And commaunded that none of his men shoulde goe out of the house without his expresse licence vp◠payne of death The officers of the Lorte prepared a plenteous supper for them and beddyng according to their vse The talke that the Lorde of Zempoallan had with Cortez THe nexte day in the mornyng came the Lorde to visite Cortez with an honorable company and presented vnto him many garmēts wrought of Cottē wolle according to their fashion with a knot on the shoulder like vnto the Egiptian garments and certaine iewels of golde that might be worth two thousande Ducates besechyng both him and his cōpany to recreate themselues and take their reste and at that present he meante not to trouble him with any matters And so tooke his leaue for that time as he had done the day before willing him to demaunde and call for any thing that he should néede Cortez gaue him hartie thāks and so departed Then came moe Indians in number then were there Spaniardes with their courses seruice of meate ready dressed and many boughes of daintie fruits In this sorte they were feasted bāketed fiftene daies must plētuously The next day folowyng Cortez sent vnto the Spaniardes certaine olde garments of the Spanishe fashion and many other trifles besechyng him to appoynt a day of conserence at his owne pallayce worde was sent agayne that be was ready and very well contented Where vpon Cortez tooke with him fiftie of his men all armed and left the residue at his lodgyng in a good readinesse and appoynted an vnder Captayne to gouerne them The Lorde hearing of his comming came out of his Course into the streate to receyue him And hande in hand they entred togither into a lowe hall whiche they vse for the extremitie of heate in that countrey the plotte that they buylde vpon is raysed a fadome from the grounde so that they ascende vpon steppes and the walles plaistered with very white lime their tile is eyther of straw or leaues of trées very beautifull and straungely wrought and a good defence against the rayne The Lorde and Cortes satte them downe vpon thrée footed stooles made all of one péece the Lorde commaunded his seruitours to stande aside and by their interpreters they began to common of their affayres a great space in demaundes and answeres bicause Cortes desired to be well instructed of the affayres of that countrey and lykewise of that mightie kyng of Mutezuma This Cacike or Lord although he were huge and laden with fleshe yet in his demaundes and questions séemed very wise The summe of all Cortes his talke was to shewe the cause of his comming thither and who had sente him euen as he had done in Tabasco to Teudilli and others This Cacike after he had heard Cortes attentiuely he began a long communication makyng his complaynt and opening his griefe in this sorte MIghtie Sir my Antecessors liued a long tyme in great peace libertie and quietnesse but of late yéeres my countrey and Cittie was destroyed by tiranny bycause the Lordes of Mexico Tenuchtitlan with their men of Culhua did not only vsurpe my Citie but also my lands by force of armes in suche sorte that my power coulde not resiste them And in the beginnyng those Princes beganne theyr vsurpation by way and colour of religion and holinesse and afterwardes with force of armes and with this title became Lordes ouer vs. And nowe we seyng our errour haue thought it to late to preuayle agaynst them to take away our yoke of seruitude and bondage although we haue attempted it And as often as we haue so done still the victorie was theyrs and the ouerthrowe ours Nowe all suche as doe submitte themselues vnto them are taxed with certayne trioutes and reknowlegyng them for Lordes are defended by them and estéemed as friendes But if after such submission made any chaunce to speake agaynst them or rebell then they are terribly corrected yea murdered and after Sacrifice made to the Goddes of warre called Tezcatlipuca and Vitzilepuchtli of theyr carkasses then is theyr fleshe eaten in banquet and those who remayne alyue doe serue for slaues yea and the Fathers Mothers and Children are compelled to labour and toyle from the Sunne rising to the Sunne settyng with confiscation of all theyr goodes and landes And besides all this crueltie and vituperie they sende theyr officers and Serieantes to execute the premisses who without eyther pittie or mercie many tymes suffereth them to sterue with hunger And beyng thus cruelly punished of Mutezuma who nowe raigneth in Mexico who woulde not suffer to bée Vassall willingly to so good a Prince as you enformed me of the Emperour although it were but onely to bée frée from suche vexation and robbery whiche suche a mighty King coulde doe And with these wordes the teares gusshed out of his eyes and pawsing a whyle he beganne to extoll the strength magnificence and situation of Mexico planted in a greate lake of water also he exalted the riches courte Maiestie and mightie power of Mutezuma Hée sayde also howe Tlaxcallan Huexocinco and other prouinces thereaboute as also the people called Totonaquez of the Mountaynes were of contrary opinion to the Mexicans yea enimies vnto them who had intelligence what had happened in Tauasco Yea sir quoth hée if it please you I will treate suche a compact with this people that Mutezuma with al his power shall not preuayle agaynst vs. Cortes reioyced in harte to heare this newes and sayde vnto him It grieueth mée to heare of the euill vsage of Mutezuma towarde his countrey and subiectes But I assure you with Gods helpe I will deliuer you yea and reuenge all your iniuries for my commyng hither is to take away all euill customes and to helpe the oppressed to fauour the prysoner and comforte the afflicted and chiefly to abolishe tyrannie And for the good entertaynement that I haue receyued at your handes I doe remayne yours to doe you any pleasure and to defende you agaynst your enimies and the lyke will I doe for your friendes wherefore I pray you aduertise them thereof as many as are of our confederacie Cortes then tooke hys leaue saying that he had bene many dayes there and that he had greate néede to goe visite his shippes and menne who muche desired his returne and abode in Aquiahuiztlan where hée meante to soiourne for a certayne season and from thence dayly they mighte conferre of their affayres The Lorde of Zempoallan sayde that if it pleased hym to abyde with him hée woulde gladly accept it and if his businesse were suche that he might not that then he besought him to remember him Then the Lorde commaunded eyght maydens to be called who were very well apparelled after theyr maner theyr attyre was muche lyke the Morisca fashion the one of them was more costely apparelled than the others and sayde vnto Cortes all these maydens whiche you here sée are Gentlewomen noble and riche and this mayden whiche is beste
malice and stubbornesse and to treate of peace and friendship warning and aduising them that if they came not wythin the time appointed hee woulde enter into his countrey burning and spoyling with slaughter both great smal armed and vnarmed with which message the messengers departed and Cortez returned to the towne to cure his wounded men The next day came fiftie anncient Indians to craue pardon for their offence and also licence to bury the dead with likewise safeconduct that their rulers and principal persons myght safely come vnto the towne Cortez graunted their request warning them to make any lyes or yet to conspire againe and also if their lords came not personally he would not heare any more embassadors with this rigorous coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t protestation they departed These Indians feeling their strength woulde not preuaile thinking the christians to be inuincible their Lords and chiefest persons did determine to goe and visite the christians and their captaine And according to the time appointed the Lorde of that town and other foure Lords his neyghbours came vnto Cortez with a good trayne of their vessals and seruitours and presented vnto him bread turkie hennes fruites with other like prouision for his host with four hundred pieces of gold of the value of 400. double duckets with other small iewels and crrtaine turkie stones of small value And twentie women slaues to serue to make breade and dresse meate for the whole army He craued and beseeched Cortez to pardon his former offence And to accept and receiue them into hys friendshippe And in token of his obedience hee and his fellowes dyd willinglye deliuer their bodies landes and goods into his handes and power Cortez did louingly receiue them and gaue vnto them certaine trifles of his wares whiche they estéemed much And those Indians hearing the horses and mares ney they maruelled at their neying thinking that the horses could speake demaunded of the Christians what they sayd mary quoth they these horses are sore offended with you bycause ye foâ—â—ht with them wold haue you corrected and chastened for your so doing The simple IndiaÌ„s hearing this presented roses and Gynea Hens vnto the horses desiring them to eate and to pardon theÌ„ Certaine questions that Cortez demaunded of the Cacike Tauasco MAny things passed betweene our men the Indians for where the Indians vnderstood theÌ„ not their behauiour was much to laugh at And vsing conuersation with our men seeing they receiued no hurts of them they brought to the towne their wiues and children which were no smal number And among many matters that Cortez communed with Tauasco by the mouth of Ieronimo de Aguila his enterpreter The first question was Whether there wer mynes of gold or siluer in that countrey and from wheÌ„ce they had that small quantitye that they hadde broughte vnto them The secoÌ„d question was Why they denyed him their friendshippe more than the other captaine that had bin there the yeare before The third was Why they being so many in nuÌ„ber fled from them being so fewe The fourth was To giue theÌ„ to vnderstaÌ„d the mightie power of the king of Castill And last of all to giue them knowledge of the faith of Iesu Christ As touching Sir quoth he the Mynes of gold and siluer in our country we séeke for none for we séeke not after treasure and riches but we procure and desire a quiet life And that golde whiche we haue was founde by chaunce for we know not what Mynes do mean. Yet notwithstanding further within the lande whereas the sunne doth hide himselfe ther the people do finde muche gold and are giuen to séeke the same And as touching the captaine that was here of late we seeing the men and shippes to be such as we had neuer before seene spake vnto them and demaunded what they would haue they sayde that their comming was to chaunge their merchandice for gold and nothyng else wherefore we graunted to their request But now séeing greater vessels and moe in number wee feared least ye came to take our substance And I knowing my selfe nothing inferiour to any of my neyghbours would not permit any iniurie to be offered me and that he and his subiectes did estéeme themselues the most valiant of men of warre in all these parties and that none durste take away their goods women and children to be sacrificed by force wherevpon he thought to withstande those fewe Christians but quoth he I founde my selfe deceiued seeyng we could not kill any of your companye And likewise the brightnesse of youre weapons dyd blynde vs and the woundes you made were incurable But the noyse and lightning of your ordinance dyd more amase vs than either thunder-clappes or tempest and also the great spoyle that you made among vs therwith likewise your straunge horses made vs greatly to wonder to behold their open mouthes wee feared to be swallowed And then to consider their swiftnesse in running we knew no creature could escape them But the first horse that fought with vs put vs in marueylous feare being but one but when we espyed many then all oure helpe was past for we belieued that the horse and man was al one incorporate Hovv the Indians of Potonchan brake downe their Idols and worshipped Christ crucified WIth the relation of Tauasco Cortez sawe that the countrey was not for Spaniardes nor yet he toke it a thing conueniente to settle themselues where no golde nor siluer was or other riches And so pretended to passe forwardes to discouer westward the lande endewed with golde But before his departure he declared to those new conquered Indians that the Lord in whose name he and hys company had taken that iourney was king of Spayne and Emperour of Christians and the greatest Prince in the worlde vnto whom many kings and Princes dyd homage and obey And that hys rule and gouernemente in iustice proceeded from God beeing iust holy peaceable and sweete and also the Monarchie of the vniuersall did appertaine vnto him And for these causes he required them to yelde themselues as his subiectes And it they would doe so there shoulde ensue vnto them great profite lawes and pollicie And as touching their religion he declared their blindnesse greate abuses which they vsed in worshipping many Gods and in making sacrifice vnto them with mans blood yea thinking that those images and Idols did or coulde doe good or euill vnto them being duÌ„be without life or soule yea and the worke of their owne hands He certifyed them of one god maker of heauen and earth and all creatures whom the Christians did worshippe and serue and that all creatures ought to doe the same In conclusion with thys doctryne they brake downe their Idols and receyued the crosse Cortez hauing first declared vnto them the great miseries that the son of God suffered on the Crosse for mankynde And in the greatest temple of Potonchan set vp a Crosse in remeÌ„brance of the death of Christ
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
repayre continually his houses at their owne proper cost and payde all kind of workemen carrying vpon their backes or drawing in sleddes stone lyme timber water and all other necessaries for the worke Likewise they were bounde to prouide all the fierwod that should be spent in the Court whiche was a great thing and did amount to 230. huÌ„dred waight a day which was fiue hundred mens burthens and some dayes in the winter much more And for the Kings Chimneys they brought the barke of Oke trées whiche was best estéemed for the light thereof for they were greate sorcerers Mutezuma had 100. cities with their prouinces of whome he receiued rentes tributes vassalage where he mainteined garrison of souldiers had treasorers in each of theÌ„ His dominioÌ„ did extend from the North sea to the South sea 600. miles in loÌ„gitude within the maine laÌ„d although in very déed ther were some towns as TlaxcalloÌ„ Mechuacan Panuco and Teocantepec whiche were his enimies and payde him neyther tribute nor seruice but yet the ransome was muche when any of them were taken Also there were other kings and noble men as of Tezcuco and Tlacopan which were not in subiection vnto him but onely in homage and obedience for they were of his owne lignage vnto whome Mutezuma married hys daughters The scituation of Mexico MExico at the time when Cortes entred was a Citie of sixtye thousande houses The Kings house and other noble mens houses were great large and beautifull the others were small and roynish without eyther dores or windowes and although they were small yet there dwelled in some of them two thrée yea and tenne persons by reason whereof the Citie was wonderfully replenished with people This Citie is built vpon the water euen in the same order as Venice is All the body of the Citie standeth in a greate large lake of water There is thrée sortes of stréetes very broade and fayre the one sorte are onely of water with many bridges an other sort of onely earth and the thirde of earth and water that is to saye the one halfe earth to walke vpon and the other halfe for boates to bring prouision of all sorts These stréetes are kepte alwayes cleane and the moste parte of the houses haue two dores the one towarde the calsey and the other towarde the water at the whiche they take boate to gos where they list And although this Citie is founded vppon water yet the same water is not good to drynke wherefore there is broughte by conduit water from a place called Chapultâ—pec thrée myles distant from the Citie which springeth out of a little hill at the foote whereof standeth two Statues or couered Images wrought in stone with their Targettes and Launces the one is of Mutezuma and the other of Axaiaca his father The water is broughte from thence in two pypes or Canalls in greate quantitie and when the one is foule then all the water is conuayed into the other til the first be made cleane From this fountayne al the whole Citie is prouided so that they goe selling the same water from stréete to stréete in little boates and doe paye a certayne tribute for the same This Citie is deuided into two stréetes the one was called Tlatelulco that is to say a litle Iland and the other Mexico where Mutezuma his dwelling and courte was is to be interpreted a spring This stréete is the fayrest and most principall and bycause of the Kings pallace there the Citie was named Mexico although the old and first name of the Citie was Tenuchtitlan whiche doth signifie fruite out of stone for the name is compounded of Tetl which is stone and Nuchtli which is fruite called in Cuba Tunas The trée that beareth this fruite is named Nopal and is nothing almost but leaues of a foote broade and round and thrée ynches thicke some more and some lesse according to the growth full of thornes whiche are venemous the leafe is gréene and the thorne or pricke russet After that it is planted it encreaseth growing leafe vnto leafe and the foote thereof commeth to bée as the body of a frée and one leafe dothe not onely produce another at the poynt but at the sides of the same leaues procéedeth other leaues And bycause héere in Spayne is of the same trées and fruite it néedeth no further description In some prouinces where water is scante they vse to drynke the iuice of these leaues The fruite thereof called Nuchtli is lyke vnto fygges and euen so hathe hys little kernels or graynes within but they are somewhat larger and crowned lyke vnto a Medler There are of them of sundrye coloures some are gréene without and Carnationlike within which haue a good tast Others are yellowe and others white and some speckled the best sort are the white it is a fruite that will last long Some of them tasteth of peares and other some of Grapes it is a colde and a fresh fruite and best estéemed in the heate of Sommer The Spanyardes doe more estéeme them than the Indians The more the grounde is laboured where they growe the fruite is so muche the better There is yet another kinde of this fruite redde and that is nothing estéemed although his tast is not euill but bycause it dothe coloure and dye the eaters mouth lippes and apparell yea and maketh his vryne looke like pure bloud Many Spanyardes at their first comming into India and eating this fruite were in a maze and at their wittes ende thinking that all the bloud in their bodyes came out in vryne yea and manye Phisitions at theyr first comming were of the same beliefe for it hathe happened when they haue bin sent for vnto such as haue eaten this fruite they not knowing the cause and beholding the vryne by and by they ministred medicine to staunch bloud surely a thing to laugh at to sée the Phisitions so deceyued Of this fruite Nuchtli and Tetl which is a stone is compounded Tenuchtlitan When this Citie was begunne to bée founded it was placed néere vnto a great stone that stoode in the middest of the lake at the foote whereof grewe one of these Nopal trées and therefore Mexico giueth for armes and deuise the foote of a Nopal trée springing from a stone according to the Cities name Others do affirme that this Citie hathe the name of his first founder called Tenuch béeyng the seconde sonne of Iztacmixcoatl whose sonnes and descendentes did first inhabite thys lande of Ananac called nowe newe Spayne Howsoeuer the opinions are certayne it is that the scituation is called Tenuchtlitan and the dwellers there Tenuchea Mexico Mexico is as much to say as a spring or fountayne according to the propertie of the vowell and spéech Others doe affirme that Mexico hathe his name of a more auntiente time whose firste founders were called Mexiti for vnto this day the Indian dwellers in one strete of this citie are called of Mexica The Mexiti tooke name of their principallest
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
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
THE Pleasant Historie of the Conquest of the VVeast India now called new Spayne Atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes Marques of the valley of Huaxacac most delectable to Reade Translated out of the Spanishe tongue by T. N. Anno. 1578. ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman ¶ TO THE RIGHT HOnorable Sir Francis VValsingham Knight principall Secretary to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie and one of hir highnesse most Honorable priuie Counsell WHilest I abode right Honorable in the Isle of Palma in affaires of merchandize for the vvorshipfull Thomas Locke deceased and his company time then permitted me to haue cōference vvith auncient gentlemen vvhiche had serued in the Conquest of the vvest India novve called nevve Spaine vnder the princely Captaine Hernando Cortez By vvhom as present vvitnesses at many of the actes herein contayned I vvas credibly informed that this delectable and vvorthy Historie is a most true and iust reporte of matter paste in effect vvherefore I did the more vvillingly turne ouer and peruse the same vvhiche is a Mirrour and an excellent president for all such as shall take in hande to gouerne nevve Discoueries for here they shall behold hovv Glorie Renovvne and perfite Felicitie is not gotten but vvith greate paines trauaile perill and daunger of life here shall they see the vvisedome curtesie valour and pollicie of vvorthy Captaynes yea and the faithfull hartes vvhiche they ought to beare vnto their Princes seruice here also is described hovv to vse and correct the stubbern mutinous persons in vvhat order to exalt the good stoute and vertuous Souldiers and chiefly hovv to preserue and keepe that bevvtifull Dame Lady Victorie vvhē she is obtayned And vvhere it vvas supposed that the golden mettall had his beginning and place in the East and VVeast India neare vnto the hote Zoane as moste learned vvriters helde opinion it is novve approued by the venterous trauellour and vvorthy captaine Martin Frobisher Esquire yea and also through the greate paynes procurement and firste inuention of the vvorshipfull Mychaell Locke Merchaunt that the same golden mettall dothe also lie incorporate in the bovvelles of the Norvveast parties enuironned vvith admirable Tovvers Pillers and Pynacles of Rockes Stone and I se possessed of a people bothe straunge rare in shape attire and lyuing yea suche a Countrey and people as all Europe had forsaken and made no account of excepte our moste gratious Queene and hir subiectes vvhome vndoubtedly God hath appoynted not onely to be supreme Princesse ouer them but also to be a meane that the name of Christ may be knovven vnto this Heathenish and Sauage generation Not long since right Honorable I happened to trauayle from the famous Cittie of Tolledo in Spayne tovvarde highe Castile and by fortune ouertooke an auncient Gentlemen vvorshipfully accompanied vnto vvhō I vvas so bold as to approch beseching his vvorship to aduertise me of his iourney vvho after he had beheld my white head beard ansvvered fulgentlely that his intēt vvas to trauayle vnto the king of Spaynes Court and vvelcomed me vnto his company In shorte space that vve had iourneyed togither and communed of each other his Countrey it pleased him to say as follovveth My good friende if you knevv my sute vnto the Kings maiestie you vvould iudge that I vvere a mad man and therefore to shorten oure vvay I vvill declare my attempted sute vnto you You shall vnderstande that I am a Gentleman of lxx yeares of age and sometimes I serued in the ciuill vvarres of Pirru vvhere I vvas vvounded in diuers parts of my body and am novv thereby lame in one of my legges and shoulder I haue neyther VVife nor childe and at this presente God be praised I haue in the Contractation house in the Citie of Siuill in golde and plate the summe of thirtie thousande Duckates and I haue also in Pirru in good lands and possessions the yearely rente of tvvelue thousande Duckates vvhiche rentes and readye money is sufficiente to mainteyne a poore Gentleman But al this notvvithstanding I do novv sue vnto the Kings Maiestie to haue licence and authoritie to discouer and conquere a certayne parte of India vvhyche adioyneth vvith Brazile and is part of the Empire of Pirru I pray you novve declare what you thinke of my sute By my troth sir quoth I I trust your vvorship vvill pardon a rash and suddaine iudgemēt which you now demand at my hād yea truly quoth he say vvhat you list Then quoth I my opiniō is that you are not wel in your wit for vvhat vvould you haue vvil not reason suffice you or else would you now in your old days be an Emperour considering that your Sepulchre attendeth for you Novve truly I thanke you quoth he for of youre iudgement are most men but I say vnto you considering that all flesh must finish I seeke for no quiet rest in this transitorie life yea the vvise and Christian Doctors do teach and admonish that euery true Christian is borne not for his ovvne priuate vvealth and pleasure but rather to help and succoure others his poore breethren Likevvise doe I consider the greate number of Gentlemen yonger brethren and other valiāt persons vvho through vvant of liuing do fall into many disorders VVherefore to accomplish my dutie tovvard God and my Prince and to releeue such poore Gentlemen do I novv attempte this iourney vvith the aduenture of my bodye and goodes and for that purpose I haue in readinesse foure tall Shippes vvell furnished in the porte of Saint Lucar de Barrameda hoping assuredlye that before the life depart from my body to heare these valiante yong Gentlemen vvhome novv I meane to haue in my company say oh happie day vvhen olde Zarate for so is my name broughte vs from penurie yea and from a number of perils that vve vvere like to fall into I hope also that the royall estate of my Prince shall be by my paynes and poore seruice enlarged beleeue you me this is the onely sumptuous Tumbe that I pretende to builde for my poore carkas But yet I knovv there are some vnto vvhome I may compare the Bore that lyeth vvallovvyng in his Stye vvho vvill not lette to saye vvhat neede vve any other vvorld honor or Kingdomes let vs be contented vvith that vve haue vvho may easily be aunsvvered Sir glutton your paunch is full and little care you for the glory of God honor of youre Prince neyther the neede and necessitie of youre poore neyboures VVith this conclusion the Gentleman ended his tale the iudgement vvhereof I leaue to noble Gentlemen his peeres to be determined And vvhere oure Captayne Hernando Cortez of vvhose valiant actes this historie treateth hathe deserued immortal fame euē so doubtlesse I hope that vvithin this happie Realme is novv liuing a Gentleman vvhose zeale of trauayle and valiant beginnings dothe prognosticate greate maruellous and happie successe for perfection of honor and profite is not gotten in one daye nor in one or
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
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
two princes Cuetlauac and Cacama his neuewes did leade him by eache arme all thrée were riche appareled al of one fashion except Mutezuma whiche had a payre of shoes of golde besette with pretious stones and the soles were tied to the vpper part with latchets as is painted of the Antikes His Gentlemen wente by two and two laying downe and taking vp mantels and couerlets vpon the ground bicause his féete should not touche the same then followed him as in procession 200. noble men barefooted with garments of a richer liuery than the first thrée thousand Mutezuma came in the middest of the streate and the others came behinde him as nigh the wal as they mought their faces towards the grounde for it was a great offence to looke him in the face Cortes alighted from his horse and according to our vse went to embrace him but the Princes who led him by the armes would not suffer him to come so nigh for they held it for sin to touch him but yet saluted ech one the other Cortes put about Mutezuma his necke a coller of Margarites Diamondes other stones al of glasse Mutezuma receyued it thankfully wente before with one of the princes his Neuewes cōmaunded the other to lead Cortes by the hand next after him in the middest of the streat and procéeding forwarde in this order then came the Gētlemen in the richest liuery to welcome him one by one touchyng the ground with their handes after returned to their standyng And if the Citizens had come as they requested all that day would not haue serued for salutatiōs The coller of glasse pleased well Mutezuma and bycause he woulde not take without giuyng a better thing as a great prince he commaunded to be brought twoo collers of redde prawnes which there are muche estéemed and at euery one of them hanged eight shrimpes of gold of excellent workemanship of a finger length euery one he put these collers with his owne hands about Cortes his necke the which was estéemed a most great fauour yea and the Indians marueled at it At this time they were come to the streate ende whiche was almost a mile long broade straight and very fayre and full of houses on eche side in whose dores windowes and tops was such a multitude of Indians to beholde the strangers that I knowe not who wondered most our men to sée such a number of them or else they to sée our men their ordinance horses a thing so straunge vnto them They were brought vnto a great court or house of idols which was the lodging of Axaiaca at the dore whereof Mutezuma tooke Cortes by the hande and brought him into a fayre hall and placed him vpon a riche carpet saying vnto him Sir nowe are you in your owne house eate and take your rest pleasure for I wil shortly come and visite you againe Such as you heare was the receiuing of Hernando Cortes by Mutezuma a most mightie King into his great and famous Citie of Mexico the eight day of Nouember 1519. The Oration of Mutezuma to the Spanyardes THe house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large with many fayre chambers sufficient for them all it was nete cleane matted and hanged with cloth of Cotten and feathers of many colours pleasant to behold When Mutezuma was departed frō Cortes he began to sette his house in order and placed the ordinaunce at his dore and hauing all his things in good sorte he went to a sumptuous dinner that was prepared for him As soone as Mutezuma had made an ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the table and reposed a while then came he to Cortes salutyng him and satte downe by him He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate feathers and many garmēts of Cotten both riche well wouen wrought of straunge colours a thing truely that did manifest his greatnesse and also cōfirme their imagination This gifte was deliuered honorably and then began his talke as foloweth Lorde and Gentlemen I doe much reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are for to vse you with curtesie and entreate you with honour according to your descrte and my estate And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come hither the onely cause was my people had a greate feare to sée you for your gesture grimme beards did terrifie them yea they reported that yée had such beastes as swallowed men and that your cōming was frō heauen bringing with you lightning thunder thūderbolts wherwith you made the earth to trēble to shake and that yée slew therewith whom ye pleased But now I do sée know that you are mortall mē that ye are quiet hurt no man also I haue séene your horses which are but your seruauntes and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng Trunkes I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported of you and I do also accept you for my néere kinsmen My father tolde me that hée had heard his forefathers say of whome I doe descende that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande but come hither by chance in companye of a mighty Lorde who after a while that they hadde abode héere they returned to their natiue soyle After manye yeares expyred they came agayne for those whome they had left héere behind them but they would not goe wyth them bycause they had héere inhabited and hadde wyues and children and great gouernement in the land Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne and woulde not returne with them departed from them sore displeased saying that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and gouerne them in iustice peace and auntient Religion and for this consideration wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued that suche a people should come to rule and gouerne vs and cōsidering from whence you come I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for and the notice which the greate Emperour Charles had of vs who hath now sent you hither Therefore Lorde and Captayne be well assured that we wyll obey you if therebe no fayned or deceytefull matter in your dealings and will also deuide wyth you and youres all that we haue And although this which I haue sayde were not only for youre vertue fame and déedes of valiant Gentlemen I would yet do it for your worthinesse in the battayles of Tauasco Teocazinco and Chololla béeyng so few to ouercome so many Now agayne if ye ymagine that I am a God and the walles and roufes of my houses and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure golde as the men of Zempoallan Tlaxcallan and Huexozinco haue enformed you it is not so and I iudge you to be so wise that you giue no credit to such fables You shall also note that through your commyng hither manye of my subiectes haue rebelled and are become my mortall enimies but yet
abide all togither for the better resistance and bycause the enimies shoulde thynke that they feared wherevpon they mighte without any good order gyue the onsette vpon the Christians and so to fall suddenly into the snare But it followed that when they came within shotte of the Spaniardes ordinaunce they stayed abydyng more company but in shorte space there came so many Canoas that it séemed a wonder to beholde They made suche a terrible noyse with theyr voyces drummes Snayle shelles and other like instruments of warre that they could not heare one an other with such great crakes and bragges as they had done in time paste And beyng bothe parties in a readinesse to fight there happened suche a poupewinde to the Vergantines which came from the shore that it séemed meruellous Cortes theÌ„ praysing God commaunded al his Captaines to giue the onset altogithers not to ceasse vntill the enimies should be dryuen to retire into Mexico for that it was the pleasure of God to sende vnto them that prosperous winde in token of victory This talke ended they beganne to sette vpon the enimy who seyng the Vergantines come with such lucky winde yea such a sight as the like vnto them had not bene séene they began to flie with suche greate haste that they spoyled brake and sunke many of them and suche as stoode to defende themselues were slayne so that this battayle was soone ended They pursued them twoo leagues vntill they had locked them vp in the water streates of Mexico and tooke many Lordes and Gentlemen prisoners And the key of al these warres â—â—sisted in this victory for our meÌ„ remayned for Lords of the whole lake and the enimie with great feare and losse they had not bene so soone spoyled but that there were so many of them who disturbed one an other But when Aluarado and Cristoual de Olid saw the fortunate successe of Cortes by water they entered the calsey with their army and tooke certaine bridges and bulwarkes and draue the Indians from them with all their force and strength But with the helpe of the Vergantines which came vnto them the Indians were dryuen to runne a whole league vpon the calsey and where they founde the calsey broken they procured to leape ouer and so fel into the middest Cortes procéeded forwards and â—indyng no Canoas he landed vpon the calsey that commeth from Iztacpalapan with thirtie men and combatted two towers of iâ—olles whiche were walled with wall of lyme and stone it was the same place where Mutezuma receyued Cortes He wan those towers in shorte time although they were defended with all possibilitie he vnshipped thrée péeces of ordinaÌ„ce to scoure the calsey which was full of enimies at the first shotte he did great hurte among theÌ„ and beyng the night at hande they seased on bothe sides for that day And although Cortes had determined otherwise with his Captaynes yet he aboade there that night and sente to the campe of Gonsalo de Sandoual for pouder and fiftie meÌ„ with halfe the company of Indians of Culhuacan Hovv Cortez besieged Mexico THe night of Cortes his abiding there was perillous for he had not aboue a hundreth men in his coÌ„pany and aboute midnight set vpoÌ„ him many Mexicans both by water and lande although they accustomed not to fight in the night but the Vergantines made them sone to retire In the morning came vnto Cortes from Cristoual de Olid eight horsemen and foure score footemen The Mexicans combated the towers where Cortes was lodged who incontinent came forth draue them along the calsey vntil he had wonne an other bridge and a bulwarke and made a great spoyle among them with the ordinaunce horse men pursuyng them to the vtmoste houses of the Cittie and bycause many of the Canoas whiche were on the other side of the calsey galled Cortes and his menne he brake downe so muche of the calsey that he mighte well passe some of his Vergantines to the otherside the which with few encounters shutte vp the Canoas on that side within the succour of Mexico and in this wise he remayned Lord ouer bothe the lakes The next day Sandoual departed from Iztacpalapan toward Culhuacan and in his way he tooke and spoyled a little Citie that standeth in the lake bycause they came out to resist him Cortes sente vnto him two Vergantines to passe his men where the caâ—â—ey was broken Sandoual left his company with Cristoual de Olid and weÌ„t to Cortes with tenne horsemen and when he came he found him in fight with the enimies and he alightyng from his horse an Indian persed him through the foote with a dart Many Spaniardes were hurte that day but theyr griefe was well reuenged for from that day forwarde the Indians courage was muche abated With the paynes labour and victory already obtayned Cortes might now at ease pitche his campe at his owne pleasure where he woulde and also prouide his army of victuals sixe dayes he ceassed not skirmishyng and the Vergantines likewise founde out channels that they mighte goe rounde aboute the Cittie yea and wente spoylyng and burning many houses within the Suburbes Mexico was besieged in foure places although at the first they determined but thrée Cortes was placed betwixt the twoo towers of the calsey Pedro de Aluarado in Tlacopanâ— Cristoual de Olid in Culhuacan Gonsalo de Sandoual in Xaltoca for they had aduise that the same way they would flée out of the Citie seyng themselues in any daunger It would not haue grieued Cortes to haue lefte a passage for the enimy but only bycause they should not profite themselues vpon the lande and prouide the Cittie that way of armour victuall yea he also thought to preuaile against his enimies better vpon the lande than vpon the water And againe according to the olde prouerbe When thine enimy flieth make him a bridge of siluer The first skirmishe vvithin the cittie of Mexico COrtes pretended to enter the Citie and to gette what he could also to sée what stomacke the enimy had he sent to aduise his captaines that eche of them should do the like requiring them to sende vnto him some of their horsemen and footemeÌ„ He gaue speciall commaundement to Cristoual de Olid to haue regard to the kéeping of his calsey and to forsée that the inhabitants of Xoâ—hmilco Culhuacan Iztacpalapan Vitzalopachtli Mexicalcinco Cuetlauac other cities thereaboutes come not that way behinde them and vnwares He commaunded that the Vergantines should goe along the calsey on bothe the sides of any néede shoulde happen Cortes early in the morning came out of his campe with 200. Spaniardes and. 80000. Indian friends they had gone but a small space when they met with their enâ—mies well armed keping the gappe where the calsey was brokeÌ„ which broken place mought be a speares length and as much in depth They fought with them who for a great space defended themselues behinde a bulwarke but in fine he wanne the
came triumphantly with victory of Xochnuxco said vnto the Lorde of Culhuacan Now quoth he Mexico is strong and inuincible for I haue in subiection Xochnuxco and other prouinces so that now I am without feare of any enemie The Lord of Culhuacan aunswered saying trust not good King too muche for one force forceth another with the whiche aunswere Mutezuma was not a little offended But when Cortes hadde taken them both prisoners then he called to remembrance the former talke and held that saying for a prophesie The building vp agayne of Mexico COrtes pretended to reedifie againe the Citie of Mexico not onely for the scituation and maiestie but also for the name great fame thereof and also to builde vp that which he hadde beaten downe by reason whereof he trauelled to make this Citie greater better and to be more replenished with people He named and appoynted Iudges Aldermen Attourneys Towne-clearke Notaries Skauengers and Seriants with all other officers necessarie for the common weale of a Citie He deuided the Citie among the Conquerors hauing first taken out places for Churches market places townehouse and other necessarie plottes to builde houses profitable for the common weale He also separated the dwellings of the Spanyards from the IndiaÌ„s so that the water passeth and maketh deuision betwixt them Hée procured many Indians to come to the building of the Citie for auoiding charges although therein he had somewhat to do by reason that many kinsmen of Quahutimoc were not as yet come vnder obedience He made Lorde of Tezcuco Don Carolus Iztlixuchitl by the consent of the Citie in place of Don Hernando his brother who was deceassed and commaunded many of hys vassals to labour in the workes bycause they were Carpenters masons and builders of houses He promised also to them that were naturals of the Citie of Mexico plottes to build vpon inheritance fréedome and other liberties and the like vnto all those that woulde come and inhabite there whiche was a meane to allure many thither He sette also at libertie Xihuaco the generall Captayne and made him chiefe ouer the Indians in the Citie vnto whome he gaue a whole stréete He gaue likewyse another stréete to Don Pedro Mutezuma who was sonne to Mutezuma the king All this was done to winne the fauoure of the people He made other Gentlemen Seniors of little Ilands and stréetes to builde vpon and to inhabite and in this order the whole scituation was reparted and the worke began with great ioy and diligence but when the fame was blowen abroade that Mexico should be built againe it was a wonder to sée the people that resorted thither hearing of libertie fréedome the number was so greate that in a whole league compasse was nothing but people both men and women They laboured sore and eate little by reason whereof many sickned and pestilence followed whereof dyed an infinite number Their paines was great for they bare on theyr backes and drew after them stones earth timber lyme bricke and all other things necessary in this sort and by little and little Mexico was built againe with a hundred thousande houses more stronger and better than the olde building was The Spanyardes also built their houses after the Spanish fashion Cortes built his house vpon the plotte where Mutezuma his house stoode whiche renteth now yéerely foure thousand duckates a yeare Pamfilo de Naruaez accused him for the same saying that he hadde spoyled the woddes and mountaynes and spente seauen thousand beames of Ceder trées in the worke of his own house The number seemeth more héere than there for where all the Mountaynes are replenished with Ceder trées it is a small matter There are Gardines in Tezcuco that haue a thousand Ceder trées for walles and circuite yea and there are Ceder trées of a hundred tweÌ„ty foote long and twelue foote in compasse from ende to end They built faire dockes couered ouer with arches for the Vergantines whereas for a perpetuall memorie all the thirtéene Vergantines do remayne vntil this day They dâ—mmed vp the stréetes of water where now faire houses stand so that Mexico is not as it was wont to be yea and since the yeare of 1524. the lake decreaseth and sometime casteth out a vapour of stench but otherwise it is a wholesome and temperate dwelling by reason of the Mountaynes that standeth round about it and well prouided through the fertilitie of the Countrey and commoditie of the lake so that now is Mexico one of the greatest Cities in the world and the most noble in all India as well in armes as policie There are at the least two thousande Citizens that haue each of them his horse in his stable with riche furniture for them There is also great contractation and all sortes of occupations Also a money house where money is dayly coyned a fayre schole whiche the Vizeroy Don Antonio de Mendosa caused to be made There is a greate difference betwixte an inhabitant of Mexico and a Conqueror for a Conqueror is a name of honor and hathe landes and rentes and the inhabitante or onely dweller payeth rente for hys house When this Citie was a building not throughlye furnished Cortes came from Culhuacan to dwell there The fame of Cortes and maiestie of Mexico was blowen abroade into farre prouinces by meanes whereof it is now so replenished as I haue before declared yea hath so many Spanyards who haue conquered aboue 400. leagues of land being all gouerned by the princely seate of Mexico Hovv the Emperour sent to take accompt of Cortes of his gouernement in the newe Spayne IN these dayes Cortes was the man of the greatest name of all the Spanish nation although many had defamed him and especially Pamfilo de Naruaez who was in the Court of Spaine accusing him And where of long time the Counsell of India had receyued no letters from him they suspected yea and beléeued whatsoeuer euil was spoken of him Wherevppon they prouided the Admirall Don Diego Colon for Gouernour of Mexico who at that time went to lawe wyth the king pretending the said office and many others with condition to carrie at his owne coast a thousand men to apprehend Cortes They prouided also for Gouernour of Panuco one Nonio de Gusman and Simon de Alcazaua portingall for gouernour of Honduras To kindle more thys mischiefe and to set this businesse forward one Iohn de Ribera the Attourney of Cortes was a sitte and an earnest instrument againste his maister and the cause was for falling out with Martin Cortes father vnto Hernando Cortes about foure thousand Duckates which Cortes had sent by him to his father which money the said Ribera his Attourney kept to his owne vse and therefore raised many slaunders against his maister yea and credite was giuen to his tales but on a night he had a morsell of bacon gyuen him vppon a skaffolde wherewith he was choked in the chiefe time of his businesse These newe officers
dayes after this last Sunne appeared all the Gods did dye and that in processe of time the Gods whiche nowe they haue and worshippe were borne And through these false opinions our Diuines did soone conuert them to the knowledge of the true lawes of God. The nation of the Indians called Chichimecas IN the lande nowe called newe Spayne are dyuers and sundry generations of people but they holde opinion that the stocke of most antiquitie is the people nowe called Chichimecas whiche procéeded out of the house of Aculhuacan which standeth beyond Xalixco about the yeare of our Lorde 720. Many of this Generation did inhabite aboute the lake of Tenuchtitlan but their name ended by mixture in marriage with other people At that time they hadde no King nor yet did builde eyther house or Towne Their only dwellings was in caues in the Mositaynes They went naked they sowed no kind of graine nor vsed bread of any sorte They did mainteyne themselues with rootes hearbes and siluester fruites and béeing a people cunning in shooting with the bowe they kylled deare hares connyes and other beastes and foule which they eate also not sodden or rosted but rawe and dryed in the Sunne They eate also Snakes Lizardes and other filthye beastes yea and at this day there are some of this generation that vse the same dyet But although they liued suche a bestiall life being a people so barbarous yet in their diuelish religion they were verye deuout They worshipped the Sunne vnto whome they vsed to offer Snakes Lizards such other beasts They likewise offered vnto their God all kinde of foule from the degrée of an Eagle to a little Butterflie They vsed not sacrifice of māslaughter nor had any Idolles no not so muche as of the Sunne whome they helde for the sole and only god They married but with one woman in no degrée of kinred They were a stoute and a warlike people by reason whereof they were Lordes of the land The Coronation of the Kings of Mexico ALthough one brother was heire to an other among the Mexicans and after their deceasse did inherite the Sonne of the eldest brother yet they tooke no possession of the state nor name of King vntil they were annoynted and Crowned openlye As soone as any King of Mexico deceassed and his funerals ended then were called to Parliamente the Lorde of Tezcuco and the Lorde of Tlacopan who were the chiefest estates and then in order all other noble men who owed any seruice to the Mexican Empire And béeyng come togither if any doubt of the inheritāce of the crowne happened then the matter was decided with al hast then the newe King being knowen he was stripped starke naked except a cloth to couer his priuie partes and in thys sorte was carried among them to the greate Temple of Vitzilopuchtli with greate silence and without any ioy or pleasure Two Gentlemen of the Citie whose office it was ledde him vppe the staires of the Temple by the armes and before him wente the Princes of Tezcuco and Tlacopan who that day did weare their robes of Coronation wherevpon was paynted their armes and title Verye fewe of the Laytie wente vp into the Chappels but only those that were appoynted to attire the newe king and to serue in other Ceremonies for all the residue stoode vpon the steppes and belowe to beholde the Coronation These Magistrates being aboue in the Chappell came with great humilitie and reuerence knéelyng downe vpō their knées before the Idoll of Vitzilopuchtl and touched the earth with one finger and then kissed the same Then came the high prieste clothed in his pontificall vestmentes with many others in his company who did weare surplices and withoute speaking any worde they paynted or couloured the Kings person with ynke made for the purpose as blacke as any cole After thys Ceremonye done they blessed the annoynted Kyng and sprinckled him foure times with a certayne holly water that was made at the time of consecration of the God made of dowe or paste with a sprinckle made of boughes of Cane leaues Ceder willow leaues Then they put vpon his head a cloth painted with the bones and skulles of dead men and next they clothed him with a black garment and vpon the another blewe and both were paynted with the figures of dead mens skulles bones Then they put about his necke certaine laces whereat did hang the armes of the Crowne And behind his backe they did hang certain little bottels ful of powders by vertue wherof he was deliuered from pestilence and diseases according to their opiniō yea therby witches nor witchcrafts could not hurt him nor yet euill menne deceyue him In fyne with those relickes he was sure from all perill and daunger Vpon his lefte arme they bounde a litle bagge of incense and then brought vnto him a chaffyng dishe of imbers made of the barke of an Oke trée Then the king arose and with his owne hande threw of the same incense into the chaffing dishe and with great reuerence brought the same to the God Vitzilopuchtli and after he had smoked him therewith he satte him downe then came the high Priest and tooke his othe to mainteyne the religion of the Goddes to kéepe also all the lawes and customes of his predecessours to maynteyne iustice and not to agrauiate any of his vassals or subiects and that he should be valiant in the warres that he shoulde cause the Sunne to giue his light the clowdes to yéelde rayne the riuers to runne and the earth to bring foorth all kinde of grayne fruytes and other néedefull hearbes and trées These and many other impossible things the newe kyng did sweare to performe and then he gaue thankes to the high priest and commended himself to the Goddes and to the lookers on and they who brought him vp in the same order carieth him downe agayne Then all the people cried the Goddes preserue the newe kyng and that he may raigne many yéeres in health with al his people But then some began to daunce other to play on their instrumēts shewing outwardly their inwarde ioyes of harte And before the king came to the foote of the steppes all the noble men came to yéelde their obedience and in token of louing and faythfull subiectes they presented vnto him feathers strings of snayle shelles collours and other Iewelles of golde and siluer also mantels paynted with death bare him company vnto a great hal within the compasse of the temple and there lefte him The king sitteth downe vnder his cloth of estate called Tlacatecco and in foure daies departeth not out of the circuyte of the temple the which he spendes in prayers sacrifice and penaunce he eates then but once a day and euery day he bathes himselfe and agayne in the night in a great ponde of water and then lettes himselfe bloud in his eares and senseth therewith the God of Water called Tlaloc he likewise senseth the other idols vnto