with the enimie They made many fires with the woodde of sacrifice rounde about the tower and Temple with this pollicie at midnight departed secretely It happened that they had Tlaxcalteca to be their guide who knew well the way assucing to bring them into the iurisdiction of Tlaxcallan with this guide they began to iourney Cortes placed his wounded men and fardage in the middest of his company the souldiours that were whole and in health he deuided into the vantgarde reregarde he could not passe so secretly but that they were espied by the Indian scoute whiche was neare at hand who gaue aduise therof incōtinent Fiue horsemē which went before to discouer fell among certayne cōpanies of Indians which attended their cōming to robbe thē seing the horsemen they suspected that the whole army was at hand wher vpon they fled but yet seing them few in number stāde and ioyned with the other Mexicans that followed pursued our men thrée leagues vntil they came to a hill where was an other temple with a good tower lodgyng where they lodged that night without supper They departed in the mornyng from thence and wente through a cragged naughty way to a great towne the enhabitantes whereof were fledde for feare so that they abode there two daies to rest thēselues to cure their mē horses also they somewhat eased their hūgery stomakes and carried frō thence prouision although not muche for they had none to carrie it And being departed frō thence many enimies pursued them persecuted them very sore Likewise the guide erred out of his way at lēgth came to a little village of few houses where they reposed the night In the morning they procéeded vpon their way and the enimies still pursuyng and troubled them sore all the day Cortes was woūded with the stripe of a sling and therewith was in greate daunger of life for his head so rancbled that of necessitie they were forced to take out certaine péeces of his skull whervpon he was driuen to séeke a solitarie place in the wildernesse to cure him and in goyng thitherwardes the enimies wounded fiue Spaniardes and foure horses whereof one died and that was eaten among them for a sumptuous supper and yet
the matter sawe in effecte that his syde wente to wracke wherefore he requested hys menne to departe from thence who were not a little ioyfull to heare their Captayne pronounce that saying for few or none of them escaped vnhurt and wounded They feared death but yet wanted not stomacke and hearte to dye The Indians were so many that if the Chrystians shoulde but onlye haue cutte their throtes without resistance yet they had bin too few for that purpose They were also in suche necessitie of bread that pinched them sore Their pouder and shotte was spente and almost all other prouision Their house was welnigh beaten downe about their eares All these causes were sufficient to leaue Mexico and to séeke to saue their liues yet on the other side they iudged it an euill cas◠to turne their backes to their enimies for quoth they the very stones riseth vp against hym that flyeth They feared agayne the passage of the arches where the bridges hadde bin so that now they were full besette with sorrow care and misery but in fyne they all agréed to departe that nighte for many dayes before one of their companye called Botello who presumed to haue good skyll in the Arte of Nigromācie did declare vnto them that if they would depart from Mexico at a certayne houre appoynted that then they shuld escape or else not but whether they gaue credite to his sayings or no they fully determined to departe that night and like vnto politike and good Souldyers they prepared a bridge of tymber to carrie wyth them to passe ouer the arches where bridges hadde bin This is most certayne they were all priuie and agréede to the departure and not as some report that Cortes fledde away leauing aboue two hundred Spanyardes in the house who knewe nothyng of hys departure and were afterwardes all slayne sacrifised and eaten in Mexico for out of the Citie he coulde not haue departed so secretely but it shoulde haue come to their eares howe muche more out of one house where they were all togither Cortes called Iohn de Guzman hys Chamberlayne commaunding him to open the hall where the treasure was and called all the officers and others to sée the distribution of the same First the kings portion was deducted and he gaue a Horse of his owne and men to carrie it and for the remainder he willed euery man to take what he listed for he gaue it frankely vnto them The souldiers which had come with Naruaez now serued Cortes were somewhat hungry of treasure so that they tooke as much golde and other riches as they myghte possible carrie but it cost them déere for at their going out of the Citie with the waight of their heauie burthens they coulde neyther fighte nor yet make hast on their way vppon whiche occasion the Indians caught many of them and drewe them by the héeles to the slaughterhouse of Sacrifice where they were slayne and eaten yet those that escaped had eache of them some profyte for that pray was well worth seauen hundred thousand Duchetes but béeyng things wrought in greate péeces they were troublesome to carrie so that he whiche carried least escaped best Yet some doe thinke that there remayned in that house a great parte of the treasure but it was not so for after our men had taken what they would then came in the Tlaxcaltecas and made spoyle of all the rest Cortes gaue charge to certayne of his menne to garde with much respecte a sonne and two daughters of Mutezuma Cacama and his brother and manye other greate Gentlemen his prisoners He also appoynted other fortie mē to carrie the bridge of timber and other Indians to carrie the Ordinance and a little grayne of Centli that remayned The vantgarde he committed to Gonsalo de Sandoual and Antonio de Quiniones and the reregarde he committed to Pedro de Aluarado and he hymselfe remayned with a hundred men to vse his discretion In this order and with good deliberation at midnight he departed from Mexico in a darke myst and so quietely that none of the Indians knewe thereof commendyng themselues vnto GOD beséechyng hym in theyr prayers to delyuer them from that presente daunger and tooke the way of Tlacopan béeyng the same way that he came into the Citie The firste arche whereof the bridge was throwen downe they passed with the timber bridge whiche they carried with them at ease In this meane time the watche and espies which warded in the hiest temples had descried their flight and began to sounde their instruments of warre with a maruelous crie saying they flie they flie And sodenly with this noyse they hauing no armour to put on nor other impedimēt ioyned an infinite company of them togither and followed with greate celeritie yea and with suche a heauy and terrible noyse that all the lake pronounced the Eccho saying let the cursed and wicked be slayne who hath done vnto vs such great hurte But when Cortes came to plante his bridge vpon the second arche of the Cittie there mette him a greate company of Indians to defende the same yet with much adoe he planted his bridge and passed ther vpon with fiue horsemen and a hundred Spaniardes and with them procéeded through the Calsey to the mayne lande passing many perilous places wherein swamme both man and horse for the bridge of timber was broken this done he lefte his foote menne on the firme lande vnder the gouernement of Iohn Xaramillo and returned backe with the fiue horsemen for to succour and helpe the residue of his company whiche were behinde But when he came vnto them he found some fighting with great courage but many slaine He lost also his golde and fardage his ordinance and prisoners yea in fine he founde a maruellous change and alteracion of the estate he lefte them in wherevpon lyke a good Captayne he shewed his wisdome and valour helpyng and recoueryng as many of his men as he myght and brought them into safetie He lefte also Captayne Aluarado to succour the reste But Aluarado with all his power and strength could not resiste the fury of the enimies wherefore with the Lance in his hande he beganne to flie seyng the greate slaughter of his company so that hée was forced to passe ouer the dead carkases yea and vpon some that were not throughly dead who made a lamentable pytifull and dolefull mone And commyng to the next arche whose brydge was broken downe of necessitie he tooke hys Lance and therewith leaped suche a space that the Indians were amased to sée for none of his fellowes could doe the like although they approued the enterprise and were drowned for their labour When Cortes sawe this sorrowfull fight he sate hym downe not to take any rest for his wearinesse but only to bewayle the dead men yea and also them that were aliue and in greate daunger and also to ponder the vnstedfastnesse of cruell fortune in the perdition of so many his friends such great