The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne

Al these things wer more beautiful than rich, although the whéeles were very rich, the workmanshippe of al the rest, was more worth than the thing it selfe. The colours of the cloth of cotten wool was excéeding fine, and the fethers natural.

Straunge Paper

The pounced worke in gold and siluer did excéed our goldsmithes, of whiche things we wil write in an other place. They ioyned with this present certaine Indian bookes of figures which serue to their vse for letters: these bookes are folden like vnto clothes, and written on both sides. Some of these bookes were made of cotten & glewe, and others were made of leaues of a certaine trée called Melt, whyche serue for theyr paper, a thyng straunge to behold.

At that time the Indiās of Zempoallan had many prisoners to sacrifice. Cortez demaunded them to send vnto the Emperour, but the Indians desired him to pardon them, for if we so do (quoth they) we shall offend our gods, who will take awaye our corne and children from vs, yea and also our liues in so doing.

Yet notwithstanding, Cortez tooke foure of them, and two women which were al yong and lustie.

But it was very strange to sée those that shold be sacrificed, how they wer trimmed and deckt with feathers, and went dauncing through the Cittie, asking almes for their sacrifice & death. It was also strange to sée the offerings yt were giuen thē. They had at their eares hanging rings of gold beset with turkie stones, & likewise other rings at their lippes, whiche shewed their téeth bare, a griesely sight to sée, but yet estéemed among them a thing beautifull.

Letters from the army and magistrates of the new towne directed to the Emperour

When this present and fift part was layde aside for the king, Cortez required the magistrats to name and appoint two atturnyes, to carry the Emperors portion vnto Spayne. And that he for his part wold giue vnto them his full power, and letter of attourneye, with also one of his beste Shippes for that voyage.

The Counsell of the newe towne chose Alounso Fernandez Portocarero, and Francisco de Monteio for that iourneye: whereof Cortez was verye glad, and gaue them Antonio de Alominos for their pilot, with golde and plate sufficiente for tourne and retourne of the voyage. Cortez gaue them instructions, what they shoulde doe particularlye for hym, in the Courte of Spaine as also in Ciuil, and the towne where he was borne. Hee sente to his Father and Mother certaine money, with newes of his prosperitye: hee sente also with them the ordinaunces and actes instituted, and wrote by them a large letter to the Emperour, in the whiche hee gaue full aduertisemente of all things whyche hadde passed from the time of his departure from the Ilande of Cuba vntil that day, and of the discord betwéene hym and Iames Valasques, and of their greate traueyle and paynes, with the greate good will whiche they all bare vnto hys royall seruice: hee certified likewise of the riches of that countreye, with the maiestie and power of Mutezuma. Hee offered to bring in subiection vnto his royall Crown and state of Castil, al that Empire, & to winne also the greate Citie of Mexico, and to bring that mightie king Mutezuma to his handes quicke or deade.

Beséeching the Emperours maiestie to haue hym in remembraunce when offices and prouisions shoulde bee sente vnto that newe Spayne latelye discouered at hys great costes, and in recompence of hys paines and trauell.

The Counsell and magistrates of Vera Crux wrote also two letters to the Emperour, the one was touching the successe of their procéedings in his royall seruice. In that letter, went onely the Aldermens firmes, and Iudges.

A good protestatiō

The other letter was firmed by the generalitye and chiefest of the army, the contentes whereof was in substance, that they would holde and kepe that towne and countrey wonne, in his royall name, or ende theyr lyues in the quarrel, if his maiestie did not otherwise determyne.

They also moste humblye besought him, that the gouernement thereof, and of al that hereafter shoulde bee conquered, might be giuen to Hernādo Cortez their guide, generall captaine, and chiefe Iustice by them electe and chosen, saying, that wel he had deserued the same, for that he alone spent more than the whole army vpon that iourney. And that it might please his maiesty to confirm that, which they generally of fréewill had done for theyr owne safegard and securitye, in the name of his royall maiestie.

And if by chaunce his maiestie had already giuen the sayde office of gouernement to any other person, that it might please him to reuoke it.

For so should it be expedient for his seruice, and quietnesse of the countrey. And thereby might be excused, rumours, slanders, perils, and slaughters, that myght ensue, if any other should gouerne and rule as captaine general.

And moreouer they besoughte hys maiestie to graunte them aunswere with breuity, and good dispatch of theyr attourneys, who departed from the porte of Aguiahuistlan in a reasonable shippe the twenty sixe day of July, Anno .1519.

They touched by the way at Marien a port of Cuba, declaring that they went to Hauana: they passed through the chanell of Bahama without disturbaunce, and sayled with a prosperous winde, till they arriued in Spayne.

The cause why the generaltye had written these letters was, suspecting Iames Velasques, who had frends and great fauour in the Court and counsel of Indias, and also some secrete friendes in Cortez his campe. For Francisco Salzeda brought newes that Iames Velasques had already obteyned a graunt of the Emperor for the gouernment of that land by the meanes of one Benito Martinez going into Spayne. And although they knew not the certainty thereof, yet it was most true, as shal appeare in another place.

An vproare among the souldiers against Cortez, and the punishment for the same

There wer some in the host yt murmured against the election of Cortez, for thereby was excluded Iames Valasques, vnto whō they bare good wil.

Some were Valasques friends, and other some his kinesfolkes, who letted not to say openly, that Cortez by flattery, sutteltie and giftes had gotten and obtayned his purpose.

MischefeTvvo hanged, and tvvo whipped

And that the dissymulation in makyng hym selfe to bee entreated and prayed to accepte that charge and office, was a thing craftily fayned, whereby suche election coulde not bee of anye value, and chieflye without any such authority of the Ierome Friers dame, who ruled and gouerned the Indians as chiefe presidents: how muche more they hadde newes that Iames Velasques had already obteyned the gouernement of that land, and Yucatan. Then Cortez began to vnderstande in those matters, and made informatiō who had raysed vp this rumoure, and béeing knowen, he apprehended the chiefest, and sent them prisoners aboorde his Ship: and to molifye their wrath, he shortly releassed them agayne, the which afterwards was cause of more mischief, for these his enimies woulde haue fledde with a Vergantine and killed the maister, pretending to flye vnto the Ilande of Cuba, for to aduertise 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 therevppon 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

A famous 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 fyue of the best Shyppes, sauyng 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 yt 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 ye sea in our dayes.

Hovv the inhabitants of Zempoallan brake downe their Idolles

Nevves for Cortez

Euery 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 Vera 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 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 distāt 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.

A vvise practise

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, nowe 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 mē with Crossebowes, and and 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, would abide no longer, & cōmaunded to make saile, not tarying for his skiffe. By these seuen mē 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 would 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 carriars, 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 frō Zempoallan, leauing that towne named Siuillia, towarde Mexico the sixtene day of August of the same yéere, with 400. Spaniardes and fiftene horses, & sixe péeces of ordinance, and 1300. Indians wt the carriers & mē of Cuba. And whē Cortes departed frō 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 countrey of their friendes, and were louingly receyued and lodged, especially in Xalapan. The fourth day they came to Sicuchimatl, whiche is a strong place situated on a hill side very craggy, and the way to passe therevnto is made with force of mans hande as a stayre. And if the inhabitants thereof would haue resisted the entraunce, with greate 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 curtesie and good entertaynement, muche estéeming the good will of his Lorde Mutezuma, and so departed from thence, and wente to passe ouer a mountayne very high, the passage whereof he named Nombre 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 side 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.

Troubles

And from thence he traueled thrée dayes in a countrey inhabitable, and passed some necessitie of hunger, & much more of thirst, bicause 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 sodainely 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 an other hil, and vpon the toppe therof, (to their iudgement) they founde a thousande carte loade of wood ready cut, neare to a little tower of idolles: they named that place the porte of wood: & hauing passed twoo leagues from the porte of wood, they founde the countrey barren and poore, but soone after the army came to a place whiche they named white Castell, bicause the Lordes house was of stone very white and newe, and the beste that they had séene in all that countrey, and so curiously wrought, that they meruayled thereat: that towne in their language is called Zaclotan, and the valley neare vnto it is name Zacatami, and the Lordes name is Olintlec, who receyued Cortes honorably, and prouided for him and his company abundantly, being so commaunded by Mutezuma, as hée reported afterwarde.

A straunge ioy

And in token that he had receyued that cōmission from his Lorde, he commaunded fiftie men to be sacrificed for ioy, whose bloud they sawe newe and freshe. The townes men of that towne caried the Spanyardes on their shoulders, on suche beares as we carry dead men to Churche. Cortes enformed them (by his enterpreters) of the cause of his comming into that countrey, as he had vsed in other places, & demaunded whether he the Lorde of this towne were tributary to Mutezuma. This Cazike being amazed at his question, answered, saying: What is he that is not eyther slaue or vassall to the great Mutezuma. Then Cortes certified him, who and what the Emperour king of Spayne was, willing him to be his friend and seruitour, & further enquired if he had any golde to sende him some. This Cazike answered that he would do nothing without the commaundement of his Lorde, nor yet send his king any golde although he had inough. Cortes dissimuled the matter, and helde his peace, yet by and by he desired to knowe the Maiestie and mightie power of Mutezuma, the Cazike answered, that Mutezuma was Lorde of the whole worlde, and that he had thirtie Vassals who were able to make a .100000. men of warre: eche one of them he also certified that he sacrificed .20000. men yerely to his Goddes: And also his dwellyng was in the most beautyfullest and strongest cittie of al that euer was enhabited, likewise (quoth he) his house and courte is moste greate, noble, and replenished with Gentlemen, his riches incredible, and his charges excessiue. And truely therein he sayde the very troth, excepte in the sacrifice wherein he something enlarged, although the slaughter of men for sacrifice in euery temple was very great, yea and some hold opinion, that some yéeres were sacrificed aboue .50000. men. Being in this conuersation, came two Gentilmen of that valley to sée the Spanyardes, and eche of them presented vnto Cortes foure women slaues, & certayne collers of golde of small price. Olintlec although he was vassall to Mutezuma, was a greate Lorde, and had .20000. vassals, and thirtie wiues altogither in his house, beside a hundreth other women that attended vpon them. And had for his garde and houshold .2000. persons, his towne was great, & had .13. temples in it, & eche temple many idolles of stone of diuers fashiōs, before whom they sacrificed men, doues, quayles, & other things wt perfumes & great veneratiō. In this place and territorie, Mutezuma had .5000. souldiers in garrison, and ordinarie postes from thence to Mexico. Vntill this time, Cortez had not so amply vnderstoode the mighte and power of Mutezuma, yea and though many inconueniences, difficulties, feare, and such like, did represent it selfe vnto him in his iourney to Mexico, whiche perhaps would haue amazed some valiāt persons, yet he shewed not one iote of cowardise, hauyng hearde suche a reporte of that mightie Prince, but rather his desire was so much the more to sée hym.