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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:10 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:10 -0700 |
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diff --git a/12514-h/12514-h.htm b/12514-h/12514-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c1d738 --- /dev/null +++ b/12514-h/12514-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,21930 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Voyages and Travels`Volume IV</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {background: #ffffcc; margin:10%; text-align:justify} +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {color:green; text-align:center} +blockquote {font-size: .9em} +p.poem {text-align:center} +p.external {font-weight: bold} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12514 ***</div> + +<h2>A</h2> + +<h2>GENERAL</h2> + +<h2>HISTORY AND COLLECTION</h2> + +<h2>OF</h2> + +<h1>VOYAGES AND TRAVELS,</h1> + +<h2>ARRANGED IN SYSTEMATIC ORDER:</h2> + +<h2>FORMING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS</h2> + +<h2>OF NAVIGATION, DISCOVERY, AND COMMERCE,</h2> + +<h2>BY SEA AND LAND,</h2> + +<h2>FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE PRESENT TIME.</h2> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<h2>BY</h2> + +<h2>ROBERT KERR, F.R.S. & F.A.S. EDIN.</h2> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<h2>ILLUSTRATED BY MAPS AND CHARTS.</h2> + +<h2>VOL. IV.</h2> + +<h3>WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, EDINBURGH:</h3> + +<h3>AND T. CADELL, LONDON.</h3> + +<h3>MDCCCXXIV.</h3> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<p>ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FOURTH VOLUME.</p> + +<p>Twelve months have now elapsed since the first half volume of +this work was offered to the public. The favourable reception it +has experienced gives the Editor reason to hope that he has +fulfilled the engagements which he came under at its first +appearance, and is a powerful inducement to continue his utmost +exertions to preserve and improve the character of the work. In +the four volumes which are now published, several extensive and +important original articles are introduced, which have not +hitherto appeared in any similar collection, and had not even +been previously translated into English. These materially +contribute towards the ample information which was formerly +announced, in the Preface to the <i>first</i> Volume, as a +leading object in this Collection. In the subsequent parts of the +work, every effort shall be made to fill up its several divisions +with original articles of similar interest and equal +importance.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by a satisfactory and increasing sale, the progress +of publication has been somewhat hastened, beyond what was +originally promised in the Prospectus and Conditions; as the +<i>whole</i> of the fourth Volume is now published, at the period +when only its <i>first half</i> was to have appeared. It is +intended to repeat this anticipation occasionally, by the +publication of two numbers or half-volumes at once, when +opportunity offers. While this may gratify one portion of our +readers, it is not meant to preclude others from continuing to be +supplied, as before, with the numbers or half volumes at regular +intervals, in their own option.</p> + +<p>EDINBURGH, <i>1st Jan</i>, 1812.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<p><a name="contents" id="contents"></a></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS OF VOLUME IV.</h2> + +<p><a href="#part2"><b>PART II.--(Continued.)</b></a></p> + +<p><a href="#book2-2"><b>BOOK II.--Continued</b></a></p> + +<p>HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, AND OF SOME OF THE EARLY +CONQUESTS IN THE NEW WORLD</p> + +<p><a href="#chapter2-5"><b><i>CHAPTER V.</i></b></a></p> + +<p>History of the discovery and conquest of Mexico, +continued.</p> + +<p>SECTION VI. The Spaniards commence their march to Mexico; with +an account of the war in Tlascala, and the submission of that +nation.</p> + +<p>SECTION VII. Events during the march of the Spaniards from +Tlascala to Mexico.</p> + +<p>SECTION VIII. Arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico, and +transactions there till the arrival of Narvaez to supersede +Cortes.</p> + +<p>SECTION IX. Expedition of Narvaez to supersede Cortes in the +command, and occurrences till his defeat by Cortes.</p> + +<p>SECTION X. Occurrences from the defeat of Narvaez, to the +expulsion of the Spaniards from Mexico, and the subsequent battle +of Otumba.</p> + +<p>SECTION XI. Occurrences from the battle of Otumba, till the +march of Cortes to besiege Mexico.</p> + +<p>SECTION XII. Transactions of Cortes and the Spaniards, from +their march against Mexico, to the commencement of the siege of +that city.</p> + +<p>SECTION XIII. Narrative of occurrences, from the commencement +of the siege of Mexico to its reduction, and the capture of +Guatimotzin.</p> + +<p>SECTION XIV. Occurrences in New Spain, immediately subsequent +to the reduction of Mexico.</p> + +<p>SECTION XV. Expeditions sent by Cortes to reduce the provinces +of the Mexican empire.</p> + +<p>SECTION XVI. Expedition of Garay to colonize Panuco.</p> + +<p>SECTION XVII. Narrative of various expeditions for the +reduction of different provinces in New Spain.</p> + +<p>SECTION XVIII. Negociations of Cortes at the court of Spain, +respecting the conquest and government of Mexico.</p> + +<p>SECTION XIX. Of an expedition against the Zapotecas, and +various other occurrences.</p> + +<p>SECTION XX. Narrative of the expedition of Cortes to +Higueras.</p> + +<p>SECTION XXI. Return of Cortes to Mexico, and occurrences there +previous to his departure for Europe.</p> + +<p>SECTION XXII. Narrative of occurrences, from the departure of +Cortes to Europe till his death.</p> + +<p>SECTION XXIII. Concluding observations by the Author.</p> + +<p><a href="#chapter2-6"><b><i>CHAPTER VI.</i></b></a></p> + +<p>History of the discovery and conquest of Peru, by Francisco +Pizarro; written by Augustino Zarate, treasurer of that kingdom, +a few years after the conquest.</p> + +<p>Introduction.</p> + +<p>SECTION I. Of the discovery of Peru, with some account of the +country and its inhabitants.</p> + +<p>SECTION II. Transactions of Pizarro and the Spaniards in Peru, +from the commencement of the conquest, till the departure of +Almagro for the discovery of Chili.</p> + +<p>SECTION III. Occurrences from the departure of Almagro for +Chili, to his capture by Pizarro, being the first part of the +civil wars in Peru.</p> + +<p>SECTION IV. Expeditions of Pedro de Valdivia into Chili, and +of Gonzalo Pizarro to Los Canelos.</p> + +<p>SECTION V. Conspiracy of the Almagrians and Assassination of +Pizarro.</p> + +<p><a href="#chapter2-7"><b><i>CHAPTER VII.</i></b></a></p> + +<p>Continuation of the early history of Peru, after the death of +Francisco Pizarro, to the defeat of Gonzalo Pizarro, and the +re-establishment of tranquillity in the country; written by +Augustino Zarate.</p> + +<p>SECTION I. From the revival of the civil wars in Peru, to the +close of the administration of Vaca de Castro, the first governor +appointed from Spain.</p> + +<p>SECTION II. Commencement of the Viceroyalty of Blasco Nunnez +Vela, and renewal of the civil war in Peru by the usurpation of +Gonzalo Pizarro. [Illustration: Viceroyalty of Mexico Published 1 +Jan'y 1812 by W'm Blackwood Edin'r.]</p> + +<h2>A GENERAL HISTORY AND COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.</h2> + +<h2><a name="part2" id="part2">PART II.</a></h2> + +<h2><a name="book2-2" id="book2-2">BOOK II.--Continued.</a></h2> + +<p><b>HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, AND OF SOME OF THE +EARLY CONQUESTS IN THE NEW WORLD.</b></p> + +<h2><a name="chapter2-5" id="chapter2-5">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> + +<p><b>HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF MEXICO, WRITTEN IN +THE YEAR 1568, BY CAPTAIN BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, ONE OF THE +CONQUERORS.--<i>Continued</i>.</b></p> + +<p>SECTION VI.</p> + +<p><i>The Spaniards commence their March to Mexico; with an +account of the War in Tlascala, and the submission of that +Nation</i>.</p> + +<p>Everything being in readiness for our march to Mexico, we were +advised by our allies of Chempoalla to proceed by way of +Tlascala, the inhabitants of that province being in friendship +with them and constantly at war with the Mexicans; and at our +requisition, we were joined by fifty of the principal warriors of +the Totanacas[1], who likewise gave us 200 <i>tlamama</i>, or men +of burden, to draw our guns and to transport our baggage and +ammunition[2]. Our first day's march on the 16th of August 1519, +was to <i>Xalapan</i>, and our second to <i>Socochima</i>, a +place of difficult approach, surrounded by vines. During the +whole of this march, the main body was kept in compact order, +being always preceded by an advance of light infantry, and +patroles of cavalry. Our interpreters informed the people of this +place, that we were subjects of the great emperor Don Carlos, who +had sent us to abolish human sacrifices and various other abuses; +and as these people were allies of Chempoalla and independent of +Montezuma, they treated us in a friendly manner. We erected a +cross at this place, explaining its signification and giving them +information of many things belonging to our holy faith, and +exhorting them to reverence the cross. From this place we +proceeded by a difficult pass among lofty mountains to +<i>Texotla</i>, the people of which place were well disposed to +us, as they also paid no tribute to Montezuma. Continuing our +march through desert lofty mountains, we experienced excessive +cold, with heavy falls of hail, and came next day to a pass, +where there were some houses and large temples, and great piles +of wood intended for the service of the idols. Provisions were +scarce during the two last days, and we now approached the +confines of the Mexican empire, at a place called +<i>Xocotlan</i>; to the cacique of which place Cortes sent a +message informing him of our arrival. The appearance of this +place evinced that we were entering upon a new and richer +country. The temples and other buildings were lofty, with +terraced roofs, and had a magnificent appearance, being all +plastered and white-washed, so as to resemble some of our towns +in Spain; on which account we called this place <i>Castel +blanco</i>.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] Clavigero says that Cortes had some troops of the +Totanacas, among whom were forty nobles, serving at the same time +as auxiliaries, and as hostages for the fidelity of their +nation.--Clavig. II. 30.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] In Clavigero, II. 29. the army of Cortes on this +occasion is stated to have amounted to 415 Spanish infantry and +16 cavalry.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In consequence of our message, the cacique and other principal +persons of the town came out to meet us, and conducted us to our +quarters, where they gave us a very poor entertainment. After +supper, Cortes inquired respecting the military power of +Montezuma, and was told that he was able to bring prodigious +armies into the field. The city of Mexico was represented as of +uncommon strength, being built on the water, with no +communication between the houses, houses, except by means of +boats or bridges, each house being terraced, and only needing the +addition of a parapet to become a fortress. The only access to +the city was by means of three causeways or piers, each of which +had four or five apertures for the passage of the waters, having +wooden bridges which could be raised up, so as to preclude all +access. We were likewise informed of the vast wealth possessed by +Montezuma, in gold, silver, and jewels, which filled us with +astonishment; and although the account we had already received of +the military resources of the empire and the inaccessible +strength of the capital might have filled us with dismay, yet we +were eager to try our fortunes. The cacique expatiated in praise +of Montezuma, and expressed his apprehension of having offended +him by receiving us into his government without his leave. To +this Cortes replied, That we had come from a far distant country +by command of our sovereign, to exhort Montezuma and his subjects +to desist from human sacrifices and other outrages; adding: "I +now require all who hear me, to renounce your inhuman sacrifices, +cannibal feasts, and other abominable customs; for such is the +command of GOD, whom we adore." The natives listened to all this +in profound silence, and Cortes proposed to the soldiers to +destroy the idols and plant the holy cross, as had been already +done at Chempoalla; but Father Olmedo recommended that this +should be postponed to a fitter opportunity, lest the ignorance +and barbarism of the people might incite them to offer indignity +against that holy symbol of our blessed religion.</p> + +<p>We happened to have a very large dog along with us, which +belonged to Francisco de Lugo, which used to bark very loud +during the night, to the great surprise of the natives, who asked +our Chempoallan allies if that terrible animal was a lion or +tiger which we had brought to devour them. They answered that +this creature attacked and devoured whoever offended us; that our +guns discharged stones which destroyed our enemies, and that our +horses were exceedingly swift and caught whoever we pursued. On +this the others observed that with such astonishing powers we +certainly were <i>teules</i>. Our allies also advised them to +beware of practising any thing against us, as we could read their +hidden thoughts, and recommended them to conciliate our favour by +a present. They accordingly brought us several ornaments of much +debased gold, and gave us four women to make bread, and a load of +mantles. Near some of the temples belonging to this place I saw a +vast number of human skeletons arranged in such exact order that +they might easily be counted with perfect accuracy, and I am +certain there were above an hundred thousand. In another part +immense quantities of human bones were heaped up in endless +confusion. In a third, great numbers of skulls were suspended +from beams, and watched by three priests. Similar collections +were to be seen everywhere as we marched through this district +and the territories of Tlascala.</p> + +<p>On consulting the cacique of Xocotla respecting the road to +Mexico, he advised us to go through Cholula; but our allies +strongly dissuaded us from that route, alleging that the people +were very treacherous, and that the town was always occupied by a +Mexican garrison, and repeated the former advice of going by +Tlascala, assuring us of a friendly reception there. Cortes +accordingly sent messengers before us to Tlascala announcing our +approach, and bearing a crimson velvet cap as a present. Although +these people were ignorant of writing, yet Cortes sent a letter +by his messengers, as it was generally understood to carry a +sanction of the message which was to be delivered. We now set out +for Tlascala, in our accustomed order of march, attended by +twenty principal inhabitants of Xocotla. On arriving at a village +in the territory of Xalacingo[3], where we received intelligence +that the whole nation of the Tlascalans were in arms to oppose +us, believing as to be in alliance with their inveterate enemies +the Mexicans, on account of the number of Mexican subjects who +attended our army. So great was their suspicion on this account, +that they imprisoned our two messengers, for whose return we +waited two days very impatiently. Cortes employed the time in +exhorting the Indians to abandon their idolatry and to reconcile +themselves to our holy church. At the end of these two days, we +resumed our march, accompanied by two of the principal people of +this place whom Cortes demanded to attend us, and we soon +afterwards met our messengers who had made their escape, either +owing to the negligence or connivance of their guards. These +messengers were in extreme terror, as the people of Tlascala +threatened to destroy us and every one who should adhere to us. +As a battle was therefore to be expected, the standard was +advanced to the front, and Cortes instructed the cavalry to +charge by threes to the front, never halting to give thrusts with +their lances, but urging on at speed with couched lances levelled +at the faces of the enemy. He directed them also, when their +lance was seized by the enemy, to force it from them by the +efforts of the horse, firmly grasping the butt under the arm. At +about two leagues from the last resting-place, we came to a +fortification built of stone and lime, excellently constructed +for defence, and so well cemented that nothing but iron tools +could make an impression on it. We halted for a short time to +examine this work, which had been built by the Tlascalans to +defend their territory against the incursions of their Mexican +enemies; and on Cortes ordering us to march on, saying, +"Gentlemen follow your standard the holy cross, through which we +shall conquer;" we all replied, "Forward in the name of God, in +whom is our only confidence."</p> + +<blockquote>[3] In Clavigero, II. 31. Iztacmaxitlan is said to +have been the next stage after leaving Xocotla, and is described +as a populous district, with a strong city or fortress on a high +rock, defended by barbicans and ditches.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After passing this barrier some distance, our advanced guard +descried about thirty of the Tlascalan troops, who had been sent +to observe us. Cortes sent on the cavalry to endeavour to take +some of these men prisoners, while the infantry advanced at a +quick pace to support the advanced guard. Our cavalry immediately +attacked, but the Tlascalans defended themselves bravely with +their swords, wounding some of the horses severely, on which our +people had to kill five of them, but were unable to make any +prisoners. A body of three thousand warriors now sallied out upon +us with great fury from an ambush, and began to discharge their +arrows at our cavalry; but as our artillery and musquetry were +now ready to bear upon them, we soon compelled them to give way, +though in a regular manner, and fighting as they retreated; +leaving seventeen of their men dead on the field; and one of our +men was so severely wounded as to die a few days after. As the +day was near a close, we did not attempt any pursuit; but +continued our march, in which we soon descended from the hills +into a flat country, thickly set with farm-houses, among fields +of maize and the Maguay plant. We halted for the night on the +banks of a brook, where we dressed our wounds with the <i>grease +of a fat Indian</i> who was slain in the skirmish; and though the +natives had carried away all their provisions, we caught their +dogs when they returned at night to the houses, and made a +comfortable supper of that unusual fare. Next day, after +recommending ourselves to God, we resumed our march against the +Tlascalan army; both cavalry and infantry being duly instructed +how to act when we came to battle; the cavalry to charge right +through, and the infantry to preserve a firm array. We soon fell +in with the enemy, to the number of about 6000 men in two bodies, +who immediately attacked us with great spirit, discharging their +arrows, shouting, and sounding their martial instruments. Cortes +halted the army, and sent three prisoners to demand a peaceable +conference, and to assure them we wished to treat them as +brothers; ordering at the same time the notary Godoy, to witness +this message officially. This message had no effect, as they +attacked us more fiercely than before, on which Cortes gave the +word, <i>St Jago, and on them</i>. We accordingly made a furious +onset, slaying many with the first discharges of our artillery, +three of their chiefs falling on this occasion. They now +retreated to some uneven ground, where the whole army of the +state of Tlascala, 40,000 in number, were posted under cover, +commanded by <i>Xicotencatl</i>, the general in chief of the +republic. As the cavalry could not act in this uneven ground, we +were forced to fight our way through as well as we were able in a +compact column, assailed on every side by the enemy, who were +exceedingly expert archers. They were all clothed in white and +red, with devices of the same colours, being the uniform of their +general. Besides the multitudes who discharged continual flights +of arrows, many of them who were armed with lances closed upon us +while we were embarrassed by the inequality of the ground; but as +soon as we got again into the plain, we made a good use of our +cavalry and artillery. Yet they fought incessantly against us +with astonishing intrepidity, closing upon us all around, so that +we were in the utmost danger at every step, but God supported and +assisted us. While closely environed in this manner, a number of +their strongest warriors, armed with tremendous two-handed +swords, made a combined attack on Pedro de Moron, an expert +horseman, who was charging through them accompanied by other +three of our cavalry. They seized his lance and wounded himself +dangerously, and one of them cut through the neck of his horse +with a blow of a two-handed sword, so that he fell down dead. We +rescued Moron from the enemy with the utmost difficulty, even +cutting the girths and bringing off his saddle, but ten of our +number were wounded in the attempt, and believe we then slew ten +of their chiefs, while fighting hand to hand. They at length +began to retire, taking with them the body of the horse, which +they cut in pieces, and distributed through all the districts of +Tlascala as a trophy of victory. Moron died soon after of his +wounds, at least I have no remembrance of seeing him afterwards. +After a severe and close conflict of above an hour, during which +our artillery swept down multitudes out of the numerous and +crowded bodies of the enemy, they drew off in a regular manner, +leaving the field to us, who were too much fatigued to pursue. We +took up our quarters, therefore, in the nearest village, named +<i>Teoatzinco</i>, where we found numbers of subterraneous +dwellings. This battle was fought on the 2d September 1519. The +loss of the enemy on this occasion was very considerable, eight +of their principal chiefs being slain, but how many others we +know not, as whenever an Indian is wounded or slain, he is +immediately carried off by his companions. Fifteen of them were +made prisoners, of whom two were chiefs. On our side fifteen men +were wounded, one only of whom died. As soon as we got clear of +the enemy, we gave thanks to God for his merciful preservation, +and took post in a strong and spacious temple, where we dressed +our wounds with the fat of Indians. We obtained a plentiful +supply of food from the fowls and dogs which we found in the +houses of the village, and posted strong guards on every side for +our security.</p> + +<p>We continued quietly in the temple for one day, to repose +after the fatigues of the battle, occupying ourselves in +repairing our cross-bows, and making arrows. Next day Cortes sent +out seven of our cavalry with two hundred infantry and all our +allies, to scour the country, which is very flat and well adapted +for the movements of cavalry, and this detachment brought in +twenty prisoners, some of whom were women, without meeting with +any injury from the enemy, neither did the Spaniards do any +mischief; but our allies, being very cruel, made great havoc, and +came back loaded with dogs and fowls. Immediately on our return, +Cortes released all the prisoners, after giving them food and +kind treatment, desiring them to expostulate with their +companions on the madness of resisting our arms. He likewise +released the two chiefs who had been taken in the preceding +battle, with a letter in token of credence, desiring them to +inform their countrymen that he only asked to pass through their +country in his way to Mexico. These chiefs waited accordingly on +<i>Xicotencatl</i>, whose army was posted about two leagues from +our quarters, at a place called <i>Tehuacinpacingo</i>, and +delivered the message of Cortes. To this the Tlascalan general +replied, "Tell them to go to Tlascala, where we shall give them +peace by offering their hearts and blood to our gods, and by +feasting on their bodies." After what we had already experienced +of the number and valour of the enemy, this horrible answer did +not afford us much consolation; but Cortes concealed his fears, +and treated the messengers more kindly than ever, to induce them +to carry a fresh message. By inquiry from them he got the +following account of the number of the enemy and of the nature of +the command enjoyed by its general. The army now opposed to us +consisted of the troops or quotas of five great chiefs, each +consisting of 10,000 men. These chiefs were <i>Xicotencatl</i> +the elder, father to the general, <i>Maxicotzin</i>, +<i>Chichimecatecle</i>, <i>Tecapaneca</i> cacique of +<i>Topeyanco</i>, and a cacique named <i>Guaxocinga</i>[4]. Thus +50,000 men were now collected against us under the banner of +Xicotencatl, which was a white bird like an ostrich with its +wings spread out[5]. The other divisions had each its +distinguishing banner, every cacique bearing these cognizances +like our Spanish nobles, a circumstance we could not credit when +so informed by our prisoners. This formidable intelligence did +not tend to lessen the fears which the terrible answer of +Xicotencatl had occasioned, and we prepared for the expected +battle of the next day, by confessing our sins to our reverend +fathers, who were occupied in this holy office during the whole +night[6].</p> + +<blockquote>[4] In Clavigero, II. 31. Xicocentcatl Maxicatizin, +is given as the name of one chief; and only <i>three</i> other +lords or great caciques are said to have then borne sway in the +Tlascalan republic, Tlekul, Xolotzin, and Citlalpocatzin. The +person named Chichimecatecle by Diaz, is called Chichimeca +Teuchtli by Clavigero: But it is impossible to reconcile the +differences between these authors respecting the other names of +the chiefs, nor is it important.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[5] Clavigero, II. 37. says the grand standard of the +republic of Tlascala, used on this occasion, was a golden eagle +with expanded wings.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[6] According to Clavigero, II. 37. Xicotencatl, to +show how little he regarded the Spaniards, sent them 300 turkeys +and two hundred baskets of <i>tamalli</i>, to recruit their +strength before the approaching battle.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On the 5th of September, we marched out with our whole force, +the wounded not excepted, having our colours flying and guarded +by four soldiers appointed for that purpose. The crossbow-men and +musketeers were ordered to fire alternately, so that some of them +might be always loaded: The soldiers carrying swords and bucklers +were directed to use their points only, thrusting home through +the bodies of the enemy, by which they were less exposed to +missile weapons; and the cavalry were ordered to charge at half +speed, levelling their lances at the eyes of the enemy, and +charging clear through without halting to make thrusts. We had +hardly marched half a quarter of a league, when we observed the +whole army of the enemy, covering the plain on every side as far +as the eye could reach, each separate body displaying its +particular device or standard, and all advancing to the sound of +martial music. A great deal might be said of this tremendous and +long doubtful battle, in which four hundred of us were opposed to +prodigious hosts, which surrounded us on every side, filling all +the plains to the extent of two leagues. Their first discharges +of arrows, stones, and double-headed darts covered the whole +ground which we occupied, and they advanced continually till +closed upon us all around, attacking us with the utmost +resolution with lances and two-handed swords, encouraging each +other by continual shouts. Our artillery, musketry, and +cross-bows plied them with incessant discharges, and made +prodigious havoc among the crowded masses of the enemy, and the +home thrusts of our infantry with their swords, prevented them +from closing up so near as they had done in the former battle. +Yet with all our efforts, our battalion was at one time +completely broken into and separated, and all the exertions of +our general was for some time unable to get us again into order; +at length, however, by the diligent use of our swords, we forced +them from among us, and were able again to close our ranks. +During the whole battle our cavalry produced admirable effects, +by incessant charges through the thickest of the enemy. We in +some measure owed our safety, under God, to the unwieldy +multitude of the enemy, so that some of the divisions could never +get up to the attack. One of the grand divisions, composed of the +warriors dependant on <i>Guaxocinga</i>, was prevented from +taking any share in the battle by <i>Chichemecatecle</i>[7], +their commander, who had been provoked by some insulting language +by Xicotencatl respecting his conduct in the preceding +engagement, of which circumstance we received information +afterwords. The circumstance of these divisions not joining in +the battle, slackened the ardour of the rest, more especially +after they had experienced the terrible effects of our cavalry, +artillery, and other offensive weapons; and one of their greatest +chiefs being killed, they at length drew off from the fight, and +were pursued to a short distance by our cavalry. In this great +battle, one only of our soldiers was killed, but seventy men and +all our horses were wounded. I had two wounds, one by an arrow +and the other by a stone, but they were not sufficient to make me +unfit for duty. Thus again masters of the field, we gave thanks +to God for his merciful preservation, and returned to our former +post, first burying our dead companion in one of the +subterraneous houses, which was filled up and levelled, that his +body might not be discovered by the enemy. We passed the ensuing +night in a most comfortless situation, not being able to procure +even oil and salt, and exposed to excessive cold winds from the +snowy mountains.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] Called the son of Chichimeca Teuctli by +Clavigero; perhaps his name was Guaxocingo, and Diaz, after a +long interval of time, transposed the names of the father and +son.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Cortes sent a fresh message by three of our prisoners and +those who had carried his former message, demanding a free +passage to Mexico, and threatening to destroy the whole country +in case of refusal. On their arrival at Tlascala, they found the +chiefs much cast down at their repeated losses, yet unwilling to +listen to our proposals. They sent for their priests and wizards, +who pretended to foretel future events by casting lots, desiring +them to say if the Spaniards were vincible, and what were the +best means of conquering us; likewise demanding whether we were +men or superior beings, and what was our food. The wizards +answered, that we were men like themselves, subsisting upon +ordinary food, but did not devour the hearts of our enemies as +had been reported; alleging that though invincible by day, we +might be conquered at night, as we derived all our power from the +influence of the sun. Giving credit to this response, Xicotencatl +received orders to make an immediate attack on our quarters +during the night. He marched accordingly with ten thousand +warriors, and made a night attack on our post in three places at +once: But our outposts kept too good guard to be taken by +surprise, and we were under arms in a moment to receive them. +They met with so warm a reception, that they were soon forced to +turn their backs; and as it was clear moon-light, our cavalry +pursued them with great effect, so that they returned to their +camp heartily repenting of their night attack; insomuch that it +was reported they sacrificed two of their priests for deceiving +them to their hurt. In this action one only of our allies was +killed, and two Spaniards wounded; but our situation was far from +consolatory. Besides being dreadfully hard harassed by fatigue, +we had lost fifty-five of our soldiers from wounds, sickness, and +severity of the weather, and several were sick. Our general and +Father Olmedo were both ill of fevers: And we began to think it +would be impossible for us to reach Mexico, after the determined +resistance we had experienced from the Tlascalans.</p> + +<p>In this extremity several of the officers and soldiers, among +whom I was one, waited on Cortes, and advised him to release his +prisoners and to make a fresh offer of friendship with the +Tlascalans through these people. He, who acted on all occasions +like a good captain, never failing to consult with us on affairs +of importance, agreed with our present advice, and gave orders +accordingly. Donna Marina, whose noble spirit and excellent +judgment supported her on all occasions of danger, was now of +most essential service to us, as indeed she often was; as she +explained in the most forcible terms to these messengers, that if +their countrymen did not immediately enter into a treaty of peace +with us, that we were resolved to march against their capital, +and would utterly destroy it and their whole nation. Our +messengers accordingly went to Tlascala, where they waited on the +chiefs of the republic, the principal messenger bearing our +letter in one hand, as a token of peace, and a dart in the other +as a signal of war, as if giving them their choice of either. +Having delivered our resolute message, it pleased GOD to incline +the hearts of these Tlascalan rulers to enter into terms of +accommodation with us. The two principal chiefs, named Maxicatzin +and Xicotencatl the elder[8], immediately summoned the other +chiefs of the republic to council, together with the cacique of +Guaxocingo the ally of the republic, to whom they represented +that all the attacks which they had made against us had been +ineffectual, yet exceedingly destructive to them; that the +strangers were hostile to their inveterate enemies the Mexicans, +who had been continually at war against their republic for +upwards of an hundred years, and had so hemmed them in as to +deprive them of procuring cotton or salt; and therefore that it +would be highly conducive to the interests of the republic to +enter into an alliance with these strangers against their common +enemies, and to offer us the daughters of their principal +families for wives, in order to strengthen and perpetuate the +alliance between us. This proposal was unanimously agreed upon by +the council, and notice was immediately sent to the general of +this determination, with orders to cease from hostilities. +Xicotencatl was much offended at this order, and insisted on +making another nocturnal attack on our quarters. On learning this +determination of their general, the council of Tlascala sent +orders to supersede him in the command, but the captains and +warriors of the army refused obedience to this order, and even +prevented four of the principal chiefs of the republic from +waiting upon us with an invitation to come to their city.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] It has been already mentioned that Clavigero +writes these two as the names of one man, Xicotencatl Maxicatzin, +informing us that the latter name signifies the +elder.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After waiting two days for the result of our message without +receiving any return, we proposed to march to Zumpacingo, the +chief town of the district in which we then were, the principal +people of which had been summoned to attend at our quarters, but +had neglected our message. We accordingly began our march for +that place early of a morning, having Cortes at our head, who was +not quite recovered from his late illness. The morning was so +excessively cold, that two of our horses became so exceedingly +ill that we expected them to have died, and we were all like to +perish from the effects of the piercing winds of the <i>Sierra +Nevada</i>, or Snowy Mountains. This occasioned us to accelerate +our march to bring us into heat, and we arrived at Zumpacingo +before daybreak; but the inhabitants, immediately on getting +notice of our approach, fled precipitately from their houses, +exclaiming that the <i>teules</i> were coming to kill them. We +halted in a place surrounded with walls till day, when some +priests and old men came to us from the temples, making an +apology for neglecting to obey our summons, as they had been +prevented by the threats of their general Xicotencatl. Cortes +ordered them to send us an immediate supply of provisions, with +which they complied, and then sent them with a message to +Tlascala, commanding the chiefs of the republic to attend him at +this place to establish a peace, as we were still ignorant of +what had taken place in consequence of our former message. The +Indians of the country began to entertain a favourable opinion of +us, and orders were given by the Tlascalan senate that the people +in our neighbourhood should supply us plentifully with +provisions.</p> + +<p>At this time some of the soldiers resumed their mutinous +complaints, particularly those who had good houses and +plantations in Cuba, who murmured at the hardships they had +undergone and the manifold dangers with which we were surrounded. +Seven of their ringleaders now waited on Cortes, having a +spokesman at their head, who addressed the general in a studied +oration, representing, "That above fifty-five of our companions +had already perished during the expedition, and we were now +ignorant of the situation of those we had left at Villa Rica. +That we were so surrounded by enemies, it was hardly possible to +escape from being sacrificed to the idols of the barbarians, if +we persisted in our present hopeless enterprize. Our situation, +they said, was worse than beasts of burden, who had food and rest +when forced to labour, while we were oppressed with fatigue, and +could neither procure sleep or provisions. As therefore the +country now seemed peaceable and the enemy had withdrawn, the +present opportunity ought to be taken for returning immediately +to Villa Rica, on purpose to construct a vessel to send for +reinforcements from Cuba; adding, that they lamented the +destruction of our shipping, a rash and imprudent step, which +could not be paralleled in history," Cortes answered them with +great mildness; "That he was satisfied no soldiers ever exhibited +more valour than we, and that by perseverance alone could we hope +to preserve our lives amidst those great perils which God +hitherto delivered us from, and that he hoped for a continuance +of the same mercy. He appealed to them to say if he had ever +shrunk from sharing in all their dangers; which indeed he might +well do, as he never spared himself on any occasion. As to the +destruction of the ships, it was done advisably, and for most +substantial reasons; and as the most illustrious of our +countrymen had never ventured on so bold a measure, it was better +to look forward with trust in God, than to repine at what could +not now be remedied. That although the natives we had left behind +were at present friendly, all would assuredly rise against us the +moment we began to retreat; and if our situation were now bad, it +would then be desperate. We were now in a plentiful country; and +as for our losses by death and fatigue, such was the fortune of +war, and we had not come to this country to enjoy sports and +pastimes. I desire therefore of you, who are all gentlemen, that +you no longer think of retreat, but that you henceforwards shew +an example to the rest, by doing your duty like brave soldiers, +which I have always found you hitherto." They still continued to +urge the danger of persisting in the march to Mexico; but Cortes +cut them short, saying, That it was better to die at once than +live dishonoured: And being supported by all his friends, the +malcontents were obliged to stifle their dissatisfaction, as we +all exclaimed that nothing more should be said on the +subject.</p> + +<p>Our deputation from Zumpacingo to Tlascala was at length +successful; as after four repeated messages from the chiefs of +the republic, their general Xicotencatl was obliged to cease +hostilities. Accordingly forty Indians were sent by him to our +quarters with a present of fowls, bread, and fruit. They also +brought four old women in tattered clothes, some incense, and a +quantity of parrots feathers. After offering incense to Cortes, +one of the messengers addressed him as follows: "Our general +sends these things to you. If ye are <i>teules</i>, as is +reported, and desire human victims, take the hearts and blood of +these women as food: We have not sacrificed them to you, as you +have not hitherto made known your pleasure. If ye are men, we +offer you fowls, bread, and fruit; if benignant <i>teules</i>, +who do not desire human sacrifices, here are incense and parrots +feathers." Cortes replied, That we were men like themselves, and +never put any one to death except in our own defence: That he had +repeatedly required them to make peace with us, which offer he +now renewed, advising them no longer to continue their mad +resistance, which must end in their own ruin and the destruction +of their country: That our only object in coming among them, was +to manifest the truths of our holy religion, and to put an end to +human sacrifices, by command from God and our emperor. These men +were spies, who had been sent by Xicotencatl to gain information +of the strength and disposition of our quarters; and we were +informed of this by our Chempoallan allies, who had learnt from +the people of Zumpacingo that Xicotencatl intended to attack us. +On this information, Cortes seized four of the messengers, whom +he forced by threats to confess, that their general only waited +for their report to attack us that night in our quarters. He then +caused seventeen of the Tlascalan messengers to be arrested, +cutting off the hands of some and the thumbs of others, and sent +them back in that condition to Xicotencatl with a message, that +he would wait his attack for two days, after which, if he heard +nothing farther from him, he would march with his Spaniards to +seek him in his post. On the return of his spies in a mutilated +state, Xicotencatl, who was prepared to march against us, lost +all his haughtiness and resolution, and we were informed that the +chief with whom he had quarrelled, now quitted the army with his +division.</p> + +<p>The approach of a numerous train of Indians by the road from +Tlascala was announced by one of our videts, from which we all +conceived hopes of an embassy of peace, which it actually was. +Cortes ordered us all immediately under arms, and on the arrival +of the embassy, four old men advanced to our general, and after +making three several reverences, touching the ground with their +hands and kissing them, they offered incense, and said: That they +were sent by the chiefs of Tlascala to put themselves +henceforwards under our protection, and declared that they would +on no account have made war upon us, if they had not believed we +were allies of Montezuma, their ancient and inveterate enemy. +They assured him that the first attack had been made upon us by +the Otomies without their approbation, who believed they might +easily have brought our small number as prisoners to their lords +of Tlascala. They concluded by soliciting pardon for what had +passed, assuring us that their general and the other chiefs of +Tlascala would soon wait upon us to conclude a durable peace. +Cortes in his answer, assumed a severe countenance, reproaching +them for the violence they had been guilty of, yet, in +consideration of their repentance, he accepted their presents, +and was willing to receive them to favour, as he wished for +peace; but desired them to inform their chiefs, if they delayed +waiting upon him, he would continue his hostilities till be had +ruined their whole country. The four ambassadors returned with +this message to their employers, leaving their attendants with +the provisions in our quarters. We now began to entertain hopes +of their sincerity, to our great satisfaction, as we were +heartily tired of the severe and hopeless war in which we had +been so long engaged.</p> + +<p>The news of the great victories which we had gained over the +Tlascalans soon spread over the whole country, and came to the +knowledge of Montezuma, who sent five principal nobles of his +court to congratulate us on our success. These men brought a +present of various articles of gold, to the value of 1000 crowns, +with twenty loads of rich mantles, and a message, declaring his +desire to become a vassal of our sovereign, to whom he was +willing to pay an yearly tribute. He added a wish to see our +general in Mexico, but, owing to the poverty of the country and +the badness of the roads, he found himself under the necessity to +deprive himself of that great pleasure. Cortes expressed his +gratitude for the present, and his satisfaction at the offer of +their sovereign to become tributary to our emperor; but requested +the Mexican ambassadors to remain with him till he had concluded +his arrangements with the Tlascalans, after which he would give +them a definitive answer to the message of Montezuma. While +conversing with the Mexican ambassadors, Xicotencatl, with fifty +of his principal warriors all in uniform habits of white and red, +came to wait upon Cortes with great respect, who received them +very courteously, causing the Tlascalan general to sit down +beside him. Xicotencatl then said, That he came in the name of +his father and the other chiefs of the Tlascalan nation, to +solicit peace and friendship, to submit themselves to our +sovereign, and to ask pardon for having taken up arms against us, +which had proceeded from their dread of the machinations of +Montezuma, who was always desirous of reducing their nation to +slavery. Their country, he said, was very poor, as it possessed +neither gold, jewels, cotton, nor salt; the two latter they were +prevented from obtaining by Montezuma, who had also deprived them +of all the gold their fathers had collected. Their poverty, +therefore, must plead their excuse, for not bringing satisfactory +presents. He made many other complaints against the oppressions +of Montezuma, and concluded by earnestly soliciting our +friendship and alliance. Xicotencatl was strong made, tall, and +well proportioned, having a broad and somewhat wrinkled face, and +grave aspect, appearing to be about thirty-five years old. Cortes +treated him with every mark of respect, and expressed his high +satisfaction that so brave and respectable a nation should become +our allies, and subjects to our sovereign; but warned them +seriously to beware of repeating the offences they had been +guilty of towards us, lest it should occasion an exemplary +punishment. The Tlascalan chief promised the utmost fidelity and +obedience, and invited us to come to their city; which Cortes +promised to do as soon as he had concluded his business with the +Mexican ambassadors, and Xicotencatl took his leave.</p> + +<p>The ambassadors of Montezuma endeavoured to impress Cortes +with distrust of the sincerity of the Tlascalans; asserting that +their professions of peace and friendship were only meant to +betray us, as they would certainly murder us while in their city. +To these representations Cortes answered that he was resolved to +go to Tlascala, that he might ascertain the sincerity of their +professions; and that any such attempt as the Mexicans surmised +would only bring on its own condign punishment. The ambassadors +then requested Cortes to delay his march for six days, that they +might receive fresh instructions from their sovereign, to which +he acceded for two reasons, because of the state of his own +health, and that the observations of the ambassadors seemed to +require serious consideration. He now sent a messenger to Juan +Escalente at Villa Rica, informing him of all that had happened, +and requiring him to send some vessels of sacramental wine, and +some consecrated bread, all that we had brought with us having +been used. We at this time got the people of Zumpacingo to purify +and white wash one of their temples, in which we erected a lofty +cross. Our new friends the Tlascalans supplied us amply with +provisions, particularly fowls and <i>tunas</i>, or Indian figs; +and repeatedly invited us to their capital, but with this last we +could not immediately comply, owing to the engagement with the +Mexican ambassadors. At the end of the sixth day, as agreed upon, +six nobles arrived from Montezuma, with a present of gold to the +value of 3000 crowns, and 200 rich mantles; with a complimentary +message, desiring us on no account to trust the Tlascalans or to +go to their capital. Cortes returned thanks for the present, and +the warning respecting the Tlascalans, whom he said he would +severely punish if they attempted any treachery: and as he was +just informed of the approach of the chiefs of Tlascala, he +requested the Mexican ambassadors to wait three days for his +final answer.</p> + +<p>The ancient chiefs of Tlascala now arrived at our quarters, +borne in litters or hammocks, and attended by a large train of +followers. These were Maxicatzin, Xicotencatl the elder, who was +blind, Guaxocinga, Chichimecatecle, and Tecapaneca the allied +cacique of Topeyanco. After saluting Cortes with great respect, +the old blind chief Xicotencatl addressed him to the following +effect: "We have often sent to request pardon for our +hostilities, which were caused by our suspicions that you were in +alliance with our enemy Montezuma. Had we known who and what you +were, we would have gone down to the coast to invite you from +your ships, and would have swept the roads clean before you. All +we can now do is to invite you to our city, where we shall serve +you in every thing within our power; and we beg you may not +listen to the misrepresentations of the Mexicans, who are our +enemies, and are influenced by malice against us." Cortes +returned thanks for their courtesy, saying that he would have +visited them ere now, but wanted men to draw his cannons. On +learning this, five hundred of the natives were assembled for +this service in less than half an hour, and Cortes promised to +visit their capital next day. We accordingly began our march +early next morning, the Mexican ambassadors accompanying us at +the desire of Cortes, and keeping always near his person that +they might not be insulted by their Tlascalan enemies. From this +time the natives always gave Cortes the name of Malintzin, +signifying the lord or captain of Marina, because she always +interpreted for him in their language. We entered the city of +Tlascala on the 23d September 1519, thirty-four days after our +arrival in the territories of the republic. As soon as we began +our march, the chiefs went before to provide quarters for us; and +on our approach to the city, they came out to meet us, +accompanied by their daughters and other female relations: each +tribe separately, as this nation consisted of four distinct +tribes, besides that which was governed by the cacique of +Topeyanco. These tribes were distinguished from each other by +different uniforms, of cloth made of <i>nequen</i>, as cotton did +not grow in their country. The priests, came likewise to meet us, +in long loose white garments, having their long hair all clotted +with blood proceeding from recent cuts in the ears, and having +remarkably long nails on their fingers; they carried pots of +incense, with which they fumigated us. On our arrival, the chiefs +saluted Cortes with much respect, and the people crowded to see +us in such numbers that we could hardly make our way through the +streets, presenting Cortes and the cavalry with garlands of +beautiful and sweet smelling flowers.</p> + +<p>We at length arrived at some large enclosed courts, in the +apartments, around which our lodgings were appointed; when the +two principal chiefs took Cortes by the hand and conducted him +into the apartment which was destined for his use. Every one of +our soldiers were provided with a mat and bed-clothes made of +<i>nequen</i> cloth. Our allies were lodged close by us, and the +Mexican ambassadors were accommodated, by desire of Cortes, in +the apartment next his own. Though we had every reason to confide +in the Tlascalans, Cortes used the most rigid military +precautions for our safety; which, being observed by the chiefs, +they complained of as indicating suspicion of their sincerity; +but Cortes assured them this was the uniform custom of our +country, and that he had the most perfect reliance on their +truth. As soon as an altar could be got ready, Cortes ordered +Juan Diaz to celebrate the mass, as Olmeda was ill of a fever. +Many of the native chiefs were present on this occasion, whom +Cortes took along with him after the service into his own +apartment, attended by those soldiers who usually accompanied +him. The elder Xicotencatl then offered a present, consisting of +a small quantity of gold and some pieces of cloth, not worth +twenty crowns altogether, and expressed his fear that he might +despise so paltry a present, which he excused on account of the +poverty of their nation, occasioned by the extortions of +Montezuma, from whom they were forced to purchase peace at the +expence of every thing valuable belonging to them. Cortes assured +them that he valued their gift, small as it was, more than he +would a house full of gold from others, as it was a testimony of +their friendship, which he greatly valued. Xicotencatl then +proposed that a strict alliance should be formed between the two +nations, and that our chiefs should accept their daughters in +marriage, offering his own to Cortes, who thanked him for these +marks of friendship. The chiefs remained with Cortes a whole day, +and as Xicotencatl was blind, Cortes permitted him to examine his +head, face, and beard with his hands, which he did with much +attention.</p> + +<p>Next day the chiefs brought five daughters of their principal +caciques, who were much handsomer than the other women of the +country, each attended by a female slave. On this occasion +Xicotencatl presented his own daughter to Cortes, and desired him +to assign the others among his principal officers. Cortes thanked +him for the mark of regard, but that for the present the ladies +must remain with their parents, as we must first obey the +commands of our God, and the orders of our sovereign, by +abolishing human sacrifices and other abominations, and by +teaching them the true faith in the adoration of one only God. He +then shewed them a beautiful image of the holy Mary, the queen of +heaven, the mother of our Lord by the power of the Holy Ghost, +conceived without sin, adding, That if they wished to become our +brethren, and that we should marry their daughters, they must +renounce their idolatry, and worship our God, by which they would +not only benefit their temporal concerns, but would secure an +eternal happiness in heaven; whereas by persisting in the worship +of their idols, which were representations of the devils, they +would consign themselves to hell, where they would be plunged +eternally into flames of fire. This and a great deal more +excellently to the purpose, being well explained to them by our +interpreters, the chiefs made answer to the following effect: +That they readily believed all they had now heard respecting the +excellence of our God and his saints, and might in time be able +to understand the subject of his exhortations; but that if they +were now to renounce the religion of their ancestors in their old +age to please us, the priests and people would rebel against +them; more especially as the priests had already consulted their +gods, who had commanded them on no account to omit the human +sacrifices and other ancient customs, as otherwise they would +send famine, pestilence, and war into their country: They +requested, therefore that nothing more might be said on this +subject, as they could not renounce their gods but with their +lives. When the subject of this conference was reported to father +Olmedo, who was a wise and good man, he advised the general not +to urge the matter any farther for the present, as he was adverse +to forced conversions, such as had been already attempted at +Chempoalla; and that to destroy the idols were a needless act of +violence, unless the principles of idolatry were eradicated from +their minds by argument as they would easily procure other idols +to continue their worship. Three of our cavaliers, Alvarado, de +Leon, and De Lugo, gave a similar advice to Cortes, and the +subject was judiciously dropped, which might have again excited +the Tlascalans to inveterate enmity.</p> + +<p>Soon after this we got permission to clear out and purify one +of the temples, which was converted into a Christian church, and +had an altar and cross erected. Here the ladies who were destined +to be the brides of our officers, having been instructed in the +principles of the Christian religion were baptized. The daughter +of Xicotencatl was named Donna Luisa, and being taken by the hand +by Cortes, was presented by him to Alvarado, saying to her rather +that this officer was his brother, with which arrangement the old +cacique seemed perfectly satisfied. Almost the whole province of +Tlascala came afterwards to depend upon this lady, paying rent +and homage to her. She had a son by Alvarado named Don Pedro, and +a daughter Donna Leonora, who inherited her mothers domains, and +is now the wife of Don Francisco de la Cueva, cousin to the Duke +of Albuquerque, by whom she has four or five sons. In right of +his wife Donna Luisa, Alvarado became lord, and almost sovereign +of Tlascala. As far as I can remember, the niece, or daughter of +Maxicatzin, named Donna Leonora, and remarkably handsome, was +given to Velasquez de Leon. I have forgotten the names of the +other ladies, all stiled Donnas, but they were assigned to De +Oli, Sandoval, and Avila. After the ceremonies were concluded, +the natives were informed that the crosses were erected in order +to expel the evil spirits which they had been in use to +worship.</p> + +<p>Cortes obtained considerable information from the two +principal chiefs of Tlascala, Xicotencatl, and Maxicatzin, +relative to the military and political state of Mexico. They said +that Montezuma had an army of an hundred thousand warriors, +occupying all the cities of the neighbouring states, which were +subject to his dominions, with strong garrisons, and forcing them +to pay heavy tributes in gold, manufactures, productions of the +soil, and victims for sacrifice, so that his wealth and power +were exceedingly great; but that all the districts which were +under subjection to him were exceedingly dissatisfied with his +tyranny, and inclined to take part with his enemies. Their own +state of Tlascala had been in almost continual wars with the +Mexicans for above an hundred years, and formed a league for +mutual defence with the people of Guaxocingo[9]; but were +principally vexed by inroads from the Mexican garrison in +Cholula, from which city the troops of Montezuma were able to +come by surprise on the Tlascalan territories. They described the +city of Mexico as of great strength, being built in the lake, and +only accessible by narrow causeways, with wooden bridges, and +having no access to most of its houses but by drawbridges or +boats. They described the arms of the Mexicans as consisting of +double-headed darts, which were projected by a kind of slings, +lances having stone heads, an ell in length, and both edges as +sharp as a razor, and two-handed swords, edged likewise with +sharp stones, besides shields and other defensive armour. The +chiefs shewed large <i>nequen</i> cloths, on which their various +battles were represented, with all those different kinds of +weapons. They alleged that their country was anciently inhabited +by a people of great stature and very barbarous manners, who had +been extirpated by their ancestors, and produced a thigh-bone +which they said had belonged to one of these giants. I stood by +it, and it equalled my height, though I am as tall as most men. +We sent this bone to Spain for the inspection of his majesty. The +chiefs told us that their idols had long ago predicted, that a +people was to arrive from the distant lands where the sun rises, +and to subdue their country, and they believed we were those to +whom the prediction applied. Cortes said that this was certainly +the case, and that our great emperor had sent us to establish a +lasting friendship between our nation and them, and to be the +instruments of shewing them the only way of Salvation: To which +we all said Amen!</p> + +<blockquote>[9] This place, so often mentioned by Diaz, seems to +be the same called Huexotzinco by Clavigero.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While we were in Tlascala a volcano near Guaxocingo threw out +great quantities of flames, and Diego de Ordas went up to examine +it, attended by two Spanish soldiers, and some of the principal +Indians. The natives declined going any nearer to the volcano +than the temples of <i>Popocatepeque</i>, but De Ordas and his +two Spanish comrades ascended to the summit of the mountain, and +looked down into the crater, which is a circle of near a quarter +of a league diameter. From this peak also, they had a distant +view of the city of Mexico, which was twelve or thirteen leagues +from the mountain. This was considered as a great feat, and De +Ordas, on his return to Spain, got royal authority to bear this +volcano in his arms, which is now borne by his nephew who dwells +in La Puebla. This volcano did not throw out flames for a good +many years afterwards, but it flamed with great violence in 1530. +We observed many wooden cages in the city of Tlascala, in which +the victims intended for sacrifice were confined and fattened; +but we destroyed all these, releasing the unhappy prisoners, who +remained along with us, as they dared not to return to their own +homes. Cortes spoke very angrily to the Tlascalan chiefs, +exhorting them to abolish this horrible custom of human +sacrifices, and they promised amendment; but immediately, on our +backs being turned, they resumed their ancient abominations.</p> + +<p>SECTION VII</p> + +<p><i>Events during the March of the Spaniards from Tlascala to +Mexico</i>.</p> + +<p>After a stay of seventeen days, in Tlascala to refresh +ourselves after our late severe fatigues, and for the recovery of +our wounded companions, it was resolved to resume our march to +the city of Mexico, though the rich settlers of Cuba still +endeavoured to persuade Cortes to return to Villa Rica. This +resolution also gave much uneasiness to our new Tlascalan allies, +who used every argument to make us distrust the courteous manners +of Montezuma and his subjects, whom they alleged to be extremely +treacherous, and would either fall upon and destroy us on the +first favourable opportunity, or would reduce us to slavery. In +the event of hostilities between us and the Mexicans, they +exhorted us to kill them all young and old. Cortes thanked them +for their friendly counsel, and offered to negociate a treaty of +peace and amity between them and the Mexicans; but they would by +no means consent to this measure, saying that the Mexican +government would employ peace only as a cover for treachery. On +making inquiry as to the best road to Mexico, the ambassadors of +Montezuma recommended that by Cholula, in which we should find +good accommodation; but the Tlascalans earnestly entreated us to +go by Huexotzinco which was in alliance with them, representing +the Cholulans as a perfidious people. But Cortes determined to +take the road of Cholula, intending to remain in that city till +he could secure a safe and peaceable reception at Mexico; he sent +therefore a message to the chiefs of Cholula, to inform them of +his intentions, and to express his dissatisfaction at their +conduct in not having been to wait upon him. While engaged in +preparations for our departure, four of the principal nobles of +Mexico arrived with a rich present, consisting of gold to the +value of 10,000 crowns, and ten bales of mantles of the finest +feather-work. After saluting Cortes with profound respect, they +said that Montezuma was astonished at our long residence among so +poor and base a people as the Tlascalans, and that he requested +we would come without delay to his capital. Cortes assured them +that he would very soon pay his respects to their sovereign, and +requested they would remain along with him during the march. He +also at this time appointed Pedro de Alvarado, and Vasquez de +Tupia, to go as his ambassadors to Montezuma, with instructions +to examine the city of Mexico. These gentlemen set out +accordingly, along with the former Mexican ambassadors, but were +soon recalled, in consequence of a remonstrance from the army. At +this time I was confined by my wounds, and was ill of a fever, +and consequently incapable of attending minutely to all that +passed.</p> + +<p>In return to our message, the chiefs of Cholula sent a very +dry and uncourteous answer by four men of low degree, and without +any present. As this was obviously done in contempt, Cortes sent +the messengers back to inform the chiefs, that he would consider +them as rebels if they did not wait upon him personally in three +days; but, if they complied with this requisition, he was willing +to accept them as friends and brothers, and had much intelligence +of great importance to communicate to them. They sent back, +saying, that they durst not come into the country of their +inveterate enemies the Tlascalans, who they were sure had grossly +misrepresented both them and Montezuma to us, but engaged to give +us an honourable reception in their city. When the Tlascalans +found we were determined upon taking the road of Cholula, +contrary to their advice, they proposed that we should take +10,000 of their best warriors along with us; but our general +considered this number as too many for a visit of peace, and +would only accept 3000, who were immediately made ready to attend +us. Using every proper precaution for our safety, we began our +march from Tlascala, and arrived that evening at a river about a +league from Cholula, where there is now a stone bridge, and +encamped here for the night. Some of the chiefs came to +congratulate our arrival in their neighbourhood, and gave us a +courteous invitation to visit their city. We continued our march +next day, and were met near the city by the chiefs and priests, +all dressed in cassocks of cotton cloth, resembling those used by +the Zapotecans. After presenting incense to Cortes, the chiefs +made an apology for not waiting upon him at Tlascala, and +requested that so large a body of their enemies might not be +permitted to enter their city. As this request appeared +reasonable, Cortes sent Alvarado and De Oli, to desire our allies +to hut themselves without the city, which they did accordingly, +imitating the military discipline of the Spaniards, in the +arrangement of their camp and the appointment of centinels. +Before entering the city, Cortes explained the purpose of his +mission in a long oration, in the same manner as he had already +done at all the other places during the march. To all this they +answered that they were ready to yield obedience to our sovereign +in all things, but could not abandon the religion of their +ancestors. We then marched on in our usual compact order, +attended only by our allies from Chempoalla, and the Indians who +drew our artillery, and conveyed our baggage, and entered the +city, all the streets and terraces of which was filled with an +immense concourse of people, through whom we were conducted to +our appointed quarters, in some large apartments, which +conveniently accommodated our army and all our attendants.</p> + +<p>While we remained in this place, a plot was concerted by the +Mexican ambassadors for the introduction of 20,000 warriors +belonging to Montezuma, who were to attack us in conjunction with +the people of Cholula; and several houses were actually filled +with poles and leather collars, by means of which we were to have +been bound and carried prisoners to Mexico. But God was pleased +that we should discover and confound their machinations. During +the first two days, we were perfectly well entertained; but on +the third no provisions were sent us, and none of the chiefs or +priests appeared at our quarters. Such few of the inhabitants as +we happened to see, speedily withdrew with a malicious sneer; and +on Cortes applying to the Mexican ambassadors to procure +provisions for us as usual, some wood and water only were brought +to us by a few old men, as if in derision, who said that no maize +could be procured. This day, likewise, some ambassadors arrived +from Montezuma, who desired in very disrespectful terms on no +account to approach Mexico, and demanded an immediate answer. +Cortes gave them a mild answer, expressing his astonishment at +the alteration in the tone of their sovereign, but requested a +short delay before giving his definitive answer to their message. +He then summoned us together, and desired us to keep on the +alert, as he suspected some great act of treachery was in +agitation against us. As the chiefs of Cholula had refused to +wait upon him, Cortes sent some soldiers to a great temple close +to our quarters, with orders to bring two of the priests to him +as quietly as possible. They succeeded in this without +difficulty; and, having made a trifling present to the priests, +he inquired as to the reason of the late extraordinary conduct of +the Cholulan chiefs. One of these who was of high rank, having +authority over all the temples and priests of the city, like one +of our bishops, told Cortes that he would persuade some of the +chiefs to attend him, if allowed to speak with them; and, being +permitted to go away for that purpose, he soon brought several of +the chiefs to our quarters. Cortes reproved them sharply for the +change in their behaviour to us, and commanded them to send an +immediate supply of provisions, and likewise to provide him next +day with a competent number of people to convey our baggage and +artillery, as he meant then to resume his march to Mexico. The +chiefs appeared quite confounded and panic struck, yet promised +to send in provisions immediately, alleging in excuse for their +conduct, that they had been so ordered by Montezuma, who was +unwilling that we should advance any farther into his +dominions.</p> + +<p>At this time, three of our Chempoallan allies called Cortes +aside, and told him that they had discovered several pitfals +close to our quarters, covered over with wood and earth, and that +on examining one of these they found its bottom provided with +sharpened stakes. They informed him also that all the terraces of +the houses near our quarters had been recently provided with +parapets of sod, and great quantities of stones collected on +them, and that a strong barricade of timber had been erected +across one of the streets. Eight Tlascalans arrived also from +their army on the outside of the town, who warned Cortes that an +attack was intended against us, as the priests of Cholula had +sacrificed eight victims on the preceding night to their god of +war, five of whom were children; and that they had seen crowds of +women and children withdrawing from the city with their valuable +effects, all of which were sure signs of some impending +commotion. Cortes thanked the Tlascalans for this instance of +their fidelity, and sent them back to the camp with orders to +their chiefs to hold themselves in readiness for any emergency. +He then returned to the chiefs and priests, to whom he repeated +his former orders, warning them not to deviate from their +obedience, on pain of instant condign punishment, commanding them +at the same time to prepare 2000 of their best warriors to +accompany him next day on his march to Mexico. The chiefs readily +promised to obey all his commands, thinking in this manner to +facilitate their projected treachery, and took their leave. +Cortes then employed Donna Marina to bring back the two priests +who had been with him before, from whom he learnt, that Montezuma +had been lately very unsettled in his intentions towards us, +sometimes giving orders to receive us honourably, and at other +times commanding that we should not be allowed to pass. That he +had lately consulted his gods, who had revealed that we were all +to be put to death, or made prisoners in Cholula, to facilitate +which he had sent 20,000 of his troops to that place, half of +whom were now in the city, and the rest concealed at the distance +of a league. They added, that the plan of attack was all settled, +and that twenty of our number were to be sacrificed in the +temples of Cholula, and all the rest to be conveyed prisoners to +Mexico. Cortes rewarded them liberally for their intelligence, +and enjoined them to preserve the strictest secrecy on the +subject, commanding them to bring all the chiefs to his quarters +at an appointed time. He then convened a council of all the +officers, and such soldiers as he most confided in, before whom +he laid an account of the information which he had received, +desiring their advice as to the best conduct to be pursued in the +present alarming emergency. Some proposed to return immediately +to Tlascala, and others proposed various measures, but it was the +universal opinion that the treachery of the Cholulans required to +be severely punished, as a warning to other places. It was +accordingly resolved to inflict condign punishment on the +Cholulans within the courts where we were quartered, which were +surrounded by high walls, but in the meantime, to continue our +preparations for resuming the march, in order to conceal our +intentions. We then informed the Mexican ambassadors, that we had +discovered the treacherous intentions of the Cholulans, who +pretended that they acted by orders of Montezuma, which we were +convinced was a false aspersion. They solemnly declared their +ignorance of these transactions; but Cortes ordered them to have +no farther intercourse with the inhabitants of the city, and sent +them to his own quarters under a strong guard for the night, +during the whole of which we lay upon our arms, ready to act at a +moments warning.</p> + +<p>During this anxious night, the wife of one of the caciques, +who had taken a great liking to Donna Marina, came secretly to +visit that lady, informing her of the plot, invited her to take +refuge in her house from the danger which was about to overwhelm +us, and proposed to give her for a husband the brother of a boy +who was along with her. Donna Marina, with her usual presence of +mind, agreed to every thing proposed with a profusion of thanks, +and said she only wanted some one to take charge of her effects +before leaving the Spanish quarters. In course of this +conversation, Marina acquired particular information of every +part of this mysterious affair, which the old woman told her had +been communicated to her three days before by her husband, who +was chief of one of the divisions of the city, and was now with +his warriors, giving directions for their co-operation with the +Mexican troops, and who had lately received a gold drum from +Mexico, as an ensign of command. Donna Marina desired the old +woman and her son to remain in her apartment till she went in +search of her valuables; but went immediately to Cortes, to whom +she communicated all the information she had received, adding +that her informer was still in her apartment. Cortes immediately +sent for the old woman, who being confronted by Donna Marina, +repeated every thing exactly as before, which agreed in all +respects with the information he had already received from +others.</p> + +<p>When day appeared, the hurry of the chiefs, priests and people +in coming to our quarters as appointed, and their apparent +satisfaction, was as great as if we had been already secured in +their cages. They brought a much greater number of warriors to +attend us than had been required, insomuch that the large courts +in which we were quartered were unable to contain them. We were +all prepared for the event, having a strong guard of soldiers +posted at the gate of the great court, to prevent any one from +escaping. Cortes mounted on horseback, attended by a strong +guard; and as he saw the people crowding in at the gate, he said +to us, "See how anxious these traitors are to feast on our flesh! +But GOD will disappoint their hopes." He ordered the two priests +who had given him the information to retire to their houses that +they might escape the intended slaughter. Every one being arrived +in the great court, he commanded the chiefs and priests to draw +near, to whom he made a calm remonstrance on the treachery of +their conduct towards us, which was explained by Donna Marina. He +asked them why they had plotted to destroy us, and what we had +done to deserve their enmity, except exhorting them to abandon +their barbarous and abominable customs, and endeavouring to +instruct them in our holy religion? Their evil intentions, he +said, had been obvious, by withdrawing their women and children +from the city, and by insultingly sending us only wood and water, +when we required provisions. He said he was perfectly acquainted +with the ambush which was placed in the road by which we meant to +march, and with all the other contrivances they had made for our +destruction; and that in recompence of our proffered friendship, +and of all the holy services we intended them, he knew that they +meant to kill and eat us, and that the pots were already on the +fire, prepared with salt, pepper, and <i>tomatas</i>, in which +our dissevered limbs were to be boiled. He knew that they had +doomed twenty of us to be sacrificed to their idols, to whom they +had already immolated seven of their own brethren. "Since you +were determined to attack us," said he in conclusion, "it had +been more manly to have done so openly like the Tlascalans, and +not to have resorted to mean and cowardly treachery. But be +assured that the victory which your false gods have promised is +beyond their power, and the punishment of your treason is now +ready to burst on your guilty heads."</p> + +<p>The astonished chiefs confessed every thing which was laid to +their charge, but endeavoured to excuse themselves, by laying the +whole blame on the orders they had received from Montezuma. +"Wretches," said Cortes, "this falsehood is an aggravation of +your offence, and such complicated crimes can never be permitted +to pass unpunished." He then ordered a musket to be fired, as a +signal to commence the slaughter, for which we all stood +prepared. We immediately fell furiously on the multitudes who +were inclosed within the walls of our quarters, and executed +their merited punishment in such a manner as will be long +remembered by the remaining natives of Cholula. A vast number of +them were put to death on the spot, and many of them were +afterwards burned alive. In less than two hours, our Tlascalan +allies arrived in the city, having been previously instructed in +our plan, and made a terrible slaughter in the streets of the +city; and when the Cholulans ceased to make resistance, they +ravaged the city, plundering it of every thing valuable they +could lay hold of, and making slaves of all the inhabitants who +fell in their way. On the day following, when intelligence +reached Tlascala of the transactions at Cholula, great numbers +crowded to the devoted city, which they plundered without mercy. +It now became necessary to restrain the fury of the Tlascalans, +and Cortes gave orders to their chiefs to withdraw their troops +from the city, with which they immediately complied.</p> + +<p>Quiet being in some measure restored, some chiefs and priests +who presided over a distant quarter of the city, which they +pretended had not been engaged in the conspiracy, waited in an +humble manner on Cortes, and prayed a remission of the punishment +which had already fallen so heavily on their townsmen. The two +before mentioned priests, and the old woman from whom Donna +Marina had procured such material information, came forward +likewise, and joined in the same petition, and Cortes determined +to shew clemency to the rest of the city, yet seemed still in +great rage. He called the Mexican ambassadors into his presence, +in whose presence he declared that the whole inhabitants of the +city and dependancy of Cholula had richly merited to be utterly +extirpated for their treachery; but that out of respect to the +great Montezuma, whose vassals they were, he consented to pardon +them. He then ordered the Tlascalans to liberate their prisoners, +which they in some measure complied with, setting free many of +those they intended to have reduced to slavery, yet retained a +prodigious booty in gold, mantles, cotton, and salt. Having +proclaimed an amnesty to the Cholulans, he reconciled them and +the Tlascalans who had anciently been confederates; and being +desired to appoint a new chief cacique of Cholula, in place of +the former who had been put to death, Cortes inquired to whom +that dignity belonged of right, and being informed that the +brother of the late head cacique ought to succeed according to +their laws, he nominated him to the office. As soon as the +inhabitants had returned to their houses, and order was restored +in the city, Cortes summoned all the chiefs and priests to a +conference, in which he explained to them the principles of our +holy religion, earnestly exhorting them to renounce their +idolatry, and the odious practices connected with it; and, as an +instance of the uselessness of their idols, he reminded them how +much they had been lately deceived by the false responses imposed +upon them in their names: He proposed to them therefore, to +destroy their senseless idols, and to erect an altar and cross in +their stead. The latter was immediately complied with, but Father +Olmedo advised him to postpone the former to a more favourable +opportunity, from a due consideration of our uncertain and +perilous situation.</p> + +<p>Cholula was then a large and populous city, much resembling +Valladolid, situated on a fertile plain which was thickly +inhabited, and all its surrounding district was well cultivated +with maize, maguey, and pepper. There were above a hundred lofty +white towers in the city, belonging to different idol temples, +one of which was held in very high estimation, that principal +temple being more lofty even than the great temple of Mexico. An +excellent manufacture of earthen ware was carried on at this +place, the various articles of which were curiously painted in +different patterns, in red, black, and white, and from which the +city of Mexico and all the surrounding countries were supplied, +as Castile is from Talavera and Placencia. In the numerous +temples of this city there were many cages; which were filled +with men and boys, fattening up for sacrifice, all of which +Cortes caused to be destroyed, sending the miserable captives +home to their respective houses. He likewise gave positive orders +to the priests to desist in future from this most abominable +custom, which they promised to refrain from, but they forgot +their promises as soon as the authority of our irresistible arms +was removed.</p> + +<p>On hearing the melancholy fate of their companions in Cholula, +the Mexican troops who were posted in ambush, with trenches and +barricades to oppose our cavalry, made a precipitate retreat to +Mexico, whether they carried an account to Montezuma of the +failure of his plot for our destruction; but he had already heard +the news of his misfortunes from two of his ambassadors, whom +Cortes had dismissed for the purpose. It was reported that he +immediately ordered a solemn sacrifice to his gods, and shut +himself up for two days with ten of his chief priests, engaged in +rigid devotional exercises, on purpose to obtain a response from +his gods respecting his future destiny; and we afterwards learnt +that the priests advised him, as from their gods, to send an +embassy to exculpate himself from having any connection with what +had passed in Cholula, and to inveigle us into Mexico; where, by +cutting off the supply of water, or by raising the bridges on the +causeways, he might easily destroy us, or detain us in slavery to +breed people like ourselves for his service.</p> + +<p>Having remained fourteen days in Cholula, Cortes consulted in +regard to our future operations with a council of those officers +and soldiers who were most sincerely attached to his person, as +indeed he never engaged in any matter of importance without +taking our advice. In this consultation, it was determined to +send a respectful message to Montezuma, informing him that we +were on our way to pay our respects to him by the orders of our +own sovereign. Our messenger was likewise desired to relate the +whole late events which had occurred at Cholula, where the +treachery which had been concerted against us had come to our +knowledge, from which nothing could be concealed which concerned +our welfare, and that we had desisted from punishing the people +of that city to the full extent which they deserved, entirely out +of respect to him, whose vassals they were. That the chiefs and +priests had given out that all they had done or intended to do +was by his orders; but we could not possibly believe that so +great a monarch, after the many marks of friendship with which he +had honoured us, could be guilty of such infamous proceedings; +being convinced, if he had meditated hostility, he would have met +us honourably in the field of battle: But at the same time to +assure him, that day or night, field or town, fair battle or +villainous stratagem, were all the same for us, as we were always +prepared for every emergency. Montezuma had become exceedingly +thoughtful and alarmed on account of the failure of the plot in +Cholula, and now sent an embassy of six of his chief nobles to +wait on Cortes, with a present to the value of 2000 crowns in +gold, and several bales of fine mantles. The ambassadors saluted +Cortes with profound respect, and delivered a message in which +Montezuma endeavoured to exculpate himself from any concern in +the affair of Cholula, and in conclusion, invited the general to +his court. Cortes treated these ambassadors with his usual +politeness, and retaining three of them to serve as guides on our +march to Mexico, he sent on the others to inform Montezuma that +we were on our way to his capital. When the Tlascalan chiefs +understood our determination to proceed, they renewed their +former warnings to beware of treachery from the Mexicans, and +again offered to send 10,000 of their warriors along with us. But +Cortes, after thanking them for their friendly solicitude and +proffered aid, remarked, as he had done before, that so large a +body of troops was incompatible with an amicable visit, but +requested they would furnish 1000 men for our baggage and +artillery, which they immediately provided. Our faithful +Chempoalan allies, being afraid of the resentment of the Mexicans +for their revolt, begged permission to return to their district, +and Cortes dismissed them with a handsome present, sending +letters by them to Escalente at Villa Rica, containing an account +of our proceedings.</p> + +<p>We marched from Cholula in our usual compact order, prepared +for whatsoever might befal, sending out patroles of our cavalry +by threes in front, supported by a detachment of light infantry +as an advanced guard. On our arrival at a small village called +Izcalpan, in the district of Huexotzinco, about four leagues from +Cholula, we were met by the chiefs bearing provisions, and a +small present of gold. They requested our general to consider +only the good will of the givers, not the worthlessness of the +gift, as they were very poor; and, while they endeavoured to +dissuade him from attempting to proceed to Mexico, they also +informed him, that, on ascending the next mountain, he would find +two roads, the one of which leading by Chalco was broad and open, +while the other leading by Tlalmanalco, though originally equally +convenient, had been recently stopped up and obstructed by means +of trees felled across it to render it difficult, though it was +in reality shorter and more secure than that of Chalco, on which +road the Mexicans had placed a large party of troops in ambush +among some rocks, for the purpose of attacking us by surprise on +the march. They advised us therefore, if we were determined to +persevere, to choose the obstructed road, and offered to send a +number of their people to clear it for us. Cortes thanked them +for their good advice, of which he would avail himself by the +blessing of GOD. Having halted for the night at Izcalpan, we +resumed our march early the next morning, and reached the summit +of a mountainous ridge about noon, where we found the two roads +exactly as they had been described to us. We halted here in order +to deliberate on our procedure, when Cortes called the Mexican +ambassadors to explain the meaning of the felled trees. +Pretending ignorance on this subject, they advised him to take +the road of Chalco, where they said he would be well received. +Cortes chose however to take the other road, and sent on our +Indian allies to clear the way before us. As we ascended the +mountain, the weather became piercingly cold, and we even had a +considerable fall of snow, which covered the whole country round +about. We at length arrived at certain houses which had been +built on the very top of the mountain for the accommodation of +travellers, where we found an abundant supply of provisions, and +having placed proper guards, we halted here for the night. We +resumed our march next morning, and arrived by the hour of high +mass at the town of Halmanalco, where we were hospitably +received. The people of the neighbouring districts of Chalco, +Amaquemecan, and Ajotzinco, where the canoes are kept, waited on +Cortes at this place with a present of about 150 crowns in gold, +some mantles, and eight women. Cortes received them affably, and +promised them his friendship and protection; explaining to them, +as on former occasions, the doctrines of our holy faith, +exhorting them to abandon their idolatry and barbarous immolation +of human victims, informing them that he was sent among them by a +powerful monarch to redress wrongs, and to lead them in the way +of eternal salvation. On this the people began to make loud +complaints of the tyranny of Montezuma, who deprived them of +their wives and daughters if handsome, forcing the men to work +like slaves in the conveyance of stones, timber, and corn, and +appropriating their lands to the service of his temples. Cortes +gave them kind assurances of speedy redress, but recommended to +them to be patient yet a little while.</p> + +<p>Just as we were going to set out from Tlalmanalco, four of the +principal nobles of the court of Mexico arrived with presents +from Montezuma, and having made their customary obeisance, they +addressed Cortes in the following manner: "<i>Malinatzin</i>! our +sovereign sent this present to you, and desires us to say, that +he is grieved you should take so much trouble in coming from a +distant country to visit him. He has already made you be informed +that he will give you much gold, silver, and <i>chalchihuis</i> +for your <i>teules</i>, if you will give up your intention of +coming to Mexico. We now repeat this request in his name, that +you will return; and he will send after you a great treasure in +gold, silver, and jewels for your king, with four loads of gold +for yourself, and a load for each of your brethren. It is +impossible for you to proceed to Mexico, as the whole Mexican +warriors are in arms to oppose you; besides which you will find +the roads bad, and will be unable to procure provisions." +Embracing the ambassadors with much politeness, and having +returned thanks for their present, Cortes expressed his +astonishment at the changeableness of Montezuma, who thus +alternately invited and deprecated his presence. He begged them +to thank Montezuma for the splendid offers he had made of +treasure to the emperor, himself, and his soldiers; but it was +quite impossible for him to turn back, especially when so near +the capital, as his orders from his own sovereign were to pay his +respects to theirs in person; it was quite useless, therefore, to +send him any more such messages, for he was resolved to proceed; +and if Montezuma should desire his departure after having seen +him, he would be ready at his command to return to his own +country.</p> + +<p>Having thus dismissed the ambassadors, we continued our march, +and as our allies had informed us that Montezuma intended to put +us all to death, after our entry into his city, we were filled +with melancholy reflections on our hazardous situation; +recommending our souls therefore to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who +had already brought us in safety through so many imminent +dangers, and resolving to sell our lives at a dear rate, we +proceeded on our march. We halted at a town named Iztapalapan, +one half of the houses of which were built in the water, and the +rest on dry land, and took up our quarters there for the night. +While preparing early next morning to recommence our march, +information was brought by a sentinel that a great number of +Mexicans in rich dresses were on the road towards our quarters, +on which Cortes again dismissed us. Four principal nobles of +Mexico now presented themselves with profound respect before our +general, whom they informed that Cacamatzin, lord of Tezcuco, and +nephew to the great Montezuma was approaching, and begged that he +would remain in his present situation to receive him. Cacamatzin +soon followed in vast pomp, borne in a magnificent litter, +adorned with jewels and plumes of green feathers, set in branched +pillars of gold. His litter was carried by eight nobles, who +assisted him to alight, and then swept the way before him as he +came up to Cortes. Our general embraced the prince, and made him +a present of three of the jewels named <i>margajitas</i>, which +are figured with various colours. The only purpose of this visit +seemed to have been complimentary, as he addressed Cortes in +these words: "I, and these lords, have come by order of the great +Montezuma, to conduct you to your residence in our city." We then +set forwards in our usual array for Mexico, the road being +crowded on both sides with innumerable multitudes of natives, and +soon arrived at the causeway of Iztapalapan, one of those which +leads to the capital.</p> + +<p>When we contemplated the number of populous towns so closely +situated in regard to each other, some on the water, and others +on the firm ground, we could not help comparing this wonderful +country to the enchanted scenes we read of in Amadis de Gaul, so +magnificent were the towers and temples and other superb edifices +of stone and lime, which seemed everywhere to rise out of the +water. Many of us were disposed to doubt the reality of the scene +before us, and to suspect we were in a dream; and my readers must +excuse the manner of my expressions, as never had any one seen, +heard, or even dreamt of any thing which could compare to the +magnificence of the scene we now beheld. On approaching +Iztapalapan, we were received by several of the highest nobles of +the Mexican empire, relations of Montezuma, who conducted us to +the lodgings appointed for us in that place, which were +magnificent palaces of stone, the timber work of which were +cedar, having spacious courts and large halls, furnished with +canopies of the finest cotton. After contemplating the +magnificence of the buildings, we walked through splendid +gardens, containing numerous alleys planted with a variety of +fruit trees, and filled with roses, and a vast variety of +beautiful and aromatic flowers. In these gardens there was a fine +sheet of clear water, communicating with the great lake of Mexico +by a canal, which was of sufficient dimensions to admit the +largest canoes. The apartments of the palace were everywhere +ornamented with works of art, admirably painted, and the walls +were beautifully plastered and whitened; the whole being rendered +delightful by containing great numbers of beautiful birds. When I +beheld the delicious scenery around me, I thought we had been +transported by magic to the terrestrial paradise. But this place +is now destroyed, and a great deal of what was then a beautiful +expanse of water, is now converted into fields of maize, and all +is so entirely altered that the natives themselves would hardly +know the place where Iztapalapan stood.</p> + +<p>SECTION VIII</p> + +<p><i>Arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico, Description of that +Court and City, and Transactions there, till the Arrival of +Narvaez on the coast to supersede Cortes, by order of +Velasquez</i>.</p> + +<p>Next day, being the 8th of November 1519, we set out on our +way into the city of Mexico along the grand causeway, which is +eight yards wide, and reaches in a straight line all the way from +the firm land to the city of Mexico, both sides of the causeway +being everywhere crowded with spectators, as were all the towers, +temples, and terraces in every part of our progress, eager to +behold such men and animals as had never been seen in that part +of the world. A very different sentiment from curiosity employed +our minds, though every thing we saw around us was calculated to +excite and gratify that passion in the highest degree. Our little +army did not exceed four hundred and fifty men, and we had been +told at every step of our march, that we were to be put to death +on our arrival in the city into which we were now about to enter. +That city was everywhere surrounded by water, and approachable +only by long moles or causeways interrupted in many places by +cross cuts, which were only to be passed by means of bridges, the +destruction or removal of any of which would effectually prevent +the possibility of retreat. In these circumstances I may fairly +ask my readers, what men in the world but ourselves would have +ventured on so bold and hazardous an enterprize?</p> + +<p>Proceeding along the broad causeway of Iztapalapan, we came to +a place called <i>Xoloc</i>, where a smaller causeway goes off +obliquely from the great one to the city of <i>Cojohuacan</i>, we +were met by a numerous train of the court nobles in the richest +dresses, who were sent before Montezuma to compliment us on our +arrival, after which Cacamatzin and the other nobles who had +hitherto attended us, went to meet their sovereign, who now +approached in a most magnificent litter, which was carried by +four of his highest nobles. When we came near certain towers, +almost close to the city, Montezuma was lifted from his litter, +and borne forwards in the arms of the lords of Tezcuco, +Iztapalapan, Tacuba, and Cojohuacan, under a splendid canopy, +richly adorned with gold, precious stones hung round like +fringes, and plumes of green feathers. Montezuma was dressed and +adorned with great magnificence, his mantle being all covered +with gold and gems, a crown of thin gold on his head, and gold +buskins on his legs ornamented with jewels. The princes who +supported him were all richly dressed, but in different habits +from those in which they had visited us; and several other nobles +in fine dresses, went before the monarch, spreading mantles on +the ground to prevent his feet from touching it. Three nobles +preceded the whole, each carrying a golden rod, as a signal of +the presence of their great monarch. All the natives who attended +Montezuma, except the four princes, kept their eyes fixed on the +ground, no one daring to look him in the face. On the approach of +Montezuma, Cortes dismounted and advanced towards him with every +token of profound respect, and was welcomed by the Mexican +monarch to his metropolis. Cortes then threw upon the neck of +Montezuma a collar of the artificial jewels called +<i>margajitas</i>, being glass beads of various colours, set in +gold; after which he advanced, meaning to embrace Montezuma, but +the surrounding nobles prevented him, by taking him respectfully +by the arms, considering this as too great familiarity. It +appeared to me that on this occasion Cortes offered to yield the +right hand to Montezuma, who declined this mark of respect, and +placed our general on his right. Cortes then made a complimentary +discourse to Montezuma, expressing his joy in having seen so +great a monarch, and the great honour he had done him, by coming +out to meet him, as well as by the many other marks of favour he +had already received. Montezuma made a gracious reply, and giving +orders to the princes of Tezcuco and Cojohuacan to conduct Cortes +and the rest of us to the quarters assigned to us, he returned to +the city in the same state in which he had come to meet us, all +the people standing close to the walls, not daring to look up; +and as we followed the royal attendants, we passed on without any +obstruction from the multitudes in the streets. It were +impossible to reckon the innumerable multitudes of men, women, +and children which thronged everywhere in the streets, on the +canals, and the terraces on the house tops, during the whole of +our passage through the city of Mexico. So strongly is every +thing I saw on this memorable day imprinted on my memory, that it +appears to me only as yesterday. Glory to our Lord and Saviour +Jesus Christ, who gave us courage to venture on so hazardous an +enterprize, and preserved us amid so many dangers: And praised be +his holy name, who hath permitted me to write this true history; +though not so full and satisfactory as the subject merits. +Amen!</p> + +<p>Lodgings were provided for us in the palace which had formerly +been occupied by Azayacatl, not far from the western gate of the +great temple. Here Montezuma had a secret treasury of gold and +valuables, which he had inherited from his father Azayacatl, and +we were placed here, because being considered as <i>teules</i>, +they thought we were properly lodged in the neighbourhood of +their idols. The entry to this palace was through a large walled +court, and the whole was very light, airy, clean, and pleasant, +with large and lofty apartments. That allotted for our general +was situated on a raised platform; and for each of us mats were +provided to sleep upon, having little canopies over them, after +the fashion of this country. On our arrival at the gate of this +palace, Montezuma, who had preceded us, took Cortes by the hand +and led him to the apartment destined to his particular use, and +having placed a rich collar of gold round the generals neck, he +said on taking leave of him, "Malinatzin, you and your friends +are now in your own house, refresh and repose yourselves." We +were distributed to our several apartments by companies, having +our artillery posted in a convenient situation, and every thing +was arranged in such a manner as to be prepared for any +emergency. A plentiful and even sumptuous entertainment was +provided for us, to which we sat down with much satisfaction. +This is a full and true account of our adventurous and +magnanimous entry into the city of Mexico, on the 8th of November +1519.</p> + +<p>After Montezuma had taken a repast in his own palace, and was +informed we had done the same, he returned to our quarters +attended by a great retinue of nobles. Cortes received him in the +middle of the hall, where Montezuma took him cordially by the +hand, and they sat down together on magnificently ornamented +seats. Montezuma made a very pertinent speech, in which he +observed, "That he rejoiced at the arrival of such valiant +captains and warriors in his dominions. He had before heard of a +Spanish captain who had arrived at Pontonchan, and of another who +came upon the coast in the preceding year with four ships, and +had wished to see these men, but was disappointed. Now that we +were actually arrived in his dominions, he was happy to offer +every favour in his power to grant, being convinced we were those +men predicted by the gods to his ancestors, who, coming from that +part of the world in which the sun rises, were to acquire the +government of this country, as we had fought with such +astonishing valour ever since our arrival, representations of all +our battles having been sent him in painting." Cortes replied, +"That he and all his brethren could never sufficiently repay the +many favours we had received from his bounty; that we certainly +were those men to whom the Mexican prophecies related, being the +vassals of the great and powerful emperor Don Carlos, to whom +many great princes were subject; and who, hearing of the fame and +magnificence of the great Montezuma, had sent us to request that +he and his subjects would embrace the Holy Christian religion, +abandoning their false gods and senseless idols, and abolishing +their barbarous human sacrifices, by which means he would +preserve the souls of himself, his family, and subjects from +perdition." Cortes enlarged on this and other topics in a most +edifying manner, promising to communicate more particulars +hereafter. Montezuma then presented a quantity of valuable +ornaments of gold to our general, with a present of some gold, +and three loads of mantles to each of our captains, and two loads +of mantles to each of the soldiers. After this he asked Cortes if +all his soldiers were brothers and vassals to our emperor. To +this Cortes answered that they were all brothers in love and +friendship, men of rank in our own country, and servants of our +great sovereign. Montezuma then departed, with mutual +compliments, after giving orders that we should be amply provided +with every thing we needed; particularly fowls, fruit, and corn, +stone mills for grinding our corn, and women to make bread, and +to supply us daily with plenty of grass for our horses.</p> + +<p>Next day being appointed for making a visit to Montezuma, +Cortes went to the royal palace accompanied by captains Alvarado, +De Leon, Ordas, and Sandoval, with five soldiers. Montezuma met +him in the middle of the great hall, attended by his relations, +all others being excluded from the apartment in which he happened +to be, except on certain occasions of importance. After mutual +compliments of ceremony, Montezuma took Cortes by the hand, and +led him to a seat on his own right hand, placed on an elevated +platform in the saloon. Cortes then said, "That he came to him in +the name and for the service of the only true God, who was adored +by the Christians, the Lord Christ Jesus, who had died to save us +and all men. He endeavoured to explain the mystery of the cross, +as an emblem of the crucifixion, by which mankind had been +redeemed. He recounted the sufferings and death of our Lord and +Saviour, who had risen on the third day and ascended to heaven, +where he now reigns, the creator of the heavens, and the earth, +and the sea, and all that they contain. He asserted, that those +idols which the natives held as gods, were devils which dared not +to remain wherever the holy cross was planted. That as all +mankind were brothers, the offspring of the same first pair, our +glorious emperor lamented the loss of their souls, which would be +brought by their idols into everlasting flames, and had sent us +to apply a sure remedy, by abolishing the worship of idols, the +bloody and inhuman sacrifices of their fellow men, and their +other odious customs so contrary to the law of God: And that our +emperor would send them holy men hereafter to explain all these +things more fully." To this Montezuma replied, "Malinatzin! I am +much indebted to your emperor for sending you so far to inform me +of all these things, of which I have already heard by means of my +ambassadors who have visited you in my name, and to which +hitherto we have made no reply. We have always worshipped our +gods, whom we consider to be just and good, and have no doubt +yours are so likewise. It had always been his wish to see us from +the first time he had heard of our arrival on his coasts, because +he believed we were they of whom their ancient prophecies made +mention, and his gods had now granted his desire. That our being +refused entrance into his cities was none of his fault; having +been done by his subjects without orders, who were terrified by +the accounts they had received of us, which reported that we were +furious <i>teules</i>, who carried thunder and lightning along +with us, that our horses eat men, and other such foolish stories. +That he now saw we were valiant and wise men, for which he highly +esteemed us, and would give us proofs of his favour." Then +changing the manner of his discourse to gaiety, he added +"Malinatzin! Your new friends the Tlascalans have informed you +that I am like a god, and that every thing about me is gold, +silver, and jewels. But you now see that I am like other men, and +that my houses are of lime, stone, and timber. It is true that I +am a powerful sovereign, and have great riches, which I have +inherited from my ancestors. You will now treat these reports +with the same contempt that I do the ridiculous stories which I +have been told of your having command over the elements." To this +Cortes replied, that the accounts of enemies were never to be +depended on; and made a handsome compliment to Montezuma on his +power and grandeur. Montezuma then ordered in a rich present, +giving Cortes a quantity of gold, with ten loads of rich stuffs +to be divided between him and his captains, and to each of us +five soldiers, he gave two gold collars, each worth ten crowns, +and two loads of mantles. The gold given on this occasion was +worth about a thousand crowns, and the whole was given with so +much affability and indifference, as made him appear truly +munificent. Cortes now took leave, it being the hour of dinner, +and we retired impressed with high respect for the liberality and +princely munificence of Montezuma.</p> + +<p>The great Montezuma appeared to be about forty years of age, +of good stature, well proportioned, and rather thin. His face was +rather long, with a pleasant expression, and good eyes, and his +complexion rather fairer than the other Indians. His hair was +short, just covering his ears, and his scanty beard was thin, +black, and well arranged. His person was very clean and delicate, +as he bathed every evening; and his manners were a pleasing +compound of gravity and good humour. He had two lawful wives, who +were princesses, and a number of mistresses; but his visits to +these were conducted with such secrecy as only to be known by his +most familiar servants; and he lay under no suspicion of +unnatural vices, so common among his subjects. The clothes he +wore one day were not used for four days after. His guard +consisted of two hundred nobles, who had apartments adjoining his +own. Certain persons only among these were permitted to speak to +him, and when they went into his presence, they laid aside their +ordinary rich dresses, putting on others quite plain but clean, +entering his apartment barefooted, with their eyes fixed on the +ground, and making three profound reverences as they approached +him. On addressing him, they always began, Lord! my Lord! great +Lord! and when they had finished, he always dismissed them in few +words; on which they retired with their faces towards him, +keeping their eyes fixed on the ground. I observed likewise, that +all the great men who waited upon him on business, always entered +the palace barefooted and in plain habits, never entering the +gate directly, but making a circuit in going towards it.</p> + +<p>The cooks of the palace had above thirty different ways of +dressing meats, which were served up in earthen vessels of a very +ingenious construction for keeping their contents always hot. For +Montezumas own table above three hundred dishes were dressed +every day, and more than a thousand for his guards. Montezuma +sometimes went before dinner to inspect the preparations, on +which occasions his officers pointed out to him which were the +best, explaining what birds or flesh they were composed of. It is +said that the flesh of young children was sometimes dressed for +his table; but after Cortes had spoken to him respecting the +barbarity of this inhuman custom, it was no longer practised in +the palace. The ordinary meats were domestic fowls, pheasants, +geese, partridges, quails, venison, Indian hogs or +<i>pecaris</i>, pigeons, hares, rabbits and many other animals +and birds peculiar to the country; the various meats being served +up on black and red earthen-ware made at Cholula. In the cold +weather while at his meals, a number of torches were lighted up, +of the bark of a tree which has an aromatic smell and gives no +smoke; and to prevent the glare and heat of those from being +troublesome, rich screens ornamented with gold and paintings of +their idols were interposed between Montezuma and the torches. At +his meals he was seated on a low throne or chair, at a table of +proportional height covered with white cloths and napkins, four +beautiful women attending to present him with water for his +hands, in vessels named <i>xicales</i>, having plates under them, +after which they gave him towels to dry his hands. Two other +women attended with small cakes of bread; and when he began to +eat, a large screen of gilt wood was placed before him, to +prevent him from being seen. Four ancient nobles, who were his +relations and served as councillors and judges, stood beside the +throne, with whom he occasionally conversed, giving them a part +of what he was eating, which they received with profound respect, +and eat without lifting their eyes from the ground. Fruit of all +kinds produced in the country was served up to him at table, of +which he eat in great moderation; and a certain liquor prepared +from cocoa, said to be of a stimulant and strengthening nature, +was presented to him from time to time in golden cups. All the +time he continued at table his guards and all others in or near +his apartment had to preserve the most profound silence, under +pain of death. Owing to the before-mentioned screen which +concealed him from public view, we could not see all the +circumstances here described from information. But I noticed +above fifty jars of foaming chocolate brought into the hall, some +of which was presented to him by the female attendants. During +the repast, various Indians were introduced at intervals for his +amusement: Some of these were hump-backed, ugly, and deformed, +who played various tricks of buffoonery, and we were told that +others were jesters, besides which there were companies of +singers and dancers in which he was said to take great delight; +and to all these he ordered vases of chocolate to be distributed. +When the repast was ended, the four female attendants already +mentioned, after removing the cloths, presented him again with +water to wash his hands, during which he continued his +conversation with the four old nobles, who then took their leaves +with much ceremony. He was then presented with three small hollow +canes highly ornamented, containing an herb called tobacco mixed +with liquid amber; and when he was satisfied with the buffoons, +dancers, and singers, he smoked for a short time from one of +these canes, and then laid himself to sleep. I forgot to mention +in its proper place that, during the time of dinner, two +beautiful women were employed in making certain small delicately +white cakes, of eggs and other ingredients, which they presented +on plates covered with napkins to Montezuma; and then another +kind of bread was brought to him in long loaves, as likewise +plates of a kind of cakes resembling wafers or pancakes. When +Montezuma had concluded his meal, all his guards and domestics +sat down to dinner, and as well as I could judge, above a +thousand dishes of the various eatables already mentioned were +served up to them, with immense quantities of fruit, and numerous +vessels of foaming chocolate. His establishment, including his +women and inferior servants of all kinds, was amazingly numerous, +and must have occasioned prodigious expence, yet the most perfect +regularity was preserved amid that vast profusion. The steward of +his household, or major-domo, was at this time a prince named +<i>Tapiea</i>, who kept an account of all the royal rents in a +set of books or symbolical representations which occupied an +entire house.</p> + +<p>Connected with the palace of Montezuma there were two large +buildings filled with every kind of arms, both offensive and +defensive, some of which were richly ornamented with gold and +jewels; such as large and small shields, some of the latter being +so contrived as to roll up in a small compass, and to let fall in +action so as to cover the whole body; much defensive armour of +quilted cotton, ornamented with various devices in feather work; +helmets or casques for the head made of wood and bone, adorned +with plumes of feathers; immense quantities of bows, arrows, +darts, and slings; lances having stone heads or blades six feet +long, so strong as not to break when fixed in a shield, and as +sharp as razors; clubs or two-handed swords, having edges of +sharp stones; and many other articles which I cannot enumerate. +In the palace there was a magnificent aviary, containing every +kind of bird to be found in all the surrounding country, from +large eagles down to the smallest paroquets of beautiful plumage. +In this place the ornamental feather-work so much in repute among +the Mexicans, was fabricated, the feathers for this purpose being +taken from certain birds called <i>Quetzales</i>, and others, +having green, red, white, yellow, and blue feathers, about the +size of our Spanish pyes, the name of which I have forgot. There +were also great numbers of parrots, and geese of fine plumage; +all these birds breeding in the royal aviary, and being annually +stripped of their feathers at the proper season, to supply the +workers in feather-work. There was likewise a large pond of clear +water, in which were kept a number of large birds of a red colour +with very long legs, resembling those called <i>Ipiris</i> in +Cuba, and called flamingos by the Spaniards. In another great +building we saw a temple dedicated to the war gods, in which were +kept great numbers of ferocious beasts, as tigers, lions of two +species, one of which called <i>Adive</i> resembled a wolf; also +foxes, and other smaller animals, all of them carnivorous. Most +of these were bred in this menagerie, and were fed upon game, +fowls, and dogs, and, as I was informed, on the bodies of the +sacrificed human victims. Their manner of sacrifice was said to +be as follows: They open the breasts of the living victim with +large stone knives, offering his heart and blood to their gods; +they feast on the head and limbs, giving the bodies to be +devoured by the wild beasts, and hanging up the skulls in the +temples as trophies of their misguided piety. In this place +likewise there were many vipers and serpents, the most dangerous +of which have a kind of rattle on their tails, making a noise +like our castanets. These are kept in vessels filled with +feathers, where they breed, and are fed with human flesh and the +carcases of dogs. I was assured, after our expulsion from Mexico, +that these animals were fed for many days on the bodies of our +companions who perished on that occasion. These ravenous beasts +and horrid reptiles are fit companions for their infernal +deities; and when they yelled and hissed, that part of the palace +might be likened to hell itself.</p> + +<p>The town in which most of the Mexican artists resided was +called <i>Azcapozalco</i>, about a league from the city of +Mexico, in which were many shops and manufactories of those who +wrought in gold, silver, and jewellery, whose productions +surprised the ablest Spanish artist on being carried over to +Spain. Their painters were also exceedingly expert, as may be +judged from what we still see among them; as there are now three +Indian painters in Mexico, named Marcos de Aquino, Juan de la +Cruz, and Grespillo, who are not inferior to Michael Angelo or +Berreguete among the moderns, and might even have vied with +Apelles. The fine cotton manufactures of the Mexicans were +principally brought from the province of Costitlan. The women +likewise of Montezumas family of all ranks, were exceedingly +expert in these kinds of work, and were continually employed; as +were also certain females who lived together in a kind of +secluded societies, like our nuns. One division of the city was +entirely inhabited by Montezumas dancers and posture-makers; some +of whom danced like those Italians whom we call +<i>Matachines</i>; others played various tricks by means of +sticks which they balanced in many curious ways; and others had a +strange manner of flying in the air. Montezuma had also great +numbers of carpenters and handicrafts of various descriptions +continually employed in his service. His gardens were of great +extent, irrigated by means of canals, and shaded by an infinite +variety of trees; having stone baths, pavilions for +entertainments or retirement, theatres for shows and for the +singers and dancers, and many other particulars, all of which +were kept in the nicest order by a great number of labourers who +were constantly at work.</p> + +<p>Four days after our arrival in Mexico, Cortes sent a message +to Montezuma by Aguilar, Donna Marina, and a young page named +Orteguilla, who already began to understand the language, +requesting permission to take a view of the city, which was +immediately granted; but as he was afraid we might offer some +insult to his temple, he went thither in person attended by a +great retinue, and in similar pomp as when he came to meet us on +entering Mexico; two nobles preceding the cavalcade carrying +sceptres in their hands, as a signal of the approach of the +monarch. Montezuma was carried in his magnificent litter, +carrying a small rod in his hand, half of which was gold and the +other half wood: and on coming to the temple, he quitted the +litter and walked up the steps attended by many priests, where he +offered incense and performed many ceremonies in honour of his +war gods. Cortes marched at the head of his small band of +cavalry, followed by most of the infantry under arms, into the +great square, accompanied by many of the court nobles; where we +were astonished at the prodigious crowds of people, the vast +quantities of merchandize exposed for sale, and the amazing +regularity which everywhere prevailed; all of which our Mexican +attendants carefully pointed out to us. Every different commodity +had its own particular place, which was distinguished by an +appropriate sign or emblem. There were dealers in gold, silver, +feathers, jewels, mantles, chocolate, skins both dressed and +undressed, sandals, manufactures of the roots and fibres of +<i>nequen</i>, and so forth. In one place great numbers of male +and female slaves were exposed for sale, most of whom were +fastened by the neck in leather collars to long poles. The market +for provisions was amply stocked with fowls, game, dogs, +vegetables, fruit, articles of food ready dressed, salt, bread, +honey, sweet pastry or confectionary of various kinds, and many +other articles. Other parts of the great square were appropriated +for the sale of earthen ware, wooden furniture, such as tables +and benches, fire-wood, paper, hollow canes filled with tobacco +and liquid amber ready for smoking, copper axes, working tools of +various kinds, wooden vessels richly painted, and the like. In +another part many women sold fish, and small loaves of a kind of +mud taken out of the lake resembling cheese. The makers of stone +blades were employed in shaping them out of the rough materials. +The dealers in gold had the native metal in grains as it comes +from the mines, in transparent tubes or quills, so that it could +easily be seen; and the gold was valued at so many mantles, or so +many xiquipils of cocoa nuts, in proportion to the size of the +quills. The great square was enclosed all round by piazas, under +which there were great stores of grain, and shops for various +kinds of goods. On the borders of the adjoining canals there were +boats loaded with human ordure, used in tanning leather, and on +all the public roads there were places built of canes and +thatched with straw or grass, for the convenience of passengers +in order to collect this material. In one part of the square was +a court of justice having three judges, and their inferior +officers were employed in perambulating the market, preserving +order, and inspecting the various articles.</p> + +<p>After having satisfied our curiosity in the square, we +proceeded to the great temple, where we went through a number of +large courts, the smallest of which seemed to me larger than the +great square of Salamanca, the courts being either paved with +large cut white stones, or plastered and polished, the whole very +clean, and inclosed by double walls of stone and lime. On coming +to the gate of the great temple, which was ascended by 114 steps, +Montezuma sent six priests and two nobles to carry up Cortes, +which he declined. On ascending to the summit, which consisted of +a broad platform, we observed the large stones on which the +victims were placed for sacrifice, near which was a monstrous +figure resembling a dragon, and much blood appeared to have been +recently spilt. Montezuma came out of an adoratory or recess, in +which the accursed idols were kept, and expressed his +apprehension to Cortes that he must be fatigued by the ascent, to +which Cortes answered that we were never fatigued. Montezuma, +taking our general by the hand, pointed out to him the different +quarters of the city, and the towns in the neighbourhood, all of +which were distinctly seen from this commanding eminence. We had +a distinct view of the three causeways by which Mexico +communicated with the land, and of the aqueduct of Chapoltepec, +which conveyed an abundant supply of the finest water to the +city. The numbers of canoes which were continually seen passing +between Mexico and all the towns on the borders of the lake, +carrying provisions and merchandise, was really astonishing. We +could see, as we had been often told, that most of the houses of +this great city, and of the others in the neighbourhood which +were built in the water, stood apart from each other, their only +communication being by means of drawbridges or canoes, and that +all their roofs were terraced and battlemented. We saw numerous +temples and adoratories in the great city below, on the +causeways, and in the adjacent cities, all resembling so many +fortresses with towers, wonderfully brilliant, being all +whitewashed. The noise and bustle of the market in the great +square just below, was so great that it might easily have been +heard almost at the distance of a league; and some of our +companions who had seen both Rome and Constantinople, declared +they had not seen any thing comparable in these cities, for +convenient and regular distribution or numbers of people.</p> + +<p>After having admired the magnificent prospect around, Cortes +requested of Montezuma to shew us their gods. After consulting +with his priests, he led us into a kind of saloon in a tower, +having a timber roof richly wrought, under which stood two altars +highly adorned, and behind these two gigantic figures resembling +very fat men. That on the right was <i>Huitzilopochtli</i>, the +god of war, having a broad face and terrible eyes, all covered +over with gold and jewels, and having his body twisted round with +golden serpents. His right hand held a bow, and in his left there +was a bundle of arrows. Round his neck was a string of the +figures of human heads and hearts made of pure gold, intermixed +with precious stones of a blue colour. Close by him stood a small +image representing his page, carrying a lance and shield richly +adorned with gold and jewels. Before the great idol stood a pan +of fire, in which three hearts of human victims were then burning +along with copal. The whole walls and floor of the apartment was +stained with human blood, and had a most offensive smell, worse +than any slaughter-house. On the left of Huitzilopochtli stood +another gigantic figure, having a countenance like a bear, with +great shining eyes. The name of this last was +<i>Tezcatlipoca</i>, who was said to be the god of the infernal +regions, and to preside over the souls of men[1]. He was likewise +considered as the brother of the god of war. His body was covered +all over with figures representing little devils with tails of +serpents, and was richly adorned with gold and jewels. Before +this idol lay an offering of five human hearts. On the summit of +the whole temple was a recess having its wood-work very highly +ornamented, where we saw a figure half human and the rest like an +alligator, all inlaid with jewels, and partly covered by a +mantle. He was considered as the germ and origin of all created +things, and was worshipped as the god of harvests and fruits. +Here likewise the walls and altar were stained with blood like +the others, and so offensive that we were glad to retire in all +haste. In this place there stood a drum of prodigious size, the +head of which was made of the skin of a large serpent, which +resounded, when struck, with a noise that might be heard at the +distance of two leagues, and gave out a sound so doleful, that it +might be named the drum of hell. This dreadful drum, the horrid +sound of their horns and trumpets, and the shocking sight of +their great sacrificial knives, the remnants of human victims, +and their blood-stained altars and fanes, made me anxious to get +away from this horrible scene of human butchery, detestable +smells, and abominable sights.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] Clavigero calls this the god of providence, the +soul of the world, the creator of heaven and earth, and the +master of ill things, the rewarder of the just and the punisher +of the wicked.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Addressing himself to Montezuma, half jest half earnest, +Cortes expressed his astonishment how so wise a prince could +adore such absurd and wicked gods; and proposed to substitute the +cross on the summit of the tower, and the images of the Holy +Virgin and her ever-blessed SON in the adoratories, instead of +those horrid idols, assuring him that he would soon be convinced +of the vanity of his idolatry, and the deception practised on him +by these inhuman priests. Montezuma was much displeased with +these expressions, saying that he would not have admitted us to +the temple if he had known we were to insult his gods, who +dispensed health, good harvests, seasonable weather, and victory, +and whom they were bound in duty and gratitude to adore. Cortes +dropped the subject and proposed to withdraw, to which Montezuma +assented, observing that he must remain, and atone by an +expiatory sacrifice for having admitted us into the temple. +Cortes then took leave of the king, and we descended the steps, +to the great inconvenience of our invalids. If I am not quite so +correct as I wish and ought to be in many of the things which I +relate and describe, I must beg my readers to consider the +situation in which I then served, being under the necessity of +giving more attention to the orders of my officers than to the +surrounding objects of curiosity. The temple which we had just +visited covered a prodigious extent of ground, and diminished +gradually from the base to the platform on the top, having five +concavities like barbicans between the middle and the top, but +without parapets. On the broad platform of the summit there was a +tower in which the images were placed. But as there are many +paintings of temples in the possession of the conquerors, one of +which I have, it will be easy to form an idea of the structure of +this temple from these representations[2]. It was said by the +Mexicans, that numerous offerings of gold, silver, jewels, +productions of the earth, and human victims were deposited under +the foundations of this great temple at the time of its erection; +and it is certain, when the ground on which it stood was +afterwards dug up for the church of St Jago, that we found great +quantities of gold, silver, and other valuables on sinking the +new foundations. A Mexican also, who obtained a grant of part of +this ground, discovered a considerable treasure, about which +there was a law-suit for the royal interest. This account was +confirmed by King Guatimotzin, who assured us that the +circumstances were recorded in ancient historical paintings. At a +small distance from the great temple, there stood a tower, having +a gate or entrance always open, like the mouth of an enormous +monster, ready to devour those who entered this hell or +habitation of the demons. At this horrible door there stood many +frightful idols, beside which there was a place for sacrifice, +and within there were pots full of water ready to boil the flesh +of the victims, which formed the horrible repasts of the priests. +The idols were like serpents and devils, and the place, all +smeared over with human blood, was furnished with knives for +sacrifice like the slaughter-house of a butcher. In another part +of the buildings there were great piles of wood, and a reservoir +of water supplied by a pipe from the great aqueduct of +Chapoltepec. In one of the courts there was a temple, all +besmeared with blood and soot, surrounded by the tombs of the +Mexican nobility. In another court there were immense piles of +human bones, all regularly arranged. Every temple had its +peculiar idols, and each its regular establishment of priests, +who were dressed in long black vestments, something between the +dress of our canons and the Dominican friars. They all wore their +hair long and clotted with blood, and their ears were all +lacerated in honour of their abominable idols. At some distance +from the temple of the tombs, there was another of which the +idols were said to preside over marriages; and all the courts +were surrounded by low houses for the priests and their numerous +assistants. Hard by these was a large building in which great +numbers of the Mexican young women resided, as in a nunnery, till +they were married. They were devoted to the worship of two female +deities, who presided over marriages, to whom they sacrificed in +order to obtain good husbands. I have thus been diffuse in +describing this great temple, as it was by far the largest and +most splendid in Mexico; yet the temple of Cholula was still +higher, having 120 steps. This was built on a different plan from +that of Mexico, and was held in high veneration by the natives. +The temple of Tezcuco also was very large, being ascended by 117 +steps, and all these differed in their structure, though they all +agreed in having a number of outer courts, and a double +inclosure. Every province of this country had its own peculiar +gods, who were supposed to have no concern with those of other +provinces, so that its gods and idols were quite innumerable. +Having effectually fatigued ourselves in examining the objects I +have just described, we retired to our quarters.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] Along with the work of Bernal Diaz, and in the +history of Mexico by Clavigero, there are representations of +ancient Mexican temples. In both they consist of six frustums of +truncated pyramids, placed above each other, having a gallery or +open walk around at each junction, and straight outside stairs +reaching between each gallery, not unlike the representations +that have been ideally formed of the tower of +Babel.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>As Montezuma was entirely adverse to the proposal of Cortes +for converting the great temple of Mexico into a Christian +church, he was exceedingly desirous to have a chapel and altar in +our quarters, and made application to Montezuma through one of +his principal nobles to have materials for this purpose. This +request was immediately complied with, and as abundance of timber +and native workmen were sent immediately, it was completed in +three days. In this new chapel mass was celebrated every day, +though we lamented the want of wine for the holy eucharist, as it +had been all expended during the illness of Cortes, Olmedo, and +others, while we were in the dominions of Tlascala. We were +extremely regular in our devotions, both because it was our duty, +and that we might impress a favourable opinion of our holy +religion on Montezuma and his subjects. While our carpenters were +looking out for a proper place in which to fix the holy cross of +our chapel, they observed the appearance of a door in one of the +walls of our quarters which had been closed up. Cortes caused +this to be privately opened, and an apartment was found within, +in which countless riches were deposited. The secret soon +transpired, and we went all to view the concealed treasury. I was +then a young man, and it seemed to me that all the treasures of +the world gathered together could not have reached the amount of +what we then saw. It was thought prudent to close up the door of +this place, and to conceal our knowledge of it and its contents +to a proper opportunity.</p> + +<p>About this time Cortes convened a council of four captains and +twelve soldiers, of those in whom he had most confidence, among +whom I was, in order to consult upon our present situation and +future procedure. Having duly considered how obviously we had +been hitherto guided and preserved by the mercy of GOD, and how +the natives, though now kind, might soon change through their +native fickleness, and notwithstanding the present hospitality of +Montezuma, he might at any time plot our destruction, we +unanimously resolved, on the suggestion of Cortes, that the most +effectual measure for our security was to make that monarch our +prisoner and the guarantee of our safety. We knew not but we +might all be poisoned in our food, and no gift which he could +make us, not even all his fathers treasures which we had just +discovered, could compensate to us for the continual alarms in +which we lived. Some of the officers present at the council, +proposed to induce Montezuma by some plausible pretext to come to +our quarters, when we could easily seize him without resistance +or danger. It was observed by some of our soldiers, that we were +not now so plentifully supplied with provisions by the royal +officers as at our first coming; and that our interpreter, +Aguilar, had been secretly informed by two of our Tlascalan +allies, that they had noticed several indications of evil +intentions towards us among the Mexicans, for the last two days. +After a long consultation, we agreed to adjourn the consideration +of the means of executing our resolution till next day; and in +the meantime the reverend Father Olmedo was consulted on the +subject, and we prayed GOD to guide and direct our proceedings +for the best, in our present ticklish and dangerous situation. +Next day, two Tlascalans arrived secretly with letters from Villa +Rica, with an account that Escalente and six Spaniards had been +slain in a battle with the Mexicans, and that the inhabitants of +Chempoalla and the neighbouring mountains, who had submitted to +us, had revolted back to the Mexican government, refusing to +supply provisions, or to work on the fortifications, insomuch, +that the remaining garrison of Villa Rica were in much distress +and knew not how to act. These letters said likewise, that the +high opinion which the natives had adopted with respect to the +Spaniards was much altered for the worse, since they found they +could be killed like other men. This intelligence gave us much +affliction. It was the first defeat we had experienced since our +landing; and had produced a most alarming change in our +situation, and in the opinions of the Mexicans. Before this, we +were in possession of wealth, and were considered as +invulnerable, and almost like demigods; but were now lowered in +the estimation of the natives, almost to a level with themselves, +in whose power we were. It now seemed more necessary than ever to +our very existence that we should secure the person of Montezuma; +considering that if we failed in the attempt, we might as well +perish in what seemed our only chance of safety, as wait to be +overwhelmed by the whole power of the Mexican empire. Before I +proceed to narrate the sequel of our transactions in Mexico, I +shall give an account of the misfortune which befel +Escalente[3].</p> + +<blockquote>[3] Clavigero pretends that the defeat and death of +Escalante were known to Cortes and his followers while at +Cholula. This is highly improbable, both from the narrative of +Diaz, and because Cortes would not certainly have put himself +entirely in the power of Montezuma, after this unequivocal +demonstration of resolute enmity.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>It has been already mentioned, that about thirty native chiefs +of districts in the neighbourhood of Villa Rica, had voluntarily +submitted to our government at Chiahuitztla. After our little +army had penetrated to the capital of the Mexican empire, the +commander of a garrison belonging to Montezuma endeavoured to +levy contributions from some of these our new subjects: and when +this was represented to Escalente, who commanded at Villa Rica, +he sent orders to the Mexican officers to desist, as otherwise he +would be under the necessity of chastising them, though he wished +to remain in peace and friendship with the subjects of Mexico. To +this the Mexican officers sent a haughty reply, saying that he +would find them in the field. On receiving this answer, +Escalente, who was a brave man, set out with forty of his own +soldiers, and two thousand of our allies of the Totanaca nation +to march against the Mexicans, whom he found pillaging the +country, and immediately attacked them. Our allies were always +afraid of the Mexicans, and fled at the first shower of arrows, +leaving the Spaniards to get out of the scrape as well as they +might. They made their retreat with great difficulty to Villa +Rica[4], where Escalente and six of his soldiers died of their +wounds. A Spanish soldier named Arguello, of great bodily +strength, with a large head, and thick frizzled beard, was taken +alive, but died of his wounds. The Mexican captains reported the +whole of this affair to Montezuma, to whom they brought the head +of Arguello; and it is said that Montezuma trembled when he +beheld it, and ordered it to be taken out of the way. He +reproached his captains for not having overwhelmed the whole of +that small number of Spaniards with their numerous forces; but +they alleged that a supernatural being fought against them, +assisting and encouraging the Spaniards, and struck terror into +their men.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] In the original of Diaz they are said to have +retreated to Almeria, but this is an obvious mistake. Almeria, +according to Clavigero, II. 55, was the name given by the +Spaniards to Nauhtlan, a city on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, +thirty-six miles north of Villa Rica, which was governed by +Quauhpopoca for Montezuma, and by whom the Mexican detachment was +commanded by which Escalente was defeated.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Having finally resolved to seize Montezuma, we spent the whole +night before proceeding on that hazardous enterprize in earnest +prayer to GOD, that what we were about to do might redound to his +holy service; and in the morning we arranged the manner in which +this our resolution was to be executed. Our cavalry and infantry +were all ordered to be in readiness for instant action, and as it +was usual with us to go always fully armed, this circumstance +gave no suspicion to the Mexicans. Leaving the whole of his +forces prepared to act in case of need, Cortes proceeded to the +palace, attended by five of his captains, Alvarado, Sandoval, De +Leon, De Lugo, and Avila[5], with the interpreters Donna Marina +and Aguilar, having first sent a message to the king, intimating +his intention to wait upon him. Montezuma supposed that this +visit of Cortes was on occasion of the affair which had lately +occurred at Chiahuitztla, and that our general was much +displeased on that account, yet sent back that he would be glad +to see him. Our general, <i>and we that were with him</i>, +immediately went to the royal apartment, and after paying his +respects as usual, Cortes addressed Montezuma to the following +effect through his interpreters: "He was astonished that so brave +and magnanimous a monarch, who had shewn so much friendship for +us on all occasions, should have clandestinely given orders to +his troops in <i>Totonacapan</i>[6] to make an attack upon the +Spaniards whom he had left at Villa Rica, in which one of them +had been killed, and our allies the Totonacas had been pillaged +and destroyed without mercy." Cortes intentionally concealed the +death of Escalente and his six soldiers, not wishing that the +extent of our loss on this occasion should be known to the +Mexicans. He then charged Montezuma as the author of the +treachery which had been attempted against us in Cholula, saying, +that he had hitherto refrained from speaking on that subject, +from motives of esteem and respect; but, from the late hostile +attack by his governor of Totonacapan, and having learned that +the officers of the court were plotting to cut us off in Mexico, +it became necessary for us to use effectual measures to secure +our safety. For this purpose therefore, and in order to prevent +the ruin of the city of Mexico, it was necessary that his majesty +should go immediately to our quarters, assuring him if he gave +the smallest alarm, or made any resistance, the officers and +soldiers then present would put him instantly to death. On +hearing this proposal Montezuma was so petrified with terror and +amazement that he seemed to have lost all sensation for a time. +After recovering a little, he positively denied having given any +orders to Quauhpopoca the governor of Nauhtlan to attack our +troops under Escalente; and taking from his wrist the signet of +Huitzilopochtli, which he employed on all occasions of importance +to confirm and enforce his orders, he gave it to one of his +officers whom he commanded to bring Quauhpopoca to court without +delay to answer for his conduct. Then assuming a dignified air, +he declined the proposal of quitting his palace with disdain, +declaring that he would not be constrained to take so humiliating +a step. Cortes endeavoured to explain the necessity of his +immediate compliance, and the king persisted in his refusal, so +that the conversation drew to considerable length, half an hour +at least having elapsed. The captains who accompanied Cortes +became impatient of delay, fearing that great numbers of the +Mexicans might collect to the rescue of their sovereign, and that +we should be oppressed under superior force. In this dilemma, De +Leon exclaimed in his rough voice to Cortes: "Why, Sir, do you +waste so many words? Tell him, that if he does not instantly +yield himself our prisoner, we will plunge our swords into his +body: Let us now assure our lives or perish." Montezuma was much +struck with the manner in which De Leon expressed himself, and +asked Donna Marina what he had said. She answered with much +discretion, by mildly advising him to consent immediately to go +along with us, assuring him that he would be treated with all the +honour and respect he could desire, whereas she was convinced we +would put him to death if he refused or even hesitated. Montezuma +then offered to put his legitimate son and two daughters into the +hands of Cortes, as hostages, and earnestly entreated that he +might not be exposed before his subjects as a prisoner. But +Cortes assured him that nothing short of what had been originally +proposed could satisfy us, and that all remonstrances were +unavailing. At last he was obliged to consent, saying, "I trust +myself with you, let us go! let us go! since the gods will have +it so." Our captains gave him every assurance of their perfect +esteem and respect, begging of him not to be offended at their +conduct, which was indispensably necessary to their own safety, +and requested that he would say to his officers that he went of +his own free will, and by the advice of his gods and priests. His +magnificent state litter was now brought for his accommodation, +and he proceeded to our quarters in his accustomed pomp, attended +by his guards, where he was received and entertained with every +mark of respect; yet our posts and centinels were properly placed +in every direction to guard against his escape or rescue. He was +soon waited on by the princes of his family, and all the +principal Mexican nobles, who came to inquire the reason of this +change of abode, and whether it was his wish that they should +attack us. But he told them that he intended to remain with us +for a few days, and commanded them to take no steps which might +disturb the peace of the city.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] It is obvious from a circumstance in the sequel +of this story that Diaz and other soldiers attended Cortes on +this occasion. Clavigero, II. 77. says there were twenty-five +soldiers besides the five captains, who repaired two by two to +the palace, and joined Cortes there as if by accident. This +daring transaction took place eight days after the arrival of +Cortes in the city of Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[6] Diaz calls this Tuzapan; but as Nauhtlan was in +the country of the Totonacas, called Totonacapan by the Mexicans, +we have chosen here and everywhere else that this could be done +with certainty, to adopt the orthography of +Clavigero.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Thus we accomplished the seizure of the great Montezuma. He +was attended in our quarters with the same magnificence as in his +own palace; his wives, family, and officers being constantly with +him, and having always twenty chiefs or counsellors in his +presence. He bathed twice a-day, and appeared calm and resigned +to his fate. Ambassadors came to him from all the provinces of +his empire; some to deliver the accustomed tribute, and others to +transact various affairs of importance, all of which was +dispatched in the usual manner. I perfectly remember that however +great might be the princes or chiefs who had to wait upon him, +they always took off their rich dresses and put on plain and +coarse <i>nequen</i> clothes, and came into the royal apartments +in this habit, barefooted, not entering directly, but making a +circuit by the wall. On entering the presence they kept their +eyes cast down on the ground, and after three profound +reverences, always began their addresses in these words, <i>lord! +my lord! great lord!</i> They then displayed certain cloths +before him, on which the business they came upon was represented +by painting, the particulars of which they explained pointing out +the figures by means of nicely polished rods or wands. While this +was going on, two old nobles always stood beside the king, who +attentively considered every circumstance, on which they gave him +their opinions, and he then dispatched the affair in few words. +The person who had the business with the king then withdrew +without reply, making three profound reverences as before, always +keeping his eyes on the ground, and his face to the throne till +out of sight. On leaving the royal apartments, they reassumed +their rich dresses, in which they walked about the city.</p> + +<p>The messengers who had been dispatched with the royal signet +to arrest the officers against whom Cortes had complained for the +attack on Escalente, soon returned with them to Mexico. I know +not what passed in the royal presence when they appeared before +the king; but he sent them immediately to Cortes to do with them +as he pleased. On their examination, when the king was not +present, they avowed all that had happened in Totonacapan, but +said that they had acted by orders from Montezuma, by whom they +had been commanded to levy the royal tribute, and even to attack +the Spaniards if they should support the refractory subjects of +the empire. On Montezuma being charged with this, he endeavoured +to exculpate himself; but Cortes told him, that although his +participation in the guilt of his officers was apparent, and +although he had been commanded by his own sovereign to punish +with death all who had inflicted death on any of the Spaniards, +yet he had so great a regard for his majesty, that he would +sooner loose his own life than do him any injury. Notwithstanding +these assurances, Montezuma was in great fear of being put to +death. Cortes sentenced the Mexican officers to be burnt alive in +front of their kings palace, which was immediately carried into +execution; and to prevent any commotion while this was taking +place, he ordered Montezuma to be put in irons. The unfortunate +king could not suppress his sense of this indignity, and wept +aloud when the fetters were put on. After the execution was over, +Cortes went into the apartment of Montezuma, attended by his five +captains formerly mentioned, and took off the irons with his own +hands, assuring him with a cordial embrace, that he loved him +more even than a brother, and that he hoped soon to extend his +dominions to more than double their present size. He is said also +to have told him that he was now at liberty to return to his own +palace, if he so wished; but we understood that Cortes ordered +the interpreters to inform Montezuma, that he was inclined to set +him at liberty, but that the other officers refused their +consent. The spirit of the unfortunate king was now entirely +subdued, and the tears ran down his cheeks while Cortes was +speaking: He declined the offer with thanks, well knowing the +emptiness of his words; adding, that he thought it most prudent +to remain where he was, to prevent an insurrection in the city. +Montezuma requested Cortes to give him his page, Orteguilla, a +youth who had already made considerable progress in the Mexican +language. Cortes immediately complied, and Orteguilla remained +afterwards constantly about the kings person, as Montezuma took +great delight in inquiring from him many particulars respecting +the manners and customs of Europe; and, from his knowledge of the +language, Orteguilla was of great service to us in the sequel, by +communicating every circumstance that was of importance for us to +be made acquainted with. Montezuma continued to reside among us, +always treated with the utmost respect and attention, as no +officer and soldier, even Cortes, ever came into his presence or +even passed him, without taking of his helmet. He always treated +us in return with much courtesey.</p> + +<p>The Mexican officers who were publickly executed, were four in +number. Of these Quauhpopoca was the principal, two of the others +were named <i>Coatl</i> and <i>Quiabuitl,</i> but I have forgot +the name of the fourth[7]. As soon as this punishment was made +known throughout the provinces of the Mexican empire, it +occasioned universal terror among the natives, and the people of +Tontonacapan immediately returned to submission to our garrison +at Villa Rica.--Let me now pause, and request my readers to +consider the train of our heroic acts which I have already +related. <i>First</i>, we destroyed our ships, by which we cut +off all hope of retreat. <i>Secondly</i>, we entered the city of +Mexico, in spite of the many alarming warnings we had received. +<i>Thirdly</i>, we made Montezuma, the sovereign of that great +and populous empire, a prisoner, in the midst of his own palace +and capital, surrounded by numerous guards. <i>Fourthly</i>, we +publickly burnt his officers in front of his palace, and put the +king in irons during the execution. I now frequently revolve upon +these great events in my old age, which still appear as fresh in +my memory as if they had only happened yesterday. I say to +myself, it was not we who did those mighty things, but we were +guided therein by the hand of God. For without his direction, how +was it to be conceived that so small a number as we were, not +amounting to four hundred and fifty men, should have dared to +seize and put in irons, and publickly burn his officers for +obeying his orders, in a city larger and more populous than +Venice, and 1500 leagues from our own country.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] According to Clavigero, II. 82. Quauhpopoca, his +son, and fifteen other nobles were cruelly put to death on this +occasion. Diaz names the principal chief +Quetzalpopoca.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>It was necessary to appoint a successor in the command at +Villa Rica, and accordingly Cortes gave the command to Alonzo de +Grado, an indifferent soldier, but a good speaker, a handsome +man, a musician, and a ready writer, who had always been adverse +to our marching to Mexico, and was the chief orator on these +occasions, in conveying the sentiments of the opposite party to +Cortes. On notifying this appointment, Cortes said to him +jocularly, "Senior de Grado, you are now commandant of Villa +Rica. See that you fortify it well; but I charge you not to go to +war with the wicked Indians, lest they kill you as they have done +Juan de Escalente." This was said ironically, as Cortes well knew +he would not venture out of his garrison for any consideration. +As we noticed the concealed meaning of Cortes in these words, we +could hardly refrain from laughing aloud. He then enjoined him to +be kind to the natives, and to protect them from oppression; to +use all diligence in completing the fortifications of the wooden +fort, and to cause two large chains to be made from the old iron +of the destroyed ships, by the smiths at Villa Rica, which were +to be sent immediately to Mexico. De Grado, on arriving at his +government, assumed a lofty demeanour, and ordered the +neighbouring Indians who were allied with us, to send him gold +and females slaves, neglecting the fortifications, and spending +his time in feasting and deep play. What was still worse, he +plotted with the adherents of Velasquez to deliver up to him the +post with which he had been entrusted. When Cortes learned these +things, he repented of having employed a person whose bad +dispositions he well knew in a post of so much importance, and +sent therefore Sandoval, our alguazil-major to supersede him. +Sandoval was accompanied by Pedro de Ircio, who used to amuse him +with anecdotes of the families of the Conde de Ureno and Don +Pedro Giron, by which means he gained the favour of Sandoval, who +never ceased promoting him till he got him to the rank of +captain. On his arrival at Villa Rica, Sandoval arrested De +Grado, and sent him prisoner to Mexico, under a guard of Indians, +by order of Cortes, who would not see him on his arrival, but +ordered him to be confined in the stocks, where he remained two +days. De Grado afterwards made his peace, and got the office of +contador, in place of Avila, who was sent over to Hispaniola as +procurador. Sandoval made himself exceedingly popular among the +natives in the neighbourhood of Villa Rica, and diligently +applied to complete the fortifications. He likewise sent to +Mexico by order of the general, all the ironwork necessary for +the construction of two vessels which were ordered to be built +for sailing on the lake.</p> + +<p>Every day after mass Cortes went with all his officers to pay +his respects to Montezuma, asking his orders, the king always +affecting to be perfectly contented with his situation. On these +occasions the discourse frequently turned upon the principles of +our holy faith, and the power of our emperor Don Carlos. At other +times Montezuma and Cortes used to play at a game called +<i>totoloque</i> by the Mexicans, in which they aim with golden +balls at certain other objects made of gold. Once, when Cortes +and Alvarado were playing against Montezuma and his nephew, the +king said in a jocular manner, that he would not allow +<i>Tonatiu</i>, for so he called Alvarado on account of his +handsomeness, to mark, as if he cheated; on which we all fell a +laughing, as we knew Alvarado was rather given to exaggeration. +On these occasions, Cortes gave all his winnings among the +Mexican attendants of the king; and Montezuma distributed his +among us soldiers of the guard. Indeed he every day made presents +to all of us who attended him, and particularly to Velasquez de +Leon, the captain of his guard, who always treated him with much +respect and attention. One night, a soldier named Truxillo, was +guilty of a very disrespectful action within his hearing, at +which Montezuma was much offended, and asked the page Orteguilla +who had committed this extreme rudeness. Orteguilla told him that +Truxillo was a person of low birth, and knew no better, and then +gave him an account of our different ranks and characters, by +which he was much gratified. He sent next day for Truxillo, and +after reproving him for his unmannerly behaviour, made him a +present worth five crowns. Next night, Truxillo committed a +similar rudeness, in hopes to get more gold, but Montezuma +complained to De Leon, who ordered Truxillo to be relieved, after +which he gave him a severe reprimand. Another night, a soldier +named Pedro Lopez happened to be unwell, and cursed that dog of +an Indian, meaning Montezuma, for occasioning so much trouble. +The king overheard this and discovered its meaning, on which he +complained to Cortes, who ordered the man to be whipped. After +this, proper discipline and strict silence were preserved by the +guard, which greatly pleased the king, who knew us all, and used +to address us by our names, and was always very kind to us. I was +then a young man, and always behaved to him with much respect. +The page had informed him that I had been twice on the coast of +his empire before the arrival of Cortes, and that I had desired +him to say to his majesty that I would be much obliged to him for +a handsome Indian girl. He very graciously complied with this +request, and calling me before him, addressed me to the following +effect: "Bernal Diaz, the young woman I now present to you is the +daughter of one of my principal nobles; treat her well, and her +relations will give you as much gold, and as many mantles as you +can desire." I respectfully kissed his hand, thanking him for his +gracious condescension, and prayed God to bless and prosper him. +On which he observed, that my manner spoke me of noble +extraction, and he ordered me three plates of gold, and two loads +of mantles. In the morning, after his devotions, according to the +manner of his country, Montezuma used to eat a light breakfast of +vegetables seasoned with <i>agi,</i> which is a kind of pepper. +He then employed a full hour in the dispatch of business, in the +way I have formerly mentioned, being attended at this time by +twenty counsellors; and in this way, sometimes amusing himself, +and sometimes meditating on his situation, he spent the time of +his confinement among us. He had many mistresses, and he used +often to give away some of these in marriage among his officers +and particular friends. Some of these ladies fell to our lot, and +the one I got was a lady of high birth, as she shewed by her +manner; after her baptism she was called Donna Francisca.</p> + +<p>After the iron materials, with sails and cordage had arrived +from Villa Rica, Cortes asked leave from Montezuma to build two +brigantines for the purpose of his amusement on the lake, and +also that he would order the native carpenters to assist in their +construction. Montezuma readily consented, and as there was +plenty of oak at no great distance, the work went on +expeditiously under Martin Lopez our principal ship-builder, so +that the two brigantines were soon built, launched, and rigged. +While this was going on, Montezuma begged to be allowed to +perform his devotions in the great temple, that his friends and +subjects might be satisfied he lived among us by his own choice, +and the permission of his gods. Cortes granted this, under a +strict caution to beware of doing any thing that might bring his +life in hazard, as he would send a strong guard along with him, +with orders to put him to death instantly if any commotion should +arise among the people. Cortes likewise insisted that no human +sacrifices should be permitted on the occasion. All this being +agreed to, Montezuma set out for the temple in his usual pomp, +attended by four of our captains, and an hundred and fifty +Spanish soldiers, Father Olmedo being likewise present, to +prevent any human sacrifice. Montezuma came out of his litter +near the temple, where he was met by a number of priests, who +carried him up the steps. They had sacrificed four Indians the +night before to their accursed idols, as all our endeavours were +insufficient to stop that abominable practice, which we were +forced to connive at for a season, being afraid to do any thing +which might occasion an insurrection. After remaining a short +time at his devotions, Montezuma came down from the temple, and +returned to our quarters in much good humour, and made presents +to all of us who had attended him.</p> + +<p>Our two brigantines were now afloat on the lake, fully +equipped, and manned by expert sailors, and were found to obey +both sail and oar to a wish. When Montezuma learnt this, he +requested to go a-hunting to a certain district which was full of +game, all other persons being prohibited from hunting there under +pain of death. Cortes granted permission, giving warning that his +life would pay the forfeit of the smallest attempt to escape, and +offered him the use of our ships to convey him to the hunting +ground, which he accepted with much pleasure. The king and his +suit embarked in the swiftest of the two vessels, and the other +accommodated his son and a number of nobles. Four of our captains +attended the king, with a guard of two hundred soldiers, and four +brass guns, with their ammunition and artillery-men, were +embarked on the occasion. The wind was fresh, and our sailors +took great delight in exerting their utmost skill. Our ships +seemed to fly along the lake, and left a prodigious multitude of +the canoes of the Mexicans far behind. Montezuma landed at the +place kept for his hunting, which abounded in game, so that he +soon procured a great quantity of various kinds, such as deer, +hares, and rabbits; and having satisfied himself with sport, he +reimbarked and came back to Mexico. We discharged our artillery +during the voyage, which gave him much amusement. He delighted us +all by his affability and noble behaviour, and was held by every +one of us in the highest respect. It happened one day, while +three of our captains were in his presence, that a hawk flew into +the apartment in pursuit of a quail, both these birds and doves +being bred about the palace. On this occasion our officers and +soldiers admired the beauty and fine flight of the hawk, and +Montezuma was curious to know the subject of their discourse: It +was accordingly explained to him, as likewise that we were +accustomed to tame hawks, and to fly them from our hands in +pursuit of game. On this Montezuma gave immediate orders to have +the hawk caught for us, and the very same bird was caught and +brought to us next morning.</p> + +<p>Cacamatzin prince of Tezcuco, the largest town in the empire +next to Mexico, took great umbrage at hearing that his uncle +Montezuma had been kept many days prisoner by the Spaniards, and +that we had opened the treasury of his ancestors. He therefore +called a meeting of his principal vassals, and of the +neighbouring princes or great feudatories of the Mexican empire, +among whom was the lord of Matlatzinco, a renowned warrior and +near relation of Montezuma, who was reported to have some +pretensions to the throne. His intention in summoning these +princes was to persuade them to assemble their forces, in order +to attack us, and on making this proposal to the assembled +chiefs, he of Matlatzinco offered to concur with his whole force, +on condition that they would raise him to the throne of Mexico. +But Cacamatzin alleged that he had a preferable claim to that +dignity, and declared he would destroy the Spaniards with his own +forces, for which purpose he entered into arrangements with his +partizans in Mexico. The whole of this plan was reported to +Montezuma, who immediately commanded his nephew Cacamatzin to +desist from his preparations, and communicated the information he +had received to Cortes, who had already received some notice of +what was going forwards, but not to the full extent. Cortes +immediately proposed to go at the head of a detachment of the +Spaniards, and a large body of Mexican troops, and to destroy +Tezcuco; but as this proposal did not please Montezuma, Cortes +sent a message to Cacamatzin, requiring him to desist from his +war-like preparations, and declaring his wish to have him for a +friend. Cacamatzin answered, that he would not become the dupe of +plausible words like others, and meant soon to pay us a visit, +when he would listen to what we had to say. In a second message, +Cortes warned him not to proceed to hostilities, which would +certainly occasion the death of his uncle; but he replied, that +he cared neither for Montezuma nor Cortes, and was determined to +act as he thought proper.</p> + +<p>Cacamatzin had a brother named Cuitcuitzcatzin, who resided in +Mexico, having been obliged to take refuge there in consequence +of a family quarrel. As this was known to us, Cortes proposed +that Cacamatzin should be brought to Mexico, where we would seize +him unless he agreed to preserve the peace, or might substitute +his brother in the government of Tezcuco. Montezuma agreed to +send for him, and assured us if he refused to come, he would give +orders to bring him by force. Cortes thanked the king for this +instance of his fidelity, declaring that he now only remained in +Mexico to protect him against his rebellious subjects, and would +feel happy to reinstate him in his own palace, but could not +prevail on the rest of the Spanish captains to agree to this +measure. Montezuma said in reply, that he would immediately +transmit information to Cacamatzin, that his present residence +was entirely of his own free will, and by the advice of their +gods; for Montezuma was perfectly aware of the simulation of +Cortes in his declarations, and endeavoured to fight him with his +own weapons. He accordingly sent a message to the prince in the +proposed terms; but Cacamatzin understood the manner in which his +uncle was constrained to act, and declared his determination to +assail our quarters within four days, saying that Montezuma was a +despicable monarch, for having neglected to attack us at the Port +of Chalco, as he had advised. That he was resolved to be avenged +of the wrongs which we had heaped upon Montezuma and his country, +and that if the throne of Mexico should fall to his lot during +the contest, he would liberally reward all who assisted him +against the Spanish invaders. Several of the Mexican chiefs who +were along with Cacamatzin, expressed their scruples about +entering into war without the orders of their legitimate +sovereign, and proposed to send to him for instructions. +Cacamatzin was enraged at this proposal, as adverse to his views +of assuming the crown of the Mexican empire, and immediately +ordered three of the most refractory into custody; by which +procedure the rest were intimidated into compliance with his +plans. He then sent a message to Montezuma, representing the +disgrace into which he had fallen, by joining himself with +wizards and magicians, and declared his resolution to destroy us +all. Montezuma was much offended by the proud independence +assumed by his nephew, whom he now resolved to circumvent and +make prisoner. For this purpose he entrusted his signet to six of +his captains, whom he commanded to shew it to certain other +leaders among his subjects, who were not well affected to the +prince, and to communicate to them his orders to seize Cacamatzin +and bring him prisoner to Mexico. These men went accordingly to +where Cacamatzin was consulting with the confederate chiefs on +the arrangement of his expedition; and shewing the royal signet +with which they were entrusted, they secured him and five of his +principal chiefs without opposition, and brought them away to +Mexico. Cacamatzin, being brought into the presence of Montezuma, +was reproached by him for his disobedience and treason, and then +delivered over to Cortes; but the other prisoners were +released.</p> + +<p>Arrangements were immediately made for raising +Cuitcuitzcatzin, one of the brothers of Cacamatzin, to the +principality of Tezcuco; who was accordingly invested with this +dignity in the presence, of Montezuma, and sent over with a +splendid retinue to take possession of the government[8]. This +important business being completed to our entire satisfaction, we +continued to reside in Mexico, paying our court to Montezuma with +the utmost demonstrations of respect, yet detaining him always a +prisoner in our quarters.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] Diaz says that he assumed the name of Don Carlos +on this occasion; but does not allege even that he had been +baptised. This name was probably merely imposed upon him by the +Spanish soldiery; or he may have acquired it on becoming a +Christian after the conquest of Mexico was +completed.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Cortes now resumed a proposal which had been formerly made, +for Montezuma acknowledging the sovereignty of our emperor over +him and his dominions; to which Montezuma replied, that he would +summon a council of all his dependent princes, which he did +accordingly, and almost the whole of them attended in the course +of ten days. Among a few who absented themselves on this +occasion, was the chief of Matlatzinco, who has been already +mentioned as renowned for his warlike prowess. He sent back an +answer, that he would neither obey the summons nor pay any more +tribute. Montezuma was much incensed by this contumacious message +from his vassal, and sent officers to apprehend him, but they +were unable to succeed. The princes and feudatories being all +assembled, Montezuma reminded them of the ancient prophecies, by +which it was foretold to their ancestors, that a people was to +come from the region of the rising sun, to whom the empire of the +country was to be transferred. He added, that he believed the +Spaniards to be the people spoken of in that prophecy; and had +sacrificed to his gods in vain to give him a distinct revelation +on the subject, but they referred him to the former responses, +and commanded him to ask no more. From all this he concluded that +they willed him to yield obedience to the king of Castile, who +was the sovereign of these strangers. "I now," said he in +conclusion, "beseech you to agree to this submission, which is +required of me by the Spaniards. During the eighteen years which +I have reigned, I have ever been a kind monarch to you, and you +have always been faithful subjects. Since our gods will have it +so, let no one refuse this instance of obedience which I now +ask." The princes, with many sighs and tears, promised to do +every thing he might desire. Montezuma, who was still more +affected than they, sent a message to inform Cortes, that he and +his princes would tender their allegiance to our emperor next +day. This was accordingly done at the time appointed, in presence +of all our officers and many of our soldiers, none of whom could +refrain from tears, at beholding the distress and agitation of +the great and generous Montezuma on this humiliating +occasion.</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards, when Cortes and his captains were +conversing with Montezuma on various topics, the general made +inquiry relative to the gold mines of the empire, when Montezuma +informed him that the richest of these were in the province of +Zacatula or Zacatollan, and said that the gold was procured by +washing the earth, the small grains of metal sinking to the +bottom during the operation. He also said that it was obtained +from two rivers in the province of Guztepeque, where the natives +were not subjects to his empire; but, if Cortes chose to send +some troops to that place, he would order his officers to +accompany them. Cortes accordingly sent the pilot Umbria and two +soldiers to examine the mines of Zacatula; and sent his relation +Pizarro, to the territories of Chinantla and Zapoteca. Pizarro +was then a young man, and at that time his name and that of Peru, +now so famous, were both equally unknown. Pizarro, who was one of +our captains, took with him four soldiers who were used to +mining, and four Mexican nobles; and Montezuma presented Cortes +with a map of the whole northern, or rather eastern coast of the +Mexican empire, admirably represented in painting, extending at +least an hundred and forty leagues, all the way to Tabasco. Among +the rivers said to produce gold, was that of Huatzocoalco, which +Cortes wished to have examined, and Diego de Ordas offering +himself for this purpose, was reluctantly accepted by Cortes, as +he was a person on whom he depended for sound judgment and +wholesome advice on occasions of importance. Before his +departure, Montezuma told Ordas, that the power of the crown of +Mexico did not extend over the country to which he was going, but +that he was welcome to the assistance of the frontier garrisons. +Umbria returned first from his mission, bringing with him gold to +the value of three hundred crowns and reported that the mines +might be made very productive, if they were as expertly managed +as those of Hispaniola and Cuba. Two principal persons of the +district accompanied him to Mexico, who brought a present of gold +to the value of about a hundred crowns, and offered to submit +themselves and country to the sovereignty of our emperor. Umbria +and his companions described the country which they had visited +as extremely rich and populous, and he and his companions +appeared to have done something handsome for themselves on the +expedition, which Cortes winked at in order to make up for some +former differences.</p> + +<p>Ordas, on his return, said that he had passed through very +populous districts, in all of which he was well received. That he +found several bodies of Mexican troops on the frontiers, of whose +outrages the natives of the country made heavy complaints, on +which account he had severely reprehended the commanders of the +troops, threatening them with a similar punishment with what had +been inflicted on the lord of Nauhtlan. He had sounded the river +of Huatzcoalco, where he found three fathoms water on the bar at +low tide in the shallowest part, and still deeper within, where +there was a place very proper for a naval establishment. The +caciques and natives treated him with much hospitality, and +offered themselves as vassals to our emperor, but complained +loudly against the exactions of Montezuma and his officers, and +pointed out a place where they had lately slain many of the +Mexican troops, which they had named <i>Cuilonemequi,</i> or the +Place of Slaughter of the Mexicans, on whom they bestowed the +most opprobrious epithets. He represented the soil of the country +as well fitted for tillage and the rearing of cattle, and the +port as well situated for trade with Cuba, Hispaniola, and +Jamaica; but as inconvenient, from its distance from Mexico, and +unhealthy owing to the morasses in its vicinity. Pizarro returned +from Tustepeque or Tzapotecapan, with gold in grains to the value +of a thousand crowns. He reported, that in going into the +mountains inhabited by the Chinantlans, they flew to arms and +would not permit the Mexicans to enter into their country, +threatening to put them all to death; but admitted him and his +Spaniards with great attention. He brought several of the chiefs +of that country along with him to Mexico, who wished to shake off +the Mexican yoke, and to become subjects to our emperor. Cortes +then inquired at Pizarro for the soldiers who had accompanied +him, when Pizarro answered, that finding the country rich and the +people friendly, he had left them to make a plantation of cocoa, +and to explore the rivers and mines. Cortes said nothing to him +in public, but gave him a severe private reprimand for employing +the soldiers in such foolish pursuits, contrary to his orders, +and immediately sent a message commanding their return to +head-quarters.</p> + +<p>Cortes now proposed to Montezuma to order a general +contribution in gold to be collected through the whole of his +dominions, as a tribute to our emperor, and also that he should +deliver up his treasure for the same purpose. Montezuma +accordingly sent orders to his officers in those districts where +the mines were situated, commanding them immediately to transmit +a certain quantity of gold plates, of the size usually paid as +tribute, two of which were sent as patterns. He remarked at the +same time, that there were many districts of the empire from +which gold was not to be expected in any considerable quantity, +as they had no mines, and the natives had only such golden toys +among them as they had inherited from their ancestors. Much gold +was immediately transmitted to Mexico from the rich provinces in +compliance with the order; but when it was communicated to the +refractory lord of Matlatzinco, formerly mentioned, he haughtily +answered, that he would pay no tribute, for he had as good a +right as Montezuma to the throne of Mexico. Montezuma was much +enraged at this insolent message, and immediately sent some +trusty officers with his signet, who succeeded in apprehending +this redoubted chief. On being brought prisoner into the presence +of the king, he behaved with so much insolence that Montezuma +ordered him to be put to death; but Cortes interceded for him, +and got his punishment transmuted to imprisonment. He even +endeavoured to make a friend of this chief, and proposed to have +him set at liberty, but Montezuma insisted that he should be kept +in chains along with Cacamatzin.</p> + +<p>Twenty days after the orders had been issued for collecting +the tribute, it was all brought to Mexico, on which Montezuma +summoned Cortes into his presence, along with the captains and +the soldiers who formed his usual guard, and addressed us as +follows: "Being indebted to your great king, whom I much esteem +for having sent you as his ambassadors to me from so great a +distance, and as I am convinced by the prophecies transmitted to +us by our ancestors, and confirmed by our gods, that he is +destined to rule over us, take this gold, which is all I could +collect on so short a notice, and also the treasure which I +inherited from my ancestors which you have already seen; send all +this to your emperor, and let it be recorded in your chronicles +that this is the tribute from his vassal Montezuma. Besides all +this, I shall give you for your monarch, a quantity of our most +valuable jewels, which we call <i>calchihuis</i>[9], every one of +which is worth two loads of gold, and three tubes for shooting +darts or pellets, so richly adorned with jewels that he will be +pleased with them. Accept all this as an instance of my good +will, for it is the last of my treasure." We all immediately took +off our helmets, and gave our hearty thanks to Montezuma for his +munificent and liberal gift, which Cortes promised should be +presented to the emperor with a just representation of the merits +of the donor. We were employed for three days in taking to pieces +the gold contained in the various ornamental articles in the +concealed treasury, which was now delivered up to us by the +command of Montezuma, in which we were assisted by the royal +goldsmiths from the town of Escapuzalco. When separated and +weighed, these articles weighed to the value of above 600,000 +crowns, besides many other articles of value, and exclusive of +gold in plates and bars, and in its rough state as brought from +the mines. All this gold was melted down by the goldsmiths, and +cast into bars of three fingers breadth, all of which were +stamped with the royal arms, with our entire approbation. The +rest of the present of Montezuma was worthy of great admiration, +consisting of the jewels called <i>calchihius</i> ornamented +tubes covered with gold and jewels, beautiful embroideries of +pearls and feathers, plumes of feathers, and an endless variety +of rich manufactures; and it was unanimously agreed by us all not +to take these rich ornaments to pieces.</p> + +<blockquote>[9] It is impossible now to say what were these +jewels so much valued by the Mexicans. Clavigero, I. 422, +enumerates among their precious stones, "Emeralds, amethysts, +cornelians, turquoises, and others not known in Europe." In +another passage, I. 424, he mentions many small red stones +similar to rubies, as among the Mexican curiosities transmitted +to Charles V. by Cortes.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After the royal officers had weighed and valued the gold, +which exceeded, as I have already mentioned, 600,000 crowns, +exclusive of the silver and other ornamental articles, it was +proposed to deduct the royal fifth, and to distribute the shares +among the officers and soldiers. Cortes proposed to postpone the +division till we acquired more treasure, and had more exact +weights: But the soldiers were clamorous for an immediate +division, as we perceived that above a third part had disappeared +since the various articles were taken to pieces, Cortes and the +captains and others being continually carrying it away and +concealing it for their own use. It was at length agreed to make +the division next day, when it was still found to exceed 600,000 +crowns in weight. On making the division, Cortes in the +<i>first</i> place caused a fifth to be laid aside for his +majesty; <i>secondly</i>, a fifth for himself, as had been agreed +upon; <i>thirdly</i>, a portion to reimburse the naval +expenditure incurred by Velasquez, the destruction of the ships, +and all the expences of the expedition from Cuba; +<i>fourthly</i>, for the expences of the agents whom we had sent +to Spain; <i>fifthly</i>, for the shares of our companions who +were in garrison at Villa Rica; <i>sixthly</i>, for the value of +the horses which had been killed; <i>seventhly</i>, for the +reverend Father Olmeda and our captains; <i>eighthly</i>, double +shares for the cavalry, musketeers, and crossbow-men. When all +these deductions were made from the stock, the shares which +remained for each soldier were hardly worth acceptance, not +exceeding 100 crowns a-man. We were obliged to submit, having no +one to appeal to for justice; yet many were very clamorous, whom +Cortes secretly endeavoured to appease, giving a little to one +and a little to another in private, and feeding all with fair +promises. Our captains got chains of gold made for them by the +Mexican workmen, Cortes did the same, and had a superb service of +gold plate made for his table. Many of our soldiers, who had been +fortunate in secreting plunder, had golden ornaments made for +their use, and gave themselves up to deep gaming, for which +purpose they made cards from drum-heads; and thus we passed our +time in Mexico. One Cardenas, a pilot, who had a wife and +children, seeing that all the immense treasure of Montezuma had +dwindled down to paltry shares of a hundred crowns, made loud +complaints of the injustice he and all of us had experienced. On +this coming to the ears of Cortes, he called us together, and +gave us a long honied speech, wondering how we should be so +clamorous about a paltry sum of gold, as the whole country, with +all its rich mines, would soon be ours, by which we would all +have enough to make us lords and princes, and I know not all +what. After this he distributed presents secretly among the most +clamorous, and promised Cardenas to send home 300 crowns to his +wife and children.</p> + +<p>All men are desirous of acquiring riches, and the desire +generally increases with the acquisition. As it was well known +that a great many valuable pieces of gold had been abstracted +from the treasury, suspicion naturally fell upon several persons +who appeared to have more gold than their shares amounted to. +Among these, it was noticed that Velasquez de Leon had some large +chains of gold, and many trinkets and ornaments of that metal, in +the hands of the Mexican workmen, which the treasurer Mexia +claimed as having been purloined. De Leon resisted this, alleging +that it had been given him by Cortes before the gold was run into +bars. Mexia replied that Cortes had concealed enough, and had +already taken too much from the soldiers, without giving him so +great a quantity, and insisted on restitution. Both were valiant +men, and their quarrel rose to such a height, that they drew +their swords, and each of them received two wounds before they +could be parted. Cortes ordered them both under arrest and to be +put in chains; but spoke privately to De Leon, who was his +intimate friend, to submit quietly, and released Mexia in +consideration of his holding the office of treasurer. Velasquez +was a strong active man, and used to walk much in the apartment +where he was confined, and as Montezuma heard the rattling of his +chains, he inquired who it was, and interceded with Cortes for +his liberation. Cortes told him that Velasquez was a mad fellow, +who would go about robbing the Mexicans of their gold if not +confined. Montezuma replied, if that were all, he would supply +his wants, and Cortes affected to release him as a favour to the +king, but banished him to Cholula, whence he returned in six +days, richer than before by the king's bounty.</p> + +<p>About this time, the king offered to give Cortes one of the +princesses his daughter in marriage. Cortes received this offer +with much gratitude, but suggested the propriety of having her in +the first place instructed in the Christian religion, with which +Montezuma complied, though he still continued attached to his own +false worship and brutal human sacrifices. Cortes and his +captains were much scandalized by this persistence of Montezuma +in idolatry, and thought it their duty as Christians, to run even +the risk of occasioning a rebellion of the Mexicans by destroying +the idols and planting the true cross in their place; or if that +could not be now accomplished, to make a chapel for Christian +worship in the temple. On this determination, seven officers and +soldiers attended Cortes and Father Olmedo to wait upon +Montezuma, to whom they communicated their wish, and their +resolution to employ force if necessary. The king was much +alarmed, and earnestly begged leave to consult with his priests +on the subject. Cortes seemed touched with his situation, and +made a signal to the officers and soldiers to retire, leaving him +and Olmedo with the king. He then told him, that he would +endeavour to prevail on the officers to be satisfied for the +present, if a part of the great temple was appropriated for the +reception of an altar and crucifix, by which his majesty would +soon be convinced of the falsehood of his erroneous worship[10]. +To this proposal Montezuma reluctantly consented, with the +appearance of much agitation and deep sorrow; and, an altar and +crucifix being erected, mass was solemnly celebrated in the new +chapel, for the care of which a proper person was appointed.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] We are duly sensible of the divine +super-excellence of Christianity, and the gross barbarism of +idolatry joined with abominable human sacrifices. Yet, the mere +change of two crossed sticks and the images of Saint Somebody or +Saint Nobody, for the idols of the Mexicans, under pretence of +introducing the pure religion of the meek and holy Jesus, seems +in our humble opinion a mere <i>qui pro quo</i>; and, when taken +in conjunction with the proposed conversion by military +execution, and the introduction of the bloody tribunal of the +Inquisition, not one iota less idolatrous or less +barbarous.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The whole time of our stay in this city was one continued +series of alarms, sufficient to have destroyed us if we had not +been supported by divine interposition. By this last measure, +through the representations of the priests, acting on the +prejudices of the people, our dangers were much increased. Their +gods, as the priests alleged, threatened to desert them, unless +we were destroyed for this violation of the temple, and an +universal determination was formed to obey this manifestation of +their commands. This resolution of the people was conveyed to +Montezuma by the priests, and all his principal warriors; who, +besides this subject of complaint on the score of religion, made +many other representations respecting our misconduct, ever since +our arrival in the empire. The page Orguetilla communicated many +alarming circumstances which he had observed, to Cortes, +respecting frequent secret conferences between Montezuma and his +priests and nobles, and the angry and melancholy appearances +which he had frequently seen the king assume on these occasions. +Cortes was alarmed by this intelligence, and immediately waited +on the king accompanied by his interpreters and five of his +captains. Montezuma seemed much distressed during this +conference, and declared to Cortes that he was extremely grieved +at the manifestation of the will of his gods that we should all +be put to death or expelled from Mexico: He therefore, as our +sincere friend, earnestly recommended that we should not run the +risk of incurring the indignation of his subjects, but should +save our lives by a retreat whilst that remained within our +power. Cortes and the rest were naturally much alarmed at this; +but Cortes answered that he was principally concerned, because in +the first place, he had no vessels for returning into his own +country, and in the next place he would be under the necessity of +taking Montezuma along with him, that he might present him to our +emperor. He therefore entreated Montezuma to use every influence +to restrain his priests and warriors from proceeding to violence, +until we had time to build three ships for our conveyance, and +offered immediately to send our ship-builders to fell timber and +construct the vessels on the coast, requesting the king to order +the assistance of his carpenters for this purpose, that there +might be no delay. He repeated his request, that Montezuma would +employ all his influence to prevent any insurrection in the city, +and his endeavours to appease his priests and gods, providing +that no human sacrifices were resorted to for that purpose. +Martin Lopez, our principal ship-builder, was immediately +dispatched to Villa Rica to commence building the three ships, +which were put on the stocks without delay. During this interval, +we remained in Mexico full of terror of being attacked by the +whole force of a numerous and warlike people, exasperated by the +insults we had heaped on their sovereign and their religious +belief. Our apprehensions were continually kept alive by the +information we received from Donna Marina, and the page +Orteguilla; who, by understanding the language, obtained much +information which must otherwise have escaped our knowledge. We +kept however constant guard over Montezuma, and the strictest +military discipline in our quarters, sleeping always in our +armour, and having our horses saddled and bridled every night. +Without meaning it as any boast, I may say this of myself, that +my armour became as easy and familiar to me as if it had been a +soft down bed. And so habituated am I to this, that now in my old +age, when I make the circuit of my district, I never take a bed +along with me, unless attended by stranger gentlemen, when I do +so merely to avoid the appearance of poverty or avarice. Yet, +even when I have one, I always sleep in my clothes; neither can I +rest throughout the night, but get up to contemplate the stars, +walking about without hat or cap, as I used to do on guard; yet +thank GOD I never get cold, nor am I the worse for this practice. +This is to be a true soldier! My readers must pardon this +digression, which does not proceed from vanity, but to let him +know what kind of men we were, the real conquerors of +Mexico[11].</p> + +<blockquote>[11] Bernal Diaz neglects to accommodate his readers +with the very useful appendage of dates; it therefore may be +proper to remark that the Spaniards entered the city of Mexico +for the first time on the 8th November 1519; and as Cortes left +it in the beginning of May 1520, in his march against Narvaez, he +had now spent about six months in the capital of a mighty empire, +with hardly 450 soldiers.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION IX.</p> + +<p><i>Expedition of Narvaez to supersede Cortes in the command, +and occurrences till the Defeat of that Officer by Cortes at +Chempoalla</i>.</p> + +<p>The Bishop of Burgos, who was president of the council of the +Indies, bore unlimited sway in that department of the Spanish +government during the absence of the emperor in Flanders. Owing +to the representations of Velasquez against Cortes, he sent +orders to him to seize and make us all prisoners at every hazard, +as rebellious subjects. Velasquez therefore fitted out a fleet of +nineteen ships from the Island of Cuba, in which he embarked an +army of fourteen hundred soldiers, eighty of whom were cavalry, +eighty musketeers, and eighty crossbow-men, with twenty pieces of +cannon, and all necessary ammunition and appointments, giving the +command in chief to Pamphilo de Narvaez. Such was his animosity +against Cortes and us for having thrown off our dependance upon +him, that he made a journey of above seventy leagues from the +Havanna on purpose to expedite the preparations. At this time, +the royal audience of St Domingo and the brethren of the order of +St Jerorimo, being satisfied of our loyalty and great exertions +in the service of God and the emperor, sent over the oydor Lucas +Vasquez de Aillon to Cuba, with positive injunctions to stop the +sailing of the armament against us; but as Velasquez was +confident in the support of the bishop of Burgos, he gave no heed +to the orders communicated to him by Aillon, who therefore went +along with the armament, that he might endeavour as much as +possible to prevent injury to the public service by his mediation +and influence, and be at hand if necessary, to take possession of +the country for the emperor, in virtue of his office.</p> + +<p>Narvaez arrived safe with his whole fleet in the harbour of St +Juan de Ulua, except that he lost one small vessel during the +voyage. Soon after his arrival, the soldiers who had been sent by +Cortes to that part of the country in search of mines, went on +board, and it is said gave thanks to God for being delivered from +the command of Cortes and the dangers of the city of Mexico. +Finding them in this mood, Narvaez ordered them to be plentifully +supplied with wine, to make them more communicative. Cervantes +the jester, who was one of these soldiers, under pretence of +facetiousness, exposed to him all the discontents of our soldiers +respecting the distribution of the treasure we had obtained, and +informed him also of the bad state of the garrison in Villa Rica +under Sandoval. The arrival of this new armament was soon +communicated to Montezuma, who concealed the intelligence for +some time from Cortes, and opened a private correspondence with +Narvaez, to whom he sent many rich presents. Narvaez, in his +correspondence with Montezuma, said every thing that was bad +against Cortes and his troops, representing the whole of us as +outcasts and robbers, and that the emperor, hearing of our evil +conduct, and that we detained the great Montezuma in custody, had +sent the present expedition for the express purpose of liberating +him and putting us all to death. This intelligence gave great +satisfaction to Montezuma, who thought we must necessarily be all +destroyed, as he had got an exact account of their force +represented to him in paintings: He accordingly transmitted very +magnificent presents to Narvaez, and could ill conceal the +satisfaction he had derived from the intelligence. Montezuma +concealed the news of this armament from Cortes, who observed and +was astonished at the alteration which it had produced on the +kings manners and behaviour. At length however, from the +circumstance of Cortes making him two visits in one day, +Montezuma became apprehensive of the general procuring +intelligence from any other quarter, and told him the news, +pretending only to have just heard of it himself. Cortes +expressed the utmost joy at the intelligence, and Montezuma +shewed him the representations which had been transmitted to him, +by which he learnt every thing he wished to know on the subject. +He immediately left the king and communicated the intelligence to +the troops, who got immediately under arms, and fired several +vollies in token of our joy. We soon noticed, however, that +Cortes was exceedingly pensive when alone, of which we could not +divine the cause; till he soon afterwards convinced us, and +explained that the armament was evidently designed against us; +and he now, partly by promises and partly by gifts, as from his +bounty of what was ours by good right, made interest with us to +stand firmly by him in the approaching contest with Narvaez.</p> + +<p>From what had been told him by Cervantes and our other +deserters, Narvaez was induced to send a deputation to Sandoval, +demanding him to surrender the port of Villa Rica. He appointed +three persons on this errand, Guavera a clergyman of abilities, +Amarga, a relation of Velasquez, and one Vergara, a scrivener. +Sandoval had received information of the arrival of the armament, +and prepared to defend his post, as he rightly guessed that it +was destined to act against us. He sent off all his invalids to +an Indian village at some distance, and exhorting his soldiers to +stand by him, he erected a gibbet, and placed a guard on the road +to Chempoalla. On the arrival of the deputation from Narvaez at +Villa Rica, they were astonished to meet none but Indians, as +Sandoval had ordered all the soldiers to remain in their +quarters, and remained at home himself; they knew not well how to +proceed, but at length guessing by the appearance of the house +that it belonged to the governor, they went in. Guavera +immediately began the conversation, by representing the greatness +of the force under Narvaez, and its object, which was to arrest +Cortes and all his followers as traitors, and concluded by +summoning Sandoval to surrender himself and his post to general +Narvaez. Sandoval was much displeased, and told him, if it were +not for the protection of his holy function, he would punish his +insolence in calling those traitors who were more faithful +subjects than either Narvaez or his employer Velasquez. He +desired him to carry his demand to Cortes at Mexico, who would +settle the business with him at that place. Guavera insisted to +execute the commission on which he was sent, and ordered the +scrivener Vergara to produce the authority under which they +acted. But Sandoval stopped him, saying, "I know not whether your +papers be true or false; but if you attempt to read any here I +will order you to receive a hundred lashes." On this, Guavera +exclaimed, "Why do you mind these traitors? read your +commission." Sandoval, calling him a lying rascal, ordered them +all to be seized: On which a number of Indians, who had been +previously instructed, came in and threw nets over them, and +instantly set out with them on their backs for Mexico, to which +they were carried post by relays of Indians, through the several +large and populous towns by the way, with a rapidity that +confounded them, hardly knowing whether they were alive or dead, +the whole seeming as if done by enchantment. Sandoval sent Pedro +de Solis to accompany them, by whom he wrote a hasty letter to +Cortes, giving him an account of all he knew. When the general +got notice of their arrival in Mexico, he ordered us all under +arms, released them immediately from their trammels, and made an +apology for the rudeness of Sandoval, whom he greatly blamed. He +entertained them with great hospitality and respect, giving them +plenty of gold, and sent them back in a few days as gentle as +lambs, who had come out against him as furious as lions.</p> + +<p>Our general was one whose resources were never exhausted, and +it must not be concealed that his officers and soldiers supported +him through all his difficulties by our valour in the field and +our wisdom in council. On this occasion, we determined that it +was proper to send letters to Narvaez and others of the new army, +which they might receive previous to the return of Guavera. In +these, we earnestly urged that no rash steps might be taken to +endanger our general interest, by inciting the Indians to rise +upon us; and held out every inducement of interest and friendship +to the followers of Narvaez to bring them over to our party, not +forgetting to treat secretly with such as we thought might be +easiest wrought upon, as both Guavera and Vergara had informed +Cortes that Narvaez was by no means on good terms with his +officers, among whom gold well applied would work wonders. In his +letters to Narvaez, Cortes adjured him by their former +friendship, not to give encouragement to the Mexicans to rise and +destroy us, seeing that they were ready to have recourse to any +extremity to liberate Montezuma, whose dispositions were much +altered for the worse since the arrival of this new armament, and +the opening a correspondence between him and Narvaez. He was +convinced, he said, that the expressions which Narvaez had been +reported to use, could never have come from so wise a man, but +must have been fabricated by such wretches as the buffoon +Cervantes; and he concluded by offering an unlimited submission +to the authority of Narvaez. Cortes wrote also to the secretary +Andres de Duero, and Lucas Vasques the oydor, taking care to +accompany his letters with valuable presents of gold. On +receiving the letter from Cortes, Narvaez turned it into +ridicule, handing it about among his officers, speaking of us all +as traitors whom he would put to death without mercy. He declared +he would cut off and eat the ears of Cortes, and a great deal of +such braggart nonsense, and of course made no answer to the +letters. Just at this time Father Olmedo arrived, bringing with +him the private letters and presents. He went in the first place +to wait upon Narvaez, intending to assure him that Cortes would +be proud to serve under his command; but Narvaez would not listen +to him, and did nothing but abuse both Cortes and him. He +accordingly desisted from that part of his commission which +related to an agreement with Narvaez, and applied himself to the +distribution of presents among the officers with so much judgment +and success, that he soon won over all the principal officers to +our party. If the oydor Vasques was originally disposed to favour +Cortes, he was entirely so on seeing the magnificent presents +which were now distributed with so much liberality; which formed +a striking contrast with the avarice of Narvaez, who used to +enjoin his major domo to take heed that not a mantle were +missing, as he had marked down every article committed to his +charge. This penuriousness set all his officers against him, +which he attributed to the intrigues of Vasques; and as there was +a difference between them, because Narvaez neglected to inform +him respecting every thing sent in by order of Montezuma, of +which he ought to have been informed as oydor, an irreconcileable +quarrel ensued; and depending on the favour of the bishop of +Burgos, Narvaez caused the oydor to be arrested, and sent +prisoner to Cuba or Spain, I know not which. But during the +voyage, Vasques prevailed on the captain of the ship to land him +in Hispaniola, where he so represented the treatment he had +received to the Audience and the Jeronimites, that they +complained to the council of Castile, but ineffectually, owing to +the influence of the bishop of Burgos in favour of Narvaez. About +this time too, a gentleman named Oblanco, made remonstrances to +Narvaez respecting his violence, saying a good deal in favour of +Cortes and his troops, with which Narvaez was so much offended +that he threw him into prison; which Oblanco took so much to +heart that he died three days after.</p> + +<p>Soon after the arrival of Father Olmedo, Guevara and his two +companions returned from Mexico, and launched out in praise of +Cortes, reporting the many expressions of respect he had used in +speaking of Narvaez; and, commending the services he had already +performed to our emperor, they expatiated on the advantages which +would result from uniting their forces, instead of fomenting a +civil war. All this put Narvaez into such a rage that he refused +to see them any more, and commanded them to be silent on this +hateful subject. They carried their discourse therefore among +their comrades; and when they saw how well furnished with gold +these men had returned from Mexico, they began seriously to wish +themselves in the army of Cortes.</p> + +<p>Narvaez now quitted the coast with his army and took +possession of the town of Chempoalla; immediately on his arrival +seizing by force the young women who had been given to the +officers of Cortes by their parents, with all the gold and +mantles which had been left in the custody of the fat cacique +along with the ladies, when we set out on our march to Mexico. +When the cacique complained of this to Narvaez, and of the +robberies committed by his soldiers, saying that Cortes and his +soldiers conducted themselves in quite a different manner, a +bragging fellow called Salvatierra exclaimed, "See what fear +these Indians are in for the sorry fellow Cortes!" yet this +boaster, who was so ready with his tongue, was the most cowardly +wretch I ever beheld, when we came afterwards to attack the army +of Narvaez. About this time, Narvaez transmitted to Cortes a copy +of the commission he had received from the governor of Cuba, the +particulars of which I shall detail hereafter. Cortes received +regular intelligence of every thing done by Narvaez, partly from +the friends he had made in the adverse army and partly from +Sandoval, who now informed him that five persons of consideration +had joined from the army of Narvaez, who alleged for their +reason, that being the relations of the oydor Vasquez, who had +met with such injurious treatment, they had little hopes of being +themselves well used; and he added, that these persons said +Narvaez meant very soon to march to Mexico against us. On this +being made known to such of us as Cortes used generally to +consult with, he agreed with us in opinion that it was advisable +for us to march immediately against Narvaez and his army, leaving +the command in Mexico with Alvarado; and we left under his charge +all those men who were not inclined to be of the present +hazardous expedition, and all whom we suspected to have an +inclination for the party of Narvaez or Velasquez. We also left +with Alvarado a sufficient supply of provisions, in case the +Mexicans should refuse to supply him, and because the late +harvest had been deficient, in consequence of too dry a season. +Our quarters were strengthened by the addition of a good +pallisade, and, besides four heavy guns, we left a garrison of +eighty-three men, twenty-four of whom were armed with muskets or +cross-bows: a very inadequate force, surely, for keeping the +great and populous city of Mexico in awe.</p> + +<p>Previous to our departure, Cortes paid a visit to Montezuma, +who questioned him very anxiously about the difference between +him and Narvaez, as both were vassals of the same sovereign, and +desired an explanation of the charges which the new comers had +made against us, that we were outcasts and traitors. He likewise +asked if he could serve us in any way, expressing an apprehension +of our safety, considering the great superiority under Narvaez. +Cortes replied in a cheerful manner, that he had not sooner +informed him of our intended departure, lest it might give him +concern; that we certainly were all subjects to the same monarch, +but that the report of our being traitors and fugitives was +utterly false, as we had come into his country with full +authority from our sovereign. As to the other party destroying us +by their superiority in numbers, that did not depend on them, but +on the will of our Lord and his holy mother, who would support +us. He added, that our sovereign ruled over many different +countries, the inhabitants of some of which were more valiant +than those of others; that we were all true Castilians, while the +commander of our opponents was a Biscayan, and his majesty would +soon see the difference between us, as he trusted by the blessing +of God to bring them all back as prisoners. He concluded by +recommending in the strongest terms to Montezuma, to use his +utmost endeavours to prevent any insurrection in the city during +our absence; as, on his return, he would assuredly punish all in +a most exemplary manner who behaved amiss. Montezuma promised to +do every thing which Cortes required, and even offered to assist +us with five thousand of his warriors, which Cortes politely +declined, knowing indeed that the king had not that in his power, +if he even wished to have done so. Then requesting Montezuma to +cause due respect to be paid to that part of the great temple +which had been consecrated to the Christian worship, he embraced +Montezuma with much cordiality and took leave. He then called +Alvarado and the garrison which was to remain in Mexico, all of +whom he strictly enjoined to be extremely watchful, and to take +special care not to allow Montezuma to escape; promising to make +them all rich on his return, if he found they had done their +duty. On this occasion of leaving Mexico, he left the clergyman +Juan Diaz with Alvarado, and some other persons whose fidelity he +questioned.</p> + +<p>We began our march from Mexico in the beginning of May +1520[1], making our first halt at Cholula. From that place we +sent a message to the senate of Tlascala, requiring them to +assist us with four thousand of their warriors. They sent us +twenty loads of fowls, saying that they were ready at any time to +join us in war against Indians, but begged to be excused if we +were marching against our own countrymen. At this time likewise, +Cortes sent orders to Sandoval to join our little army with the +whole of his garrison that was fit for duty, at a place named +Tampinequeta or Mitalaquita[2], twelve leagues from Chempoalla. +We marched in regular order without baggage, having always two +confidential soldiers in advance about a days journey, who were +directed not to keep the main road, but to go always by those in +which cavalry could not march, and whose especial business was to +inquire for intelligence respecting the motions of Narvaez, which +they were to communicate without delay to Cortes. When we had +proceeded a considerable way on our march, one of our advanced +parties fell in with four Spaniards belonging to the army of +Narvaez, who were bringing to Cortes a copy of his commission and +instructions as captain-general in New Spain. On being brought to +the general, they saluted him respectfully, and he immediately +dismounted in order to hear what they had to say. Alonzo de Mata, +who was at the head of the deputation, produced his papers and +began to read them; but Cortes stopt him short, demanding if he +were a royal notary; as in that case, by shewing his commission, +he would be implicitly obeyed, but if he had no such authority, +he certainly would not be allowed to read any pretended orders. +"The commands of his majesty," said Cortes, "I shall submit to +with the utmost humility; but, I desire that the original may be +produced." Mata was confounded at these words, as he held no +office whatever under the crown, and was entirely at a loss how +to proceed. But Cortes relieved him from his embarrassment, +telling him our destination, and that he was ready to receive any +message from his general, of whom he always spoke with great +respect, but would listen to no orders that were not sanctioned +by the royal authority. We halted for some time at this place, +and Cortes had some private conferences with these agents of +Narvaez, with whom he used such powerful arguments that he made +them his firm friends. They returned to Chempoalla, quite loud in +their praises of Cortes, crying up his generosity to the skies, +and made a magnificent report of the riches of our soldiers, many +of whom had ornaments of gold on their arms, and some of them +gold chains and collars about their necks.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] The date is supplied in the text from attentive +consideration of dates mentioned by Diaz in the sequel, and in +this date Clavigero, II. 97, agrees. Diaz gives no account of the +strength of Cortes on the present occasion, but afterwards +mentions 206 soldiers, with five horsemen and two gunners, +independent of 70 more who joined under Sandoval from the +garrison of Villa Rica. This would make the whole force 285 +soldiers, against 1400 who were under the command of +Narvaez.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] No such place is to be found in the map of +Clavigero, nor in that recently published by +Humbolt.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Next day, Sandoval joined with the garrison of Villa Rica, to +the number of about seventy men, with whom came the five +Spaniards who had deserted from Narvaez, who were very graciously +received by Cortes. Sandoval reported that he had sent two of his +soldiers, a little time before into the quarters of Narvaez, who +went disguised like Indians, having each a load of fruit for +sale, and their complexions so completely resembled the natives +that they were never suspected. They went immediately to the +quarters of the braggart Salvatierra, who gave them a string of +yellow beads for their fruit, and sent them to cut grass for his +horse on the banks of a small rivulet. They brought home the last +load of grass in the evening, and having fed the horse, they +remained about the place till night, listening to the +conversation of Salvatierra, whom they heard observing to some of +his companions, how luckily they had come at the present moment +to deprive the traitor Cortes of the 700,000 crowns which he had +obtained from Montezuma. When it was dark, our disguised soldiers +got privately out of the house, and took away Salvatierras horse +with the saddle and bridle, and meeting another horse by the way, +which happened to be lame, they brought it along with them. +Cortes laughed heartily at this exploit; and we learned +afterwards that Salvatierra gave much amusement to the soldiers +of Narvaez, by his absurd behaviour on discovering the trick +which had been played upon him.</p> + +<p>It was now resolved in a general consultation of our little +army, to send a letter in all our names to Narvaez, by the hands +of Father Olmedo, of which the following is the purport: "We had +rejoiced on hearing of the arrival of so noble a person with so +fine an army, by which we expected great advantages to have been +derived to our holy religion and to the service of our sovereign; +but on the contrary he had reviled us as traitors, and had +occasioned the whole country to revolt. Our general had already +offered to resign to him whatever provinces or territories he +might be inclined to occupy, but nothing would serve him except +treating our general and us as rebels, who had proved ourselves +by our actions faithful subjects to the emperor. If he came by +the authority of a commission from his majesty, we demanded to +see the original within three days, for which purpose we had +advanced to this place, and were ready to obey it in all humility +and reverence: but, if he had no such authority, we required him +to return immediately to Cuba, and not to make any attempt to +throw the country which we had conquered into confusion; as +otherwise we should deem it our bounden duty to send him as a +prisoner to his majesty, to be dealt with according to his royal +pleasure. We declared that he was answerable for all the +lamentable consequences which might follow from his unlawful +conduct; and that we had sent this letter by its present +conveyance, since no royal notary could undertake to deliver our +remonstrance in due form, after the violence which he had +committed against his majesties oydor Vasquez, a treasonable act, +the perpetrator of which our general was bound to apprehend and +bring to justice, and for which we now cited him to appear and +answer for his conduct." This letter was concluded in terms of +great respect, and was signed by Cortes, all the captains, and +several of the most confidential of the soldiers. It was sent by +the reverend Father Olmedo, accompanied by a soldier named +Ulagre, whose brother was in the army of Narvaez as commander of +his artillery. Olmedo waited on Narvaez with great respect on his +arrival at Chempoalla; and proceeded afterwards to execute the +secret commission with which he had been entrusted, by a liberal +distribution of gold among certain officers of the army of +Narvaez, among whom were Rodrigo Mira, Ulagre, and Andres de +Duero, which last he invited to pay a visit to Cortes. Narvaez +soon began to suspect the real object of Olmedo, and was much +inclined to have made him a prisoner: but Duero, who had much +influence over Narvaez, both on account of his situation and +because they were in some degree related, represented the +impropriety of such an outrage against a person of his holy +functions, and dissuaded him from doing so. He also suggested to +him the great probability of his being able to gain over the +soldiers of Cortes to his party, by means of a little policy. By +these arguments he appeased Narvaez for the present, and went +immediately to Olmedo whom he informed of all that had +passed.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards, Narvaez sent for Olmedo, who requested to +speak with him in private; when he told him good-humouredly that +he knew his intentions of making him a prisoner, in which he was +much to blame, as there was no one whatever more devoted to his +service, and he knew that there were many persons with Cortes, +who would gladly see their commander delivered up to his +excellency; in proof of which he had a letter which Cortes had +written at the suggestion of these very persons who wished to +deliver him up; which letter was so full of ridiculous +absurdities that he was frequently tempted to throw it away, but +would now with his permission lay it before him. He accordingly +went, as he pretended for the letter, which he alleged was with +his baggage, but in reality to bring Duero and others along with +him, that they might witness its delivery. In order to contrive +an interview with Cortes, Duero proposed that a communication +should be opened between Narvaez and him; and Augustin Bermudez, +a secret friend of Cortes, proposed that Duero and Salvatierra +should be sent on this business, well knowing the character of +Salvatierra to be disinclined to any such employment. It was at +last settled that Duero should wait upon Cortes, and invite him +to a conference with Narvaez at a convenient place between the +two armies, where they might treat of an accommodation and +arrange their future measures: And it was resolved that Narvaez +should make him prisoner at the conference, for which twenty of +his most confidential soldiers were prepared. Duero carried +intelligence immediately to Cortes, and Father Olmedo remained at +the quarters of Narvaez, having scraped acquaintance with +Salvatierra, under pretence of relationship, with whom he dined +every day.</p> + +<p>On first learning the arrival of Narvaez, Cortes sent one of +his soldiers named Barrientos, who had served in Italy and was +well acquainted with the management of the pike, to the province +of the Chinantlans, who had lately entered into alliance with us. +That nation used lances or pikes much longer than ours, having +heads of sharpened stone, and Barrientos was directed to obtain +300 of these lances for our use. There was plenty of excellent +copper in the country of the Chinantlans, and Barrientos was +directed to get two heads of this metal for each lance, and these +were executed so ingeniously that they were better made even than +the pattern sent. He also obtained a promise of 2000 warriors of +that nation to join us, who were to be armed in the same manner, +but they did not arrive till after we had overcome Narvaez. All +this being settled, Barrientos arrived at our quarters attended +by 200 Chinantlans carrying the lances he had procured. On trial +these were found excellent, and we were immediately exercised in +their use. A muster was now made of our force, which amounted to +two hundred and six men, including fife and drum, with five +mounted cavalry, two artillery-men, few cross-bows, and fewer +musketeers. This being the force, and such the weapons, with +which we marched against and defeated the vastly superior army of +Narvaez.</p> + +<p>I have formerly mentioned that the secretary Duero and the +contador Lares had negociated the appointment of Cortes as +general of our expedition, and that they were to enjoy equal +shares with him in all the treasure he should acquire. Lares was +some time dead, and Duero seeing how wealthy Cortes had become, +used the colour of the proposed treaty between Narvaez and +Cortes, in order to have an opportunity of an interview with +Cortes, that he might remind him of their agreement. Cortes not +only promised faithfully to perform his engagement, but promised +him an equal command with himself, and an equal share of +territory when the conquest of the country was completed. It was +accordingly agreed upon between them, in concurrence with +Augustin Bermudez, who was alguazil-major of the army of Narvaez, +and many other officers whom I do not name, to get Narvaez put +out of the command in favour of Cortes. In order to confirm these +in his interest, and to gain over others, Cortes was more liberal +than ever in his presents, and on the present occasion loaded the +two Indians who attended on Duero with gold. On one of the days +of intercourse, after Cortes and Duero had been a considerable +time together in private, and had dined, Duero asked him on +mounting his horse to go away, if he had any farther commands. To +this Cortes replied, "Remember what has been settled between us, +or if you don't, I shall be in your quarters before three days, +and you shall be the first person at whom I will throw my lance." +Duero answered laughing, that he would not fail, and immediately +set off for the quarters of Narvaez, where he is reported to have +said that Cortes and all his men were ready to submit to the +command of Narvaez. Soon after this, Cortes sent for Juan +Velasquez de Leon, a person of much consideration, who had always +been greatly attached to him, though a near relation of the +governor of Cuba. On coming to his quarters, Cortes addressed him +in smooth and persuasive terms, which he could always assume at +pleasure:--"Duero has informed me that Narvaez is anxious to see +you at his quarters, and that it is generally believed I am +completely ruined if you go there. Now my worthy friend, I desire +you to put on your gold chain, mount your grey mare, take all +your gold along with you and more which I will give you; go +immediately and fix yourself with Narvaez, and distribute the +gold which I confide to you according to my directions." +Velasquez was perfectly willing to do as he was desired, but +objected to the measure of carrying his own treasure along with +him, and after a secret conference with Cortes he set out for +Chempoalla. De Leon arrived there by day-break, and as the +Indians were rejoiced to see him, the news soon reached Narvaez, +who came out to meet and embrace him. After paying his +compliments, Velasquez said his only object there was to +endeavour to make an amicable arrangement between Narvaez and +Cortes; upon which Narvaez took him aside and asked him how he +could propose to treat for such a traitor? Velasquez desired that +no such injurious epithet might be used in his presence, as +Cortes was a most zealous and faithful officer. Narvaez then +offered to make him second in command under himself if he would +renounce Cortes; but Velasquez declared he would never quit one +who had done such signal services for God and the emperor.</p> + +<p>By this time all the principal officers in the army of Narvaez +had come up to salute Velasquez, who was an universal favourite, +as he was very polite and well bred, and had a fine person and +handsome countenance. At this time he cut a fine martial figure, +as he had a massy gold chain which made two turns round his body +and over his shoulders, so that he impressed every one with +respect. Bermudez the alguazil-major and Duero wished much to +have had some private communication with Velasquez; but just at +this time Captain Gamarra, Juan Yuste, Juan Buono, and +Salvatierra the braggadocio, persuaded Narvaez to give private +orders for taking Velasquez into custody, for having spoken so +boldly in defence of Cortes; but the others who had come over to +the interest of Cortes, strongly represented the impropriety and +impolicy of such rash conduct, and Narvaez again spoke in a +friendly manner to Velasquez, whom he invited to dine with him, +and entreated his assistance to bring Cortes and the rest of us +into his power. Velasquez now agreed to forward this design, but +represented Cortes as headstrong and resolute, advising that +Narvaez and he should divide the country between them, each +taking separate provinces. At this time Olmedo came up, and +advised Narvaez to order his troops under arms, that Velasquez +might see them and report to Cortes, who would be terrified when +he knew their strength. The troops were accordingly turned out in +review order, and Velasquez complimented Narvaez on their number +and martial appearence, wishing him an increase of his power. +Narvaez said he hoped Velasquez was now satisfied how easily he +could crush Cortes and his despicable force; to which Velasquez +replied, he hoped they knew how to defend themselves.</p> + +<p>Velasquez dined next day with Narvaez, where a captain in his +army who was nephew to the governor of Cuba happened to be, who +used very insulting language respecting Cortes. On this Velasquez +requested of Narvaez, that such insulting language might not be +allowed in his hearing; but the other gentleman continued his +abuse, and even took great liberties with Velasquez himself; who, +laying his hand on his sword, asked permission from Narvaez to +chastise that base liar. The other officers who were present +interfered to prevent mischief, and advised both Velasquez and +Olmedo to retire. Velasquez accordingly mounted his excellent +grey mare, in his helmet and coat of mail, with his gold chain +about his shoulders, and took leave of Narvaez, who returned his +salute with apparent coldness. The young captain was again very +violent in his abuse; on which Velasquez swore by his beard, that +he should see in a few days what stuff he was made of. Then, +taking a hasty leave of the bystanders, he put spurs to his good +grey mare and was soon out of sight, as he had some hint or +suspicion that Narvaez might send after him, and even saw some +horsemen following him apparently for that purpose, but he was +too well mounted for their pursuit.</p> + +<p>In about two hours after Velasquez had left our camp to visit +Narvaez, the drum beat to arms, and our little army set forwards +on our march for Chempoalla. We killed two wild hogs on our way, +which our soldiers considered as a good omen of our ultimate +success. We halted for the night on the side of a rivulet, having +the ground for a bed, stones for our pillows, and heaven for our +canopy, and arrived next day at the place where the city of Vera +Cruz is now built, which was then an Indian village in a grove of +trees. Being mid-day and the weather extremely sultry, we stopped +here for rest and refreshment, being much fatigued by the weight +of our lances and armour. While here, a report was brought from +one of our out-posts that some horsemen were in sight, who turned +out to be Velasquez and Olmedo, who were received by Cortes, and +all of us with much joy, and we all came round them to hear the +news. Velasquez told Cortes in what manner he had executed his +commission and distributed the presents among the officers of +Narvaez. Then our merry Father Olmedo gave an account by what +finesse he had persuaded Narvaez to read our letter; how he had +made the foolish braggart Salvatierra believe they were cousins, +and of the ridiculous bravadoes he uttered, as how he would kill +Cortes and all of us in revenge for the loss of his horse; then +how he had prevailed on Narvaez to turn out his troops in review, +merely to laugh at him; and in all these stories he mimicked +Narvaez and Salvatierra most admirably, so that we laughed and +enjoyed ourselves as if going to a wedding-feast, though we well +knew that on the morrow we must conquer or die, having to attack +five times our number. Such is the fortune of war! After the heat +of the day was over, we proceeded on our march, and halted for +the night at a river about a league from Chempoalla, where there +is now a bridge and a dairy farm.</p> + +<p>After the departure of Father Olmedo and Velasquez from the +quarters of Narvaez, some of his officers gave him warning of the +secret practices going on, and advised him to be on his guard, as +Cortes had many friends in his army. The fat cacique of +Chempoalla, being terrified for being called to account by Cortes +for delivering up the women and mantles that had been confided to +his care, was extremely vigilant in watching all our motions. +Finding that we drew near Chempoalla, he said to Narvaez, "Why +are you so careless! <i>Malinatzin</i> and his <i>teules</i> will +come upon you by surprise and put you all to death." Narvaez, +being confident in his vast superiority, laughed heartily at the +fears of the fat cacique, yet did not neglect the warning. In the +first place, he declared war against us as rebels, with fire, +sword, and rope, and then drew up his whole army, cavalry, +artillery, and infantry, in a plain about a quarter of a league +from Chempoalla, where he resolved to wait for us; all of which +we learned from a soldier, named El Galleguillo, who either +deserted to us, or was sent by Duero to Cortes. The day happened +to be very rainy, and the troops of Narvaez, being unaccustomed +to hardships, and despising our small number, became restless and +dissatisfied with their situation, on which his officers advised +him to march them back to quarters, which he did, placing all his +guns in a line before the house in which he lodged. He likewise +placed a grand guard of forty cavalry on the road by which we +were expected to advance, and some cavalry videts and active foot +soldiers at the ford where we must pass on our way to Chempoalla. +Twenty of his cavalry were also appointed to patrole during the +whole night around his quarters. All this was done by the advice +of his officers, who were anxious to get under cover, and who +alleged it was absurd to suppose that Cortes would venture to +attack them with so pitiful a handful of men, and that he only +advanced from ostentation, or to induce them to come to an +agreement. On returning to quarters, Narvaez publickly offered a +reward of two thousand crowns to whoever should kill Cortes or +Sandoval; and he stationed as spies at the ford, Gonzalo +Carrasco, who now dwells in La Puebla, and a soldier named +Hurtado. He also filled his own quarters, and those of +Salvatierra, Gamarra, and Buono, with musketeers, crossbow-men, +and soldiers armed with partizans or halberts.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the river which runs through the rich meadows +about a league from Chempoalla, having appointed trusty +out-guards, Cortes summoned all his officers and soldiers round +him, and addressed us as follows: "Gentlemen! you well know that +the governor of Cuba selected me as your general, although there +are many among you as worthy of the command. You also know that +it was publickly proclaimed and believed among us, that we were +to conquer and colonize this country, whereas our instructions +were only to barter with the natives for gold. You will recollect +my determination to have returned to Cuba, to give an account of +my mission to Velasquez, when I was required by you to remain and +colonize the country for his majesties service, appointing me +your captain-general and chief magistrate, till his majesties +pleasure was made known, and that we have in consequence +essentially served God, and the interest of our sovereign. I beg +leave to remind you, that we have written to the king, giving him +a full account of this country, and all that we have done and +suffered for his service, requesting that the government might +not be conferred on any unworthy person, and how we transmitted +all the treasure to his majesty that we had obtained. You +likewise know, that fearing the arts and influence of the bishop +of Burgos and his favourite Velasquez, we came to a resolution to +maintain his majesties rights and government in this country, +till his royal mandate, duly authenticated, should be produced to +us. I must now remind you to what dangers you have been exposed +in various sanguinary battles, what hardships you have suffered +from hunger and fatigue, and the inclemencies of the weather, +having often been obliged to sleep on the ground in rain, wind, +and snow, during all which, above fifty of your companions have +died, and many of your own wounds are still unhealed. I recal to +your remembrance, your numerous sufferings by sea and land, and +the perils of Tabasco, Tlascala, and Cholula, where the boilers +were already on the fires in which your limbs were to have been +prepared for the barbarous repast of your savage enemies. And +lastly, your hazardous entry into Mexico, the seizure of its +powerful sovereign, and its occupation in the face of an immense +and warlike population for more than six months. Let me now state +the reward of all these dangerous and brilliant services. Narvaez +is sent here by your enemies the governor of Cuba and bishop of +Burgos, to strip you of your well-earned fame and dear-bought +treasures. By aspersing your characters with the great Montezuma +he has occasioned the defection of the natives who had submitted +to our government, and he proclaims exterminating war against us +with fire, sword, and rope, as if we were infidel Moors." He said +a great deal more to the same purpose, exalting our merits and +valour to the skies, and after a profusion of compliments and +promises, he concluded by observing that this Narvaez, who had +come to deprive us of our lives and properties, and had +imprisoned the royal oydor for endeavouring to defend us, only +held his command through the favour of our great enemy the bishop +of Burgos; and it became us therefore, as faithful subjects, to +make a bold stand in defence of the royal rights, and our own +lives and properties: He therefore now wished to know our +determination on the subject.</p> + +<p>The whole officers and soldiers declared unanimously that we +were ready to follow him, and determined to conquer or die. We +desired, therefore, that we might hear no more said about an +accommodation with Narvaez, or a partition of the country; as in +that case we would plunge our swords into his body, and elect +another chief. Cortes highly extolled our spirited declaration, +saying that he expected no less from men of our valour; adding a +multitude of fine promises and flattering assurances that he +would make us all rich and great. Then adverting to the +approaching attack, he earnestly enjoined us to observe the +strictest discipline, and the most profound silence, observing +that success in battle often depended a great deal more on +prudent conduct and precise obedience, than on the most +determined bravery: He well knew, he said, that our ardour would +prompt every one of us to strive who should be most forward in +the battle, but it was indispensably necessary that we should be +distributed into companies, having each our distinct duties to +perform. The first thing necessary to be done, was to seize the +enemies artillery, and for this duty he selected seventy +soldiers, among whom I was one, over whom he appointed to the +command his relation Pizarro, an active young man, but then as +little known to fame as the kingdom of Peru. Our farther orders +were, as soon as we had got possession of the guns, that we were +to join and support the detachment which was to attack the +quarters of Narvaez. This duty was assigned to Sandoval at the +head of seventy select men; and, as he was alguazil-major of our +army, he was provided with a formal warrant to arrest the body of +Pamphilo de Narvaez, for having imprisoned an officer of his +majesty, and to put him to death in case of resistance. Cortes +also promised a reward of three thousand crowns to the first +soldier who should lay hands on Narvaez, two thousand to the +second, and one thousand to the third. Juan Velasquez de Leon was +appointed with a third body of seventy men, to seize his relation +Diego Velasquez; and Cortes retained a body of reserve of twenty +men, to act whatever he might see occasion, and in particular to +support the intended attack on the quarters of Narvaez and +Salvatierra, which were in the lofty temple of Chempoalla[3]. +Having thus arranged the troops and instructed our leaders, he +addressed us in a short speech, saying, That he well knew the +army of Narvaez was four times more numerous than we, but they +were unaccustomed to arms, and many of them ill; he trusted +therefore in this unexpected attack, that God would give us +victory, and that it was better to die gloriously than to live +dishonoured. I have often reflected on this circumstance, that in +all his addresses to us, he never once mentioned a word +respecting those in the army of Narvaez who were our friends; in +which he acted the part of a wise commander, making us to rely +entirely on our own prowess, without counting on any assistance. +Our three detachments were now formed, having each their captains +at their head, explaining to us our particular duties, while we +mutually encouraged each other to hope for victory. Pizarro, our +leader, directed us to rush forwards upon the guns, with our +lances at the charge, and immediately on getting possession, the +artillery-men who were attached to our division, were to point +and fire them against the quarters of Narvaez. Those who happened +at this moment to be deficient in defensive armour, would have +given every thing they had in the world for a morion, a helmet, +or a breast-plate. Our countersign for the engagement was +<i>Spiritu Santo</i>, that of Narvaez <i>Santa Maria</i>. Just +before marching, Captain Sandoval, who had always been my +intimate friend, called me aside, and made me promise, if I +survived the capture of the guns, I should seek out and attach +myself to him during the rest of the battle.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] These numbers, as arranged for the attack on +Narvaez, only amount to 230 men. At the occupation of Mexico the +Spanish army is said to have been about 450, besides the garrison +of Villa Rica. Eighty-three men are stated to have been left in +Mexico under the command of Alvarado, which would still leave 367 +to march under Cortes for Chempoalla, to which 70 being added +from Villa Rica under Sandoval, would raise the amount of the +army now under Cortes to about 437 men, so that about 207 are +unaccounted for in the arrangement for the attack, besides Ordas, +and other eminent captains are not now mentioned in the text. We +may, therefore, reasonably conclude, that these captains and the +unaccounted for remaining force of Cortes, were left at the ford +of the river, about a league from Chempoalla, as a rear guard, on +which to retreat in case of a defeat, or may have formed a main +body for the assault.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>All things being arranged, we remained waiting the order to +march, and reflecting with much anxiety on what was before us. I +was stationed at an advanced post, where soon afterwards a +patrole came to me, asking if I had heard any thing, to which I +answered that I had not. A corporal came up to my post soon +after, who said that Galleguillo, the deserter from Narvaez, was +missing, and was suspected of having come among us as a spy, for +which reason Cortes had given orders to march immediately. The +drum was soon heard beating for us to fall in, and the captains +were calling over their companies. We joined the column, and soon +after found the missing soldier sleeping under some mantles to +relieve his fatigue, as he had not been accustomed to hardships. +We marched on at a quick pace, and in profound silence, and on +arriving at the river, surprised the two videts of Narvaez, one +of whom we made prisoner, and the other flying into the town +before us, spread the alarm of our approach. Owing to rain the +river was deeper than usual, and the ford was difficult to pass, +from loose stones and the weight of our armour. Carrasco the +videt, whom we had taken, exclaimed to Cortes, "Do not advance, +Senior Cortes, for Narvaez and all his force is drawn out to +receive you." We proceeded, however, with all expedition, and on +coming to the town, heard the other man who had escaped giving +the alarm, and Narvaez calling on his officers to turn out. Our +company was at the head of the column; and rushing on with +charged lances, we soon made ourselves masters of the guns, the +artillery-men having only time to discharge four, one only of +which took effect, and killed three of our men. Our whole force +now advanced, and brought down seven of the enemies cavalry; but +we could not for some time quit the guns, as the enemy kept up a +smart discharge of musketry and arrows from the quarters of +Narvaez. Sandoval and his company pressed forwards to climb the +steps of the temple, in which attempt he was resisted by the +enemy, with musketry, partizans, and lances, and was even forced +down six or seven steps. At this time, seeing that the artillery +was no longer in danger of being rescued, our company, with +Captain Pizarro at their head, went to the assistance of +Sandoval, when we jointly made the enemy give ground in their +turn; and at this critical moment I heard Narvaez crying out, +"Santa Maria assist me! they have slain me, and beat out one of +my eyes!" On hearing this we shouted out, "Victory! victory! for +the Espiritu Santo! Narvaez is dead!" Still we were unable to +force our way into the temple, till Martin Lopez, who was very +tall, set the thatch on fire, and forced those within to rush +down the steps to save themselves from being burnt to death. +Sanches Farfan laid hold on Narvaez, whom we carried prisoner to +Sandoval, along with several other captive captains, continually +shouting, "Victory! victory! Long live the king and Cortes! +Narvaez is slain!"</p> + +<p>While this was going on with us, Cortes and the rest of our +army were engaged with some of the enemy who occupied some other +lofty temples. When the cause of our shouts was understood, +Cortes notified to them the fall of their commander, proclaiming +that all who did not instantly submit should be put to death; yet +those who were in the temple, commanded by Diego Velasquez and +Salvatierra would not submit, till Sandoval with half of our +body, and the captured guns, forced his way into the temple and +made them all prisoners. Sandoval now returned to take charge of +Narvaez, who was doubly ironed; and we now, had in custody +besides him, Salvatierra, Diego Velasquez, Gamarra, Juan Yuste, +Juan Buono, and many other principal persons. At this time Cortes +came in unobserved, extremely fatigued; and addressing Sandoval, +said it was impossible to describe the labour he had experienced; +then asked, "What has become of Narvaez?" Sandoval told him that +Narvaez was here safe. Cortes then said, "Son Sandoval, keep good +watch over him and the other officers." After which he hastened +away, and caused proclamation to be made, that all should lay +down their arms and submit. The whole of this happened during the +night, during which there were frequent showers, with intervals +of moon-shine; but at the moment of attack it was extremely dark, +with multitudes of fire flies, which the soldiers of Narvaez +mistook for the lighted matches of our musketry. Narvaez was +badly wounded, and had one of his eyes beaten out, on which +account he requested to send for Master Juan the surgeon; and +while he was getting his eye dressed Cortes entered the room, +when Narvaez said to him: "Senior Cortes! thank your good fortune +for having made me your prisoner." Cortes answered, That his +thanks were due to God and his valiant soldiers, who had +succeeded in more difficult achievements since they came to New +Spain; and he considered the arrest of the royal oydor was more +daring than our present attack. He then left the room, with +strict injunctions to Sandoval to keep strict guard. Narvaez and +the rest of the captured officers were removed into a more secure +apartment, where I and some other confidential soldiers were +appointed for their guard, and Sandoval gave me a private order +to allow no one to speak with Narvaez.</p> + +<p>Cortes knew that forty of the enemies cavalry were still at an +outpost on the river, and that it was necessary to keep a good +look out, lest they might attack us for the rescue of their +officers. He sent, therefore, De Oli and De Ordas to speak with +them, on two horses which were found fastened in a wood, and +guided by one of the soldiers of Narvaez. By their arguments and +fair promises, the horsemen were all persuaded to submit, and +came back with them for that purpose to the town. It was now +clear day, and Cortes was seated in an arm-chair, with an +orange-coloured mantle over his shoulders, and his arms by his +side, surrounded by his officers and soldiers. He received the +salutations of the cavaliers, as they came up successively to +kiss his hand, with amazing affability, embracing them all most +cordially, and politely complimenting them. Among these were +Bermudez, Duero, and several others, who were secretly his +friends already. Each of the cavaliers, after paying his +respects, went to the quarters assigned for their lodgings. Ever +since day-break, the drums, fifes, and timbals of the army of +Narvaez never ceased their music in honour of Cortes, though none +of us had spoken a word to them on the subject. A comical fellow +of a negro, who belonged to the band, danced for joy, shouting +out; "Where are your Romans now? They never achieved so glorious +a victory with such small numbers!" We could not silence these +noisy fellows, till Cortes ordered them to be confined. In this +action, a gentleman of Seville, and standard-bearer to Narvaez, +Roxas, one of his captains, and two others, were killed, and many +wounded; one also of the three who deserted from us to him was +killed, and several wounded. The fat cacique also, who took +refuge in the quarters of Narvaez on our approach, was wounded, +and Cortes ordered him to his house, to be there well taken care +of. As for Salvatierra, who had made so many boasts, his own +soldiers said they never saw so pitiful a fellow. When he heard +our drum he was in a terrible fright, and when we shouted out +victory, he declared he had a pain at his stomach, and could +fight no more. Diego Velasquez, who was wounded, was taken by his +relation Juan Velasquez de Leon to his own quarters, where he was +well taken care of, and treated with the utmost attention[4].</p> + +<blockquote>[4] This victory of Cortes over Narvaez took place on +the 26th May 1520.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The reinforcement of warriors which Cortes had been promised +from Chinantla, marched into Chempoalla soon after the conclusion +of the action, under the command of Barrientos, who had +marshalled them in a very shewy manner, in regular files, +lancemen and archers alternately, 1500 in number, accompanied +with colours, drums, and trumpets, and making a most warlike +appearance, to the great astonishment of the soldiers of Narvaez, +who thought they were double the number. Our general received +them with much courtesy, and as their services were no longer +needed, he made them handsome presents, and dismissed them with +thanks.</p> + +<p>The army of Narvaez being now secured, Cortes sent F. de Lugo +to order all the captains and pilots of the fleet to come to +Chempoalla, and directed all the ships to be dismantled, to cut +off all communication with Cuba. One Barahona, afterwards an +inhabitant of Guatimala, had been confined by Narvaez, and was +now set at liberty, who was in a very weak state when he joined +us. The captains and pilots of the fleet came on shore to pay +their respects, and Cortes bound them all by oath not to leave +him, appointing Pedro Cavallero, one of their number, admiral of +the whole fleet now in his possession; and, as more ships were +expected from Cuba, gave him orders to dismantle them all as they +arrived, and to send the captains and pilots to head-quarters. +All these important matters being arranged, and his authority +completely established, Cortes proceeded to such measures as +seemed proper for extending and securing the conquest and +discovery of New Spain. For this purpose, Velasquez de Leon was +appointed to conduct an expedition to the river of Panuco, with +220 soldiers, 20 of which were taken from among ourselves, and +100 from the soldiers of Narvaez: And was to be accompanied by +two ships, on purpose to extend the discovery of the coast. Diego +de Ordas, was appointed with a similar force, to establish a +colony in the province of Guacocualco, or Coatzacualco; and as +that country was well adapted for breeding cattle, he was +directed to send to Jamaica for horses, mares, bulls, and cows, +for the purpose of establishing an independent supply in the +country. All the prisoners were released, except Narvaez and +Salvatierra, who still had the pain in his stomach. Cortes also +gave orders to restore all their horses and arms to the soldiers +of Narvaez, which gave us all much dissatisfaction, but we were +obliged to submit. On this occasion I had to resign a good horse +with a saddle and bridle, two swords, three daggers, and a +shield. Avila and Father Olmedo, speaking on this subject to +Cortes, said he resembled Alexander the Great, who was always +more generous to the vanquished, than to his own conquering +soldiers. Indeed as fast as Cortes received gold or other +valuables, he gave away all to the captains of the other army, +quite forgetful of us who had made him what he was. Cortes +protested that he and all he had was entirely devoted to our +service, as he would shew by his future conduct; but that his +present procedure was necessary for our common interest and +safety, we being so few, and the others so numerous. Avila, who +was of a lofty disposition, remonstrated in an imperious manner, +and Cortes was forced to dissemble with him at the time, knowing +him to be a brave man; he pacified him therefore with presents +and flattering promises, to prevent any violence, but took care +in future to employ him in distant business, as his agent first +in Hispaniola, and afterwards in Spain.</p> + +<p>There happened to come over in the army of Narvaez, a negro +who was ill of the small-pox, a most unfortunate circumstance for +the people of New Spain, as the disease spread with astonishing +rapidity through the country, and destroyed the natives by +thousands, as they used to throw themselves into cold water in +the height of the disease, with the nature of which they were +utterly unacquainted. Thus multitudes of unfortunate souls were +hurried into eternity, without an opportunity of being received +into the bosom of the holy Catholic church. At this time, such of +our soldiers as had been in distant garrisons, applied to Cortes +to receive their shares of the gold which had been got in Mexico. +As far as I can remember, he referred them to a place in +Tlascala, desiring that two persons might be sent to receive it +at that place; and I shall have occasion to mention the result +hereafter.</p> + +<p>SECTION X.</p> + +<p><i>Occurrences, from the Defeat of Narvaez, 26th May 1520, to +the Expulsion of the Spaniards from Mexico, on the 1st, and the +Battle of Otumba on the 4th of July of the same Year</i>.</p> + +<p>The wheel of fortune is ever in motion, evil following closely +upon good. This was strongly exemplified with us at this time, as +our late successes were speedily followed by melancholy news from +Mexico by express, informing us that an insurrection had broke +out in that city, that Alvarado was besieged in his quarters, +which the natives had set on fire, after killing seven of his men +and wounding many; for which reason Alvarado earnestly entreated +immediate succour. It is not to be expressed how much this news +afflicted us all. In consequence of this distressing +intelligence, Cortes countermanded the expeditions which were to +have marched under De Leon and De Ordas, and determined upon an +immediate forced march to Mexico. We left Narvaez and Salvatierra +as prisoners at Villa Rica, under the charge of Roderigo Rangel, +who was likewise directed to collect all the stragglers, and to +take care of the invalids, who were numerous: Just as we were +ready to march, four principal nobles arrived from the court of +Montezuma, who made a heavy complaint against Alvarado, who had +assaulted them while dancing at a solemn festival in honour of +their gods, which had been held by his permission, and stating +that they had been constrained to take up arms in their own +defence, during which seven of the Spanish soldiers were slain. +Cortes made them a short answer, saying that he would shortly be +at Mexico, when he would make proper inquiry and set all to +rights, with which answer they had to return to Montezuma, who +was much displeased with the insulting tone in which it was +given, more especially as a great number of his subjects had been +killed by Alvarado. Before commencing our march, Cortes made a +speech to the soldiers of Narvaez, exhorting them to forget all +past animosities, and not to let the present opportunity be lost +of serving both his majesty and themselves; and by way of +inducement, gave them a magnificent picture of the riches of +Mexico, to a participation in which their faithful conduct would +entitle them. They one and all declared their resolution to obey +his orders, and to proceed immediately to Mexico, which they +would hardly have agreed to if they had known its strength, and +the numerous martial population of that city.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Tlascala by very long marches, where we were +informed that the Mexicans had made incessant attacks on +Alvarado, until Montezuma and they received intelligence of the +defeat of Narvaez; after which they had desisted, leaving the +Spaniards in great distress, owing to excessive fatigue from +their continual exertions, and much in want of water and +provisions. At Tlascala, Cortes made a general muster and +inspection of our army, which now amounted to thirteen hundred +men, of whom nearly an hundred were cavalry, and a hundred and +sixty armed with muskets and crossbows. We were here joined by +two thousand Tlascalan warriors, and marched from hence to +Tezcuco, where we were very ill received, every thing bearing the +appearance of disaffection.</p> + +<p>On St John's day, 24th of June 1520, we again entered +Mexico[1], where we met with a very different reception from what +we had experienced on our former entry, on the 8th November 1519, +seven months and a half before. Not one of the nobles of our +acquaintance came now to meet us, and the whole city seemed to +have been deserted by its inhabitants. On entering our quarters, +Montezuma advanced to embrace Cortes, and to congratulate him on +his victory; but our general turned from him with disdain, and +would neither speak to him nor listen to his address, on which +the king returned to his apartment much cast down. Cortes made +inquiry into the causes and circumstances of the late commotion, +from all of which it was evident that it had neither been +instigated nor approved by Montezuma; as if he had chosen to act +against our garrison, they might all have been as easily +destroyed as only seven. Alvarado said, that the Indians were +enraged at the detention of their sovereign, and by the erection +of the cross in their temple; and that when they went, as they +said by order of their gods, to pull it down, all their strength +was unable to move it from its place; and that Montezuma had +strictly enjoined them to desist from all such attempts. In +justification of himself, Alvarado alleged that the friends and +subjects of Montezuma had planned the attack upon him for the +liberation of their sovereign, at the time when they believed +Cortes and his army had been destroyed by Narvaez: And being +questioned why he had fallen on the Mexicans, while holding a +festival in honour of their gods, he pretended that he had +intelligence of their hostile intentions from a priest and two +nobles, and thought it safest to be beforehand with them. When +pressed by Cortes to say whether the Mexicans had not asked and +obtained his permission to hold that festival, he acknowledged it +was so, and that he had fallen upon them by anticipation, that he +might terrify them into submission, and prevent them from going +to war with the Spaniards. Cortes was highly displeased with the +conduct of Alvarado, and censured him in the strongest terms.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] We are not writing the history of the conquest of +Mexico, yet may be allowed to say that Cortes committed a gross +military error, in entering Mexico without establishing a strong +communication of posts between that insulated city and the land, +along one of the causeways; which he might easily have done along +the shortest causeway of Tacuba or Tlacopan, or by the aqueduct +of Chapoltepec.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Alvarado alleged that during one of the attacks of the +Mexicans on his quarters, he had endeavoured to fire off one of +his guns and could not get the priming to take fire; but sometime +afterwards, when they were in great danger, the gun went off of +itself and made prodigious havock among the enemy, who were thus +miraculously repulsed, and the Spaniards saved from inevitable +destruction. He said also, that the garrison being in great +distress for water, they sank a pit in one of the courts, when +immediately a spring of the sweetest water sprung up. I know that +there was a spring in the city which often produced tolerably +fresh water[2]. Glory be to GOD for all his mercies! Some alleged +that Alvarado was excited to this attack by avarice, in order to +plunder the Indians of their golden ornaments during the +festival; but I am satisfied his attack proceeded from a mistaken +idea of preventing insurrection by terror. It is certain, that +even after the massacre at the temple, Montezuma used every +endeavour to prevent his subjects from attacking our people: but +they were so enraged that nothing could restrain their eager +thirst for vengeance.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] It is to be noticed that the lake in which the +city of Mexico was built contained water so salt as to be unfit +for drinking.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>During our march, Cortes had launched out to the new comers in +warm eulogiums on the riches of Mexico, the power and influence +which he had acquired, and the respect and obedience of the +Mexicans, filling them with promises and expectations of enjoying +gold in abundance. From the negligent coldness of his reception +in Tezcuco, and the similar appearances in Mexico, he became +vexed, disappointed, and peevish; insomuch, that when the +officers of Montezuma came to wait upon him, and expressed the +wishes of their master to see him, Cortes exclaimed angrily: +"Away with the dog, wherefore does he neglect to supply us." The +captains De Leon, De Oli, and De Lugo, happening to be present on +this occasion, entreated him to remember the former kindness and +generosity of the Mexican sovereign, and to treat him with +moderation. This only seemed to irritate Cortes so much the more, +as it appeared to censure his conduct, and he indignantly +answered: "What obligations am I under to the wretch, who plotted +secretly against me with Narvaez, and who now neglects to supply +us with provisions?" The captains admitted that this ought to be +done, and Cortes being full of confidence in the great military +power he now commanded, continued a haughty demeanour to the +Mexican noblemen who still waited his pleasure. Turning therefore +to them, he desired them to tell their master, that he must +immediately order markets to be held, and provisions to be +supplied for his troops, or to beware of the consequences. These +lords understood the general import of the injurious expressions +which Cortes had used against Montezuma, and made a faithful +report to him of all that passed. Whether it may have proceeded +from rage on account of these opprobrious expressions against +their sovereign, or from a plan previously concerted to fall upon +us, I know not, but within a quarter of an hour, a soldier +dangerously wounded came running into our quarters, and reported +that the whole people were in arms against us. This man had been +sent by Cortes to bring over to our quarters the daughter of +Montezuma and other Indian ladies, who had been left under the +charge of the cacique of Tacuba, when we marched against Narvaez. +He was returning with these ladies, when the people attacked him +in great numbers on the causeway of Tacuba, where they had broken +down one of the bridges, and had once seized him, and were +forcing him into a canoe to carry him off to be sacrificed; but +he extricated himself by a violent effort, and got away with two +dangerous wounds.</p> + +<p>Cortes immediately ordered out a detachment of 400 men under +Ordas, to see what was the matter, and to endeavour to pacify the +people; but he had hardly proceeded the length of a street, when +he was assailed by immense numbers of the natives, some in the +street, and others from the terraced tops of the houses, who +killed eight of his men on the first discharge of missiles, and +wounded mostly the whole of his men, himself in three places. +Finding it impossible to proceed, Ordas retreated slowly towards +our quarters, and soon after lost another soldier, who did +astonishing feats of valour with a two-handed sword. The streets +were so crowded with enemies, and we were so incessantly attacked +in front and rear, and from the roofs, that for a long while he +was unable to force his way. Neither the effect of our fire-arms, +nor the most efficacious use of our other arms could deter the +natives from closing in upon us hand to hand, and foot to foot; +but at length Ordas forced his way back, having lost in all +twenty-three of his men. Our quarters were attacked by prodigious +multitudes at the same moment that the attack on Ordas began, and +they poured in such incessant discharges of missile weapons, that +they soon wounded above forty-six of our men, of whom twelve +afterwards died. Even after the retreat of Ordas, the enemy +continued their attacks, and at length set fire to various parts +of the buildings forming our quarters, thinking to burn us alive +or to stifle us with smoke; and we were reduced to the necessity +of tearing down some parts of the building, and to throw earth +upon other parts, to extinguish the fire. All the courts and open +places of our quarters were thickly strewed with arrows, stones, +and darts, which had been thrown at us; and we were occupied the +whole day and night, in repelling the incessant assaults, +repairing the breaches in our defences, dressing our wounds, and +preparing for future assaults. At dawn of the ensuing morning, we +sallied out with our whole force, determined to conquer or to +impress them with respect. The Mexicans met us with the utmost +resolution, and though we fought almost in despair, their numbers +were so immense, and they continually brought up such strong +reinforcements of fresh troops, that even if we had all been +Hectors or Orlandos, we could not have forced them to give +ground. It is quite impossible to give any adequate idea of the +obstinacy and violence of this battle. Though in every reiterated +charge we brought down thirty or forty of the enemy, it had no +effect, as they returned upon us with more violence and +desperation than before; our musketry and cannon made no +impression that was not instantly replaced; and if at any time +they gave ground, it was only to draw us farther from our +quarters, to make our destruction more sure. In the midst of all +this, the stones and darts which were launched upon us from the +terraces of the house tops did us astonishing injury. Some of our +soldiers who had been in the wars of Italy declared, that neither +among Christians or Turks, nor even in the French artillery, had +they ever seen such desperate fighting as now among these +Indians. We were at length forced to retreat to our quarters, +which we reached with infinite difficulty, after losing ten or +twelve of our men killed, and almost every one of us severely +wounded.</p> + +<p>After our return, we were busily occupied in preparing for a +general sally on the next day after but one, with four military +engines of strong timber like towers, each of which was +calculated to contain twenty-five men under cover, with portholes +for the artillery, and for muskets and crossbows. During this +interval we had likewise to repair the breaches which the +Mexicans had made in our walls, and to resist their attempts to +scale them, often in twenty places at once. The Mexicans +constantly used the most injurious language against us; saying +that the voracious animals in the great temple had been kept +fasting for two days, that they might be ready to devour our +bodies, when we were sacrificed to their gods. They assured us at +the same time that our allies were to be put into cages to +fatten, and that they would soon recover our ill got treasure. +Sometimes they adjured us in the most plaintive terms to restore +their king to liberty, and they annoyed us without ceasing by +flights of arrows, constantly shouting and whistling. On the +ensuing morning at day-break, having first recommended ourselves +to GOD, we sallied out from our quarters with the turrets, such +as I have seen in other places, and called <i>mantas</i> or +<i>burros</i>. Our column was headed by a party of musketeers and +crossbow-men, and our cavalry on our flanks, occasionally +charging the enemy. Our purpose was to assail the great temple, +which by its elevation and strong enclosures, served as a citadel +to the Mexicans, and we advanced therefore in that direction, +accompanied by our turrets; but the enemy resisted all our +efforts with the most determined obstinacy. I will not attempt to +relate all the circumstances of this desperate battle, or the +difficulty which we had to encounter in driving the enemy from a +very strong house which they occupied. The arrows of the Mexicans +wounded many of our horses, notwithstanding that they wore +defensive armour; and when our cavalry attempted at any time to +charge or to pursue the enemy, they threw themselves into the +canals, while others sallied out from the houses on both sides +with long lances, assailing our people in the rear and on both +flanks. It was utterly impossible for us to burn the houses, or +to pull them down, as they all stood singly in the water, +communicating only by means of draw-bridges; and it was too +dangerous for us to attempt reaching them by swimming, as they +showered vollies of stones upon us by slings, and threw large +stones upon our heads from the terraces of their house tops. Even +when a house was set on fire, it was very long of taking effect; +and even when we succeeded, the flames could not communicate to +the other houses, as they were all separated by canals, and their +roofs were terraced, not thatched.</p> + +<p>At length we reached the great temple, into which four +thousand of the Mexicans immediately rushed, independent of other +large bodies who were previously stationed there for its defence. +They defended their temple with the most obstinate valour, and +for some time prevented us from being able to ascend, our +turrets, musketry, and cavalry, being of no avail to force them +to give ground. The pavements of the temple courts were so +smooth, that the horses fell when our cavalry attempted to +charge. They opposed us in front from the steps of the great +temple, and assailed us with such fury on both flanks and in the +rear, that though our guns swept off a dozen or fifteen of them +at every discharge, and though in each charge of our infantry we +killed many of them with our swords and lances, they continually +filled up the chasms we had made among them, and their numbers +and resolution were so great that we could not make any permanent +or effectual impression. We were even forced to abandon our +<i>mantas</i> or turrets, which the enemy had demolished. At +length, by a desperate effort, we forced our way up the steps, +and in this assault Cortes shewed himself a hero. Our battle in +this place was most desperate, every man among us being covered +with blood, and above forty of our number lay dead on the spot. +We reached with infinite difficulty the place where we had +formerly set up the image of the blessed Virgin, which was not to +be found, as it had been removed by order of Montezuma, either +through fear or from devotion to his idols. We set fire to the +buildings, and burnt down a part of the temples of +Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca; and while some of us were +employed in setting fire to the buildings, and others fighting, +in which our Tlascalan allies seconded us most gallantly, above +three thousand Mexican nobles, headed by their priests, made a +most severe attack, and drove us down eight or ten of the steps. +Others of the enemy from the corridors, or within the railings +and concavities of the temple, assailed us on every side with +arrows and other missiles, so that we were unable even to +maintain the ground we had gained. We were constrained therefore +to retreat, every man of us being wounded, and forty-six of our +number slain. We regained our quarters with the utmost +difficulty, which the enemy had almost gained possession of, as +they had been continually endeavouring to carry them by assault +during our absence, or to set them on fire. But they desisted in +a great measure from the assault on our arrival, yet continued to +throw in perpetual showers of arrows, darts, and stones. In the +course of this most terrible engagement, we made two of the chief +priests prisoners, whom we carried along with us to our quarters. +I have often seen representations of this battle in Mexican +paintings, both at Mexico and Tlascala, in which the various +incidents were represented in a very lively manner. Our ascent to +the great temple; the setting the temple on fire; the numerous +warriors defending it in the corridors, from behind the rails, +and in the concavities, and others on the plain ground, in the +courts of the temple, and on all sides of us; many of our men +being represented as dead, and all of us covered with wounds. In +these paintings, the destruction of our turrets is conspicuously +represented as a most heroic achievement.</p> + +<p>The night which succeeded this unfortunate battle was passed +by us in a most melancholy state; repairing the breaches which +had been made in the walls of our quarters, dressing our wounds, +burying our slain companions, and consulting upon measures for +extricating us from our present almost hopeless situation. The +followers of Narvaez heaped maledictions on Cortes for leading +them to Mexico, and Velasquez came in for an ample share of their +abuse, for having induced them to quit their peaceful habitations +in Cuba. The enemy assembled around us again at day-break, and +assailed our quarters with greater fury than ever, insomuch that +our fire-arms were insufficient to repel them, though they mowed +them down in great numbers. In this desperate situation, Cortes +sent for Montezuma, whom he desired to address his subjects from +a terrace, desiring them to desist from their attacks, assuring +them that we would immediately evacuate the city. On receiving +this message, Montezuma burst into tears, exclaiming, "What does +he want with me now? I have been reduced to my present unhappy +state on his account, and I neither wish to see him nor to live +any longer?" He therefore dismissed the messengers with a +refusal, and it is reported that he added, that he desired not to +be any more troubled with the false words and specious promises +of Cortes. Father Olmedo and Captain De Oli went to wait upon +him, and used all possible expressions of respect and affection +to induce him to comply with the request of Cortes. To this he +replied, that he did not believe any thing he could now do would +be of any avail, as the Mexicans had elected another sovereign, +and were resolved not to allow a single Spaniard to quit the city +alive. He made his appearance however at the railing of a +terraced roof, attended by many of our soldiers, and made a very +affectionate address to the people below, earnestly entreating a +cessation of hostilities, that we might evacuate Mexico. As soon +as Montezuma was perceived, the chiefs and nobles made their +troops to desist from the attack, and commanded silence. Then +four of the principal nobles came forwards, so near as to be able +to hold conversation with Montezuma whom they addressed, +lamenting the misfortunes which had befallen him and his family. +They told him that they had raised <i>Cuitlahuatzin</i>[3] to the +throne; that the war would soon be ended, as they had promised to +their gods never to desist till they had utterly destroyed the +Spaniards; that they offered up continual prayers for the safety +of Montezuma their beloved sovereign, whom they would venerate +and obey as formerly, as soon as they had rescued him from our +hands, and hoped he would pardon all they had done for the +defence of their religion and independence, and their present +disobedience. Just as they concluded this address, a shower of +arrows fell about the place where Montezuma stood; and though the +Spaniards had hitherto protected him by interposing their +shields, they did not expect any assault while he was speaking to +his subjects, and had therefore uncovered him for an instant; in +that unguarded state, three stones and an arrow hit him on the +head, the arm, and the leg, wounding him severely. Montezuma +refused every assistance, and all the endeavours of Father Olmedo +could not prevail upon him to embrace the holy Catholic faith, +neither could he be prevailed upon to have his wounds attended +to. When informed of his death, Cortes and our captains lamented +him exceedingly, and all of us soldiers who had been acquainted +with his generosity and other amiable qualities, grieved as for +the loss of a father. He was said to have reigned seventeen +years, and to have been the best of all the sovereigns who had +ruled over Mexico; having fought and conquered in three pitched +battles, while subjugating other states to his dominions.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] This prince, whom Diaz names Coadlavaca, was +brother to Montezuma, prince of Iztapalapan, and Tlachcocoatl, or +grand general of the Mexican army.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After the death of Montezuma, Cortes sent two of our +prisoners, a nobleman and a priest, with a message to the new +sovereign Cuitlahuatzin, to inform him of the melancholy event, +which had happened by the hands of his own subjects; to express +our grief on the occasion; and our wish that Montezuma might be +interred with that respect which was due to his exalted +character. Cortes likewise informed these messengers, that he did +not acknowledge the right of the sovereign whom the Mexicans had +chosen, as the throne ought to belong to the son of the great +Montezuma, or to his cousin, who was now a prisoner in our +quarters. He desired them also to say, if they would desist from +hostilities, we would immediately march out of their city. He +then ordered the body of Montezuma to be carried out by six +nobles, and attended by most of the priests whom we had taken +prisoners, desiring them to deliver the body of their deceased +monarch to the Mexican chiefs, according to his dying +injunctions. We could hear the exclamations of sorrow which were +expressed by the people, at the sight of the body of their late +sovereign; but our message was unavailing, as they recommenced +their attack on our quarters with the utmost violence, +threatening that in two days we should all pay with our lives for +the death of their king and the dishonour of their gods, as they +had now a sovereign whom we could not deceive as we had done by +the good Montezuma.</p> + +<p>Our situation was now exceedingly alarming, and on the day +after the death of Montezuma, we made another sally towards that +part of the city which contained many houses built on the firm +ground, meaning to do all the injury we could, and, taking +advantage of the causeway, to charge through the enemy with our +cavalry, hoping to intimidate them by severe military execution, +so as to induce them to grant us a free passage; we accordingly +forced our way to that part of the city, where we burnt down +about twenty houses, and very nearly reached the firm land[4]. +But the injury we did the enemy was dearly purchased by the death +of twenty of our soldiers, and we were unable to gain possession +of any of the bridges, which were all partly broken down, and the +enemy had constructed barricades or retrenchments in various +places to obstruct the cavalry, wherever they could have done +most essential service. Thus our troubles and perplexities +continually increased, and we were forced again to fight our way +back to our quarters. In this sally, which took place on a +Thursday, Sandoval and others of our cavalry acted with great +bravery; but those who came with Narvaez, not having been +accustomed to such service, were timorous in comparison with our +veterans. The number and fury of our enemies increased daily, +while our force was diminished by each successive attack, and +from our wounds we were become less able for resistance. Our +powder was almost entirely expended; provisions and water became +scarce; our friend Montezuma was no more; all our proposals for +peace were rejected; the bridges by which we might have retreated +were broken down; and in fine nothing but death in its direst +form of immolation to their horrible idols appeared before us. In +this state almost bordering on despair, it was resolved by Cortes +in a consultation with all his confidential officers and +soldiers, to make an attempt to quit the city during the night, +as we were in expectation to find the enemy less upon their guard +than in the day time. In order to deceive them, a message was +sent by one of their chief priests who had been made prisoner, +engaging to give up all the treasure in our possession, if they +would give us permission within eight days to quit the city. Four +days before this, one Botello, who pretended to be an astrologer, +predicted that if we did not leave Mexico on this very night, +that none of us would ever get out of it alive, adding many other +foolish particulars to his prophecy.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] The expression in the text, of having nearly +reached the firm land, is rather obscure, and may possibly mean +that they had nearly forced their way along one of the causeways +leading from the insular city to the continental shore of the +lake.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>As it was determined to endeavour to force our way from the +city, a portable bridge of very strong timber was prepared for +enabling us to pass over the canals or passages in the causeway, +where the enemy had broken down the bridges; and one hundred and +fifty of our soldiers, with four hundred Tlascalan allies, were +appointed for conveying, guarding, and placing this bridge. The +advanced guard of an hundred of our youngest and most active men, +was commanded by Sandoval, assisted by Azevedo, De Lugo, De +Ordas, and De Tapia, with eight of the captains that came with +Narvaez. The rear guard of an hundred men, mostly those of +Narvaez, and the greater part of our cavalry, was confided to +Alvarado and Velasquez de Leon. Donna Marina and Donna Luisa, +with the Mexican chiefs who were prisoners, were placed under an +escort of thirty Spanish soldiers and three hundred Tlascalans: +Our general, with Avila, Oli, and other officers, and fifty +soldiers, formed a body of reserve to act where they might be +most needed. The rest of our soldiers and allies, with the +baggage, formed a main body along with which the prisoners and +their especial escort was to move, under protection of the van +and rear guards. By the time that all these arrangements were +completed, it drew towards night, and Cortes caused all the gold, +which had hitherto been kept in his apartment, to be brought into +the great hall of our quarters, when he desired Avila and Mexia, +the kings officers, to take charge of what belonged to his +majesty, assigning them eight wounded horses and above fourscore +Mexicans for its conveyance. When these were loaded with all the +gold they were able to carry, a great deal more remained heaped +up in the saloon. Cortes then desired his secretary Hernandez and +other notaries to bear witness that he could no longer be +responsible for this gold; and desired the soldiers to take as +much as they pleased, saying it were better for them to have it, +than to leave it to their Mexican enemies. Upon this many of the +soldiers of Narvaez, and some even of our veterans, loaded +themselves with treasure. I was never avaricious, and was now +more intent on saving my life than on the possession of riches: I +took the opportunity, however, of carrying off four calchihuis +from a casket, though Cortes had ordered his major-domo to take +especial care of this casket and its contents, and these jewels +were of infinite use to me afterwards, as a resource against +famine, as they are highly prized by the Indians. The memorable +night of our leaving Mexico, was dark, with much mist and some +rain. Just before midnight, the detachment having charge of the +portable bridge moved off from our quarters, followed in regular +succession by the other divisions of our army. On coming to the +first aperture in the causeway of Tacuba or Tlacopan, by which we +retreated as being the shortest, the bridge was laid across, and +was passed by the vanguard, the baggage, artillery, part of the +cavalry, the Tlascalans with the gold. Just as Sandoval and his +party had passed, and Cortes with his body of reserve, the +trumpets of the enemy were heard, and the alarm was given on +every side, the Mexicans shouting out, "<i>Tlaltelulco! +Tlaltelulco</i>[5]! out with your canoes! the teules are marching +off, assail them at the bridges!" In an instant the enemy +assailed us on every side, some on the land and others in their +canoes, which swarmed on the lake and the canals on both sides of +our road, and so numerous were they and so determined that they +entirely intercepted our line of march, especially at the broken +bridges, and from this moment nothing but confusion and dismay +prevailed among our troops. It rained so heavily that some of the +horses became restive and plunged into the water with their +riders; and to add to our distress our portable bridge was broken +down at this first gap, and it was no longer serviceable. The +enemy attacked us with redoubled fury, and as our soldiers made a +brave resistance, the aperture became soon choked up with the +dead and dying men and horses, intermixed with artillery, packs +and bales of baggage, and those who carried them, all heaped up +in the water. Many of our companions were drowned at this place, +and many were forced into canoes and hurried away to be +sacrificed. It was horrible to hear the cries of these +unfortunate captives, calling upon us for aid which we were +unable to give, and invoking the blessed Virgin and all the +saints in vain for deliverance. Others of our companions escaped +across those gaps in the causeway, by clambering over the +confused mass of dead bodies and luggage by which they were +filled, and were calling out for assistance to help them up on +the other side; while many of them, thinking themselves in safety +when they got to the firm ground, were there seized by the +Mexicans, or killed with war clubs. All the regularity which had +hitherto guided our march was now utterly lost and abandoned. +Cortes and all the mounted officers and soldiers galloped off +along the causeway, providing for their own immediate safety, and +leaving all the rest to save ourselves as we best might: Nor can +I blame them for this procedure, as the cavalry could do nothing +against the enemy, who threw themselves into the water on both +sides of the causeway when attacked, while others, by continual +flights of arrows from the houses, or with long lances from the +canoes on each side, killed and wounded the men and horses. Our +powder was all expended, so that we were unable to do any injury +to the Mexicans in the canoes. In this situation of utter +confusion and derout, the only thing we could do was by uniting +together in bands of thirty or forty, to endeavour to force our +way to the land: When the Indians closed upon us, we exerted our +utmost efforts to drive them off with our swords, and then +hurried our march to get over the causeway as soon as possible. +Had we waited for each other, or had our retreat been in the day, +we had all been inevitably destroyed. The escape of such as made +their way to land, was due to the mercy of God who gave us +strength to force our way; for the multitudes that surrounded us, +and the melancholy sight of our companions hurried away in the +canoes to instant sacrifice, was horrible in the extreme. About +fifty of us, mostly soldiers of Cortes, with a few of those who +came with Narvaez, stuck together in a body, and made our way +along the causeway through infinite difficulty and danger. Every +now and then strong parties of Indians assailed us, calling us +<i>luilones</i>, their severest term of reproach, and using their +utmost endeavours to seize us. As soon as we thought them within +reach, we faced about and repelled them with a few thrusts of our +swords, and then resumed our march. We thus proceeded, until at +last we reached the firm ground near Tacuba, where Cortes, +Sandoval, De Oli, Salcedo, Dominguez, Lares, and others of the +cavalry, and such of the infantry as had got across the bridge +before it was broken down, had already arrived[6].</p> + +<blockquote>[5] Tlaltelulco was the name of that division of the +city of Mexico through which the Spaniards marched in their way +towards the causeway of Tacuba, and was probably used to summon +the inhabitants of that quarter to the attack.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[6] Clavigero, II. 116, says that the miserable +remnant of the Spaniards assembled in Popotla, a village near +Tacuba or Tlacopan. Diaz is often negligent of dates, but we +learn in a subsequent passage, that this disastrous retreat from +Mexico was on the 1st of July 1520.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On our approach, we heard the voices of Sandoval, De Oli, and +Morla, calling on Cortes to return to the assistance of those who +were still on the causeway, who loudly complained of being +abandoned. Cortes replied, that it was a miracle any should have +escaped, and that all who returned to the bridges would assuredly +be slain: Yet he actually did return with ten or twelve of the +cavalry and such of the infantry as had escaped unhurt, and +proceeded along the causeway to attempt the succour of such as +might be still engaged. He had not gone far when he met Alvarado +badly wounded, accompanied by three of our soldiers, four of +those belonging to Narvaez, and eight Tlascalans, all severely +wounded and covered with blood. These Alvarado assured him were +all that remained of the rear-guard, Velasquez de Leon and about +twenty of the cavalry, and above an hundred of the infantry, who +had belonged to his division, being all slain, or made prisoners +and carried away to be sacrificed. He said farther, that after +all the horses were slain, about eighty had assembled in a body +and passed the first gap on the heaps of luggage and dead bodies; +that at the other bridge the few who now accompanied him were +saved by the mercy of God. I do not now perfectly recollect in +what manner he passed that last aperture, as we were all more +attentive to what he related of the death of Velasquez and above +two hundred of our unhappy companions. As to that last fatal +bridge, which is still called <i>Salto de Alvarado</i>, or the +Leap of Alvarado, we were too much occupied in saving our own +lives to examine whether he leaped much or little. He must, +however, have got over on the baggage and dead bodies; for the +water was too deep for him to have reached the bottom with his +lance, and the aperture was too wide and the sides too high for +him to have leaped over, had he been the most active man in the +world. In about a year after, when we besieged Mexico, I was +engaged with the enemy at that very bridge which was called +Alvarados Leap, where the enemy had constructed breastworks and +barricades, and we all agreed that the leap was impossible. One +Ocampo, a soldier who came with Garay, who used to amuse himself +with lampoons, made one on this supposed feat of Alvarado, +saying, "That fear made him give that prodigious leap, leaving +Velasquez and two hundred more to their fate as he leaped for his +life." As Cortes found, by the information of Alvarado, that the +causeway was entirely filled by the enemy, who must have +intercepted all the rest of our companions, he returned to +Tacuba, where all who had escaped were now collected. Messengers +had been already sent from Mexico, ordering all the people of +Tacuba, Ezcapuzalco, Tenajocan, and other neighbouring cities on +that side of the lake, to collect and attack us; and they now +began to surround us in the inclosed courts of Popotla where we +had taken shelter, harassing us with stones and arrows, and even +attacking us with lances, many of which were headed with the +swords which we lost during our retreat. We defended ourselves +against this attack as well as we could, and made several sallies +to drive them off. But, as the enemy continually increased in +number, it was determined to endeavour to reach Tlascala, for +which purpose we set out under the direction of six or seven of +our allies who were well acquainted with the country. After a +fatiguing march by an indirect road, during which we were much +harassed by the enemy, who plied us with stones and arrows, we +reached some houses on a hill near a temple, where we defended +ourselves, and took such care as we could of our wounds; but +could get no provisions. After the conquest of Mexico, a church +was built on the site of this temple, and dedicated to <i>Nuestra +Senora de los Remedios</i>, our Lady of Succour, to which many +ladies and other inhabitants of Mexico, now go in procession to +pay nine days devotion[7].</p> + +<blockquote>[7] This place is about nine miles W.N.W. from +Mexico, and only about a mile and a half from Tacuba. Its Mexican +name, according to Clavigero, was Otoncalpolco. It is almost in +an opposite direction from the road to Tlascala, but was probably +chosen on purpose to avoid the populous hostile vale of Mexico, +and to get as soon as possible among the hills, and among some of +the conquered tribes who bore the Mexican yoke with impatience. +Clavigero says that the Spaniards procured at this place some +refreshments from a tribe of Otomies, who inhabited two +neighbouring hamlets.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Our wounds had become extremely painful from cold, and want of +proper dressings, and we now bound them up as well as we could. +We had to deplore the loss of great numbers of our valiant +companions, most of the soldiers of Narvaez having lost their +lives by being overloaded with gold. Poor Botello the astrologer +was killed among the rest. The sons of Montezuma, Cacamatzin who +had been prince of Tezcuco, and all the other prisoners, among +whom were some Mexican princes, lost their lives on this fatal +night of our retreat from Mexico. All our artillery were lost. We +had only twenty-three horses remaining, and very few crossbows; +and our situation was melancholy and desperate in the extreme, +having no other resource but to endeavour to reach Tlascala, and +even there our reception was exceedingly uncertain[8]. After +dressing our wounds, and making arrows for our crossbows, during +which employment we were incessantly harassed in our present +post, we proceeded at midnight on our march, under the direction +of our faithful Tlascalans. Some of those who were badly wounded +had to walk with the aid of crutches; others were assisted on +each side by some of their companions; and those who were utterly +unable to support themselves were placed upon lame horses. Thus, +making head against the enemy with as many of the infantry as +could bear arms, and having the cavalry who were able to act in +front and on our flanks, with the wounded Spaniards and allies in +the centre, we marched on continually harassed by the enemy, who +reviled us, saying that we should soon meet our destruction; +words that we did not then understand. I have forgot to mention +the satisfaction we all enjoyed at finding Donna Marina and Donna +Luisa had been saved in our retreat from Mexico. Having crossed +among the first, they had been brought safe to Popotla by the +exertions of two brothers of Donna Luisa, all the rest of the +female Indians having been lost in the retreat.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] The distance from where they now were to Tlascala +was between 80 and 90 miles in a straight line; but as they chose +a very circuitous route, by the west and north of the lakes in +the vale of Mexico, before turning south-eastwards to Tlascala, +their march must have much exceeded that +distance.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On this day we reached a large town named Gualtitlan[9]. From +that place we continued our march, still harassed at every step +by the enemy, whose numbers and boldness increased as we +advanced, insomuch that they killed two of our lame soldiers and +one of our horses at a difficult pass, wounding many both of our +horses and ourselves. Having repulsed them, we reached some +villages, where we halted for the night, making our supper of the +slain horse[10]. We began our march very early next morning, and +had only proceeded about a league, believing ourselves now almost +in safety, when three of our videts came in with a report that +the whole extent of a plain through which we must necessarily +pass was covered over by an innumerable army. This intelligence +was truly terrifying to our small numbers, worn out with fatigue +and privations, and covered with wounds; yet we resolved to +conquer or die, as we had indeed no other alternative. We were +immediately halted and formed in order of battle, the infantry +being directed to use their swords only in thrusts, by which we +exposed ourselves less to the weapons of the enemy, and the +cavalry were ordered to charge clear through at half speed, with +their lances levelled at the faces of the enemy, never stopping +to make thrusts. While recommending ourselves to God and his Holy +Mother, and invoking the aid of St Jago, the enemy began to close +around us, and we resolved to sell our lives dearly, or force our +way through. The infantry being drawn up in a solid column, and +our cavalry formed in bodies of five, we proceeded to the attack. +It is impossible to describe the tremendous battle which ensued: +How we closed hand to hand, and with what fury the enemy attacked +us, wounding us with their clubs and lances and two-handed +swords; while our cavalry, favoured by the even surface of the +plain, rode through them at will with couched lances, bearing +down the enemy wherever they came, and fighting most manfully +though they and their horses were all wounded. We too of the +infantry did our best, regardless of our former wounds and of +those we now received, closing up with the enemy, and using every +effort to bear them down with our swords. Cortes, Alvarado, and +De Oli, though all wounded, continued to make lanes through the +throng of the enemy, calling out to us to strike especially at +the chiefs, who were easily distinguished by their plumes of +feathers, golden ornaments, rich arms, and curious devices. The +valiant Sandoval encouraged us by his example and exhortations, +exclaiming, "Now is the day of victory! Trust in God, who will +still preserve us to do him service." We were all resolute to +conquer or die, and were assuredly assisted by the Lord Jesus +Christ, the Holy Virgin, and St Jago; as was afterwards certified +by a chief belonging to Guatimotzin, who was present in this +battle. Though some were killed and many wounded, we continued to +maintain our ground, yet the enemy never relaxed in their +efforts. At length it was the will of God, that Cortes, +accompanied by Sandoval, De Oli, Alvarado, Avila, and other +captains, came up to that part of the enemy in which their +commander-in-chief was posted, who was distinguished from all the +rest by his rich golden arms, and highly adorned plume of +feathers, and the grand standard of the army[11]. Immediately on +Cortes perceiving this chief, who was surrounded by many nobles +wearing plumes of feathers, he exclaimed to his companions, "Now, +gentlemen, let us charge these men, and if we succeed the day is +our own." Then, recommending themselves to God, they charged upon +them, and Cortes struck the Mexican chief and threw down his +standard, he and the other cavaliers effectually breaking and +dispersing this numerous body. The Mexican chief, however, was +making his escape, but was pursued and slain by Juan de +Salamanca, who seized his rich plume of feathers and presented it +to Cortes, saying, that as he had first struck the Mexican +general and overthrown the standard, the trophy of the conquest +was his undoubted right.</p> + +<blockquote>[9] Named Quauhtitlan by Clavigero, and Guautitlan, +Huauhtitlan or Teutitlan, in Humboldts map of the Vale of +Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[10] As related in the text, this march to the +villages appears to have been made on the same day with that to +Guauhtitlan, and the battle of Otumba or Otompan, to have been +fought on the second day of the march from Popotla or <i>Los +Remedios</i>. But the distances and difficulty of the march +renders this almost impossible. The chronology and distances, +taking the names of some of the stages from Clavigero, II. 117, +and the distances from Humboldts map, may have been as follows; +Retreat from Mexico to Popotla, 1st July, 9 miles. March to +Quauhtitlan, 2d July, 10 miles. To Xoloc, 3d July, 13 miles. To +Zacamolco, 4th July, 10 miles. To Otompan, 5th July, 3 +miles:--and indeed these dates are sufficiently confirmed by Diaz +himself in the sequel.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[11] According to Clavigero, II. 118, this standard +was a net of gold fixed to a staff ten palms long, which was +firmly tied to his back, and was called by the Mexicans +Tlahuizmatlaxopilli.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>It pleased God, that the enemy should relax in their efforts +immediately on learning the death of their general and of the +numerous chiefs who surrounded him. On perceiving that they began +to retreat, we forgot our hunger, thirst, fatigue, and wounds, +and thought of nothing but victory and pursuit. Our scanty +cavalry followed them up close, dealing destruction around them +on every side; and our faithful allies fought like lions, mowing +down all before them with the arms which the enemy threw away to +facilitate their flight. On the return of our cavalry from the +pursuit, we gave humble thanks to God for our unexpected victory +and miraculous preservation. Never had the Mexican empire +collected together so large a force as on this occasion; being +composed of all the warriors of Mexico, Tezcuco, and Tlalcopan, +headed by the whole nobility of these nations, magnificently +armed and adorned, and all determined not to leave a single trace +of us upon earth. This great and decisive battle was fought in +the neighbourhood of a place called Obtumba, Otumba, or Otompan. +I have frequently seen it, and all the other battles we fought +against the Mexicans, antecedent to the final conquest, admirably +represented in Mexican paintings. It is now proper to mention, +that we entered Mexico to relieve Alvarado on the 24th of June +1520, with upwards of 1300 soldiers, including 97 cavalry, 80 +musketeers, and 80 armed with crossbows; having with us a great +train of artillery, and 2000 warriors of our allies the +Tlascalans. Our flight from Mexico was on the 1st of the +succeeding month of July, and the battle of Obtumba on the 4th of +that month. In Mexico, during our passage of the causeway, on our +march, and in the battle, we lost above 870 soldiers, including +72 of those belonging to Narvaez, and five Spanish women, who +were put to death at a place called Tustepeque. Upwards of 1200 +of our Tlascalan allies were also killed; as were Juan de +Alcantara and two more who had been sent from Chempoalla for the +share of the gold assigned to the garrison of Villa Rica, who +were robbed and murdered. Upon the whole, all who were concerned +in the treasure came to bad fortune; and thus a much greater +proportion of the soldiers of Narvaez perished in the flight from +Mexico than of our veterans, as they had avariciously loaded +themselves with gold on that unhappy night[12].</p> + +<blockquote>[12] Cortes entered Mexico with above 1300 men, and +there were there under Alvarado about 75. Of these above 870 were +slain, down to the close of the battle of Otumba; so that about +500 still remained under the command of Cortes. Diaz reckons only +440; but these were probably exclusive of such as were entirely +disabled from service by their wounds.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION XI.</p> + +<p><i>Occurrences from the Battle of Otumba till the march of +Cortes to besiege Mexico</i>.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the victory, we resumed our march for +Tlascala, cheered by our success, and subsisted on a kind of +gourds, called <i>ayotes</i>, which we found in the country +through which we passed. We halted for the night in a strong +temple, being occasionally alarmed by detached parties of the +Mexicans, who still kept hovering about us, as if determined to +see us out of their country. From this place we were rejoiced at +seeing the mountains of Tlascala, being anxious to ascertain the +fidelity of these allies, and to hear news from our friends at +Villa Rica. Cortes warned us to be exceedingly cautious of giving +any offence to the Tlascalans, and particularly enforced this +advice on the soldiers of Narvaez, who were less accustomed to +discipline. He said that he hoped to find our allies steady in +their attachment; but if they should have changed in consequence +of our misfortunes, although we were now only 440 strong, all +wounded and ill armed, we still possessed vigorous bodies and +firm minds to carry us through, if necessary, to the coast. We +now arrived at a fountain on the side of a hill, where we came to +a rampart built in ancient times as a boundary between the state +of Tlascala and the dominions of Mexico. We halted here, and then +proceeded to a town called Gualiopar, or Huejotlipan, where we +halted one day, and procured some food for which we were obliged +to pay. Immediately on our arrival being announced at Tlascala, +our friends Maxicatzin, Xicotencatl, Chichimecatl, the chief of +Huexatcinco, and others, came to wait upon Cortes, whom they +embraced, yet kindly blamed him for having neglected their advice +to distrust the treachery of the Mexicans. They wept for the +losses we had sustained, yet rejoiced at our escape, and praised +our valiant actions; assuring us that they were assembling 30,000 +of their warriors to have joined us at Obtumba. They were +rejoiced to see Donna Marina and Donna Luisa, and lamented the +loss of the other ladies. Maxicatzin in particular bewailed the +fate which had befallen his daughter and Velasquez de Leon, to +whom he had given her. They invited us to their city, where we +were kindly received, and where we reposed in peace and safety +after our many and severe hardships. Cortes lodged in the house +of Maxicatzin, Alvarado in that of Xicotencatl, and the other +officers were distributed among the houses of the nobles, all the +soldiers being likewise supplied with comfortable quarters and +abundant food. Here in the midst of our friends, we recovered +from our wounds and fatigues, all except four who died.</p> + +<p>Soon after our arrival, Cortes made inquiry after certain gold +to the value of 40,000 crowns, the share belonging to the +garrison of Villa Rica, which had been sent here from Mexico; and +was informed by the Tlascalan chiefs, and by a Spanish invalid +left here when on our march to Mexico, that the persons who had +been sent for it from Villa Rica had been robbed and murdered on +the road, at the time we were engaged in hostilities with the +Mexicans. Letters were sent to Villa Rica, giving an account of +all the disastrous events which had befallen us, and desiring an +immediate supply of all the arms and ammunition that could be +spared, and to send us a strong reinforcement. By the return of +the messengers, we were informed that all was well at Villa Rica +and the neighbourhood, and that the reinforcement should be +immediately sent. It accordingly arrived soon after, consisting +in all of <i>seven</i> men, three of whom were sailors, and all +of them were invalids. They were commanded by a soldier named +Lencero, who afterwards kept an inn still known by his name; and +for a long while afterwards, <i>a Lencero reinforcement</i> was a +proverbial saying among us. We were involved in some trouble by +the younger Xicotencatl, who had commanded the Tlascalan army +against us on our first arrival in their country. This ambitious +chieftain, anxious to be revenged upon us for the disgrace he had +formerly sustained, on hearing of our misfortunes and our +intended march to Tlascala, conceived a project for surprising us +on our march and putting us all to death. For this purpose, he +assembled many of his relations, friends, and adherents, to whom +he shewed how easily we might all be destroyed, and was very +active in forming a party and collecting an army for this +purpose. Although severely reproached by his father for this +treacherous design, he persevered in his plan; but the intrigue +was discovered by Chichimecatl, his determined enemy, who +immediately communicated the intelligence to the council of +Tlascala, before whom Xicotencatl was brought prisoner to answer +for his treacherous intentions. Maxicatzin made a long speech in +our favour, representing the prosperity which their state had +enjoyed ever since our arrival, by freeing them from the +depredations of their Mexican enemies, and enabling them to +procure salt from which they had been long debarred. He then +reprobated the proposed treachery of the younger Xicotencatl, +against men who certainly were those concerning whom the prophecy +had been handed down by their ancestors. In reply to this, and to +a discourse from his father to the same purpose, the young man +used such violent and disrespectful language, that he was seized +and thrown down the steps of the council-hall into the street, +with such violence that he narrowly escaped with his life. Such +was the faithful conduct of our Tlascalan allies, and Cortes did +not think it prudent to push the matter any farther in our +present ticklish situation.</p> + +<p>After remaining twenty two days in Tlascala, Cortes resolved +upon attacking the adjoining provinces of Tepejacac and Zacatula, +on account of some murders the inhabitant of these districts had +committed on the Spaniards; but the soldiers of Narvaez were +decidedly averse from entering into any new war, as the slaughter +of Mexico and the battle of Obtumba made them anxious to renounce +Cortes and his conquests, and to return as soon as possible to +their houses and mines in Cuba. Beyond all the rest, Andres Duero +was heartily sick of his junction with Cortes, regretting the +gold he had been forced to leave in the ditches of Mexico. These +men, finding that words were of no avail to persuade Cortes to +relinquish his plans of conquest, made a formal remonstrance in +writing, stating the insufficiency of our force, and demanding +leave to return to Cuba. Cortes urged every reason he could think +of to induce them to concur in his schemes; and we who were his +own soldiers, requested him on no account to permit any one to +depart, but that all should remain to serve the cause of God and +the king. The malcontents were forced reluctantly to acquiesce, +murmuring against Cortes and his expeditions, and us who +supported him, who, they said, had nothing but our lives to +lose[1]. We now, therefore, set out on an expedition to chastise +these districts, without artillery or fire-arms of any kind, all +of which had been left in the Mexican canals. Our force consisted +of 16 cavalry, 424 of our own infantry, mostly armed with swords +and targets, and about 4000 Tlascalans. We halted at about three +leagues from Tepejacac, but the inhabitants had deserted their +houses on our approach. Having got some prisoners during the +march, Cortes sent them to the chiefs with a message, intimating +that he came to demand justice for the murder of eighteen +Spaniards in their territories, and for their admitting Mexican +troops into their country; and threatening them with fire and +sword if they did not immediately submit to his authority. By our +messengers and two Mexicans, they sent back a message, ordering +us to return immediately, or they would put us all to death, and +feast upon our bodies. Upon this it was determined in a council +of the officers, that a full statement of all that had passed, +should be drawn up by a royal notary, denouncing slavery on the +Mexicans or their allies who had killed any Spanish subjects, +after having submitted to the authority of the king. When this +was drawn up and authenticated, we sent once more to require +their submission, giving notice of the inevitable consequences of +their disobedience. But they returned an answer like the former. +Both sides being prepared for battle, we came to action with them +next day; and as the enemy were drawn up in open fields of maize, +our cavalry soon put the enemy to flight with considerable loss, +though they made an obstinate resistance. In this battle our +Tlascalan allies fought bravely; and, in the pursuit, we took a +good many prisoners, all of whom were made slaves of. After this +victory, the natives sued for peace, and we marched to the town +of Tepejacac to receive their submission; and finding it an +eligible situation, being in a fertile district, and on the road +to Villa Rica, Cortes founded a colony in the place, naming it +<i>Segura de la Frontera.</i> Municipal officers were appointed, +and a branding-iron for marking those natives who were taken and +reduced to slavery. We made excursions from this place through +the surrounding district, and to the towns of Cachula, +Tecamechalco, Guayavas, and some others, taking many prisoners, +who were immediately branded for slaves; and in about six weeks +we reduced the people to order and obedience.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] A long digression is here omitted, in which Diaz +severely reprehends the account given by Gomara of this and other +transactions in his history of the conquest of Mexico, altogether +uninteresting to the English reader.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>At this time Cortes was informed from Villa Rica, that a +vessel had arrived there commanded by Pedro Barba, his intimate +friend, who had been lieutenant to Velasquez at the Havanna, and +had now brought over thirteen soldiers and two horses; as also +letters from Velasquez to Narvaez, ordering to send Cortes, if +alive, to Cuba, that he might be sent to Castile, such being the +orders of the bishop of Burgos. On the arrival of Barba in the +harbour, the admiral appointed by Cortes went on board in a boat +well armed, but with the arms concealed. When on board, the +admiral saluted Barba, inquiring after the health of Velasquez, +and the others inquired for Narvaez, and what had become of +Cortes. They were told that Narvaez was in possession of the +country, and had acquired great riches, while Cortes was a +fugitive, wandering about with only twenty followers. They then +invited Barba and the rest on shore; but the moment they entered +the boats, they were ordered to surrender themselves prisoners to +Cortes. The ship was dismantled, and the captain and crew, +together with Barba and his men, sent up to us at Tepejacac, to +our great satisfaction; for though we did not now suffer much in +the field, we were very unhealthy from continual fatigue, five of +our men having died of pleurisies of late. Francisco Lopez, +afterwards regidor of Guatimala, came along with this party. +Barba was kindly received by Cortes, whom he informed that +another small vessel might be expected with provisions in about a +week. It came accordingly, having on board Roderigo de Lobera, +with eight soldiers and a horse. These were circumvented like the +others, and sent up to us, by which we were much pleased to +procure an accession to our small force.</p> + +<p>About this period, Cuitlahuitzin, who had been elected +sovereign of Mexico in place of his brother Montezuma, died of +the small-pox, and Quauhtemotzin, or Gautimotzin, was chosen in +his stead, a young man of twenty-five years of age, of fine +appearance, exceedingly brave, and so terrible to his subjects +that every one trembled at his sight. On receiving notice of the +reduction of Tepejacac, he became apprehensive of losing his +other provinces, yet neglected no precautions to preserve the +chiefs in their obedience, and sent considerable bodies of troops +to the provinces nearest to where we were, to watch our motions. +But these Mexican troops injured the cause they were sent to +support, becoming very disorderly, plundering and maltreating the +people whom they were sent to defend, or to keep under +subjection. Provoked by these injuries, the ruling people of +these provinces deputed four chiefs to negociate with Cortes, +offering to submit to him, provided he would expel the Mexicans. +Cortes immediately acceded to this proposal, and detached all the +cavalry and crossbow-men of our army under De Oli, with as many +of our other infantry as made up a force of 300 men, to which a +considerable number of Tlascalan allies were joined. While our +people were on their march, they received such formidable +accounts of the number and force of the enemy, as entirely +deprived the soldiers of Narvaez of all inclination for military +expeditions. They mutinied, and told De Oli that, if he were +determined to persevere, he might go alone, for they were +resolved to quit him. De Oli remonstrated with them in vain, +though supported by all the old soldiers of Cortes, and was +compelled to halt at Cholula, whence he sent word to Cortes of +his situation. Cortes returned an angry answer, ordering him to +advance at all events. De Oli was now in a violent rage at those +who had occasioned this reprimand from the general, and ordered +the whole to march immediately, declaring he would send back all +who hesitated, to be treated by Cortes as their cowardice +deserved. On his arrival within a league of Guacacualco, he was +met by some of the native chiefs, who informed him how he might +best come upon the enemy. He accordingly marched against the +Mexican forces, whom he completely defeated and put to flight, +after a sharp action, in which eight of our men were wounded, and +two horses killed. Our allies made a great slaughter of the +Mexicans during the pursuit. The Mexicans fell back to a large +town called Ozucar, where they joined another great body of their +countrymen, who fortified themselves in that post, and broke down +the bridges. De Oli pursued with as many of his troops as could +keep up with him; and having passed the river by the assistance +of his friends of Guacacualco, he again attacked the Mexicans, +whom he again defeated and dispersed, losing two more of his +horses. He received two wounds himself on this occasion, and his +horse was wounded in several places. He halted two days after his +double victory, receiving the submission of all the neighbouring +chiefs, after which he returned with his troops to Segura de la +Frontera. De Oli was received with applause by Cortes and all of +us; and when we laughed at him for the hesitation of his men, he +joined with us heartily, saying he would take the poor soldiers +of Cortes on the next expedition, and not the rich planters who +came with Narvaez, who thought more of their houses and estates +than of military glory, and were more ready to command than to +obey.</p> + +<p>Cortes now got information from Villa Rica of the arrival of a +ship commanded by one Comargo, having upwards of seventy soldiers +on board, all very sickly. This vessel had belonged to an +expedition sent from Jamaica by Garray to establish a colony at +Panuco; the other captain, Pineda, and all his soldiers, having +been put to death by the natives, and their ship burnt. On +finding, therefore, the ill success of that adventure, and that +his men were afflicted with diseases of the liver from the +unhealthy nature of the country, Camargo had come to Villa Rica +for assistance. He is said to have been perfectly acquainted with +the state of affairs in New Spain; and, on his arrival at Villa +Rica, he immediately disembarked his soldiers, and went to Segura +de la Frontera by slow marches, where he and his men were +received with the utmost kindness by Cortes, and every possible +care was bestowed for his and their recovery; but he and several +of his soldiers soon died. By reason of their swollen bodies and +discoloured countenances, we used to call these men <i>the green +paunches</i>. That I may not interrupt the thread of my +narrative, I shall mention in this place, that all the rest of +this armament which was destined for Panuco, arrived at our port +of Villa Rica at different and irregular periods, Garray +continually sending us reinforcements, which he meant for Panuco, +as he believed his intended colony at that place was going on +successfully. The first of these reinforcements after Camargo +consisted of fifty soldiers with seven horses, under the command +of Michael Diaz de Auz. These men were all plump and jolly, and +we gave them the nickname of the <i>Sir-loins</i>. Shortly after +him another vessel brought forty soldiers with ten horses, and a +good supply of crossbows and other arms. These were commanded by +an officer named Ramirez, and as all his soldiers wore very thick +and clumsy cotton armour, quite impenetrable by arrows, we called +them the <i>Pack-horses</i>.</p> + +<p>Being thus unexpectedly reinforced by upwards of an hundred +and fifty men, and twenty horses, Cortes determined to chastise +the Indians of Xalatcingo, Cacatame, and other towns near the +road to Villa Rica, who had been concerned in the murder of those +Spaniards who had been sent from Villa Rica for the treasure. For +this purpose he sent a detachment of two hundred veterans, among +whom were twenty horsemen, and twelve armed with crossbows, under +the command of Sandoval, who had likewise along with him a strong +detachment of Tlascalans. Being informed that the Indians of that +district were in arms, and reinforced by Mexican troops, Sandoval +sent a message, offering pardon for the murder of the Spaniards, +if they would submit to our government, and return the treasure. +Their answer was, that they would eat him and all his men, as +they had done the others. Sandoval, therefore, immediately +marched into their country, and attacked them in two places at +once, and though both the natives and the Mexicans defended +themselves with great bravery, they were soon defeated with +considerable loss. On going into some of their temples after the +victory, our people found Spanish cloths, arms, saddles, and +bridles, hung up as offerings to their gods. The inhabitants of +this district submitted themselves to his majesties government, +but were unable to return the treasure, as it had been sent to +Mexico. Sandoval remained three days in this district receiving +the submission of the inhabitants, whom he referred to Cortes for +their pardon, and then returned to head-quarters, carrying a +number of women and boys along with him, who were all branded as +slaves. I was not on this expedition, being ill of a fever, +attended with a vomiting of blood; but, being bled plentifully, I +recovered by the blessing of God. In pursuance of orders from +Sandoval, the chiefs of these tribes and of many others in the +neighbourhood, came to Cortes and submitted themselves to his +authority. Sandoval was sent in the next place to chastise the +inhabitants of a district called Xocotlan, who had murdered nine +Spaniards, having with him an hundred infantry, thirty cavalry, +and a strong body of Tlascalans. On entering the district, he +summoned the people to submission under the usual threats; but, +as they had a considerable body of Mexican forces to aid them, +they returned for answer, that they would acknowledge no other +government than that of Mexico. Sandoval, therefore, put his +troops in motion, cautioning the allies not to advance to the +attack till the enemy were broken by our troops, and then to fall +upon the Mexicans especially. Two large bodies of the enemy were +found posted in strong and rocky ground, very difficult for our +cavalry, insomuch, that before Sandoval could drive them from +this post, one of his horses was killed, and nine wounded, as +likewise were four of his soldiers. They were at length driven +from this post into the town of Xocotlan, where they took post in +the temples and some large walled courts; but were dislodged from +these and put to flight with great slaughter, our Tlascalan +allies giving good assistance, as they were incited by the hopes +of abundant plunder. Sandoval halted two days in this place, to +receive the submission of the chiefs, who begged pardon for what +had passed, promising future obedience, and to supply us +plentifully with provisions. On being ordered to restore the +effects of the Spaniards whom they had slain, they replied that +every thing of that kind had been burnt. They said, likewise that +most of the Spaniards whom they had slain were eaten by them, +except five, whom they sent to Guatimotzin[2].</p> + +<blockquote>[2] Clavigero, II. 132, mentions about this time an +expedition against Tochtepec, a considerable town on the river of +Papaloapan, in which Salcedo and a detachment of 80 Spaniards +were entirely cut off.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>These expeditions were productive of the best effects, as they +extended the fame of Cortes and the Spaniards through the whole +country for valour and clemency; and our general became more +dreaded and respected than Guatimotzin, the new sovereign of +Mexico, insomuch that his authority was resorted to on all +occasions of importance. The small-pox at this time committed +dreadful ravages in New Spain, cutting off vast numbers of the +natives, and among the rest, many of the chiefs and princes of +the country became victims to this dreadful calamity. On these +occasions, the claimants for succession to the vacant chiefships +resorted to Cortes, as sovereign of the country, for his +decision, which they uniformly submitted to. Among the rest, the +lordship of Guacacualco and Ozucar became vacant, and the various +claimants submitted their claims to the decision of Cortes, who +decided in favour of a nephew of the late Montezuma, whose sister +had been married to the former cacique of the district.</p> + +<p>All the country around Tlascala and to the eastwards being now +reduced to subjection, an order was issued to bring all the +prisoners to a large house in the town of Segura, that the fifths +belonging to the king and Cortes might be deducted, and the rest +divided among the troops. The prisoners consisted of women, boys, +and girls, as the men were found too difficult to keep, and our +Tlascalan friends performed every service for us that we could +desire, such as carrying our baggage, ammunition, and provisions, +and all other drudgery. The prisoners were confined all night, +and the repartition took place next morning. In the first place +the king's fifth was set aside, and then that which belonged to +Cortes; but when the shares of the soldiers came to be +distributed, there remained only a parcel of old miserable jades, +and it was found that some person had been in the depot during +the night, who had taken away all the young and handsome women. +This occasioned much clamour among the soldiers, who accused +Cortes of injustice, and the soldiers of Narvaez swore no such +thing had ever been heard of in the Spanish dominions as two +kings and two fifths. One Juan de Quexo was very loud in his +complaints on this occasion, declaring that he would make it +known in Spain how we had been abused by Cortes, more especially +in regard to the gold at Mexico, where only the value of 300,000 +crowns appeared at the division, whereas 700,000 crowns worth +were produced at the time of our flight. Many of the soldiers +loudly complained of having their women taken from them, after +they had given them clothes and ornaments, saying they had only +expected to have paid the fifth of their values to the king, and +then that each would have got back his own. Cortes protested that +better regulations should he adopted in future, and got the +affair hushed up with smooth words and fair promises; yet he soon +attempted even worse than this. It may be remembered, that, on +the fatal night of our retreat from Mexico, all the treasure was +produced, and every soldier was allowed to take as much as he +pleased. On this occasion, many of the soldiers of Narvaez, and +some of our own, loaded themselves with gold. Cortes now learned +that a quantity of gold in bars was in circulation among the +troops at La Frontera, who were much engaged in deep play, and +forgot the old adage, that riches and amours should be concealed. +He now issued an order for all the gold to be delivered within a +given time, under severe penalties for disobedience, and promised +to return back a third part to all who delivered their gold, but +that all should be forfeited in case of failure or evasion. Many +of the soldiers refused obedience to this arbitrary order, and +from some Cortes took their gold by way of loan, yet rather by +force than with their consent. Many of our captains, and those +who had civil offices in the colony, were possessed of gold, and +at length Cortes was glad to quash the order and say no more +about the matter.</p> + +<p>The officers who had come with Narvaez thought the present +interval of tranquillity was a favourable opportunity to renew +their solicitations for leave to return to Cuba, to which Cortes +at length consented, and gave them one of the best ships in the +harbour, which was victualled with salted dogs, fowls, maize, and +other provisions of the country. By this ship, Cortes sent +letters to his wife Donna Catalina and her brother Juan Suarez, +giving them an account of all that had happened in New Spain, and +sent them some bars of gold and Mexican curiosities. The +following were among the persons who now returned to Cuba, having +their pockets well lined after all our disasters. Andres de +Duero, Augustin Bermudez, Juan Buono, Bernardino de Quesada, +Francisco Velasquez, Gonsalo Carrasco, who afterwards returned to +New Spain, and lives now in La Puebla, Melchior Velasquez, one +Ximenes, who now lives in Guaxaca, and went over at this time for +his sons, the commendator Leon de Cervantes, who went to bring +over his daughters, who were very honourably married after the +conquest of Mexico; one Maldonado of Medelin, an invalid, a +person named Vargas, and Cardinas the pilot, he who talked about +the two kings, to whom Cortes gave the three hundred crowns he +had formerly promised for his wife and daughters. We remonstrated +with Cortes for allowing so many persons to quit the army, +considering how weak we were already, on which he observed, that +he did it partly to get rid of their importunities, and partly +because they were unfit for war, and it was better to have a few +good soldiers than many bad ones. Alvarado was sent to see these +men safely shipped off, and he sent at this time Diego de Ordas +and Alonzo de Mendoza to Spain, with instructions of which we +were ignorant, except that they were meant to counteract the +malice of the bishop of Burgos, who had declared us all traitors. +De Ordas executed his commission to good purpose, and got the +order of St Jago for himself, and the volcano of Popocatepetl +added to his arms. Cortes sent also Alonzo de Avila, contador of +New Spain, and Francisco Alvarez, to Hispaniola, to make a report +to the court of royal audience, and the brothers of the order of +Jeronymites, of all that had taken place, particularly in regard +to Narvaez, and supplicating them to represent our faithful +services to the emperor, and to support our interests against the +enmity and misrepresentations of Velasquez and the bishop of +Burgos. He sent likewise De Solis to Jamaica to purchase horses. +It may be asked how Cortes was able to send agents to Spain, +Hispaniola, and Jamaica, without money. But, although many of our +soldiers were slain in our flight from Mexico, and much treasure +lost in the ditches and canals of Mexico, yet a considerable +quantity of gold was saved, as the eighty loaded Tlascalans were +among the first who passed the bridge, and afterwards delivered +all their gold to Cortes[3]. But we poor soldiers had enough ado +to preserve our lives, all badly wounded, and did not trouble +ourselves to inquire what became of the gold, or how much was +brought off. It was even rumoured among us, that the share +belonging to the garrison of Villa Rica, the carriers of which +had been robbed and murdered, went after all to Spain, Jamaica, +and other places; but as Cortes lined the pockets of our captains +with plenty of gold, all inquiry on this head was stopped.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] This must have been a very considerable treasure. +On one occasion, Clavigero reckons a load of gold at 800 ounces. +The eighty Tlascalans might therefore carry off 64,000 ounces, +which at £4 the ounce, is worth £256,000 Sterling, +and of considerably more efficacious value in those days than a +million is now.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>It may be wondered how Cortes should send away so valiant a +captain as Alonzo de Avila on an affair of negociation, when he +had several men of business in his army who could have been +better spared, such as Alonzo de Grado, Juan Carceres <i>the +rich</i>, and several others. The true reason was, that Avila was +too ready to speak out on all occasions to obtain justice for the +soldiers, and therefore Cortes sent him away that he might no +longer be opposed and thwarted in his proceedings; and that he +might give his company to Andres de Tapia, and his office of +contador to Alonzo de Grado.</p> + +<p>Having now determined to undertake the siege of Mexico, Cortes +left a garrison of twenty men, mostly sick and invalids in +Frontera, under the command of Juan de Orozco, and marched with +the rest of the army into the country of Tlascala, where he gave +orders to cut down a quantity of timber, with which to construct +a number of vessels to command the lake of Mexico. These ships +were to be built under the direction of Martin Lopez, an +excellent shipwright, and a valiant soldier, in which he was +assisted by Andres Nunez, and old Ramirez, who was lame from a +wound. Lopez conducted matters with great spirit, insomuch that +in a very short time he had all the timber cut down, shaped, and +marked out for the vessels, ready to be put together. The iron +work, anchors, cables, sails, cordage, and all other necessaries +for the vessels were procured from Villa Rica, whence all the +smiths were sent up to the army to give their assistance. As +pitch was unknown among the natives, four sailors were sent to +the pine forests of Huetzotzinco, to obtain a supply of that +article, in which they succeeded.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Tlascala, we learnt that our good friend and +faithful ally Maxicatzin had fallen a sacrifice to the small-pox. +Cortes lamented the death of this good man as that of a father, +and put on mourning out of respect to his memory, in which he was +imitated by many of our officers and soldiers. As there was some +difficulty in regard to the succession, Cortes conferred the +vacant dignity on the legitimate son of the deceased chief, as he +had desired a short time before his death, on which occasion he +had strictly enjoined all his family and dependents to persevere +in their alliance with us, as we were undoubtedly destined to +rule their country according to their ancient traditions. The +other chiefs of the Tlascalans offered their best services, in +providing timber for our vessels, and engaged to aid us with all +their military force in prosecuting the war against Mexico. +Cortes accepted their offer with every mark of gratitude and +respect; and even prevailed on the elder Xicotencatl, one of +their principal caciques, to become a Christian, who was +accordingly baptised with great ceremony, by the name of Don +Lorenzo de Vargas.</p> + +<p>Just as we were about to begin our march, intelligence came +from Villa Rica of the arrival of a vessel from Spain and the +Canaries, loaded with military stores, horses, and merchandize, +and having thirteen soldiers on board. The owner, who was +likewise on board, was one Juan de Burgos, but the vessel was +commanded by Francisco Medel. Cortes sent immediate orders to +purchase the whole cargo, and all the people came up to join us +to our great satisfaction. Among these were one Juan del Espinar, +afterwards a very rich man, and two others named Sagredo, and +Monjaraz a Biscayan, who had two nephews of the same name in our +army. Monjaraz never went upon any expedition or engagement along +with us, always feigning to be sick, though he omitted no +opportunity to boast of his courage. Once, while we were +besieging Mexico, he went up to the top of a high temple, as he +said to see how the natives fought; and by some means which we +could never find out, he was killed that day by some of the +Indians. Those who had known him in Hispaniola, said it was a +just judgment, for having procured the death of his wife, a +beautiful and honourable woman, by means of false witnesses.</p> + +<p>All the timber for our vessels being in readiness, and every +thing prepared for our expedition against Mexico, it was debated +in our council of war in what place we should establish our +head-quarters, in order to prepare our measures for investing +that city. Some strongly recommended Ayotcingo as most convenient +for that purpose, on account of its canals. Cortes and others +preferred Tezcuco, as best adapted for making incursions into the +Mexican territory, and that place was accordingly fixed upon. We +accordingly began our march from Tlascala immediately after the +junction of our last reinforcement from Villa Rica, consisting of +the soldiers who came with Medel and De Burgos.</p> + +<p>SECTION XII.</p> + +<p><i>Transactions of Cortes and the Spaniards from their March +against Mexico, to the Commencement of the Siege of that +City</i>.</p> + +<p>We began our March from Tlascala on the 26th of December 1520, +with the whole of our Spanish force, and accompanied by ten +thousand of our Tlascalan allies[1], and halted that night within +the territories of the state of Tezcuco, the inhabitants of which +place supplied us with provisions. We marched about three leagues +on the 27th, when we halted at the foot of a ridge of mountains, +finding the weather extremely cold. Early next day we began to +ascend the mountains, the bad roads having been made more +difficult by the enemy, by means of ditches and felled trees, +which were removed by the exertions of our allies. We proceeded +with the utmost order and precaution, having an advanced guard of +musketeers and crossbow-men, and our allies cleared the way to +enable our cavalry to advance. After passing the summit of the +mountain, we enjoyed the glorious prospect of the vale of Mexico +below, with the lakes, the capital rising out of the waters, and +all its numerous towns and cultivated fields; and gave thanks to +GOD, who had enabled us again to behold this astonishing scene of +riches and population, after passing through so many dangers. We +could distinctly perceive numerous signals made by smoke in all +the towns towards Mexico; and a little farther on, we were +resisted by a body of the enemy, who endeavoured to defend a bad +pass at a deep water-run, where the wooden bridge had been broken +down; but we soon drove them away, and passed over, as the enemy +contented themselves with shooting their arrows from a +considerable distance. Our allies pillaged the country as we went +along, which was contrary to the inclination of our general, but +he was unable to restrain them. From some prisoners whom we had +taken at the broken bridge, we were informed that a large body of +the enemy was posted on our line of march, intending to give us +battle; but it appeared afterwards that they had separated in +consequence of dissentions among the chiefs, and we soon learnt +that a civil war actually existed between the Mexicans and the +state of Tezcuco. The small-pox also raged at this time in the +country, which had a great effect in our favour, by preventing +the enemy from being able to assemble their forces.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] According to Clavigero, II. 135, the Spanish +force at this time amounted to forty cavalry, divided into four +troops, and 550 infantry, in nine companies: But he swells the +auxiliary force of the Tlascalans to 110,000 +men.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Next morning we proceeded on our march for Tezcuco, which was +about two leagues from the place where we had halted for the +night; but we had not proceeded far, when one of our patroles +brought intelligence that several Indians were coming towards us +bearing signals of peace, and indeed we found the whole country +through which we marched this day in perfect tranquillity. On the +arrival of the Indians, we found them to consist of seven chiefs +from Tezcuco, sent as ambassadors by Coanacotzin, the prince of +Tezcuco or Acolhuacan. A golden banner was carried before them on +a long lance, which was lowered on approaching Cortes, to whom +the ambassadors bowed themselves in token of respect. They then +addressed our general in the name of their prince, inviting us to +his city, and requesting to be received under our protection. +They denied having taken any part in the attacks which we had +experienced, earnestly entreating that no injury might be done to +their city by our allies, and presented their golden banner to +Cortes, in token of peace and submission. Three of these +ambassadors were known to most of us, as they were relations of +Montezuma, and had been captains of his guards, when we were +formerly at Mexico. The ambassadors were assured by Cortes that +he would use his utmost efforts to protect the country, although +they must well know that above forty Spaniards and two hundred of +our allies had been put to death in passing through their +territories when we retreated from Mexico. Cortes added, that +certainly no reparation could now be made for the loss of our +men, but he expected they would restore the gold and other +property which had been taken on that occasion. They asserted +that the whole blame of that transaction was owing to +Cuitlahuatzin, the successor of Montezuma, who had received the +spoil and sacrificed the prisoners. Cortes found that very little +satisfaction could be got from them for the past, yet wishing if +possible to make them now our friends, he earnestly entreated the +Tlascalan chiefs to prohibit their warriors from pillaging the +country, and his wishes were strictly complied with, except in +regard to provisions. After this conference was ended, we +proceeded to a village named Guatinchan or Huexotla, at a small +distance from Tezcuco, where we halted for the night.</p> + +<p>Next morning, being the 31st December 1520, we marched into +Tezcuco, where neither women or children were to be seen, and +even the men had a suspicious appearance, indicating that some +mischief was intended against us. We took up our quarters in some +buildings which consisted of large halls and inclosed courts, and +orders were issued that none of the soldiers were to go out of +their quarters, and that all were to be on the alert to guard +against surprize. On the soldiers being dismissed to their +respective quarters, the Captains Alvarado and De Oli, with some +soldiers, among whom I was, went up to the top of a lofty temple, +from which we had a commanding view, to observe what was going on +in the neighbourhood. We could see all the people everywhere in +motion, carrying off their children and effects to the woods and +the reedy borders of the lake, and to great numbers of canoes. +Cortes wished to have secured Coanacotzin, who had sent us the +friendly embassy, which now appeared to have been merely a +pretext to gain time; but it was found that he and many of the +principal persons of Tezcuco had fled to Mexico. We posted strong +guards, therefore, in every direction, and kept ourselves in +constant readiness for action. Cortes soon learnt that factions +existed in Tezcuco, and that many of the chiefs were adverse to +their present prince, and remained in their houses, while those +of the opposite faction had withdrawn. Cortes sent for those +chiefs next morning, from whom he learnt, that they considered +their present prince, Coanacotzin, as an usurper, he having +murdered his elder brother, Cuicutzcatzin, who had been placed on +the throne by Montezuma and Cortes, and that Coanacotzin owed his +elevation to the favour of Guatimotzin, the present sovereign of +Mexico. They pointed out a youth named Ixtlilxochitl as the +rightful heir of Acolhuacan, who was brought immediately to +Cortes, and installed without delay in the government. Cortes +prevailed upon him to become a Christian, and had him baptised +with great solemnity, standing godfather on the occasion, and +giving him his own name, Don Hernando Cortes Ixtlilxochitl; and +to retain him in the Spanish interest and in our holy faith, he +appointed three Spaniards to attend upon him, Escobar, who was +made captain or governor of Tezcuco, Anthonio de Villa Real, and +Pedro Sanches Farfan. In the next place, Cortes required the new +prince of Tezcuco to supply him with a number of labourers to +open up the canals leading to the lake, on purpose to admit our +vessels which were to be put together at Tezcuco. He also +informed him of our intentions to besiege Mexico, for which +operation the young prince engaged to give all the assistance in +his power. The work on the canals was conducted with all +expedition, as we never had less than seven or eight thousand +Indians employed[2]. As Guatimotzin, the reigning monarch of +Mexico, frequently sent out large bodies of troops in canoes on +the lake, apparently with the hope of attacking us unprepared, +Cortes used every military precaution to guard against any sudden +attack, by assigning proper posts to our several captains, with +orders to be always on the alert. The people in Huexotla, a town +and district only a few miles from Tezcuco, who had been guilty +of murdering some of our countrymen on a former occasion, +petitioned Cortes for pardon, and were taken into favour on +promise of future fidelity.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] In the very imperfect maps of Diaz and Clavigero, +Tezcuco is placed near the mouth of a rivulet which discharges +itself into the lake of Mexico: In the former, the buildings are +represented as extending two miles and a half along the rivulet, +and coming close to the edge of the lake; but the map of +Clavigero has no scale. In the map given by Humboldt, Tezcuco is +placed on a rising ground, near two miles from the edge of the +lake. But the lake has since the time of Cortes been much +diminished in extent by a grand drain, insomuch that Mexico, +formerly insulated, is now a mile and a half from the +lake.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Before his elevation to the throne of Mexico, Guatimotzin had +been prince or cacique of Iztapalapa, the people of which place +were determined enemies to us and our allies[3]. We had been now +twelve days in Tezcuco, where the presence of so large a force +occasioned some scarcity of provisions, and even our allies began +to grow somewhat impatient of our inactivity. From all these +considerations, Cortes determined upon an expedition to +Iztapalapa, against which place he marched at the head of 13 +cavalry 220 infantry, and the whole of our Tlascalan allies. The +inhabitants had received a reinforcement of 8000 Mexican +warriors, yet they fell back into the town on our approach, and +even fled into their canoes and the houses which stood in the +water, allowing us to occupy that part of the town which stood on +the firm land. As it was now night, we took up our quarters for +the night and posted our guards, unaware of a stratagem which had +been planned for our destruction. On a sudden there came so great +a body of water into the streets and houses, that we had been all +infallibly drowned if our friends from Tezcuco had not given us +instant notice of our danger. The enemy had cut the banks of the +canals, and a causeway also, by which means the place was laid +almost instantly under water. We escaped with some difficulty, +two only of our allies being drowned; but all our powder was +destroyed, and we passed a very uncomfortable night, without +food, and all wet and very cold; and were very much provoked at +the laughter and taunts of the Mexicans from the lake. At +daybreak, large bodies of Indians crossed over from Mexico and +attacked us with such violence, that they killed two of our +soldiers and one horse, and wounded many of us, and were repelled +with much difficulty. Our allies also suffered considerable loss +on this occasion; but the enemy were at last repulsed, and we +returned to Tezcuco very little satisfied with the fame or profit +of this fruitless expedition. Two days after our retreat from +Iztapalapa, the inhabitants of these neighbouring districts, +Tepetezcuco, Obtumba or Otompan, and some others in that quarter, +sent to solicit pardon for the hostilities they had formerly +committed against us, alleging in excuse that they had acted by +the orders of their sovereign Cuitlahuatzin, the immediate +successor of Montezuma. Cortes, knowing that he was not in a +situation to chastise them, granted them pardon on promise of +future obedience. The inhabitants also of a place which we named +Venezuela, or Little Venice, because built in the water, who had +been always at variance with the Mexicans, now solicited our +alliance, and engaged to bring over their neighbours to our +party. This circumstance was of much importance to our views, +from the situation of that place on the lake facilitating our +future operations, especially those of our naval force.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] On this occasion Diaz mentions the inhabitants of +Chalco, Tlalmalanco, Mecameca, and Chimaloacan, as the allies of +the Spaniards; but these states do not appear to have submitted +to the Spaniards till afterwards. Cortes employed the interval, +from his arrival at Tezcuco in the end of December 1520, to the +investment of Mexico, at the end of May 1521, five months, in +detaching a great number of the native states from their +dependence upon Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>We soon afterwards received intelligence, that large bodies of +Mexican troops had attacked the districts which were in alliance +with us, by which the inhabitants were compelled to fly into the +woods for shelter, or to take refuge in our quarters. Cortes went +out with twenty of our cavalry and two hundred infantry, having +Alvarado and De Oli along with him, to drive in the Mexicans. The +real cause of contention on the present occasion was concerning +the crop of maize growing on the borders of the lake, which was +now fit to reap, and from which the natives had been in use to +supply our wants, whereas it was claimed by the Mexicans, as +belonging to the priests of their city. Cortes desired the +natives to inform him when they proposed to cut down this corn, +and sent upwards of a hundred of our men and a large body of our +allies to protect the reapers. I was twice on that duty, and on +one of these occasions, the Mexicans came over to attack us in +above a thousand canoes, and endeavoured to drive us from the +maize fields; but we and our allies drove them back to their +boats, though they fought with great resolution, killed one of +our soldiers and wounded a considerable number. In this skirmish, +twenty of the enemy were left dead on the field, and we took live +prisoners.</p> + +<p>Chalco and Tlalmanalco were two places of material importance +to us at this time, as they lay in the direct road between +Tlascala and our head-quarters at Tezcuco, but both of them were +garrisoned by Mexican troops; and though Cortes was at this time +solicited by several important districts to enable them to throw +off the yoke of Mexico, he considered it as of the first +necessity to dislodge the Mexicans from these two towns, on +purpose to open a secure communication with our allies, and to +cover the transport of our ship timber from Tlascala. He sent +therefore a strong detachment of fifteen horse and two hundred +infantry under Sandoval and De Lugo, with orders to drive the +Mexicans from that part of the country, and to open a clear +communication with Villa Rica. During the march, Sandoval placed +ten of his men as a rear guard, to protect a considerable number +of our allies who were returning home to Tlascala loaded with +plunder. The Mexicans fell upon this weak rear-guard by surprise +during the march, killing two of our men and wounding all the +rest; and though Sandoval made all the haste he could to their +rescue, the Mexicans escaped on board their canoes with very +little loss. He now placed the Tlascalans in security, by +escorting them beyond the Mexican garrisons, and sent forward the +letter of our general to the commandant of Villa Rica, by which +he was enjoined to send what reinforcements he could possibly +spare to Tlascala, there to wait until they were quite certain +that the road from thence to Tezcuco was clear. Sandoval, after +seeing the Tlascalans safe upon their journey, returned towards +Chalco, sending word secretly to the inhabitants, who were very +impatient under the Mexican yoke, to be in readiness to join him. +He was attacked on his march through a plain covered with maize +and <i>maguey</i>, by a strong body of Mexican troops, who +wounded several of his men; but they were soon repulsed and +pursued to a considerable distance by the cavalry. Sandoval now +prosecuted his march to Chalco, where he found the cacique of +that place had recently died of the small-pox, having recommended +his two sons on his deathbed to the protection of Cortes, as he +was convinced we were the bearded men who, according to their +ancient prophecy, were to come from the eastern countries to rule +over this land, and had therefore commanded his sons to receive +the investiture of their state from the hands of Cortes. Sandoval +set out therefore for Tezcuco next day, talking along with him +the two young lords of Chalco, and many of the nobles of that +place, carrying a present of golden ornaments to our general +worth about 200,000 crowns. Cortes accordingly received the young +princes of Chalco with great distinction, and divided their +fathers territories between them; giving the city of Chalco and +the largest share of the district to the elder brother, and +Tlalmanalco, Aytocinco, and Chimalhuacan to the younger.</p> + +<p>About this time, Cortes sent a message to Guatimotzin, the +reigning sovereign of Mexico, by means of some prisoners whom he +enlarged for this purpose, inviting him in the most conciliatory +terms to enter into a treaty of peace and friendship; but +Guatimotzin refused to listen to any terms of accommodation, and +continued to carry on the most determined and unceasing hostility +against us. Frequent and loud complaints were made by our allies +of Huexotla and Coatlichan of the incursions made upon their +territories in the neighbourhood of the lake by the enemy, on the +old quarrel about the fields which had been appropriated for the +priests who served in the temples of Mexico. In consequence of +these hostilities so near our head-quarters, Cortes went with a +strong detachment, with which he came up with the enemy about two +leagues from Tezcuco, and gave them so complete a defeat, that +they never ventured to shew themselves there any more. It was now +resolved to bring the timber which had been prepared in Tlascala +for constructing our naval force on the lake of Mexico; for which +purpose Sandoval was sent with a force of 200 infantry, including +20 musketeers and crossbow-men, and 15 cavalry, to serve as an +escort. He was likewise ordered to conduct the chiefs of Chalco +to their own district; and before they set out, Cortes effected a +reconciliation between the Tlascalans and the inhabitants of +Chalco, who had been long at variance. He gave orders likewise to +Sandoval, after leaving the chiefs of Chalco in their own city, +to inflict exemplary punishment on the inhabitants of a place +which we call <i>Puebla Moresca</i>, who had robbed and murdered +forty of our men who were marching from Vera Cruz to Mexico, at +the time when we went to relieve Alvarado. These people had not +been more guilty than those of Tezcuco, who indeed were the +leaders in that affair, but they could be more conveniently +chastised. The place was given up to military execution, though +not more than three or four were put to death, as Sandoval had +compassion upon them. Some of the principal inhabitants were made +prisoners; who assured Sandoval that the Spaniards were fallen +upon by the troops of Mexico and Tezcuco in a narrow pass, where +they could only march in single file, and that it was done in +revenge for the death of Cacamatzin.</p> + +<p>In the temples at this place, our men found the walls and +idols smeared with the blood of our countrymen, and the skins of +two of their faces with their beards on were found hung upon the +altars, having been dressed like leather. The skins also of four +of our horses were found hung up as trophies; and they saw +written on a piece of marble in the wall of one of the houses: +"Here the unfortunate Juan Yuste and many of his companions were +made prisoners." Yuste was one of the gentlemen who came over +with Narvaez and had served in the cavalry. These melancholy +remains filled Sandoval and his men with grief and rage; but +there were no objects on which to wreak their vengeance, as all +the men were fled, and none remained but women and children, who +deprecated their anger in the most moving terms. Sandoval +therefore granted them pardon, and sent them to bring back their +husbands and fathers, with a promise of forgiveness on condition +of submission and future obedience. On questioning them about the +gold they had taken from our people, they assured him it had all +been claimed by the Mexicans[4].</p> + +<blockquote>[4] From the circumstance of the gold, it is probable +Yuste and his companions had been slain on their retreat from +Mexico, not on their way there as stated in the text. From this +and other similar incidents, of parties of Spaniards having been +slain in different places after the retreat from Mexico, it is +highly probable that several detached parties made their escape, +who missed forming a junction with Cortes. He, it will be +recollected, made a detour round the west and south sides of the +lake; and it is probable that they had turned to the east, as the +nearest and most direct way to Tlascala and Villa +Rica.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Sandoval continued his route towards Tlascala, near which he +was met by a vast body of Indians commanded by Chichimecatl, +accompanied by Martin Lopez, and employed in transporting the +ship timber. Eight thousand men carried the timber all ready +shaped for our thirteen vessels, with the sails, cordage, and all +other materials. Eight thousand warriors attended in arms to +protect the bearers of the timber; and two thousand carried +provisions for the whole[5]. Several Spaniards joined us along +with this escort, and two other principal chiefs of the +Tlascalans, Ayotecatle and Teotlipil. During the march, only some +small bodies of the enemy appeared, and these always at a +distance; but it was deemed necessary to use the utmost +vigilance, to avoid the danger of a surprise, considering the +great length of the line of march[6]. Sandoval accordingly sent a +strong detachment of Spanish troops as an advanced guard, and +posted others on the flanks; while he remained with the rear +guard which he assigned to the Tlascalans. This arrangement gave +great offence to Chichimecatl; but he was reconciled to this +post, on being told that the Mexicans would most probably attack +the rear, which was therefore the post of honour, because of more +danger. In two days more, the whole escort arrived in safety at +Tezcuco; the allies being all dressed out in their gayest habits, +with great plumes of feathers, and splendid banners, sounding +their horns and trumpets, and beating their drums, as in triumph +for the expected fall of Mexico. They continued marching into +Tezcuco for half a day, amid continual shouts of "Castilla! +Castilla! Tlascala! Tlascala! Long live the emperor Don Carlos!" +Our timber was now laid down at the docks which had been prepared +for this purpose; and, by the exertion of Martin Lopez, the hulls +of our thirteen brigantines were very soon completed; but we were +obliged to keep a very careful guard, as the Mexicans sent +frequent parties to endeavour to set them on fire.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] Clavigero, II. 146, exaggerates the armed escort +to 30,000 Tlascalan warriors, commanded by three chiefs, +Chichimecatl, Ayotecatl, and Teotlipil. Diaz calls the two last, +Teuleticle and Teatical; but though his facts are fully more to +be depended upon, Clavigero may be accounted better versant in +Mexican orthography.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[6] Clavigero, II. 146, quotes Diaz as saying that it +extended six miles from front to rear. This may very likely have +been the case, but Diaz nowhere specifies the length of the +line.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The Tlascalan chiefs were very anxious to be employed on some +enterprize against their ancient enemies the Mexicans, and Cortes +resolved to indulge them by an expedition against Xaltocan, a +town situated on an island of a lake to the northward of the +great lake of Mexico or Tezcuco, which is now called the lake of +St Christopher. Leaving therefore the charge of the important +post of Tezcuco with Sandoval, who was enjoined to use the utmost +vigilance, and giving orders to Martin Lopez to have the vessels +all ready for launching in fifteen days, he set out on the +expedition against Xaltocan with 250 Spanish infantry, 30 +cavalry, the whole force of the Tlascalans, and a body of +warriors belonging to Tezcuco[7]. On approaching Xaltocan, our +army was met by some large bodies of Mexican troops, whom the +cavalry soon dispersed and drove into the woods. The troops +halted for the night in some villages in a very populous country, +and were obliged to keep on the alert, as it was known that the +enemy had a strong force in Xaltocan, to which place a strong +body of Mexicans had been sent in large canoes, and were now +concealed among the deep canals in that neighbourhood. Next +morning, on resuming their march, our troops were exceedingly +harassed by the enemy, and several of them wounded, as our +cavalry had no opportunity to charge them, the ground being much +intersected by canals. The only causeway which led from the land +to the town had been laid under water, so that our troops could +not approach, and our musquetry had little or no effect against +the enemy in the canoes, as they were defended by strong screens +of timber. Our people began to despair of success, when some of +the natives of Tezcuco pointed out a ford with which they were +acquainted, by which our people were enabled, under their +guidance, to make their way to the causeway leading into the town +leaving Cortes and the cavalry on the main land. Our infantry +forced their way into the town, where they made a considerable +slaughter of the Mexicans, driving the remainder of them and many +of the inhabitants of the town to take shelter in their canoes. +They then returned to Cortes, bringing with them a considerable +booty in gold, slaves, and mantles, having only lost one soldier +in this exploit. Next day, Cortes marched through a thickly +peopled and well cultivated country against a large town named +Quauhtitlan, which we found deserted, and in which we halted for +the night. On the ensuing day, we marched to another large town +called Tenayoecan, but which we named <i>Villa de Serpe</i>, or +the Town of Serpents, on account of some enormous figures of +these animals which were found in the temples, and which these +people worshipped as gods. This place was likewise deserted by +the inhabitants, who had withdrawn with their effects into places +of safety. From thence we marched to Escapuzalco, or the town of +the goldsmiths, which was also deserted, and thence to Tacuba or +Tlacopan, to which our troops had to cut their way through +considerable bodies of the enemy. Our troops halted here for the +night, and were assailed next morning by several successive +bodies of the enemy, who had formed a plan to draw us into an +ambuscade, by pretending to take flight along the fatal causeway +of Tacuba, where we had suffered so much on our retreat from +Mexico. This partly succeeded, as Cortes and his troops pursued +them along the causeway across one of the bridges, and were +immediately surrounded by prodigious numbers of the enemy, some +on the land and others in canoes on the water. Cortes soon +perceived his mistake, and ordered a retreat, which was made with +the utmost firmness and regularity, our men constantly keeping +a-front to the enemy and giving ground inch by inch, continually +fighting. In the confusion of this surprise, Juan Volante, who +carried the colours, fell from the bridge into the lake, and the +Mexicans were even dragging him away to their canoes; yet he +escaped from them and brought away his colours. In this +unfortunate affair, five of our soldiers were slain, and a great +many wounded. Cortes halted for five days at Tacuba[8], during +which there were many skirmishes with the enemy, and then marched +back to Tezcuco, the Mexicans continuing to harass him by +frequent attacks; but having drawn them on one occasion into an +ambuscade, in which they were defeated with considerable +slaughter, they desisted from any farther attack. On arriving at +our head-quarters in Tezcuco, the Tlascalans, who had enriched +themselves with plunder during the expedition, solicited +permission to go home that they might secure their acquisitions +in their own country, which Cortes readily consented to.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] Clavigero says, 350 Spanish infantry, 25 +horsemen, and 30,000 Tlascalans, with six small +cannon.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>During four days after our return from this expedition, the +Indians of several neighbouring districts came in with presents +and offers of submission. Although Cortes was well aware that +they had been concerned in the murder of our men after the +retreat from Mexico, he received them all very graciously, and +dismissed them with promises of protection. About this time +likewise, several nations who had joined with us in alliance made +strong representations of the outrages which had been committed +upon them by the Mexicans, of which they produced paintings in +their manner, and earnestly entreated succour. But Cortes could +not grant them the required assistance, as our army, besides +having suffered loss by several being killed and many wounded +during the late hostilities, was now grown very unhealthy. He +gave them, however, fair promises, but advised them to rely more +upon their own exertions and the assistance of our other allies, +for which purpose he issued orders to all the districts in our +alliance to assemble in arms against the common enemy. They +accordingly collected their forces, and came to action in the +field with the Mexicans, and exerted themselves with so much +vigour that they gained the victory. The province of Chalco was +however an object of principal importance to us, as the +possession of that country was essentially necessary to preserve +our communication with Tlascala and Villa Rica, and being +likewise a fertile corn country, contributed largely to the +subsistence of our army. As it was much harassed by the enemy, +Cortes sent Sandoval with a detachment of about 250 of our +troops, cavalry and infantry, to clear it of the Mexicans, and +accompanied by a body of warriors from Tezcuco and such of our +Tlascalan allies as still remained with our army. Sandoval set +out from Tezcuco on the 12th of March 1521, and arrived next +morning at Tlalmanalco, where he learnt that the Mexican forces +were posted at a large town called Guaztepeque or Huaxtepec. +Being now joined by the warriors of Chalco, Sandoval halted for +the night at the town of Chimalcan; and next morning gave orders +to his musketeers and crossbow-men to attack the enemy, who were +posted in strong ground; the troops who were armed with swords +and targets, were formed into a compact body of reserve; and the +cavalry, being formed in small bodies of three each, were +directed to charge as soon as the firing had made an impression +on the enemy. While advancing in this order, Sandoval perceived +the Mexican forces drawn up in three large columns or dense +battalions, and thought proper to change his original plan, and +to endeavour to break through them by a cavalry charge. Placing +himself, therefore, at the head of the cavalry, he immediately +proceeded to the charge, exclaiming, "St Jago! fall on, +comrades!" The main body of the enemy was partly broken by this +charge, but immediately closed again and stood firm; and the +nature of the ground was so much in favour of the Mexicans, that +Sandoval found it necessary to endeavour to drive them from their +post in the manner first proposed, into the open ground in the +rear. For this purpose he made the musketeers and crossbow-men +attack the enemy in front, and those armed with swords and +targets to turn their flanks, ordering also the allies to come +forward to the attack, and directed the cavalry to be ready to +charge at an appointed signal. Our troops at length forced them +to retreat, but they immediately occupied another strong position +in their rear, so that Sandoval and the cavalry were unable to +make any considerable impression upon them. In one of the charges +in this difficult broken ground, the horse of Gonzalo Dominguez +fell with him, and he was so much injured that he died in a few +days afterwards: His loss was much regretted by the army, as he +was esteemed as brave as either Sandoval or De Oli. Our army +broke the enemy a second time, and pursued them to the town, +where they were suddenly opposed by not less than 15,000 fresh +warriors, who endeavoured to surround our troops: But Sandoval +caused them to be attacked on both flanks, when they fled towards +the town, endeavouring however to make a stand behind some +recently constructed works; but our troops followed them up so +vigorously that they had no time to rally, and were constrained +to take shelter in the town. As his troops were much fatigued, +and had got hold of a good supply of provisions, Sandoval thought +proper to allow them some repose, and they began to prepare their +victuals, in which they were soon interrupted by an alarm of the +enemy approaching. They were ready for action in a moment, and +advanced to meet the enemy, fortunately in an open place; where, +after a smart action, the enemy were constrained to retreat +behind their works; but Sandoval pushed on the advantage with so +much impetuosity, that he soon drove them from their works, and +compelled them to evacuate the town with the utmost +precipitation.</p> + +<p>Sandoval took up his quarters in a very extensive and +magnificent garden, which contained a number of large handsome +buildings, and many admirable conveniencies fit for the residence +of a great prince; but our soldiers had not then time to examine +all its beauties, as it was more than a quarter of a league in +length. I was not in this expedition, being confined under cure +of a bad wound in my throat, which I received by a lance in the +affair at Iztapalapa, and of which I still carry the marks; but I +saw this fine garden about twenty days afterwards, when I +accompanied Cortes to this place. Not being on this expedition, I +do not in my narrative say <i>we</i> and <i>us</i> on this +occasion, but <i>they</i> and <i>them</i>; yet every thing I +relate is perfectly true, as all the transactions of every +enterprize were regularly reported at headquarters. Sandoval now +summoned all the neighbouring districts to submit, but to little +purpose, as the people of Acapistlan or Jacapichtla answered by a +defiance. This gave much uneasiness to our allies of Chalco, as +they were assured the Mexicans would immediately attack them +again on the Spaniards returning to Tezcuco. Sandoval was rather +averse from engaging in any new enterprize, as a great number of +his men were wounded, and the soldiers of Narvaez disliked risks +of every kind; but our allies of Chalco were anxious to reduce +that place, and were strongly supported in this opinion by Luis +Marin, a wise and valiant officer; and as the distance was only +two leagues, Sandoval acquiesced. On his advance, the enemy +assailed him with their missile weapons, and then retired to +their strong post in the town. Our allies were not very much +disposed to attack the works, in which the Spaniards shewed them +the way, some even of the cavalry dismounting to fight on foot, +and leaving the rest in the plain to protect the rear. Our people +at length carried the place, but had a good many wounded in the +assault, even Sandoval himself. Though our allies were rather +tardy in the assault, they made up for it after the place was +carried, saving the Spaniards the trouble of putting the enemy to +death; and indeed we often blamed the ferocious cruelty of our +allies, from whom we saved many of our Indian enemies. At this +time indeed, our countrymen thought themselves better employed in +searching for gold and taking good female prisoners, than in +butchering a parcel of poor wretches who no longer attempted any +defence.</p> + +<p>Sandoval returned to Tezcuco with many slaves and considerable +plunder, and just as he arrived at head-quarters, even before he +had time to make a report to Cortes of the success of his late +expedition, an express arrived from Chalco with information that +they were in a more perilous situation than before. Guatimotzin +was enraged at the defection of the inhabitants of Chalco, and +determined to inflict upon them the most exemplary chastisement. +For this purpose, he sent a force of 20,000 Mexican warriors +across the lake in 2000 canoes, with orders to lay waste the +whole district with fire and sword. On the communication of this +intelligence to Cortes, he was exceedingly enraged at Sandoval, +believing that this had been occasioned by his negligence, and he +gave him orders to return instantly to the defence of Chalco, +refusing even to hear his relation of what he had already done. +Sandoval was much hurt at this treatment, yet went back to Chalco +with all possible expedition; but found the business over before +his arrival, as the inhabitants of that province, having summoned +their neighbours to their aid, had already repelled the Mexican +invasion, and Sandoval had only to return to head-quarters with +the prisoners.</p> + +<p>At this period a proclamation was issued, by which all the +soldiers were ordered to bring in the Indian prisoners to be +branded, and to pay for them the royal dues. I have already +mentioned the treatment we formerly met with at Tepeaca on a +similar occasion, but we were worse used now at Tezcuco if +possible. In the first place a fifth was taken away for the king; +then another fifth for Cortes; and, what was still worse, most of +the good female slaves were abstracted during the night. We had +been promised that all the slaves should be rated according to +their value; but the officers of the crown valued them as they +thought proper, and at a most exorbitant rate. In consequence of +this, the poor soldiers for the future passed their slaves as +servants, denying that they were prisoners of war, to avoid the +heavy duty; and such as were in favour with Cortes, often got +their slaves marked privately, paying him the composition. Many +of the slaves who happened to fall to bad masters, or such as had +a bad reputation, used to run away; but their owners always +remained debtors for their estimated value in the royal books, so +that many were more in debt on this account than all the value of +their share in the prize gold could pay for. About this time +likewise, a ship arrived at Villa Rica from Spain with arms and +gunpowder, in which came Julian de Alderete, who was sent out as +royal treasurer. In the same vessel came the elder Orduna, who +brought out five daughters after the conquest, all of whom were +honourably married. Fra Melgarejo de Urrea, also, a Franciscan +friar, came in this vessel, bringing a number of papal bulls, to +quiet our consciences from any guilt we might have incurred +during our warfare: He made a fortune of these in a few months, +and returned to Spain. Several other persons came by this vessel, +among whom were, Antonio Caravajal, who still lives in Mexico, +though now very old; Geronimo Ruyz de la Mora; one Briones who +was hanged about four years afterwards for sedition at Guatimala; +and Alonzo Diaz, who now resides in Valladolid. We learned by +this ship, with infinite satisfaction, that the bishop of Burgos +had been deprived of all power over the affairs of the West +Indies, as his majesty had been much displeased with his conduct +in regard to our expedition, after having received a true account +of our eminent services.</p> + +<p>Scarcely were we apprised of the success of the inhabitants of +Chalco and their confederates, when a new urgent message arrived +from Chalco for assistance against a fresh invasion of the +Mexicans. The brigantines intended for securing the command of +the lake were now ready to launch, and we were all anxious to +commence the siege of Mexico, yet Cortes was sensible of the +importance of Chalco to the success of our ultimate operations, +and determined to march in person to its support. Leaving the +command in Tezcuco to Sandoval, Cortes marched for Chalco on +Friday the 5th of April 1521, at the head of 300 infantry, +including twenty crossbow-men, and fifteen musketeers, with +thirty cavalry, and a large body of the auxiliaries of Tezcuco +and Tlascala, meaning to clear the district of Chalco and the +environs of the lake from the Mexicans. In this expedition, our +general was accompanied by the treasurer Alderete, Melgarejo the +Franciscan friar, with the captains Alvarado de Oli, and Tapia, +and I also was on this expedition. We halted during the first +night at Tlalmanalco, and reached Chalco next day, when Cortes +convened all the chiefs of that state, to whom he communicated +his intention of proceeding very soon to attack Mexico, in which +they engaged to give him all the assistance in their power. We +continued our march next day to Chimalhuecan or Chimalacoan, a +town in the province of Chalco, where above twenty thousand +warriors had assembled to join us, belonging to our allies of +Chalco, Guaxocingo, Tlascala, Tezcuco, and other places, being +the largest body of our allies that I had hitherto seen together. +These were attracted by the hope of plunder, and by a voracious +appetite for human flesh, just as the vultures and other birds of +prey follow our armies in Italy, in order to feast on dead bodies +after a battle.</p> + +<p>At this place we were informed that the Mexican forces, and +their allies or subjects in that neighbourhood, were in the field +to oppose us. Cortes therefore issued orders to the army to be +always ready for action at a moments warning, and we proceeded on +our march next morning early, after hearing mass, our route lying +between two ridges of rocks, the summits of which were fortified +and filled with large bodies of the enemy[9], who endeavoured by +outcries and reproaches to incite us to attack them. But we +pursued our march to Guaztepeque or Huaxtepec, a large town on +the southern declivity of the mountains, which we found +abandoned. Beyond this place we came to a plain in which water +was very scarce, on one side of which was a lofty rock having a +fortress on the summit which was filled with troops, who saluted +us on our approach with showers of arrows and stones, by which +three of our soldiers were wounded at the first discharge. Cortes +ordered us to halt, and sent a party of cavalry to reconnoitre +the rock, who reported on their return that the side where we +then were seemed the most accessible. We were then ordered to the +attack, Corral preceding us with the colours, and Cortes remained +on the plain with our cavalry to protect the rear. On ascending +the mountain, the Indians threw down great fragments of rock, +which rolled among us and rebounded over our heads in a most +frightful manner, so that it was wonderful how any of us escaped. +This was a most injudicious attack, and very unlike the usual +prudence of our general. One soldier, named Martin Valenciano, +though defended by a helmet, was killed at my side. As we +continued to ascend, three more soldiers, Gaspar Sanches, one +named Bravo, and Alonzo Rodriguez, were slain, and two others +knocked down, most of the rest being wounded, yet we continued to +ascend. I was then young and active, and followed close behind +our ensign, taking advantage of any hollows in the rock for +shelter. Corral was wounded in the head, having his face all +covered with blood, and the colours he bore were all torn to +rags. "Senor Diaz," said he to me, "let us remain under cover, +for it is impossible to advance, and it is all I can do to keep +my hold." On looking down, I noticed Pedro Barba the captain of +our crossbows climbing up with two soldiers, and taking advantage +as we had done of the concavities of the rock. I called to him +not to advance, as it was impossible to climb much farther, and +utterly out of our power to gain the summit. He replied in lofty +terms, to keep silence and proceed; on which I exerted myself and +got a good way higher, saying we should see what he would do. At +this moment a shower of large fragments of rocks came tumbling +down, by which one of the soldiers along with Barba was crushed +to death, after which he did not stir a step higher. Corral now +called out to those below, desiring them to report to the general +that it was utterly impossible to advance, and that even retreat +was infinitely dangerous. On learning this, and being informed +that most of us were wounded and many killed, as he could not see +us on account of the inequalities of the rock, Cortes recalled us +by signal, and we came back in a very bloody and bruised +condition, eight of our party having been slain. Three even of +the cavalry were killed on the plain and seven wounded, by the +masses of rock, which rebounded to a great distance after their +descent from so great a height.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] Clavigero, II. 147, says that Cortes endeavoured +at this time, but in vain, to come to an amicable agreement with +the court of Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[9] In this expedition Cortes appears, by the +information of Clavigero, II. 152, to have crossed the southern +mountains of the Mexican vale, and to have reduced Huastepec, +Jautepec, Quauhnahuac, and other towns belonging to the +Tlahuicas, who were subject to the Mexican empire; thus +judiciously using his endeavours to strengthen his own party and +to weaken that of the Mexicans, before proceeding to assail the +capital of that powerful empire.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Numerous bodies of Mexicans were lying in wait for us, +intending to have attacked us while engaged in the ascent, and +now advanced towards us in the plain; but we soon drove them +before us, on which they took shelter among some other rocky +ridges. We pursued them through some narrow passes among the +rocks, and found they had taken shelter in another very strong +fortress, similar to that from which we had been repulsed. We +desisted for the present, and returned to our former post in +search of water, our men and horses having been unable to procure +any during the whole of this day. We found some appearance of +springs at the foot of the rock, but they had been drawn dry by +the great numbers of the enemy, and nothing remained but mud. +Being under the necessity of endeavouring to procure water, we +returned again to the second fortress, which was about a league +and a half from the first, where we found a small village with a +grove of mulberry trees, in which we discovered a very scanty +spring. The people above discharged their missile weapons on our +approach, seeming to be much more numerous than in the former +place, and they were so situated that no shot from us could reach +them. For some way up the rock, there were evident paths, but it +seemed to present insurmountable difficulties against any attack. +Fortunately for us there was another rock which commanded that on +which the enemy were posted, and within shot, to which all our +fire-arms and crossbows were detached, and the rest of our +infantry proceeded to climb up the garrisoned rock slowly and +with infinite difficulty. The enemy might easily have destroyed +us by rolling down fragments of rocks on our heads, but their +attention was called off from their main defence by our missiles, +though rather at too great distance to produce much effect; yet +having killed several of the enemy, they lost heart and offered +to submit. On this, Cortes ordered five of their chiefs to come +down, and offered to pardon them for their hostile resistance, on +condition that they should induce those in the other fortress to +surrender, which they accordingly engaged for. Cortes then sent +the captains Xaramillo and de Ircio, with the ensign Corral and a +party of men, among whom I was, to ascend the rock which had +surrendered, giving us orders not to touch a grain of maize. I +considered this as full permission to do ourselves all the good +in our power. We found this fortress to consist of an extensive +plain on the summit of a perpendicular rock, the entrance to +which did not exceed twice the size of the mouth of an oven. The +whole plain was full of men, women, and children, but they had +not a drop of water. Twenty of their warriors had been slain by +our shot, and a great many wounded. All their property was packed +up in bales, among which there was a considerable quantity of +tribute, which had been collected on purpose to be sent to +Mexico. I had brought four of my Indian servants along with me, +whom I began to load, and four of the natives whom I engaged in +my service; but Captain De Ircio ordered me to desist, or he +would report me to the general, putting me in mind that Cortes +had forbidden us to touch a grain of maize. I answered that I had +distinctly heard the orders about the maize, and for that reason +I took the bales. But he would not allow me to carry any thing +away, and reported me on our return to Cortes, expecting I should +receive a reprimand; Cortes, however, observed that he was sorry +I had not got the plunder, as the dogs would laugh at us and keep +their property, after all the evil they had done us. De Ircio +then proposed to return; but Cortes said it was not now time. The +chiefs now returned from the other fortress, having induced its +garrison to submit; and we returned to Huaxtepec that we might +procure water. Our whole force was lodged for the night in the +buildings belonging to the noble garden which I formerly +mentioned, and I certainly never saw one of such beauty and +magnificence. Our general and others who walked over all its +extent, declared that it was most admirably disposed, and +equalled the most magnificent they had ever seen in Spain.</p> + +<p>We marched next day towards the city of Cuernabaca or +Quauhnahuac. The Mexicans who occupied that place came out to +fight us, but were soon defeated and pursued to Teputztlan or +Tepatlan, which we took by storm, and made a considerable booty +of Indian women and other spoils. Cortes summoned the chiefs of +this place to come in and submit; and on their refusal, and +on-purpose to impress the inhabitants of other places with +terror, he ordered about the half of this town to be set on fire. +At this time, the chiefs of a town called Yauhtepec came to +Cortes and made their submission. Next day, we returned to +Cuernabaca, which is a large town in a very strong situation, +being defended by a deep ravine with a small rivulet, which +precludes all access except by two bridges, which the inhabitants +had broken down on our approach. Cortes was informed of a ford +about half a league above the town which was practicable for the +cavalry, to which he marched, by which the main strength of the +enemy was drawn off to oppose him. We of the infantry searched +for means to pass the ravine, and at length discovered a very +dangerous pass by means of some trees which hung over from both +sides, by the help of which about thirty of us and a considerable +number of our Tlascalan allies got across. Three fell into the +ravine, one of whom broke his leg. It was a most terrifying +passage, and at one time I was quite blind with giddiness. Having +got over and formed, we fell unexpectedly on the flank and rear +of the enemy, and being now joined by a party of the cavalry, we +soon drove the enemy from the field into the neighbouring woods +and rocks. We found considerable property in the town, and we +were here all lodged in the buildings of a large garden belonging +to the cacique of the district. A deputation of twenty of the +chiefs of the Tlahuican nation now waited on Cortes, offering to +submit their whole country to his authority, and threw all the +blame of their hostilities on the Mexicans.</p> + +<p>The object of our next march was against Xochimilco, a large +city on the fresh water lake of Chalco, in which most of the +houses are built. As it was late before we left Quauhnahuac, and +the weather was exceedingly sultry, our troops suffered +excessively for want of water, which was not to be procured on +our route. Many of our allies fainted, and one of them, and also +one of our soldiers died of thirst. Seeing the distress of the +army, Cortes ordered a halt in a pine forest, and sent forwards a +party in search of relief. As I saw my friend De Oli about to set +off, I took three of my Indian servants and followed the party, +who endeavoured to persuade me to return; but I was resolute, and +De Oli at length consented, telling me I should have to fight my +way. At the distance of about half a league our cavalry came to +some villages on the side of a ridge of mountains, where they +found water in the houses, and one of my servants brought me a +large jar full of water. Having quenched my thirst, I now +determined to return, as the natives had taken the alarm, and +were gathering to attack us. I found Cortes just about to resume +the march, and gave him and the officers, who were with him a +hearty draught from my jar. The whole army now moved forward to +the villages, where a scanty supply of water was procured. It was +now near sunset, and the cavalry came in with a report that the +whole country had risen against us, on which account we halted +here for the night, which was very rainy with much wind, as I +well remember, being on the night guard. Several of our soldiers +were taken ill here with inflammation of their mouth and throat, +owing to their having eaten a species of artichoke to quench +their thirst.</p> + +<p>We resumed our march early next morning, and arrived about +eight o'clock at Xochimilco[10]. I can give no idea of the +prodigious force of the enemy which was collected at this place +to oppose us. They had broken down the bridges, and fortified +themselves with many parapets and pallisades, and many of their +chiefs were armed with the swords which we lost during our flight +from Mexico, which they had polished very nicely. The attack at +the bridge lasted above half an hour, several of our people +getting across by swimming, in which attempt some were drowned, +and we were assailed at once in front and rear and on both +flanks. At length our cavalry got on firm ground, after losing +several men, and we drove the enemy before us; but just at this +time a fresh reinforcement of at least 10,000 Mexicans arrived, +and received the charge of the cavalry with great intrepidity, +and wounded four of our men. At this moment the good chesnut +horse on which Cortes rode fell under him among a crowd of the +enemy, who knocked him down, and great numbers gathering around +were carrying him off, when a body of our Tlascalan allies came +up to his rescue, headed by the valiant De Oli, and remounted +him, after he had been severely wounded in the head. De Oli also +received three desperate sword wounds from the enemy. As all the +streets of the town were full of Mexican warriors, we had to +divide into a number of separate bodies in order to fight them; +but we who were nearest the place in which our general was in +such danger, being alarmed by the uncommon noise and outcry, +hurried there, where they found him and about fifteen of the +cavalry in a very embarrassing situation, amid parapets and +canals where the horse had no freedom to act. We immediately +attacked the enemy, whom we forced to give ground, and brought +off Cortes and De Oli. On first passing at the bridge, Cortes had +ordered the cavalry to act in two divisions on purpose to clear +our flanks: They returned at this time all wounded, and reported +that the enemy were so numerous and desperate, that all their +efforts wore unavailing to drive them away. At the time the +cavalry came in, we were in an enclosed court, dressing our +wounds with rags and burnt oil; and the enemy sent in such +showers of arrows among us that hardly any escaped being wounded. +We all now sallied out upon the enemy, both cavalry and infantry, +and made considerable havoc among them with our swords, so that +we drove them away and they gave over their attempt to storm our +post. Having now some relaxation, Cortes brought our whole force +to the large enclosures in which the temples were situated; and +on some of us ascending to the top of one of the temples, where +we had a commanding view of Mexico and the lake, we perceived +about two thousand canoes full of troops coming to attack us. A +body of ten thousand men were likewise seen in full march by land +for the same purpose, and the enemy had already fully that number +in and about the town. We learned from five chiefs whom we had +made prisoners, that this immense force was destined to assault +our quarters that night; for which reason strong guards were +posted at all the places where the enemy were expected to +disembark; the cavalry were held in readiness to charge upon them +on the roads and firm ground; and constant patroles were kept +going about during the night. I was posted along with ten other +soldiers to keep guard at a stone and lime wall which commanded +one of the landing-places, and while there we heard a noise +occasioned by the approach of a party of the enemy, whom we beat +off, sending a report to Cortes by one of our number. The enemy +made a second attempt, in which they knocked down two of our men; +but being again repulsed, they made an attempt to land at a +different place, where there was a small gate communicating with +a deep canal. The night was extremely dark, and as the natives +were not accustomed to fight in the night time, their troops fell +into confusion; and instead of making their attack in two +opposite places at the same time, they formed in one body of at +least 15,000 men.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] This beautiful city was the largest in the vale +of Mexico, after the capital and the royal residences of Tezcuco +and Tlacopan, and was famous for its floating gardens, whence it +derived its name, signifying flower gardens in the Mexican +language.--Clavig. II. 155.</blockquote> + +<p>When our report reached Cortes, he came to us attended by nine +or ten of the cavalry, and as he did not answer my challenge, I +and my comrade Gonzalo Sanchez, a Portuguese from Algarve, fired +three or four shots at them; on which knowing our voices, Cortes +observed to his escort, that this post did not require to be +inspected, as it was in charge of two of his veterans. He then +observed that our post was a dangerous one, and continued his +rounds without saying any more. I was afterwards told that one of +the soldiers of Narvaez was whipped this very night for +negligence on his post. As our powder was all expended, we were +ordered to prepare a good supply of arrows for the crossbows, and +were employed all the rest of the night in heading and feathering +these, under the direction of Pedro Barba, who was captain of the +crossbow-men. At break of day the enemy made a fresh attack and +killed one Spaniard, but we drove them back, killing several of +their chiefs, and took a great many prisoners. Our cavalry had +been ordered out to charge the Mexicans, but finding them in +great force, they sent back for assistance. The whole of our army +now sallied forth and completely defeated the enemy, from whom we +took several prisoners. From these men, we learned that the +Mexicans intended to weary us out by reiterated attacks, on which +account it was resolved to evacuate the place next day. In the +mean time, having information that the town contained much +wealth, we got some of the prisoners to point out the houses in +which it was contained, which stood in the water of the fresh +water lake, and could only be approached by small bridges over +the canals, leading from a causeway. A considerable number both +of our men and of the allies went to these houses, from which +they brought away a great deal of booty in cotton cloth and other +valuable articles, and this example was followed by others. While +thus employed, a body of Mexicans came upon them unexpectedly in +canoes, and besides wounding many of our men, they seized four +soldiers alive, whom they carried off in triumph to Mexico; and +from these men Guatimotzin learnt the smallness of our number, +and the great loss we had sustained in killed and wounded. After +questioning them as much as he thought proper, Guatimotzin +commanded their hands and feet to be cut off, and sent them in +this mutilated condition through many of the surrounding +districts, as an example of the treatment he intended for us all, +and then ordered them to be put to death.</p> + +<p>On the ensuing morning we had to sustain a fresh attack, as +had regularly been the case during the four days we remained in +Xochimilco, but which we now determined to quit. Before +commencing our march, Cortes drew up the army in an open place a +little way out of the town, in which the markets were held, where +he made us a speech, in which he expatiated on the dangers we had +to encounter in our march, and the strong bodies of the enemy we +might expect to oppose our retreat, and then warmly urged us to +leave all our plunder and luggage, that we might not be exposed +to danger in its defence. We remonstrated, however, that it would +be a cowardly act to abandon what we had so hardly won, declaring +that we felt confident of being able to defend our persons and +property against all assailants. He gave way, therefore, to our +wishes, and arranged the order of our march, placing the baggage +in the centre, and dividing the cavalry and crossbows between the +van and rear guards, as our musketry was now useless for want of +powder. The enemy harassed us by continual assaults all the way +from Xochimilco to Cuyocan, or Cojohuacan, a city on the borders +of the lake, near one of the causeways leading to Mexico, which +we found abandoned, and where we took up our quarters for two +days, taking care of our wounds, and making arrows for our +crossbows. The enemy which had especially obstructed us on this +march, consisted of the inhabitants of Xochimilco, Cuyocan, +Huitzilopochco, Iztapalapa, Mizquic, and five other towns, all of +considerable size, and built on the edge of the lake, near one +another, and not far from Mexico. On the third morning we marched +for Tlacopan or Tacuba, harassed as usual by the enemy, but our +cavalry soon forced them to retire to their canals and ditches. +During this march, Cortes attempted to lay an ambush for the +enemy, for which purpose he set out with ten horsemen and four +servants, but had nearly fallen into a snare himself. Having +encountered a party a Mexicans who fled before him, he pursued +them too far, and was suddenly surrounded by a large body of +warriors, who started out from an ambuscade, and wounded all the +horses in the first attack, carrying off two of the attendants of +Cortes to be sacrificed at Mexico, the rest of the party escaping +with considerable difficulty. Our main body reached Tacuba in +safety, with all the baggage; but as Cortes and his party did not +appear, we began to entertain suspicions of some misfortune +having befallen him. On this account, Alvarado, De Oli, Tapia, +and I, with some others, went to look for him in the direction in +which we had last seen him. We soon met two of his servants, who +informed us of what had happened, and were shortly afterwards +joined by Cortes, who appeared extremely sad, and even shed +tears.</p> + +<p>When we arrived at our quarters in Tacuba, which were in some +large enclosed courts, it rained very heavily, and we were +obliged to remain exposed for about two hours. On the weather +clearing up, the general and his officers, with many of the men +who were off duty, went up to the top of the great temple of +Tacuba, whence we had a most delightful prospect of the lake, +with all its numerous cities and towns, rising as it were out of +the water. Innumerable canoes were seen in all directions, some +employed in fishing, and others passing with provisions or +merchandize of all kinds. We all gave praise to God, who had been +pleased to render us the instruments for bringing the numerous +inhabitants of so fine a country to the knowledge of his holy +name; yet the bloody scenes which we had already experienced in +Mexico, filled us with melancholy for the past, and even with +some apprehension for the future. These recollections made Cortes +exceedingly sad, regretting the many valiant soldiers he had +already lost, and the brave men whom he might still expect to +fall before he could be able to reduce the great, strong, and +populous city of Mexico to submission[11]. Our reverend Father +Olmedo, endeavoured to console him, and one of our soldiers +observed, that such was the fortune of war, and that our general +was in a very different situation from Nero, when he contemplated +his capital on fire. Cortes replied, that he felt melancholy +while reflecting on the fatigues and dangers we should still have +to pass through; but that he should soon take effectual measures +for bringing the great object in view to a speedy conclusion. +Having no particular purpose to serve by remaining in Tacuba, +some of our officers and soldiers proposed to take a view of the +causeway where we had suffered so severely on the fatal night of +our flight from Mexico; but this was considered dangerous and +imprudent. We accordingly proceeded on our march by Escapozalco, +which was abandoned by the enemy on our approach, to Terajoccan, +which was also deserted, and thence to Coatitlan or Guatitlan, +where we arrived excessively fatigued, as it never ceased raining +during the whole of that day. We took up our quarters in that +place for the night, which was excessively rainy; and, though the +enemy gave us some alarms during the night, I can testify that no +proper watch was kept, owing to the inclemency of the weather, as +my post was not visited either by rounds or corporal. From +Coatitlan, we continued our march by a deep miry road, through +four or five other towns, all abandoned, and arrived in two days +at Aculman or Oculman, in the territory of Tezcuco, where we +received the pleasing intelligence that a reinforcement had +arrived to us from Spain. Next day we proceeded to Tezcuco, where +we arrived worn out with wounds and fatigue, and even diminished +in our numbers.</p> + +<blockquote>[11] Diaz mentions a poem circulated at the time, as +beginning in reference to the melancholy of Cortes on this +occasion, somewhat in the following strain:<br> + In Tacuba was Cortes, with many a gallant chief; He thought upon +his losses, and bow'd his head with grief.</blockquote> + +<p>Soon after our return to Tezcuco, a conspiracy was formed for +the assassination of our general, at the head of which was one +Antonio de Villafana, an adherent of Velasquez, and some of the +other soldiers who had come over with Narvaez, but whose names I +do not choose to mention, and the conspirators had even +communicated their plan to two principal officers, whom I will +not name, one of whom was to have been appointed captain-general +on the death of Cortes. They had even arranged matters for the +appointment of alguazil-major, alcaldes, regidor, contador, +treasurer, veedor, and others of that kind, and of captains and +standard-bearer to the army, all from among the soldiers of +Narvaez. All the principal adherents of Cortes were to have been +put to death, and the conspirators were to have divided our +properties, arms, and horses, among themselves. This business was +revealed to Cortes, only two days after our return to Tezcuco, by +the repentance of one of the conspirators, whom he amply +rewarded. The general immediately communicated the intelligence +to Alvarado, De Oli, Sandoval, Tapia, Luis Marin, and Pedro de +Ircio, who were the two alcaldes for the time, also to me, and to +all in whom he reposed confidence. We all accompanied Cortes, +well armed, to the quarters of Villafana, where he found him and +many others of the conspirators, and took him immediately into +custody. The others endeavoured to escape, but were all detained +and sent to prison. Cortes took a paper from the bosom of +Villafana, having the signatures of all his accomplices; but +which he afterwards pretended that Villafana had swallowed, to +set the minds of the conspirators at rest, as they were too +numerous to be all punished in the present weak state of our +army. Villafana was immediately tried, and made a full +confession; and his guilt being likewise clearly established by +many witnesses, the judges, who were Cortes, the two alcaldes, +and De Oli, condemned him to die. Having confessed himself to the +reverend Juan Diaz, he was hanged from a window of the apartment. +No more of the conspirators were proceeded against; but Cortes +thought it prudent to appoint a body guard for his future +security, selected from among those who had been with him from +the first, of which Antonio de Quinones was made captain.</p> + +<p>At this period an order was issued for bringing in all our +prisoners to be marked, being the third time since we came to the +country. If that operation were unjustly conducted the first +time, it was worse the second, and this time worse than ever; for +besides the two fifths for the king and Cortes, no less than +thirty draughts were made for the captains; besides which, all +the handsome females we had given in to be marked, were stolen +away, and concealed till it became convenient to produce +them.</p> + +<p>As the brigantines were entirely finished, and the canal for +their passage into the lake was now sufficiently wide and deep +for that purpose, Cortes issued orders to all the districts in +our alliance, near Tezcuco, to send him, in the course of ten +days, 8000 arrow-shafts from each district, made of a particular +wood, and as many copper heads. Within the appointed time, the +whole number required was brought to head-quarters, all executed +better than even the patterns. Captain Pedro Barba, who commanded +the crossbows, ordered each of his soldiers to provide two cords +and nuts, and to try the range of their bows. Cortes ordered all +the cavalry to have their lances new-headed, and to exercise +their horses daily. He sent likewise an express to the elder +Xicotencatl at Tlascala, otherwise called Don Lorenzo de Vargas, +to send 20,000 of the warriors of Tlascala, Huixotzinco and +Cholula; and he sent similar orders to Chalco and Tlalmanalco; +ordering all our allies to rendezvous at Tezcuco on the day after +the festival of the Holy Ghost, 28th April 1521. And on that day, +Don Hernandez Ixtlilxochitl of Tezcuco, was to join us with all +his forces. Some considerable reinforcements of soldiers, horses, +arms, and ammunition had arrived from Spain and other places, so +that when mustered mustered on the before-mentioned day by +Cortes, in the large enclosures of Tezcuco, our Spanish force +amounted to the following number: 84 cavalry, 650 infantry, armed +with sword and buckler, or pikes, and 194 musketeers and +crossbow-men, in all 928 Spaniards. From this number he selected +12 musketeers or crossbow-men, and 12 of the other infantry, for +rowers to each of the vessels, in all 312 men, appointing a +captain to each vessel; and he distributed 20 cannoneers through +the fleet, which he armed with such guns as we had that were fit +for this service. Many of our men had been formerly sailors, yet +all were extremely averse from acting as rowers on the present +occasion; for which reason the general made inquiry as to those +who were natives of sea-ports, or who had formerly been fishers +or seafaring men, all of whom he ordered to the oars; and though +some of them pled their gentility as an exemption, he would hear +of no excuse. By these means he obtained 150 men for this +service, who were in fact in a much better situation than we who +bore the brunt and danger of the war on land, as will appear in +the sequel. When all this was arranged, and the crews embarked +along with their commanders, each brigantine hoisted a royal +standard, and every one a distinguishing flag. Cortes likewise +gave the captains written instructions for their guidance, +dividing them into squadrons, each of which was to co-operate +with a particular leader of the land forces.</p> + +<p>Cortes now issued the following general orders to the army: 1. +No person to blaspheme the Lord Jesus, his Virgin Mother, the +Holy Apostles, or any of the Saints, under heavy penalties. 2. No +soldier to maltreat any of our allies in their persons or +properties. 3. No soldier to be absent from quarters on any +pretence. 4. Every soldier to keep his arms, both offensive and +defensive, in the best order. 5. No soldier to stake his horse or +arms in gaming. 6. No soldier to sleep out of his armour, or +without his arms beside him, except when disabled by wounds or +sickness. Lastly, the penalty of death was denounced for sleeping +on guard, for a sentinel quitting his post, for absence from +quarters without leave, for quitting the ranks in the field, or +for flight in battle.</p> + +<p>At this time our allies of Tlascala arrived under the command +of Xicotencatl the younger, who was accompanied by his two +brothers. Some of the warriors of Huexotzinco and Cholula came +along with the Tlascalans, but not in any great numbers[12], yet +the alacrity of our allies was such that they joined us a day +previous to that which was appointed by Cortes. They marched in +with great military parade, each of the chiefs carrying a +standard with their national device, a white spread eagle, and +they were all in high spirits, shouting out, Castilla! Castilla! +Tlascala! Tlascala! From the arrival of their van, till the rear +came in, took up three hours. Cortes received them with great +courtesy, promising to make them all rich on their return to +their native country, and dismissed them with many compliments to +their respective quarters.</p> + +<blockquote>[12] Clavigero, II. 159, carries the number of allies +which joined Cortes on this occasion, to more than 200,000 men. +In his enumeration of the several divisions of the army appointed +for the investment of Mexico, Diaz makes the Indian allies very +little more than 24,000 warriors.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Cortes made the following arrangement of our land army for the +investment of Mexico, distributing our forces in three separate +divisions, under the respective commands of Alvarado, De Oli, and +Sandoval, reserving to himself to act where his presence might be +most necessary, and taking in the mean time the command of the +fleet. Pedro de Alvarado, under whom I served, had 150 infantry, +30 cavalry, 18 musketeers and crossbow-men, and 8000 Tlascalans, +and was ordered to take post at Tacuba, having three captains +under his command, his brother Jorge de Alvarado, Pedro +Guttierrez, and Andres de Monjara, having each a company of 50 +infantry, with a third of the musketeers and crossbow-men, the +cavalry being commanded by Alvarado in person.--Christoval de Oli +commanded the second division, having under him Andres de Tapia, +Francisco Verdugo, and Francisco de Lugo, with 175 infantry, 30 +cavalry, 20 musketeers and crossbows, and 8000 of our Indian +allies. This division was ordered to take post at Cuyoacan or +Cojohuacan.--The third division, under the command of Gonzalo de +Sandoval, who had under him captains Luis Marin and Pedro de +Ircio, consisted of 150 infantry, 24 cavalry, 14 musketeers and +crossbows, and above 8000 Indian warriors, was to take post at +Iztapalapa. The division of Alvarado and De Oli were ordered to +march from Tezcuco by the right, going round the northern side of +the lake, and the third, under Sandoval, by the left, to the +south end of the lake; and his march being much shorter, he was +ordered to remain in Tezcuco until Cortes should sail out with +the fleet[13].</p> + +<blockquote>[13] Diaz mentions, that about this time intelligence +came to Tezcuco, that three of our soldiers who had been left by +Pizarro to search for mines in the country of the Zapotecas had +been put to death by the Mexicans, one only, named Barrientos, +having escaped to Chinantla, where he was protected by the +natives.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Before setting out on their march, Alvarado and De Oli +directed our Indian allies to go on a day before us, that we +might not be interrupted by their numbers, and ordered them to +wait for us when they reached the Mexican territory. While on +their march, Chichimecatl remarked that Xicotencatl, the +commander in chief of the Tlascalans was absent; and it was found +that he had secretly gone off from Tezcuco for Tlascala on the +preceding night, in order to take possession of the territory and +property of Chichimecatl, thinking this a good opportunity during +the absence of that chief and his warriors, and being in no +apprehension of any opposition, now that Maxicatzin was dead. +Chichimecatl returned immediately to Tezcuco, to inform Cortes of +what had taken place; and our general sent five chiefs of Tezcuco +and two Tlascalan chiefs, to request Xicotencatl to return. He +answered, that if his old father and Maxicatzin had listened to +him, they would not have been now domineered over by Cortes and +the Spaniards, and absolutely refused to go back. On this haughty +answer being reported to Cortes, he immediately sent off an +alguazil with four horsemen and five Tezcucan chiefs, ordering +them to seize and hang Xicotencatl wherever they could find him. +Alvarado interceded strongly for his pardon, but ineffectually; +for though Cortes seemed to relent, the party who arrested +Xicotencatl in a town subject to Tezcuco, hung him up by private +orders from Cortes, and some reported that this was done with the +approbation of the elder Xicotencatl, father to the Tlascalan +general. This affair detained us a whole day, and on the next the +two divisions of Alvarado and De Oli marched by the same route, +halting for the night at Aculma or Alcolman, a town belonging to +the state of Tezcuco, where a very ruinous quarrel was near +taking place between our two commanders and their divisions. De +Oli had sent some persons before to take quarters for his troops, +and had appropriated every house in the place for his men, +marking them by setting up green boughs on the terraces; so that +when Alvarado arrived with his division, we had not a single +house for us to lodge in. Our soldiers were much irritated at +this circumstance, and stood immediately to their arms to fight +with those of De Oli, and the two commanders even challenged each +other; but several of the more prudent of the officers on both +sides interposed, and a reconciliation was effected, yet Alvarado +and De Oli were never afterwards good friends. An express was +sent off immediately to apprize Cortes of this misunderstanding, +who wrote to all the people of any influence in the two +divisions, greatly condemning the circumstances of this +disagreement, which might have produced fatal consequences to our +whole army, and earnestly recommended a reconcilement. We +continued our march for two days more, by several Mexican cities, +which were abandoned by their inhabitants; and passing through +Coatitlan, Tenajoccan and Itzcapuzalco, where our allies waited +for us, we proceeded for Tacuba, otherwise called Tlacopan.</p> + +<p>SECTION XIII.</p> + +<p><i>Narrative of Occurrences from the commencement of the Siege +of Mexico to its Reduction, and the Capture of +Guatimotzin</i>.</p> + +<p>Having thus, by the occupation of Tacuba, commenced the +investment of the great and populous city of Mexico, we soon +found the enemy around us in great numbers; and as the first +operation, it was determined on the following day, that our +divisions should march to Chapoltepec to destroy the aqueduct at +that place, by which the city of Mexico was supplied with fresh +water. We set out accordingly with our allies, and although the +enemy attacked us on our march, we repelled them and succeeded in +our object of cutting off the pipes, so that from that time the +city of Mexico was deprived of fresh water. It was now determined +to endeavour to penetrate to the city of Mexico by the causeway +of Tacuba, or at least to attempt getting possession of the first +bridge on that causeway; but on our arrival there, the prodigious +number of boats which covered the water on both sides, and the +multitude of Mexican troops which thronged the causeway to oppose +us, was perfectly astonishing. By the first flight of arrows +which they discharged against us, three of our men were slain and +thirty wounded; yet we advanced to the bridge, the enemy retiring +before us, as if by a concerted stratagem, so that we were +exposed on both flanks, on a narrow road only twenty feet wide, +as a butt for the innumerable arrows of the Mexicans in the +canoes, and neither our musquetry nor crossbows were of any avail +against the people in the canoes, as they were effectually +protected by high wooden screens. The horses of our cavalry were +all wounded, and when at any time they made a charge upon the +enemy, they were almost immediately stopt by barriers and +parapets which the enemy had drawn across the causeway for the +purpose, and from whence they defended themselves with long +lances. Likewise, when the infantry advanced along the causeway, +instead of abiding our attack, the enemy threw themselves into +the water and escaped by swimming or into their canoes, returning +incessantly to the attack. We were thus engaged for more than an +hour to no useful purpose, the enemy continually increasing in +number, by reinforcements from every part of the lake; and our +allies, instead of being serviceable, only encumbered the +causeway and hindered our movements. Finding that we were unable +any longer to resist the multitude of enemies who assailed us +perpetually from the water, and almost with entire impunity, we +determined to retreat to our quarters in Tacuba, having eight of +our men slain and above fifty wounded, and were closely followed +up and much harassed by the enemy during our retreat. De Oli laid +the blame of the disaster of this day on the rashness of +Alvarado.</p> + +<p>Next day[1], though we were all extremely solicitous for the +two captains to remain together, De Oli proceeded with his +division to take possession of Cojohuacan, according to the +orders he had received from Cortes; but this separation was +assuredly extremely ill judged; as, if the enemy had known the +smallness of our numbers at the two stations, they might have +fallen upon and destroyed us separately, during the four or five +days that we remained divided before the arrival of Cortes with +the brigantines. In all that time we never ventured to make any +more attempts against the Mexican causeways, but the enemy +frequently sent bodies of their troops to the main land to make +attacks on our quarters, on which occasions we always drove them +away.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] According to Clavigero, II. 162, the 30th of May +1521, on which day Cortes dated the commencement of this +memorable siege.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Sandoval with his division did not leave Tezcuco until the +fourth day after the feast of Corpus Christi[2], when he marched +through a friendly country by the south side of the lake, and +arrived without interruption in front of Iztapalapa. Immediately +on his arrival, he commenced an attack on the enemy, and burnt +many of the houses in that part of the town which stood on the +firm land; but fresh bodies of Mexican warriors came over in +canoes and by the causeway of Iztapalapa to relieve their friends +in the town, and made a determined resistance against Sandoval. +While the engagement was going on, a smoke was observed to arise +from a hill above the town, which was answered by similar signals +at many other points around the lake, which were afterwards found +to have been made to apprize the enemy of the appearance of our +flotilla on the lake. On this, the efforts of the enemy against +Sandoval were much relaxed, as their canoes and warriors were +recalled to oppose our naval force; and Sandoval was thus enabled +to take up his quarters in a part of the town of Iztapalapa; +between which and Cojohuacan the only means of communication was +by a causeway or mound dividing the lake of Chalco from that of +Mexico or Tezcuco, which passage was at that time impracticable +in the face of the enemy.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] Corpus Christi fell that year, according to +Clavigero, on the 30th May, so that the occupation of Iztapalapa, +by which the investment of Mexico was completed, was on the 3d of +June.</blockquote> + +<p>"Before proceeding to the narrative of the siege of Mexico, it +may be proper to give some account of the situation of the city +of Mexico, and the mounds or causeways by which it communicated +with the land at the several posts which were occupied by Cortes +for its investment[3]. The city of Mexico was built partly on an +island and partly in the water, at the west side of a +considerable salt lake, named sometimes the lake of Tezcuco, and +sometimes the lake of Mexico, and appears to have been about a +mile from the firm land. It communicated with the land by three +mounds or causeways; that of Tepejacac on the north, about three +miles long, measuring from the great temple in centre of Mexico; +that usually called of Iztapalapa on the south, nearly five miles +in length; and that of Tacuba or Tlacopan on the west, about two +miles long, likewise measuring from the temple; but at least a +mile may be abstracted from each of these measurements, on +account of the extent of the city from the great temple to the +commencement of the causeways. About the middle of the southern +causeway called that of Iztapalapa, another causeway branched off +obliquely to the south-east, to the town of Cojohuacan; and at +the place where these two causeways united stood the town of +Xoloc, partly on the sides of the causeways, but chiefly in the +water intersected by canals and ditches. Besides these three +grand causeways for communicating with the land, there was a +smaller mound about two miles south from the causeway of Tacuba, +from a town named Chapoltepec, along which the aqueduct, or +pipes, for supplying Mexico with fresh water was carried; but +this appears to have been too narrow for allowing any passage, at +least the Spaniards do not seem to have availed themselves of it, +in their long and arduous endeavours to force their way into +Mexico. Near the south-west angle of the salt lake of Mexico, it +communicated by a narrow neck or strait with the fresh water lake +of Chalco; and at their junction a mound or causeway had been +constructed across, to prevent the admixture of the salt and +fresh lakes, having a town called Mexicaltzinco at the eastern +extremity of this mound. Iztapalapa stood in the western end of +the peninsula, between the lakes of Mexico and Chalco, but on the +borders and in the waters of the former. The whole fertile vale +of Mexico or Anahuac, around these two lakes, and some others to +the north of the great lake, was thickly planted with cities, +towns, and villages, and highly cultivated, containing and giving +subsistence to a prodigious population. The extent of this +extraordinary valley, elevated nearly 8000 feet above the level +of the sea, is about 50 miles from north to south, and forty +miles from east to west; being surrounded on every side by ridges +of lofty mountains, some of them perpetually covered with snow, +and rising to about 10,000 feet in perpendicular elevation above +the ocean."</p> + +<blockquote>[3] The whole of this topographical account of Mexico +and its approaches is added by the editor, and has been placed in +the text, distinguished by inverted commas, as too long for a +note. A plan is added, constructed from a comparison of the maps +in Diaz and Clavigero, both evidently drawn without any actual +survey, and corrected by means of the excellent map of the vale +of Mexico given by Humboldt. By means of a great drain, made +considerably posterior to the conquest, the lake has been greatly +diminished in magnitude, insomuch that the city is now above +three miles from the lake; so that the accurate map of Humboldt +does not now serve for the ancient topography of Mexico and its +near environs.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>When Cortes brought out his fleet of brigantines upon the +lake, he went in the first place to attack an insular rock close +beside Mexico, on which a vast number of the inhabitants of that +city and other places in the neighbourhood had taken shelter. +Immediately on perceiving his intentions, their whole force +collected from every part of the lake, and proceeded against him +in not less than 4000 large canoes full of warriors. On +perceiving this immense number of boats coming to attack him, +Cortes withdrew with his brigantines into an open part of the +lake, ordering his captains to wait patiently for a breeze of +wind which then began to blow. As the enemy supposed that this +movement proceeded from fear, they immediately closed up around +the flotilla with shouts of triumph. The wind now sprung up, and +the whole fleet made sail through the throng of canoes, plying +their oars at the same time, and run down and overset great +numbers of the Mexican canoes, compelling all the rest to fly for +shelter to the recesses and shallows on the borders of the lake. +After this, Cortes made sail to Cojohuacan[4], where he was again +attacked by the Mexicans, both by means of their canoes on the +water, and from their temples on the land: But Cortes brought +four guns to bear upon them, by which he did considerable +execution. During this action his powder magazine blew up, owing +to some mismanagement of the gunners, by which many of his people +were wounded. This unfortunate accident obliged him to detach his +smallest brigantine to Sandoval for a supply of ammunition. He +remained at Cojohuacan for two days with the flotilla, repairing +the injury his ship had sustained from the explosion.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] It is hard to guess which way the brigantines +could get there, as by the maps both of Diaz and Clavigero, the +great double causeway of Xoloc or Iztapalapa, ought to have +completely prevented his penetrating to that part of the lake. It +was probably Xoloc against which this attack was made, and Diaz +may have mistaken the name after an interval of fifty-one years; +for so long intervened between the siege of Mexico in 1521, and +1572, when he informs us his history was +concluded.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>When we were assured that the flotilla was out upon the lake, +Alvarado marched out with our division to the causeway of Tacuba, +as far as the bridge, in which we were constantly engaged with +the enemy to very little purpose, except that we repaired the +passes in our rear as we advanced, and did not now suffer the +cavalry to come upon the causeway, as we had found by experience +that they were of very little service, and besides that their +horses were exposed to much danger. Finding that he could not +sufficiently annoy the enemy in his present post at Iztapalapa, +where the Mexicans had possession of the houses which were built +in the water, Sandoval advanced by a causeway to a more +commanding situation[5]. When this was noticed from Mexico, a +large detachment of warriors came over in canoes, with orders to +cut the causeway in the rear of our troops. Cortes observed this, +and immediately made sail with his vessels to the relief of +Sandoval, giving orders at the same time to De Oli to march a +body of troops by the causeway for the same purpose. Having +relieved Sandoval by these means, Cortes ordered him to remove +with his division from Iztapalapa to Tepeaquilla or Tepejacac, +where the church of our Lady of Guadalupe now stands, in which +many wonderful miracles have been performed.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] Perhaps along the mound or causeway of +Mexicaltzinco; by which he approached towards the great causeway +of Xoloc, and the position of De Oli at +Cojohuacan.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>As it was impossible for our troops to advance on the +causeways, unless their flanks were secured from attacks by +water, the flotilla was appointed to this service in three +divisions, one of which was attached to each of the three +detachments of our land force: Four brigantines being allotted to +Alvarado, six to De Oli, and two to Sandoval[6]; twelve in all, +the thirteenth having been found too small for service, and was +therefore laid up, and her crew distributed to the rest, as +twenty men had been already severely wounded in the several +vessels. Alvarado now led our division to attack the causeway of +Tacuba, placing two brigantines on each flank for our protection. +We drove the enemy before us from several of their bridges and +barricades; but after fighting the whole day, we were obliged to +retreat to our quarters at night, almost all of us wounded by the +incessant showers of stones and arrows of the enemy. We were +continually assailed on the causeway, by fresh troops of +warriors, carrying different banners or devices; and our +brigantines were excessively annoyed from the terraces of the +houses which stood in the water; and as we could not leave a +party to keep possession of what we had acquired during the day, +the enemy repossessed themselves of the bridges at night, and +repaired and strengthened their parapets and other defences. In +some places they deepened the water, digging pits in the shallow +places, and placing the canoes in ambush, which they secured +against the approach of our brigantines by means of pallisades +under water. Every day we were employed in the same manner, +driving the enemy before us, and every night we returned to our +quarters to bind up our wounds. The cavalry were of no service, +on account of the barricades defended by long lances; and the +soldiers even did not choose to risk their horses, as their price +at this time was from eight hundred to a thousand crowns. One +Juan, a soldier from Catalonia, used to heal our wounds by charms +and prayers, which by the mercy of God recovered us very fast; +and this being observed by our allies, all their wounded men +applied to Juan, who had more business on his hands than he was +able for. But whether whole or wounded, we were obliged to go out +daily against the enemy, as otherwise our companies would have +been reduced to less than half their strength. Our ensign was +disabled almost every day, as he could not at the same time carry +his colours and defend himself from the enemy. We were abundantly +supplied with corn, but were much in want of refreshments for the +wounded men; our chief resource being <i>tunas</i> or Indian +figs, cherries while in season, and a plant called +<i>quilities</i> by the natives. The situation of the other two +attacks was precisely similar to ours. Every day, when we marched +to the attack, a signal was made from the great temple of +Tlaltelolco, the great division of Mexico nearest Tacuba, on +which the enemy rushed out against us, and were continually +relieved by fresh troops, marching out in succession. Finding +that we gained nothing by these daily attacks, we changed our +plan of operations. On our causeway there was a small open space, +on which stood some buildings for religious worship, where we +formed a lodgment, and established a post, leaving our cavalry +and allies to secure our rear in Tacuba, whence we were supplied +with provisions. Though very badly lodged in this place, as every +shower of rain came in upon us, we maintained this post and +advanced a little towards the city every day, filling up the +trenches which intersected the causeway, and pulling down the +houses on each side, and using their materials to strengthen our +defences. We found it extremely difficult to set the houses on +fire, nor could the flames communicate from house to house, as +all the houses were separated by canals and ditches. During this +operation we were subjected to great danger, as the enemy +destroyed us from their terraces when we endeavoured to swim over +from the causeway to these detached houses.</p> + +<blockquote>[6] Though not mentioned by Diaz, this necessarily +implies that one of the bridges of each causeway must have been +taken possession of by the Spaniards, to allow the brigantines to +get through into those parts of the lake which were intersected +by the causeways.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In this manner we gained some ground every day, which we +secured by parapets and other defences, and preserved during the +night. Every evening at sunset, the company which was first for +duty, was entrusted with the advanced post, to which they sent +forty men; the second company sent an equal number at midnight, +and the relieved guard did not quit their post, but had to remain +sleeping on the ground; the third company did the same the same +two hours before day-break, and the second now lay down to sleep, +so that we now had 120 men on guard. Sometimes our whole +detachment had to remain under arms the whole night, especially +on the following occasion: We learnt from some of our prisoners, +that the Mexicans intended to force our post by a great effort, +which would have frustrated the other two attacks. For this +purpose, all the warriors of nine towns around the lake, +including those of Tacuba, Izcapuzalco, and Tenajocan, were by a +joint attack upon our rear to carry off our baggage and destroy +our bakery in Tacuba, while the Mexicans were to assail us in +front on the causeway. We immediately communicated this +intelligence to our cavalry and allies at headquarters, warning +them to keep on the alert. In pursuance of this plan, we were +attacked both in front and rear for several successive nights, +from midnight to day-break. Sometimes the enemy came on with a +prodigious noise of shouting and military instruments, and at +other times stole upon us in profound silence; but their night +attacks were never made with so much resolution as those during +the day. Yet we were harassed to death with continual watching, +fatigue, and wounds, and constantly exposed to cold winds and +almost incessant rain. Our post was reduced to a mere splash of +mud and water, and our only food was maize and miserable herbs. +When we complained, the only comfort given us by our officers, +was that such is the fortune of war. Yet all our efforts, +fatigues, and privations, were of little avail; as the parapets +we destroyed and the ditches we filled up during the day, were +uniformly replaced next night by the enemy.</p> + +<p>The destruction of the aqueduct of Chapoltepec, from which so +much had been expected, by cutting off the water which supplied +the city of Mexico, was unavailing, neither could we starve them +into a surrender, as they were regularly supplied with every +thing they wanted by means of their canoes from the towns around +the lake. In order to prevent this, two of our brigantines were +ordered to cruize every night on the lake, to intercept these +supplies. This measure answered the purpose in some degree, but +not effectually, as some of the canoes escaped into the city +every night. At this time the Mexicans laid a plan to surprise +our two cruizing brigantines. Having concealed thirty of their +largest piraguas among some tall reeds on the borders of the +lake, they sent several canoes, as if carrying provisions, to +decoy our vessels into the snare, and even fixed a number of +large wooden piles under water at the place to which our vessels +were to be inveigled. On the appearance of the decoy-canoes, our +two vessels made immediately towards them, the canoes rowing away +towards the ambush followed by our brigantines. As soon as they +arrived at the place, the thirty piraguas immediately surrounded +them, and wounded every officer, soldier, and mariner on board, +by their first flight of arrows. Our vessels could not move on +account of the piles, and the enemy continued the assault with +the utmost vigour. One of the captains, named Portilla, was +slain, and Captain Pedro Barba, the commander of our crossbows, +died of his wounds. This ambush completely succeeded, as the two +brigantines fell into the hands of the enemy. They belonged to +the principal division of our flotilla, which was commanded by +Cortes in person, who was much exasperated by the loss; but he +soon repayed the enemy in their own way. He constantly sent out +some vessels every night to scour the lake, and on one occasion +they brought in some prisoners of consequence, from whom he +learnt that the enemy had formed another ambuscade of forty large +piraguas and as many canoes. He now laid a plan to turn their +schemes against themselves; for which purpose he sent six vessels +one night with muffled oars, to conceal themselves in a water-cut +at the edge of the lake, covered with bushes and tall reeds, +about a quarter of a league from the ambushment of the enemy. A +single brigantine was then sent out early in the morning, as if +in search of the canoes which carried provisions to Mexico, and +having the prisoners on board to point out the place where the +enemies fleet lay concealed. The enemy sent as before some loaded +canoes to decoy the brigantine towards the ambush, and our vessel +pursued them until near the place, where it lay-to, as if fearful +to approach. The Mexican fleet now sallied out upon them, and our +brigantine rowed away towards the place where the six others were +concealed, closely followed up by the enemy. When arrived near +enough, the brigantine fired two shots as a signal, on which the +other vessels pushed out against the enemy, running down many of +their vessels, dispersing all the rest, and making a great number +of prisoners. This sickened them at ambushments, and from +henceforwards they did not attempt to cross the lake in their +canoes so openly.</p> + +<p>Our three divisions of the land army continued to pursue their +plan for gradually advancing along the causeways. Always as we +gained ground, we pulled down the houses on each side, filling up +the ditches or canals which intersected the causeways, and +strengthening our posts; in which, and in all the operations of +the war, we were excellently seconded by our brave Tlascalan +allies. On our attack, the Mexicans broke down one of the bridges +in the rear of their own barricades and parapets, leaving one +narrow passage at a place where the water was very deep as a +decoy, and even dug trenches and pitfalls where the water was +more shallow, placing pallisades in the deep water to prevent the +approach of our vessels, and constructing parapets on both sides +of the breach. They had also a number of canoes in readiness to +sally out upon us on a concerted signal. When all these +preparations were in readiness, they made a combined attack upon +us in three several directions. One body advanced towards our +rear from the side of Tacuba, a second directly on our front +along the causeway from the city, and the third by the ruins of +the houses which we had destroyed. We repulsed the enemy on all +sides; and one party of us, having forced them from the works at +the broken bridge, crossed the water up to our necks at the place +they had left open for us, and rashly pushed on to an open place +where there were some large temples and towers. We were here +assailed on all sides by fresh troops from the houses and +terraces, and those whom we pursued faced about and fought us in +front. We now found it necessary to retreat, which we did with +the utmost order till we came to the pass at the broken bridge, +which was occupied by the enemy in canoes; and as the others +pressed upon our rear, we were forced to throw ourselves into the +lake and to get over any way we could. Those who could not swim +got entangled among the concealed ditches and pits in the shallow +water, where the enemy closed in upon us, wounding the whole +party, and even taking five of our soldiers alive. The vessels +which came to our relief were unable to approach, on account of +the pallisades, and they lost two of their soldiers on this +occasion. It was wonderful we were not all destroyed at this +dangerous pass. At one time I was laid hold of by a number of the +enemy; but God gave me strength to disengage my arm, and with the +assistance of my good sword, I extricated myself from their +grasp. Though wounded, I escaped to the dry ground, where I +fainted and remained for some time insensible, owing to my great +exertions and the loss of blood. When the enemy had me in their +clutches, I recommended myself to the aid of God and his blessed +Mother, and they heard my prayer: Glory be to them for all their +mercies! From the time that we had cleared the flanks of our post +by the destruction of the houses, Alvarado had brought a part of +his cavalry thither; and one of them, who had crossed along with +us at the broken bridge, lost both his horse and his own life. +Fortunately all the rest were then with Alvarado in Tacuba; for +if they had been with us they must have all been destroyed from +the tops of the houses and temples, as the action took place +almost within the city of Mexico. The enemy was much elated by +the success of this day, and continued to assail our posts day +and night. Cortes was much displeased at the defeat we had +sustained, which he attributed to our having neglected his +orders; which were always to fill up the cuts in the causeway as +we advanced, by means of timber and rubbish.</p> + +<p>In the space of four days, counting from our late defeat, we +filled up the great aperture at the broken bridge, and +established our advanced post at this place, but lost six of our +soldiers in the course of this operation. The enemy established a +post directly in front of us, which they secured by a ditch and +parapet, so as to protect themselves from our shot. They made a +large fire in front of their post, by which they were concealed +from our view, except when they had occasion to renew the fire, +which was sometimes extinguished by the frequent heavy rains +which prevailed at this season. They kept profound silence on +guard, except when interrupted by loud whistling, which they used +as signals. Every morning we marched against the enemy, with whom +we fought during the whole day, and retreated to our post towards +evening, covered with wounds. Before retreating, we sent back our +allies, whose numbers embarrassed us in the narrow causeway, and +then fell back step by step, flanked by our armed brigantines, +and firing on the enemy as they pressed upon us during the +retreat.</p> + +<p>About this time, the inhabitants of the cities on the lake +grew weary of the long protracted warfare, and sent deputations +to our general, offering to submit themselves to his authority, +and declaring that they had been constrained by the Mexicans to +persist hitherto in their hostilities against us. Cortes received +them very graciously, and assured them of his protection, +providing that they should conduct themselves properly for the +future, and give him their assistance by supplying canoes and +provisions to our army, and in the construction of barracks for +the troops. They readily promised all this, but performed very +badly. Cortes had huts built for his detachment[7]; but the rest +of us remained exposed to the weather, which was exceedingly +severe and distressing, as it rained almost incessantly during +June, July, and August.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] Though not especially mentioned by Diaz, it +appears that Cortes had taken the immediate command of the +detachment of De Oli, at Cojohuacan, which formed the southern +attack.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Our detachment on the causeway of Tacuba continued our +approach towards Mexico, filling up every ditch and canal as we +advanced by means of the materials of the houses which we +destroyed; and we every day gained possession of temples or +houses, which stood apart from each other, and of the bridges by +which they communicated. To avoid jealousy, our three companies +took the duties of working and fighting alternately, our allies +giving most important assistance in pulling down the houses and +filling up the ditches and cross-cuts of the causeway. Every +evening the whole of our men stood to their arms, and we sent off +our allies before us, before retreating to our post for the +night. During all this time, Sandoval, who carried on his +approach from Tepejacac, was obliged to sustain continual attacks +from the enemy; as likewise was Cortes, who now commanded at the +third attack.</p> + +<p>On his side there was an out-post of the Mexicans, at a place +where one of the apertures in the causeway was too deep to be +forded, and which had been strongly fortified by the enemy. He +made a successful attack on this place, where he commanded in +person, although the enemy made a brave resistance both by land +and water; but he was obliged to retire at night without filling +up the ditch, and he lost four Spaniards killed, and had above +thirty wounded, the pass being commanded from the terraces of +several houses in the water, and his brigantines were unable to +get forward to protect his flanks, owing to the piles which the +enemy had fixed under water. Guatimotzin and his Mexicans +defended themselves with amazing bravery and resolution, trusting +to wear us out and destroy us by continual assaults. On the 21st +of June, the anniversary of the day of our first entry into +Mexico, the enemy assailed us at every point of all our three +attacks, both by land and water, in front, flanks, and rear, +about two hours before day. The number fit for duty at our post +on the causeway of Tacuba was 120 men, and all the allies +attached to our detachment, were as usual off the causeway during +the night. It was with the utmost difficulty that we were able to +resist and repulse the enemy, of whom a great number were killed +and wounded, losing two of our own soldiers. The enemy repeated +their assaults on all the posts for two other nights +successively; and on the third morning, just at day-break, they +concentrated their whole force and made a desperate attack on our +post. If our allies had been with us we should have been all +lost. On this occasion our cavalry saved our rear, and our +brigantines did signal service by clearing our flanks. After a +most severe and long doubtful contest, we beat off the enemy and +made four of their chiefs prisoners, eight of our soldiers being +slain in this tough affair. I fear my readers may be tired of +this constant repetition of battles, which my duty of historian +compels me to relate: But if I were to give an account of every +action which took place during the ninety-three days in which we +were engaged in the siege of this great, strong, and populous +city, every day and night of which time brought a perpetual +succession of battles and assaults, my work would be without end, +and would more resemble Amadis de Gaul and other romances of +chivalry than a true history, which it really is.</p> + +<p>Cortes became impatient of delay, and proposed in a council of +war to make a general assault on the city, marching at once by +all the three causeways, and uniting our whole force in the great +square, whence we could command all the streets leading to that +centre of Mexico. Some of the members of the council objected +greatly to this plan, giving the preference to our present system +of advancing gradually, filling up the ditches as we proceeded, +and destroying the houses to make roads and defences of their +materials. They alleged that if we were to succeed in forcing our +way into the great square, we should in our turn be besieged in +the heart of the city, exactly as we had been before our flight +from Mexico, and be involved in much greater difficulties than +now; as the enemy would be enabled to environ us with their whole +force by land and water, and would cut off all possibility of our +retreat, by cutting through the causeways. But Cortes, after +hearing all these well founded reasons, still adhered to his own +plan, and issued orders for the whole army, including the allies, +to attack the city next day, and to use our utmost efforts to get +possession of the great square. On the next morning therefore, +having recommended ourselves to God in the solemn service of the +mass, all our three detachments marched to attack the posts of +the enemy on their several fronts. In our attack commanded by +Alvarado, most of the Spaniards were wounded at the first ditch +and parapet of the enemy; one Spaniard was slain, and above a +thousand of our allies were killed or wounded. In the attack +commanded by Cortes in person, he carried every thing before him +at first, and having driven the enemy from a post where the water +was very deep and the causeway very narrow, he imprudently pushed +on after the enemy followed by the Indian allies. The enemy +induced him by frequent halts and feigned resistance to continue +the pursuit, having even narrowed the causeway on purpose, and +Cortes negligently omitted to fill up the deep ditch which he had +passed. When the enemy perceived that our general had fallen into +the snare which they had laid for him, they attacked him with +fresh troops in front, while numerous canoes filled with warriors +issued out at an appointed signal and assailed him both on the +flanks and rear, his brigantines being unable to approach for his +defence by the pallisades under water. Retreat became now +indispensably necessary, which was at first conducted with +perfect regularity; but when they came to the narrow part of the +causeway, which was all covered with mud and water, the retreat +changed to an absolute flight, our people flying from the enemy +with their utmost speed, without even attempting to defend +themselves. Cortes used every effort to rally his men, but all in +vain, and was wounded in the leg at the narrow pass by some of +the enemy from the canoes. At this pass, six of our horses were +killed, and seventy-two Spaniards were carried off alive. At this +moment six Mexican chiefs seized Cortes, but by the will of God, +Christoval de Olea, that valiant soldier, and another brave man +named Lerma flew to the rescue of our general. De Olea killed +four of the chiefs with his own hand, and gallantly lost his life +in defence of Cortes, while Lerma narrowly escaped. Other brave +soldiers arrived at this moment to his aid, among whom was +Quinones the captain of his guards. By these men he was lifted +out of the water and hurried off from among a crowd of the enemy. +At this critical moment, Guzman his majordomo, brought up a horse +on which our wounded general was mounted. The enemy followed up +their success with increasing ardour, Cortes and the shattered +remains of his troops, retreating to their quarters with the +utmost difficulty, pursued to the last by the Mexicans.</p> + +<p>After our first attack, in which we defeated the enemy and +drove them from their post, we were met by fresh bodies of the +enemy, marching in great parade, bearing rich plumes of feathers +and ornamented standards. On coming near, they threw down before +us five bleeding heads, saying these were the heads of Cortes and +his officers, and that we should soon meet the same fate. They +then marched up, and fought us hand to hand with the utmost +valour, insomuch that we were at length compelled to retreat. As +usual, we gave orders to our allies to clear the way, by +retreating before us; but the sight of the bloody heads had done +this effectually, and not a man of them remained on the causeway +to impede our flight. Our cavalry made several charges this day, +but our great safety depended upon two guns which raked the whole +causeway, and were admirably managed by Pedro Morena, an +excellent officer, whose services this day were singularly +useful, as the whole causeway was crowded by the enemy. Before we +arrived at our quarters, and while pursued by the enemy, we heard +the shrill timbals and mournful sound of the great drum from the +summit of the temple of the god of war. The priests were then +sacrificing the hearts of ten of our companions to their accursed +idols, and the sound of their dismal drum, which might be heard +at almost three leagues off, might be imagined to be the music of +the infernal deities. Soon after this, the horn of Guatimotzin +was heard, giving notice to the Mexican officers either to make +prisoners of their enemies, or to die in the attempt. It is +utterly impossible to describe the fury with which they assailed +us on hearing this dreadful signal, though the remembrance is +still as lively as if now passing before me: I can only say, that +it was the good pleasure of God that we got back in safety to our +post; praised be his mercy now and for ever. Amen! We were +ignorant of the fate of our other detachments. Sandoval was more +than half a league from us, and Cortes still farther. The +melancholy sight of the heads of our countrymen, and the loss of +one of our brigantines in which three of our soldiers were slain, +filled us with melancholy, and we almost thought that we had +reached the last hour of our lives. Our captured vessel was +afterwards recovered by Captain Xaramillo. In the action of this +day, Captain Caravajal, a most gallant officer, had the honour of +being the first who broke through the enemies pallisades with his +vessel: He now lives in La Puebla, and has been ever since +entirely deaf, having lost his hearing this day by excessive +exertion.</p> + +<p>Most of the soldiers in the detachment of Cortes were wounded, +a good many slain, and a great number taken prisoners, so that on +his arrival in his quarters, where he was immediately attacked, +his men were little able to defend themselves. To add to their +distress, the enemy threw into their post four bleeding heads, +saying they were those of Alvarado, Sandoval, and two other +officers, in order to impress the soldiers of Cortes with the +belief that the two other detachments had been as roughly handled +as their own. On beholding this horrid spectacle, Cortes was +severely agitated, and his heart sunk within him; yet he kept up +appearances, encouraging his men to stand to their arms and +defend their post against the enemy. He now sent Tapia with three +others on horseback to our quarters, to ascertain our situation. +They were attacked on their way by several bodies of the enemy, +who had been sent out by Guatimotzin to obstruct our +communications; but they forced their way through, and found us +engaged with the Mexicans.</p> + +<p>On his side, Sandoval went on victoriously till the defeat of +Cortes, when the enemy sent a powerful reinforcement against him, +by whom he was very vigorously assailed; and in the first assault +they killed two of his men and wounded all the rest, Sandoval +himself receiving three wounds, one of which was on the head. As +they had done at the other posts, they threw down six bleeding +heads, pretending they were the heads of Cortes and his principal +officers, and threatening Sandoval and his men with a similar +fate. Sandoval was not to be intimidated, and encouraged his men +to behave themselves bravely; yet, seeing no chance of ultimate +success, he brought his people back to their quarters, many of +them being wounded, but having only two slain. After this, though +severely wounded himself, he left the command of his quarters +with Captain Luis Marin, and set out on horseback to have an +interview with Cortes. Like Tapia, he was frequently attacked by +the enemy on the road, yet made his way to Cortes, whom he +addressed with condolence and astonishment, asking the occasion +of his severe misfortune. Cortes laid the blame on Alderate, for +neglecting to fill up the bad pass where the enemy threw his men +into confusion; but the treasurer denied the charge, saying that +Cortes had not given any such orders, but hurried on his men +after the feigned retreat of the enemy. In fact Cortes was much +blamed for his rashness, and for not sending the allies soon +enough out of his way. About this time, Cortes was agreeably +surprised by the arrival of two of his brigantines, which he had +given over for lost. Cortes requested Sandoval to visit our +quarters at Tacuba, being unable to go there himself, as he was +apprehensive the brunt of the attack might now fall upon our +post. Sandoval arrived about the hour of vespers, when he found +us occupied in repelling the enemy, some of them having attacked +us by the causeway, and others from the ruined houses. I and +several other soldiers were at this time up to our middles in the +water, engaging the enemy in defence of a brigantine which had +run aground, and of which the enemy were endeavouring to gain +possession. Just as Sandoval arrived, we got her afloat by a +great exertion, after the enemy had slain two of her crew and +badly wounded all the rest. The enemy continued their attack with +the utmost violence, and Sandoval received a blow on the face +with a stone. He called out to us to retreat; and as we did not +fall back as fast as he wished, he repeated his orders, asking us +if we wished to have all the cavalry destroyed. We then retreated +to our post, and though the two guns under Moreno frequently +swept the causeway, the execution they made did not prevent the +enemy from pursuing us to our works.</p> + +<p>We remained for some time at our quarters comparatively at +rest, recounting the events which had occurred at our post, and +listening to a relation of what had taken place at the two +others. On a sudden, we were struck by the horrifying sound of +the great drum, accompanied by the timbals, horns, and trumpets +of the temple of the god of war: And, shocking to tell! we could +distinctly see our unfortunate companions who had been made +prisoners, driven by blows to the summit of the diabolical +temple. On their arrival at the platform, we could see the +miserable victims decorated for sacrifice, with plumes of +feathers on their heads, and fans in their hands, when they were +forced to dance to the infernal music before the accursed idols. +After this, we saw them stretched on their backs on the stone of +sacrifice, where their hearts were cut out alive, and presented +yet palpitating to the damnable gods of the enemy, and their +bodies drawn by the feet down the steps. "O merciful GOD of +Heaven," said we among ourselves, "suffer not that we too may be +sacrificed by these wretches!" My readers may conceive how +poignant were our reflexions at this horrible scene, more +especially as we were utterly unable to afford the smallest aid +to our poor friends, whom we saw thus butchered before our eyes. +At this moment the enemy assailed our post in great force; but we +maintained it with determined resolution, and drove them back +with much loss. During this assault, they reviled us, saying that +their gods had promised to deliver the whole of us into their +hands, and they threw over some of the mangled remains of the +horrible repast they had made on our countrymen, sending round +other portions among the neighbouring towns, as a bloody memorial +of their victory over us. Sandoval and Tapia, on their return to +Cortes, reported the valiant manner in which we defended our +post; and Sandoval mentioned me in particular with approbation, +saying many handsome things of me, which it would be improper for +me to repeat, though the facts were perfectly well known to all +the army.</p> + +<p>Our new allies on the lake had suffered considerably from the +resentment of the enemy, who had taken from them above half their +canoes: Yet some continued firm in their alliance with us, out of +hatred to the Mexicans; and others satisfied themselves with +looking on, without attempting to molest us. In consequence of +our recent losses, having lost near eighty men, killed and +prisoners, and seven horses, and almost all the rest of us being +wounded, Cortes issued orders to cease from our attacks for four +days. But the enemy continued their attacks daily, and even +gained ground, making new ramparts and ditches. We had a deep +ditch and very defensible ramparts in front of our post; and +during this cessation from offensive operations, the whole of our +infantry kept guard on the causeway every night, flanked by our +brigantines, one half of our cavalry patroling in Tacuba, and the +other half on the causeway to protect our rear. Every morning we +prepared ourselves to resist the attacks of the enemy, who +continued every day to sacrifice some of our miserable +companions. During their daily and incessant attacks, they +reviled us, saying, that their gods had promised to permit them +to destroy us all within eight days; yet that our flesh was too +bitter to be eaten: And truly I believe that this was +miraculously the case. The threats of the Mexicans, and their +declaration that their gods had promised to deliver us into their +hands in eight days, had such an effect upon our allies, combined +with the bad appearance of our affairs, that they almost entirely +deserted from us about this time. The only one who remained with +Cortes, was Suchel, otherwise called Don Carlos, brother to our +ally the prince of Tezcuco, with about forty followers. The chief +of Huexotzinco remained in the camp of Sandoval with about fifty +of his warriors; and the brave Chichimecatl, with the two sons of +Don Lorenzo de Vargas of Tlascala, and about eighty Tlascalans, +continued with us in the quarters of Alvarado. When they were +asked the reason of the desertion of their countrymen, they said, +that the Mexican gods had predicted our destruction, and the +younger Xicotencatl had foretold from the first we should all be +put to death; they saw that many of us were killed and all +wounded, and they had already had above twelve hundred of their +own number slain; And, considering us all devoted to inevitable +ruin, they had fled to avoid sharing our fate. Though Cortes +secretly thought there was too much reason in what they alleged, +he yet assumed a cheerful appearance of perfect security as to +the ultimate result of the enterprize, and used his utmost +endeavours to reassure our remaining friends, turning the hopes +and predictions of the Mexicans and the promises of their false +gods into ridicule, and had the good fortune to persuade our few +remaining friends to abide with us. The Indian Don Carlos, or +Suchel of Tezcuco, who was a brave warrior and a wise man, +strongly represented to our general that he had hitherto acted on +a most erroneous plan, especially considering the relative +situations of us and the enemy. "If you cut off their means of +procuring water and provisions," he observed, "how is it possible +that the many <i>xiquipils</i>[8] of warriors can subsist? Their +provisions must be at last expended: The water of their wells is +salt and unwholesome, and their only resource is from the present +rainy season. Combat them, therefore, by means of hunger and +thirst, and do not throw away your own force by unnecessary +violence." Cortes embraced Suchel, thanking him for his salutary +advice; which indeed had already more than once occurred to +ourselves, but we were too impatient to act with so much +prudence. Our general began therefore to act upon this new +system, so judiciously recommended by our friend of Tezcuco, and +sent orders to all the detachments to confine themselves entirely +to the defensive for the next three days. As the canoes of the +enemy were numerous, our brigantines never ventured singly on the +lake; and as they had now found out the way to break through the +pallisades of the enemy, by using both sails and oars when +favoured by the wind, we became absolute masters of the lake, and +were able to command all the insulated houses at any distance +from the city; and as the brigantines could now break through the +pallisades of the enemy, they could always secure our flanks, +while we were engaged in filling up the ditches in our front, +which we did effectually in a very few days, Cortes even +assisting in person to carry beams and earth for that +purpose.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] On some former occasions the xiquipil has been +already explained as denoting eight thousand +men.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Every night of this period during which we remained on the +defensive, the enemy continued their infernal ceremonies, +sacrificing some of our unfortunate companions, which we could +distinctly see as their temple was brightly illuminated; the +accursed drum continually stunned our ears, and the shrieks and +yells of the multitudes who surrounded the temple were at times +perfectly diabolical. Christoval de Guzman was the last executed, +who remained eighteen days in their hands. We learned every +minute circumstance respecting these horrible sacrifices from our +prisoners, who told us, that after each successive sacrifice, +their war god renewed his promise of delivering us all into their +power. Sometimes, even during this period, the enemy employed +some of our own crossbows against us, obliging our unfortunate +companions who were in their custody to shoot them off; but our +post was protected by the excellent management of the two guns by +Morena, and we every day advanced, gaining possession of a bridge +or a parapet. Our brigantines also were of infinite service, as +they were continually intercepting the canoes which carried water +and provisions to the enemy, and those which were employed in +procuring a certain nutritive substance from the bottom of the +lake, which, when dry, resembles cheese. Twelve or thirteen days +had now elapsed after the time when the Mexican priest had +predicted we had only eight days to live. Our allies, therefore, +recovered their courage when they saw the fallacy of the +prediction, and at the requisition of our steady friend Suchel, +two thousand warriors of Tezcuco returned to our quarters, with +whom came Pedro Farfan and Antonio Villareal, who had been left +by Cortes at that city. About the same time, many bodies of +warriors returned to us from Tlascala and other places in our +alliance. After their return, Cortes called the chiefs together, +to whom he made a speech; partly reprimanding them for having +abandoned us, and partly encouraging their future fidelity by +confident hopes of victory, and promises of reward, and concluded +by earnestly admonishing them not to put any of their Mexican +prisoners to death, as he wished to negociate peace with +Guatimotzin.</p> + +<p>Though the heavy rains which fell at this season were both +incommodious and distressing to us, they operated in our favour, +as the enemy always relaxed their efforts against us during their +continuance. By slow but steady perseverance, we had now +considerably advanced into the city at all the three attacks, and +had even reached the wells of brackish water which the enemy had +dug, and which we now destroyed. Our cavalry could now act freely +through the whole space which we had gained, as we had carefully +levelled the causeway behind us, destroying all the houses on +each side from which we could be annoyed, and carefully fortified +our several fronts. Cortes deemed the present conjuncture +favourable for offering peace to the Mexicans, and proposed to +three of our principal prisoners to carry a message to +Guatimotzin to that effect; but they declined the commission, +alleging that he would put them to death. They were at length +prevailed upon to comply, and were instructed to represent to +Guatimotzin in the name of Cortes: "That from respect to the +family of the great Montezuma, and that he might prevent the +destruction of the capital and the loss of so many lives, he was +willing to enter into a treaty of peace and amity; desiring +Guatimotzin to reflect that he and his people were now cut off +from all supplies of water and provisions; and that all the +nations who had formerly been the vassals of Mexico, were now in +alliance with the Spaniards." A great deal more was added, to the +same effect, all of which was perfectly understood by the +messengers. Before they went into the city, they required a +letter from Cortes, to serve them as a token of credence; with +which they waited on their sovereign, weeping and lamenting +themselves bitterly, as they knew the danger to which they were +exposed. At first, Guatimotzin and his principal chiefs were +filled with rage and indignation at the proposal; but he at last +consented to call a council of all the princes, chiefs, and +principal priests of the city, before whom he laid the message of +Cortes, and even expressed his own inclination to come into terms +of peace, considering the inefficacy of their resistance, the +desertion of their allies, and the miseries to which the people +were reduced. The priests obstinately opposed every idea of +peace. They represented the hostile conduct of the Spaniards to +their nation ever since they first came into the country; their +profanation of the temples and idols of their gods; their +injurious treatment of the great Montezuma, and of all the other +princes who had fallen under their power; the death of the two +sons of Montezuma, the seizure of the royal treasures, and the +destruction of the city. They reminded Guatimotzin of his own +martial fame, which would be sullied and disgraced by submission; +insisting, that all the offers of Cortes were only insidiously +meant to enslave and circumvent; and concluded by repeating the +assurances of victory which they had received from their gods. +Guatimotzin yielded to these arguments, and declared his +resolution to fight to the last: He gave orders, therefore, to +husband their provisions with the utmost frugality, to use their +utmost endeavours to procure supplies under night, and to sink +new wells in various parts of the city. Our army had remained two +days quietly in their posts, waiting an answer to our pacific +message. On the third, we were furiously assailed on all points +by large bodies of the enemy, who rushed upon us like lions, +closing up as if utterly regardless of their lives, and using +their utmost efforts to make us prisoners; all the while, the +horn of Guatimotzin being continually sounded, to inspire them +with fury. For seven days we were thus continually assailed: +After watching all night, we had to go into action every morning +at day-break; and having fought the whole day, we retired in the +evening to a miserable regale of maize calces, with <i>tunas</i> +or Indian figs, herbs, and <i>agi</i> or pepper. Our recent +pacific offer was employed as a subject of contempt, for which +they reproached us as cowards; saying that peace belonged only to +women, arms and war to brave men.</p> + +<p>It has been already mentioned, that the horrible fragments of +our wretched companions had been sent round the provinces of the +Mexican empire, to encourage them to rise in support of the +sovereign and his capital. In consequence of this, a great force +assembled from Matlatzinco, Malinalco, and other places about +eight leagues from Mexico, which was intended for an attack on +our rear, while the Mexicans should attack us in front. On the +assemblage of this force, they committed horrible ravages on the +country in our rear, seizing numbers of children in order to +sacrifice them to their idols. To disperse this hostile +assemblage, Andres de Tapia was detached with twenty cavalry and +an hundred infantry, and effectually executed his commission, +driving the enemy back to their own country with great loss. Soon +after his return, Cortes sent Sandoval with a detachment to the +assistance of the country around Quauhnahuac, or Cuernabaca. Much +might be said of this expedition, were I to enter into a detail: +but it may suffice, that it was more like a peaceable triumph +than a warlike expedition, yet proved of most excellent service +to us, as Sandoval returned accompanied by two chiefs of the +nation against which he was sent[9]. Cortes, after these +successes, sent a second message to Guatimotzin, reminding him of +the distresses to which his people were reduced, and expressing +great anxiety to save the city of Mexico from destruction, which +could only be done by immediate submission; and to convince him +that all hopes of assistance from his former allies were now at +an end, he sent this message by the two chiefs who had +accompanied Sandoval. Guatimotzin refused any answer, but sent +back the chiefs unhurt. The enemy continued their daily assaults +upon the advanced works of our several attacks, increasing even +in their fury if possible, and exultingly exclaiming, <i>Tenitotz +re de Castila? Tenitotz axa a!</i> "What says the king of +Castile? What does he now?"</p> + +<blockquote>[9] Clavigero, II. 180, supplies the brevity used by +Diaz on this occasion. He says that the chiefs of the districts +of Matlatzinco, Malinalco, and Cohuixco came to Cortes and +entered into a confederacy with him against Mexico; by which +means, added to his former alliances, he was now able to have +employed "more warriors against Mexico than Xerxes did against +Greece." Clavigero everywhere deals in monstrous exaggeration, +while Diaz is uniformly modest, and within due bounds of +credibility. Even in the few <i>miracles</i> of which Diaz makes +mention, his credulity is modestly guarded by devout fear of the +holy office.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>We still continued to advance towards the centre of Mexico, +regularly destroying the houses on both sides of us, and +carefully fortifying our advanced post; and we now perceived a +considerable relaxation in the efforts of the enemy, who were not +so eager as formerly to open up the ditches; yet they continued +to attack us with the utmost fury, as if courting death. But we +too had now serious cause of alarm, as our gunpowder was almost +entirely expended. At this critical moment, and most fortunately +for us, a vessel arrived at Villa Rica with soldiers and ordnance +stores, all of which, together with the men, were immediately +sent to Cortes by Rangel, who commanded at Villa Rica. This +vessel belonged to an armament which had been fitted out by Lucas +Vasquez de Aillon, and which had been destroyed or dispersed near +Florida. On the arrival of this reinforcement, Cortes and all the +army determined to make a grand push for the great square in that +part of the city called Tlaltelolco, as it would become an +excellent place of arms, on account of some principal temples and +other strong buildings which were there situated. For this +purpose, each of our divisions continued their daily efforts to +advance in our usual cautious manner. Cortes got possession of a +small square in which were some temples, on the beams of which +many of the heads of our sacrificed companions were placed, their +hair and beards being much grown. I could not have believed this, +if I had not myself seen them three days afterwards, when our +party had worked their way to the same place, after having filled +up three canals. In twelve days afterwards, they were all +reverently buried by us in that place where the Church of the +Martyrs is now built.</p> + +<p>Our detachment under Alvarado continued to advance, and at +last forced the enemy from the barricades they had thrown up to +defend the great square, which cost us two hours hard fighting. +Our cavalry was now of most essential service in the large space +which was now laid open, and drove the enemy before them into the +temple of the god of war, which stood in the middle of the great +square. Alvarado determined to gain possession of the temple; for +which purpose he divided his forces into three bodies, one of +which, commanded by Guttierrez de Badajoz, he ordered to gain +possession of the temple, while with the other two he occupied +the attention of the enemy below. A large force of the enemy, +headed by the priests, occupied the platform of the temple, with +all its idol sanctuaries and galleries, and repulsed the troops +of Guttierrez, driving them down the steps. The body to which I +belonged was now ordered by Alvarado to their support. We +advanced boldly to the assault, and having ascended to the +platform, we drove the enemy from the post, of which we took +possession, setting fire to their abominable idols, and planting +our standard in triumph on the summit of the temple. The view of +this signal of victory greatly rejoiced Cortes, who would fain +have joined us; but he was still a quarter of a league from the +place, and had many ditches to fill as he advanced. In four days +more, both he and Sandoval had worked their way up to the great +square of Tlaltelolco, where they joined us, and thus +communications from all our three attacks were opened up to the +centre of Mexico.</p> + +<p>Our attack on the temple was truly perilous, considering the +number of the enemy, the height and difficulty of the ascent, and +the fury with which they continued to fight against us, even +after we had attained the platform and set their idols on fire, +and it was night before we could compel them to abandon the +summit. The royal palaces were now levelled with the ground, and +Guatimotzin had retired with his troops to a more distant quarter +of the city towards the lake[10]. Still, however, the enemy +attacked us every day, and at night pursued us into our quarters; +and though apparently reduced to the last extremity, they made no +offer towards peace. Cortes now laid a plan for drawing the enemy +into an ambush: For this purpose, he one night placed 30 of our +cavalry, with 100 of our best foot soldiers, and 1000 Tlascalans, +in some large houses which had belonged to a principal nobleman +of Mexico. Next morning he went in person with the rest of our +army to attack a post at a bridge, which was defended by a large +force of the Mexicans. After continuing the assault for some +time, Cortes slowly retreated with his men, drawing the enemy +after him by the buildings in which the ambush lay concealed. +When he had led them to a sufficient distance, he gave the +concerted signal, by firing two guns in quick succession. We +immediately sallied out, and having thus enclosed the enemy +between us, we made a terrible havoc among them, and from that +time they never ventured to annoy us on our nightly retreat. +Another trap was laid for the enemy by Alvarado, which had not +the same success; but as I was now doing duty with the division +which Cortes commanded in person, I was not present, and cannot, +therefore recount the particulars. Hitherto we had continued to +retreat every night to the posts we had established on the +causeways, which were at least half a league from the great +temple; but we now quitted these posts, and formed a lodgment for +the whole army in the great square of Tlaltelolco, where we +remained for three days without doing any thing worth notice, as +Cortes wished to abstain from destroying any more of the city, in +hopes of prevailing on Guatimotzin to accept of peace. He sent, +therefore, a message, requesting him to surrender, giving him the +strongest assurances that he should continue to enjoy the +sovereignty, and should be treated with every honourable +distinction; and he accompanied this message with a considerable +present of provisions, such as fowls, game, bread, and fruit. +Guatimotzin pretended to be inclined towards a pacification, and +even sent four of his principal nobles to propose an interview +between him and our general. But this, was a mere stratagem to +gain time for strengthening his fortifications, and making +preparations to attack us; as from the example of what had +befallen his uncle Montezuma, and the suggestions of his +advisers, he was afraid to trust himself in our hands. The mask +was soon thrown off, and the enemy attacked us with such extreme +violence, and having taken us in some measure by surprise, that +they had some success at first, killing one of our soldiers and +two horses; but in the end we drove them back with considerable +loss.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] The whole western division of Mexico called +Tlaltelolco was now in possession of the Spaniards, and probably +destroyed by them to secure their communications; and the +miserable remnant of the brave Mexicans had retired into the +eastern division, named Tenochtitlan.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Cortes now ordered us to proceed on our former system, of +advancing daily against that part of the city which was occupied +by Guatimotzin, filling up the ditches and destroying the houses +as we proceeded; and we accordingly gained ground as formerly. +Guatimotzin, on seeing this, made another offer of an interview +with our general, proposing the conference might take place +across a large canal. To this Cortes readily assented, and went +accordingly to the appointed place, but Guatimotzin never +appeared; instead of which he sent some of his principal nobles, +who said the king was apprehensive of being shot during the +conference. Cortes engaged by the most solemn oaths that no +injury should be offered, but all to no purpose. At this time two +of these nobles played a most ridiculous farce: They took out +from a sack a fowl, some bread, and a quantity of cherries, which +they began to eat deliberately, as if to impress us with the +belief that they had abundance of provisions. When Cortes found +that the proposed conference was only a pretext to gain time, he +sent a message of defiance to Guatimotzin and retired. For four +days after this, we were not attacked by the enemy; but numbers +of famished Mexicans used to surround our quarters every night. +Cortes pitied their wretched situation, and ordered us to refrain +from hostilities, always hoping that the enemy would offer terms +of accommodation. One of our soldiers, named Sotela, who had +served in Italy, was always boasting of the great battles he had +seen, and of the wonderful military engines which he was able to +construct, and particularly that he could make a machine for +throwing stones, by which he would destroy the whole of that part +of the city which Guatimotzin occupied, in a very few days. +Cortes was at last induced to listen to him, and all kinds of +materials were brought for him to construct his engine. Stone and +lime was procured; the carpenters were set to work to prepare +timber; two strong cables were made; and a number of large stones +were brought, which the machine was to project. When all was +ready, a stone was placed in the engine, and it was played off +against the quarters of Guatimotzin. But instead of taking that +direction, the stone flew up vertically into the air, and +returned exactly to the place whence it was launched. Cortes was +angry and ashamed at the result, and ordered the machine to be +destroyed, reproaching the soldier for his ignorant +presumption.</p> + +<p>Sandoval was now sent with the command of the flotilla, to act +against that division of the city in which Guatimotzin still held +out. He was ordered to spare the Mexicans as much as possible, +but to destroy all the houses and advanced works which the enemy +possessed in the lake. On this occasion, Cortes ascended to the +high platform of the great temple, attended by many of his +officers and soldiers, to observe the movements of the fleet. +Guatimotzin, on observing the approach of Sandoval, became very +apprehensive of being made prisoner, and determined to attempt +making his escape. For this purpose he had already fifty large +piraguas in readiness, on board of which he embarked with his +family, principal officers and courtiers, and all their most +valuable effects, and endeavoured to escape by the lake to the +main land; all the piraguas taking different directions, in order +to distract the pursuit of the brigantines. At this time Sandoval +was occupied in tearing down some houses, that he might clear his +way towards the quarters of Guatimotzin, of whose flight he got +immediate notice. He set out therefore immediately in pursuit, +giving strict orders to all the captains of his brigantines to +offer no injury or insult to the royal fugitive; but to keep a +watchful eye on that vessel in which Guatimotzin was supposed to +have embarked, using every effort to take it, and paying no +attention to the rest. In particular, he directed Garcia Holguin, +who commanded the swiftest sailing vessel of the fleet, to make +for that part of the shore to which it was supposed Guatimotzin +was most likely to go. Holguin accordingly fell in with several +piraguas, one of which, from the superior appearance of its +structure and awning, he supposed to be that which carried the +king. He called out to the people on board to bring to, but +without effect, and then ordered his musketeers and cross-bows to +present. On seeing this, Guatimotzin called out to them not to +shoot, acknowledging who he was, and declared his readiness to +submit, requesting to be taken immediately to the general, and +entreating that his queen, children, and attendants might not be +ill treated. Holguin received him and his queen with the utmost +respect, placing them and twenty of the nobles who attended them +on the poop of his vessel, setting such refreshments before them +as he had in his power, and ordered the piraguas which carried +the royal effects to follow untouched. At this time, perceiving +that Holguin had made Guatimotzin prisoner, and was carrying him +to Cortes, Sandoval made a signal for all the brigantines to +close up with him, and ordered his rowers to exert every effort +to bring him up with Holguin. On getting alongside, Sandoval +demanded Guatimotzin to be delivered up to him, as commander of +the naval force, but Holguin refused, and many high words passed +between them. One of the vessels was sent to inform Cortes of the +great event which had taken place, and by the same means he +learnt the dispute which had occurred between Sandoval and +Holguin. He immediately sent the Captains Marin and De Lugo with +orders to bring the whole party to his quarters on the summit of +the great temple, ordering them to treat Guatimotzin and his +queen with the highest respect. In the meantime, he ordered a +state canopy to be arranged as well as he could, with cloths and +mantles, to receive his prisoners, and a table to be spread with +such refreshments as could be procured.</p> + +<p>On the approach of the prisoners, Cortes went forward to meet +the king, whom he embraced with much respect, and shewed all +possible attention to his followers. The unfortunate monarch +sinking under his affliction, addressed Cortes as follows, with +his eyes full of tears: "<i>Malinatzin!</i> I have done every +thing in my power to defend my kingdom and people, but all my +efforts have been in vain, and I am now your prisoner; I request +of you, therefore, to draw your dagger and stab me to the heart." +Cortes used his best endeavours to console him, assuring him of +his high esteem for the valour and firmness he had exerted, that +he should continue to reign as formerly, and that he had only +required his submission when all reasonable hope of defence was +gone, in order to avoid the utter destruction of his capital and +people. Cortes then inquired after the queen, and was told that +she and her female attendants remained in the piragua till their +fate was decided. He then ordered them to be sent for, and +treated them with all respect. As the evening drew on, and it +threatened to rain, the whole royal family was sent to +Cojohuacan, under the care of Sandoval, and a sufficient escort. +Guatimotzin was about twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, +of a noble appearance, both in person and countenance, having +large and cheerful features, with lively eyes, and his complexion +was very fair for an Indian. His queen, who was the niece[11] of +Montezuma, was young and very handsome.</p> + +<blockquote>[11] According to the genealogy of the Mexican kings +in Clavigero, I. 240, this princess, whose name was +Tecuichpotzin, was queen successively to her uncle Cuitlahuatzin, +and her cousin Guatimotzin. After the conquest, she became a +Christian, by the name of Donna Elizabeta Montezuma, marrying +three noble Spaniards in succession; and from her descended the +two noble families of Cano Montezuma, and Andrea Montezuma. +Montezuma left likewise a son, Don Pedro Johualicahuatxin +Montezuma, whose male descendants failed in a great-grandson; but +there are several noble families both in Spain and Mexico +descended from that sovereign of Mexico in the female +line.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The whole army was now ordered to withdraw from the great +temple of Tlaltelolco, and to return to their original +head-quarters. Cortes proceeded to Cojohuacan, where he took the +command in person, sending Sandoval to resume his station at +Tepejacac, and our division, under Alvarado, retired to Tacuba. +Thus was the important seige of Mexico brought to a successful +conclusion, by the capture of Guatimotzin and his family at the +hour of vespers, on the day of St Hypolitus, 13th of August 1521. +Glorified be our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Holy Virgin Mother, +Amen!</p> + +<p>In the night after the capture of Guatimotzin, about midnight, +there was the greatest tempest of thunder, lightning, and rain I +ever witnessed. But all the soldiers were as deaf as if they had +been an hour in a belfrey, and all the bells ringing about their +ears. This proceeded from the continual noise they had been +accustomed to from the enemy during the <i>ninety-three +days</i>[12] of this memorable siege: Some bringing on their +troops to attack us on the causeways, with loud shouts, and +shrill whistling; others in canoes assailing our flanks; some at +work on the pallisades, water courses, and stone parapets, or +preparing their magazines of arms, and the shrieks and yells of +the women, who supplied the warriors with stones, darts, and +arrows; the infernal noise of their timbals, horns, and trumpets, +and the dismal drum, and other shocking noises, perpetually +sounding in our ears: All of which immediately ceased on the +capture of Guatimotzin. In consequence of the dispute between +Sandoval and Holguin threatening unpleasant consequences, Cortes +related to them from the Roman history the dispute between Marius +and Sylla, about the capture of Iugurtha, which was ultimately +productive of very fatal civil wars. He assured them that the +whole affair should be represented to the emperor Don Carlos, by +whose arbitration it should be decided. But in two years after, +the emperor authorised Cortes to bear in his arms the seven kings +whom he had subdued, Montezuma, Guatimotzin, and the princes of +Tezcuco, Cojohuacan, Iztapalapa, Tacuba, and Matlatzinco.</p> + +<blockquote>[12] We have formerly said, on the authority of +Clavigero, that the siege of Mexico commenced on the 30th of May, +and as it ended on the 13th of August, the siege, by this mode of +reckoning, could only have lasted 76 days. It is highly probable, +therefore, that the commencement of the siege must have been on +the 13th of May, and the 30th of Clavigero may only be an error +of the press.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>It is absolutely truth, to which I swear <i>amen</i>! that all +the lake, the houses, and the courts were filled with dead +bodies, so that I know not how to describe the miserable +spectacle. All the streets, squares, courts, and houses of +Tlaltelolco, were so covered by them, that we could not take a +single step without treading on or between the bodies of dead +Indians. The lake and the canals were full of them, and the +stench was intolerable. It was for this reason that our troops +retired from the city immediately after the capture of +Guatimotzin: Cortes was himself ill for some time, owing to the +dreadful effluvia arising from the putrifying bodies. I have read +the history of the destruction of Jerusalem, but I cannot +conceive that the mortality even there exceeded what I was +witness to in Mexico; as all the warriors from the most distant +provinces of that populous empire were concentrated there, and +almost the whole garrison was cut off in their almost perpetual +encounters with us, or perished of famine.</p> + +<p>Our vessels were now in the best situation for service; as +those on board had ready access to the houses in the water, which +were beyond our reach, whence they carried away all the best of +the plunder. Their crews also discovered a great many valuable +articles which the Mexicans had concealed among the tall reeds on +the borders of the lake, and they intercepted a great deal that +the inhabitants of the city endeavoured to carry away in their +canoes; all of which was beyond our reach: Indeed the wealth +which our mariners procured at this time was quite incalculable, +as Guatimotzin and all his chiefs declared that far the greater +part of the public treasure fell into their hands.</p> + +<p>Soon after the capture of Guatimotzin, it was ordered on his +suggestion, that all the remaining inhabitants of Mexico should +remove to the neighbouring towns, in order to have the the city +cleared of the dead bodies, to restore its salubrity. In +consequence of this order, all the causeways were full for three +days and nights, of weak, sickly, and squalid wretches, men, +women, and children, covered with filth, worn out by famine and +disease, so that the sight was shocking in the extreme. When all +were gone who had been able to get away, we went to examine the +situation of the city, which was as I have already described, in +a most miserable state. All the streets, courts, and houses were +covered with dead bodies, among whom some miserable wretches were +crawling about in the different stages of the most offensive +diseases, occasioned by famine, the most unnatural food, and the +pestilential smell of the corrupting carcases. Even the trees +were stripped of their bark, and the ground had been everywhere +dug up in search of any kind of roots it might be able to afford. +Not a drop of water could be any where procured; and though it +was the constant practice of all these nations to feast on the +prisoners they took in war, not one instance occurred, in the +midst of their extreme distress, of their having preyed on each +other: and certainly there never existed in the history of this +world any instance of a people who suffered so severely from +hunger, thirst, and warfare. I must here observe, that in all our +combats, the Mexicans seemed much more anxious to carry our +soldiers away alive, that they might be sacrificed to their gods, +than to kill them.</p> + +<p>After a solemn service of thanks to God for our victory, +Cortes determined upon giving a feast in Cojohuacan to celebrate +our triumph, as a vessel had arrived at Villa Rica with abundance +of hogs, and a cargo of wine. He invited all his officers, and +all the soldiers of particular estimation to this entertainment, +and we all accordingly waited upon him at the time appointed. +When we came to sit down to dinner, there were not tables and +covers prepared for more than half of us, so that the company +fell into sad confusion. The wine occasioned many to commit +follies and other worse things. Some leapt over the tables, who +were afterwards unable to get out at the doors, and many rolled +down the steps, who could not walk home to their quarters. The +private soldiers, in high expectations of immense plunder, +declared they would buy horses with gold trappings, and the +crossbow-men swore they would henceforth use only golden arrows. +When the tables were removed, the soldiers danced in their +armour, with the few ladies who were present; but the +disproportion was very great, and the scene became truly +ludicrous. Father Olmedo became quite scandalized at the conduct +of the visitors at the feast, and was so disgusted at what was +going on during the dances, that he complained to Sandoval, who +reported to Cortes that the good Father was grumbling and +scolding out of all measure. Our general, always prudent in his +proceedings, came up to Olmedo, affecting to disapprove of the +indecent conduct of his guests, and requested of him to order a +solemn mass and thanksgiving, and to give the soldiers a sermon +on their religious and moral duties. The good father was quite +delighted at this proposal; and accordingly the crucifixes and +the image of the blessed Virgin were carried in solemn +procession, amid our drums and military ensigns; Olmedo chanted +the litany and administered the sacrament, and we all gave thanks +to God for our victory.</p> + +<p>Cortes now dismissed the Tlascalan chiefs and our other +allies, who had rendered most important services during our long +protracted warfare, making them many compliments and great +promises, that he would make them all rich and great lords, with +extensive territories and numerous vassals, so that they all +departed in high spirits: But they had secured something more +substantial than empty promises, as they were all well laden with +the plunder of Mexico. Neither were they behind our enemies in +their cannibal feasts, of which they had reserved some portions +to give to their friends on their return.</p> + +<p>Now that I have concluded the narrative of so many furious and +bloody engagements, through which the Almighty has been pleased +to protect me, I must confess, that the sight of so many of my +companions sacrificed alive to the war-god of the Mexicans, +inspired me with fear. This may appear to some as an indication +of want of courage, yet in that time I considered myself, and was +looked upon by all as a valiant soldier, and was never exceeded +by any in bold achievements. But when I saw the palpitating +hearts of my companions taken out alive, and their legs and arms +cut off to be served up in the barbarous feasts of our cannibal +enemies, I feared it might one day be my own lot; and in fact the +enemy had me twice in their hands, but by the blessing of God I +escaped from their savage grasp. Yet I ever afterwards remembered +the dreadful scene which I had witnessed, and on going to battle +was much depressed and uneasy, fearing to be doomed to that cruel +death. Yet I always recommended myself to God and his blessed +Mother, and the moment I was engaged with the enemy all fear left +me. Let those valiant cavaliers who have been in desperate +battles and mortal dangers decide on the cause of my fears, for I +declare I never knew what fear was till I saw the savage +immolation of my seventy-two companions: In my own opinion it was +from excessive courage, as I was fully aware of the extent of +danger which I was voluntarily about to encounter. I have related +many engagements in this history, at which I was not present; for +even if my body had been of iron I could not have been present at +all, and I was much oftener wounded than whole.</p> + +<p>SECTION XIV.</p> + +<p><i>Occurrences in New Spain immediately subsequent to the +reduction of Mexico</i>.</p> + +<p>As soon as Cortes had leisure to think of objects of internal +regulation, he gave orders to have the aqueduct restored by which +the city of Mexico was supplied with water, and to have the city +cleared of the dead bodies and repaired, so that it might be +again habitable within two months. The palaces and houses were +ordered to be rebuilt, and a certain portion of the city was +allotted for the natives, while another part was reserved for the +residence of the Spaniards. Guatimotzin made application to our +general, in the name of many of his principal nobles, requesting +that all their women of rank who had been taken by our soldiers, +might be restored to their husbands and fathers. This was a +matter of considerable difficulty; yet the general allowed a +search to be made, with an assurance that all should be delivered +up who were inclined to return. Every house was accordingly +searched; and though many were found, three only of the whole +number were inclined to return to their families; all the rest +expressed their abhorrence at the idolatry of their countrymen, +besides which, many of them declared that they were pregnant, and +refused to quit the soldiers to whom they were attached.</p> + +<p>One of the first public works undertaken in Mexico was an +arsenal for the reception of our flotilla which had been of such +signal service during the siege. To the best of my remembrance, +Alvarado was appointed alcalde, or chief magistrate, till the +arrival of Salazar de la Pedrada. It was currently reported that +Guatimotzin had thrown great quantities of gold, silver, and +jewels, into the lake four days before his capture, and it was +well known that our allies had got large plunder as well as our +own men who served in the brigantines, and many of us suspected +that Cortes was well pleased that Guatimotzin had concealed much +treasure, as he expected to procure the whole for himself. It was +then proposed in the army, that Guatimotzin and the prince of +Tacuba, his most confidential counsellor, should be put to the +torture, to extort confession of where the treasure was secreted; +this horrid act was certainly greatly against the inclination of +Cortes, yet he was forced to leave the unfortunate king and the +lord of Tacuba at the disposal of those avaricious wretches, who +alleged that our general objected to this infernal measure that +he might secure the gold for himself. In answer to all +interrogatories on the subject of the treasure, the royal Mexican +officers uniformly protested that no more existed than what had +been produced; which, when melted, did not exceed the value of +380,000 crowns; so that, when the royal fifth and that for Cortes +were deducted, those of the conquerors who were not friends to +Cortes were exceedingly dissatisfied. All that could be extorted +by the inhuman procedure of torture from the king and prince was, +that they had thrown some treasure into the lake, together with +the muskets and other arms captured during our flight from Mexico +in the preceding year, four days before the surrender. The place +indicated was repeatedly searched to no purpose by our best +divers; but a sun of solid gold, similar to one we got from +Montezuma, with many ornaments of small value, were found in a +deep pond near his residence. The prince of Tacuba declared under +the torture that he had buried some gold at a place about four +leagues from Tacuba; but when Alvarado and six soldiers +accompanied him there, of whom I was one, he declared he had no +gold, and had only said so in hope of dying on the road. In fact +the treasury was reduced very low before the accession of +Guatimotzin. I and several other good divers searched that part +of the lake which had been indicated by Guatimotzin, but we found +only some small pieces of gold, which were immediately claimed by +Cortes and Alederete the treasurer; who likewise sent down other +persons in their own presence, but all they got did not reach the +value of ninety crowns. We were all miserably disappointed to +find our shares so small; insomuch that Olmedo and all the +captains proposed to Cortes to divide the whole which belonged to +the army among the wounded, the lame, the blind, and the sick, +all who were sound renouncing their claims. We were all curious +to know what our shares amounted to, and it at length appeared +that the share of a horseman was only an hundred crowns. I forget +how much belonged to a foot soldier; but it was so small that +none of us would accept the paltry sum, more especially the +soldiers of Narvaez, who never liked Cortes.</p> + +<p>Many of our soldiers had incurred heavy debts. A crossbow cost +fifty crowns, a musket a hundred, a horse eight hundred or a +thousand, and every thing else in proportion. Our surgeon, master +Juan, and Doctor Murcia our apothecary and barber, charged very +high, and there were various other sources of debt, all to be +satisfied from our miserable dividends. These required to be +regulated; and accordingly Cortes appointed two respectable +persons, Santa Clara and Lerena, to arbitrate all claims, which +were ordered to be cleared off within two years according to +their award. The value also of the gold was debased, to serve us +in our dealings with the merchants from Spain and Cuba; but it +had the opposite effect, as they charged more than double the +difference on their goods. On these abuses being known at court, +our emperor was pleased to prohibit the farther currency of this +base metal, ordering it to be all received in payment of certain +duties, and no more of it to be made; and as two goldsmiths were +detected for putting off base metal with the legal mark of good, +they were hanged for the fraud.</p> + +<p>As the best way to rid himself of troublesome demands, Cortes +resolved to send off colonies to make settlements at convenient +situations. Sandoval was sent for this purpose to occupy +Coatzacualco and Tzapotecapan, the south-eastern provinces of the +Mexican empire. Juan Velasquez to Colima, and Villa Fuerte to +Zacatollan, the most westerly provinces on the south sea. +Christoval de Oli to take possession of the kingdom of Michuacan, +and Francisca de Orozco to Guaxaca or Oaxaco. The native chiefs +of the distant provinces could hardly be brought to believe that +Mexico was destroyed, and sent deputations to ascertain the truth +of the report, bearing large presents of gold to Cortes, and +submitting themselves as vassals to our emperor. Many came in +person to Mexico, and even brought their children to see the +fallen condition of that great power which they had once held in +such awe and terror, expressing themselves in their own language, +as who should say, <i>Here stood Troy</i>. My readers may be +curious to know how we, the conquerors of Mexico, after +encountering so many fatigues and dangers to gain possession of +that city, should now so readily abandon it in search of new +settlements. To this I answer: The books containing the record of +the Mexican revenues were examined to find whence Montezmna had +obtained the valuable articles of tribute, such as gold, cocoa, +and cotton, and we all wished to remove to these productive +districts. Some especially were led by the example of Sandoval, +who was known to be the particular friend of Cortes, and who +would not, as they thought, be sent upon an unprofitable errand. +We all knew that the vicinity of Mexico had neither mines, +plantations, nor manufactures, being entirely occupied in the +cultivation of maize and <i>maguey</i>, which did not afford +sufficient prospects of advantage, and we anxiously removed +therefore to other places, where we were miserably disappointed. +I among others, went to Cortes and asked permission to accompany +Sandoval to his government: "Brother Diaz," said he, "you had +better stay with me: If you are resolved to accompany your friend +Sandoval, you may certainly go; but on my conscience you will +repent." All the gold got into the hands of the royal officers, +as the slaves were purchased by the soldiers at a public sale. +The various detachments were sent out at different periods to +occupy the provinces, but all within two months after the +reduction of Mexico.</p> + +<p>At this time, Christoval de Tapia, <i>veedor</i> of +Hispaniola, arrived at Villa Rica with a commission to assume the +government of New Spain, by order of the emperor and under the +direction of the bishop of Burgos. He likewise brought letters +from the bishop to Cortes and many persons in the army, +recommending him to be received with honour as governor, +promising great rewards to all who should assist him in assuming +the government, with severe threats of punishing all who opposed +him: besides these sealed letters, he had many others which he +was authorised to address as he saw occasion. Tapia in the first +place presented his commission to Alvarado, who now commanded at +Villa Rica, who received it with the highest respect, saying that +it did not belong to him to decide on so important a subject, and +it would be proper, therefore, to assemble the alcaldes and +regidors of the settlement, that the commission might be verified +in their presence, and that it might be certainly known it came +regularly from his majesty. This did not exactly suit the views +of Tapia, who was advised to proceed to Mexico, and to produce +his commission to the general; he therefore forwarded to Cortes +the letter of the bishop, and wrote to him on the subject of his +mission to New Spain, using smooth and persuasive terms, and +Cortes was by no means behind hand in the civility of his reply. +Cortes, however, sent off expresses to some of his most +confidential officers whom he had previously detached to settle +colonies, ordering them to go to meet Tapia, who had already +begun his journey to Mexico, and was met with on the road by +Alvarado, Sandoval, Valdenegro, Andres de Tapia, and Father +Olmedo, all persons in the confidence of Cortes, by whom +Christoval de Tapia was persuaded to go back to Chempoalla, and +to produce his commission to them. Having examined it and finding +it genuine, they placed it on their heads in token of respect and +submission to the will of the emperor, yet hesitated as to +acknowledging Tapia for governor, alleging that it was necessary +in the first place to be assured of his majestys pleasure in the +present state of New Spain, which had been concealed from his +knowledge by the bishop of Burgos, to serve his own private views +and to favour Tapia and Velasquez, one of whom it was alleged was +to marry his niece. Tapia saw evidently that it would be no easy +matter to enter upon his office of governor, and fell sick with +vexation. The before-mentioned deputies informed Cortes by letter +of all that had passed, and advised him to try the all-powerful +influence of gold on the would-be governor. Cortes complied with +this advice, and transmitted a good quantity of golden ingots by +return of the express, by means of which his friends gratified +the avarice of Tapia, under pretence of purchasing one of his +ships, with some horses and negroes; and Tapia set sail in his +other vessel for Hispaniola, where he was very ill received by +the royal audience and the Jeronymite brotherhood, as he had +undertaken this business contrary to their express orders.</p> + +<p>I have formerly mentioned some particulars of an unsuccessful +expedition set on foot by Garray, the governor of Jamaica, for +the establishment of a colony on the river of Panuco; and as +Cortes was informed that Garray intended to resume that project, +he resolved to anticipate him, considering the country on that +river as included in New Spain. Having likewise been informed +that Narvaez, who still continued a prisoner at Villa Rica, had +held some confidential intercourse with Tapia, in which he +advised him to quit the country as soon as possible, and to lay a +statement of the whole before his patron the bishop of Burgos; +Cortes sent orders to Rangel, now commandant at Villa Rica, to +send up Narvaez to Cojohuacan, where Cortes resided until the +palace he meant to inhabit at Mexico was completed. On appearing +before Cortes, Narvaez fell on his knees and endeavoured to kiss +his hand; but Cortes raised and embraced him, and treated him +with the utmost kindness. His residence in Mexico being ready for +his reception, Cortes went to live there in great splendour, +marking out a plan for the restoration of the city, in which +ample allotments were made for churches, monasteries, and public +buildings, with squares and markets, all the rest of the ground +being set apart for the private inhabitants; and both so speedily +and splendidly was this capital restored, that all who have seen +it allow there is not in Christendom a larger, better built, or +more populous city. While thus employed, intelligence was brought +to Cortes that the province of Panuco was in arms, and had killed +many of the soldiers whom he had sent to make a settlement at +that place. He resolved, therefore, to proceed to Panuco in +person, as all his most confidential officers were now absent on +different duties.</p> + +<p>By this time our strength had been considerably augmented, +both by means of those formerly mentioned who had been on the +expedition to Florida under Aillon, and by several who had come +over along with Tapia, and by the arrival of many adventurers +from the islands of Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica. De Oli, +likewise, had now returned from Mechoacan, which he had reduced +to submission, bringing with him the principal cacique of that +country and several other chiefs, with a considerable quantity of +gold. Cortes therefore left a respectable garrison in Mexico, +under Diego de Soto, and set out on his march for Panuco[1] with +130 cavalry, 250 infantry, and 10,000 Mexican warriors. As this +expedition was very expensive, Cortes, wished the charge to be +defrayed from the royal funds, but the officers of the treasury +refused, under the pretext that it had been undertaken from +motives of private interest, to prevent Garray from establishing +a colony in that place, and not for the public service. The +Panuchese, otherwise called the Guastecas and Naguaticas, were +numerous and warlike, and had collected a force of above 70,000 +warriors, with which they fought two battles against Cortes in +the course of a few days, in which three Spaniards, four horses, +and above a hundred Mexicans were slain; but we obtained the +victory in both actions, with such slaughter of the rebels, as +deprived them of all inclination to renew the war for the +present. By means of Father Olmedo and some prisoners, the +Panuchese were now induced to submit. Cortes in the next place +proceeded with half his army across the river Chila, to reduce +the natives who had murdered the messengers whom he sent to +require their submission. On crossing the river, the enemy fell +upon our troops with great fury, but were soon defeated, and our +people advanced to a town in which they found abundance of +provisions. Some of our soldiers, on going into a temple next +morning, found the remains of some of our men, and even +recognized their features, a melancholy sight to us all; but we +carefully collected and buried their remains. From this place our +detachment marched to another, where the enemy concealed some of +their troops among houses, intending to fall upon our men when +the cavalry had dismounted; but as their plan was discovered it +failed of success, yet they fought valiantly for half an hour, +even rallying three times, contrary to the usual custom of the +Indians, and three of our soldiers were so badly wounded that +they afterwards died. On the ensuing day, our soldiers scoured +the country, and in some deserted towns they found a number of +earthen vessels filled with a species of wine in underground +cellars. After having marched for five days through the country +in various directions, the detachment returned to the river +Chila, and Cortes again summoned the the country to submission. +They promised to send a deputation for that purpose in four days, +for which Cortes waited, but to no purpose; he therefore sent a +large body of Mexicans, during a dark rainy night, across a lake +to attack one of their largest towns, which was entirely +destroyed; after which most of the country submitted, and Cortes +established a town of 130 houses about a league from the river of +Chila, which he named Estevan del Puerto, leaving 63 Spanish +soldiers to keep the country under subjection, and giving the +command of all the neighbouring country to Pedro Valego. Before +leaving this country, Cortes was informed of three districts, +which had now submitted, the inhabitants of which had been very +active in the murder of the Spaniards at Panuco on the former +occasion, and who had entered into a resolution to fall upon the +new settlement as soon as he quitted the country. He marched +therefore against them, and destroyed their towns, which they +re-established soon after his departure. In consequence of the +loss of a vessel which Cortes had ordered to bring provisions +from Villa Rica, this new settlement was reduced to much +distress. The inhabitants of this province of Panuco were the +most barbarous of all the tribes in New Spain, being cruel to +excess, exceedingly addicted to human sacrifices, drunken, +filthy, and wicked beyond belief. They frequently rebelled, and +were as often punished in a most exemplary manner; but all would +not reduce them under good government: But when Nunez de Guzman +became governor of New Spain, he reduced the whole nation to +slavery, and sold them among the different Islands of the West +Indies.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] The province here named Panuco, is situated on +the coast of the gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of a considerable +river which drains the superfluous waters of the Mexican vale, +named at first Rio del Desague, then Rio de Tula, and Rio Tampico +at its mouth, in about lat. 22° 15' N. The Modern town of +Panuco is about 200 miles almost due north from +Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On his return towards Mexico, Cortes received complaints of +various depredations having been committed by the inhabitants of +the neighbouring mountains on the peaceable districts of New +Spain[2], He determined therefore to chastise these lawless +tribes while on his way; but they anticipated him, by assaulting +his rear in a difficult pass of the mountains, where they got +possession of a considerable portion of the baggage. But our +Mexican allies severely revenged this insult, and made prisoners +of two of the principal hostile chiefs who were both hanged. +After this victory, Cortes suspended hostilities, and having +summoned the people to appear before him, they came in and +submitted, on which Cortes appointed the brother of the cacique +who had been put to death to the vacant government. About this +time Alonza de Avila, who was formerly mentioned, returned with +full powers from the royal audience and the Jeronymite +brotherhood, to continue our conquests, to make settlements of +land and colonies according to the established rules in +Hispaniola and Cuba, and to brand slaves: And he brought notice +that these tribunals had transmitted a report of the steps they +had now taken to the government in Spain, whence it was +transmitted to the emperor, then in Flanders. If Avila had been +in New Spain at the arrival of Tapia, he might have proved +troublesome, as he was entirely devoted to the Bishop of Burgos, +having been bred up in his house. On this account, and by the +advice of Olmedo, Cortes gave him the command of the district of +Guatitlan, one of the most profitable in New Spain, and also made +him a considerable present of gold, and many flattering words and +promises by which he gained him over entirely to his interest, +insomuch that he sent him soon afterwards into Spain as his +agent, carrying a large quantity of gold, pearls, and jewels to +the emperor, together with several gigantic human bones that were +found in a temple at Cojohuacan, similar to those which had been +formerly sent from Tlascala, as already mentioned[3]. Besides +these things, he carried over three Mexican tigers, and many +other curious things which I do not now remember. One part of the +business of this agency, was to carry a memorial from the +<i>cabildo</i> of Mexico, and from us the conquerors of New +Spain, soliciting to be supplied with bishops and clergy of holy +life and exemplary manners, and requesting that all offices of +honour and emolument might be conferred on us who had conquered +this vast empire for our sovereign, and that the supreme +government might be confided to our general Cortes. We requested +that his majesty might be pleased to prohibit any lawyers from +coming among us, who would throw us into confusion with their +learned quibbles; and we farther represented the insufficient +commission of Christoval de Tapia, who had been sent out by the +Bishop of Burgos, merely for the purpose of effectuating a +marriage between him and the bishops niece. We deprecated the +interference of the bishop in the affairs of New Spain, which had +already obstructed our efforts of conquest in the service of his +majesty, and had manifested great enmity against us by +prohibiting the Casa de Contratation of Seville from sending us +any supplies. We concluded by declaring ourselves ready to +receive his majesties commands with the most perfect submission +and obedience, but that we had deemed it our bounden duty to lay +all these particulars before his majesty, which had hitherto been +artfully kept from his knowledge. On his part, Cortes sent a +memorial to the king of twenty-one pages long, in which he left +no argument unemployed to serve his own and our interest. He even +requested permission to go over to the island of Cuba, and to +send the governor Velasquez a prisoner to Spain, that he might be +tried and punished for the injuries he had done to the public +service, and especially for having sent an order to put Cortes to +death.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] These were probably the Chichimecas and Otomies, +who inhabited to the north-west of the Mexican +empire.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[3] From these slight notices, nothing certain can be +gathered respecting these large bones: Yet there is every reason +to believe they must have been of the same kind with those now +familiar to the learned world, under the name of <i>Mammoth</i>. +The vale of Mexico has every indication of having once been an +immense inland lake, and the other <i>big bones</i> of North +America have all been found in places of a similar description. +The greatest deposit of these hitherto known, is at a place +called <i>big-bone-swamp</i>, near the Mississippi, in the modern +state of Kentucky.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Our agents sailed from Vera Cruz on the 20th December 1522, +and no particular occurrence happened on the voyage to the +Terceras or Açores, except that one of the tigers broke +loose and wounded some of the sailors, who were likewise obliged +to kill the other on account of its ferocity. At the island of +Tercera, Captain Quinones lost his life in a duel, occasioned by +a quarrel about a lady, by which means our business was left in +the hands of Alonzo de Avila. In continuing his voyage to Europe, +he was taken by a French privateer, commanded by one Jean Florin, +who took another ship from Hispaniola with a valuable cargo of +sugar and hides, and 20,000 crowns in gold, and many pearls; so +that with this and our treasure he returned very rich to France, +where he made magnificent presents to the king and admiral of +France, astonishing every body at the magnificence of the +presents which we had transmitted for our emperor. The king of +France observed on this occasion, that the wealth which we +supplied from New Spain was alone sufficient to enable our +sovereign to wage war against him, although Peru was not then +discovered. It was also reported that the king of France sent a +message to our emperor, saying, That as he and the king of +Portugal had divided the world between them, he desired to see +the will of our father Adam, to know if he had made them +exclusively his heirs. In his next expedition, Florin was made +prisoner by a strong squadron belonging to Biscay, and was hanged +in the island of Teneriffe.</p> + +<p>Avila was made a close prisoner in France, but by gaining the +friendship of the officer to whose custody he had been confided, +he was enabled to correspond with his friends in Spain, to whom +he transmitted all the documents with which he had been +entrusted, which were all laid before the emperor Don Carlos by +Martin Cortes, our generals father, and Diego de Ordas, by means +of the licentiate Nunez, <i>relator</i> of the royal council, who +was cousin to Cortes. The emperor was pleased, on due +consideration of these documents, to order that all favour should +be shewn to our general, and that the proceedings respecting the +government of New Spain should be suspended until his majesty +returned into Spain.</p> + +<p>We were much disappointed on receiving intelligence of the +loss of our treasure, and the detention of our agent in France; +yet Cortes honourably reserved the district of Guatitlan for +Avila, notwithstanding his captivity, and gave it three years +afterwards to a brother of Alonzo de Avila, who was then promoted +to be <i>contador</i> of Yucutan.</p> + +<p>SECTION XV.</p> + +<p><i>Expeditions of Gonzalo de Sandoval, Pedro de Alvarado, and +others, for reducing the Mexican Provinces</i>.</p> + +<p>After the settlement with Christoval de Tapia, the Captains +Sandoval and Alvarado resumed the expeditions with which they had +been before entrusted, and on this occasion I went along with +Sandoval. On our arrival at Tustepeque[1], I took my lodgings on +the summit of a very high tower of a temple, for the sake of +fresh air, and to avoid the musquitoes, which were very +troublesome below. At this place, seventy-two of the soldiers who +came with Narvaez and six Spanish women were put to death. The +whole province submitted immediately to Sandoval, except the +Mexican chief who had been the principal instrument of the +destruction of our soldiers, who was soon afterwards made +prisoner and burnt alive. Many others had been equally guilty, +but this example of severity was deemed sufficient.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] This expedition appears to have been for the +reduction of certain provinces to the south-east of the vale of +Mexico, now forming the intendency of Oaxaca, inhabited by the +Mixtecas and Tzapotecas. The Tustepeque of the text, was probably +a town on the Boca de Chacahua on the South Sea, now called +Tututepec, in lat. 15º 50' N. and long. 100º 15' E. On +the very imperfect map of Clavigero, it is named Tototepec, and +is placed in the country of the Mixtecas.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Sandoval, in the next place, sent a message to the Tzapotecas, +who inhabit a mountainous district about ten leagues from +Tustepeque or Tututepec, ordering them to submit to his +authority; and on their refusal, an expedition was sent against +them under Captain Briones, who according to his own account had +served with reputation in the wars of Italy. His detachment +consisted of 100 Spanish infantry, and about an equal number of +Indian allies; but the enemy were prepared for him, and so +completely surprised him in a difficult pass of the mountains, +that they drove him and his men over the rocks, rolling them down +to the bottom, by which above a third of them were wounded, of +whom one afterwards died. The district inhabited by the +Tzapotecas is of very difficult access among rocky mountains, +where the troops can only pass in single file, and the climate is +very moist and rainy. The inhabitants are armed with long lances, +having stone heads about an ell long, which have two edges as +sharp as razors, and they are defended by pliable shields which +cover their whole bodies. They are extremely nimble, and give +signals to each other by loud whistlings, which echo among the +rocks with inconceivable shrillness. Their province is named +Tiltepeque[2]; which, after its submission, was confided to the +charge of a soldier named Ojeda. On his return to quarters, +Sandoval ridiculed Briones on the bad success of his expedition, +asking him if he had ever seen the like in Italy; for Briones was +always boasting of his exploits there, as how he had severed men +in two, and the like. Briones was sore displeased with these +sarcasms, and swore he would rather fight against the Turks or +Moors than the Tzapotecas. There was another district of the +Tzapotecas called Xaltepec, which was then at war with a +neighbouring tribe, and who immediately, on being summoned by +Sandoval, sent a deputation of their chiefs to wait upon him with +handsome presents; among which was a considerable quantity of +gold, partly made into toys, and partly in ten little tubes. +Their chiefs were dressed in long cotton robes, richly +embroidered, and reaching to their feet, like the upper garments +worn by the Moors. They requested to be assisted by some of our +soldiers against their enemies, whom they named the Minxes. The +state of our force at this time did not permit him to comply with +this request, but he promised to transmit their request to our +general at Mexico, with an application for an auxiliary force to +be sent them, and said he could only now send a small number of +his men along with them, to observe the nature of the passes, but +his real object was to examine their mines. With this answer he +dismissed them all except three, sending eight of us along with +them to explore the country and its mines.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] Named, more appropriately, in the map of +Clavigero, Tzapoteca-pan.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>There was another soldier of the same name with myself in this +party, for indeed there were three of us in the army named +Castillo. At that time I prided myself on my dress, and was +called <i>Castillo the beau</i>. My namesake who went on the +present expedition was named <i>Castillo the thoughtful</i>, as +he was of slow speech, never replying to a question for a long +while, and then answering by some absurdity. The third was called +<i>Castillo the prompt</i>, as he was always very ready and smart +in all his words. On our arrival at the district of Xaltepec, the +Indians turned over the soil in three different rivers, in each +of which they found gold, and soon filled three tubes with it as +large as a mans middle finger, with which we returned to +Sandoval, who now thought that all our fortunes would be made. He +took a district to himself, from which he very soon procured gold +to the value of 15,000 crowns. He gave the district of Xaltepec, +whence we had obtained the gold, to Captain Luis Marin, but it +turned out very indifferently. He gave me a very profitable +district, which I wish to God I had kept; it consisted of three +places, named Matalan, Oztoequipa, and Oriaca, where the +<i>ingenio</i> of the viceroy is now situated; but I thought it +more consistent with my character as a soldier to accompany +Sandoval in his military expeditions. Sandoval called his town +Medellin, after the birth-place of Cortes; and the Rio de las +Vanderas, from which he procured the 15,000 crowns, was for some +time the port where the merchandise from Spain was discharged, +until Vera Cruz became the emporium.</p> + +<p>We now marched into the province of Coatzacualco, through the +district of Citla[3], which is about twelve leagues in length and +breadth, and is very populous, having a fine climate and +abounding in provisions. The chiefs immediately submitted. On our +arrival at the river of Coatzacualco, which is the governing +district of all the neighbouring tribes, the chiefs did not make +their appearance on being summoned, which we considered as an +indication of hostility, which was in fact their first intention; +but after five days, they came in and made their submissions, +presenting some trinkets of fine gold to Sandoval. By his orders, +they collected a hundred canoes, in which we crossed the river, +sending four soldiers in advance to examine and report the state +of the country. A town was founded in this place, which we named +Villa del Espiritu Santo, because on that day we defeated +Narvaez, using that expression as our watchword, and because we +crossed this river on the same day. In this place the flower of +our army was established, which at this time mustered eighty +cavalry, a greater number in proportion than five hundred is now, +horses being then very scarce and dear. Having examined the +surrounding districts, Sandoval divided them among the different +settlements. To the settlement of Coatzacualco, he allotted +Cuetzpaltepec, Tepeca, Chinantla, the Tzapotecas, Copilco, +Cimatan, Tabasco, Cachula, the Zoques, Techeapa, Cinacatan, the +Quilenes, and Papanahausta. We had a long litigation afterwards +with the district of Vera Cruz about three of these, +Cuetzpaltepec, Chinantla, and Tepeca; with Tabasco about Cimatan +and Copilco; with Chiapa or Guatimala, concerning the Quilenes +and Zoques; and likewise with the town of St Ildefonso about the +Tzapotecas. I regretted having fixed myself in this place, as the +lands were very poor, and every thing turned out to my +disadvantage. We might indeed have done well enough if we had +been left in our original situation; but as new settlements were +successively formed, ours were curtailed to accommodate them, so +that our colony fell into decay; and from being the best, and +containing the greatest number of the true conquerors of Mexico, +it has now very few inhabitants.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] I suspect this ought to be named +Chinantla.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>About this time Sandoval received intelligence of the arrival +of Donna Catalina, the lady of our general, in the river of +Aguayalco[4], accompanied by her brother. La Zembrana also with +her family came along with her, and Donna Elvira Lopez <i>the +tall</i>, who married Juan de Palma, who was afterwards hanged. +We all went to pay our respects to the ladies, the roads being +almost impassable owing to constant heavy rain. Having escorted +Donna Catalina and the rest to our town of Coatzacualco, or +Espiritu Santo, intelligence was sent to Cortes of their arrival, +and they set out soon afterwards for Mexico. Cortes was sorry for +their coming, but he received them with great pomp, and we heard +about three months afterwards that Donna Catalina had died of an +asthma.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] This way probably be some corruption of the +native name of the Rio Coatzacualco, or Huaxacualco; by giving it +the ordinary Spanish prefix <i>agua</i>; which signifies water, +or a river, with the native termination +<i>cualco</i>.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Villafuerte had been sent to Zacatula, and Juan Alvarez Chico +to Colima, two provinces on the south sea to the west of Mexico, +but were unsuccessful; on which Cortes sent Christoval de Oli to +reduce these provinces to submission. The natives attacked him on +his march, killing two of his soldiers; yet he reached the +station of Villafuerte, who was afraid to stir out, and had four +even of his soldiers killed by the enemy in the town where he +resided. I do not know what became of Captain Juan Alvarez, but I +believe he lost his life about this time in some action with the +natives. De Oli reduced both provinces to submission and returned +to Mexico, where he was hardly arrived when intelligence was +brought that they had again rebelled; on which Cortes sent +Sandoval with a small party of veterans to take the charge of +them. He punished the ringleaders of the rebellion, and regulated +them in so effectual a manner, that they continued ever +afterwards submissive.</p> + +<p>On the departure of Sandoval with the ladies, several of the +districts subjected to Coatzacualco rebelled, killing the +soldiers who were appointed to collect the tribute; among which +were the Tzapotecas of Xaltepec, Cimatan and Copilco, the first +being difficult of access on account of its rugged mountains, and +the two others because of lakes and marshes, so that they were +not reduced to subjection without great difficulty. While Captain +Luis Marin was engaged in reducing these districts, Juan Buono +arrived at our settlement in a small vessel. He immediately +called us all together, and endeavoured to persuade us to submit +to Christoval de Tapia as governor of New Spain, being ignorant +of the return of that person to Hispaniola. Buono had a number of +unaddressed letters from the bishop of Burgos, making large +offers to such as would further his views of superseding Cortes, +and which Buono had a discretionary power of directing to any +persons that he supposed might support the cause in which he was +engaged, and which he accordingly transmitted to those who held +offices in the settlement. Among the rest, I was offered the +appointment of regidor. When Buono learnt that Tapia had left the +country, he seemed much disappointed. We referred him to Cortes +at Mexico, to which place he went. I know not what passed between +him and Cortes, but I believe the general sent him back to Spain +with some money in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Among the tribes that courted our alliance after the conquest +of Mexico, was a people of the Tzapotecan nation, named the +Tutepecs, who earnestly requested our assistance against a +hostile tribe, who bore the same name with themselves, and whom +they represented as possessing a very rich country. Accordingly, +in the year 1522, Alvarado marched from Mexico with a detachment +of 180 soldiers, cavalry and infantry, with orders to take twenty +more on his march through the district of Oaxaco, and also to +visit and reduce during his march certain mountainous districts +which were said to be in rebellion. Alvarado was forty days on +his march between Mexico and Tutepec, and was very hospitably +received on his arrival, being lodged in the most populous part +of the city, where the houses stood close together, and were +thatched with straw, it not being the custom of that part of the +country to have terraced roofs, on account of their climate being +very sultry. By the advice of Father Olmedo, Alvarado removed his +quarters to a more open part of the town; as in case of any +treachery being intended, the natives might easily have set fire +to the first quarters. In this place, Alvarado was plentifully +supplied with provisions, and the principal chief made him every +day some rich present of gold; and among other things gave him a +pair of golden stirrups, made according to a pattern. Yet, only a +few days after, the cacique was made a prisoner, on the +information, as was said, of the Indians of Tecuantepec, that he +meant to burn the Spaniards in the quarters which had been +assigned them in the temples. Some of the Spaniards alleged that +Alvarado made him a prisoner in order to extort gold for his +ransom. However this may have been, he died in prison of +vexation, after Alvarado had got from him to the value of 30,000 +crowns. His son was permitted to succeed him in the government, +from whom Alvarado obtained more gold than he had done from the +father. Alvarado now established a colony, which was called +<i>Segura</i>, because most of the colonists came from Tepeaca, +named by us Segura de la Frontera.</p> + +<p>Alvarado set out soon afterwards on his return to Mexico with +all his wealth, as Cortes had written to him to bring all the +treasure he possibly could, which he intended to send into Spain. +The soldiers were much dissatisfied at being thus excluded from +any share, and several of them entered into a conspiracy to +assassinate Alvarado and his brothers. One of the conspirators, +named Tribejo, gave information of the plot to Father Olmedo, +only a few hours before it was intended to have been executed; +and the reverend Father informed Alvarado, just as he was riding +out along with some of the conspirators. He continued his +intended excursion for a short way; then turning suddenly, he +complained of a pain in his side, saying he must go back for a +surgeon to bleed him. On his arrival at quarters, he immediately +sent for his two brothers, together with the alcaldes and +alguazils of the settlement, whom he ordered to arrest the +conspirators, two of whom were hanged. Alvarado returned to +Mexico with his gold; but the colonists finding all the gold +taken away, and that the place was hot and unhealthy, infested +with musqutioes, bugs, and other vermin, and themselve and slaves +fast dying, they abandoned the settlement, some going to Mexico, +and others to different places. Cortes was much displeased at +this abandonment, and finding on inquiry that it had been done by +a resolution of the alcaldes and regidors in full cabildo, he +condemned them to suffer death; but their punishment, at the +intercession of Olmedo, was mitigated to banishment. Thus the +settlement of Segura fell to the ground, which had been +established in a very fertile country, but exceedingly unhealthy. +By the cruelty and extortion of Alvarado, the minds of the +natives were alienated, and they threw off their allegiance; but +he reduced them again to submission, and they continued +afterwards to behave themselves peaceably.</p> + +<p>SECTION XVI.</p> + +<p><i>Some Account of the Expedition of Francisco de Garay for +the Colonization of Panuco</i>.</p> + +<p>Having formerly mentioned the expedition fitted out by +Francisco de Garay, the governor of Jamaica, it seems proper to +give a more particular account of that affair in this place. +Hearing of the great riches which Diego Velasquez was likely to +acquire from New Spain, and of the fertile countries which had +been discovered on the continent of the West Indies, and +encouraged by the means he now possessed of prosecuting +discoveries and conquests, he determined to try his own fortune +in that career. For this purpose he sent for and discoursed with +Alaminos, who had been our chief pilot, from whom he received so +favourable an account of these countries, that he sent Juan de +Torralva, a person in whom he could confide, to solicit the +bishop of Burgos to grant him a commission for settling the +country on the river of Panuco; and having succeeded in this +preliminary step, he fitted out an armament of three ships, with +240 soldiers, under the command of Alonzo Alvarez Pineda, who was +defeated by the Panuchese, one ship only escaping, which joined +us at Villa Rica, as already related. Receiving no intelligence +of the fate of his first armament, Garay sent a second, which +also arrived at our port. Having now expended a great deal of +money to no purpose, and having learnt the good fortune of +Cortes, he became more than ever desirous to secure the +advantages he expected to derive from his commission. With this +view he fitted out thirteen ships, in which he embarked 136 +cavalry, and 840 foot soldiers, mostly musqueteers and +crossbow-men, of which he took the command in person. He sailed +with this great armament from Jamaica, on the 24th June 1523, and +arrived safe at the port of Xagua in the island of Cuba, where he +received information that Cortes had reduced the province of +Panuco to subjection, and had sent a petition to the emperor to +get a commission for governing his new acquisition. He was here +informed of the heroic deeds of Cortes and his companions, and in +particular of our having defeated the large force of Narvaez, +while we had only 270 soldiers.</p> + +<p>Struck with awe at the power and abilities of our general, he +solicited the licentiate Zuazco to mediate between him and +Cortes, that he might be permitted to take possession of the +government of Panuco, in pursuance of his commission from the +bishop of Burgos.</p> + +<p>Garay shortly afterwards set out with his armament, and being +driven by a storm into the river Palmas[1], he disembarked there, +intending to march by land to Panuco, having first exacted an +oath of fidelity from his troops; and he even nominated the +various officers of his colony, which he intended to name +Garayana. Having marched for two days along the sea-shore, +through a marshy uninhabited country, he arrived at some +villages, where the inhabitants entertained him hospitably, but +many of his soldiers straggled about robbing and maltreating the +people. Garay at length arrived at Panuco, where his soldiers +expected all their difficulties would end, but it was almost a +desert, as it had been much wasted in the war with Cortes, and +the natives concealed what remained, so that they found nothing +but bare walls, where they were tormented with mosquitos and +every kind of vermin. Garay could get no intelligence of his +fleet, and learnt from a Spaniard who had fled from punishment +and lived among the Indians, that the province of Panuco was poor +and unhealthy; and as this man gave a very favourable account of +Mexico, many of Garays soldiers deserted from him, and went off +for Mexico, plundering the natives on their way. Garay found +himself in a bad plight, and sent one of his officers, named +Diego de Ocampo, to sound the disposition of Vallejo, who was +governor of St Estevan del Puerto for Cortes, and to notify the +appointment of Garay to the government of this country. Vallejo +gave a favourable answer, requesting the soldiers might be +restrained from maltreating the inhabitants; but sent off an +express to Cortes, soliciting a strong reinforcement or the +immediate presence of the general. On receiving this +intelligence, Cortes immediately sent off Alvarado, Sandoval, +Father Olmedo, and Gonzalo de Ocampo, brother to Diego de Ocampo, +who was with Garay, giving them a copy of the royal instructions, +by which all his conquests were left under his command till the +dispute between him and Velasquez were judicially settled.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] This is probably the river of Nueva Santander, +about 100 miles north from the Rio Tampico or river of +Panuco--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On the arrival of Garay in the neighbourhood of St Estevan, +Vallejo learnt from five deserters that the troops were scattered +negligently in a large town called Nacoplan, on which he +concerted a plan for coming on them by surprise, and made forty +of them prisoners, alleging that they had invaded the country +without a commission, and had plundered the inhabitants who lived +under his government. Garay threatened Vallejo with the vengeance +of the court of Spain for this outrage, and demanded the +immediate release of his soldiers; on which Vallejo requested to +see his commission, which, if from his majesty, he would obey in +all humility. Just at this time arrived the deputies from Cortes, +and Diego de Ocampo, being then first alcalde of Mexico, made a +formal remonstrance against the entrance of Garay with an armed +force into the government of another person. Several days were +spent in remonstrances and replies on both sides, during which +time many of Garays troops deserted from him.</p> + +<p>Two of the ships belonging to Garay were lost in a tempest, +and the remainder took shelter in the mouth of the river, when +Vallejo secretly negotiated with their officers to join the party +of Cortes. He at length contrived to inviegle the whole of the +fleet up the river to the port of St Estevan, where he made all +their officers and men prisoners in the name of Cortes; but +Father Olmedo persuaded him to set them at liberty. The +unfortunate Garay entreated the officers of Cortes to restore his +ships and to compel his troops to return to their duty, promising +to give up his intended settlement at Panuco, and to retire to +the river Palmas. They agreed to this, and used every measure to +induce the deserters to return, but with little effect; as they +alleged they had already discharged their engagement in coming to +Panuco, and they despised Garay. In this hopeless state, Garay +was persuaded to write to Cortes, stating his situation, and +requesting his protection and assistance, in consideration of +their former friendship. Cortes engaged to do what he desired, +and invited him to come to Mexico, where he was honourably +received, and promised every redress, referring him to Olmedo, +Sandoval, and Alvarado, to agree with him on the terms. At the +suggestion of Olmedo, a marriage was proposed between Donna +Catalina Cortes y Pizarro, the daughter of Cortes, and the eldest +son of Garay, who had a command in the fleet. Cortes agreed to +this, giving his daughter a liberal fortune, and agreed that +Garay should establish a colony on the river Palmas, in which he +engaged to give him every assistance in his power. Garay now +interceded with Cortes to allow Narvaez to return to Cuba, for +which favour Narvaez was extremely thankful, and took leave of +Cortes with many professions of gratitude. Soon afterwards, Garay +was seized with a pleurisy, of which he died in four days, +leaving Cortes and Father Olmedo his executors. As his armament +was left without a head, a competition arose among his officers +for the vacant command; but young Garay was ultimately made +general. This gave great offence to the soldiers, in consequence +of which they dispersed about the country in small bodies of +fifteen or twenty men, pillaging the natives as if they had been +among Moors. This enraged the Indians, who laid a plot to cut off +the Spaniards, which they executed so effectually that in a very +short time they sacrificed and eat above five hundred of the +soldiers of Garay, in some of the towns upwards of a hundred of +them being destroyed at one time. In other places they fell upon +the stragglers, whom they massacred almost without resistance; +and, encouraged by this success, they even rose against the +settlement of Estevan in such numbers, that they could hardly be +resisted by Vallejo and seven or eight of the veterans of Cortes, +who induced many of Garays soldiers to abide by them in the open +field, where three battles were fought, in one of which Vallejo +was slain, and a great number of Spaniards wounded. The Indians +became at length so bold and desperate, that they one night +killed and burned forty Spaniards, among whom were several +belonging to Cortes, and destroyed fifteen horses. When Cortes +heard of these proceedings he was much enraged, and would have +gone in person to suppress the rebellion, but was then confined +by a broken arm; wherefore he sent Gonzalo de Sandoval, with 100 +infantry, 50 cavalry, 15 musqueteers, and two field-pieces, +accompanied by 8000 Mexican and Tlascalan warriors, giving orders +to reduce the country so completely under subjection that they +might not have power to give any farther disturbance.</p> + +<p>Sandoval was a person of much vigilance when he had any +important business in hand, and made no delay in marching against +the enemy, who had concentrated their forces in two narrow +defiles. Sandoval divided his forces into two bodies, but was so +obstinately resisted, that he drew off his forces, feigning to +retreat to Mexico, followed by the Indians, whom he completely +deceived, making an unexpected countermarch at midnight, by which +he gained possession of the passes; yet not till he had lost +three horses, and had a great many of his men wounded. On passing +the defiles, he found himself opposed in front by an immense body +of Indians, who had collected on receiving notice of his +countermarch. He concentrated his whole force into one solid +column; and as his cavalry were inexperienced in the service, he +gave them full instructions never to halt making thrusts, as the +Indians always seized the lances when wounded, and often wrested +them from the hands of our men; but ordered them to clap spurs to +their horses on such occasions, firmly grasping their lances, and +thus force them from the enemy by the strength of their horses. +Having placed guards and patroles, and ordered the horses of the +cavalry to remain all night saddled and bridled, he made the +troops repose under arms on the banks of a river, placing the +Mexican and Tlascalan warriors at a short distance from the +Spanish troops, knowing by experience that the allies were of +more harm than benefit in a night attack. At day-break next +morning, Sandoval put his troops in motion, and was soon fronted +by three large bodies of the enemy, who endeavoured to surround +him. Forming his cavalry in two squadrons, he attacked the enemy +with such spirit that they were soon broken and dispersed, with +the loss of two soldiers and three horses on his side. The allies +made terrible havock after this victory, burning and plundering +all before them, till the arrival of the army at St Estevan. The +remains of this colony were found in a miserable condition, and +the soldiers of Garay assured him that its preservation was +entirely owing to the bravery and conduct of our few veterans who +were there. Sandoval divided his army into several bodies, which +he entrusted to the command of the veterans, and sent them to +overrun the neighbouring districts, with orders to send in all +the provisions they could collect, being unable to go out +himself, as he was badly wounded. In the course of three days, +his parties sent in many prisoners of the ordinary class, and +five chiefs; but Sandoval released the common people, and ordered +his troops to make no more prisoners, except of such chiefs as +had been concerned in or present at the murder of the Spaniards. +In a few days Sandoval was able to take the field, and by skilful +measures he made prisoners of twenty caciques, who had commanded +where no less than six hundred Spaniards were slain. He then +summoned all the neighbouring towns to send their chiefs to him +to treat of peace and submission: Some obeyed, but others +neglected to attend, and he thought it best to dissimulate with +the latter for the present, till he had informed Cortes what had +been already done, and had received his orders as to the disposal +of the prisoners and his future procedure. Cortes, who now +conferred the vacant command of St Estevan on Sandoval, ordered +all who had been any way concerned in the murder of the Spaniards +to be punished with death, as an example to deter others from +being guilty of the like offence, directing Diego de Ocampo, as +alcalde-major, to take the necessary steps against them, with +orders to execute all who should be found guilty. He gave orders +likewise to conciliate the natives by all possible means, and to +prevent the soldiers of Garay from committing any future +outrages. Two days after the receipt of these orders, the accused +caciques were brought to trial; and many of them being found +guilty by evidence, or by their own confession, were publickly +executed, some being burnt and others hanged. Many also were +pardoned; and all the districts which had belonged to the +caciques who suffered on this occasion, were restored to their +children or other heirs. Ocampo now proceeded against all those +Spaniards who had been guilty of outrages, going about the +country in bands, plundering and murdering the natives, or who +had invited other soldiers to desert to them; and having +collected them together, he shipped them off for Cuba. To Juan de +Grijalva, who had been commodore of the fleet under Garay, Cortes +offered the alternative of a present of 2000 crowns, and a +passage to Cuba, or an honourable reception at Mexico. But +Grijalva and all the other officers belonging to Garay preferred +going to Cuba. When Sandoval and Ocampo had thus reduced the +settlement to order, and cleared it of these troublesome inmates, +they returned to Mexico, leaving the command at St Estevan to an +officer named Vallecillo; and on their arrival at the capital, +they were received by Cortes and others with the distinction +which their services richly merited[2].</p> + +<blockquote>[2] A very uninteresting episode, respecting the +misfortunes of the liceniate Zuazo, who has been formerly +mentioned, is here omitted, as having no reference whatever to +the general history in hand: It is sufficient to say that, after +many perils by sea and land, Zuazo came to Mexico, where Cortes +gave him the office of alcalde-major, which seems to have +resembled our provost-marshal, or chief military +judge.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION XVII.</p> + +<p><i>Narrative of various Expeditions for the Reduction of +different Provinces in New Spain</i>.</p> + +<p>As the views of Cortes were always lofty, so was he always +well supported by the talents and bravery of his officers and +soldiers. After his power was thoroughly established in the great +city of Mexico and its more immediate dependencies, and in the +districts or provinces of Guaxaca, Zacatula, Colima, Vera Cruz, +Panuco, Coatzacualco, and others, as already related, he was +informed that there were populous nations and rich mines in the +province of Guatimala; and he resolved to send a military force +under Alvarado, to conquer and colonize that country. Alvarado, +therefore, was dispatched to that province, with 300 infantry, +135 cavalry, 200 Tlascalans and Cholulans, and 100 Mexicans[1], +and four field-pieces. Alvarado was instructed to bring those +nations to submission by peaceful means, if possible; and Father +Olmedo accompanied him, on purpose to preach the doctrines of our +holy religion to the natives; and at all events, to insist upon +all the prisons and cages that were used for human victims being +destroyed, the prisoners set free, and the utter abolition of +human sacrifices and cannibal feasts. This expedition left Mexico +on the 13th of December 1523; and Alvarado during his march, +received the submission of the district known by the name of the +Rocks of Guelama, where he received many rich contributions in +gold. Having passed the districts belonging to the Tzapotecas of +Tecuantepec, and by Soconusco, a town containing above 15,000 +houses, Alvarado came to the neighbourhood of a place named +Zapotitlan, where, at a bridge over a river, he was opposed by a +very numerous body of warriors who disputed the passage with so +much bravery, that many of the soldiers were wounded and one +horse killed; and it required three very hard fought battles +before the Spaniards were able to break through and disperse the +enemy.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] Though without any warrant for this purpose, we +believe that the numbers of these allies ought to have been +reckoned by thousands instead of hundreds.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>From this place, continuing his march, Alvarado was +continually harassed by the Indians of Quetzaltenango, and came +at length to a defile in a high mountain, where the ascent was +about a league and a half. On arriving at the summit, a +remarkably fat woman was found in the act of sacrificing a dog, +which is an infallible token of intended hostilities; and +immediately afterwards, great numbers of armed Indians were seen +advancing on all sides, in a difficult broken ground, where the +cavalry of Alvarado were unable to act. In this rough and +impracticable place, above 6000 of the warriors of Utatlan, a +district adjoining to Quetzaltenango, made an attack upon our +troops; and being soon put to flight, they rallied shortly after, +reinforced by great numbers of fresh troops, who waited the +advance of our forces, and fought them bravely hand to hand. On +this occasion, three or four of the enemy uniting their efforts, +used to seize a horse before and behind, endeavouring to pull him +to the ground, and it required the most strenuous exhortations +both of Alvarado and Father Olmedo to animate the exertions of +our troops, who at length succeeded in defeating and dispersing +the Indians. Our army halted in the field of battle for three +days, unmolested by the enemy, and then marched to +Quetzaltenango, where Alvarado hoped to have given his troops +some repose; but he found two xiquipils of warriors, or 16,000 +men assembled to oppose him in a plain, where he gave them so +complete a defeat, with so heavy a loss of warriors, that they +remained for a long time under complete awe of the Spaniards. The +chiefs of these Indians sent a deputation to Alvarado, offering +peace and submission, under which they had concealed a plan for +destroying his army in the following manner. At a short distance +there was a place called Utatlan, in a very difficult rugged +country, and surrounded by defiles, to which they invited him to +march, intending to fall upon him there with all their forces, as +in that place the cavalry could not act.</p> + +<p>Alvarado accordingly marched to Utatlan, a town of +considerable strength, which had only two gates, the ascent to +one of which was by a stair of about twenty-five steps, and the +other opened to a very bad broken causeway, the streets likewise +being very narrow, and the houses very close together. Observing +the bad situation of this place, and that the women and children +had disappeared, Alvarado began to suspect that some mischief was +in contemplation; and he was informed by some Indians of the +place he had last quitted, that a number of warriors were +concealed all round the place, to which they meant to set fire in +the night, and then assault him with all their forces. Alvarado +immediately called his troops to arms, and marched out into the +open country, telling the chiefs that he did so for the purpose +of procuring grass for his horses. They did not seem pleased with +this change; and as soon as Alvarado was completely clear of the +town, he seized the principal cacique, whom he reproached for his +treachery, and ordered to be burnt alive. Father Olmedo obtained +a respite of this sentence, with permission to endeavour to +convert the condemned cacique to the holy faith, in which he +exerted himself a whole day, and at length succeeded: and, <i>as +an indulgence</i>, his punishment was commuted to hanging, and +his territory given to his son. After this, Alvarado attacked and +dispersed the native warriors who were in the neighbourhood of +the town. When this success became known in Guatimala, which was +engaged in hostility with the people of Utatlan, they sent an +embassy to treat with Alvarado before his arrival on their +frontiers, bringing a present of gold, declaring their submission +to the government of our emperor, and offering to serve as allies +in all our wars. Alvarado accepted their submission and offer of +service, and desired them to send him 2000 of their warriors, +with which they immediately complied; and as the people of +Utatlan had again rebelled, he remained eight days in their +country, collecting considerable spoil and making many slaves; +after which he marched to the city of Guatimala, where he was +hospitably received.</p> + +<p>As the utmost harmony subsisted between Alvarado and the +natives of Guatimala, the chiefs of that nation represented to +him that a nation in their neighbourhood, called the Altitlans, +who occupied several strong fortresses on the side of a lake, had +refused to make submission to him, and that they were a barbarous +and malicious people. Alvarado sent a message commanding these +people to submit, but they abused his messengers; on which he +marched against them with 140 Spanish soldiers and 2000 warriors +of the Guatimalans, and was resisted by a strong force of the +Altitlans, whom he soon defeated with considerable loss, and +pursued to their fortresses on the lake. Having driven them from +these fortresses, they took shelter in an island of the lake, to +which he sent several of their chiefs whom he had taken +prisoners, to persuade them into peace and submission, in which +he at length succeeded, partly by threats and partly by promises, +and returned to Guatimala. Father Olmedo exerted himself so +effectually in his mission, that he prevailed upon the people to +imitate our example, in adoring the holy Virgin, for which +purpose he erected an altar and image of our lady, and explained +the mysteries of the Christian faith to the natives. A people +named the Pipiles, who came from a considerable distance towards +the south, to enter into submission to Alvarado, informed him +that a nation in their way, called the Izcuintepecs, were of a +malignant disposition, and maltreated all travellers through +their country. He sent, therefore, a message to invite them to +come in and submit, which they refused to comply with; for which +reason he marched into their country with his whole force, united +to a strong body of his allies of Guatimala, and made great +havock among them. Not having been present in this expedition, as +I did not go into the province of Guatimala until my return from +Higueras, I have only given a short summary of the conquest of +Guatimala and its dependencies, which may be found related at +full length in a book written by Gonzalo de Alvarado.</p> + +<p>About this time Cortes was informed that the provinces of +Higueras and Honduras contained rich mines, and some sailors +reported that the native fishers of these countries used weights +to their nets made of gold mixed with copper; they alleged also, +that a strait or passage would probably be found in that +direction into the Pacific Ocean. On these accounts he determined +to send some troops to that country under Christoval de Oli, to +inquire after the mines, and to search for this reported strait, +by which a communication might be opened with the Spice Islands; +and as the way by land was long and difficult, it was determined +to send this expedition by sea. Accordingly, de Oli embarked in +six ships, with a force of 370 soldiers, 100 of whom were +musqueteers and crossbow-men, and 22 cavalry. Five of the veteran +conquerors of Mexico went along with this expedition; among whom +was one Briones, a seditious fellow and a bitter enemy of Cortes; +besides whom, many of the soldiers on this expedition were +greatly dissatisfied at the unequal distribution of lands which +had been made in New Spain. De Oli was ordered to go first to the +Havanna, to procure a supply of provisions and necessaries, and +then to pursue his voyage to the Higueras to make the necessary +inquiries for the reported mines and straits; after which he was +to build a town in some commodious situation. To advance the +interests of our holy religion, he was provided with two friars, +one of whom understood the Mexican language. At the Havanna, de +Oli took on board five of the followers of Garay, who had been +expelled from Panuco for seditious conduct, who ingratiated +themselves into his confidence, and advised him to renounce his +obedience to Cortes, in which they were aided by Briones; so that +he at length went over to the party of Velasquez, who engaged to +make such representations at court that the command of this +intended settlement might be given to de Oli independent of +Cortes. De Oli was a brave man, and endowed with many good +qualities, yet unfit for his present employment, having been +brought up in the house of Velasquez, so that he was the more +readily influenced by bad advisers to desert the interest of +Cortes to whom he lay under great obligations. On the third of +May, de Oli arrived at his station, which he named <i>El Triumpho +de la Cruz</i>, where he appointed to the civil administration of +the new colony, such alcaldes and regidors as had been +recommended by Cortes, and even took possession of the country +for his majesty in the name of Cortes, as he wished to conceal +his secession from our general till he saw whether the country +was sufficiently rich to be worth while to set up an independent +government; as, if it turned out otherwise, he could return to +his possessions in Mexico, and gloss over his negociations with +Velasquez, under pretence of having done so in order to procure +the necessary supplies. In this manner was the new colony of El +Triumpho established, from whence Cortes had no intelligence for +more than eight months.</p> + +<p>There were a considerable number of veterans and Spaniards of +rank, established in the town of Coatzacuaclo, otherwise called +Del Espiritu Santo, who were entrusted with the government of +that province, together with the districts of Citla, Tabasco, +Cimatan, Choutalpa, Cachula, Zoque, the Quilenes, Cinacatan, +Chamuela, Chiapa, Papanahausta, Pinula, Xaltepec, Huaxaltepec, +Chinantla, Tepeque, and others; but through all New Spain, the +demand for tribute was the signal of insurrection, and all who +attempted to levy it were killed, as were all Spaniards who fell +into the hands of the natives; so that we were continually +obliged to go from one town to another with a company of soldiers +to preserve peace. As the district of Cimatan was particularly +refractory, and Captain Luis Marin could not conveniently send a +body of troops to that place, I and three other Spaniards were +sent there to endeavour to prevail on the people to submit. On +approaching the principal town, we were attacked by a large body +of Indians, who killed two of my companions, and wounded me +desperately in the throat. My surviving companion made off to +some canoes on the banks of the river Macapa, leaving me alone +and in great jeopardy; but I crept under cover of some bushes +where I lay some time almost exhausted, and recovering my +strength after some time, I forced my way through the natives, +and escaped to where my companion was in the canoes, with four +Indians whom we had brought with us to carry our baggage, which +they had thrown away, and for the sake of which the natives +quitted us, so that we got across the river, which is broad and +deep and full of alligators. To avoid the Indians, we concealed +ourselves for eight days in the woods, so that we were concluded +to be lost, and our property in lands and Indians was divided +among the other Spaniards, such being then the custom in New +Spain. We returned to the town, however, at the end of +twenty-three days, to the great joy of our friends, and the +disappointment of those who had succeeded to our property.</p> + +<p>Our captain, Luis Marin, thought proper to wait upon Cortes, +to represent the necessity of a reinforcement; and accordingly +got thirty soldiers, commanded by Alonzo de Grado, with orders +for all the Spaniards at Coatzacualco to march for the province +of Chiapa, which was then in a state of rebellion, and directions +to build a town there to keep the natives in order. In the first +place, we had to make roads through the woods, and the country +being very marshy, we were under the necessity of constructing +causeways in many places to enable the horses to pass. The first +place we came to was Tezputzlan, and thence to Cachula, beyond +which there had been no passage before our expedition, all the +other natives being in great fear of the inhabitants of Chiapa, +who were then the bravest warriors in all America, and had never +been subdued by the Mexicans; but they were extremely barbarous, +being in use to rob all passengers, and to carry away the natives +of other districts to till their ground. The present expedition +was during Lent, and as well as I can now remember, in the year +1524, our little army consisting of 27 cavalry, 23 musqueteers, +72 foot soldiers armed with sword and target, and one field-piece +under the direction of a cowardly fellow of a gunner, who +pretended to have served in Italy. Besides these, we had 50 +Mexican warriors, and the cacique of Cachula with some of his +principal people, who were all terribly afraid. On approaching +Chiapa, an advanced guard of four of our most active soldiers, of +whom I was one, always preceded the army to reconnoitre, and as +the ground was not fit for a horse, I left mine behind. We were +usually about half a league in front of the army, but on our +approach to Estapa, their first settlement, some of the hunters +of Chiapa perceived us at a distance, and gave the alarm by means +of smoke. The road was now wide and convenient, between well +cultivated fields of corn and other vegetables; and on coming to +Estapa we found it abandoned by the inhabitants, on which we +posted our guards and patroles, and took up our quarters for the +night. We were soon disturbed by information from our out-guards, +that the natives were collecting on every side to attack us; and, +going out of town to meet them we had a severe action, in which +they killed two of our soldiers and four horses, wounding our +reverend father Fra Juan, and thirteen soldiers, including our +captain Luis Marin, who was wounded in two places; besides which +many of our allies were slain. This action lasted till dark +night, when the enemy were forced to retire, leaving fifteen +slain and many wounded in the field. From two of the wounded, who +seemed chiefs, we learnt that a general attack was intended +against us next day. These people were clothed in good defensive +armour of quilted cotton, using darts hardened in the fire, war +clubs, and lances longer than ours, and they fought with unusual +bravery; insomuch that, when one of our horsemen halted to make a +thrust, the Indians seized the horse, and either wrested the +lance from the horseman or pulled him to the ground.</p> + +<p>Next day we pursued our march to Chiapa, a place with very +regular streets, and containing not less than four thousand +families, besides the dependent towns and villages around. We had +not proceeded above a quarter of a league from Estapa, where we +had passed the night, when we found the whole warriors of the +district drawn up to oppose us, well armed, dressed up in plumes +of feathers, and making the hills resound with their warlike +shouts. They attacked us with the utmost fury, and our black +gunner was so stupified with fear, that he stood long trembling +before he durst put the match to the gun, and when he fired the +piece all the good he did was wounding three of our own men. +After a severe conflict, we at length forced them to fly; but +they rallied in some broken ground, reinforced by some fresh +bodies of Indians, and attacked us again by surprize, while we +were giving God thanks for our victory. In these new troops, many +were provided with long thongs to twist round our horses, and +some carried the nets they used in hunting for the same purpose. +In this second battle the enemy were so desperate that they +killed two of our soldiers and five horses, and scarce one of us +escaped without a wound. They had along with them a very fat aged +woman, whom they esteemed a wizard, who had promised them the +victory. Her body was all covered over with paint mixed with +cotton wool; and she advanced fearlessly amid our allies, who +were regularly formed by companies, by whom she was cut to +pieces. At length, by a violent effort, we forced the enemy to +fly, some taking to the rocks and others to the river, and being +excellent swimmers they made their escape. We then halted and +sang the <i>Salve regina</i>: After which we took possession of a +town on the river, where we halted for the night, taking care of +our wounded, and carefully concealing our dead.</p> + +<p>About midnight, ten chiefs of neighbouring districts came down +the river in five canoes, and were brought to our captain, whom +they informed that they belonged to the nation of the Xaltepecs, +who were at war with the people of Chiapa, and came to offer +their assistance to us against them, on condition that we should +afterwards support the independence of their nation against the +people of Chiapa. This was very satisfactory to us, as we could +not have passed the river, which was both broad and deep, without +their assistance; the chiefs were therefore dismissed with a +promise on our part of protection, and on theirs to bring us +canoes and auxiliaries. During the remainder of the night we had +to keep strict guard, as the drums and horns of the enemy were +heard on the opposite banks of the river, where their warriors +were collecting from all sides to attack us. As soon as it was +light, our new friends joined us with the promised canoes, and +shewed us a very dangerous ford, which they urged us to pass +without delay, that we might endeavour to save the lives of some +of their people who had been recently made prisoners by the +enemy. We accordingly passed the river in a solid column at the +ford, which reached our armpits, and where we lost one of our +cavalry. On gaining the opposite bank, we were so hotly assailed +by the enemy with darts and arrows, that every one of us had two +or three wounds before we got out of the water. But as we were +now joined by large bodies of those Indians who had offered their +assistance, we soon compelled the enemy to fly for shelter to +their city, against which we immediately advanced in good order, +accompanied by our new allies. On arriving there, it seemed too +closely built to be occupied with safety, and we encamped +therefore in the open field, sending messengers to invite them to +peace, with which they complied, by sending a deputation of their +chiefs, who submitted to become subject to our sovereign, and +requiring that the neighbouring tribes might be prevented from +destroying their houses and plantations. All these things being +settled to our mutual satisfaction, we went into the town, where +we found many prisoners confined in wooden cages, who had been +seized by the Chiapese while travelling from place to place, all +of whom we set free. In the temples of this place we found +several idols of horrible figures, and many remains of men and +boys, who had been recently sacrificed. Our reverend father Fra +Juan, broke all the idols to pieces, and preached so successfully +that many were baptized. Many of the chiefs of the neighbouring +tribes came in and made their submission: Among these were the +chiefs of Cinacatan, Papanahaustla, Pinola, Guehuistlan, Chamula, +the Quilenes, and others who spoke the Zoque language, and many +other tribes, the names of which I do not now remember. These +people were much surprised when they perceived the smallness of +the force with which we had ventured to attack a nation so +warlike as the Chiapese, whom the Mexicans were never able to +subdue.</p> + +<p>While our captain was thus occupied in arranging matters with +the chiefs of the surrounding districts, one of our soldiers went +accompanied by eight Mexicans, to a town called Chamula, where he +demanded a contribution of gold in the name of our captain, +though entirely without authority. A quantity was accordingly +offered him; but not being satisfied with the amount, he +attempted to seize the cacique, by which violent proceeding he +occasioned an insurrection of that town, and another in the +neighbourhood called Quiahuitlan, or Guehuistlan. When this +improper transaction came to the ears of our captain, he sent the +soldier a prisoner to Mexico, and immediately marched to Chamula +to quell the insurrection, being assisted on this occasion by the +inhabitants of Cinacatan, a polished tribe which was addicted to +merchandize. On our arrival at Chamula, we found the place +strongly fortified by art and nature, and the people well armed, +having a peculiar species of large shield which covered the whole +body, and could be rolled up into a small compass when not in +use. Our cavalry were ordered to keep guard in the plain in our +rear, to watch the motions of the insurgents in the neighbouring +districts; while the infantry endeavoured to force their way into +the town; but our musketeers made very little impression, as the +enemy were covered by their walls, while their missiles injured +us materially, being exposed without any defence. We continued +the attack during the whole day to very little purpose, being +unable to force the ramparts, which were guarded by above 2000 +men armed with lances. We therefore drew off for the time, and +procured some timber from a depopulated town in the +neighbourhood, with which we constructed certain machines named +<i>mantas</i> or <i>burros</i>, under cover of which twenty men +or more could approach the walls in safety, to work a passage +through them. On our first attempt to do this, the enemy threw +down upon our machines, heavy stones, fire, and scalding water, +so that we were constrained to remove our machines to repair the +injury they had sustained. We again brought forward our machines +to the walls, and at length succeeded in making several breaches. +While employed in this manner, four of their principal chiefs and +priests addressed us from the top of the ramparts, saying, since +we wanted gold they had brought us some, and then threw over +seven crowns of fine gold, with many gold trinkets, some of which +were cast in the shape of various birds, shells, and the like; +immediately after which they assailed us with repeated vollies of +darts, arrows, and stones. By the time that it was dark, we had +made two considerable breaches; but as a heavy rain came on, we +drew off for the night, keeping a vigilant guard round our post, +and having our cavalry on the alert in the plain, ready saddled +and bridled. During the whole night, the enemy kept continually +sounding their warlike instruments, making horrid yells, and +threatening us with destruction next day, which they said was +promised by their gods. We brought forward our machines again at +day-break to enlarge the breaches we had made on the preceding +day; but the enemy defended themselves with great obstinacy, +wounding five of our people, and myself among the rest by the +thrust of a lance, which had gone through me, had it not been for +the strength of my quilted cotton armour. Towards evening it came +on again to rain hard, and we were called off from the attack; +but as the enemy ceased to shout and make their usual noises, I +suspected they were about leaving the town, and perceived also +that their lances were mostly rested against the walls and +parapets, except about two hundred which still appeared in the +hands of a part of the enemy. On this, I and one of my comrades +crept in at a small breach in the wall, and were immediately +attacked by above two hundred of these lancemen, who would soon +have dispatched us, if some of our Indian allies had not noticed +our perilous situation, and called the rest of our soldiers to +our aid, who crowded in at the breach and soon enabled us to put +the enemy to flight. These were only the rear guard of the +garrison, all the rest of the inhabitants, men, women, and +children, having evacuated the town by the opposite gate. We +immediately pursued, and made many prisoners.</p> + +<p>Leaving this place, we marched for Cinacatan, and halted for +the night at the place where <i>Chiapa de los +Éspanoles</i> is now built; from whence our captain +dismissed six of our prisoners, with a message to their +countrymen, offering to restore all the rest of the prisoners, if +they would submit. They immediately complied with this, and +submitted themselves as subjects to the Spanish monarchy. In this +neighbourhood dwelt a nation called the Guehuistlans[2], who +possessed three fortified towns, and were in rebellion against +us. Leaving our baggage and wounded men in Cinacatan, we +proceeded to reduce these people to submission. They had +barricaded all the approaches to their towns by means of felled +trees, which were cleared away by the aid of our Indian allies, +and we got up to one of their fortresses, which threatened to +give us infinite trouble, as it was full of warriors, well armed +both for offence and defence. But they all fled when we mounted +to the assault, leaving the place to us without resistance. By +means of two prisoners who were taken by our allies, offers of +peace and good treatment were sent to them, on condition of +submission; with which they complied, bringing with them some +trifling presents of gold and <i>quetzal</i> feathers.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] Diaz is often variable in his orthography of +Indian names; calling this people in different places, +Gueguestitlans, Guehuistlans, and Quiahuistlans.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Having thus effected our business in this place, by reducing +all the surrounding tribes to submission, we proceeded, according +to the orders of Cortes, to establish a colony, though some who +had already plantations and Indians in Coatzacualco objected to +this place as unfit for cavalry, and that our force was too small +for keeping so populous a district under subjection, especially +as the natives had many strong fortresses in the fastnesses of +their mountains. Even our captain, Luis Marin, and the royal +notary Diego de Godoy, were adverse to the plan. Alonzo de Grado, +also, a very troublesome fellow, was possessed of a patent from +Cortes, by which he was entitled to an <i>encomienda</i> in the +province of Chiapa, when reduced to obedience; and in virtue of +this, he demanded that all the gold which had been received from +the Indians of Chiapa, and also, that which had been found in the +temples, amounting to about 1500 crowns, should be delivered up +to him. This was refused by Marin, who alleged that it ought to +be applied for replacing the horses which were killed during the +expedition. These disputes ran so high, that our captain ordered +both Godoy and De Grado into irons, intending to send them to +Mexico. Godoy obtained his liberty by concessions; and in return +for this lenity entered into cabals with De Grado for +misrepresenting the conduct of Marin to Cortes. On this occasion +I was solicited to write to Cortes in exculpation of De Grado, as +they said that Cortes would believe my statements. I wrote +accordingly a true state of the case, but in no respect charging +Marin with any thing amiss. De Grado was sent off to Mexico, +under an oath to appear before Cortes in eighty days, as the +distance he had to travel exceeded 190 leagues. On his arrival, +Cortes was so much displeased by his conduct, that he ordered De +Grado to take 3000 crowns and retire to Cuba, that he might give +no farther trouble in his government; but De Grado made such +ample apologies, that he was restored to favour. As it was +finally resolved to establish a colony in this place, and as I +had an order to that effect from Cortes, our captain, who was +likewise my particular friend, appointed me to the command of the +<i>encomienda</i> at Cinacatan, which I enjoyed for eight years. +As soon as possible after my appointment, I procured a reverend +father to preach to the Indians, whom I was anxious to convert to +our holy faith. He accordingly erected an altar and crucifix, and +preached with so much success, that fifteen of the Indians +offered themselves for baptism on the first day of his mission; +which gave me infinite satisfaction, as I felt the warmest +interest in the welfare of these people, whom I looked upon as my +own children.</p> + +<p>When all things were properly settled at this place, we +resolved to chastise the people of Cimatan who had slain two of +the party with which I had been deputed to them, as formerly +mentioned near the beginning of this section. In our way to that +place, we had to march through a district named Tapelola, which +was so very rugged that our horses were unable to proceed until +the roads were cleared for them, which was immediately done on +application to the caciques. We continued our march by the +districts of Silo, Suchiapa, and Coyumelapa, to those of +Tecomayatacal and Ateapan; the chief town of which was extensive, +closely built, and very populous. This place belonged to my +<i>encomienda</i>. Near this town there was a large and deep +river which it was necessary for us to pass, where we were +opposed by the people of the vicinity with so much vigour that we +had six soldiers wounded and three of our horses killed; but we +put them to flight, and they withdrew into the woods and +mountains, after setting fire to their town. We remained here +five days, taking care of our wounded men; and as we had taken +many of the women of this district, some of them were sent out to +invite the natives to return and submit, with which they +complied. Godoy was averse from the lenity shewn on this +occasion, and insisted that these people ought to be punished for +their revolt, or at least made to pay for the horses which they +had slain. I happened to be of a different opinion; and as I +spoke freely, Godoy became enraged and used very angry words, +which I retorted. At length we proceeded to blows and drew our +swords; and if we had not been parted one or other of us must +have been killed, we were both so much enraged. Even as it was, +several cuts were given and received on both sides, before we +were separated. Marin was a good man and of a mild disposition, +so that he restored every thing to these deluded people and left +them in peace.</p> + +<p>We continued our march through the other districts of Cimatlan +and Talatiopan, where we were attacked by a numerous body of +archers, by whom above twenty of our soldiers were wounded and +two horses killed; but we very soon defeated them. These people +were the most powerful archers I had yet seen, as they were able +to drive their arrows through two suits of well quilted cotton +armour; and their country is mostly composed of a marsh which +quakes under foot. It was in vain therefore to think of pursuing +the natives in such an impracticable country; and as they treated +all our offers of peace with contempt, we judged it best to +return to our colony of Coatzacualco; which we did through the +districts of Guimango, Nacaxa, Xuica, Teotitlan, Copilco, and +some others which I do not remember the names of, to Ulapa, and +thence across the rivers Agaqualulco and Tonala to Coatzacualco, +where the slain horses were paid for at the rate of a penny the +pound.</p> + +<p>SECTION XVIII.</p> + +<p><i>Negotiations of Cortes at the Court of Spain, in respect to +the Conquest and Government of Mexico</i>.</p> + +<p>In the year 1521, the holy father Adrian de Lobayana, +succeeded to the papacy, he being then governor of Castille and +resident in the city of Vittoria, where our agents waited upon +him to kiss the foot of his holiness. About the same time a great +nobleman, named M. de la Soa, arrived from Germany, who was +chamberlain to our emperor, and was sent by him to congratulate +the new pope on his election. When this nobleman was informed of +the heroic deeds of the conquerors of Mexico, and the great +things they had performed for the extension of the holy faith, by +the conversion and baptism of such myriads of Indians, he became +interested in our behalf, and made application to his holiness to +expedite the business of our agents. This was readily acceded to, +as besides the allegations of our agents, the pope had received +other complaints against the bishop of Burgos from persons of +quality and honour. Our chief agents on this occasion were +Francisco de Montejo, Diego de Ordas, Francisco Nunez cousin to +our general, and his father Martin Cortes; who were countenanced +by many powerful noblemen, and chiefly by the Duke of Bejar. Thus +supported, they brought forward their charges against the bishop +to good purpose. These were, that Velasquez had bribed the bishop +by the gift of a considerable district in Cuba, the natives of +which were made to work in the gold mines for his emolument, to +the manifest injury of the royal revenue. That when, in 1517, 110 +of us had sailed at our own expence under the command of +Hernandez de Cordova for the discovery of New Spain, the bishop +had falsely informed his majesty that it was done by Velasquez. +That Velasquez had transmitted 20,000 crowns in gold, which had +been procured by his nephew Juan de Grijalva on our second +voyage, all of which was given to the bishop, and no part of it +to his majesty to whom it belonged. That when Cortes sent home a +large contribution in gold to his majesty, the bishop had +suppressed our letters, substituting others, and ascribed the +present to Velasquez, retaining half of the treasure to his own +use; and, when Puertocarrera applied to him for permission to +wait upon his majesty, the bishop had thrown him into prison, +where he died. That the bishop had forbidden the officers of the +<i>Casa de contratation</i> of Seville to give any assistance to +Cortes, by which the public service had suffered manifest injury. +That he had appointed very unfit persons to the military command +in New Spain, as was particularly the case with regard to +Christoval de Tapia, to whom he had given a commission as +governor of New Spain, in order to bring about a marriage between +his niece and Tapia. That he had given authenticity to the false +accounts transmitted by the agents of Velasquez, suppressing the +true relations which came from Cortes. There were many other +charges against the bishop which he could not gainsay, as they +were all substantiated by good evidence.</p> + +<p>All these things being made clear to his holiness, he was +pleased to order, that the bishop should have no longer any +authority in regard to the affairs of New Spain, of which the +government should be conferred on Cortes, and that Velasquez +should be remunerated for all the expences he had incurred on +account of the expedition, which he could duly substantiate. His +holiness sent also to New Spain, a great number of indulgences +for the hospitals and churches, and recommended to Cortes and the +other conquerors to pay unremitting attention to the conversion +of the Indians, and was pleased to send us his holy bulls of +absolution. His majesty graciously confirmed all these orders of +the pope, ordering Velasquez to be deprived of the government of +Cuba, on account of having sent the expedition under Narvaez, in +defiance of peremptory orders to the contrary from the royal +audience of St Domingo, and the Jeronymite brethren. The bishop +was so much affected by his disgrace on this occasion, that he +fell dangerously ill.</p> + +<p>About this time, Panfilo de Narvaez and Christoval de Tapia +arrived in Spain, together with the pilot Umbria and Cardenas, +who by the instigation of the bishop of Burgos, preferred many +severe accusations against Cortes to his majesty, in which they +were gladly joined by the agents of Velasquez. They alleged, that +Velasquez had fitted out three several expeditions for New Spain +at vast expence, the last of which he had confided to Cortes, who +broke his engagements and converted the armament to his own +advantage. That when Velasquez sent Narvaez as governor of New +Spain, with his majesties commission, Cortes made war upon him, +defeated him and made him a prisoner. That when the bishop of +Burgos sent Tapia to take the command of New Spain in the name of +his majesty, Cortes refused obedience, and compelled him to +re-embark. They also accused Cortes of having embezzled a great +quantity of gold which he had obtained for his majesty; of taking +a fifth of all the plunder to his own use; of having tortured +Guatimotzin; of defrauding the soldiers of their shares; of +making the natives of Mexico construct for his use magnificent +palaces and castles as large as villages; of having poisoned +Francisco de Garay, in order to get possession of his ships and +troops, and many other charges of a similar nature. By command of +his majesty, a court of inquiry was appointed from the privy +council, to hear and determine upon these allegations, before +which the following answers were given in. That Cordova was the +real discoverer of New Spain, which had been done by him and his +companions at their own cost. That although Velasquez had sent +Juan de Grijalva on an expedition to New Spain, it was only for +the purpose of trade, and not of colonization. That the principal +charges had been expended by the different captains, and not by +Velasquez, who had received the chief part of 20,000 crowns which +these captains had collected. That Velasquez gave Indians in Cuba +to the bishop of Burgos to collect gold for him, which ought to +have belonged to his majesty. That although it was true Velasquez +had sent Cortes to New Spain, his orders were only to barter; and +the establishment he had made was entirely owing to the +representations of his companions for the service of God and his +majesty, and in no respect due to the instructions of Velasquez. +That it was well known to all, that Cortes had reported the whole +of his proceedings to his majesty, to whom he and his companions +sent all the gold they could procure, waiting his majesties +ultimate orders in the utmost humility; whereas the bishop of +Burgos suppressed his letters, and appropriated the gold to his +own use, concealing our meritorious services from his majesty, +preventing our agents from gaining access to the emperor, and +even throwing one of them into prison, where he died; and that he +prevented the royal officers from supplying us with such things +as we needed, by which our enterprize had been much retarded. +That all these things had been done by the bishop from corrupt +motives, that he might give the government of Mexico to Velasquez +or Tapia, in order that one of them might marry his <i>niece</i> +Donna Petronilla de Fonseca, being anxious to make his +<i>son-in-law</i> governor of that splendid kingdom. As for the +expedition of Narvaez, our agents contended that Velasquez ought +to suffer death for having sent it in direct disobedience of his +majesties orders as communicated by the royal audience; and that +he had behaved with high disrespect to his majesty, in making his +application to the bishop of Burgos on this occasion. In support +of all these accusations they offered to bring substantial +proofs, and prayed the court to award punishment for these +multiplied offences.</p> + +<p>In reply to the accusations of Narvaez against Cortes, they +represented, that Narvaez sent word to Montezuma on his arrival +in Mexico, that he came to rescue him, by which he occasioned a +dangerous war. That when Cortes desired to see his commission, +and represented the necessity of an amicable junction of their +forces for the good of the service, Narvaez would give no answer, +but immediately declared war against Cortes and his companions, +by which they were forced to defend themselves, and that Narvaez +had even presumed to seize his majesties oydor, for which Cortes +deemed it requisite to bring him to punishment. That when Cortes +went to wait on Narvaez, that he might see his commission and +remonstrate with him on his proceedings, Narvaez had attempted to +make him prisoner by surprise, of which proof could be made by +witnesses. As to the failure of Garay, and the ridiculous charge +of having poisoned him; it was well known that the expedition +under Garay had failed through his own misconduct and ignorance +of the country; after which he had gladly accepted the friendly +offers of Cortes, who had given him an hospitable reception in +Mexico, where an alliance was agreed upon between their families, +and Garay was to have been assisted in establishing a colony on +the river Palmas; and finally, it was established beyond all +doubt, by the oaths of the physicians who attended him, that +Garay had died of a pleurisy. In regard to the charge of +retaining his majesties fifth, it was proved that Cortes had +fairly expended it in the public service, together with 6000 +crowns of his own property. That the fifth which he had retained +for himself, was according to compact with the soldiers; and as +to the shares belonging to the soldiers, it was well known that +very little gold was found in Mexico on its capture, as almost +all the wealth of the place had fallen into the hands of our +allies of Tlascala and Tezcuco. That the torture given to +Guatimotzin had been done by his majesties officers, contrary to +the inclination of Cortes, in order to force a discovery of where +the treasures of Montezuma had been concealed. As for the +buildings, though certainly sumptuous, they were intended for the +use of his majesty and his successors, and that the work had been +carried on by the Indians, under the order of Guatimotzin, as was +always done in building houses for the great in that country. As +to Alonzo de Avila having taken the commission from Narvaez by +force; it appeared there was no commission among his papers, +which consisted entirely of receipts for the purchase of horses +and the like; and farther, that these papers had been taken +without any order from Cortes, who never saw any of them. As for +Tapia, it was urged, that if he had come to Mexico and produced +his majesties orders, they should have been received and obeyed +by Cortes with the utmost humility: But that his incapacity was +so notorious to every one then in New Spain, that it was the +universal advice and desire of all that Cortes should retain the +command. As to the pilot Umbria, whose feet had been cut off, +this had been done in the due course of justice, for having run +away with his ship. That Cardenas had consented along with all +the rest to give up his share of the gold, that the whole might +be sent to his majesty; and that Cortes had given him 300 crowns +from his own pocket, which was more than he deserved, being a +person of no consideration and no soldier.</p> + +<p>The court having duly weighed all the charges and answers, the +whole proceedings were reported to his majesty, together with +their opinion and sentence, which were entirely in favour of +Cortes, whose merit and valour, and that of all the veteran +conquerors of Mexico, were highly praised. Velasquez was enjoined +silence in respect to his complaints against Cortes, and was told +that he might seek for the remuneration of his expences by a +legal process. Cortes was declared governor-general of New Spain, +pursuant to the orders of the pope, and the court approved of the +arrangements which he had made in the country, authorizing him to +distribute and appoint the districts or <i>repartimientos</i> in +the way he thought proper. Narvaez was referred for redress to +France, where Avila was still a prisoner. The pilots Umbria and +Cardenas obtained royal grants of property in New Spain, to the +extent of a thousand crowns in annual rent. And it was ordained +that all the veterans of Cortes should have immediate and ample +gratifications in lands and Indians, with such precedency in rank +as their valour and services had deserved. This sentence was +confirmed by the emperor at Valladolid, who was then on his road +to Flanders; and he gave orders likewise for the banishment of +all relapsed converts in New Spain, and that no +<i>Scholars</i>[1] should be admitted into that country for a +certain term of years. His majesty, and his brother the king of +Hungary, were graciously pleaded to write letters to Cortes, and +to us the conquerors, thanking us for the good service we had +performed.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] This probably alludes to <i>lawyers</i>, as on a +former occasion, Diaz mentions a request from the Spaniards that +none of that fraternity might be sent over to New Spain, probably +to avoid the introduction of litigious law +suits.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>This affair being decided in our favour, the necessary +documents were entrusted to two relations of Cortes, Roderigo de +Paz and Francisco de las Casas, who carried them in the first +place to St Jago in the island of Cuba, where Velasquez resided. +On the sentence being made known to him, and proclaimed by sound +of trumpet, he fell ill from vexation, and died soon afterwards +poor and miserable. Francisco de Montejo had the government of +Yucutan and Cozumel from his majesty, with the title of Don. +Diego de Ordas was ennobled, getting for his coat of arms the +volcano of Guaxocingo, and was confirmed in all his possessions +in New Spain. He went back to Spain two years afterwards to +solicit permission to conquer the province of Maranion, in which +enterprize he lost his life and all his property. On the arrival +of Las Casas and De Paz in Mexico with the appointment of Cortes +to the government, there were great rejoicings everywhere. Las +Casas was made a captain, and got the <i>encomienda</i> of a good +district called Anquitlan; and De Paz was appointed major-domo +and secretary to Cortes, getting likewise valuable possessions. +Cortes liberally rewarded the captain of the vessel which brought +out this pleasing information, and provided handsomely for all +who came out to New Spain from his native country of Medellin. +All the proceedings of our agents in Spain were regularly +conveyed to us the conquerors; but it seemed to me that they +agented solely for Cortes and themselves, as we who had raised +Cortes to his greatness, were continually encountering dangers +and hardships, without any reward. May God protect us, and +inspire our great emperor to cause his just intentions towards us +to be carried into effect. To us, the ancient, wise, and brave +conquerors of Mexico, it appeared that Cortes ought to have duly +considered his true friends, who had supported him from the first +through all his difficulties and dangers, and ought to have +rewarded us according to our respective merits, and his majesties +orders, by giving us good and profitable situations, instead of +leaving us poor and miserable. By his majesties orders, and by +his duty, Cortes was bound to have given to us and our children +all the good offices in the kingdom of New Spain; but be thought +only of himself and his favourites. In our opinion, who were the +conquerors, the whole country ought to have been divided into +five equal parts, allotting one to the crown, another for the +holy church, and the remaining three parts to Cortes and the rest +of us, who were the true original conquerors, giving each a share +in perpetuity in proportion to our rank and merits, considering +that we had not only served his majesty in gratuity, but without +his knowledge, and, almost against his will. This arrangement +would have placed us at our ease; instead of which, many of us +are wandering about, almost without a morsel to eat, and God only +knows what may become of our children.</p> + +<p>To the veedor Pedro Alonzo Chirinos, Gonzalo Salazar the +factor, Rodrigo Albornos the contador, and many others who came +now from Spain, and to the dependents of great men, who flattered +him and told him fine tales, Cortes refused nothing; but he +treated us the true conquerors like vassals, forgetting us +entirely in the distribution of property, yet never failing to +call upon us when he wanted our assistance, as if we had been fit +only for expeditions and battles. I do not blame him for being +generous, as there was enough for all; but he ought in the first +place to have considered those who had served his majesty in the +conquest of this noble kingdom, and to whose blood and valour he +was indebted for his own elevation. Long afterwards, when Luis +Ponce de Leon came out to supersede Cortes, we the veteran +conquerors represented to our general that he ought to give us +that property which he had been ordered by his majesty to resign. +He expressed his sorrow for having so long neglected us, and +promised even with an oath, that he would provide for us all, if +he returned to his government, thinking to satisfy us with smooth +words and empty promises.</p> + +<p>SECTION XIX.</p> + +<p><i>Of an Expedition against the Zapotecas, and various other +Occurrences</i>.</p> + +<p>Intelligence was brought to Mexico that the Zapotecas were in +rebellion, on which Rodrigo Rangel, whom I have several times +mentioned already, solicited Cortes to be appointed to the +command of an expedition for their reduction, that he too might +have an opportunity of acquiring fame, proposing likewise to take +Pedro de Ircio along with him as his lieutenant and adviser. +Cortes knew well that Rangel was very unfit for any service of +danger or difficulty, being a miserably diseased object, the +effect of his sins, and put him off therefore by various excuses; +but as he was a very slanderous fellow, whom he wished to get rid +of, he at length agreed to his proposal, and at the same time +wrote for ten or twelve veterans, then residing in Coatzacualco, +of whom I was one, desiring us to accompany Rangel on this +expedition. The country of the Zapotecas is composed of high and +rugged mountains, always enveloped in clouds and mists, with such +narrow and bad roads as to be unfit for cavalry, so steep that +they must be climbed up like ladders, each successive soldier of +the file having his head at the heels of the man immediately +before him. The natives of these mountains are light and active, +and have a way of whistling and shouting, so as to make the hills +resound again, insomuch that it is hardly possible to know on +which side they are coming to attack. Against such enemies in so +strong a country, and with such a leader, it was impossible for +us to effect any thing. We advanced, however, under heavy rain, +to a scattered village, part of the houses being situated on a +rocky ridge, and the rest in a valley, and well it was for us +that the Indians made no stand, as poor Rangel whined and moaned +the whole way, complaining of pains in his limbs, and the +severity of the weather. It was at last agreed, as he grew every +day worse and worse, that we could be of no use here, and were +exposing ourselves needlessly to danger, to abandon this +fruitless expedition, and return to our homes. Pedro de Ircio was +among the first who advised this, and soon set the example, by +retiring to his own town of Villa Rica; but Rangel chose rather +to go along with us to Coatzacualco, to our great +dissatisfaction, as he expected benefit from that warm climate to +relieve him of his pains.</p> + +<p>We were hardly returned to Coatzacualco, when Rangel took it +into his head to go upon an expedition against the Indians of +Cimatan and Tatupan, who continued in rebellion, confiding in the +impracticability of their country, among large rivers and +trembling marshes; being also very formidable warriors, who used +very long bows of great strength. We were all very averse from +this, but as Rangel produced his commission from Cortes, we were +under the necessity to obey, and accordingly set out on the +expedition, with about 100 horse and foot. We soon arrived at a +pass among lakes and marshes, where the Indians had thrown up a +strong circular entrenchment of large trees and pallisades, +having loop-holes to shoot through, and where they gave us a very +warm reception with a flight of darts and arrows, by which they +killed seven horses, and wounded Rangel and eight of our men. We +had often told him what stout warriors these Indians were, and he +now declared that in future the old conquerors should command +him, and not he us, for he would not have been now in such +jeopardy if he had listened to our advice. When our wounded men +and horses were dressed, he requested me to go forward to +reconnoitre, on which I took two comrades, and a fierce dog +belonging to Rangel, desiring the infantry to follow close +behind, but that Rangel and the cavalry might keep at a good +distance in the rear. In this order we pursued our march for +Cimatan, and soon fell in with another post, fortified like the +former, and as strongly defended, whence the Indians assailed us +with a shower of arrows, which killed the dog, and wounded us all +three. On this occasion I received a wound in my leg, and had +seven arrows sticking in my cotton armour. I immediately called +to some of our Indian auxiliaries, who were a little way behind, +to desire all the infantry to come up immediately, but that all +the cavalry must remain behind, as otherwise they would certainly +lose their horses. We soon drove the Indians from their +entrenchments; but they took refuge among the marshes, where we +could not pursue them without running the risk of sinking at +every step.</p> + +<p>Having passed the night at an Indian village, we proceeded +forwards next day, when we were opposed by a body of Indians +posted in a marsh on the border of an open plain. In spite of +every thing we could say, Rangel made a charge upon them with his +cavalry, and was the first to tumble head foremost into the +marsh, where the Indians closed in upon him, in hope of taking +him alive for sacrifice. By great exertions we rescued him from +their hands, half drowned and badly wounded. The country being +very populous, we very soon found a village which the natives had +abandoned, where we went for the purpose of refreshment, and to +dress our wounded men: But had hardly been there a quarter of an +hour, when the enemy attacked us with such violence, that we had +much ado to repel them, after they had killed one of our men and +two horses. Poor Rangel complained grievously of his wounds and +bruises, and was so infested by mosquitoes and other vermin, +which abound greatly in that country, that he could not rest +either day or night. He, and some of the soldiers who had +belonged to Garay that accompanied him, grew very sick of their +expedition, in which nothing had been got except three hard +fought battles, in which eleven horses and two soldiers had been +slain, and many others wounded, on which account they were very +desirous to get home again; yet Rangel was averse from having it +appear that a retreat was his choice, and got, therefore, a +council of those who were of his own opinion to propose that +measure. At this time, I and about twenty more had gone out to +try if we could make any prisoners, and had taken five among some +gardens and plantations near the village. On my return, Rangel +called me aside, and informed me that his council had determined +on a retreat, and desired me to persuade the rest of the +detachment to come into that opinion. "How, Sir," said I, "can +you think of a retreat? What will Cortes and the world say of +you, when they hear of your retreating in two successive +expeditions, without having done any thing? You cannot surely +return without disgrace, till you have reached the head town of +these Indians. I will go forward on foot with the infantry to +reconnoitre: Give my horse to another soldier, and you may follow +in the rear with the cavalry." "You give good advice, said +Rangel, and we will march on." This was done accordingly, to the +great regret of many of our companions, and we advanced in good +order to Cimatan, the principal town of the district, where we +were saluted as usual by a shower of arrows. We entered the town, +however, which was abandoned by the enemy, yet took several +prisoners, whom I dismissed, with an invitation to the chiefs to +come in and make peace with us; but they never returned. Rangel +was very angry at me on this account, and swore that he would +make me procure Indians for him, in place of those whom I had +liberated. To pacify him, I went among the neighbouring marshes +with thirty soldiers, where we picked up several stragglers, whom +we brought to him. But he dismissed these likewise, in hopes to +induce the rest to submit, yet all to no purpose. Thus ended the +two famous expeditions against the Zapotecans and Cimatanese, and +such was all the fame acquired by Rangel in the wars of New +Spain. Two years afterwards, we effected the conquest of both +these countries, the natives of which were converted to our holy +religion, by the grace of God, and through the exertions of +Father Olmedo, now grown weak and infirm, to the great regret of +all who knew him, as he was an excellent minister of the +gospel.</p> + +<p>Cortes had now collected 80,000 crowns in gold, and had caused +a superb golden culverin to be made as a present for the emperor, +on which the following motto was engraved:</p> + +<p><i>Esta ave nacio sin par: Yo en servir os sin segundo; Y vos +sin iqual en el Mundo</i>[1].</p> + +<blockquote>[1] Like the solitary Phoenix, I, without a peer, +serve you, who have no equal in the world.</blockquote> + +<p>This sumptuous present was sent over to Spain under the care +of Diego de Soto. I am uncertain whether Juan de Ribera, who had +been secretary to Cortes went over at the same time with Soto; +but I know that he carried over a sum of money for the generals +father, which he appropriated to his own use; and, unmindful of +the many obligations he had received, he reported much evil of +Cortes, combining with the bishop of Burgos and others to injure +him. I always thought him a bad man, from what I had observed of +him when engaged in gaming, and many other circumstances: But, as +he was of a fluent speech, and had been secretary to Cortes, he +did him much harm, and would have injured him much more, if it +had not been for the interest of the Duke of Bejar, who protected +Cortes, who was then engaged in a treaty of marriage with the +dukes niece, Donna Juana de Zuniga[2]. By this interest, and +combined with the magnificent present brought over by Soto, the +affairs of Cortes at the court of Spain took a favourable turn. +The golden Phoenix with its motto, gave great offence to many, +who thought it presumptuous in Cortes to insinuate that he had no +equal in his services: But his friends justly defended him, +observing that no one had so far extended the fame and power of +his majesty, or had brought so many thousand souls under the +dominion of the holy catholic church as he had done. Neither did +they forget the merits of us his associates, truly declaring that +we were entitled to honours and emoluments, which we had as +justly earned as the original nobles of Castille, whose estates +and honours were now enjoyed by their descendents. The culverin +went no farther than Seville, as his majesty was graciously +pleased to give it to Don Francisco de los Cobos, +commendator-major of Leon, who melted it down. Its value was +20,000 ducats. Martin Cortes, our generals father, brought a suit +against Ribera for the money of which he had defrauded him; and +while that was pending, Ribera died suddenly while at dinner, and +without confession. May God pardon his sins! <i>Amen</i>.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] In Clavigero, at the close of Vol. I. this lady +is named Donna Jeroma Ramirez de Arrellano y Zuniga, daughter of +Don Carlos Ramiro de Arellano, Count of Auguiller, by Donna +Jeroma de Zuniga, a daughter of the Count of Benares, eldest son +of Don Alvaro de Zuniga, duke of Bejar. After two male descents +from this marriage, the Marquisate of the Valley of Oaxaca, and +the great estates of Cortes in New Spain, fell, by various +collateral female descents, to the Neapolitan family of +Pignatelli, duke of Montelione and Terranova, marquis of the +Valley of Oaxaca, Grandee of Spain, and prince of the Roman +empire.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Cortes continued to rebuild and embellish the city of Mexico, +which was again as well peopled by natives as ever it had been +before the conquest. All of these were exempted from paying +tribute to his majesty, till their houses were built, and till +the causeways, bridges, public edifices, and aqueducts, were all +restored. In that quarter of the city appropriated to the +Spaniards, churches and hospitals were erected under the +superintendence of Father Olmedo, as vicar and superior; who +likewise established an hospital for the natives, to whom he paid +particular attention. In compliance with our petition, formerly +mentioned, the general of the Franciscans sent over twelve of his +order, under the vicarage of Father Martin de Valentia. Among +these came Father Torribio de Motolinea, which name, signifying +<i>poor brother</i>, he acquired from the Mexicans, because all +that he received in charity he gave away in the same manner, +going always barefooted in a tattered habit, preaching to the +natives, and often in want of food. When Cortes learnt that these +reverend fathers were arrived at Villa Rica, he ordered the road +to Mexico to be repaired, and to have houses built at proper +intervals for their accommodation; commanding the inhabitants of +all the towns in the way to meet them with the utmost reverence, +ringing their bells, bearing crucifixes and lighted wax-candles, +and that all the Spaniards should kneel down and kiss their +hands. On their approach to Mexico, Cortes went out to meet them, +and dismounting from his horse, kneeled down to kiss the hands of +the vicar. The natives were astonished to see so much honour +conferred on these reverend fathers in tattered garments and bare +feet, and considering them as gods, they all followed the example +of the general, and have ever since behaved to them with the +utmost reverence.</p> + +<p>About this time, Cortes informed his majesty of his +proceedings with regard to the conversion of the natives, and +rebuilding the city of Mexico; and also of the conduct of De Oli, +whom he had sent to reduce the province of Higueras, but who had +deserted and joined the party of Velasquez, on which account he +had resolved to send a force to reduce him to obedience. He +complained also of the proceedings of Velasquez, to the great +injury of his majesties service, and of the partiality which had +been shewn by the bishop of Burgos. At this time likewise, he +remitted 30,000 crowns in gold to the royal treasury, lamenting +the injurious effects of the proceedings of Velasquez and the +bishop, which had prevented him from making a much larger +contribution. He complained also against the contador, Rodrigo de +Albornos, who had aspersed him from private pique, because he had +refused to give him in marriage the daughter of the prince of +Tezcuco; and that he understood Albornos corresponded in cyphers +with the bishop of Burgos. Cortes had not yet learnt that the +bishop was removed from the management of the affairs of the +Indies. By the same ship, Albornos sent home accusations against +Cortes; charging him with the levy of exorbitant contributions in +gold for his own use; fortifying castles to defend himself, and +marrying his private soldiers to the daughters of the native +lords: insinuating that Cortes was endeavouring to set himself up +as an independent king, and that it was highly necessary to send +out an able officer with a great force to supersede him. The +bishop of Burgos laid these letters before the whole junto of the +enemies of Cortes, who immediately produced this new accusation +to the emperor, complaining of the partial favour which had been +shewn him on former occasions. Deceived by these +misrepresentations, which were enforced by Narvaez, his majesty +issued an order to the admiral of Hispaniola, to go with six +hundred soldiers to arrest Cortes, and to make him answer with +his head if found guilty; as also to punish all of us who had +been concerned in attacking Narvaez. As an encouragement, this +officer was promised the admiralty of New Spain, the right to +which was then under litigation. Either from want of money, or +because he was afraid of committing himself against so able and +successful a commander, the admiral delayed his expedition so +long, that the friends and agents of Cortes had time to make a +full explanation of all the circumstances to the Duke of Bejar, +who immediately represented a true statement of the case to the +emperor, and offered to pledge his own life in security for the +loyalty of Cortes. Being on due consideration quite satisfied of +the justice of our cause, his majesty determined to send out a +person of high quality and good character to hold a supreme court +of justice in New Spain. The person chosen for this purpose was +Luis Ponce de Leon, cousin to Don Martin, Count of Cordova; whom +his majesty entrusted to inquire into the conduct of Cortes, with +full power to inflict capital punishment if guilty. But it was +two years and a half before this gentleman arrived in New +Spain.</p> + +<p>I now go beyond the date of my narrative to inform my readers +of a circumstance which happened during the viceroyalty of that +illustrious nobleman, Don Antonio de Mendoza, worthy of eternal +memory and heavenly glory for his wise and just government. +Albornos wrote malignant and slanderous letters against him, as +he had before done of Cortes, which letters were all sent back +from Spain to Don Antonio. When he had read all the gross abuse +which they contained, he sent for Albornos, to whom he shewed his +own letters; saying mildly, in his usual slow manner, "When you +are pleased to make me the subject of your letters to his +majesty, remember always in future to tell the truth."</p> + +<p>SECTION XX.</p> + +<p><i>Narrative of the Expedition of Cortes to Higueras</i>.</p> + +<p>I have formerly mentioned the revolt of De Oli. Cortes was +much distressed on receiving this intelligence, and immediately +sent off his relation, Francisco de las Casas, with five ships +and a hundred well appointed soldiers, among whom were some of +the veteran conquerors of Mexico, with orders to reduce De Oli. +Las Casas soon arrived at the bay of Triumpho de la Cruz, where +De Oli had established his head-quarters; and though Las Casas +hoisted a signal of peace, De Oli determined on resistance, and +sent a number of soldiers in two armed vessels to oppose Las +Casas, who ordered out his boats armed with swivels and musquetry +to attack those belonging to De Oli. In this affair Las Casas was +successful, as he sunk one of the vessels belonging to De Oli, +killed four of his soldiers, and wounded a great number. On this +misfortune, and because a considerable number of his soldiers +were on a detached service in the inland country, for the purpose +of reducing a party of Spaniards under Gil Gonzalez de Avila, who +was employed in making conquests on the river Pechin, De Oli +thought it advisable to propose terms of peace to Las Casas, in +hopes that his detachment might return to his assistance. Las +Casas unfortunately agreed to treat, and remained at sea; partly +for the purpose of finding some better place of disembarkation, +and partly induced by letters from the friends of Cortes who were +along with De Oli. That same night a heavy storm arose, by which +the vessels of Las Casas were driven on shore and utterly lost, +and above thirty of the soldiers perished. All the rest were made +prisoners two days afterwards, having been all that time on shore +without food, and almost perished with cold, as it was the season +of almost incessant rain. De Oli obliged all his prisoners to +swear fidelity to him against Cortes, and then released them all +except Las Casas.</p> + +<p>The party which he sent against De Avila returned about this +time, having been successful in their errand. Avila had gone with +a party to reduce the country about the <i>Golfe Dolce</i>, and +had founded a settlement to which he gave the name of <i>St Gil +de buena vista</i>; and the troops sent against him, after +killing his nephew and eight of his soldiers, made himself and +all the rest prisoners. De Oli was now much elated by his +success, in having made two captains belonging to Cortes +prisoners, and sent off a full account of his exploits to his +friend Velasquez. He afterwards marched up the country to a place +called Naco in a very populous district, which is all now laid +waste. While here, he sent off various detachments in different +directions, among which one was commanded by Briones, who had +first instigated him to revolt; bat Briones now revolted from him +in his turn, and marched off with all his men for New Spain. He +was a seditious fellow, who had on some former occasion had the +lower part of his ears cut off, which he used to say had been +done for refusing to surrender in some fortress or other. He was +afterwards hanged at Guatimala for mutiny.</p> + +<p>De Oli was personally brave but imprudent, and permitted Las +Casas and Avila to be at large, disdaining to be under any +apprehensions from them; but they concerted a plan with some of +the soldiers for putting him to death. Las Casas one day asked +him, as if half in jest, for liberty to return to Cortes; but De +Oli said he was too happy to have the company of so brave a man, +and could not part with him. "Then" said Las Casas, "I advise you +to take care of me, for I shall kill you one of these days". De +Oli considered this as a joke, but measures were actually +concerted for the purpose; and one night after supper, when the +servants and pages had withdrawn to their own apartment, Las +Casas, Avila, Juan de Mercado, and some other soldiers attached +to Cortes, suddenly drew out their penknives and fell upon De +Oli. Las Casas seized him by the beard, and made a cut at his +throat, and the rest gave him several wounds; but being strong +and active, he escaped from their hands, calling loudly to his +people for assistance, but they were all too busy at their +suppers to hear him. He then fled and concealed himself among +some bushes, calling out for assistance, and many of his people +turned out for that purpose; but Las Casas called upon them to +rally on the side of the king and his general Cortes, which after +some hesitation they consented to. De Oli was made prisoner by +the two captains, who shortly afterwards sentenced him to be +beheaded, which was carried into execution in the town of Naco. +He was a brave man, but of no foresight, and thus paid with his +life for following evil counsels. He had received many favours +from Cortes, having valuable estates, and the commission of +<i>Maestre de Campo</i>. His lady, Donna Philippa de Aranja, was +a Portuguese, by whom he had one daughter. Las Casas and Avila +now joined their troops together, and acted in concert as +captains under Cortes. Las Casas colonized Truzilo in New +Estremadura. Avila sent orders to his lieutenant in Buena Vista +to remain in charge of that establishment, promising to send him +a reinforcement as soon as possible, for which purpose he meant +to go to Mexico.</p> + +<p>Some months after the departure of Las Casas, Cortes became +afraid of some disaster, and repented that he had not gone +himself on the expedition, and now resolved to go himself, that +he might examine the state of the country and the mines it was +said to contain. He left a good garrison in Mexico, and appointed +Alonzo de Estrada and Albornos, the treasurer and contador, to +carry on the government in his absence, with strict injunctions +to pay every attention to the interest of his majesty, and +recommended to Motolinca and Olmedo to labour incessantly in +converting the natives. On purpose to deprive the Mexicans of +chiefs during his absence, he took along with him Guatimotzin the +late king of Mexico, the prince of Tacuba, an Indian now named +Velasquez, who had been a captain under Guatimotzin, and several +other caciques of consequence. We had along with us Fra Juan de +las Varillas, and several other good theologians to preach to the +Indians, as also the captains Sandoval and Marin and many other +cavaliers. On this occasion, Cortes, was attended by a splendid +personal suit; such as a steward, paymaster, keeper of the plate, +a major-domo, two stewards of the household, a butler, +confectioner, physician, surgeon a number of pages, among whom +was Francisco de Montejo, who was afterwards captain in Yutucan, +two armour-bearers, eight grooms, two falconers, five musicians, +a stage-dancer, a juggler and puppet-master, a master of the +horse, and three Spanish muleteers. A great service of gold and +silver plate accompanied the march, and a large drove of swine +for the use of the table. Three thousand Mexican warriors +attended their own chiefs, and a numerous train of domestic +servants.</p> + +<p>When about to set out, the factor Salazar and veedor Chirinos, +remonstrated with Cortes on the danger of leaving the seat of +government; but finding him determined, they asked permission to +accompany him to Coatzacualco, which he agreed to. Cortes was +received in all the places on his way with much pomp and many +rejoicings; and above fifty soldiers and straggling travellers +newly arrived from Spain, joined us on the road. During the march +to Coatzacualco, Cortes divided his troops into two detachments, +for the convenience of quarters and provisions. While on the +march, a marriage took place at the town of Ojeda near Orizava, +between our linguist Donna Marina and Juan Xaramillo. As soon as +the advance of Cortes to Guazpaltepec in the district of Sandoval +was known at Coatzacualco, all the Spaniards of that settlement +went above thirty leagues to meet him; in so much respect and awe +was he held by us all. In proceeding beyond Guazpaltepec fortune +began to frown upon us, as in passing a large river three of our +canoes overset, by which some plate and other valuables were +lost, and nothing could be recovered as the river swarmed with +alligators. At Coatzacualco three hundred canoes were prepared +for crossing the river, fastened two and two together to prevent +oversetting, and we were here received under triumphal arches, +with various festivities, such as mock skirmishes between +Christian's and Moors, fireworks, and the like. Cortes remained +six days at Coatzacualco, where the factor and veedor prevailed +on Cortes to give them a commission to assume the government of +Mexico in case they should judge that the present deputies failed +in their duty. This measure occasioned much trouble afterwards in +Mexico, as I shall explain hereafter; but these two associates +took their leaves at this place, with much pretended tenderness +and affection for the general, even affecting to sob and cry at +parting.</p> + +<p>From Coatzacualco, Cortes sent orders to Simon de Cucena, one +of his major-domos, to freight two light vessels at Villa Rica +with biscuit made of maize flour, as there was then no wheat in +Mexico, wine, oil, vinegar, pork, iron, and other necessaries, +and to proceed with them along the coast till he had farther +directions. Cortes now gave orders for all the settlers of +Coatzacualco who were fit for duty, to join the expedition. This +was a severe disappointment to us, as our colony was composed of +most of the respectable hildagos, the veteran conquerors, who +expected to have been allowed to enjoy our hard earned houses and +lands in peace, instead of which we were obliged to undertake an +arduous expedition of five hundred leagues, which took us up +above two years and a half of infinite fatigues. We had nothing +for it but compliance, so that we armed ourselves and mounted our +horses; being in all above 250 veterans, 130 of whom were +cavalry, besides many soldiers newly arrived from Old Spain. I +was immediately dispatched at the head of 30 Spaniards and 3000 +Mexicans, to reduce the district of Cimatan, which was then in +rebellion. My orders were, if I found the natives submissive, I +was merely to quarter my troops on the natives, and do them no +farther injury. But, if refractory, they were to be summoned +three times in presence of a royal notary and proper witnesses, +after which, if they still persisted in rebellion, I was to make +war on them and compel them to submit. The people received me in +a peaceable manner, for which reason I marched on with my +detachment to rejoin Cortes at Iquinapa. In consequence of the +veterans being withdrawn from Coatzacualco, these people revolted +again in a few months after. After I left him, the general +proceeded with the rest of his troops to Tonala, crossing the +river Aquacualco, and another river seven leagues from an arm of +the sea, by a bridge a quarter of a league in length, which was +constructed by the natives under the direction of two Spanish +settlers of Coatzacualco. The army then proceeded to the large +river Mazapa, called by seamen <i>Rio de dos bocas</i>, or +Two-mouth river, which flows past Chiapa. Crossing this by means +of double canoes, they proceeded through several villages to +Iquinapa, where my detachment rejoined the army. Crossing another +river and an arm of the sea, on wooden bridges, we came to a +large town named Copilco, where the province of Chontalpa begins; +a populous district, full of plantations of cacoa, which we found +perfectly peaceable. From thence we marched by Nicaxuxica and +Zagutan, passing another river, in which the general lost some +part of his baggage. We found Zagutan in peace, yet the +inhabitants fled during the night; on which Cortes ordered +parties out into the woods to make prisoners. Seven chiefs and +some others were taken, but they all escaped from us again in the +night, and left us without guides. At this place fifty canoes +arrived at our quarters from Tabasco, loaded with provisions, and +some also from Teapan, a place in my encomienda.</p> + +<p>From Zagutan, we continued our march to Tepetitan, crossing a +large river called Chilapa, where we were detained four days +making barks. I here proposed sending five of our Indian guides +to a town of the same name, which I understood was on the banks +of this river, in order to desire the inhabitants to send their +canoes to our assistance; which was accordingly done, and they +sent us six large canoes and some provisions: Yet with all the +aid we could procure, it took us four days to pass this river. +From thence we went to Tepetitan, which was depopulated and burnt +in consequence of a civil war. For three days of our march from +the river Chilapa, our horses were almost constantly up to their +bellies in the marshy grounds, and when we reached a place called +Iztapa, it was found abandoned by the inhabitants; but several +chiefs and others were brought in, who were treated kindly, and +made the general some trifling presents of gold. As this place +abounded in corn and grass, we halted three days to refresh the +men and horses, and it was considered by Cortes as a good +situation for a colony, being surrounded by a number of towns, +which might serve as dependencies. Cortes received information +from some travelling merchants at this place concerning the +country he had to pass through, produced to them a map painted on +cloth, representing the road to <i>Huy-Acala</i>, which signifies +<i>great</i> Acala, there being another place of the same name. +According to them, the way was much intersected by rivers, as, to +reach a place named Tamaztepec, three days journey from Iztapa, +there were three rivers and an arm of the sea to cross. In +consequence of this intelligence, the general sent orders to the +chiefs to provide canoes and construct bridges at the proper +places, but neither of these things were done. Instead of three +days, our march occupied us for a whole week; but the natives +succeeded in getting quit of us, and we set out with only +provisions of roasted maize and roots for three days, so that we +were reduced to great straits, having nothing to eat but a wild +plant called <i>quexquexque</i>, which inflamed our mouths. We +were obliged to construct bridges of timber, at which every one +had to labour from the general downwards; which detained us for +three days. When we had crossed the last inlet, we were obliged +to open a way through the woods with infinite labour, and after +toiling in this manner for two days we were almost in despair. +The trees were so thick that we could not see the sun; and on +climbing to the top of one of the trees, we could not discover +any thing but a continuation of the same impervious forest. Two +of our guides had fled, and the only one who remained was utterly +ignorant of the country. The resources of Cortes were quite +inexhaustible, as he guided our way by a mariners compass, +assisted by his Indian map, according to which the town of +<i>Huy-acala</i> of which we were in search, lay to the east; but +even he acknowledged that he knew not what might become of us, if +we were one day longer of finding it out.</p> + +<p>We who were of the advanced guard fortunately at this time +fell in with the remains of some trees which had been formerly +cut, and a small lane or path, which seemed to lead towards a +town or village. The pilot Lopez and I returned to the main body +with intelligence of this happy discovery, which revived the +spirits of our whole army. We accordingly made all possible haste +in that direction, and soon came to a river, on the opposite side +of which we found a village named Tamaztepec, where, though +abandoned by the inhabitants, we found plenty of provisions for +ourselves and horses. Parties were immediately sent out in search +of the natives, who soon brought back many chiefs and priests who +were well treated, and both supplied us plentifully with +provisions, and pointed out our road to Izguantepec, which was +three days journey, or sixteen leagues from the town where we now +were. During our journey to this place, our stage-dancer and +three of the new come Spaniards died of fatigue, and many of the +Mexicans had been left behind to perish. We discovered likewise +that some of the Mexican chiefs who accompanied us, had seized +some of the natives of the places through which we passed, and +had eaten them to appease their hunger. Cortes very severely +reprimanded all who had been concerned in this barbarous deed, +and one of our friars preached a holy sermon on the occasion; +after which, as an example to deter our allies from this practice +in future, the general caused one against whom this crime had +been most clearly proved, to be burnt. All had been equally +guilty, but one example was deemed sufficient on the present +occasion. Our poor musicians felt severely the want of the feasts +they had been used to in Spain, and their harmony was now stopt, +except one fellow; but the soldiers used to curse him, saying +they wanted maize not music. It may be asked, how we did not lay +our hands on the herd of swine belonging to Cortes in our present +state of starvation? But these were out of sight, and the steward +alleged they had been devoured by the alligators on passing one +of the rivers: In reality, they were artfully kept four days +march behind the army. During our route, we used to carve crosses +on the bark of trees, with inscriptions bearing, that Cortes and +his army had passed this way at such and such a time.</p> + +<p>The Indians of Tamaztepec sent a message to Izguantepec, our +next station, to inform the inhabitants, and that they might not +be alarmed at our approach: They also deputed twenty of their +number to attend us to that place as guides. After our arrival at +Izguantepec, Cortes was curious to know the course of a large +river which flowed past that place, and was informed that it +discharged itself into the sea near two towns named Guegatasta +and Xicolanga; from which he judged that this might be a +convenient way in which to send for information concerning his +ships under Cuença whom he had ordered to wait his orders +on that part of the coast. He accordingly sent off two Spaniards +on that errand, to one of whom, Francisco de Medina, he gave an +order to act as joint commander along with Simon Cuença. +Medina was a man of dilligence and abilities, and well acquainted +with the country; but the commission he carried proved most +unfortunate in its consequences. He found the ships waiting at +Xicolanga, and on presenting his authority as joint captain, a +dispute arose between him and Cuença as to which of them +should have the chief command. Each was supported by a party, and +had recourse to arms, in which all the Spaniards were slain +except eight. The neighbouring Indians fell upon the survivors, +and put them all to death; after which they plundered the ships +and then destroyed them. It was two years and a half after this, +before we knew what had become of the ships.</p> + +<p>We now learnt that the town of Huy-acala was three days march +distant from our present quarters, and that the way lay across +some deep rivers and trembling marshes. Two soldiers were sent on +by Cortes to examine the route, who reported on their return that +the rivers were passable by means of timber bridges, but as for +the marshes, which were more material to know, they were beyond +the rivers and had not been examined. Cortes sent me in the next +place, along with one Gonzalo de Mexia and some Indian guides, +with orders to go forward to Huy-acala to procure provisions, +with which we were to meet him on the road. But our guides +deserted us the first night, on account of the two nations being +at war, and we were forced to rely entirely on ourselves for the +remainder of the journey. On our arrival at the first town +belonging to the district of Huy-acala, which has the supreme +command over twenty other towns, the inhabitants seemed very +jealous of us at first, but were soon reconciled. This district +is much intersected by rivers, lakes, and marshes, and some of +the dependent towns are situated in islands, the general +communication being by means of canoes. We invited the chiefs to +accompany us back to Cortes; but they declined this, because +their nation was at war with the people of Izguantepec. It would +appear that at our arrival they had no idea of the force of our +army under Cortes; but, having received more accurate +intelligence concerning it next day, they treated us with much +deference, and promised that they would provide every +accommodation for our army on its arrival. While still +conversing, two other Spaniards came up to me with letters from +Cortes, in which he ordered me to meet him within three days with +all the provisions I could possibly collect; as the Indians of +Izguantepec had all deserted him, and he was now on his march for +Huy-acala entirely destitute of necessaries. These Spaniards also +informed me, that four soldiers who had been detached farther up +the river had not returned, and were supposed to have been +murdered, which we learnt afterwards was the case. In pursuing +his march, Cortes had been four days occupied in constructing a +bridge over the great river, during which time the army suffered +excessive famine, as they had come from their last quarters +without provisions, owing to the desertion of the natives. Some +of the old soldiers cut down certain trees resembling palms, by +which means they procured nuts which they roasted and eat; but +this proved a miserable recourse for so great a number. On the +night that the bridge was completed, I arrived with 130 loads of +provisions, consisting of corn, honey, fruit, salt, and fowls. It +was then dark, and Cortes had mentioned his expectation of my +arrival with provisions, in consequence of which, the soldiers +waited for me and seized every thing I had, not leaving any thing +for Cortes and the other officers. It was all in vain that the +major-domo cried out, "this is for the general;" for the soldiers +said the general and his officers had been eating their hogs, +while they were starving, and neither threats nor entreaties +could prevail on them to leave him a single load of corn. Cortes +lost all patience, and swore he would punish those who had seized +the provisions and spoken about the hogs; but he soon saw that it +was better to be quiet. He then blamed me; but I told him he +ought to have placed a guard to receive the provisions, as hunger +knows no law. Seeing there was no remedy, Cortes, who was +accompanied by Sandoval, addressed me as follows: "My dear +friend, I am sure you must have something in reserve for yourself +and your friend Sandoval, pray take us along with you that we may +partake." Sandoval also assured me that he had not a single +handful of maize. "Well," said I, "gentlemen, come to me when the +soldiers are asleep, and you shall partake of what I had provided +for myself and my companions." They both thanked and embraced me, +and so we escaped famine for this bout, as I had with me twelve +loads of maize, twenty fowls, three jars of honey, and some fruit +and salt. Cortes made inquiry as to how the reverend fathers had +fared; but they were well off, as every soldier gave them a share +of what they had procured. Such are the hardships of military +expeditions in unexplored countries. Feared as he was by the +soldiers, our general was pillaged of his provisions, and in +danger of starving, and both he and captain Sandoval were +indebted to me for their rations.</p> + +<p>On continuing our march from the river for about a league, we +came to the trembling marshes, where our horses had all been +nearly destroyed; but the distance across did not exceed half a +bowshot, between the firm ground on either side, and we got them +through by main force. When we were all safe over, and had given +thanks to God for our safety, Cortes sent on to Huy-acala for a +fresh supply of provisions, and took care not to have these +plundered like the former; and on the ensuing day, our whole army +arrived early at Huy-acala, where the chiefs had made ample +preparation for our reception. Having used every proper means to +conciliate the chiefs of this nation, Cortes inquired from them +as to the country we had still to march through, and whether they +had heard of any ships being on the coast, or of any Europeans +being settled in the country. He was informed, that at the +distance of eight days journey, there were many men having beards +like ourselves, who had horses and three ships. They also gave +the general a map of the route, and offered every assistance in +their power; but when asked to clear the road, they represented +that some of their dependent districts had revolted, and +requested our assistance to reduce them to obedience. This duty +was committed to Diego de Mazariegos, a relation of the treasurer +de Estrada, as a compliment to him, and Cortes desired me in +private to accompany him as his counsellor, being experienced in +the affairs of this country. I do not mention this circumstance, +which is known to the whole army, by way of boast, but as my duty +of historian requires it of me, and indeed his majesty was +informed of it, in the letters which were written to him by +Cortes. About eighty of us went on this occasion along with +Mazariegos, and had the good fortune to find the district in the +best disposition. The chiefs returned with us to Cortes, and +brought a most abundant supply of provisions along with them. In +about four days, however, all the chiefs deserted us, and we were +left with only three guides to pursue our march, as well as we +could. After crossing two rivers, we came to another town in the +district of Huy-acala, which was abandoned by the inhabitants, +but in which we took up our quarters.</p> + +<p>In this place, Guatimotzin, the last king of the Mexicans, +closed his unhappy career. It appeared that a plot had been +concerted by this unfortunate monarch with many of the Mexican +nobles who accompanied him, to endeavour to cut off the +Spaniards; after which they proposed to make the best of their +way back to Mexico, where, collecting all the forces of the +natives, they hoped to be able to overpower the Spanish garrison. +This conspiracy was revealed to Cortes by two Mexican nobles who +had commanded under Guatimotzin during the siege, and who had +been baptized by the names of Tapia and Velasquez. On receiving +this intelligence, Cortes immediately took the judicial +informations of these two and of several others who were +concerned in the plot; from which it was learnt, that the +Mexicans, observing that we marched in a careless manner, that +discontent prevailed among our troops, many of whom were sick, +that ten of our Spanish soldiers had died of hunger, and several +had returned towards Mexico, and considering also the uncertainty +of the fate of the expedition and the miseries they endured from +scarcity of provisions, they had come to the resolution of +falling upon us at the passage of some river or marsh, being +encouraged by their numbers, which exceeded 3000 well armed men, +and thinking it preferable to die at once than to encounter the +perpetual miseries they now endured by accompanying us in this +wilderness. Guatimotzin acknowledged that he had heard of this +proposal, which he never approved of, declaring that he did not +believe it would ever have been attempted, and anxiously denied +that the whole of the Mexican force had concurred in the plot. +His cousin, the prince of Tacuba, declared that all which had +ever passed on the subject, between him and Guatimotzin, was, +that they had often expressed their opinion, that it would be +better to lose their lives at once like brave men, than to suffer +in the manner they did by hunger and fatigue, and to witness the +intolerable distresses of their friends and subjects who +accompanied them. On those scanty proofs, Cortes sentenced +Guatimotzin and the prince of Tacuba to be immediately hanged; +and when the preparations were made for the execution, they were +led forth to the place attended by the reverend fathers, who did +their utmost to console them in their last moments. Before his +execution, Guatimotzin addressed Cortes to the following effect: +"<i>Malintzin</i>! I now see that your false words and flattering +promises have ended in my death. It had been better to have +fallen by my own hands, than to have trusted myself to your +power. You take away my life unjustly, and may God demand of you +my innocent blood." The prince of Tacuba only said, that he was +happy to die along with his beloved sovereign. Thus did these two +great men end their lives, and, for Indians, most piously and +like good Christians. I lamented them both sincerely, having seen +them in their greatness. They always treated me kindly on this +march, giving me Indians to procure grass for my horse, and doing +me many services. To me and all of us, their sentence appeared +cruel and unjust, and their deaths most undeserved.</p> + +<p>After this, we continued our march with much circumspection, +being apprehensive of a mutiny among the Mexican troops in +revenge for the execution of their chiefs; but these poor +creatures were so exhausted by famine, sickness, and fatigue, +that they did not seem even to have bestowed a thought on the +matter. At night we came to a deserted village; but on searching +we found eight priests, whom we brought to Cortes. He desired +them to recal the inhabitants, which they readily promised, +requesting him not to injure their idols in a temple close to +some buildings in which Cortes was quartered, which he agreed to, +yet expostulated with them on the absurdity of worshipping +compositions of clay and wood. They seemed as if it would have +been easy to induce them to embrace the doctrines of our holy +faith; and soon brought us twenty loads of fowls and maize. On +being examined by Cortes about the bearded men with horses, they +said that these people dwelt at a place called <i>Nito</i>, at +the distance of seven suns, or days journey from their village, +and offered to guide us to that place. At this time Cortes was +exceedingly sad and ill-humoured, being fretted by the +difficulties and misfortunes of his march, and his conscience +upbraided him for the cruelty he had committed upon the +unfortunate king of Mexico. He was so distracted by these +reflections, that he could not sleep, and used to walk about at +night, as a relief for his anxious thoughts. Going in the dark to +walk in a large apartment which contained some of the Indian +idols, he missed his way and fell from a height of twelve feet, +by which he received a severe contused wound in his head. He +endeavoured to conceal this circumstance from general knowledge, +and got his wounds cured as well as he could, keeping his +sufferings to himself.</p> + +<p>After leaving this place, we came in two days to a district +inhabited by a nation called the <i>Mazotecas</i>, where we found +a newly built town, fortified by two circular enclosures of +pallisades, one of which was like a barbican, having loop-holes +to shoot through, and was strengthened by ditches. Another part +of the town was inaccessible, being on the summit of a +perpendicular rock, on the top of which the natives had collected +great quantities of stones for their defence. And a third quarter +of the town was defended by an impassable morass. Yet after all +these defensive preparations, we were astonished to find the town +entirely abandoned, though every house was full of the different +kinds of provisions which the country afforded, besides which it +had a magazine stocked with arms of all sorts. While we were +expressing our astonishment at these circumstances, fifteen +Indians came out of the morass in the most submissive manner, and +told us that they had been forced to the construction of this +fortress as their last resort, in an unsuccessful war with a +neighbouring nation, called the <i>Lazandones</i> as far as I can +now remember. They brought back the inhabitants, whom we treated +with kindness, and from whom we received farther information, +respecting, the Spanish settlement, to which two of the natives +of this place undertook to shew us the way. From this place we +entered upon vast open plains, in which not a tree was to be +seen, and in which innumerable herds of deer were feeding, which +were so tame as almost to come up to us. Our horsemen, therefore, +easily took as many as they pleased, and we found that the +Indians never disturbed them, considering them as a kind of +divinities, and had even been commanded by their idols, or +priests rather in their name, neither to kill or frighten these +animals. The heat of the weather was now so excessive that +Palacios Rubios, a relation of Cortes, lost his horse by pursuing +the deer. We continued our march along this open campaign +country, passing several villages where the destructive ravages +of war were distinctly perceivable. On one occasion we met some +Indians on their return from hunting, who had along with them a +huge <i>lion</i>[1] just killed, and several <i>iguanas</i>[2], a +species of small serpent very good to eat. These people shewed us +the way to their town, to which we had to wade up to our middles +through a lake of fresh water by which it was surrounded. This +lake was quite full of fish, resembling shads, but enormously +large, with prickles on their backs; and having procured some +nets, we took above a thousand of them, which gave us a plentiful +supply. On inquiry, five of the natives of this place engaged to +guide us to the settlement of our countrymen; and they were glad +to get so easily rid of us, as they were apprehensive we had come +to put them all to death.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] The true lion, Felis leo, is only found in the +old world, chiefly in Africa and the south of Persia. The +American lion, or <i>puma</i>, the Felis concolor of naturalists, +is considerably less than the true lion, being about the size of +a large wolf, of a lively red colour tinged with black, but +without spots. It climbs trees, whence it drops down by surprise +on animals passing below; and though fierce and cunning, hardly +ever ventures to attack mankind.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] The iguana, instead of being a <i>serpent</i>, is +a large species of <i>lizard</i>, the Lacerta iguana of +naturalists. It abounds in all the warm and marshy parts of +America, and is reckoned excellent eating.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Leaving this place, we proceeded to a town named +<i>Tayasal</i>, situated on an island in a river, the white +temples, towers, and houses, of which place, glistened from a +distance. As the road now became very narrow, we thought proper +to halt here for the night, having in the first place detached +some soldiers to the river to look out for a passage. They were +so fortunate as to take two canoes, containing ten men and two +women, who were conveying a cargo of maize and salt. Being +brought to Cortes, they informed him that they belonged to a town +about four leagues farther on. Our general detained one of the +canoes and some of the people, and sent two Spaniards along with +the rest in the other canoe, to desire the cacique of that town +to send him canoes to enable us to cross the river. Next morning, +we all marched down to the river, where we found the cacique +waiting for us, who invited the general to his place of +residence. Cortes accordingly embarked with an escort of thirty +crossbows, and was presented on his arrival at the town with a +few toys of gold very much alloyed, and a small number of +mantles. They informed him that they knew of Spaniards being at +three different places, which were Nito, Buena Vista, and Naco, +the last being ten days journey inland from Nito, and where the +greater number of the Spaniards resided, Nito being on the coast. +On hearing this, Cortes observed to us that De Oli had probably +divided his forces, as we knew nothing as yet respecting Gil +Gonzalo de Avila, or Las Casas.</p> + +<p>Our whole army now crossed the river, and halted about two +leagues from it, waiting the return of Cortes. At this place, +three Spanish soldiers, two Indians, and a Negro deserted; +preferring to take their chance among the unknown natives of the +country, to a continuance of the fatigues and dangers they had +experienced. This day likewise, I had a stroke of the sun, which +occasioned a burning fever or calenture. At this period the +weather changed, and for three days and nights it rained +incessantly; yet we had to continue our march, lest our +provisions might fail. After two days march we came to a ridge of +rocky hills, which we named the <i>Sierra de los Pedernales</i>, +the stones of which were as sharp as knives. Several soldiers +were sent a league on each side of this bad pass in search of a +better road, but to no purpose, so that we were forced to +proceed. Our horses fell at every step, and the farther we +advanced it grew the worse, insomuch that we lost eight horses, +and all the rest were so lamed that they could not keep up with +us. After getting over this shocking pass, we advanced towards a +town called <i>Taica</i>, where we expected to procure provisions +in abundance; but to our great mortification were unexpectedly +stopped by a prodigious torrent, so swelled by the late heavy +rains that it was quite impassable, and made such a noise in +tumbling over its rocky bed that it might have been heard at the +distance of two leagues. We had to stop here for three complete +days to construct a bridge between the precipitous banks of this +river; in consequence of which delay the people of Taica had +abandoned their town, removing all their provisions out of our +reach. We were all miserably disappointed at this event, finding +that hunger was to be our portion after all our fatigues. After +sending out his servants in every direction, Cortes was only able +to procure about a bushel of maize. He then called together the +colonists of Coatzacualco, and earnestly solicited us to use our +utmost endeavours to procure supplies. Pedro de Ircio requested +to have the command on this occasion, to which Cortes assented: +But as I knew Ircio to be a better prater than marcher, I +whispered to Cortes and Sandoval to prevent him from going, as he +was a duck-legged fellow, who could not get through the miry +ground, and would only interrupt us in our search. Cortes +accordingly ordered him to remain, and five of us set out with +two Indian guides across rivers and marshes, and came at length +to some Indian houses where we found provisions in abundance. We +here made some prisoners, and with their fruit, fowls, and corn, +we celebrated the feast of the Resurrection to our great +contentment. That same night we were joined by a thousand +Mexicans, who had been sent after us, whom we loaded with all the +corn we could procure, and twenty fowls for Cortes and Sandoval, +after which there still remained some corn in the town, which we +remained to guard. We advanced next day to some other villages, +where we found corn in abundance, and wrote a billet to Cortes +desiring him to send all the Indians he could spare to carry it +to the army. Thirty soldiers and about five hundred Indians +arrived in a short time, and we amply provided for the wants of +the army during the five days it remained at Taica. I may observe +here, that the bridges which we constructed on this march +continued good for many years; and the Spaniards, when they +travelled this way, used to say, "These are the bridges of +Cortes."</p> + +<p>After resting five days at Taica, we continued our march for +two days to a place called Tania, through a country everywhere +intersected by marshes, rivers, and rivulets, all the towns being +abandoned and the provisions carried away; and, to add to our +misfortunes, our guides made their escape during the night, being +entrusted, as I suppose, to some of the newly arrived Spaniards, +who used to sleep on their posts. We were thus left in a +difficult country, and did not know which way to go; besides +which heavy rains fell without ceasing. Cortes was very much out +of humour, and observed among his officers, that he wished some +others besides the Coatzacualco settlers would bestir themselves +in search of guides. Pedro de Ircio, a man of quality named +Marmolejo, and Burgales, who was afterwards regidor of Mexico, +offered their services, and taking each of them six soldiers, +were out three days in search of Indians, but all returned +without success, having met with nothing but rivers, marshes, and +obstructions. Cortes was quite in despair, and desired Sandoval +to ask me as a favour to undertake the business. Though ill, I +could not refuse when applied to in this manner; wherefore, +taking two friends along with me who could endure fatigue, we set +out following the course of a stream, and soon found a way to +some houses, by observing marks of boughs having been cut. +Following these marks, we came in sight of a village surrounded +by fields of corn; but we remained concealed till we thought the +people were asleep, and taking the inhabitants by surprise, we +secured three men, two very handsome Indian girls, and an old +woman, with a few fowls and a small quantity of maize. On +bringing our prize to head-quarters, Sandoval was quite +overjoyed. "Now," said he to Pedro de Ircio in the presence of +Cortes, "was not Castillo in the right, when he refused to take +hobbling people along with him, who tell old stories of the +adventures of the Conde de Urena and his son Don Pedro Giron?" +All who were present laughed heartily at this sally, as Ircio +used to pester us with these stories continually, and Sandoval +knew that Ircio and I were not on friendly terms. Cortes paid me +many compliments on this occasion, and thanked me for my good +service. But what is praise more than emptiness, and what does it +profit me that Cortes said he relied on me, next to God, for +procuring guides? We learnt from the prisoners that it was +necessary to descend the river for two days march, when we would +come to a town of two hundred houses, called <i>Oculiztli</i>; +which he did accordingly, passing some large buildings where the +travelling Indian merchants used to stop on their journeys. At +the close of the second day we came to Oculiztli, where we got +plenty of provisions, and in one of the temples we found an old +red cap and a sandal, which had been placed there as offerings to +the idols. Some of our soldiers brought two old men and four +women to Cortes, who told him that the Spanish settlement was on +the seaside two days journey from this place, with no intervening +towns. Cortes therefore gave orders to Sandoval to set out +immediately with six soldiers for the coast, to ascertain what +number of men De Oli had with him, as he meant to fall upon him +by surprise, being quite ignorant of the revolution which had +happened in this quarter.</p> + +<p>Sandoval set out accordingly with three guides, and on +reaching the sea shore, he soon perceived a canoe; and concealing +himself where he expected it might anchor for the night, was +fortunate enough to get possession of the canoe; which belonged +to some Indian merchants who were carrying salt to <i>Golfo +dolce</i>. Sandoval embarked in this canoe with a part of his +men, sending the rest along the shore, and made for the great +river. During the voyage, he fell in with four Spaniards +belonging to the settlement, who were searching for fruit near +the mouth of the river, being in great distress from sickness and +the hostilities of the Indians. Two of these men were up in a +tree, when they saw Sandoval to their great astonishment, and +soon joined him. They informed him of the great distress of the +settlement, and of all the events which had occurred, and how +they had hanged the officer whom Avila had left in the command, +and a turbulent priest, for opposing their determination to +return to Cuba, and had elected one Antonio Niote in his stead. +Sandoval resolved to carry these people to Cortes, whom he wished +to inform as soon as possible of the news, and sent a soldier +named Alonzo Ortiz, who soon reached us with the agreeable +intelligence, for which Cortes gave him an excellent horse, and +all of us gave him something in proportion to our abilities. +Sandoval arrived soon afterwards, and Cortes issued immediate +orders to march to the coast, which was about six leagues +distant. Cortes pushed forwards with his attendants, and crossed +the river by means of the two canoes, swimming the horses. The +Spanish settlement was about two leagues from the place where +Cortes landed, and the colonists were astonished on seeing the +Europeans coming towards them, and still more so when they found +it was the renowned conqueror of Mexico. Cortes received their +congratulations very graciously, and desired them to bring all +the canoes they could collect, and the boats belonging to their +ships to assist his army in crossing. He likewise ordered them to +provide bread for the army; but of this only fifty pounds weight +could be got, as they lived almost entirely on <i>sapotes</i> and +other vegetables, and fish.</p> + +<p>We had an arm of the sea to cross, and had therefore to wait +for low water, but Cortes had found the passage so dangerous that +he sent us word not to follow till farther orders. The care of +passing this dangerous place was entrusted to Sandoval, who took +as effectual measures as possible, but it took us four days to +get over, partly wading and partly swimming. One soldier and his +horse went to the bottom, and was never seen more, and two other +horses were lost. A person named Saavedra, presuming on his +relationship to Cortes, refused obedience to the orders of +Sandoval, and endeavoured to force his passage, even laying his +hand on his poinard, and using disrespectful expressions to +Sandoval; who seized him instantly and threw him into the water, +where he was nearly drowned. Our sufferings at this time were +excessive, as during all these four days we had literally nothing +to eat, except by gathering a few nuts and some wild fruits, and +on getting across our condition was not improved. We found this +colony to contain forty men and six women, all yellow and sickly, +and utterly destitute of provisions; so that we were under the +necessity of setting out immediately in search of food both for +ourselves and them. For this purpose, about eighty of us marched, +under the command of Luis Marin, to a town about eight leagues +distant, where we found abundance of maize and vegetables, and +great quantities of cacao; and as this place was in the direct +road for Naco, to which Cortes intended to go, he immediately +sent Sandoval and the greatest part of the troops to join us, on +receiving the agreeable intelligence of our good fortune. We sent +a plentiful supply of maize to the miserable colonist who had +been so long in a starving condition, of which they eat to such +excess that seven of them died. About this time likewise a vessel +arrived with seven horses, forty hogs, eight pipes of salted +meat, a considerable quantity of biscuit, and fifteen adventurers +from Cuba. Cortes immediately purchased all the provisions, which +he distributed among the colonists, who eat the salted meat so +voraciously that it occasioned diarrhoeas, by which, in a very +few days, fourteen of them were carried off.</p> + +<p>As Cortes wished to examine this great river, he caused one of +the brigantines belonging to Avila which had been stranded to be +fitted out; and embarking with thirty soldiers and eight mariners +belonging to the vessel lately arrived, having likewise a boat +and four double canoes, he proceeded up the river to a spacious +lake with good anchorage. This lake was navigable for six +leagues, all the adjacent country being subject to be inundated; +but on endeavouring to proceed higher, the current became +stronger, and he came to certain shallows, which prevented the +vessels from proceeding any farther. Cortes now landed with his +soldiers, and advanced into the country by a narrow road which +led to several villages of the natives. In the first of these he +procured some guides, and in the second he found abundance of +corn, and many domesticated birds, among which were pheasants, +pigeons, and partridges, which last are often domesticated by the +Indians of America. In prosecuting his route, he approached a +large town called <i>Cinacan Tencintle</i>, in the midst of fine +plantations of cacao, where he heard the sound of music and +merry-making, the inhabitants being engaged in a drunken feast. +Cortes waited a favourable opportunity, concealed in a wood close +by the town, when suddenly rushing out, he made prisoners of ten +men and fifteen women. The rest of the inhabitants attacked him +with their darts and arrows, but our people closed with them and +killed eight of their chiefs, on which the rest submitted, +sending four old men, two of whom were priests, with a trifling +present of gold, and to petition for the liberation of the +prisoners, which he accordingly engaged to give up on receiving a +good supply of provisions, which they promised to deliver at the +ships. A misunderstanding took place afterwards between Cortes +and these Indians, as he wished to retain three of their women to +make bread, and hostilities were renewed, in which Cortes was +himself wounded in the face, twelve of his soldiers wounded, and +one of his boats destroyed. He then returned after an absence of +twenty-six days, during which he had suffered excessive torment +from the mosquitoes. He wrote to Sandoval, giving him an account +of all that had occurred in his expedition to Cinacan, which is +seventy leagues from Guatimala, and ordered him to proceed to +Naco; as he proposed to remain himself on purpose to establish a +colony at <i>Puerto de Cavallos</i>[3], for which he desired +Sandoval to send back ten of the Coatzacualco veterans, without +whose assistance nothing could be done properly. Taking with him +all the Spaniards who remained at St Gil de Buena Vista, Cortes +embarked in two ships, and arrived in eight days sail at Puerto +de Cavallos, which had a good harbour, and seemed every way well +calculated for a colony, which he established there under the +command of Diego de Godoy, naming the town Natividad. Expecting +by this time that Sandoval might have arrived at Naco, which is +not far distant from Puerto Cavallos, Cortes sent a letter for +him to that place, requiring a reinforcement of ten of the +veteran soldiers of Coatzacualco, as he intended to proceed for +the bay of Honduras; but this letter reached us in our +last-mentioned quarters as we had not yet reached Naco. Leaving +Cortes for the present, I shall only say that he was so tormented +by the mosquitoes, which prevented him from procuring rest either +by night or day, that he had almost lost his life or his +senses.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] Diaz is very lax in his topographical notices of +this famous expedition. The settlement of St Gil de Buena Vista, +where Cortes now was, appears to have been at the bottom of the +gulf of Amatique in the bay of Honduras, on the east side of the +inlet which communicates with the <i>golfo dolce</i>. His +exploration of that inland gulf, was probably in the hope of +finding a navigable passage to the Pacific Ocean. The settlement +which Cortes projected in Puerto Cavallos, must have been near +that now called Fort Omoa.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[4] These islands of Guanajes appear to be those +called by the English settlers of Honduras, Ratan and Bonaeo, off +cape Honduras.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On receiving this last letter from the general, Sandoval +pressed on for Naco, but was obliged to halt at a place called +<i>Cuyocan</i>, in order to collect the stragglers who had gone +in quest of provisions. We were also impeded by a river, and the +natives on every side were hostile. Our line of march was now +extremely long, by the great number of invalids, especially of +the Mexicans, who were unable to keep up with the main body; on +which account Sandoval left me at this place, with the command of +eight men at the ferry, to protect and bring up the stragglers. +One night the natives attacked my post, setting fire to the house +in which we were lodged, and endeavoured to carry away our canoe; +but, with the assistance of some of our Mexicans who had come up, +we beat them off; and, having collected all the invalids who had +loitered behind, we crossed the river next day, and set but to +rejoin Sandoval. A Genoese, who had been sometime ill, sunk at +length through weakness, occasioned by poverty of diet, and died +on the road, and I was obliged to leave his body behind. When I +made my report to Sandoval, he was ill pleased at me for not +having brought on the dead body; but I told him we had already +two invalids on every horse, and one of my companions said rather +haughtily, that we had enough of difficulty to bring on +ourselves, without carrying dead men. Sandoval immediately +ordered me and that soldier, whose name was Villanueva, to go +back and bury the Genoese, which we did accordingly, and placed a +cross over his grave. We found a purse in his pocket, containing +some dice, and a memorandum of his family and effects in +Teneriffe. God rest his soul! <i>Amen</i>. In about two days we +arrived at Naco, passing a town named <i>Quinistlan</i>, and a +place where mines have been since discovered. We found Naco to be +a very good town, but it was abandoned by its inhabitants, yet we +procured plenty of provisions and salt, of which we were in very +great need. We took up our quarters in some large quadrangular +buildings, where De Oli was executed, and established ourselves +there as if we had been to have remained permanently. There is +the finest water at this place that is to be found in all New +Spain; as likewise a species of tree which is most admirable for +the <i>siesta</i>; as, however great may be the heat of the sun, +there is always a most delightful and refreshing coolness under +its shade, and it seems to give out a delicate kind of dew, which +is good for the head. Naco is admirably situated, in a fertile +neighbourhood, which produces different kinds of <i>sapotes</i> +in great abundance, and it was then very populous. Sandoval +obtained possession of three chiefs of the district, whom he +treated kindly, by which means the people of the district +remained in peace, but all his endeavours to induce the +inhabitants to return to the town were ineffectual. It was now +necessary to send the reinforcement of ten Coatzacualco veterans +which Cortes had required. At that time I was ill, and besides +Sandoval wished to retain me along with him: Eight valiant +soldiers were sent off, however, who heartily cursed Cortes and +his expedition at every step of their march; for which indeed +they had good reason, as they were entirely ignorant of the state +of the country through which they had to go. Sandoval took the +precaution of sending five principal people of the natives along +with them, making known at the same time that he would punish the +country most severely if any injury was done them on their +journey. They arrived in safety at Natividad, where Cortes then +was; who immediately embarked for Truxillo, leaving Godoy in the +command of the settlement at Puerto de Cavallos, with forty +Spaniards, who were all that remained of the settlers who had +accompanied de Avila, and of those who had come recently from +Cuba. Godoy maintained himself for some time; but his men were +continually dropping off by disease, and the Indians began at +last to despise and neglect him, refusing to supply the +settlement with provisions, so that in a short time he lost above +half his number by sickness and famine, and three of his men +deserted to join Sandoval. By various expeditions and judicious +measures, Sandoval reduced all the country round Naco to peace +and submission, namely the districts of Cirimongo, Acalao, +Quinistlan, and four others, of which I forget the names, and +even extended his authority over the natives as far as Puerto +Cavallos, where Godoy commanded.</p> + +<p>After six days sail, Cortes arrived at the port of Truxillo, +where he found a colony which had been established by Francisco +de las Casas, among whom were many of the mutineers who had +served under De Oli, and who had been banished from Panuco. +Conscious of their guilt, all these men waited on Cortes, and +supplicated for pardon, which he granted them, even confirming +all who had been appointed to offices in the colony; but he +placed his relation Saavedra as commandant of the colony and +surrounding province. Cortes summoned all the chiefs and priests +of the Indians, to whom he made a long harangue, giving them to +understand that he had come among them to induce them to abandon +the cruel and abominable practices of their false religion, and +to embrace the only true faith. He also enlarged upon the power +and dignity of our great emperor, to whose government he required +their submission. He was followed by the reverend fathers, who +exhorted them to become proselytes to the holy catholic religion, +the principles of which they explained. After all this, the +people readily agreed to obey our general, and to become vassals +to Don Carlos; and Cortes enjoined them to provide the settlement +with provisions, especially fish, which are caught in great +abundance in the sea about the islands of <i>Guanojes</i>[4]; he +likewise ordered them to send a number of labourers to clear the +woods in front of the town of Truxillo, so as to open a view of +the sea. Cortes likewise ordered a number of sows with young to +be turned loose in these islands, by which, in a few years, they +were amply stocked. The natives cleared the woods between +Truxillo and the sea in two days, and built fifteen houses for +the colonists, one of which for Cortes, was sufficiently +commodious. Cortes became feared and renowned over all the +districts, as far as <i>Olancho</i>, where rich mines have been +since discovered; the natives giving him the name of <i>Captain +Hue-hue de Marina</i>, or the old captain of Donna Marina. He +reduced the whole country to submission, excepting two or three +districts in the mountains, against which he sent a party of +soldiers under Captain Saavedra, who brought most of them under +subjection, one tribe only named the <i>Acaltecans</i> holding +out.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] Diaz is very lax in his topographical notices of +this famous expedition. The settlement of St Gil de Buena Vista, +where Cortes now was, appears to have been at the bottom of the +gulf of Amatique in the bay of Honduras, on the east side of the +inlet which communicates with the <i>golfo dolce</i>. His +exploration of that inland gulf, was probably in the hope of +finding a navigable passage to the Pacific Ocean. The settlement +which Cortes projected in Puerto Cavallos, must have been near +that now called Fort Omoa.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[4] These islands of Guanajes appear to be those +called by the English settlers of Honduras, Ratan and Bonaeo, off +cape Honduras.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>As a great many of the people along with Cortes became sick +through the unhealthiness of the climate, he sent them by a +vessel to Hispaniola or Cuba for the recovery of their healths. +By this opportunity, he sent letters to the royal audience of St +Domingo and the reverend brothers of the order of St Jerome, +giving an account of all the events that had recently happened, +and in particular of his having left the government of Mexico in +the hands of deputies, while he proceded to reduce de Oli who had +rebelled. He apprised them of his future intentions, and +requested a reinforcement of soldiers, to enable him to reduce +the country where he now was to subjection; and that they might +attach the greater credit to his report of its value, he sent a +valuable present of gold, taken in reality from his own +side-board, but which he endeavoured to make them believe was the +produce of this new settlement. He entrusted the management of +this business to a relation of his own, named Avalos, whom he +directed to take up in his way twenty-five soldiers who, he was +informed, had been left in the island of Cozumel to kidnap +Indians to be sent for slaves to the West Indian islands. This +vessel was wrecked about seventy leagues from the Havanna, on +which occasion Avalos and many of the passengers perished. Those +who escaped, among whom was the licentiate Pedro Lopez, brought +the first intelligence to the islands of the existence of Cortes +and his army; as it had been universally believed in Cuba and +Hispaniola that we had all perished. As soon as it was known +where Cortes was, two old ships were sent over to Truxillo with +horses and colts, and one pipe of wine; all the rest of their +cargoes consisting of shirts, caps, and useless trumpery of +various kinds. Some of the Indian inhabitants of the Guanajas +islands, which are about eight leagues from Truxillo, came at +this time to Cortes, complaining that the Spaniards had been +accustomed to carry away the natives and their <i>macegualos</i> +or slaves, and that a vessel was now there which was supposed to +have come for that purpose. Cortes immediately sent over one of +his vessels to the islands; but the ship against which the +natives complained made sail immediately on seeing her, and +escaped. It was afterwards known, that this vessel was commanded +by the bachelor Moreno, who had been sent on business by the +royal audience of St Domingo to Nombre de Dios.</p> + +<p>While Sandoval remained at Naco, the chiefs of two +neighbouring districts, named Quecuspan and Tanchinalchapa, +complained to him of a party of Spaniards, at the distance of a +days march from Naco, who robbed their people and made slaves of +them. Sandoval set out against these people immediately with a +party of seventy men, and on coming to the place these Spaniards +were exceedingly surprised at seeing us and took to their arms; +but we soon seized their captain and several others, and made +them all prisoners without any bloodshed. Sandoval reprehended +them severely for their misconduct, and ordered all the Indians +whom they had made prisoners to be immediately released. One +Pedro de Garro was the commander of these men, among whom were +several gentlemen, and in comparison of us dirty and worn down +wretches, they were all mounted and attended like lords. They +were all marched to our head-quarters as prisoners; but in a day +or two they became quite reconciled to their lot. The occasion of +their coming into the country was as follows: Pedro Arias de +Avila, the governor of Tierra Firma, had sent a captain named +Francisco Hernandez to reduce the provinces of Nicaragua and New +Leon, and to establish a colony in that place, which he +accomplished. After the atrocious murder of Balboa, who had +married Donna Isabella the daughter of Aries, Moreno had been +sent over by the court of royal audience, and persuaded +Hernandez, who was now comfortably settled, to throw off his +dependence upon Pedro Aries, and to establish a distinct +government immediately under the royal authority. Hernandez had +done so, and had sent this party under de Garro on purpose to +open a communication from Nicaragua with the north coast, by +which to receive supplies from old Spain. When all this was +explained to Sandoval, he sent Captain Luis Marin to communicate +the intelligence to Cortes, in expectation that he would support +the views of Hernandez. I was sent along with Marin on this +occasion, our whole force consisting of ten men. Our journey was +exceedingly laborious, having to cross many rivers which were +much swollen by the rains, and we had at times to make our way +through hostile Indians armed with large heavy lances, by which +two of our soldiers were wounded. We had sometimes three +difficult rivers to cross in one day; and one river, named Xagua, +ten leagues from Triumpho de la Cruz, detained us for two days. +By the side of that river we found the skeletons of seven horses, +which had belonged to the troops of de Oli, and had died from +eating poisonous herbs. Several of the rivers and inlets on our +journey were much infested by alligators.</p> + +<p>Passing Triumpho de la Cruz and a place called Quemara, we +arrived one evening near Truxillo, where we saw five horsemen +riding along the sea shore, who happened to be our general and +four of his friends taking the air. After the first surprize at +this unexpected meeting, Cortes dismounted and embraced us all +with tears in his eyes, quite overjoyed to see us. It made me +quite melancholy to see him, as he was so worn down by distress +and disease, that he appeared much reduced and extremely weak, +insomuch that he had even expected death, and had procured a +Franciscan habit to be buried in. He walked along with us into +the town of Truxillo, and invited us all to sup with him; where +we fared so wretchedly that I had not even my fill of bread or +biscuit. After reading over the letters we had brought him +relative to Hernandez, he promised to do every thing in his power +to support him. The two vessels which I formerly mentioned as +having brought horses from Hispaniola, only arrived three days +before us, and we were fools enough to run ourselves in debt by +purchasing their useless frippery. Hitherto Cortes had not +received any intelligence whatever from Mexico since he left it +on this disastrous expedition; but, while we were giving him an +account of the hardships of our late journey from Naco, a vessel +was descried at a distance making for our port. This vessel was +from the Havanna, and brought letters from the licentiate Zuazo, +who had been alcalde-major of Mexico, the contents of which +overwhelmed Cortes with such sorrow and distress, that he retired +to his private apartment, whence he did not stir out for a whole +day, and we could distinctly hear that he suffered great +agitation. After hearing mass next morning, he called us together +and communicated to us the intelligence which these letters +conveyed, which was to the following effect.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the power which Cortes had inconsiderately +granted to Salazar and Chirinos, to supersede Estrada and +Albornos in the administration of government in Mexico, in case +of misconduct in these deputies, they had formed a strong party +on their return to Mexico, among whom were Zuazo the +alcalde-major, Rodrigo de Paz, alguazil-major, Alonzo de Tapis, +Jorge de Alvarado, and many of the veteran conquerors, and had +attempted to seize the government by force, and much disturbance +and some bloodshed had ensued. Salazar and Chirinos had carried +their point, and had taken the two former deputies and many of +their friends prisoners; and as discontents and opposition still +prevailed, they had confiscated the property of their opponents, +which they distributed among their own partizans. They had +superseded Zuazo in his office of alcalde-major, and had +imprisoned Rodrigo de Paz; yet Zuazo had brought about a +temporary reconciliation. During these disturbances, the +Zapotecans and Mixtecans, and the inhabitants of a strong rocky +district named Coatlan had rebelled, against whom the veedor +Chirinos had marched with an armed force; but his troops thought +of nothing but card-playing, so that the enemy had surprised +their camp and done them much mischief. The factor Salazar had +sent a veteran captain, Andres de Monjaraz, to assist and advise +Chirinos; but Monjaraz being an invalid was unable to exert +himself properly; and to add to their distractions, an +insurrection was every hour expected in Mexico. The factor +Salazar, constantly remitted gold to his majesties treasurer, Don +Francisco de los Cobos, to make interest for himself at court, +reporting that we had all died at Xicalonga. This report +originated with Diego de Ordas, who, on purpose to escape from +the factious troubles in Mexico, had gone with two vessels in +search of us to Xicalongo, where Cuença and Medina had +been slain as formerly mentioned, on learning which misfortune he +concluded it had been Cortes and his whole party, which he so +reported in letters to Mexico, and had sailed himself to Cuba. +Salazar shewed these letters to our several relations in Mexico, +who all put on mourning, and so universally were we all believed +to be dead, that out properties had been sold by public auction. +The factor Salazar even assumed to himself the office of governor +and captain-general of New Spain; a monument was erected to the +honour of Cortes, and funeral service was performed for him in +the great church of Mexico. The self-assumed governor even issued +an order, that all the women whose husbands had gone with Cortes, +and who had any regard for their souls, should consider +themselves as widows and should immediately marry again; and +because a woman named Juana de Mansilla, the wife of Alonzo +Valiente, refused to obey this order, alleging we were not people +who would be so easily destroyed as Salazar and his party, she +was ordered to be publickly whipped through Mexico as a witch. +One person from whom we expected better behaviour, and whose name +I will not mention, by way of flattering Salazar, solemnly +assured him before many witnesses, that one night, as he was +passing the church of St Jago, which is built on the site of the +great temple of Mexico, he saw the souls of Cortes, Donna Marina, +and Sandoval burning in flames of fire: Another person, also, of +good reputation, pretended that the quadrangles of Tescuco were +haunted by evil spirits, which the natives said were the souls of +Donna Marina and Cortes.</p> + +<p>At this time the captains Las Casas and De Avila, who had +beheaded Christoval de Oli, arrived in Mexico, and publickly +asserted the existence of Cortes, reprobating the conduct of +Salazar, and declaring if Cortes were actually dead, that +Alvarado was the only fit person to have been raised to the +government, till his majesties pleasure could be known. Alvarado +was written to on the subject, and even set out for Mexico; but +becoming apprehensive for his life, he returned to his district. +Finding that he could not bring over Las Casas, De Avila, and +Zuazo to his party, Salazar caused the two former to be arrested +and prosecuted for the murder of De Oli, and even procured their +condemnation; and it was with the utmost difficulty their +execution could be prevented by an appeal to his majesty; but he +was obliged to content himself with sending them prisoners to +Spain. He next sent off the licentiate Zuazo in irons to Cuba, +under pretence of making him answer for his conduct while acting +as a judge in that island. Salazar collected all the gold he +could lay his hands upon, and seized Rodrigo de Paz, +alguazil-major of Mexico, who had been major domo to Cortes, +demanding of him an account and surrender of all the treasure +belonging to the general; and as he either could not or would not +discover where it was, he caused him to be tortured by burning +his feet and legs, and even caused him to be hanged that he might +not carry his complaints to his majesty. His object in collecting +gold was to support his negociations at court; but in this he was +counteracted by almost all the other officers of government in +New Spain, who determined to send their own statements of the +affairs of the colony to court by the same conveyance with his. +He arrested most of the friends of Cortes, several of whom joined +his party as he gave them Indians, and because they wished to be +of the strongest side; but Tapia and Jorge Alvarado took +sanctuary with the Franciscans. To deprive the malcontents of +arms, he brought the whole contents of the arsenal to his palace, +in front of which he planted all the artillery for his defence, +under the command of Captain Luis de Guzman, son-in-law to the +duke of Medina Sidonia. He formed likewise a body guard for his +own individual protection, partly composed of soldiers who had +belonged to Cortes, to the command of which he appointed one +Arriaga. This letter likewise mentioned the death of Father +Bartholomew de Olmedo, who was so much revered by the native +Mexicans, that they fasted from the time of his death till after +his burial. Zuazo, in the conclusion of his letter, expressed his +apprehensions that the colony of Mexico would be utterly ruined +by these confusions. Along with this long and melancholy letter +from Zuazo, Cortes received letters from his father, informing +him of the death of the bishop of Burgos, and of the intrigues of +Albornos at court, already mentioned on a former occasion, and +the interference of the Duke of Bejar in his behalf. He also told +him that Narvaez had been appointed to the government of the +country on the river Palmas, and one Nuno de Guzman to the +province of Panuco.</p> + +<p>The intelligence from Zuazo made us all very melancholy, and +it is difficult to say which of the two we cursed most heartily +in secret for our misfortunes, Cortes or Salazar, for we gave +them ten thousand maledictions, and our hearts sunk within us to +think of our miserable plight after all our fatigues and dangers. +Cortes retired to his chamber, and did not appear again till the +evening, when we unanimously entreated him to hasten to Mexico, +that he might recover the government from the usurper. He replied +kindly: "My dear friends, this villainous factor is very +powerful. If I go along with you to Mexico, he may waylay us by +the road and murder us all. I think it better for me to go +privately to Mexico with only three or four of you, that I may +come upon him at unawares, and that all the rest of you rejoin +Sandoval and go along with him to Mexico." When I saw that Cortes +was resolved on going privately to Mexico, I anxiously requested +to attend him, as I had hitherto accompanied him in all his +difficulties and dangers. He complimented me on my fidelity, but +insisted on my continuing with Sandoval. Several of the colonists +of Truxillo began to grow mutinous, because Cortes had neglected +promoting them to offices; but he pacified them by promises of +providing for them when he should be replaced in his government +of Mexico. Previous to his intended departure, he wrote to Diego +de Godoy, to quit Puerto Cavallos with his settlers, where they +were unable to remain on account of mosquitos and other vermin, +ordering them to relieve us in the good settlement of Naco. He +also ordered that we should take the province of Nicaragua in our +way to Mexico, as it was a country in his opinion worth taking +care of. We took our leave of Cortes, who embarked on his +intended voyage, and we set out cheerfully for Naco to join +Sandoval, as Mexico was now the object of our march. The route to +Naco was as usual attended with much difficulty and distress, yet +we got safe there, and found that Captain De Garro had set off +for Nicaragua, to inform his commander Hernandez that Cortes was +setting out for Mexico, and had promised to give him all the +assistance in his power.</p> + +<p>Two confidential friends of Pedro Aries had come to the +knowledge of the private correspondence between Hernandez and +Cortes, and suspected that Hernandez meant to detach himself from +the command of Aries, and to surrender his province to Cortes. +The names of these men were Garruito and Zamorrano, the former of +whom was urged by an ancient enmity to Cortes, on account of a +rivalship between them in Hispaniola when both young men, about a +lady, which ended in a duel. These persons communicated +intelligence of all they knew to Aries, who immediately hastened +to Nicaragua, to seize all the parties concerned. Garro took the +alarm in time, and made his escape to us; but Hernandez, relying +on his former intimacy with Aries, expected that he would not +proceed to extremities against him, and waited his arrival. He +was miserably disappointed in these hopes, as Aries, after a +summary process, ordered him to execution as a traitor to his +superior officer.</p> + +<p>On his first attempt to sail from Truxillo to Vera Cruz, +Cortes was put back by contrary winds, and a second time by an +accident happening to his ship. Dispirited by sickness, the +accidents which had delayed his voyage prayed on his spirits, he +became apprehensive of the power of Salazar being too great for +him, and his lofty mind sunk under superstitious fears. On his +second return to Truxillo, he ordered the celebration of a solemn +mass, and prayed fervently to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit +as to his future proceedings. On this occasion it appears that he +became inclined to remain in Truxillo to colonize that part of +the country; and in three several expresses which he sent in +quick succession to recall us to that place, he attributed his +determination on that subject to the inspiration of his guardian +angel. On receiving these messages, we cursed Cortes and his bad +fortune, and declared to Sandoval that he must remain by himself, +if he chose that measure, as we were resolved on returning to +Mexico. Sandoval was of the same opinion with us, and we sent a +letter to Cortes to that effect signed by all of us; to which we +had an answer in a few days, making great offers to such of us as +would remain, and saying, if we refused, that there still were +good soldiers to be had in Castile and elsewhere. On receiving +this letter we were more determined than ever to proceed; but +Sandoval persuaded us to wait a few days till he could see and +speak with Cortes; to whom we wrote in reply, that if he could +find soldiers in Castile, so could we find governors and generals +in Mexico, who would give us plantations for our services, and +that we had already suffered sufficient misfortunes by following +him. With this reply Sandoval set off, attended by a soldier +named Sauzedo and a farrier, swearing by his beard that he would +not return till he had seen Cortes embarked for Mexico. On this +occasion Sandoval applied to me for my horse, an excellent animal +for speed, exercise, and travel, which cost me six hundred +crowns, my former horse having been killed in action at a place +called Zulaco. Sandoval gave me one of his in exchange, which was +killed under me in less than two months; after which I was +reduced to a vicious colt which I bought from the two vessels at +Truxillo. On parting from us, Sandoval desired us to wait his +return at a large Indian town called Acalteca.</p> + +<p>When Sandoval came to Truxillo, Cortes received him very +joyfully; but neither his pressing instances nor our letter could +prevail on him to proceed to Mexico. He prevailed on him, +therefore, to send Martin de Orantes, a confidential servant, +with a commission to Pedro de Alvarado and Francisco de las +Casas, in case these officers were in Mexico, to assume the +government till he should return; or, in the event of their +absence, to authorise the treasurer, Estrada, and the contador, +Albornos, to resume the power granted by the former deputation, +revoking that which he had so inadvertently given to the factor +Salazar and the veedor Chirinos, which they had so grossly +abused. Cortes agreed to this, and having given Orantes his +instructions and commissions, directed him to land in a bay +between Vera Cruz and Panuco, suffering no person but himself to +go on shore, after which the vessel was immediately to proceed to +Panuco, that his arrival might be kept as secret as possible. +Orantes was likewise furnished with letters from Cortes to all +his friends in New Spain, and to the treasurer and contador, +although he knew they were not of that description, desiring them +all to use their utmost diligence in displacing the present +tyrannical usurpers. Having favourable weather, Orantes soon +arrived at his destination; and disguising himself as a labourer, +set forward on his journey, always avoiding the Spaniards, and +lodging only among the natives. When questioned by any one, he +called himself Juan de Flechilla; and indeed he was so altered +during his absence of two years and three months, that his most +intimate acquaintances could not have recognised him. Being a +very active man, he arrived in four days in Mexico, which he +entered in the dark, and proceeded immediately to the convent of +the Franciscans, where he found the Alvarados and several other +friends of Cortes, who were there concealed. On explaining his +errand and producing the letters of Cortes, every one was +exceedingly rejoiced, and even the reverend fathers danced for +gladness. The gates of the monastery were immediately locked, to +preclude all notice being conveyed to the adverse party; and +about midnight, the treasurer and contador, and many of the +friends of Cortes were brought secretly to the convent, where the +intelligence was communicated to them. In a grand consultation, +it was resolved to seize the factor Salazar next morning, the +contador Chirinos being still occupied at the rock of +Coatlan.</p> + +<p>The rest of the night was employed in providing arms and +collecting all their friends, and at day-break next morning the +whole party marched for the palace which Salazar inhabited, +calling out as they went along, "Long live the king, and the +governor Hernando Cortes." When this was heard by the citizens, +they all took up arms; and under an idea that their assistance +was required by the government, many of them joined Estrada on +the march. The contador Albornos played a double game on the +occasion, as he sent intelligence to put Salazar on his guard, +for which Estrada reproached him afterwards with much severity. +On approaching the palace, the friends of Cortes found Salazar +already well prepared for resistance, in consequence of the +information he had received; the artillery under Guzman being +drawn out ready for action in front of the palace, and a strong +garrison inside for its defence. But the adherents of Cortes +pushed on, forcing their way by the different doors, and others +by the terraces or wherever they could get access, continually +shouting, for the king and Cortes. The adherents of Salazar were +dismayed; the artillery-men abandoned the guns, and the other +soldiers run away and hid themselves, leaving the poor factor +with only Pedro Gonzalez Sabiote and four servants. Salazar being +thus abandoned, became desperate, and endeavoured to fire off one +of the guns, in which attempt he was made prisoner, and confined +in a wooden cage. Circular notice of this revolution was +immediately conveyed to all the provinces of New Spain; and the +veedor Chirinos, leaving the command of his troops with Monjaraz, +took refuge in the Franciscan monastery at Tescuco; but was +shortly afterwards made prisoner and secured in another cage. +Immediate intelligence of this revolution was transmitted to +Pedro de Alvarado, with directions to go immediately to Truxillo +to wait upon Cortes. The next thing done by the new deputies was +to wait upon Juanna de Mansilla, who had been whipped as a witch, +who was placed on horseback behind the treasurer Estrada, in +which situation she was escorted in grand procession through all +the streets of Mexico, like a Roman matron, and was ever +afterwards stiled <i>Donna Juanna</i>, in honour of her +constancy, for refusing to marry again while she believed her +husband was still living.</p> + +<p>As the situation of Mexico evidently required the presence of +Cortes, Fra Diego de Altamirano was sent by his friends to +represent to him the necessity of setting out immediately for the +capital. This reverend father had been in the army before he +entered the church, and was a man of considerable abilities, and +experienced in business. On his arrival at Truxillo, and giving +Cortes an account of the recent events in Mexico, the general +gave thanks to God for the restoration of peace; but declared his +intention of going to Mexico by land, being afraid of +encountering the adverse currents, and because of the bad state +of his health. The pilots, however, represented that the season +was quite favourable for the voyage, it being then the month of +April, and prevailed on him to give up his first resolution. But +he would on no account leave Truxillo till the return of +Sandoval, who had been detached with seventy soldiers against a +Captain Roxas, who served under Pedro Arias de Avila, against +whom complaints had been made by the inhabitants of Olancho, a +district about fifty-five leagues from Truxillo. When the parties +first met they were on the brink of proceeding to hostilities; +but they were reconciled and parted amicably, Roxas and his men +agreeing to evacuate the country. Sandoval was recalled in +consequence of the arrival of Altamirano, and Cortes took +measures to leave the country in good order, of which Saavedra +was left lieutenant-governor. Captain Luis Marin was directed to +march our whole party to Mexico by way of Guatimala, and Captain +Godoy was ordered to take the command at Naco. All things being +now settled for the departure of Cortes, he confessed to Fra Juan +and received the Sacrament, previous to his embarkation, as he +was so exceedingly ill that he thought himself on the point of +death. The wind was favourable, and he soon arrived at the +Havanna, where he was honourably received by his former friends +and acquaintances, and where he had the pleasure, by a vessel +just arrived from Vera Cruz, to receive intelligence that New +Spain was entirely restored to peace; as all the refractory +Indians, on hearing that Cortes and we their former conquerors +were alive and returning, had come in and made their +submissions.</p> + +<p>The conduct of Salazar and Chirinos during their usurped +authority had gained them many adherents; as, by means of their +confiscations and the distribution of property among their greedy +supporters, many were interested in the maintenance of their +authority. These were mostly of the lower order, and persons of a +seditious disposition; though some men of quality, especially +influenced by the contador Albornos, who dreaded the arrival of +Cortes, had formed a plot to kill the treasurer Estrada, and to +reinstate Salazar and Chirinos in the government. For the purpose +of releasing them from prison, they employed one Guzman, a +white-smith, a fellow of low character who affected to be a wit, +to make keys for opening their cages, giving him a piece of gold +of the form which they required, and enjoining the strictest +secrecy. He undertook all that they asked with the utmost +apparent zeal, pretending to be very anxious for the liberation +of the prisoners; and by his affected humour and zeal for the +cause, contrived to become acquainted with their whole plan of +procedure: But when the keys were finished and the plot ripe for +execution, he communicated intelligence of the whole affair to +Estrada; who instantly assembled the friends of Cortes, and went +to the place of meeting, where he found twenty of the +conspirators already armed and waiting for the signal. These were +seized, but many others made their escape. Among the prisoners +there were several very notorious characters, one of whom had +lately committed violence on a Spanish woman. They were +immediately brought to trial before Ortega, the alcalde-major of +Mexico; and, being convicted, three of them were hanged, and +several of the rest whipped.</p> + +<p>I must here digress, to mention an affair not exactly +accordant in point of time with my narrative, but relevant in +regard to its subject. By the same vessel in which Salazar had +transmitted letters to his majesty tending to criminate Cortes, +other letters were conveyed and so artfully concealed that he had +no suspicion of their existence, in which a full and true account +of all his oppresions and unlawful proceedings was sent to his +majesty. All these facts had also been reported by the royal +court of audience at St Domingo; by which the reported death of +Cortes was contradicted, and his majesty was truly informed in +what manner the general was employed for his service. In +consequence of these representations, the emperor is said to have +expressed his high indignation at the unworthy treatment which +Cortes had experienced, and his determination to support him in +the government of New Spain.</p> + +<p>SECTION XXI.</p> + +<p><i>Return of Cortes to Mexico, and occurrences there previous +to his departure for Europe; together with an account of the +return of the Author to Mexico</i>.</p> + +<p>Cortes remained five days at the Havanna for refreshment, +after which he reimbarked, and in twelve days arrived at the port +of Medelin, opposite the <i>Isla de los Sacrificios</i>, where he +disembarked with twenty soldiers; and while proceeding to the +town of San Juan de Ulua, about half a league from Medelin, he +had the good fortune to fall in with a string of horses and mules +which had been employed in conveying travellers to the coast, +which he immediately engaged to carry him and his suit to Vera +Cruz[1]. He gave strict orders to all who accompanied him to give +no hint to any person of his name and quality; and on his arrival +at the town before day-break, he went directly to the church, the +doors of which were just opened. The sacristan was alarmed at +seeing so great a number of strangers going into the church, and +immediately ran into the streets to call the civil power to his +assistance. The alcaldes, with the alguazils, and some of the +inhabitants repaired immediately to the church with their arms; +and Cortes was so squalid from long illness, that no one knew him +till he began to speak. The moment he was known, they all fell on +their knees and kissed his hands, welcoming him back to New +Spain; and his old fellow-soldiers escorted him after mass to the +quarters of Pedro Moreno, where he remained eight days, during +which he was feasted by the inhabitants. Intelligence was +immediately conveyed of the joyful news to Mexico and all the +surrounding country, and Cortes wrote to all his friends giving +them notice of his arrival. The neighbouring Indians flocked to +wait upon him with presents and congratulations; and when he set +out on his journey to Mexico, every preparation was made for his +accommodation and honourable entertainment. The inhabitants of +Mexico, and all the places round the lake, and those of Tlascala +and all the other Indian towns, celebrated his return with +festivals. On his arrival at Tescuco, the contador came to wait +upon him, and on entering the capital, he was received in great +state by all the civil and military officers, and all the +inhabitants. The natives in their gayest attire, and armed as +warriors, filled the lake in their canoes; dancing and festivity +prevailed in every corner of the city during the whole day; and +at night every house was illuminated. Immediately on his arrival, +he went to the monastery of St Francis, to give thanks to God for +his preservation and safe return; and from thence went to his +magnificent palace, where he was esteemed, served, and feared +like a sovereign prince, all the provinces sending messages of +congratulation on his happy return, with considerable presents. +This return of Cortes to Mexico was in June[2], and he +immediately ordered the arrest of all who had been most eminent +for sedition during his absence, causing a judicial inquiry to be +made into the conduct of the two principal culprits, Salazar and +Chirinos, whom he intended to have brought immediately to justice +for their crimes; and, if he had done so, no one would have found +fault, but in this instance he certainly acted with too much +lenity, or rather want of firmness. I remember to have heard from +some of the members of the royal council of the Indies in 1540, +that the capital punishment of these men would have been approved +by his majesty. One Ocampo, who had been guilty of defamatory +libels, and an old scrivener named Ocana, who used to be called +the soul of Chirinos, was arrested on this occasion.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] The harbour of Medelin is fifteen or twenty miles +south from Vera Cruz; but I suspect the place named St Juan de +Ulua in the text is the modern town of Vera Cruz, the harbour of +which is protected by the island and castle of St Juan de Ulua. +The ancient town of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, now called +Antigua, is about twenty-five miles north from modern Vera +Cruz.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] Diaz is frequently inattentive to dates, and does +not on this occasion inform us of the year: By reference to +Robertsons History of America, II. 266, 12mo. ed Lond. 1800, it +certainly apoears to have been in the year 1524.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Shortly after the arrival of Cortes in Mexico, the licentiate +Luis Ponce de Leon arrived unexpectedly at Medelin, and Cortes +was surprised with this intelligence while performing his +devotions in the church of St Francis. He prayed earnestly for +direction from God, that he might so conduct himself on this +critical emergency, as seemed best fitting to his holy will, and +the good service of his sovereign; and immediately sent a +confidential person to bring him information of the particular +object and tendency of the coming of De Leon. In two days after, +he received a copy of the royal orders to receive the licentiate +as resident judge of Mexico: In consequence of which, he +dispatched a person with a complimentary message, desiring to +know which of the two roads to the city De Leon intended to take, +that he might give orders for every proper accommodation to be +prepared suitable to his rank. De Leon sent back an answer, +thanking him for his polite attention, but that he proposed to +repose for some time where he then was, to recover from the +fatigues of his voyage. This interval was busily employed by the +enemies of Cortes, in misrepresenting all the transactions in +which Cortes had been concerned. They asserted that Cortes +intended to put the factor and veedor to death before the arrival +of De Leon at Mexico, and even warned him to take great care of +his own personal safety, alleging that the civility of Cortes in +desiring to know the road he meant to take, were to enable him to +prepare for his assassination, under pretence of doing him +honour. The persons with whom the licentiate principally +consulted were, Proano, the alcalde-major, and his brother, who +was alcalde of the citadel, named Salazar de la Pedrada, who soon +afterwards died of a pleurisy; Marcos de Aguilar, a licentiate or +bachelor; a soldier named Bocanegra de Cordova, and certain +friars of the Dominican order, of whom Fra Thomas Ortiz was +provincial. This man had been a prior somewhere, and was said to +be much better fitted for worldly affairs, than for the concerns +of his holy office. By these men De Leon was advised to proceed +to Mexico without delay, and accordingly the last messengers sent +to him by Cortes met him on the road at Iztapalapa. A sumptuous +banquet was prepared at this place for De Leon and his suit, in +which, after several abundant and magnificent courses, some +cheese-cakes and custards were served up as great delicacies, +which were much relished, and some of the company eat of them so +heartily that they became sick. Ortiz asserted that they had been +mixed up with arsenic, and that he had refrained from eating them +from suspicion; but some who were present declared that he +partook of them heartily, and declared they were the best he had +ever tasted. This ridiculous story was eagerly circulated by the +enemies of Cortes. While De Leon was at Iztapalapa, Cortes +remained in Mexico; and report said that he sent at this time a +good sum in gold as a present to the licentiate. When De Leon set +out from Iztapalapa, Cortes having notice of his approach, went +immediately to meet him, with a grand and numerous retinue of all +the officers and gentlemen of the city. At meeting, many +civilities passed between the two great men, and Cortes prevailed +with some difficulty on De Leon to take the right hand. De Leon +proceeded immediately to the monastery of St Francis, to offer up +his thanks to the Almighty for his safe arrival, whence he was +conducted by Cortes to a palace prepared for him, where he was +most sumptuously entertained, all business being deferred for +that day. On this occasion the grandeur and politeness of Cortes +were so conspicuous, that De Leon is said to have observed +privately among his friends, that Cortes must have been long +practising the manners of a great man.</p> + +<p>Next day, the <i>cabildo</i> or council of Mexico, all the +civil and military officers, and all the veterans who were +present in the capital, were ordered to assemble; and in the +presence of all these, the licentiate Ponce de Leon produced his +commission from his majesty. Cortes kissed it, and placed it on +his head as a mark of respectful submission, and all present +declared their ready obedience. The licentiate then received from +Cortes the rod of justice, in token of surrendering the +government into his hands, saying: "General, I receive this +government from you by the orders of his majesty; although it is +by no means implied that you are not most worthy both of this and +of a higher trust." The general answered, "That he was always +happy in obeying the commands of his majesty, and was the more +satisfied on the present occasion, because he would have an +opportunity to prove the malice and falsehood of his enemies." De +Leon replied, "That in all societies there were good and bad men, +for such was the way of the world; and he trusted that both would +be repaid in kind." This was all the material business of the +first day. On the next, the new governor sent a respectful +summons to Cortes, who accordingly waited upon him, and they had +a long private conference, at which no one was present except the +prior Ortiz: Yet it was believed that the conversation was to the +following effect. De Leon observed, that it was the wish of his +majesty that those who had most merit in the conquest of the +country should be well provided for in the distribution of +plantations, those soldiers who had first come from Cuba being +more especially considered: Whereas it was understood that they +had been neglected, while others who had newly arrived had been +gratified with unmerited wealth. To this Cortes answered, that +all had got shares in the division of the country; and that it +could not be imputed to him that some of these had turned out of +less value than others: But it was now in the power of the new +governor to remedy this inequality. The governor then asked why +Luis de Godoy had been left to perish in a distant settlement, +when the veterans ought to have been allowed to enjoy the +comforts of established possessions in Mexico, and the new +settlements assigned to new colonists: And why Captain Luis +Marin, Bernal Diaz, and other approved veterans had been +neglected. Cortes answered, That for business of difficulty and +danger, none but the veterans could be depended on: But that all +these were soon expected to return to Mexico, when the new +governor would have it in his power to provide for them. De Leon +next questioned him rather sharply about his imprudent march +against Christoval de Oli, which he had undertaken without +permission from his majesty. Cortes said, That he looked upon +that measure as necessary for his majestys service, as such an +example might have dangerous effects on officers entrusted with +subordinate commands; and that he had reported his intentions to +his majesty before he set out on this expedition. De Leon +questioned him likewise on the affairs of Narvaez, Garay, and +Tapia; on all of which subjects Cortes gave such answers that the +governor seemed perfectly satisfied.</p> + +<p>Soon after this conference, Ortiz called on three very +intimate friends of the general, and pretending to be actuated +only by the most friendly desire to serve him, assured them that +the governor had secret orders from the emperor to behead Cortes +immediately; and that he, from private regard, and in conformity +with the duties of his holy functions, had considered it to be +his duty to give him this intelligence. He even desired an +interview with Cortes next morning, and communicated the same +information to him, accompanied with many protestations of regard +and friendship. This assuredly gave Cortes a very serious subject +of meditation: But he had already been informed of the intriguing +character of the prior, and suspected all this proceeded from a +wish to be bribed for his good offices with the governor; though +some alleged that Ortiz acted by the secret directions of De Leon +on this occasion. Cortes received this pretended friendly +information with many thanks; but declared his belief that his +majesty had a better opinion of his services, than to proceed +against him in this clandestine manner; and that he had too high +an opinion of the governor, than to believe he could proceed to +such extremities without the royal warrant. When the prior found +that his sly conduct did not produce the effect which he had +expected, he remained so confused that he knew not what farther +to say on the occasion. The new governor gave public notice, for +all who had complaints to make against the former administration, +to bring their charges, whether against Cortes, or any others of +the civil or military officers. In consequence of this, a vast +number of accusers, litigants, and claimants started up; among +whom many private enemies of the general preferred unjust +accusations against him, while others made just claims for what +was really due to them. Some alleged that they had not received +their just shares of the gold; others that they had not been +sufficiently rewarded in the distribution of settlements; some +demanded remuneration for their horses which had been killed in +the wars, though they had already been paid ten times their +value; and others demanded satisfaction for personal injuries. +Just as the governor had opened his court to give a hearing to +all parties, it pleased God, for our sins, and to our great +misfortune, that he was suddenly taken ill of a fever. He +remained four days in a lethargic state; after which, by the +advice of his physicians, he confessed and received the sacrament +with great devotion, and appointed Marcos de Aguilar, who had +come with him from Spain, to succeed him in the government. On +the ninth day from the commencement of his illness, he departed +from this life, to the great grief of all the colonists, +particularly the military, as he certainly intended to have +redressed all abuses, and to have rewarded us according to our +merits. He was of a gay disposition, and fond of music; and it is +said that his attendants, while his illness was at the height, +brought a lute player into his apartment, in hopes of soothing +his distress. While a favourite air was playing, he was said to +have beat time with perfect accuracy, and expired just when the +tune was finished.</p> + +<p>Immediately on his death, the enemies of Cortes in Mexico +circulated the most malignant slanders against him, even going +the length of asserting that he said Sandoval had poisoned the +governor as he had before done with Garay. The most busy in +propagating this malicious report was the Prior Ortiz. But the +truth was, that the vessel which brought the governor and his +suite from Spain was infected with the disease of which he died; +above a hundred of the crew and passengers having died at sea or +soon after landing; among whom, almost all the friars who came +out at that time were carried off, and the contagion spread +through the city of Mexico. Some of the principal people in +Mexico objected against the appointment which the late governor +had made of a successor; alleging that Marcos de Aguilar was only +a bachelor and not a licentiate, and therefore incapable of +acting in that capacity. The cabildo of Mexico insisted that +Aguilar was incapable of executing the high office to which De +Leon had appointed him, on account of his age and infirmities; as +he was a diseased hectic old man, who was obliged to drink goats +milk, and to be suckled by a woman to keep him alive; they +recommended therefore that Cortes should be associated with him +in the government: But Aguilar insisted on adhering strictly to +the testament of his predecessor; and Cortes, for substantial +private reasons, was entirely averse from taking any share in the +authority. The enemies of Cortes insisted on the inquiry +proceeding in the manner intended by the late governor; and +Cortes readily assented to this, providing the new governor would +take the responsibility on himself for acting contrary to the +testament of his predecessor, who had left orders for him not to +proceed with the business before the court, but that the whole +should be laid before his majesty.</p> + +<p>It is now proper to revert to our situation who had been left +at Naco, when Cortes set sail from Truxillo for the Havanna and +Mexico. We remained for some time at Naco, waiting intelligence +for the sailing of Cortes, which Sandoval was to have sent us; +but Saavedra maliciously suppressed the letters. Becoming +impatient after a considerable delay, our captain, Luis Marin, +sent ten of the cavalry, among whom I was, to Truxillo to learn +the truth. On our arrival at a place named Olancho, we learned +from some Spaniards that Cortes was sailed; which information was +soon afterwards confirmed by a message from Saavedra. We returned +therefore joyfully to Marin, and set out for Mexico, throwing +stones at the country we were quitting, as a mark of our dislike. +At a place called Maniani, we met five soldiers commanded by +Diego de Villaneuva, one of our brave veterans, who were sent in +search of us by Alvarado, who was at a place not far distant, +named <i>Chohilteca Malalaca</i>, where we joined him in two +days, and where we were likewise joined by a party belonging to +Pedro Arias de Avilla, who had sent some of his captains to +adjust some disputed boundaries with Alvarado. From this place, +where we remained three days, Alvarado sent one Gaspar Arias de +Avilla to treat on some confidential business with Pedro Arias, I +believe relative to a marriage; for Pedro Arias seemed much +devoted henceforwards to Alvarado. Continuing our march through a +hostile country, the natives killed one of our soldiers, and +wounded three; but we were too much in haste to punish them as +they deserved. Farther on in Guatimala, the natives manned the +passes against us, and we were detained three days in forcing our +way through, on which occasion I received a slight wound. While +in the valley where the city of Guatimala has been since built, +and all the people of which were hostile, we had a number of +shocks of an earthquake, all of which continued a long while, and +were so violent that several of our soldiers were thrown down. On +passing old Guatimala, the natives assembled against us in +hostile array, but we drove them before us, and took possession +of their magnificent dwellings and quadrangles for the night, and +hutted ourselves next day on the plain, where we remained ten +days. During this time Alvarado summoned the neighbouring Indians +to submit, but they neglected to appear. We then proceeded by +long marches to Olintepec, where Alvarados main force was +stationed, whence we proceeded by Soconuzco and Teguantepec +towards Mexico, losing two soldiers on our march, and the Mexican +lord named Juan Velasquez, who had been a chief under +Guatimotzin.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Oaxaca, we learned the news of the death of +Ponce de Leon the governor. We pressed forward to Mexico, and on +our arrival at Chalco sent messengers to inform Cortes of our +approach, and to request he would provide us with good quarters, +having been two years and three months absent on our expedition. +Cortes, attended by many gentlemen on horseback, met us on the +causeway and accompanied us into the city, where we immediately +went to the great church to return thanks to God for our arrival, +after which we went to the generals palace, where a sumptuous +entertainment was provided for us. Alvarado went to reside at the +fortress, of which he had been appointed alcalde. Luis Marin went +to lodge with Sandoval; and Captain Luis Sanchez and I, were +taken by Andres de Tapia to his house. Cortes and Sandoval and +all our other friends sent us presents of gold and cacao to bear +our expences[3]. Next day, my friend Sanchez and I went to wait +upon the new governor Aguilar, accompanied by Sandoval and De +Tapia. We were received with much politeness, saying he would +have done every thing in his power for us, if so authorised, but +every thing having been referred by De Leon to his majesty, he +was unable to make any new arrangements.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] It may be proper to remark in this place, that +the cacao nuts were used by the Mexicans before the conquest as a +medium for purchases of small value instead of money, and the +practice was continued under the Spanish dominion, as the markets +were supplied by the original natives. Clavigero, I. 366. says +that the Mexicans used five substitutes for money. 1. Cacao, +which they counted by <i>xiquipils</i>, or in sacks containing +each three xiquipils, or 24,000 nuts. 2. Small cotton cloths, +called <i>patolquachtli</i>. 3. Gold dust in goose quills. 4. +Pieces of copper in the form of the letter T. 5. Thin pieces of +tin.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>At this time Diego de Ordas arrived from Cuba, who was said to +have circulated the report of our deaths; but he declared that he +had only sent an account of the unfortunate catastrophe of +Xicalonga as it really happened, and that the misrepresentation +proceeded entirely from the factor Salazar. Cortes had so much +business on his hands that he thought proper to drop this affair, +and endeavoured to recover his property which had been disposed +of under the supposition of his death. A great part of it had +been expended in celebrating his funeral obsequies, and in the +purchase of perpetual masses for his soul; but, on his being +discovered to be alive, had been repurchased by one Juan Caceres +for his own benefit when he might happen to die, so that Cortes +could not recover his property. Ordas, who was a man of much +experience, seeing that Cortes was fallen much into neglect since +he was superseded from the government, advised him to assume more +state and consequence to maintain the respect due to him: But +such was his native plainness of manners, that he never wished to +be called otherwise than simply <i>Cortes</i>; a truly noble +name, as glorious as those of Cesar, Pompey, or Hanibal among the +ancients. Ordas likewise informed Cortes of a current report in +Mexico, that he intended to put Salazar privately to death in +prison, and warned him that he was powerfully patronized. About +this time, the treasurer Estrada married one of his daughters to +Jorge de Alvarado, and another to Don Luis de Guzman, son to the +Conde de Castellar. Pedro de Alvarado went over to Spain to +solicit the government of Guatimala, sending in the meantime his +brother Jorge to reduce that province, with a force chiefly +composed of the warriors of the different nations that were in +our alliance. The governor also sent a force against the province +of Chiapa, under the command of Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman, a +near relation to the Duke of Medina Sidonia: And an expedition +was sent against the Zapotecan mountaineers, under Alonzo de +Herrera, one of our veteran soldiers.</p> + +<p>Having lingered about eight months, Marcos de Aguilar died, +and appointed by his testament Alonzo de Estrada the treasurer to +succeed him in the government: But the Cabildo of Mexico and many +of the principal Spaniards were very solicitous that Cortes +should be associated in the government; and on his peremptory +refusal, they recommended that Sandoval, who was then +alguazil-major, should act in conjunction with Estrada, which +accordingly was the case. The incompetence of Estrada for +conducting the government in the present conjuncture, +particularly appeared from the following circumstance. Nuno de +Guzman, who had held the government of Panuco for two years, +conducted himself in a furious and tyrannical manner, arbitrarily +extending the bounds of his jurisdiction on the most frivolous +pretences, and putting to death all who dared to oppose his +commands. Among these, Pedro Gonzalez de Truxillo, having +asserted truly that his district was dependent on Mexico, Guzman +immediately ordered him to be hanged. He put many other Spaniards +to death, merely to make himself feared; and set the authority of +the governor of Mexico at defiance. Some of the enemies of Cortes +persuaded Estrada to represent to the court of Spain, that he had +been compelled by the influence of Cortes to associate Sandoval +with himself in the government, contrary to his inclination, and +to the detriment of his majesties service. By the same +conveyance, a string of malevolent falsehoods were transmitted +against the general; as that he had poisoned Garay, De Leon, and +Aguilar; that he had endeavoured to administer arsenic in +cheese-cakes to a great number of people at a feast; that he was +plotting the deaths of the veedor and factor Chirinos and +Salazar, then in jail; and that he had procured the death of his +wife, Donna Catalina. All these lies were supported by the +industry of the contador Albornos, then in Spain: And, in +consequence of these gross falsehoods, Cortes was partly judged +unheard; as orders were sent to release Salazar and Chirinos; and +Pedro de la Cueva, commendator-major of Alcantara, was ordered to +go out to Mexico with an escort of three hundred soldiers at the +expence of Cortes, with authority to put Cortes to death if his +guilt were proved, and to distribute his property among the +veteran conquerors of Mexico. This was to have been done, +however, under the authority of a court of royal audience, which +was to be sent out to Mexico; but all ended in nothing; as +neither De la Cueva nor the court of royal audience made their +appearance.</p> + +<p>Estrada was greatly elated by the countenance he received at +court, which he attributed to his being considered as a natural +son of the Catholic king. He disposed of governments at his +pleasure, and carried every thing with a high hand. At this time +he sent his relation Mazoriejos to inquire into the conduct of +Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman in Chiapa, who is said to have made +more plunder there than was proper. He sent also a force against +the Zapotecas and Mixtecas, under the command of one De Barrios, +said to be a brave soldier who had served in Italy. I do not mean +De Barrios of Seville, the brother-in-law of Cortes. This officer +marched with a hundred men against the Zapotecas; but they +surprised him, one night, and slew himself and seven of his +soldiers. Such was the difference between these raw half formed +soldiers, who were ignorant of the stratagems of the enemy, and +us the veteran conquerors. One Figuero, a particular friend of +Estrada, was sent with a hundred new soldiers to the province of +Oaxaca. On passing through the country of the Zapotecas, Figuero +fell into a dispute with one Alonzo de Herrera, who had been sent +to command there by the late governor Aguilar, in which Figuero +and three soldiers were wounded. Finding himself unable for the +field, and that his soldiers were unfit for expeditions among the +mountains, Figuero thought proper to search for the sepulchres of +the ancient chiefs, on purpose to appropriate the gold which used +to be buried along with them; by which means he collected above +an hundred thousand crowns, and returned with this wealth to +Mexico, leaving the province in a worse state than before. From +Mexico he went to Vera Cruz, where he embarked for Spain; but he +and all his wealth went to the bottom, as the vessel in which he +sailed was lost in a storm. The business of subjecting these +Indians was finally left for us, the veterans of Coatzacualco, +who at length reduced them to submission. They used to submit +during the summer, and to rebel when the torrents rendered their +country inaccessible. I was on three expeditions against them; +and at last the town of St Alfonso was built to keep them under +subjection.</p> + +<p>When the governor heard how his friend Figuero had been +maltreated by Herrera, he sent the officers of justice to +apprehend him, but he made his escape to the rocks and woods. +They took a soldier named Cortejo who used to accompany him, whom +they brought prisoner to Mexico, where the governor ordered his +right hand to be cut off, without hearing him in his defence, +although he was a gentleman. About this time also, a servant +belonging to Sandoval wounded one of Estradas servants in a +quarrel. The governor had him arrested, and sentenced him to have +his right hand cut off, Cortes and Sandoval resided at this time +in Quernavaca, partly on prudential considerations; and +immediately posted off to Mexico, where he is said to have used +such severe expressions to the governor as to put him in fear of +his life. He called his friends about him to form a guard for his +person, and immediately released Salazar and Chirinos from +prison, by whose advice he issued an order for the expulsion of +Cortes from Mexico. When this was represented to Cortes, he +declared his readiness to obey; and since it was the will of God, +that he who had gained that city at the expence of his best +blood, should be banished from it by base and unworthy men, he +was resolved to go immediately to Spain and demand justice from +his majesty. He quitted the city instantly, and went to one of +his country residences at Cojohuacan, from whence in a few days +he proceeded towards the coast. Estradas lady, a person worthy of +memory for her many virtues, seeing the dangerous consequences +which were likely to result from this absurd and arbitrary +conduct, remonstrated with her husband on the subject, reminding +him of the many favours he had received from Cortes, the +ingratitude with which he now repaid him, and the many powerful +friends of the general. These representations are said to have +induced the treasurer to repent sincerely of the violent steps he +had taken. Just at this time, Fra Julian Garrios, the first +bishop of Tlascala arrived in New Spain, who was much displeased +on hearing the proceedings of the governor; and two days after +his arrival in Mexico, where he was received with great pomp, he +undertook to mediate a reconciliation between the governor and +Cortes. Many seditious persons, knowing the dissatisfaction of +Cortes, offered him their services if he would set himself up as +an independant monarch in New Spain, and he even received similar +offers from many persons in Mexico. He immediately arrested all +of these men who were in his reach, threatening to put them to +death, and wrote to inform the bishop of Tlascala of their +treasonable offers. The bishop waited on Cortes, and found his +conduct in every respect satisfactory, of which he sent word to +Mexico; and finding that Cortes was positively determined upon +going to Spain, the prelate added to his letter a severe censure +from himself upon the misconduct of those who had driven him from +thence.</p> + +<p>SECTION XXII.</p> + +<p><i>Narrative of Occurrences, from the Departure of Cortes to +Europe till his Death</i>.</p> + +<p>About this time likewise, Cortes received letters from the +president of the council of the Indies, the Duke of Bejar, and +several others of his friends in Spain; strongly urging the +necessity of his appearance at court to counteract the malignant +accusations of his numerous enemies[1]. By the same conveyance, +he received notice of the death of his father. Having performed +funeral obsequies in memory of his father, he ordered two ships +to be purchased, which he stored so abundantly with provisions of +all kinds, that after his arrival in Spain the overplus might +have served for a voyage of two years. I am uncertain whether +Cortes returned to Mexico in order to arrange his private +affairs; but he appointed several agents for that purpose, the +principal of whom was the licentiate Altamirano. His major-domo, +Esquival, was employed in making preparations for the voyage; +who, in crossing the lake to Ajotzinco in a large canoe with six +Indians and a negro, having some ingots of gold in his +possession, was waylaid and murdered; but the manner of his death +could never be ascertained, as neither canoe, Indians, nor negro +could ever be traced. The body of Esquival was found four days +afterwards on a small island, half eaten by the birds of prey. +There were many suspicions about this affair, some of such a +nature as I cannot relate; but no great inquiry was made as to +his death. Cortes appointed other persons to complete the +preparations for his voyage; and offered by proclamation a free +passage for all Spaniards who had license from the government to +go to Spain, with a supply of provisions during the voyage. He +took home with him from Mexico a great number of the curiosities +of the country to present to his majesty, among which were +various unknown birds, two tigers[2], many barrels of ambergris +and indurated balsam, and of a kind resembling oil[3]: Four +Indians who were remarkably expert in playing the stick with +their feet: Some of those Indian jugglers who had a manner of +appearing to fly in the air: Three hunchbacked dwarfs of +extraordinary deformity: Some male and female Indians whose skins +were remarkable for an extraordinary whiteness, and who had a +natural defect of vision[4]. Cortes was likewise attended by +several young chiefs of the Mexican and Tlascalan nations, who +went over along with him into Spain at their own request[5].</p> + +<blockquote>[1] According to Robertson, II. 266. Cortes took the +resolution of returning into Spain to avoid exposing himself to +the ignominy of a trial in Mexico, the scene of his triumphs, on +hearing that a commission of inquiry into his conduct was on the +point of coming out to New Spain for that purpose. Diaz almost +perpetually neglects dates, in the latter part of his work +especially: but we learn from Robertson that it was now the year +1528.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] The Mexican Tiger, or Jaguar, called Tlatlauhqui +ocelotl by the Mexicans, the <i>felis onca</i> of naturalists, is +of a yellowish colour with cornered annular spots, which are +yellow in the middle. It grows to the size of a wolf or large +dog, and resembles the Bengal tiger, <i>felis tigris</i>, in +craft and cruelty, but not in size or courage.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[3] Perhaps the Balsam of Capivi, which is of that +consistence. The indurated balsam may be that of +Tolu.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[4] These were <i>albinos</i>, an accidental or +diseased rariety of the human species, having chalky white skins, +pure white hair, and a want of the pigmentum nigrum of the eye. +The white rabbit is a plentiful example of animal albinos, which +variety continues to propagate its kind.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[5] According to Herrera, Dec. iv. lib. iij. c. 8. +and lib. iv. c. 1. as quoted by Robertson, <i>note</i> cxxiv. the +treasure which Cortes took over with him consisted of 1500 marks +of wrought plate, 200,000 pesos of fine gold, and 10,000 of +inferior standard; besides many rich jewels, one in particular +being worth 40,000 pesos. The value of this enumerated treasure +amounts to L.104,250 Sterling numerical value; but estimating its +efficient value in those days, with Robertson, as equal to six +times the present amount, it exceeds L.600,000.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Every thing being in readiness for the voyage, Cortes +confessed and received the sacrament, after which he embarked +along with Sandoval, de Tapia, and other gentlemen; and in +forty-one days arrived in Spain, where he disembarked near the +town of Palos, in the month of December 1527. As soon as he set +his foot on shore, he knelt down and returned thanks to God for +the safety of his voyage. This fortunate voyage was soon +succeeded by severe grief, in consequence of the death of the +valiant Sandoval, who expired after a lingering illness in the +house of a rope-maker in Palos, who robbed him in his presence of +thirteen bars of gold, in the following manner: Perceiving the +extreme weakness of Sandoval, he sent away all his servants on a +pretended message to Cortes; and then went into Sandovals room, +where he broke open his chest and took out the gold, our poor +friend being too ill in bed to hinder him, and even apprehensive +if he made any outcry, that the robber might take his life. As +soon as he got the gold, he made his escape into Portugal, where +he could not be pursued. Sandoval grew worse hourly, and as the +physicians pronounced his end approaching, he prepared himself +for death like a good Christian, and made his will, by which he +left all his property to a sister, who afterwards married a +natural son of the Conde de Medelin. Sandoval died universally +regretted, and was followed to the grave by Cortes and a great +train of mourners. May God pardon his sins! <i>Amen</i>.</p> + +<p>Cortes transmitted by express, an account of his arrival and +of the death of his friend Sandoval to his majesty and to his +patrons at court; and when the Duke of Bejar and the Conde de +Aguilar waited on his majesty on the occasion, they found him +already acquainted by means of letters from Cortes, and that he +had been pleased to issue orders for his being received in the +most honourable manner in all the towns and cities where he might +have occasion to pass. On his arrival at Seville, Cortes was +entertained by the Duke of Medina Sidonia, who presented him with +several beautiful horses. He proceeded from thence to attend the +<i>nine days devotion</i> at the shrine of our lady of +Guadaloupe, where Donna Maria, the lady of the commendador Don +Francisco de los Cobos, and many other ladies of high rank +arrived at the same time. After Cortes had performed his +devotions, and given charity to the poor, he went in grand style +to pay his respects to Donna Maria, her beautiful sister, and the +many other ladies of distinguished rank who were along with her, +where he exhibited that politeness, gallantry, and generosity, in +which he surpassed all men. He presented various golden ornaments +of great value to all the ladies, giving a plume of green +feathers richly ornamented with gold to every one of the ladies, +but his presents to Donna Maria and her sister were particularly +rich and valuable. He then produced his Indian dancers and +players with the stick, who astonished all the spectators. And +learning that one of the mules belonging to Donna Marias sister +had fallen lame, he presented her with two of the finest which +could be procured. Waiting the departure of these ladies, he +attended them during their journey to the court, entertaining +them magnificently on all occasions, doing the honours with a +grace peculiar to himself, insomuch that Donna Maria de Mendoza +began to have thoughts of a marriage between her sister and +Cortes, and wrote in such strains of the politeness and +generosity of Cortes, that she brought over the commendador her +husband entirely to his interest.</p> + +<p>On his arrival at court, his majesty was pleased to order +apartments for him, and all his friends came out to meet him on +the road. Next day he went by permission to throw himself at his +majestys feet, accompanied by the Duke of Bejar, the Admiral of +the Indies, and the commendador of Leon. His majesty commanded +him to rise, on which Cortes, after a short enumeration of his +services and vindication of his conduct from the aspersions of +his enemies, presented a memorial in which the whole was fully +detailed. His majesty then honoured him with the title of Marquis +della Valle de Oaxaca and the order of St Jago, giving him an +estate for the support of his new dignity, and appointed him +Captain-general of New Spain and of the South Seas. Thus loaded +with honours, Cortes retired from the royal presence; and shortly +afterwards falling dangerously ill, the emperor did him the +honour of paying him a visit in person. One Sunday after his +recovery, when the emperor was at mass in the cathedral of +Toledo, seated according to custom with all the nobility in their +proper stations, Cortes came there rather late, designedly as it +was said, after all were seated; and, passing before all the +others, took his place next the Conde de Nasao, who sat nearest +the emperor. This gave great offence to many, though some said it +was done by desire of the emperor. Indeed Cortes felt his +elevation so much, that he ceased to hold some of his patrons in +the estimation they deserved, bestowing his whole attentions on +the Duke of Bejar, the Admiral, and the Conde de Nasao. He +applied likewise to the emperor to be reappointed to the +government of New Spain; but, though supported in this request by +his noble patrons, his majesty refused compliance, and from this +time he did not seem so much in favour as before.</p> + +<p>The emperor now proceeded on a journey to Flanders; and +shortly after his departure, Cortes was married to Donna Juanna +de Zuniga, on which occasion he presented his lady with the most +magnificent jewels that had ever been seen in Spain. Queen +Isabella, from the report of the lapidaries, expressed a wish for +some similar jewels, which Cortes accordingly presented to her; +but it was reported that these were not so fine or so valuable as +those he had given to his lady. At this time Cortes obtained +permission from the council of the Indies to fit out two ships on +a voyage of discovery to the south seas, with the condition of +enjoying certain privileges and revenues from all lands that were +acquired through his means to the crown of Spain. Don Pedro de la +Cueva, who was to have gone to Mexico with a commission to try +Cortes and to put him to death if found guilty, was now upon the +most intimate footing with him, and told him that even his +innocence would have been sufficiently expensive, as the cost of +the expedition, which he was to have paid, would have exceeded +300,000 crowns.</p> + +<p>Cortes sent Juan de Herrada, a brave soldier who had attended +him in his expedition to Honduras, to carry a rich present of +gold, silver, and jewels, to his holiness Pope Clement, with an +ample memorial of all the circumstances respecting the newly +discovered countries; and on this occasion solicited some +abatement of the tithes of New Spain. Herrada was accompanied to +Rome by several of the Indians who shewed feats of agility, and +with whose performances the pope and cardinals were highly +diverted. His holiness, on the receipt of the letters and +memorial, gave thanks to God for the opportunity of making so +many thousands converts to the holy catholic faith, praising the +services which Cortes and we had rendered to the church and our +sovereign, and sent us bulls of indulgence, freeing us from the +penalties of our sins, and others for the erection of churches +and hospitals; but I know not what was done in regard to the +tithes. When Herrada had concluded his business at Rome, he +returned to Spain with a liberal reward from the pope, who gave +him the rank of Count Palatine, and strongly recommended that he +should have the grant of a considerable plantation in New Spain, +which he never got. After his return to America, he went to Peru, +where Diego de Almagro left him in the office of governor to his +son. He was high in the favour and confidence of the family and +party of Almagro, with whom he served as <i>maestre de campo</i> +under young Almagro, and headed the party which put to death the +elder Don Francisco Pizarro.</p> + +<p>While Cortes remained in Spain, the members of the court of +royal audience arrived in Mexico. Of this court, Nuno de Guzman, +who had been governor of Panuco, was president; the four +<i>oydors</i> or judges being the licentiates, Matienzo, +Delgadillo, Parada, and Maldonado; not the good Alonzo Maldonado +who was afterwards governor of Guatimala. These magistrates had +greater powers than had hitherto been confided to any officers in +New Spain, being entrusted with the final distribution of landed +property, in which his majesty had particularly charged them to +take care of the interests of the conquerors, and they evinced +from the very first a determination to do justice. Immediately +after their arrival, they issued a proclamation, requiring the +attendance of an agent from each settlement, and to be furnished +with memorials and returns of the several districts; and the +agents accordingly arrived as soon as possible. Being then in +Mexico in the execution of my office of procurator-syndic of the +town of Coatzacualco, I posted to that place in order to be +present at the election of agents, and after a violent contest, +Captain Marin and I were elected by the majority. On our arrival +in Mexico, we found that two of the oydors had died of +pleurisies, and that the factor Salazar had acquired so complete +an ascendancy over the others that they followed his advice in +every thing. The agents pressed a final distribution of lands; +but Salazar persuaded the president and the two remaining oydors +not hastily to part with that source of patronage, which would +necessarily diminish their influence. Salazar even set out for +Spain, to solicit the government for the president, Nuno de +Guzman; but was shipwrecked on the coast near Coatzacualco, and +had to return to Mexico. Estrada died soon after being +superseded, which he owed more to his own tameness than to any +right the members of the court could found on his majestys +orders, which left the government entirely with him, without +saying any thing of the association of Guzman; who yet usurped +the sole government to himself as president. Estrada was +universally regretted, as he conducted himself with perfect +impartiality, and would assuredly have been supported, if he had +insisted on retaining his office of governor.</p> + +<p>A commission was appointed at Guatimala, where Jorge de +Alvarado commanded, of which I never learnt the result. In Mexico +the most severe proceedings were adopted against the Marquis +della Valle, during which the factor Salazar reviled and +slandered him in the grossest manner. The licentiate Altamirano, +his friend and manager of his affairs, remonstrated with the +court against these indecent proceedings, but to no purpose, as +Guzman and the surviving judges gave their countenance to +Salazar, who became more abusive than ever; insomuch that on one +of these occasions Altamirano drew his poniard, and would have +stabbed the factor, throwing the court into confusion and uproar, +if he had not been prevented. Altamirano was sent prisoner to the +citadel, and Salazar was ordered into arrest in his own house, +and the city was thrown into an universal ferment. At the end of +three days, the licentiate was liberated from confinement at our +earnest desire, and the dispute was quieted for the present; but +a more serious disscution succeeded. One Zavalos, a relation of +Narvaez, had been sent by his wife in quest of him, as he had +gone as governor to the Rio Palmas, and had not been heard of for +a long while. On coming to Mexico, Zavalos, as is supposed by +instigation of the members of the royal court of audience, lodged +criminal information against all the soldiers of Cortes who had +been concerned in the attack upon Narvaez; so that about two +hundred and fifty of us, then in the city, myself among the rest, +were apprehended, brought to trial, convicted, and sentenced to a +fine of a certain quantity of gold, and banishment to the +distance of five leagues from Mexico: But the banishment was +remitted and very few paid the fine.</p> + +<p>The enemies of the marquis took a new ground of attack, +alleging that he had embezzled the treasure of Montezuma and +Guatimotzin, and was answerable to the soldiers both for what he +had appropriated to his own use, and for that which had been sent +to Spain as a present to his majesty and had been captured by +Florin the French corsair. A long list of other demands followed, +on every one of which he was found liable, and his property was +sold under executions for the payment. At this time likewise, +Juan Suarez the brother of Donna Catalina, the first wife of +Cortes, charged him with her murder, offering to produce +witnesses of the manner of her death. Many of us the veteran +conquerors, who were the friends of Cortes, seeing the harsh +manner in which he was treated, met by appointment at the house +of Garcia Holguin, under the license of an alcalde or judge of +police, where we entered into a resolution to renounce all our +claims to the treasure: But when the judges of the royal tribunal +heard of our proceedings, they ordered us all to be arrested for +an illegal meeting; and though we produced the license under +which our meeting was held, they again banished us five leagues +from Mexico; but we were allowed to return. A proclamation was +issued about this time, that all persons of Moorish descent, or +from those who had been burned or <i>sanbenited</i>[6] by the +holy tribunal, as far as the fourth generation, should quit New +Spain within four months, under the penalty of losing half their +property. Vast numbers of informers and accusers started up on +this occasion, by which an infinite number of most infamous +slanders were propagated; and yet after all only two individuals +were expelled.</p> + +<blockquote>[6] Those who had worn the <i>san benito</i>, or +penal dress, in <i>an auto de fe</i>. In the original translation +the <i>descendants of Indians</i> are included in this +proscription, which certainly must be an error.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The court was generous in fulfilling the royal commands +respecting the veteran conquerors, who were all amply provided +for; but they granted an excessive license in regard to the +branding of slaves, in consequence of which so many were made in +the province of Panuco that it became almost depopulated. Guzman +made a new-years-gift to Albornos, who was newly returned to +Spain, of the whole district of Guazpaltepec. Albornos brought +with him a royal patent for erecting some sugar-works at +Chempoalla, which soon went to ruin. The oydor Delgadillo was +much censured for his <i>free gifts</i>, as it was observed he +always reserved some rents to himself, and the consequent +extortions and oppressions of those he patronized were excessive. +The other oydor Matienzo was superannuated. The abuses of the +members of this supreme court became at length so notorious, that +other members of more discretion were sent out to supersede them. +Old Matienzo, who was the least exceptionable, was sent to Panuco +to inquire into and remedy the abuses committed in that province; +where he revoked the grants made by the president and Delgadillo +to their friends and clients, bestowing the plantations on those +who were pointed out by the royal instructions; but all those who +were desired to deliver up their plantations endeavoured to bring +proof that they had been granted in reward of former services, +disclaiming all favour or patronage from Guzman or Delgadillo, +and most of them succeeded in keeping what they had got, the only +persons deprived being Albornos of his new-years-gift, Villareal, +and Villegas.</p> + +<p>When the members of the royal tribunal understood that they +were to be superseded, they resolved to send agents to Spain, +provided with witnesses and documents to vouch for the propriety +of their conduct; and for this purpose all the veteran conquerors +and other persons of distinction were convened in the great +church, to choose an agent for our interest. The president and +judges of the royal tribunal recommended Salazar the factor; and +though they had committed some improprieties, as they had in the +main done us justice in the <i>repartimientos</i>, or +distribution of property and vassals, we were all disposed to +vote for the person they recommended; but when we had assembled +in the church, so many persons had crowded in who had no right, +making a prodigious noise and confusion, that we could not +proceed to business; and though all who had not been summoned +were ordered to withdraw, they refused and insisted to vote as +well as the others. We therefore adjourned to the next day, at +the house of the president; and none being admitted but those +summoned, the business was soon amicably adjusted by agreement +with the members of the royal audience, and two agents were +chosen. One, named Antonio de Carvajal, for the court; and +Bernardino Vasquez de Tapia, for Cortes and the conquerors. In my +opinion, both of these were equally devoted to the views of the +president; but this was natural on our part, as Guzman had done +much more for us during his short administration, than Cortes +during all the period of his power. Yet we were always more +attached to Cortes, who had been our commander, than he was to +our interest, notwithstanding that he had his majestys orders to +provide for us; of which the following is a striking proof. The +president and judges used their influence with us to petition his +majesty that Cortes might never be permitted to return to New +Spain, under pretence that his presence might occasion factions +and disturbances, tending to the loss of the country. We opposed +this to the utmost of our power; and as Alvarado arrived at this +time from Spain with the commission of governor and +lieutenant-general of Guatimala, and decorated with a commandery +of St Jago, he and the friends of Cortes agreed to lay a +statement of every thing before his majesty, giving a clear +developement of the views and conduct of the members of the royal +audience. From this it appeared to the royal council of the +Indies, that all the measures they had taken against Cortes were +dictated by passion and interest, and the determination of +recalling the present members of the audience was thereby +confirmed. The presence of Cortes in Spain at this time was also +highly favourable to his interests, and he was now rapidly +advancing to the pinnacle of his fortune.</p> + +<p>As Guzman was now quite certain of being superseded, he +determined upon an expedition into the province of Xalisco, now +called New Gallicia[7]. For this purpose he collected a large +military force, partly of volunteers, and partly by the influence +of his supreme authority, obliging those who did not serve +personally to find substitutes, and those who had horses to sell +them for half value. He took with him likewise a considerable +number of Mexicans, partly as soldiers, and others to carry the +baggage. In this expedition, he cruelly oppressed the provinces +through which he passed, that he might amass riches. From +Mechoacan[8] he obtained a large quantity of gold much alloyed +with silver, which the inhabitants had been collecting for ages; +and as the unfortunate prince or cacique of that country was +unable to gratify his avarice sufficiently, he had him tortured +in the first place, and afterwards hanged on some false or +trifling allegations, to the great displeasure of all the +Spaniards in his army, who considered it as the cruellest and +most unjust action ever committed in New Spain. All the booty +which he had made in this expedition was collected at the town of +Compostello, which he founded at a heavy expence to the crown and +to the inhabitants of Mexico, and he remained in this place until +his arrest.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] New Gallicia, to the north-west of Mexico and +upon the Pacific Ocean, is now included in the <i>Intendencia</i> +of Guadalaxara, and appears to have been named Colima by the +Mexicans.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In consequence of the injustice of the former court of +audience, his majesty was pleased to suppress it, and to cancel +all its grants, and to appoint a new one consisting of wise and +upright men. Of this new tribunal, Don Sebastian Ramirez, bishop +of St Domingo was president, and the oydors or judges were the +licentiates Maldonado de Salamanca, Vaco de Quiroga y Madrigal, +afterwards bishop of Mechoacan, Zaynos de Toro, and Solomon de +Madrid. On commencing their sittings, such crowds of complainants +of all descriptions, settlers, agents, and native chiefs from +every city, town, and district of New Spain made application for +redress against the partiality and oppression of the former +court, that the members were quite astonished. The demands made +by the agents of Cortes for what had been unjustly taken from +him, amounted to above 200,000 crowns. As Nuno de Guzman was +absent, the whole blame was laid upon him by the other members of +the former tribunal, who alleged that they were compelled to act +according to his orders. He was accordingly summoned to appear, +which he did not think proper to do, and it was judged proper to +refer the whole affair for the present to the supreme court in +Spain. Accordingly, one Torre, a licentiate, was sent with full +powers from Spain to Xalisco, having orders to transmit Guzman to +Mexico, and to commit him to prison. Torre was also commissioned +to indemnify us for the fines which had been imposed on us +respecting the affair of Narvaez.</p> + +<p>The properties of Delgadillo and Martienzo, were sold to pay +the damages of those who had gained causes against them, and +their persons imprisoned for the deficiency. A brother of +Delgadillo, who was alcalde-major in Oaxaca, and another who was +alcalde among the Zapotecas, were fined and imprisoned for the +same reason, and died in jail. Delgadillo and Martienzo returned +afterwards to Spain in poverty, where they soon died. The new +judges were wise and just, regulating their conduct entirely +according to the will of God and the king, and shewing a laudable +zeal for the protection and conversion of the Indians. They +prohibited all branding of the natives for slaves, and made many +other excellent regulations. In about four years, Solomon and +Zaynos, two of the judges, being old and wealthy, petitioned for +leave to retire. The president also was ordered to repair to +Europe, to give an account of the affairs of New Spain. He was +then bishop of St Domingo, having been formerly inquisitor in +Seville. After his return to Spain, he was advanced successively +to the bishopricks of Toro, Leon, and Cuença, with +astonishing rapidity, and was also made president of the royal +chancery in Valladolid. The good conduct of the <i>oydor</i> +Maldonado was rewarded by the government of Guatimala, Honduras, +and Veragua, and the title of <i>adelantado</i> or lieutenant +governor of Yucutan. The other judge, Quiroga de Madrigal, +obtained the bishoprick of Mechoacan. Such were the rewards of +these just judges!</p> + +<p>His majesty was pleased to appoint Don Antonio de Mendoza +viceroy of New Spain. This most illustrious nobleman, worthy of +all praise, was brother to the Marquis of Montejar. Along with +him there came out as oydors or judges of the court of audience, +the doctor Quesada, and the licentiates Tejada de Logrono and +Loaysa. The latter was an old man who staid only three or four +years in Mexico, where he collected a good deal of money, and +then returned home to Spain. Santilana, another licentiate came +out at the same time, appointed to succeed Maldonado as oydor +when he might vacate his office. All were excellent magistrates. +On opening their court, they gave leave to every one to make +objections against the conduct of their predecessors; but which +was found on inquiry to have been perfectly right. When the +viceroy Mendoza arrived, as he knew that the licentiate Torre had +orders to arrest Nuno de Guzman, he invited him to Mexico, +meaning to save him from insult, and gave him apartments in the +palace, where he was treated with all respect. But Torre, who had +orders to communicate his commission to the viceroy, not finding +himself countenanced in the strong measures he was inclined to +pursue, and being naturally violent, arrested Guzman in the +palace and carried him to the common prison, saying that he acted +by royal authority. Guzman remained several days in custody, but +was at length released at the intercession of the viceroy. The +licentiate was much addicted to cards, particularly at the games +of <i>triumpho</i> and primero, on which circumstance one of +Guzmans friends played him the following trick to hold him up to +ridicule. The civilians at that time wore gowns with loose +hanging sleeves, into one of which some wag contrived to convey a +pack of cards, so that when Torre was walking across the great +square of Mexico in company with several persons of quality, the +cards began to drop from his sleeve, leaving a long trail behind +him as he walked along. On discovering the trick, which was +heartily laughed at, he became very much enraged; and either from +vexation or the influence of the climate, he died soon after of a +<i>calenture</i> or burning fever, by which the affair of Guzman +was respited.</p> + +<p>Cortes having now been long in Spain, advanced to the dignity +of marquis, captain-general of New Spain, and admiral of the +south sea, being anxious to revisit his estates in New Spain, +embarked with his family and twelve fathers of the order of +mercy. On his arrival at Vera Cruz, he was by no means so +honourably received as formerly, and went from thence to Mexico, +to present his patents to the viceroy and to take possession of +his offices. Considerable difficulty occurred in regard to the +interpretation of the royal grant of towns and lands to the +marquis, which I do not pretend to understand. The grant, in +mentioning the districts which were granted to him, enumerated +the <i>vicinos</i> or neighbours who were considered as belonging +to it and as constituting his vassals. Cortes insisted that the +head person only of each family was to be considered as the +<i>vicino</i> or vassal; but the Doctor Quesada, who was deputed +to allot his districts, contended that every adult male in a +family, master, son, servant, or slave, was to be reckoned in the +number of the <i>vicinos</i>. The marquis was much disappointed +by this interpretation, as there were often twelve or fifteen of +these in one household or family, which would have prodigiously +reduced his revenue, and several law-suits ensued in consequence. +This matter was reported for his majesties determination, and +continued for several years in suspence, during which the marquis +received his full rents without hindrance: But finding the great +diminution of his importance in the country which he had subdued, +by the appointment of a viceroy, he retired to Quernavaca, where +he established his residence, being on his own estate, never +returning to Mexico. While Marcos de Aguilar held the government +of New Spain, Cortes caused four ships to be fitted out at +Zacatula on the south sea, under the command of Alvarado de +Saavedra, and provided with various articles of merchandize, for +a voyage to China and the Molucca or spice islands. He was +likewise directed to look out for a squadron which had sailed +from Spain for China, commanded by Don Garcia de Loaysa, a +commander of the order of St John at Rhodes[9]. While Saavedra +was preparing for his expedition, a vessel belonging to the +squadron of Loaysa arrived at Zacatula, from the pilot and crew +of which he acquired all the information he wished. Taking with +him the pilot and two sailors of this ship, Saavedra proceeded on +his voyage in December 1527 or 1528, and sustained many +misfortunes and hardships on the way to the Moluccas. I do not +know the particulars of this voyage: But, about three years +afterwards, I met a sailor who had sailed in this expedition, who +told me many strange things respecting the cities and nations he +had seen. I also heard that the Portugueze had captured Saavedra +and several of his people, whom they had sent prisoners to +Europe. After his return to New Spain the marquis sent two ships, +in May 1532, from Acapulco, commanded by Diego Hurtado de +Mendoza, to make discoveries in the south sea. One of his ships +mutinied and returned to New Spain, to the great mortification of +Cortes, and Hurtado was never heard of afterwards. After this, +Cortes sent out two other vessels, one commanded by Diego Bezerra +de Mendoza, and the other by Hernando de Grijalva. The first +night after their departure from Tehuantepec, they were separated +in a gale of wind and never joined again, Grijalva being well +pleased to escape from under the command of Bezerra, who was of a +haughty temper; and besides, Grijalva was desirous to take the +merit of any discoveries he might make to himself. After sailing +200 leagues, he came to an uninhabited island, which he named St +Thomas. Bezerra made himself so odious by his domineering +disposition, that his pilot Ximenes entered into a plot for his +assassination, which he carried into effect, and took the command +of the vessel. Continuing the voyage, he discovered an island +which he named Santa Cruz, which was inhabited by savages, and +where he set on shore two Franciscan friars and several persons +who had refused to join in the mutiny. Being in want of water, he +went at the same time on shore for that purpose; but he and all +who landed were put to death by the savages within view of the +ship. After this misfortune the survivors returned to New +Spain.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] Mechoacan, to the west of Mexico and reaching to +the south sea forms now the Intendency of +Valladolid.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[9] For the information of some readers, it may be +proper to observe, that the order of St John of Jerusalem, lately +known by the name of the order of Malta, then resided at +Rhodes.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The Marquis del Valle was so much vexed by these +disappointments that he resolved to go in person upon discovery, +with three ships which he had ready for launching at Teguantepec. +When the Spaniards learnt that he meant to embark on a voyage of +discovery, they thought that success was quite certain, and great +numbers resolved to accompany him. Above 320 persons, including +women, offered their services, as there were above 130 of them +married men, who brought their wives along with them. Leaving +Teguantepec in May 1536 or 1537, accompanied by Andres de Tapia +and several other officers, with some ecclesiastics, physicians +and surgeons, and as many colonists as the vessels could contain, +he sailed for the island of Santa Cruz, where he arrived after a +prosperous voyage, and sent back the ships to bring over the +remainder of the people[10]. The second voyage was not so +fortunate, as they separated in a gale of wind near the river of +St Peter and St Paul, one only of the ships arriving at the +island of Santa Cruz, where the marquis anxiously expected them, +as provisions were growing scarce. One of the other vessels, +which contained the provisions, was stranded on the coast of +Xalisco, whence most of the people returned to New Spain. The +other vessel came to a bay which the people named Guayaval, from +the quantity of <i>guayavas</i> which they found there. During +this time, the marquis and his people were experiencing extreme +distress on the uncultivated island of Santa Cruz, twenty-three +of the soldiers dying of famine, and the rest sinking daily, and +cursing his expeditions and discoveries. Taking fifty soldiers +with him in the ship which had arrived, he went in search of the +other two; and after some considerable search he found one +stranded, as already mentioned, on the coast of Xalisco, and +abandoned by the people, and met the other among some rocks. +Having repaired these vessels, he brought them with a quantity of +provisions to Santa Cruz, where his famished colonists eat so +voraciously that half of them died. Anxious to quit this scene of +misery, the marquis embarked from Santa Cruz, and, continuing his +project of discoveries, fell in with the land of California, +heartily tired of his fruitless pursuit, yet unwilling to return +to New Spain without effecting some important discovery. When the +Marchioness del Valle had notice of the loss of one of the +vessels, she became very apprehensive of her husbands safety, and +fitted out two ships to go in search of the marquis and his +unfortunate colonists. These sailed under the command of +Francisco de Ulloa, who carried letters from the marchioness and +the viceroy, requesting the return of Cortes to New Spain. Ulloa +had the good fortune to fall in with Cortes, who suffered himself +to be prevailed on, and returned to New Spain by way of Acapulco, +leaving Ulloa to command the squadron. His return rejoiced the +Spaniards, who were always afraid the natives chiefs might +revolt, when not awed by his presence. The people whom he left in +California returned soon afterwards; but whether they were so +ordered by the government I know not.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] Santa Cruz is a small island in the Vermilion +sea, on the eastern coast of California, in lat. 25º 23' N. +lon. 110º 47' W. from Greenwich.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After a few months, the Marquis fitted out other two ships, +which he sent upon discovery under the command of Ulloa, who +sailed from the port of Navidad in the month of June, but I +forget the year. Ulloa had orders to explore the coast of +California, and to search for Hurtado, who had never been heard +of. After an absence of seven months, Ulloa returned to Xalisco, +without having effected any discovery of importance; and was +assassinated a few days afterwards on shore by a soldier who bore +him a grudge. Thus ended the projected discoveries of the Marquis +del Valle, in which I have heard him say that he expended above +300,000 crowns. He never prospered after his first conquest of +New Spain; and his bad fortune was ascribed to the curses of his +companions, for having treated them so ill in the distribution of +the property acquired by their bravery. He now determined on +going to Spain, in order to solicit an allowance from his majesty +for the expences he had been at in these voyages, as also to +endeavour to end the dispute concerning the vassals of his +estates in New Spain, and to procure restitution of the property +which had been seized from him by Nuno de Guzman, who was now a +prisoner in Castille.</p> + +<p>After the departure of the Marquis, the viceroy and court of +audience sent a military force from Xalisco by land to the north +west, under the command of Francisco Vasquez Coronado, who +married the beautiful and virtuous daughter of the treasurer +Estrada. Coronado left his government of Xalisco, under the +charge of an officer named Onate, and marched into the country +named <i>Celibola</i>[11] or the Seven Cities; whence he sent a +Franciscan friar, named Marcos de Nica, to Mexico, to give the +viceroy an account of the country. He described it as consisting +of fine plains, with great herds of cattle quite different from +those of Europe; having populous towns, in which the houses were +of two stories with stairs. He also represented that it lay on +the coast of the south sea, by means of which necessaries and +reinforcements could be easily sent to the Spanish force. +Accordingly, three ships were sent for that purpose, under the +command of Hernando de Alarco, an officer belonging to the +household of the viceroy.</p> + +<blockquote>[11] This appears to be the country now called +Cinaloa, or Culiacan. The strange appellation of the <i>seven +cities</i> seems to have reference to that fancied ancient +Spanish colony which has been formerly spoken of in the +introduction to the discovery of Columbus.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In the year 1537, Don Pedro de Alvarado fitted out a great +armament of thirteen vessels from the port of <i>Acaxatla</i>[12] +on the south sea, in consequence of a license from his majesty, +in which he had a grant of certain rents and advantages in such +countries as he might discover; that is to say, in China and the +Moluccas or Spice Islands. As the port where this armament was +fitted out was above 200 leagues from Vera Cruz, whence all the +iron and most other articles had to be carried by land, its cost +might easily have fitted out eighty such vessels from Old Spain. +All the wealth which Alvarado brought from Peru[13], together +with what he had got from the mines in Guatimala, with the rents +of his estates, and rich presents from his friends and relations, +were insufficient for his preparations on this occasion, although +all the merchandize was procured on credit. Great as was the +expence of the ships, it was far exceeded by that of his army, +consisting of 650 soldiers with their officers, and a number of +horses, as a good horse at that time cost 300 crowns. Alvarado +sailed some time in the year 1538 for the harbour of +<i>Navidad</i> near the city of <i>Purification</i>, in the +province of Xalisco, or New Galicia, where he meant to take in +water, and to embark more soldiers. When the viceroy heard of +this great armament, he became desirous to have a share in it, +and went to Navidad to view the fleet, whence he and Alvarado +returned to Mexico. Alvarado wished to have a relation of his own +named Juan appointed to have the command of this expedition, +while the viceroy was desirous to have another officer, named +Villalobos, joined in command with Juan Alvarado. On his return +to the port of Navidad, and when just ready to sail, Alvarado +received a letter from Onate, who had been left in the command of +the province of Xalisco, earnestly entreating his immediate +assistance, as he and the settlement were threatened with +destruction by the Indians of Cochitlan. Alvarado, who was always +zealous in his majestys service, marched immediately with his +troops to their relief, and found them in a most desperate +situation. The insurgents rather diminished in the violence of +their attacks on the arrival of Alvarado, but hostilities were +still continued; and one day, as Alvarado was following the enemy +among some rocky mountains, a soldier on horseback, who was at a +considerable height above him on the steep side of a mountain, +came rolling down above him, horse and all, by which he was so +much bruised, that soon after his removal to the town of the +Purification, he was seized with fainting-fits, and expired in a +few days. On the news of Alvarados death being known to his fleet +and army, many of the people returned to their homes with what +they had received. The viceroy sent off the licentiate Maldonado +to prevent confusion as much as possible, whom he followed soon +after to take the charge of the remaining soldiers, with whom he +marched against the insurgents, and after a tedious and difficult +warfare of some continuance, reduced them to submission.</p> + +<blockquote>[12] This name, which is not to be found in any map, +is probably a mistake for Zacatula, in lat. 18º N. on the +coast of the Pacific Ocean, W.S.W. from Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The loss of Alvarado was severely felt in his family, and his +memory was long held in high esteem through all New Spain. On +receiving the fatal intelligence in Guatimala, the worthy bishop +Maroguin and all his clergy celebrated his obsequies with much +honour, and his major-domo caused the walls of his house to be +painted black, which colour has remained ever since. Many +gentlemen waited on Donna Beatrix de la Cueva, his lady, to +console her for her loss. They advised her to give God thanks, +since it was his will to take her husband to himself. Like a good +Christian, she assented to this sentiment, yet said that she now +wished to leave this melancholy world and all its misfortunes. +The historian Gomara has falsely said that she spoke +blasphemously on this occasion, saying that God could now do her +no more injury; and injuriously ascribes the subsequent +misfortune which befel her to these words which she did not +utter. A deluge of mud and water burst forth from the volcano +near Guatimala, which overwhelmed the house in which she was +praying along with her women. Although Alvarado and his four +brothers had served his majesty with much zeal, no part of his +property descended to his children, and the whole family was +peculiarly unfortunate. Don Pedro died, as I have already +related, by an uncommon accident in Cochitlan, or Culiacan. His +brother Jorge died in Madrid in 1540, while soliciting his +majesty for a recompence of his services. Gomes de Alvarado died +in Peru. Gonzalo in Mexico or Oaxaca, I am uncertain which. Juan +on his voyage to Cuba. The eldest son of Don Pedro, while on a +voyage along with his relation the younger Juan, to solicit a +recompence for his fathers services, was lost at sea. Don Diego, +the younger son, seeing the fortunes of the family desperate, +returned to Peru, where he died in battle. Donna Beatrix[14], the +lady of Don Pedro, with the female part of the family, were +destroyed, as before related, by a torrent from a volcano, one of +his daughters only excepted, Donna Leonora, who was saved from +the torrent, and has caused two sepulchres to be built in the +great church of Guatimala, to receive the bones of her relations. +May our Lord Jesus take them all with him into glory! +<i>Amen</i>.</p> + +<blockquote>[13] The expedition of Alvarado to Peru will be +related in the subsequent chapter. Diaz merely gives this slight +hint on the subject.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[14] In the <i>sixth</i> section of this chapter, it +has been already mentioned that Don Pedro Alvarado was married to +<i>Donna Luisa</i> the daughter of Xicotencatl, one of the +princes or chiefs of Tlascala, through whom he acquired a great +inheritance, and by whom he had a son Don Pedro, and a daughter +Donna Leonora, married to Don Francisco de la Cueva, cousin to +the Duke of Albuquerque, by whom she had four or five sons. The +widow of Don Pedro destroyed in Guatimala, seems to have been a +second wife--E.</blockquote> + +<p>About a year after the death of Don Pedro Alvarado, the +viceroy sent the best of his ships under Villalobos to make +discoveries to the westwards of the Pacific Ocean; but with what +success I never learnt. No part of the expences of this armament +were ever recovered by any of the descendants of Alvarado.</p> + +<p>As the Marquis del Valle was in Spain at the time of the +expedition against Algiers, he attended his majesty on that +occasion, along with his legitimate son Don Martinez, and Don +Martin the son he had by Donna Marina. The fleet was dispersed in +a storm, and the ship on board of which the marquis had embarked +was stranded, on which occasion he, his sons, and his suite, got +on shore with much difficulty. On this occasion he tied a +quantity of rich jewels, which he used to wear like other great +lords <i>for no use</i>, in a handkerchief round his arm, but +they were all lost. On account of this disaster to the fleet, the +council of war was of opinion that the siege ought to be +immediately raised. The marquis was not called to this council; +but it has been said that, if present, he would have declared for +continuing the siege, and if he had been so fortunate as to +command there such brave soldiers as those who accompanied him to +Mexico, he would have entertained no doubt of success.</p> + +<p>The marquis was now grown old and worn out by long and severe +fatigue, and was anxious to have returned to New Spain, to settle +his affairs: But he waited the celebration of a marriage, between +his eldest daughter Donna Maria and Don Alvaro Pinez Osorio, son +and heir to the Marquis of Astorga, and had agreed to give his +daughter a fortune of 100,000 ducats. He had sent to bring over +his daughter from Mexico, and had even gone himself to Seville to +meet her; but the match was broke off, as is said by the fault of +Don Alvaro. Cortes was much disappointed at this, and as his +health was already in a bad state, he declined so rapidly, that +he retired to Castileja de la Cuesta, to attend to the concerns +of his soul, and to make his testament. Having arranged all his +affairs, both for this and the next world, he departed this life +on the 2d of December 1547. He was buried with great pomp in the +chapel of the dukes of Medina Sidonia; but, according to his +will, his remains were afterwards, removed to Cojohuacan or +Tezcuco in New Spain, I am uncertain which. By his latter will, +he left funds for the endowment of an hospital in Mexico, and a +nunnery in his own town of Cojohuacan. In 1519, when we went +along with him from Cuba against Mexico, he used to tell us that +he was then thirty-four years old; and as he died 28 years +afterwards, he must have been exactly 62 at his death. The arms +granted to him by his majesty, when he was created a marquis, +were the heads of seven kings surrounded by a chain, implying +Montezuma, Cacamatzin, Guatimotzin, Tulapa, Coadlavaca, and the +princes of Tacuba and Cojohuacan. The motto, as I have been told, +was well adapted to a valiant warrior; but being in Latin, which +I do not understand, I say nothing on that subject.</p> + +<p>The Marquis del Valle de Oaxaca, was strong built, and of a +good stature, with a rather pale complexion and serious +countenance. His features were rather small, with mild and grave +eyes. His hair and beard were black and thin. His breast and +shoulders were broad, and his body thin. He was well-limbed, his +legs being somewhat bent. He was an excellent horseman, and very +dexterous in the use of arms; and he also had the heart and mind +of valour, which is the principal part of that business. I have +heard that, when young, he was very wild about women, and had +several duels in Hispaniola on that account with able swordsmen, +in all of which he came off victorious: But he received a wound +near his under lip on one of these occasions, the scar of which +could be seen through his beard when closely examined. In his +appearance, manners, behaviour, conversation, table, and dress, +every thing corresponded to a man of high rank; and, although his +clothes always corresponded to the fashion of the times, he was +not fond of silks, damasks, or velvets; but wore every thing +plain and handsome. Instead of large chains of gold in which some +delighted, he was satisfied with a small chain of exquisite +workmanship, to which was appended a gold medal of the Virgin and +child Jesus, with a Latin motto, and on the reverse St John the +Baptist and another motto. On his finger he wore a very fine +diamond ring; and in his cap, which was of velvet, he bore a gold +medal, the head and motto of which I have forgot: But, in his +latter days, he wore a plain cloth cap without ornament.</p> + +<p>His table was always magnificently served and attended, having +four major-domos or principal officers, with many pages, and a +great quantity of massy plate both of gold and silver. He dined +heartily about mid-day, drinking only about half a pint of wine +mixed with water. He was not nice or expensive in his food, +except on particular occasions, where he saw it to be proper. He +was exceedingly affable with all his captains and soldiers, +especially those who accompanied him at first from Cuba; yet +practised the strictest attention to military discipline, +constantly going the rounds himself in the night, and visiting +the quarters of the soldiers, severely reprehending all whom he +found without their armour or appointments, and not ready to turn +out at a moments warning, saying, "It is a bad sheep that cannot +carry its own wool." He was a Latin scholar, and as I have been +told, a bachelor of laws, a good rhetorician, and something even +of a poet. He was very devote to the Holy Virgin, and to St +Peter, St James, and St John the Baptist. His oath was, "By my +conscience." When angry with any of his friends, he used to say, +"may you repent it;" and when in great warmth, the veins of his +throat and forehead used to swell much, but he then never spoke. +He was very patient under insults or injuries, as the soldiers +were sometimes very rude and abusive; yet he never resented their +conduct, only saying, "Be silent," or, "Go in Gods name, and do +not repeat this or I shall have you punished." In all matters of +war, he was exceedingly headstrong and determined, never +attending to remonstrances on account of danger; one instance of +which was in the attack of the fortresses called the <i>Rocks of +the Marquis</i>, which he forced us to climb, contrary to all our +opinions, where courage, counsel, or wisdom, could give no +rational hope of success. Another instance was in his obstinacy +respecting the expedition against De Oli; in which I repeatedly +urged him to go by way of the mountains, whereas he obstinately +persisted in going by the coast. Had he taken my advice, he would +have found towns the whole way. Where we had to erect any +fortress or entrenchment, he was always the hardest labourer; +when we advanced to battle, he was always in the front.</p> + +<p>Cortes was fond of play, both at cards and dice, at which he +was always good-humoured and affable, often using the cant terms +customary on these occasions. During our expedition to Higueras, +I observed that he had acquired a habit of taking a short sleep +or <i>siesta</i> after eating; and if he could not get this he +was apt to become sick. On this account, let the rain be ever so +heavy, or the sun ever so hot, he always reposed a short while on +a cloak or carpet under a tree; and after a short sleep, mounted +his horse and proceeded on his march. When engaged in the +conquest of New Spain, he was very thin and slender; but after +his return from Higueras, he became fat and corpulent. His beard +began at that time to grow grey, after which he trimmed it in the +short fashion. In his early life, he was very liberal, but grew +close afterwards, insomuch that some of his servants complained +that he did not pay them properly. I have already observed that +he never succeeded in his latter undertakings: Perhaps such was +the will of Heaven, which reserved his reward for a better world; +for he was a good gentleman and very devout. God pardon him his +sins, and me mine, and give me a good end, which is better than +all conquests or victories over Indians! Amen.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<p><i>Descendants of Hernando Cortes[15]</i>.</p> + +<blockquote>[15] This extended account of the descendants of +Cortes, is adopted from Clavigero, I. 442. The first paragraph, +which enumerates the younger children of the marquis, and his +natural children, are from Diaz. There is a difference between +these authors in the name of the marchioness, whom Diaz names +Donna <i>Juanna</i>, and Clavigero <i>Jeroma</i>: The former +likewise names the eldest son of Cortes <i>Martin</i>, and the +latter <i>Martinez</i>.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The legitimate children of Cortes were, Don Martin, who +succeeded him as marquis; Donna Maria, who married the Conde de +Luna of Leon; Donna Juanna, who married Don Hernando Enriquez, +heir to the Marquis of Tarriffa; Donna Catalina, who died in +Seville; and Donna Leonora, who married, in Mexico, Juanez de +Tolosa, a rich Biscayan, which alliance gave great offence to the +young marquis. He left also two natural sons: Don Martin by Donna +Marina; and Don Luis by a lady named De Hermosilla; both of whom +were commanders of the order of St Jago. Besides these, he had +three natural daughters; one by an Indian woman of Cuba, and two +others by a Mexican woman: He left great fortunes to all these +ladies.</p> + +<p>Don Hernando Cortes, conqueror, governor, and captain-general +of New Spain, admiral of the South Seas, <i>first</i> Marquis of +the Valley of Oaxaca, had in second marriage, Donna Jeroma +Ramirez de Arellano y Zuniga, daughter of Don Carlos Ramirez de +Arellano, <i>second</i> Conde de Aguilar, and of Donna Jeroma de +Zuniga, daughter of the <i>first</i> Duke of Bejar. Their son +was,</p> + +<p>I. Don Martinez Cortes de Ramirez y Arellano, <i>second</i> +Marquis of the Valley, married his cousin, Donna Anna Ramirez de +Arellano. Their issue was,</p> + +<p>II. Don Hernando Cortes de Ramirez ye Arellano, <i>third</i> +Marquis of the Valley; married Donna Murcia Hernandez de Cabrera +y Mendoza, daughter of Don Pedro Hernandez de Cabrera y +Bovadilla, <i>second</i> Conde de Chinchon, and Donna Maria de +Mendoza y Cerda, sister to the Prince of Melito. Don Hernando had +but one son, who died in childhood, and was therefore succeeded +by his brother,</p> + +<p>2. Don Pedro Cortes, &c. <i>fourth</i> Marquis of the +Valley, who married Donna Anna Pacheco de la Cerda, sister of the +second Conde de Montalban: But leaving no issue was succeeded by +his sister,</p> + +<p>3. Donna Jeroma Cortes, &c. <i>fifth</i> Marchioness of +the Valley, who married Don Pedro Carillo de Mendoza, +<i>ninth</i> Conde de Priego, captain-general of Seville, and +grand major-domo to Queen Margaret of Austria. Their only +daughter, who carried on the line of the family, was,</p> + +<p>III. Donna Stephania Carillo de Mendoza y Cortes, <i>sixth</i> +Marchioness of the Valley, who married Don Diego de Arragon, +<i>fourth</i> Duke of Terra Nova, prince of Castel Vetrano, and +of the holy Roman empire, Marquis of Avola and Favora, constable +and admiral of Sicily, commander of Villa Franca, viceroy of +Sardinia, knight of the golden fleece. Their only daughter +was,</p> + +<p>IV. Donna Juana de Arragon, &c. <i>fifth</i> Duchess of +Terra Nova, <i>seventh</i> Marchioness of the Valley, &c. who +married Don Hector Pignatelli, Duke of Montelione, prince of +Noja, &c. Their only son was,</p> + +<p>V. Don Andrea Fabrizio Pignatelli, &c. duke of Montelione +and Terra Nova, &c. <i>eighth</i> Marquis of the Valley; who +married Donna Teresa Pimentel y Benavides, &c. Their daughter +was,</p> + +<p>VI. Donna J. Pignatelli, &c. Duchess of Montelione and +Terra Nova, <i>ninth</i> Marchioness of the Valley, &c. who +married Don Nicolas Pignatelli, viceroy of Sardinia and Sicily, +&c. Their son was,</p> + +<p>VII. Don Diego Pignatelli, &c. duke of Montelione and +Terra Nova, <i>tenth</i> Marquis of the Valley, &c. His son +was,</p> + +<p>VIII. Don Fabrizio Pignatelli, &c. Duke of Montelione and +Terra Nova, <i>eleventh</i> Marquis of the Valley, &c. His +son was,</p> + +<p>IX. Don Hector Pignatelli, &c. Duke of Montelione and +Terra Nova, <i>twelfth</i> Marquis of the Valley, grandee of +Spain, prince of the holy Roman empire, <i>at present living in +Naples</i>[16], and married to Donna N. Piccolomini, of the +family of the Dukes of Amalfi.</p> + +<blockquote>[16] This refers to the period when Clavigero +composed his History of Mexico, about the year 1780; according to +Humboldt, the dukes of Montelione retained the vast estates of +Cortes in Mexico within the present century.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>From the noble couple mentioned in the VI. step of the +foregoing deduction, besides Don Diego, who carried on their +line, there were three other sons and three daughters: 1. Don +Diego, as above. 2. Don Ferdinand. 3. Don Antonio. 4. Don +Fabrizio. 5. Donna Rosa. 6. Donna Maria Teresa. 7. Donna +Stephania[17].</p> + +<blockquote>[17] This genealogical deduction has been somewhat +abridged, as to the multiplicity of high sounding titles, and +minute particulars of marriages and noble connections, altogether +uninteresting to the English reader.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION XXIV.</p> + +<p><i>Concluding Observations by the Author</i>[1].</p> + +<blockquote>[1] In this section Diaz gives a minute enumeration +<i>of the valiant companions who passed over to the conquest of +Mexico with the most adventurous and most magnanimous Don +Hernando Cortes, Marquis of the Valley</i>. This must assuredly +be a most valuable document to vast numbers of the present +inhabitants of New Spain, by enabling them to trace their +honourable descent from the conquerors; but, as totally +uninteresting to the English reader, is here +omitted.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Having enumerated the soldiers who passed from Cuba along with +Cortes, to the conquest of New Spain, I have to observe that we +were for the most part <i>hidalgos</i>, or gentlemen, though some +were not of such clear lineage as others; but, whatever may have +been the dignity of our birth, we made ourselves much more +illustrious by our heroic actions in the conquest of this +country, at our own sole cost, without any aid or support, save +that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the ancient history +of our own country, many cavaliers rose to dignity and honours by +valiant and faithful services to their kings; and though they did +not go into the field as we did, without pay, they were rewarded +with lands, houses, castles, dignities, and privileges, to them +and their heirs in perpetuity. Also, when his majesty Don Jayme, +won certain parts of his kingdom from the Moors, he made grants +of these to the cavaliers who assisted him in the conquest, from +which period their descendants derive their estates, honours, and +blazons. Those also who served under the Great Captain and the +Prince of Orange were rewarded in like manner. I have recalled +the recollection of these things, that the world may consider and +determine whether we, who gained this great country by our +valour, even without the knowledge of his majesty, are not as +worthy of such rewards and honours as those cavaliers +above-mentioned, by our good, notable, and loyal services to God, +the king, and all Christendom.</p> + +<p>I have placed myself last in the list, having been twice in +this country before the coming of Cortes, and the third time +along with him; and, as among those whom I have enumerated, there +were many valiant captains, so I was held in no inconsiderable +estimation in my day as a soldier. Besides the many battles and +dangers in which I participated since I came into this country, +and the distresses, by hunger, thirst, fatigue and wounds, +incident to all who undertake discoveries and wars in unknown +countries, I was twice in the hands of the enemy, who were +carrying me off for sacrifice: But thanks and praise to God and +his holy Virgin Mother, who gave me force to escape from their +grasp, that I might now relate and make manifest our heroic deeds +in the conquest of this <i>new world</i>, and thereby to prevent +all the honour and merit from being unjustly ascribed to our +general alone. It is now proper that I should make some +observations on the good effects produced by our exertions and +illustrious conquests, to the service of God and our king, in +which many of our companions lost their lives, being sacrificed +to the gods or idols of the Mexicans, Huitzilopochtli and +Tezcatlipoca.</p> + +<p>In the first place, we purged the land of many wicked customs, +and in particular from human sacrifices. By estimates made by the +reverend Franciscan friars, who succeeded Fra Bartholomew de +Olmedo, it appears that above 2500 human victims were sacrificed +yearly in Mexico and some adjacent towns on the lake; so that the +number annually put to death in the whole country must have been +very great. Their various other horrible practices exceed my +powers of description. Their cursed adoratories were exceedingly +numerous, like our holy churches, hermitages, and chapels, in +Spain, as they had everywhere houses dedicated to idols, devils, +and infernal figures. Besides which, every individual native had +two altars, one beside the place where he or she slept, and +another at the door of the house, with chests containing large or +small idols and stone knives, and books made of the bark of trees +containing the record of past times. Especially on the coast and +other sultry parts of the country, they were addicted to the most +abominable vices, where they had boys in female attire. They fed +on human flesh, as we do on beef, having wooden cages in every +town, in which men, women, and children, were kept and fed for +that purpose, to which all the prisoners taken in war were +destined. Incest was common among them, and they were extremely +addicted to drunkenness. They had as many wives as they pleased. +From these and many other abominations, it was the will of God +that we should be the humble instruments to clear the land; +substituting a good policy and the holy doctrine of Jesus Christ +in their place. It is true that, two years afterwards, when the +country was subjugated and civilized, certain worthy Franciscans +of good example and holy doctrine came here, who were followed in +three or four years by fathers of the order of St Dominic, who +completed what others had begun. But the honour of having +destroyed the abominations of the land, assuredly belongs to us +the true conquerors, who opened the way for these holy +fathers.</p> + +<p>By the will of God, and the sacred Christianity of the emperor +Don Carlos of glorious memory, and our present most fortunate +sovereign the invincible Don Philip, all the natives of this +great country have been baptised to the salvation of their souls, +formerly sunk and lost in the bottomless pit. We have many +fathers of the different orders, who go about preaching and +baptizing, by which means the knowledge of the holy Evangile is +firmly planted in the hearts of the natives, who confess yearly, +and those who have sufficient knowledge in the faith, participate +in the holy eucharist. The churches and their altars are richly +adorned with all requisites for holy worship; as crosses, +candlesticks, wax-candles, chalices, cups, plates, and vessels +for incense, all of silver. The ornaments of the altars and +crosses are of velvet, and damask, and other rich materials, of +various colours and splendid workmanship, adorned with embroidery +of gold, silk and pearls. Each town has its bells according to +its ability. The chapels have choirs of good voices which sing in +concert, tenors, trebles, and counter-tenors. In some places +there are organs; but most have lutes, sackbuts, dulcimers, and +bass and treble trumpets. This one province of Guatimala has more +than my native county, old Castille. It is edifying and wonderful +to see the devotion of the natives at the holy mass, especially +when performed by the fathers of the orders of St Francis and of +Mercy, who have the cures of the parishes. All the natives, men, +women, and children, are taught the holy prayers in their own +tongue; and always on passing a cross, crucifix, or altar, they +fall on their knees repeating a <i>pater noster</i> or an <i>ave +Maria</i>. We, the conquerors, taught them to burn wax candles +before the holy altars and crosses, and to behave respectfully to +the reverend fathers, going out to meet them when they came to +the towns, with lighted candles, ringing of bells, and providing +them abundantly with provisions. On Lady Day and Corpus Christi, +and other solemn fasts of the church, when we make processions, +most of the natives of this city of Guatimala go likewise in +procession, with crosses and lighted candles, bearing the images +of their patron saints as richly dressed as they can afford, and +singing litanies and other holy prayers to the sound of flutes +and trumpets.</p> + +<p>The natives also of these countries have learnt all the trades +used among us in Spain, having their shops, manufactories, and +work-people. Their goldsmiths and silversmiths, both those who +make cast work or who use the hammer, are excellent. Their +lapidaries or engravers on precious stones, especially emeralds, +execute the nicest representations of the holy acts and passion +of our blessed Saviour, in such a manner as could not be believed +from Indians. Three of our native Mexican artists, named Andres +de Aquino, Juan de la Cruz, and El Crispillo, have in my humble +judgment executed paintings which may vie with those of Apelles, +Michael Angelo, and Berruguete. The sons of the chiefs used to be +educated in grammar, and were learning very well, till this was +prohibited by the holy synod, under an order of the most reverend +the archbishop of Mexico. Many of the natives are manufacturers +of silks and various other stuffs, and hatters, and soap-boilers. +Two trades only could never be acquired by them, which is the art +of glass blowing, and that of the apothecary; but this is not +owing to any defect of natural genius, as there are among them +surgeons, herbalists, jugglers, makers of puppets, and of +violins. They cultivated the ground before our arrival; and now +they rear stock, break in bullocks to the plough, sow, reap, +manure, and make bread and biscuit. They have planted their lands +with the various fruits of old Spain, such as quince, apple, and +pear trees, which they hold in high estimation; but cut down the +unwholesome peach trees and the overshading plantains. From us +they have learnt laws and justice; and they every year elect +their own alcaldes, regidors, notaries, alguazils, fiscals, and +major-domos[2]. They have their <i>cabildos</i>, or common +councils, and bailiffs, which meet twice a-week, judging, +sentencing, and punishing for smaller offences; but for murder +and higher crimes, they must have recourse to the Spanish +governors in places where there are no courts of royal audience. +In Tlascala, Tezcuco, Cholula, Guaxocinco, Tepeaca, and other +large cities, gilt maces are borne before the native magistrates +when they go to hold their cabildos, as is done before our +viceroys; and they distribute justice with much zeal and +impartiality, being anxious to acquire a thorough knowledge of +our laws. All the caciques are rich, and ride on horses +handsomely caparisoned, attended by pages. In some townships +likewise, they exercise with the lance on horseback, running at +the ring; and they have bull feasts, especially on the days of +Corpus Christi, St John, St James, the Assumption, or the patron +or patroness saint of the town. Many of them are excellent +horsemen, and the natives especially of Chiapa de los Indios, +will face the fiercest bull. The caciques breed horses, and use +them and mules for conveying their various commodities for sale, +such as maize, wood or lime; and many of the natives gain their +living by following the occupation of carriers.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] These are the ordinary municipal officers of +Spanish townships, answerable to our mayors, aldermen, bailiffs, +constables, &c.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>By means of our illustrious services, our mother-country +obtains gold, silver, precious stones, cochineal, wool, +salsaparilla, hides, and various other commodities, to the great +advantage of the royal revenue. Since the time of the great and +wise Solomon, neither ancient nor modern history record the +acquisition of such riches by any country, as have been derived +from New Spain. I do not now include the millions in gold and +silver derived from Peru, as that country was unknown when we +conquered New Spain, and was not conquered till ten years +afterwards: Besides all which, Peru has been involved in cruel +civil wars, whereas we have ever remained submissive in our +allegiance to his majesty, and ready to devote our lives and +fortunes to his service. The numerous cities in New Spain are +worthy of consideration, but would be too tedious to enumerate. +Besides the archbishoprick of Mexico, we have ten bishopricks, +with many cathedrals, and monastaries belonging to the +Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustines, and the order of Mercy. Many +hospitals, with extensive remissions and pardons attached to +them; besides the <i>Santa casa</i> of our Lady of Guadeloupe, +where many holy miracles are performed daily. In Mexico there is +an university in which are taught grammar, theology, rhetoric, +logic, philosophy, and other sciences; and in which the students +take the several degrees of bachelor, licentiate, and doctor; +having also a printing press for books in the Spanish and Latin +languages. If all I have now said be insufficient, let the wise +and learned read over this my true history with impartial care, +and they must confess that there never were men who have gained +more by their valorous achievements for their king than we the +brave conquerors, among the most valiant of whom I was +considered. And I say again, I myself, who am a true conqueror, +am the most ancient of all. Of the 550 soldiers who left Cuba +along with Cortes, <i>five</i> only are now living in the year +1568, while I am writing this history; all the rest having been +slain in the wars, or sacrificed to the accursed idols, or have +died in the course of nature. Of 1300 soldiers who came with +Narvaez, exclusive of mariners, not more than ten or eleven now +survive. Of those who came with Garay, including the three +companies which landed at St Juan de Ulua previous to his own +arrival, amounting to 1200 soldiers, most were sacrificed and +devoured in the province of Panuco. We five companions of Cortes +who yet survive, are all very old and bowed down with +infirmities, and extremely poor; having heavy charges of sons to +establish, daughters to marry off, and grand-children to +maintain, with very small means to do all this. Whereas we ought +to have had the best properties in the country allotted to us, in +reward of our high prowess and transcendent services in that +country which we conquered; not indeed to the same extent with +the rewards granted to Cortes, but in just moderation in +proportion to our merits. This indeed was ordered by his majesty, +but interest and partiality gave away what we ought to have +received to others, leaving little for the royal patrimony or to +be bestowed on us. Immediately after the conquest, Cortes ought +to have divided the whole country into five shares, assigning the +richest and best to his majesty, out of which to reward those +cavaliers who served him in his European wars; taking a share and +a half to himself, and for the establishment of churches, +monasteries, and municipalities; and dividing the remaining half +in perpetual grants to us the true conquerors, by which we should +have all been amply provided for.</p> + +<p>Our emperor was so truly a Christian monarch, that he would +willingly have granted us these favours, more especially as the +conquest cost him nothing. But we knew not then where to apply +for justice, except to Cortes himself, who did in all things as +he thought fit, taking care of himself, and of his friends and +relations newly come from old Spain. We remained therefore with +the little which had been assigned to us, till we saw Don +Francisco de Montejo, who had waited on his majesty in Europe, +return with the appointment of adelantado and governor of +Yucutan, estates in Mexico, and other rewards. Diego de Ordas +also, who went to court, obtained a commandery of St Jago, and +districts in New Spain. Don Pedro de Alvarado, who likewise went +to represent his services, was made adelantado and governor of +Guatimala and Chiapa, commander of the order of St Jago, and +obtained extensive grants of land. When therefore, we the +conquerors saw that those who did not reach his majesty, or had +no one to speak for them, were neglected, we transmitted a +petition, by which we prayed that such lands as fell vacant might +be distributed among us in perpetuities, as had been done by the +first court of royal audience, of which Nuno de Guzman was +president; who had been directed to make the divisions more +equal, deducting in due proportions from the immoderate grants of +Cortes, and that the best districts and rents should be divided +among us the true conquerors, leaving the cities and great towns +for his majesty. His majesty likewise ordered the vassals of +Cortes to be counted, leaving no more than were specified in his +patents; but I do not remember what was to have been done with +the surplus. Nuno de Guzman and the judges of his tribunal were +misled by advisers from making their grants perpetual, under +pretence that the conquerors would cease to depend upon and +respect them if independent, and that it was better to keep them +under the necessity of supplicating for subsistence, and likewise +to preserve to themselves the power of dividing the conquered +lands to the advantage of their own interest. Guzman and his +oydors indeed, constantly assigned such districts as fell vacant +among the conquerors and colonists to universal satisfaction; but +were superseded in consequence of their disputes with Cortes.</p> + +<p>In 1550, when I was in Old Spain, a council was formed, +consisting of Bartholomew de las Casas, bishop of Chiapa, Vasco +de Quiroga, bishop of Mechoacan, and other cavaliers who had come +as agents from New Spain and Peru, with some gentlemen who had +come on business to court; to which council I also was called, as +being the most ancient of the conquerors of New Spain. At this +time certain of the Peruvian gentlemen petitioned his majesty to +cause perpetual allotments of lands to be made in that kingdom, +and a similar petition was presented by Gonzalo Lopez and Alonzo +de Villanueva, who had come over as agents from Mexico. His +majesty was pleased to order the <i>rapartimiento</i> or +distribution of lands to be referred to the council of the +Indies, consisting of the Marquis de Mondejar president, with the +licentiates Gutierre Velasquez, Tello de Sandoval, Gregorio Lopes +de Briviesca, and the Doctor Hernan Perez de la Fuente, oydors or +judges of that court, together with the members of other royal +councils. At this meeting, it was proposed to make a perpetual +distribution of the lands of New Spain and Peru; I am uncertain +if New Granada and Popayan were to have been included. Many +excellent reasons were given for this measure being adopted, but +it was strenuously opposed by the members of the royal council of +the Indies, together with Bishop de las Casas, Fra Rodrigo his +coadjutor, and the Bishop of las Charcas, who insisted that the +matter should be postponed till the return of the emperor from +Vienna, when every thing should be arranged to the satisfaction +of the conquerors: And thus the affair was dropped for the +present.</p> + +<p>After my return to New Spain, the conquerors then proposed to +send agents to solicit his majesty for our interest exclusively, +in consequence of which I was written to here in Guatimala, by +Captain Andres de Tapia, Pedro Morena de Medrana, and Juan +Limpias Caravajal, on the subject. I accordingly went round among +the other conquerors who were settled in this city, to raise a +sum by subscription for the purpose, but this project failed for +want of money. At a subsequent period, our present invincible +king Don Philip, was pleased to command that the conquerors and +their posterity should be provided for, attending in the first +instance to those who were married. But all has been of no +avail.</p> + +<p>Two learned licentiates, to whom I communicated the MS. of +this history, observed that I had praised myself greatly in the +battles of which I have given an account, whereas I ought to have +left that to be done by others. But how is any one who was not in +the wars with us to praise us as we deserve? To compare myself, a +poor soldier, with the great emperor and warrior Julius Cesar, we +are told by historians, that he used to write down with his own +hand an account of his own heroic deeds, not chusing to entrust +that office to others, although he had many historians in his +empire. It is not therefore extraordinary if I relate the battles +in which I fought, that it may be known in future ages, <i>thus +did Bernal Diaz del Castillo</i>; that my sons and grandsons may +enjoy the fame of their ancestor, as many cavaliers and lords of +vassals do the deeds and blazons of their predecessors. I shall +therefore enumerate the various battles and other warlike affairs +in which I have been present. At Cape Cotoche, under Cordova; at +Pontonchan in a battle where half our number was slain; and in +Florida where we landed to procure water. Under Juan de Grijalva, +I was present in the second battle of Pontonchan. During my third +voyage, under Cortes, two pitched battles at Tabasco. On our +arrival in New Spain, the battle of Cingapacinga or Teoatzinco. +Shortly afterwards three pitched battles with the Tlascalans. The +affair of Cholula. On our entry into Mexico, I was at the seizure +of Montezuma, which I do not enumerate as a warlike exploit, but +on account of its great boldness. Four months afterwards, when +with 276 men, Cortes defeated Narvaez who had 1300. The relief of +Alvarado, when the Mexicans made incessant attacks upon us during +eight days and nights, during which I reckon eight several +battles, at all of which I was present, and in the course of +which we lost 870 men. The battle of Obtumba or Otompan. A battle +at Tepeaca. A battle at Tezcuco. Two battles, in one of which I +was wounded in the throat by a lance. Two actions about the maize +fields near Chalco. The rash attack on the fortresses called the +Rocks of the Marquis in our expedition round the lake. The battle +of Cuernavaca. Three battles at Xochimilco. During the siege of +Mexico, which lasted <i>ninety-three</i> days, I find by my +account that I was engaged in upwards of eighty battles and +skirmishes. After the conquest, I was sent out on various +expeditions to reduce Coatzacualco, Chiapa, and the Zapotecans, +in which we had several engagements. In Chamula and Cuitlan, two +engagements. In Teapa and Chematlan two others, in one of which I +was badly wounded in the throat. I forgot to mention, that we +were pursued for nine days in our flight from Mexico, and had to +fight four battles before the great one at Otompan. Several +actions in our expedition to Higueras and Honduras, during which +in a battle at Culacotu I had a horse killed under me which cost +600 crowns. After my return to Mexico, I went upon an expedition +into the mountains against the Zapotecas and Mixtecas. I have on +the whole been present in <i>one hundred and nineteen</i> +battles, engagements, and skirmishes; so that it is not wonderful +if I praise myself for the many and notable services which I have +rendered to God, his majesty and all Christendom: And I give +thanks and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath preserved me +in so many dangers.</p> + +<p>THE END OF BERNAL DIAZ.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<h2><a name="chapter2-6" id="chapter2-6">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> + +<p>HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST OF PERU, BY FRANCISCO +PIZARRO, WRITTEN BY AUGUSTINO ZARATE, TREASURER OF THAT KINGDOM, +A FEW YEARS AFTER THE CONQUEST.</p> + +<p>INTRODUCTION.</p> + +<p>The present chapter, like that immediately preceding from the +pen of Bernal Diaz, although in strict language neither a journey +nor a voyage, records in every step of the conquerors a new +<i>discovery</i> of coasts, islands, rivers, districts, and +tribes, that had never been visited before. In conformity with +our uniform desire to have recourse upon all occasions to the +most authentic original authorities for every article admitted +into this collection, so far as in our power, the work of Zarate +has been chosen as the record of the discovery and conquest of +Peru, in preference to any modern compilation on the same +subject. As we learn from himself, Zarate was a person of rank +and education, who went into Peru in 1543, only <i>eighteen</i> +years after the first movements of Pizarro and Almagro towards +the discovery of that extensive country, and only <i>eleven</i> +years after its actual invasion by Pizarro in 1532. From the +illustrious historian of America, Dr William Robertson, the work +which we now offer to the public for the first time in the +English language, has the following high character: "The history +of Zarate, whether we attend to its matter or composition, is a +book of considerable merit, and great credit is due to his +testimony." Besides this general eulogy; in his enumeration of +six original authors whom he had consulted in the composition of +that portion of his History of America which refers to Peru, he +clearly shews that Zarate alone can be considered as at the same +time perfectly authentic and sufficiently copious for the purpose +we have at present in view. The substance of his account of all +the six is as follows.</p> + +<p>"<i>Two</i> of the more early writers on the subject of the +discovery and conquest of Peru, Francisco de Xeres, the secretary +of Pizarro, and Pedro Sanchez, an officer who served under the +conqueror, break off almost in the introduction to the narrative, +going no farther into the history of the conquest than the death +of Atahualpa in 1533, only one year after the invasion of Peru. +The <i>third</i> in point of time, Pedro Cioca de Leon, only two +years earlier in his publication than Zarate, gives nothing more +than a description of the country, and an account of the +institutions and customs of the natives. Zarate is the +<i>fourth</i>. The <i>fifth</i>, Don Diego Fernandez, solely +relates to the dissentions and civil wars among the Spanish +conquerors. The <i>sixth</i> and last of these original authors, +Garcilasso de la Vega <i>Inca</i>, the son of a Spanish officer +of distinction by a <i>Coya</i>, or Peruvian female of the royal +race, gives little more than a commentary on the before mentioned +writers, and was not published till 1609, seventy five years +after the invasion of Peru by Pizarro[1]."</p> + +<blockquote>[1] History of America, <i>note</i> +cxxv.</blockquote> + +<p>In the Bibliotheque des Voyages, VI. 319. mention is made of a +Description of Peru as published in French in 1480, and said to +be a very rare work: <i>Rare</i>, indeed, if the imprint be not +an error, <i>fifty-two</i> years before the actual invasion and +discovery. In the same useful work, the performance of Zarate is +thus characterized. "The author has not confined his views to the +history and conquest of Peru, but has given us a statement of the +natural features of the country, an account of the manners of the +inhabitants, and a curious picture of the religious opinions and +institutions of the Peruvians."</p> + +<p>Four of the six original authors respecting Peru which are +noticed by Robertson, we have not seen; having confined our views +to that of Zarate, which is not only the best according to the +opinion of that excellent judge, but the only one which could +answer the purpose of our present collection. In preparing this +original work for publication, it is proper to acknowledge that +we have been satisfied with translating from the French edition +of Paris, 1742; but, besides every attention to fidelity of +translation, it has been carefully collated throughout with the +<i>Royal Commentary</i> of the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega, as +published in English by Sir Paul Rycaut, knight, in 1688; and +with the excellent work of Dr Robertson. It may be proper to +mention, however, that the following translation, though +faithful, has been made with some freedom of retrenching a +superfluity of useless language; though nothing has been omitted +in point of fact, and nothing altered.</p> + +<p>Having mentioned the work of Garcilasso de la Vega, which we +have employed as an auxiliary on the present occasion, it may be +worth while to give a short account of it in this place: For +there never was, perhaps, a literary composition so strangely +mixed up of unconnected and discordant sense and nonsense, and so +totally devoid of any thing like order or arrangement, in the +whole chronology of authorship, or rather of book-making, as has +been produced by this scion of the Incas. No consideration short +of our duty to the public, could have induced us to wade through +such a labyrinth of absurdity in quest of information. It is +astonishing how the honest knight could have patience to +translate 1019 closely printed folio pages of such a farrago; and +on closing the work of the Inca for ever, we heartily joined in +the concluding pious thanksgiving of the translator, <i>Praised +be God</i>. This enormous literary production of the <i>Inca</i> +Garcilasso, is most regularly divided and subdivided into parts, +books, and chapters; which contain here a little history, then +digressions on manners, customs, opinions, ceremonies, laws, +policy, arts, animals, vegetables, agriculture, buildings, +&c. &c. &c. intermixed with bits and scraps of +history, in an endless jumble; so that for every individual +circumstance on any one of these topics, the pains-taking reader +must turn over the whole work with the most anxious attention. We +quote an example, taken absolutely at random, the titles of the +Chapters of Part I. Book ix.</p> + +<p>Chap. I. Huayna Capac makes a gold chain as big as a cable, +and why. II. Reduces ten vallies of the coast. III. Punishes some +murderers. IV.-VII. Incidents of his reign, confusedly related. +VIII. Gods and customs of the Mantas. IX. Of giants formerly in +Peru. X. Philosophical sentiments of the Inca concerning the sun. +XI. and XII. Some incidents of his reign. XIII. Construction of +two extensive roads. XIV. Intelligence of the Spaniards being on +the coast. XV. Testament and death of Huayna Capac. XVI. How +horses and mares were first bred in Peru. XVII. Of cows and oxen. +XVIII.-XXIII. Of various animals, all introduced after the +conquest. XXIV.-XXXI. Of various productions, some indigenous, +and others introduced by the Spaniards. XXXII. Huascar claims +homage from Atahualpa. XXXIII.-XL. Historical incidents, +confusedly arranged, all without dates.</p> + +<p>The whole work is equally confused at best, and often much +more so; often consisting of extracts from other writers, with +commentaries, argumentations, ridiculous speeches, miracles, and +tales recited by old <i>Incas</i> and <i>Coyas</i>, uncles aunts +and cousins of the author. To add to the difficulty of +consultation, Sir Paul, having exhausted his industry in the +translation, gives no table of contents whatever, and a most +miserable Index which hardly contains an hundredth part of the +substance of the work. Yet the author of the Bibliotheque des +Voyages, says "that this work is <i>very precious</i>, as it +contains the only remaining notices of the government, laws, +manners, and customs of the Peruvians."--Ed.</p> + +<p>PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR.</p> + +<p>After having enjoyed the office of secretary to the royal +council of Castille for fifteen years, the king was graciously +pleased to order me to Peru in 1543, as treasurer-general of that +province and of the Tierra Firma; in which employment I was +entrusted with the entire receipt of the royal revenues and +rights, and the payment of all his majesties officers in those +countries. I sailed thither in the fleet which conveyed Blasco +Nugnez Vela the viceroy of Peru; and immediately on my arrival in +the New World, I observed so many insurrections, disputes, and +novelties, that I felt much inclined to transmit their memory to +posterity. I accordingly wrote down every transaction as it +occurred; but soon discovered that these could not be understood +unless the previous events were explained from which they +originated. I found it necessary, therefore, to go back to the +epoch of the discovery of the country, to give a detail of the +occurrences in their just order and connection. My work might +perhaps have been somewhat more perfect, if I had been able to +compose it in regular order while in Peru; but a brutal +major-general, who had served under Gonzalo Pizarro[1], +threatened to put any one to death who should presume to write a +history of his transactions, so that I was obliged to satisfy +myself with collecting all the documents I could procure for +enabling me to compose my history after returning into Spain. He +was perhaps right in wishing these transactions might fall into +oblivion, instead of being transmitted to posterity.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] Even the orthography of the name of Pizarro is +handed down to us with some variety. In the work of Garcilasso de +la Vega it is always spelt Piçarro: Besides which, the +Inca Garcilasso, in his almost perpetual quotations of our author +Zarate, always gives the name Carate; the <i>ç</i>, or +cerilla <i>c</i>, being equivalent in Spanish to the <i>z</i> in +the other languages of Europe.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Should my style of writing be found not to possess all the +polish that my readers may desire, it will at least record the +true state of events; and I shall not be disappointed if it only +serve to enable another to present a history of the same period +in more elegant language and more orderly arrangement. I have +principally directed my attention to a strict regard for truth, +the soul of history, using neither art nor disguise in my +description of things and events which I have seen and known; and +in relating those matters which happened before my arrival, I +have trusted to the information of dispassionate persons, worthy +of credit. These were not easy to find in Peru, most persons +having received either benefits or injuries from the party of +Pizarro or that of Almagro; which were as violent in their mutual +resentments as the adherents of Marius and Sylla, or of Caesar +and Pompey of old.</p> + +<p>In all histories there are three chief requisites: the +designs, the actions, and the consequences. In the two latter +particulars I have used all possible care to be accurate. If I +may not always agree with other authors in regard to the first of +these circumstances, I can only say that such is often the case +with the most accurate and faithful historians. After I had +finished this work, it was my intention to have kept it long +unpublished, lest I might offend the families of those persons +whose improper conduct is therein pourtrayed. But some persons to +whom I had communicated my manuscript, shewed it to the king +during his voyage to England, who had it read to him as an +amusement from the tiresomeness of the voyage. My work had the +good fortune to please his majesty, who honoured it with his +approbation, and graciously commanded me to have it printed; and +which I have the more readily complied with, as his royal +commands may protect my book from the cavils of the censorious +readers.</p> + +<p>* * * * *</p> + +<p>Much difficulty occurs respecting the origin of the people who +inhabited Peru and the other provinces of America, and by what +means their ancestors could have crossed the vast extent of sea +which separates that country from the old world. In my opinion +this may be explained from what is said by Plato in his +<i>Timaeus</i>, and the subsequent dialogue entitled +<i>Atlantis</i>. He says: "That the Egyptians report, to the +honour of the Athenians, that they contributed to defeat certain +kings who came with a numerous army by sea from the great island +of Atlantis, which, beginning beyond the Pillars of Hercules, is +larger than all Asia and Africa together, and is divided into ten +kingdoms which Neptune gave among his ten sons, Atlas, the +eldest, having the largest and most valuable share." Plato adds +several remarkable particulars concerning the customs and riches +of that island; especially concerning a magnificent temple in the +chief city, the walls of which were entirely covered over with +gold and silver, having a roof of copper, and many other +circumstances which are here omitted for the sake of brevity; +though it is certain that several customs and ceremonies +mentioned by Plato are still practised in the provinces of Peru. +Beyond the great island of Atlantis, there were other large +islands not far distant from the <i>Firm Land</i>, beyond which +again was the <i>True Sea</i>. The following are the words which +Plato attributes, in his Timaeus, to Socrates, as spoken to the +Athenians. "It is held certain, that in ancient times your city +resisted an immense number of enemies from the Atlantic Ocean, +who had conquered almost all Europe and Asia. In those days the +<i>Straits</i> were navigable, and immediately beyond them there +was an island, commencing almost at the <i>Pillars of +Hercules</i>, which was said to be larger than Asia and Africa +united; from whence the passage was easy to other islands near +and opposite to the continent of the <i>True Sea</i>." A little +after this passage, it is added. "That nine thousand years before +his days, a great change took place, as the sea adjoining that +island was so increased by the accession of a prodigious quantity +of water, that in the course of one day it swallowed up the whole +island; since when that sea has remained so full of shallows and +sand banks as to be no longer navigable, neither has any one been +able to reach the other islands and the <i>Firm Land</i>."</p> + +<p>Some authors hare believed this recital to be merely +allegorical, while most of the commentators on Plato considered +it as a real historical narrative. The <i>nine thousand +years</i>, mentioned by Plato, must not be considered as an +indication of this discourse being fabulous; since, according to +Eudoxus, we must understand them as lunar years or <i>moons</i>, +after the Egyptian mode of computation, <i>or nine thousand +months</i>, which are <i>seven hundred and fifty years</i>. All +historians and cosmographers, ancient as well as modern, have +concurred to name the sea by which that great island was +swallowed up, the <i>Atlantic Ocean</i>, in which the name of +that ancient island is retained, giving a strong evidence of its +former existence. Adopting, therefore the truth of this +historical fact, it must be granted that this island of Atlantis, +beginning from the Straits of Gibraltar near Cadiz, must have +stretched a vast way from north to south, and from east to west, +since it was larger than all Asia and Africa. The <i>other</i> +islands in the neighbourhood must have been those now named +Hispaniola, Cuba, Porto Rico, Jamaica, and others of the West +Indies; and the <i>Firm Land</i>, that part of the Continent to +which we still give the name of <i>Tierra Firma</i>, together +with the other countries and provinces of America, from the +Straits of Magellan in the south to the extreme north; as Peru, +Popayan, Golden Castille, Veragua, Nicaragua, Guatimala, New +Spain, <i>the Seven Cities</i>, Florida, <i>Baccalaos</i>, and so +on along the north to Norway. The authority of Plato is +conclusive that the <i>New World</i> which has been discovered in +our time, is the same Continent or Firm Land mentioned by that +philosopher; and his <i>True Sea</i> must be that which we name +the <i>South Sea</i>, or Pacific Ocean; for the whole +Mediterranean, and all that was before known of the Ocean, which +we call the <i>North Sea</i>, can only be considered as rivers or +lakes in comparison with the vast extent of that other sea. After +these explanations, it is not difficult to conceive how mankind +in ancient times may have passed from the great island of +<i>Atlantis</i> and the <i>other</i> neighbouring isles, to what +we now call the Tierra Firma, or <i>Firm Land</i>, and thence by +land, or by the South Sea, into Peru: As we must believe that the +inhabitants of these islands practised navigation, which they +must have learned by intercourse with the great island, in which +Plato expressly says there were many ships, and carefully +constructed harbours. These, in my opinion, are the most probable +conjectures which can be formed on this obscure subject of +antiquity; more especially as we can derive no lights from the +Peruvians, who have no writing by which to preserve the memory of +ancient times. In New Spain, indeed, they had certain pictures, +which answered in some measure instead of books and writings; but +in Peru, they only used certain strings of different colours with +several knots, by means of which and the distances between them, +they were able to express some things in a very confused and +uncertain manner, as shall be explained in the course of this +history.</p> + +<p>So much of the following history as relates to the discovery +of the country, has been derived from the information of Rodrigo +Lozan, an inhabitant of Truxillo in Peru, and from others who +were witnesses of and actors in the transactions which I have +detailed.</p> + +<p>SECTION I.</p> + +<p><i>Of the discovery of Peru, with some account of the country +and its inhabitants</i>.</p> + +<p>The city of Panama is a port on the South Sea, in that +province of the continent of America which is called Golden +Castille. In the year 1524, three inhabitants of that city +entered into an association for the purpose of discovering the +western coast of the continent by the South Sea, in that +direction which has been since named Peru. These were Don +Francisco Pizarro of Truxillo, Don Diego de Almagro of Malagon, +and Hernando de Luque, an ecclesiastic. No one knew the family or +origin of Almagro, though some said that he had been found at a +church door[1]. These men, being among the richest of the +colonists of Panama, proposed to themselves to enrich and +aggrandize themselves by means of discovering new countries, and +to do important service to the emperor, Don Carlos V. by +extending his dominions. Having received permission from Pedro +Arias de Avila[2], who then governed that country, Francisco +Pizarro fitted out a vessel with considerable difficulty, in +which he embarked with 114 men. About fifty leagues from Panama, +he discovered a small and poor district, named <i>Peru</i>, from +which that name has been since improperly extended to all the +country afterwards discovered along that coast to the south for +more than 1200 leagues. Beyond that Peru, he discovered another +district, to which the Spaniards gave the name of <i>El Pueblo +quemado</i>, or the <i>Burnt People</i>. The Indians of that +country made war upon him with so much obstinacy, and killed so +many of his men, that he was constrained to retreat to +<i>Chinchama</i> or Chuchama, not far from Panama.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] In a note of the French edition of 1742, it is +said that, in the folio edition of Zarate printed at Seville in +1677, Luque was called the father of Almagro, and that no mention +is made of that ecclesiastic having taken any part in the +expedition. Robertson, in his History of America, II. 273, says +that Pizarro was the natural son of a gentleman of honourable +family by a low woman, and that his education was so entirely +neglected that he could neither read nor write. He adds that, +after serving some years in Italy, he embarked for America, where +he greatly distinguished himself. In our last chapter, Diaz makes +frequent mention of Pizarro as serving with reputation under +Cortes, in the early part of the expedition to Mexico; but gives +no account of his quitting the service of Cortes; to whom he was +probably somehow related, as the mother of Cortes was named +Catalina Pizarro Altamirano. Almagro, according to Robertson, was +a foundling, and bred like Pizarro in the army. Luque acted as +priest and schoolmaster at Panama, and had amassed considerable +riches.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] Named Pedrarias by Robertson.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In the mean time, Almagro fitted out another vessel at Panama, +in which he embarked with 70 men, and went along the coast in +search of Pizarro as far as the river San Juan, a hundred leagues +from Panama. Not finding him there, Almagro returned along the +coast to the <i>Pueblo quemado</i>, where, from certain +indications of Pizarro having been there, he landed with his men. +The Indians, puffed up with the remembrance of the victory they +had gained over Pizarro, attacked Almagro with great courage, and +did him considerable injury; and one day they even penetrated the +entrenchment he had thrown up for defence, through some +negligence in the guards, and put the Spaniards to flight, who +were forced to retreat with loss to their vessel and put to sea, +on which occasion Almagro lost an eye. Following the shore on the +way back towards Panama, Almagro found Pizarro at Chinchama[3]. +Pizarro was much pleased by the junction of Almagro, as by means +of his men, and some additional soldiers they procured in +Chinchama, they had now a force of two hundred Spaniards. They +accordingly recommenced the expedition, endeavouring to sail down +the coast to the southwards in two vessels and three large +canoes. In this navigation they suffered great fatigue from +contrary winds and currents, and were much incommoded when they +attempted to land in any of the numerous small rivers which fall +into the South Sea, as they all swarmed at their mouths with +large lizards, or alligators, called caymans by the natives. +These animals, are ordinarily from twenty to twenty-five feet +long, and kill either men or beasts when in the water. They come +out of the water to lay their eggs, which they bury in great +numbers in the sand, leaving them to be hatched by the heat of +the sun. These caymans have a strong resemblance to the +crocodiles of the river Nile. The Spaniards suffered much from +hunger in this voyage, as they could find nothing fit to eat +along this coast except the fruit of a tree called mangles, which +grew in great abundance everywhere along the shore. These trees +are tall and straight, and have a very hard wood; but as they +grow on the shore, their roots being drenched in sea water, their +fruit is salt and bitter; yet necessity obliged the Spaniards to +subsist on them, along with such fish as they could find, +particularly crabs; as on the whole of that coast no maize was +grown by the natives. From the currents along this coast, which +always set strongly to the north, they were obliged to make their +way by dint of constant rowing; always harassed by the Indians, +who assailed them with loud cries, calling them banished men, and +<i>hairy faces</i>, who were formed from the spray of the sea, +and wandered about without cultivating the earth, like outcasts +and vagabonds.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] Chinchama, by the map in Zarate is that part of +the western coast of Tierra Firma or Darien, opposite the Isla +del Rey. The poor province of Peru, beyond or to the southwards +of Cinchama, is that now called Biruquete; and the Pueblo +quemada, or Burnt People, must be looked for in the province of +Novita, perhaps Nounamas, immediately to the south of which is +the river of St Juan.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Having lost several of his men through famine and by the +incessant attacks of the Indians, it was agreed that Almagro +should return to Panama for recruits and provisions. Having +procured twenty-four, they advanced with these and the remains of +their original force to a country named <i>Catamez</i>[4], +considerably beyond the river of St Juan, a tolerably peopled +country, in which they found plenty of provisions. The Indians of +this part of the coast, who were still hostile, were observed to +have certain ornaments of gold, resembling nails, inserted into +holes made for that purpose in different parts of their faces. +Almagro was sent back a second time to Panama, to endeavour to +procure a larger force, and Pizarro retired in the mean time to +the small island of <i>Gallo</i> somewhat farther to the north, +near the shore of the <i>Barbacoas</i>, and not far from Cape +<i>Mangles</i>, where he and his people suffered extreme +hardships from scarcity of provisions, amounting almost to +absolute famine.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] Tacamez, otherwise called the district of +<i>Esmeraldas</i>, or of emeralds, is in the kingdom of Quito +near the equinoctial line.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On the return of Almagro to Panama for reinforcements, he +found the government in the hands of Pedro de los Rios, who +opposed the design of Almagro to raise recruits, because those +with Pizarro had secretly conveyed a petition to the governor, +not to permit any more people to be sent upon an enterprize of so +much danger, and requesting their own recal. The governor, +therefore, sent an officer to the Isle of Gallo, with an order +for such as were so inclined to return to Panama, which was +eagerly embraced by the greatest part of the soldiers of Pizarro, +twelve only remaining along with him. Not daring to remain with +so small a force in an island so near the main land, Pizarro +retired to an uninhabited island named Gorgona, about 70 miles +farther north, and considerably more distant from the coast than +Gallo, in which island, which had abundance of springs and +rivulets, he and his small band of faithful associates, lived on +crabs in expectation of relief and reinforcement from Panama. At +last a vessel arrived with provisions, but no soldiers, in which +Pizarro embarked with his twelve men, to whose courage and +constancy the discovery of Peru was owing. Their names deserve to +be handed down to posterity: Nicolas de Ribera, Pedro de Candia a +native of the Greek island of that name, Juan de Torre, Alfonso +Briseno, Christoval de Peraulte, Alfonso de Truxillo, Francisco +de Cuellar, and Alfonso de Molina[5]. The pilot of the vessel in +which they embarked was named Bartholomew Bruyz, a native of +Moguer. Under the guidance of this man, but with infinite +difficulty from contrary winds and adverse currents, Pizarro +reached a district named <i>Mostripe</i>[6], about equally +distant from the two places since built by the Christians, named +Truxillo and San Miguel. With the very small number of men who +accompanied him, Pizarro dared not to advance any farther along +the coast, and contented himself with going a small way up the +river <i>Puechos</i> or de la Chira[7]; where he procured some of +the sheep[8] of the country, and some of the natives on purpose +to serve him as interpreters in the sequel. Returning from +thence, Pizarro went northwards to the port of Tumbez on the +south-side of the bay of Guayaquil, where he was informed that +the king of Peru had a fine palace, and where the Indians were +said to be very rich. This place was one of the most +extraordinary in the country, until it was ruined by the +inhabitants of the island of Puna, as will be related hereafter. +At this place, three of his men deserted, who were afterwards put +to death by the Indians.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] Instead of <i>twelve</i>, the text only names +<i>eight</i> of the brave associates of Pizarro.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[6] Morope, in lat. 6° 35', in the district of +Sana, is in the situation of the place mentioned in the +text.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[7] This river, otherwise called Amatape, runs into +the bay of Payta, in lat. 5° 10' south.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[8] Under the name of Peruvian sheep, five species of +the Camel genus are known to naturalists, the Glama or Llama, +Guanaco, Chillihueque, Vicugna, and Pacos. The three former were +used as animals of burthen by the native Peruvians, and +domesticated, the two latter, especially the Vicugna, are +valuable for the firmness of their fleeces. The three larger +species carry loads of about a hundred pounds weight, the other +two, when domesticated, may be made to carry smaller burdens of +from fifty to seventy-five pounds.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After these discoveries, Pizarro returned to Panama, having +spent three years in this voyage, counting from his first leaving +Panama, in which time he was exposed to many dangers fatigues and +privations, by the opposition and hostilities of the Indians, and +through famine, and more than all distressed by the discontents +and mutinies of his people, most of whom lost all hope of +success, or of deriving any advantage from the expedition. +Pizarro soothed their fears and encouraged their perseverance by +every means in his power, providing for their necessities with +much prudent care, and bearing up against every difficulty with +astonishing firmness and perseverance: leaving to Almagro to +provide men arms and horses, and necessaries of all kinds for the +enterprize. These two officers, from being the richest of the +settlers in Panama at the commencement of their enterprize, were +now entirely ruined and overwhelmed in debt; yet did they not +despair of ultimate success, and resolved to prosecute the +discovery of which a very promising commencement had now been +made[9].</p> + +<blockquote>[9] It was now towards the close of 1527, the third +year from the first departure of Pizarro from Panama.--Robertsons +America, II. 281.</blockquote> + +<p>In concert with his associates Almagro and Luque, Pizarro went +to Spain, to lay an account before the king of the discovery +which he had made, and to solicit the appointment of governor of +that country, of which he proposed to prosecute the discovery, +and to reduce it under the dominion of the crown of Spain. His +majesty granted his demand, under those conditions which used to +be stipulated with other officers who engaged in similar +enterprizes. With this authority, he returned to Panama, +accompanied by Ferdinand, Juan, and Gonzalo Pizarro, and +Francisco Martin de Alcantara, his brothers. Ferdinand and Juan +Pizarro were his brothers both by father and mother, and the only +lawful sons of Gonzalo Pizarro, an inhabitant of Truxillo in Old +Spain, a captain in the infantry regiment of Navarre: Don +Francisco Pizarro himself and Gonzalo Pizarro were natural sons +of the elder Gonzalo Pizarro by different mothers: Francisco de +Alcantara was likewise the brother of Don Francisco Pizarro, by +his mother only, but by a different father[10]. Besides these, +Pizarro brought as many men from Spain to assist in his +enterprize as he could procure, being mostly inhabitants of +Truxillo and other places in Estremadura[11].</p> + +<blockquote>[10] Robertson, II. 284. gives a different account of +these four relations of Francisco Pizarro from Zarate. According +to him, Ferdinand was the only lawful son of old Gonzalo Pizarro; +Francisco, Juan, and the younger Gonzalo being all natural sons; +and Francisco de Alcantara was the uncle of Don Francisco, being +the brother of his mother. In the sequel, the conqueror of Peru +shall be always mentioned by the single name of Pizarro, +distinguishing his brothers by the addition of their Christian +names. While in Spain, Pizarro received a supply of money from +Cortes, under whom he had served in the early part of the +conquest of Mexico.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[11] His commission from the crown of Spain, imposed +the condition of raising 250 men, and to supply the ships and +warlike stores necessary for the expedition; but his funds and +credit were so low that he could hardly complete half the number, +and had to steal away from the port of Seville to elude the +examination of the officers as to the fulfilment of his +contract.--Robertsons America, II. 284.</blockquote> + +<p>On his arrival at Panama in 1530, Pizarro and his associates +used every effort to complete the preparations for the +enterprize; but at first a dispute arose between him and Almagro. +The latter complained that Pizarro had only attended to his own +interests when at the court of Spain, having procured the +appointments of governor and president of Peru for himself, +without making any mention of Almagro, or at least without having +procured any office for him, who had borne the far greater +proportion of the expences hitherto incurred. Pizarro alleged +that the king had refused to give any office to Almagro, though +solicited by him for that purpose: But engaged his word to +renounce the office of president in his behalf, and to supplicate +the king to bestow that appointment upon him. Almagro was +appeased by this concession; and they proceeded to make every +preparation in concert that might be conducive to the success of +the undertaking. But, before entering upon the narrative of their +actions, it seems proper to give some account of the situation of +Peru, of the most remarkable things which it contains, and of the +manners and customs of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>The country of Peru, of which this history is intended to +treat, commences at the equator, and extends south towards the +antarctic pole[12]. The people who inhabit in the neighbourhood +of the equator have swarthy complexions; their language is +extremely guttural; and they are addicted to unnatural vices, for +which reason they care little for their women and use them +ill[13], The women wear their hair very short, and their whole +clothing consists of a short petticoat, covering only from the +waist to about the knees. By the women only is the grain +cultivated, and by them it is bruised or ground to meal, and +baked. This grain, called maize in the West-Indian Islands, is +called <i>Zara</i> in the language of Peru[14]. The men wear a +kind of shirts or jackets without sleeves, which only reach to +the navel, and do not cover the parts of shame. They wear their +hair short, having a kind of tonsure on their crowns, almost like +monks. They have no other dress or covering, yet pride themselves +on certain ornaments of gold hanging from their ears and +nostrils, and are particularly fond of pendants made of emeralds, +which are chiefly found in those parts of the country bordering +on the equator. The natives have always concealed the places +where these precious stones are procured, but the Spaniards have +been in use to find some emeralds in that part of the country, +mixed among pebbles and gravel, on which account it is supposed +that the natives procured them from thence. The men also are fond +of wearing a kind of bracelets, or strings of beads, of gold and +silver, mixed with small turquoise stones and white shells, or of +various colours; and the women are not permitted to wear any of +those ornaments.</p> + +<blockquote>[12] It is impossible to give any competent +geographical account of this extensive country in the compass of +a note. Proper Peru begins at the river Tumbez in the gulf of +Guayaquil, in about lat. 3° 20' S. and extends S.S.E. along +the Pacific Ocean to the desert of Atacama, which divides it from +Chili, in lat. 21° 28 S. an extent of about 1200 miles; +consisting of two remarkably different tracts of country. A +narrow valley along the Pacific Ocean, seldom so much as 70 miles +in breadth, bounded on the east by the enormous main ridge of the +Andes; beyond which are many elevated vallies or table lands of +various extent, divided by collateral ridges and branches of the +Andes, from each other and from the prodigiously extensive plains +of the vast Orinoco Maranon and La Plata rivers. Quito, which had +been annexed to the kingdom of Peru, only a short time before the +Spanish conquest, is similarly situated, both as to maritime +vale, and elevated table land, immediately to the north of Peru +proper, and seems to have reached from lat. 3° 20' S. to +about lat, 1° N. but is now included in the viceroyalty of +New Granada which reaches to the Carribbean sea, with which it is +connected by the river Magdalena.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[13] The substance of this description appears to +refer entirely to that province of the kingdom of Quito which is +named Esmeraldas or Tacamez, on both sides of the +equator.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[14] Various reasons have been assigned for the +origin of the word Peru, as the name of the empire of the Incas, +unknown to themselves, at least in that sense. The most probable +derivation is from the river <i>Piura</i>, near its northern +frontier, where it was first visited by Pizarro.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The country is exceedingly hot and unwholesome, and the +inhabitants are particularly subject to certain malignant warts +or carbuncles of a dangerous nature on the face and other parts +of the body, having very deep roots, which are more dangerous +than the small-pox, and almost equally destructive as the +carbuncles of the plague. The natives have many temples, of which +the doors always front the east, and are closed only by cotton +curtains. In each temple there are two idols or figures in relief +resembling black goats, before which they continually burn +certain sweet-smelling woods. From this wood a certain liquor +exudes, when the bark is stripped off, which has a strong and +disagreeable flavour, by means of which dead bodies are preserved +free from corruption. In their temples, they have also +representations of large serpents, to which they give adoration; +besides which every nation, district, tribe or house, had its +particular god or idol. In some temples, particularly in those of +certain villages which were called <i>Pafao</i>, the walls and +pillars were hung round with dried bodies of men women and +children, <i>in the form of crosses</i>, which were all so +thoroughly embalmed by means of the liquor already mentioned, +that they were entirely devoid of bad smell. In these places also +they had many human heads hung up; which by means of certain +drugs with which they were anointed, were so much shrunk or dried +up as to be no bigger than a mans fist[15].</p> + +<blockquote>[15] This circumstance is unintelligible, as the +bones could not shrink, unless by supposing these <i>human +heads</i> to have been the heads of small apes, resembling human +faces. The expression of the text, immediately before, of human +carcasses hung up <i>in the form of crosses</i>, ought perhaps to +have been rendered <i>instead of</i> crosses.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>This country is extremely dry, as it very seldom has any rain, +and its rivulets are few and scanty; so that the people are +reduced to the necessity of digging pit-wells, or of procuring +water from certain pools or reservoirs. Their houses are built of +large canes or reeds. It possesses gold, but of a very low +quantity; and has very few fruits. The inhabitants use small +canoes hollowed out of the trunks of trees, and a sort of rafts +which are very flat. The whole coast abounds in fish, and whales +are sometimes seen in these seas. On the doors of the temples in +that district which is called <i>Caraque</i>, the figures of men +are sometimes seen, which have dresses somewhat resembling those +of our deacons.</p> + +<p>Near the last mentioned province, at Cape St Helena in the +province of Guayaquil, there are certain springs or mineral veins +which give out a species of bitumen resembling pitch or tar, and +which is applied to the same purposes. The Indians of that +country pretend that in ancient times it was inhabited by giants, +who were four times the height of ordinary men[16]. The Spaniards +saw two representations of these giants at <i>Puerto viejo</i>, +one of a man and the other of a woman, and the inhabitants +related a traditionary tale of the descent of a young man from +heaven, whose countenance and body shone like the sun, who fought +against the giants and destroyed them with flames of fire. In the +year 1543, Captain Juan de Holmos, lieutenant-governor of Puerto +viejo, caused a certain valley to be carefully examined, in which +these giants were were said to have been destroyed, and in which +ribs and other bones of prodigious size were dug up, which fully +confirmed the traditions of the Indians[17]. The natives of this +country have no knowledge whatever of writing, nor had they even +any use of that method of painting employed by the Mexicans for +preserving the memory of ancient events, which were handed down +from father to son merely by traditionary stories. In some places +indeed they used an extraordinary means for preserving the +remembrance of important events, by certain cords or strings of +cotton called <i>Quippos</i>, on which they represented +<i>numbers</i> by knots of different kinds, and at regulated +intervals, from <i>units</i> up to <i>dozens</i>, and so forth; +the cords being of the same colours with those things which they +were intended to represent. In every province, there are persons +who are entrusted with the care of these <i>quippos</i>, who are +named <i>Quippo camayos</i>, who register public matters by means +of these coloured strings and knots artificially disposed; and it +is wonderful with what readiness these men understand and explain +to others events that have happened several ages ago. There are +public buildings throughout the country which are used as +magazines of these quippos.</p> + +<blockquote>[16] A good deal more is said of these giants, both +by Zarate and Garcilasso de la Vega, p. 363, but so vague and +absurd as not to be worth insertion. The whole story seems to +have arisen out of the colossal representation of a man and woman +at Puerto viejo.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[17] This is merely a repetition of the <i>big +bones</i> of Mexico and the Ohio, already referred to the +Mammoth, or animal ignotum.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>To the south of the equator, and near the coast, is the island +of Puna[18], about twelve leagues in circumference, containing +abundance of game, and having great quantities of fish on its +shores. It has plenty of fresh water, and was formerly very +populous, its inhabitants being almost continually engaged in +war, especially with the people of Tumbez, which is twelve +leagues distant to the south. These people wore shirts, above +which they had a kind of woollen garments. They went to sea in a +peculiar kind of flats or rafts, made of long planks of a light +wood fixed to two other cross planks below them to hold them +together. The upper planks are always an uneven number, usually +five, but sometimes seven or nine; that in the middle, on which +the conductor of the float sits and rows, being longer than the +others, which are shorter and shorter toward the sides, and they +are covered by a species of awning to keep those who sit upon +them from the weather. Some of these floats are large enough to +carry fifty men and three horses, and are navigated both by oars +and sails, in the use of which the Indians are very expert. +Sometimes, when the Spaniards have trusted themselves on these +floats, the Indian rowers have contrived to loosen the planks, +leaving the christians to perish, and saving themselves by +swimming. The Indians of that island were armed with bows and +slings, and with maces and axes of silver and copper. They had +likewise spears or lances, having heads made of gold very much +alloyed; and both men and women wore rings and other ornaments of +gold, and their most ordinary utensils were made of gold and +silver. The lord of this island was much feared and respected by +his subjects, and so extremely jealous of his women, that those +who had the care of them were not only eunuchs, but had their +noses cut off. In a small island near Puna, there was found in a +house the representation of a garden, having the figures of +various trees and plants artificially made of gold and +silver.</p> + +<blockquote>[18] Puna is in the bay of Guayaquil, in lat. 3° +S. and is near <i>thirty</i> leagues in circumference, being +about <i>ten</i> leagues long by five in +breadth.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Opposite to the island of Puna on the main land, there dwelt a +nation or tribe which had given so much offence to the king of +Peru, that they were obliged as a punishment to extirpate all +their upper teeth; in consequence of which, even now, the people +of that district have no teeth in their upper jaws. From Tumbez +for five hundred leagues to the south along the coast of the +south sea, and for ten leagues in breadth, more or less according +to the distance between the sea and the mountains, it never rains +or thunders. But on the mountains which bound that maritime +plain, there are both rain and thunder, and the climate has the +vicissitudes of summer and winter nearly as in Spain. While it is +winter in the mountain, it is summer all along the coast; and on +the contrary, during the summer on the mountain the coast has +what may be termed winter. The length of Peru, from the city of +<i>St Juan de Parto</i> to the province of Chili lately +discovered, is above 1800[19] leagues of Castille. Along the +whole of that length, a vast chain of exceedingly high and desert +mountains extends from north to south, in some places fifteen or +twenty leagues distant from the sea, and less in others. The +whole country is thus divided into two portions, all the space +between the mountains and the sea being denominated <i>the +plain</i>, and all beyond is called the mountain.</p> + +<blockquote>[19] The estimate in the text is exceedingly +erroneous. The city of Parto is in lat. 1° 12' N. and the Rio +de Loa, or commencement of the desert of Atacama, in lat. 21° +26' S. which give only a difference of nearly 25 degrees of +latitude, which at 17-1/2 Spanish leagues to the degree are only +438 leagues. Even supposing the text to include Chili, which +extends to 39° 21' S. the whole extent of Peru and Chili is +only 753 Spanish leagues.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The whole plain of Peru is sandy and extremely arid, as it +never has any rain, and there are no springs or wells, nor any +rivulets, except in four or five places near the sea, where the +water is brackish. The only water used by the inhabitants is from +torrents which come down from the mountain, and which are there +formed by rain and the melting of snow, as there are even very +few springs in the mountainous part of the country. In some +places, these torrents or mountain-streams are twelve fifteen or +twenty leagues distance from each other, but generally only seven +or eight leagues; and travellers for the most part are under the +necessity of regulating their days journies by these streams or +rivers, that they may have water for themselves and cattle. Along +these rivers, for the breadth of a league, more or less according +to the nature of the soil, there are some groves and fruit-trees, +and maize fields cultivated by the Indians, to which wheat has +been added since the establishment of the Spaniards. For the +purpose of irrigating or watering these cultivated fields, small +canals are dug from the rivers, to conduct the water wherever it +is necessary and where that can be done; and in the construction +of these the natives are exceedingly ingenious and careful, +having often to draw these canals seven or eight leagues by +various circuits to avoid intermediate hollows, although perhaps +the whole breadth of the vale may not exceed half a league. In +all these smaller vales along the streams and torrents, from the +mountain to the sea, the country is exceedingly fertile and +agreeable. Several of these torrents are so large and deep, such +as those of Santa, Baranca, and others, that without the +assistance of the Indians, who break and diminish for a short +time the force of the current, by means of piles and branches +forming a temporary wear or dike, the Spaniards would be unable +to pass. In these hazardous passages, it was necessary to get +over with all possible expedition, to avoid the violence of the +stream, which often rolled down very large stones. Travellers in +the plain of Peru, when going north or south, almost always keep +within sight of the sea, where the torrents are less violent, +owing to the greater flatness of the plain as it recedes from the +mountain. Yet in winter the passage of these torrents is +extremely dangerous, as they cannot be then forded, and must be +crossed in barks or floats like those formerly mentioned, or on a +kind of rafts made of gourds inclosed in a net, on which the +passenger reclines, while one Indian swims before pulling the +raft after him with a rope, and another Indian swims behind and +pushes the raft before him.</p> + +<p>On the borders of these rivers there are various kinds of +fruit-trees, cotton-trees, willows, and many kinds of canes, +reeds, and sedges. The watered land is extremely fertile, and is +kept under continual cultivation; wheat and maize being sown and +reaped all the year through. The Indians in the plain seldom have +any houses, or at best a kind of rude huts or cabins made of +branches of trees, often dwelling under the shade of trees, +without any habitation whatever. The women are habited in long +dresses of cotton which descend to their feet; while the men wear +breeches and vests which come down to their knees, and have a +kind of cloak or mantle thrown over their shoulders. They are all +dressed in a similar manner, having no distinctions except in +their head-dresses, according to rank or the different districts +of the country; some wearing a tuft of wool, others a single +cord, and others several cords of different colours. All the +Indians of the plain are distributed into three orders; the first +named <i>Yungas</i>, the second <i>Tallanes</i>, and the third +<i>Mochicas</i>. Every province has its own peculiar language or +dialect, different from all the rest. But all the caciques or +principal people and nobles of the country, besides the language +peculiar to their respective countries or districts, were obliged +to understand and speak the language of Cuzco. One of the +Peruvian kings, named Huana Capac, the father of Atahualpa or +Atabalipa, was much displeased that the caciques and principal +people of his empire should be under the necessity of employing +interpreters when they had occasion to speak to him; and gave +orders that all the caciques and their relatives should send +their children to reside at court, to be instructed in the +language of Cuzco which was spoken by the Incas. This was the +ostensible reason of the measure; but in reality he wished to +have these children in his power, to serve as hostages for the +loyalty of their parents. By this means, all the nobles of the +land came to understand the peculiar language of Cuzco which was +spoken at court; just as in Flanders all the nobles and persons +of any rank speak French. Owing to this circumstance, as the +Spaniards have learnt the language of the Incas, or of Cuzco, +they are able to converse with all the principal natives of Peru, +both those of the mountain and of the plain.</p> + +<p>It may appear difficult to some of my readers to comprehend +why no rain should fall in the plain of Peru, considering that +the country is bounded along the whole of one side by the sea, +where many vapours are constantly ascending, and on the other +side by a vast range of mountain which is always enveloped in +rain or snow. Those who have carefully considered this singular +phenomenon, allege that it is occasioned by the continual +prevalence of a strong south-west wind all along the coast and +over the whole plain of Peru, which carries off all the vapours +which rise from the sea and the land, without allowing them to +rise sufficiently high in the air to gather and fall down again +in rain. From the tops of the high mountains, these vapours are +often seen far beneath on the plain in thick clouds, while all is +quite clear and serene on the mountain. By the perpetual blowing +of the same wind, the waters of the South-sea have a constant +current along the coast to the northward. Others allege a +different reason for this current; saying, that the water of the +South-sea having only a narrow outlet at the straits of Magellan, +which are only two leagues broad, and being there opposed by the +Atlantic Ocean, they are forced to return to the northward along +the coast of Chili and Peru. This constant wind and current +render the navigation exceedingly difficult, from Panama to Peru +for the greater part of the year; so that vessels are obliged +always to tack to windward against wind and current.</p> + +<p>The whole coast of Peru abounds in fish of various kinds, +among which are great quantities of sea-calves or seals, of +several species. Beyond the river of Tumbez there are no caymans +or alligators, which is supposed to be owing to the too great +coolness of the sea and rivers, as these animals delight in heat; +but it is more probable that their absence from the rivers of +Peru is occasioned by their great rapidity, as they usually +frequent rivers that are very still. In the whole extent of the +plain there are only five cities inhabited by the Christians[20]. +The first of these, Puerto Viejo, about one degree south of the +line, has very few inhabitants, as it stands in a poor and +unwholesome country, in which the principal production of value +is a few emeralds. Fifty leagues to the southward, and about +fifteen leagues from the coast, is the city of San Miguel, named +<i>Piuru</i> by the Indians, in a pleasant and fruitful country, +but which has no mines of gold or silver. Most people who have +occasion to go there are liable to be afflicted with diseases of +the eyes. Sixty leagues farther along the coast, is the city of +Truxillo, two leagues from the sea, in the valley of Chimo, +having a dangerous harbour of difficult approach. This city +stands on the banks of a river in a fine plain, which is fertile +in wheat and maize, and breeds great abundance of cattle, having +plenty of excellent water. Truxillo is very regularly built, and +is inhabited by about three hundred Spanish families. About +eighty leagues from Truxillo to the south, and in the valley of +<i>Rimac</i>, stands the city of <i>Los Reys</i>, or Lima, +because it was founded at Epiphany, vulgarly called the day of +the kings. This city is about two leagues from the harbour of +<i>Callao</i>, an excellent and secure harbour, and is situated +on a large river in a fine plain, abounding in grain, and in all +kinds of fruit and cattle. All the streets are perfectly +straight, and all of them lead towards the country, which may be +seen from all parts of the city. This is a most agreeable +residence, as the air is always temperate, being never either too +hot or too cold at any season of the year. During the four months +which constitute the summer in Spain, the air here is somewhat +cooler than for the rest of the year; and every day from sun-rise +to noon there falls a light dew, somewhat like the mists at +Valladolid in Old Spain. Far from being injurious to health, this +slight moisture is reckoned an infallible cure for headaches. +This part of the country produces the same kinds of fruit as are +found in Spain, particularly oranges, citrons, and lemons of all +kinds, both sweet and sour, with figs and pomegranates. It might +assuredly have produced grapes in great abundance, if the +discords which have prevailed in this country had allowed the +colonists to plant and cultivate the vine; as it already has +several thriving vine plants which have grown from the pips of +dried raisins. The neighbouring country produces all kinds of pot +herbs and garden vegetables usually cultivated in Spain, in great +perfection and abundance. Indeed every thing conspires to assist +cultivation at this place, as every plantation has a canal from +the river sufficiently large for a mill-stream; and on the main +river, the Spaniards have several corn-mills. This city is +universally reckoned the most salubrious and most agreeable +residence in all Peru; and its harbour is so convenient for +trade, that people come here from all parts of Peru to provide +themselves with necessaries of all kinds, bringing with them the +gold and silver which is so abundantly procured from the mines of +the other provinces. For these reasons, and because it is nearly +central to Peru, it has been chosen by his majesty for the +residence of the royal court of audience, to which the +inhabitants of all Peru have to carry their law-suits, by which +means it is to be presumed that this place will in time become +more considerable and very populous. Lima at present, 1550, +contains five hundred houses; yet is larger than any city in +Spain of fifteen hundred houses, as the square in the centre of +the town is very large, and all the streets very wide, and +because each house has a plot of eighty feet in front by twice +that in depth. The houses likewise are all of one storey, as the +country has no wood fit for joists or flooring-deals, every kind +which it produces becoming worm-eaten in three years. The houses, +however, are large and magnificent, and have many chambers and +very convenient apartments. The walls are built on both sides of +brick, leaving a hollow between of five feet, which is filled up +with hard-rammed earth; in which manner the apartments are +carried up to a convenient height, and the windows towards the +street are raised considerably above the ground. The stairs +leading up are towards the interior court, and in the open air, +leading to galleries or corridors, which serve as passages to the +several apartments. The roofs are formed of some rough timbers, +not even hewn square, which are covered underneath by coloured +matts like those of Almeria, or painted canvas, serving as +ceilings, to conceal these clumsy joists: and the whole is +covered over by way of roofing with branches of trees with their +leaves, which keep the rooms cool and effectually exclude the +rays of the sun. In this climate there is no call for any defence +from rain, which never falls in the plain of Peru.</p> + +<blockquote>[20] This is only to be understood of the period when +Zarate wrote, about the middle of the sixteenth century, or two +hundred and fifty years ago. The first town he enumerates, Puerto +Viejo, is now in the viceroyalty of New Granada.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>One hundred and thirty leagues still farther south, is the +city of Villahermosa de Arequipa, containing about three hundred +houses, in a very healthy situation, abounding in provisions. +Though at twelve leagues distance from the sea, this place is +very conveniently situated for trade, as vessels can easily +import thither by the river Quilca all sorts of European +commodities for the supply of the city of Cuzco and the province +of Charcas, which are much frequented on account of the mines of +Potosi and Porco; and from whence large quantities of silver are +carried to Arequipa, to be transported by sea to Lima and Panama, +which saves a vast expence and risk of land-carriage; now become +more difficult since his majesty has forbidden those heavy +burdens upon the Indians by which they were formerly oppressed. +From this city we travel four hundred leagues by land along the +coast of the South Sea to the province of Chili, which was +discovered and in part colonized by the governor Pedro de +Valdibia, or Baldivia. In the language of the Indians the word +<i>Chili</i> signifies cold; and it was so named by the Peruvians +because of the terribly cold mountains which were necessary to be +passed on the way thither from Peru, as will be particularly +mentioned when we come to detail the perilous enterprize +undertaken by Don Diego de Almagro when he marched to discover +that distant country. Such is a rapid view of that portion of +Peru which is called <i>the plain</i>; to which must be added +that the sea along its entire coast is always smooth and +tranquil, from which it has been called the <i>Pacific Ocean</i>, +being never vexed with storms, or disturbed by high and low +tides; so that vessels can everywhere ride in perfect security at +single anchor.</p> + +<p>Those Indians who inhabit the mountainous regions of Peru are +entirely different from the inhabitants of the plain, whom they +vastly exceed in strength, courage, and mental abilities. They +live in a much less savage manner, having houses covered with +earth, and being clothed in shirts and mantles made from the wool +of their sheep[21]; but their only head-dress consists in a +species of bands or fillets. The women wear a species of +vestments like shifts without sleeves, and gird their waists with +several turns of a woollen girdle, which give them a neat and +handsome shape; covering their shoulders with a mantle or plaid +of woollen cloth like a large napkin, which they fix round the +neck with a large skewer or pin of silver or gold called +<i>topos</i> in their language, with large broad heads, the edges +of which are sharpened so as to serve in some measure the +purposes of a knife. These women give great assistance to their +husbands in all the labours belonging to husbandry and household +affairs, or rather these things fall entirely to their lot. Their +complexions are much fairer, and their countenances, manners, and +whole appearance, are greatly superior in all respects to the +natives of the plain. Their countries likewise differ entirely; +as instead of the sterile sands which are everywhere interspersed +over the plain, the mountain is covered through its whole extent +with verdure, and is everywhere furnished with rivulets and +springs of fine water, which unite to form the torrents and +rivers which descend so impetuously into the plain country. The +fields are everywhere full of flowers and plants of infinite +varieties, among which are many species like the plants which +grow in Spain; such as cresses, lettuce, succory, sorrel, +vervain, and others; and vast quantities of wild mulberries, and +other fruit-bearing shrubs are found everywhere. There is one +particular plant with yellow flowers, having leaves like those of +celery, of most admirable virtues. If applied to the most putrid +sore, it makes it quite clean and sweet in a short time; but if +laid upon a sound place it soon eats to the very bone. There are +many fruit-trees in this country of various kinds, carrying +abundant crops of fruit as good as those of Spain without having +the smallest care taken of them.</p> + +<blockquote>[21] The wool-bearing animals of Peru, improperly +named sheep, are one or other of the species of camel already +mentioned in a former note.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>There are great numbers of sheep in the mountainous region, +part of which are domesticated by the Indians, but vast numbers +of them are wild; likewise abundance of deer and roes, many foxes +and other smaller animals. The natives often have public hunts of +these animals, which they call <i>chaco</i>, in which they take +great delight. Four or five thousand natives, more or less +according to the population of the district, assemble together, +and enclose two or three leagues of country by forming a circle, +in which at first they are at considerable distances from each +other, and by gradually contracting their circle, beating the +bushes, and singing certain songs appropriated to the occasion, +they drive all the animals of every kind before them to an +appointed place in the centre. The whole company at length join +in a small circle, holding each other by the hands, and hallooing +loudly, by which the beasts are terrified from endeavouring to +break through, and are easily taken in nets or even by the hand. +Even partridges, hawks, and other birds, are often so astonished +by the loud cries of the hunters as to fall down in the circle +and allow themselves to be taken. In these mountains there are +lions or <i>pumas</i>, black bears, wild cats of several kinds, +and many species of apes and monkeys. The principal birds, both +of the plain and the mountain, are eagles, pigeons, turtle-doves, +plovers, quails, parroquets, falcons, owls, geese, white and grey +herons, and other water fowl; nightingales and other birds of +sweet song, many kinds of which have very beautiful plumage. +There is one kind of bird very remarkable for its astonishing +smallness, not being larger than a grasshopper or large beetle, +which however has several very long feathers in its tail. Along +the coast there is a species of very large vulture, the wings of +which, when extended, measure fifteen or sixteen palms from tip +to tip. These birds often make prey of large seals, which they +attack when out of the water: On these occasions, some of the +birds attack the animal behind; others tear out his eyes; and the +rest of the flock tear him on all sides with their beaks, till at +length they kill him, and tear him to pieces. Upon the coast of +the South Sea there are great numbers of birds named +<i>alcatraz</i>, somewhat like our ordinary poultry in shape, but +so large that each individual may contain three pecks of grain in +its crop. These birds feed mostly on fish which they catch in the +sea, yet are fond of carrion, which they go in search of thirty +or forty leagues inland. The flesh of these birds stinks most +abominably, insomuch that some persons who have been driven to +the necessity of eating it have died, as if poisoned.</p> + +<p>It has been already said, that rain, hail, and snow, fall on +the mountainous region of Peru, where in many places it is +intensely cold: But in many parts of that region there are deep +valleys in which the air is so hot, that the inhabitants have to +use various contrivances to defend themselves from the excessive +heat. In these vallies there is an herb called <i>coca</i>, which +is held in very high estimation by the natives: Its leaf +resembles that of the <i>sumach</i>, and the Indians have learnt +from experience that, by keeping a leaf of that plant in their +mouth they can prevent themselves for a long time from feeling +either hunger or thirst. In many parts of the mountain there is +no wood, so that travellers in those parts are obliged to use a +species of earth which is found there for the purpose of fuel, +and which burns very much like turf or peats. In the mountains +there are veins of earth of various colours, and mines both of +gold and silver, in which the natives are exceedingly conversant, +and are even able to melt and purify these metals with less +labour and expence than the Christians. For this purpose they +construct furnaces in the mountains, placing always the door of +the furnace towards the south, as the wind blows always from that +point. The ores are put into these furnaces alternately with +dried sheeps dung, which serves as fuel, and by means of the wind +the fire is raised to a sufficient power to melt and purify the +metal. In melting the vast quantities of silver which has been +dug from the mines of Potosi, the furnaces constructed with +bellows were found quite inefficient, while these furnaces, named +<i>guayras</i> by the Indians, which signifies wind-furnaces, +answered the purpose effectually.</p> + +<p>The soil is everywhere extremely fertile, and gives abundant +returns of all the kinds of grain which are there sown; insomuch +that from one bushel of seed for the most part at hundred bushels +are reaped, sometimes an hundred and fifty, and even as high as +two hundred. The natives employ no ploughs, but labour the earth +with a kind of hoes; and set their seed into the ground in holes +made with a dibble, or pointed stick, just as beans are sown in +Spain. All kinds of pot and garden herbs grow so luxuriantly that +radishes have been seen at Truxillo as thick as a mans body, yet +neither hard nor stringy. Lettuces, cabbages, and all other +vegetables grow with similar luxuriance: But the seeds of these +must all be brought from Spain; as when raised in the country the +produce is by no means so large and fine. The principal food of +the Indians is maize, either roasted or boiled, which serves them +for bread, and venison of various kinds, which they salt up for +use. They likewise use dried fish, and several kinds of roots, +one of which named <i>yuca</i> resembles skirret; likewise +lupines and many other leguminous vegetables. Instead of wine, +they make a fermented liquor from maize, which they bury in the +earth along with water in tubs or large jars, where it ferments. +In this process, besides the maize in its natural state, a +certain quantity of maize which has been steeped in a particular +manner is used as a ferment; and there are men and women who are +versant in the manner of steeping maize, and are hired for this +purpose. When this kind of drink is made by means of stagnant +water, it is reckoned stronger and better than when running water +is used. In the West Indian islands this drink is called +<i>chica</i>, but the Peruvian name is <i>azua</i>. It is either +white or red, according to the kind of maize used for its +preparation, and inebriates even more readily than Spanish wine; +yet the Indians prefer the latter when it can be procured. They +make another kind of liquor from the fruit of certain trees, +which they call <i>molles</i>; but it is by no means so well +liked as <i>azua</i> from maize.</p> + +<p>The first city of the Christians in the mountain of Peru is +<i>Quito</i>, which is about four degrees to the south of the +equator[22]. This city is situated in an agreeable and fertile +district; and particularly since 1544 and 1545, when rich mines +of gold were discovered in its neighbourhood, it has become +populous, and continued to increase fast in the number of its +inhabitants; till in the destructive civil wars its people were +almost entirely cut off by Gonzalo Pizarro and his adherents, as +they favoured the party of the viceroy Blasco Nugnez Vela, who +made this place his ordinary residence. The Spaniards had no +other establishment in the mountain till the discovery of the +province of <i>Bracamoras</i>[23], by the captains, Juan Porcel +and Vergara, who established some small colonies in these parts, +on purpose to continue the discovery and conquest of the interior +country; but these establishments have been since entirely +ruined, as Gonzalo Pizarro recalled these two captains and their +men to assist him in his war. This discovery was made under the +orders of the licentiate Vaca de Castro, who was then governor of +Peru. The Captain Porcel was sent by him from S. Miguel de Piura, +and Vergara into the province of <i>Chachapoyas</i> farther to +the south; but they unexpectedly met each other in the course of +their exploration of the country, and quarrelled about the +boundaries of their discoveries, in consequence of which they +were recalled by Vaco de Castro, and were at Lima at the +commencement of the civil war in the service of the viceroy; and +when he was made prisoner they entered into the party of Gonzalo +Pizarro. The place which they discovered, called Bracamoras, is a +hundred and sixty leagues from Quito by way of the mountain; and +eighty leagues farther south they discovered a province named +Chacaapoyas, where there is a small Christian town named +<i>Levanto</i>[24]. This province abounds in provisions, and has +mines of some value. Its situation is peculiarly strong against +an enemy, as it is surrounded on all sides by a deep valley, in +which runs a considerable river; so that by breaking down the +bridges, it may be made very difficult of access. The Maestre de +Campo Alfonzo de Alvarado, who held the command of this province, +established a colony of Christians at this place.</p> + +<blockquote>[22] Instead of <i>four</i> degrees, Quito is only +the <i>fourth</i> part of a degree beyond the +line.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[23] Bracamoras, or Jaen de Bracamoras, in lat. +5° 30' S. is in the district or province of Jaen in the +kingdom of New Granada, on one of the branches of the Lauricocha +or Tanguragua, which is one of the great rivers which contribute +to form the vast Maranon, or river of the +Amazons.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[24] No place of that name is now found in our best +maps. The principal town of the district of Chachapoyas has the +same name, otherwise called St Juan de la +Frontera.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Sixty leagues farther to the south, in the district of +<i>Guanuco</i>, Vaco de Castro established a colony which he +ordered to be called <i>Leon</i>, as he came from the city of +that name in Spain. The country of Guanuco is fertile and abounds +in provisions; and valuable mines are believed to exist on that +side which is occupied by a warlike and powerful inca in a +province of the Andes, as shall be mentioned hereafter[25]. There +is no other place in the mountains farther south which has been +as yet settled by the Christians, till we come to the province of +<i>Guamanga</i>, in which is a small town named San Juan de la +Vittoria[26], which is sixty leagues from Leon. In San Juan there +are very few Spaniards, but their number is expected to increase, +if the neighbouring inca can be induced to submit to peace; as he +at present occupies the best lands belonging to that city, in +which there are many mines, and which produces the herb called +<i>coca</i> in great abundance, formerly mentioned as of great +value. The town of Guamanga is about eighty leagues from the city +of Cuzco; the road between being exceedingly difficult, as it +goes over high and precipitous mountains, and through very +dangerous passes.</p> + +<blockquote>[25] Not far to the south of San Leon de Guanuco, in +the mountains of Lauricocha, there are considerable silver +mines.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[26] No such place is now found on our maps in the +province of Guamanga; but the ruins of a town named Vittoria are +marked in the district of Calca, about fifty miles north-west +from the city of Cuzco. Perhaps the Vittoria of the text is the +town now called Guamanga.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the kings of Peru resided +in the city of Cuzco, whence they governed the whole of this +great country of which I have endeavoured to give some account, +and which will be more particularly treated of in the sequel of +this history. This city served as the common centre for all the +chiefs or caciques of this vast kingdom, to which they resorted +from all quarters, to pay their tributes to the king, and to +obtain justice in case of disputes among each other. At that time +Cuzco was the only place in all Peru that had the least +resemblance to a city. It had even a strong fortress, built of +such enormous dressed stones, that it was very wonderful to +conceive in what manner the Indians had been able to transport +such vast masses of stone without the aid of any animals of +draught. In fact some of these are so large that they would have +required ten yokes of oxen to have dragged them along on a fit +carriage. The houses which are now inhabited by the Spaniards are +the same which were formerly occupied by the Indians; some of +which houses have been merely repaired and others enlarged by +their present possessors. This city was formerly divided into +four quarters, corresponding to the four cardinal points; and by +orders of the <i>Incas</i>, or sovereigns of Peru, all those +natives who came to the capital were obliged to lodge in the +particular quarter which was towards the direction of the +province from whence they came, under severe penalties. The south +quarter of the city was named <i>Colla-sugo</i>, from the +province of <i>Collao</i> which lay to the south. The northern +quarter was named <i>Chinca-sugo</i>, from the large and renowned +province of <i>Chinca</i>[27] in that direction. The eastern and +western quarters were respectively named <i>Ande-sugo</i> and +<i>Conde-sugo</i>. The country about Cuzco is extremely fertile, +and abounds in all kinds of provisions, and the climate is so +healthy that the inhabitants are seldom if ever sick. Around the +city there are many rich mines, whence all the gold which has +been hitherto sent into Spain was procured. These indeed have +been nearly abandoned since the discovery of the rich silver +mines of Potosi; both because much greater profit may be made +from these other mines of silver, and because the working of +these are far less dangerous both to the Indians and Spaniards +who are there employed.</p> + +<blockquote>[27] Probably the country of the people now called +<i>Chunchos</i>, who are implacable enemies to the +Spaniards.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>From the city of Cuzco to that of La Plata in the province of +Charcas, the distance is more than a hundred and fifty leagues, +between which two places there is a large flat province named +<i>Collao</i>, above fifty leagues long; the principal part of +which, named <i>Chiquito</i>, belongs to his majesty. Seeing so +large an extent of country unoccupied by the Spaniards, the +licentiate De la Gasca sent some people there in 1545 to commence +an establishment. The city of La Plata is situated in the coldest +part of all the mountainous region of Peru, and has very few +inhabitants, but these are extremely rich, and spend the greatest +part of the year in the mines of <i>Porco</i>, and in those of +<i>Potosi</i> since their discovery. Towards the left hand or the +east from La Plata, a new province was explored by Diego de Rojas +and Philip Gutierez, by the order of Vaca de Castro, which was +named <i>Rojas</i>[28] from one of these captains. It is said to +be fertile and abounding in provisions, but they have not found +so much riches there as was expected. Captain Domingo de Ytala +and his companions came by that way into Peru in 1549, having +remounted the Rio Plata from the Atlantic Ocean.</p> + +<blockquote>[28] Probably the province now called <i>Chicas</i> +on the eastern side of the Andes, occupying the head of the river +Chirivionas which joins the Paraguay or Rio +Plata.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Such is the state and situation of all that has been hitherto +discovered of this vast country of Peru, which is chiefly known +along the coast of the South Sea, and has not been much explored +in its inland parts, on account of the vast quantity of lofty and +rude mountains, by which it is everywhere pervaded, and which are +extremely difficult to pass; because of their height and +precipitous nature, the excessive cold which prevails among them, +and the scarcity of food. Yet the industry and courage of the +Spaniards would have overcome all these obstacles, if there were +any hope of finding a rich country beyond.</p> + +<p>As the Peruvians were ignorant of writing they knew nothing +respecting the history of the creation and deluge or of their own +origin. They had however some tradition among them, which had +been altered from age to age according to the fancies of the +reciters. They said that there came anciently from the north, a +man who had no bones or joints, and who was able to shorten or +lengthen the way before him as he thought fit, and to elevate or +depress the mountains at his pleasure. By this man the ancient +Indians were created; and as those of the plain had given him +some cause of displeasure, he rendered their country sterile and +sandy as it now is, and commanded that it should never rain in +that district; yet sent them the rivers and torrents which run +through it, that they might have wherewithal to quench their +thirst. This person, named <i>Con</i>, who they allege was son of +the sun and moon, they esteemed and adored as a god, pretending +that he had given the herbs and wild fruits as food for the +people whom he had created. After him came another man from the +south, named <i>Pachacamac</i>, or the creator, who was likewise +the son of the sun and moon, but more powerful than <i>Con</i>, +who disappeared on his arrival, leaving the men whom he had +created without chiefs or laws, and Pachacamac transformed them +all into various animals, as birds, cats, bears, lions, and the +like, giving origin in this manner to all the beasts and birds +which are now found in the country. After this Pachacamac created +the present race of Indians, teaching them the art of labouring +the ground for the cultivation of plants of various kinds for +food. Pachacamac is considered as a god, and all the principal +persons among the Peruvians are desirous of being buried in the +province named from him Pachacamac, as he resided there, which is +about four leagues from the city of Lima[29]. They pretended that +their god Pachacamac continued several ages among them, even to +the time of the arrival of the Spaniards, since when he has +disappeared. Hence we may presume that he was some demon by whom +they were miserably abused and misled, and who filled their minds +with so many extravagant absurd fables.</p> + +<blockquote>[29] Off the mouth of the river Lurin, in lat. +12° 26' S. is the island of Pachacamac, probably indicating +the situation of the ancient province of that +name.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The Indians believe likewise, that even before Con and +Pachacamac, there was a great deluge, during which mankind saved +themselves in great caves in the high mountains, into which they +carried a store of food, shutting up the entries, and carefully +filling up all the crevices, to keep out the water. After a long +while, they sent out some dogs, who returned to them all wet but +not dirtied with mud, from which circumstance they concluded that +the waters still remained very high, and they did not venture to +leave their caverns till the dogs came back a second time all +covered with mud. They allege that great numbers of serpents were +engendered by the moisture left in the earth by this deluge, by +which their ancestors were much distressed for a long time, till +they at length succeeded to extirpate them. From this tradition +they appear to have retained some confused notion of the deluge, +although they were ignorant of the way in which Noah and seven +other persons were saved in the ark to repeople the whole earth. +Perhaps their tradition may refer to some partial deluge, like +that of Deucalion.</p> + +<p>The have a notion that the world is to come to an end; before +which there is to be a great drought, when no rain is to fall for +several years. On this account, in former times, the caciques +used to lay up large magazines of maize to serve them during the +long drought. Even yet, the more timid among the Peruvians make a +great lamentation when the sun or moon are eclipsed, believing +the end of the world to be at hand; as they allege that these +luminaries are to be extinguished at the destruction of the +world.</p> + +<p>The Peruvians worship the Sun and Moon as deities, and swear +by these luminaries and by the earth, which they consider as +their mother. In their temples they adore certain stones, as +representatives of the sun, which they name <i>guacas</i>, a word +signifying to weep, which they do on entering into their temples. +No person is permitted to approach these guacas except the +priests who sacrifice to these idols, who are all clothed in +white. When they go up to their idols, they carry certain white +cloths in their hands, prostrating themselves and crawling on the +earth, and addressing their idols in a language which is not +understood by any of the natives. By these priests all the +offerings for the idols are received and buried in the temples, +as the Indian votaries make gifts of figures in gold or silver of +those things for which they address their prayers to the guaca. +These priests likewise offer sacrifices of animals and even of +men to their gods, searching the hearts and intrails of the +victims for certain signs which they wish to find, and repeating +their abominable sacrifices until they meet with those signs +which they desire; pretending that the idols are not satisfied by +the sacrifices till these appear. During all the time that the +priests are engaged in sacrificing, they never appear in public, +neither have they any intercourse with women, and employ +themselves all night in loud cries, invoking the demons near to +the places in which the guacas are kept, which are extremely +numerous, as most houses have each their own guaca. The priests +prepare themselves for having intercourse with the demons by long +fasts, after which they tie up their eyes and some even carry +their superstition to such excess as to put out their own eyes. +The caciques and other great men among the Peruvians never +undertake any affair of importance without having first consulted +the idols, or demons rather, by means of the priests.</p> + +<p>In the temples of the sun the Spaniards found several large +earthen jars containing the dried bodies of children which had +been sacrificed. Among the figures of gold and silver which were +used as ornaments to the guacas, there were several which had a +strong resemblance to the mitres and crosiers of our bishops, and +some of these idols were found having mitres on their heads. When +Thomas de Verlanga, bishop of Tierra Firma travelled through +Peru, with his mitre, in which he was seen by the Indians +celebrating the mass, they asked if he was the guaca of the +Christians. When asked the reason of these mitres, they could +only say that they had been handed down from their ancestors. In +every part of Peru there were certain houses or monasteries, +which were inhabited by women who were consecrated to the sun. +These women never went out, but were perpetually employed in +spinning cotton and wool, which they wove into cloth, and then +burned along with the bones of white sheep, throwing the ashes +into the air in honour of the sun. These women were consecrated +to perpetual celibacy, and were put to death if found to be with +child, unless they could swear that their child was begotten by +the sun.</p> + +<p>Every year, at the season of the maize harvest, the +mountaineer Peruvians had a solemn festival; on which occasion +they set up two tall straight trees like masts, on the top of +which was placed the figure of a man surrounded by other figures +and adorned with flowers. The inhabitants went in procession +armed with bows and arrows and regularly marshalled into +companies, beating their drums and with great outcries and +rejoicings, each company in succession discharging their arrows +at the dressed up figure. After which the priests set up an idol +at the bottom of the masts, before which they sacrificed a man or +a sheep, sprinkling the idol with the blood of the victim; and +having inspected the heart and entrails of the sacrifice, they +reported the signs they had discovered to the people, who were +sad or rejoiced according as these were good or bad. The whole of +this festival was usually spent in dancing and drinking, and in +various games and sports, some of which were warlike exercises, +with maces, clubs, axes and other arms.</p> + +<p>All the caciques and other principal inhabitants of Peru are +reposited after their death in a kind of vaults, clothed in all +their richest dresses, and seated in a kind of chairs which they +name <i>duos</i>. It was customary also to bury along with them +one or two of their best beloved wives, and on this occasion the +honour was frequently contested among the wives of the deceased, +unless when the husband had previously settled who were to be +chosen to accompany him in the tomb. Two or three youths of their +train, and all their gold and silver-plate used also to be buried +along with them; all of which was done in the hope of one day +rising again from the dead, and that they might then appear in +proper style, accompanied by their wives and servants. When the +Spaniards broke up these sepulchres on purpose to take possession +of their buried treasures, the Peruvians requested of them not to +disturb the bones of the dead, that they might not be hindered in +their resurrection. In the burial ceremony, the relations of the +deceased used to pour some of the liquor formerly mentioned, +named <i>Chica</i>, into the grave, of which a portion was +conveyed by some hollow canes into the mouth of the dead person. +On the top of the tomb or sepulchre, wooden images were placed, +representing the appearance of the deceased; but on the graves of +the lower orders, they satisfied themselves by some painted +emblems of their profession or employment, more especially if +they happened to be warriors.</p> + +<p>In all the provinces of Peru there were certain nobles or +principal persons, of whom the chiefs or rulers were named +<i>curacas</i>, similar in every respect to the caciques of the +islands. As the Spaniards who conquered Peru had been accustomed +to name many things according to the language of Hispaniola and +Cuba, and were at first ignorant of the Peruvian language, they +continued to employ the terms to which they had been accustomed; +and the Peruvians have so far accommodated themselves to this +language, especially in speaking to the Spaniards, that they +mostly use these terms. Thus they call those chiefs +<i>caciques</i>, who in their own language are named +<i>curacas</i>, their bread corn and drink, which in the Peruvian +are <i>zara</i> and <i>azua</i>, they denominate <i>maize</i> and +<i>chica</i>, which names were brought from the islands by the +Spaniards. These curacas or caciques were the judges and +protectors of their subjects in peace, and their leaders in war +against the neighbouring tribes. The whole people of Peru lived +in that manner for many years under a multiplicity of independent +chiefs, having no king or supreme chief; until at length a +warlike nation came from the environs of the great lake Titicaca +named the Incas in the language of Peru. These men had their +heads close shaven, and their ears pierced, in which they wore +large round pendents of gold, by which their ears were dragged +down upon their shoulders, in consequence of which they were +called <i>ringrim</i>, or the large ears. Their chief was called +<i>Zapalla Inca</i>[30], or the only king; though others say that +he was named <i>Inca Vira cocha</i>, or the king from the scum of +the lake, because the astonished natives, not knowing the origin +of their invaders, believed that they had started into existence +from the scum or mud of the great lake. This great lake of +Titicaca is about eighty leagues in circumference, from which a +large river runs to the southwards, which in some places is half +a league in breadth, and which discharges its waters into a small +lake about forty leagues from the great lake, which has no +outlet. This circumstance gives great astonishment to many, who +are unable to comprehend how so vast a body of water should +disappear in so small a reservoir. As this smaller lake appears +to have no bottom, some conceive that it discharges itself into +the sea by some subterranean communication, like the river +Alphaeus in Greece.</p> + +<blockquote>[30] The first of the Incas is named by Robertson, +II. 290. and III. 47. Manco Capac.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>These Incas established themselves in the first place at +Cuzco, from whence they gradually extended their sway over the +whole of Peru, which became tributary to them. The empire of the +Incas descended in successive order, but not by immediate +hereditary rules. On the death of a king, he was succeeded by his +immediately younger brother; and on his demise the eldest son of +the preceding king was called to the throne; so as always to have +on the throne a prince of full age. The royal ornament worn by +the supreme Inca in place of a crown or diadem, consisted in a +fringe of coloured worsted from one temple to the other, reaching +almost to the eyes. He governed their extensive empire with much +grandeur and absolute power; and perhaps there never was a +country in the world where the subjects were so submissive and +obedient. They had only to place a single thread drawn from their +diadem in the hands of one of the <i>ringrim</i> or great ears, +by which he communicated to this deputy the most absolute +delegation of power, which was respected and obeyed over the +whole empire. Alone, and without troops or attendants, the +message or order which he carried was instantly obeyed, were it +even to lay waste a whole province, and to exterminate every one +of its inhabitants; as on the sight of this thread from the royal +fillet, every one offered themselves voluntarily to death, +without a single murmur or the slightest resistance.</p> + +<p>In the before mentioned order of succession, the empire of the +Incas fell in process of time to a sovereign named <i>Huana +Capac</i>[31], which signifies the young rich man. This prince +made great conquests, and augmented the empire more considerably +than had been done by any one of his predecessors, and ruled over +the whole more reasonably and with greater justice and equity +than had ever been done by the former sovereigns. He established +everywhere the most perfect police, and exact rules for +cultivating the earth; ruling and governing among a barbarous and +ignorant nation with the most surprising order and justice; and +the love and obedience of his subjects was equally wonderful and +perfect. They gave him a signal proof of this, worthy of being +mentioned, in the construction of two roads through the whole +extent of Peru for his more convenient travelling; of which the +difficulty labour and expence equal or even surpass all that the +ancients have written of the seven wonders of the world. Huana +Capac, in marching from Cuzco to conquer the kingdom of Quito, +had to march five hundred leagues by the mountains, where he had +everywhere to encounter excessive difficulties, from bad roads, +rocks, precipices and ravines, almost impracticable in many +places. After he had successfully executed this great enterprize, +by the conquest and submission of Quito and its dependencies, his +subjects conceived that it was incumbent on them to do honour to +his victorious career, by preparing a commodious road for his +triumphant return to Cuzco. They accordingly undertook, and +executed by prodigious labour, a broad and easy road through the +mountains of five hundred leagues in length, in the course of +which they had often to dig away vast rocks, and to fill up +valleys and precipices of thirty to forty yards in depth. It is +said that this road, when first made, was so smooth and level +that it would have admitted a coach with the utmost ease through +its whole length; but since that time it has suffered great +injuries, especially during the wars between the Spaniards and +the Peruvians, having been broken up in many places, on purpose +to obstruct the invasion of the enemy. The grandeur and +difficulty of this vast undertaking may be readily conceived, by +considering the labour and cost which has been expended in Spain +to level only two leagues of a mountain road between Segovia and +Guadarrama, and which after all has never been brought to any +degree of perfection, although the usual passage of the king and +court on travelling to or from Andalusia or the kingdom of +Toledo. Not satisfied with this first astonishing labour, the +Peruvians soon afterwards undertook another of a similar and no +less grand and difficult kind. Huana Capac was fond of visiting +the kingdom of Quito which he had conquered, and proposed to +travel thither from Cuzco by way of the plain, so as to visit the +whole of his extensive dominions. For his accommodation likewise, +his subjects undertook to make a road also in the plain; and for +this purpose they constructed high mounds of earth across all the +small vallies formed by the various rivers and torrents which +descend from the mountain, that the road might be everywhere +smooth and level This road was near forty feet wide, and where it +crossed the sandy heights which intervene betwixt the verdant +vallies of the torrents, it was marked on each side by stakes, +forming palings in straight lines to prevent any one losing the +way. This road was five hundred leagues in length like that of +the mountain; but the palings are now wanting in many places, the +wood of which they were constructed having been used by the +Spaniards for fuel during the war; but the mounds still exist +across the vallies, and most of them are yet tolerably entire, by +which the grandeur of the entire work may be judged of. In his +journeys to and from Quito, Huana Capac used to go by one of +these roads and return by the other; and during his whole journey +his subjects used to strew the way with branches and flowers of +the richest perfume.</p> + +<blockquote>[31] By Zarate this Inca is named Guaynacava, but the +more general name used by Garcilasso de la Vega and other Spanish +writers, and from them by the illustrious Robertson, is adopted +in this translation.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Besides the two great roads already mentioned, Huana Capac +ordered to be built on the mountain road a number of large +palaces, at the distance of a days journey from each other, +having a prodigious number of apartments, sufficient to lodge his +own personal suite and all his army. Such were likewise built +along the road in the plain, but not so numerous or so near each +other as on the mountain road, as these palaces of the plain had +all to be placed on the sides of the rivers for convenience and +the procurement of provisions and other necessaries; so that they +were in some places eight or ten leagues distant from each other, +and in other places fifteen or twenty leagues. These buildings +were named <i>tambos</i>, and the neighbouring Indians were bound +to furnish each of these with provisions and every thing else +that might be wanted for the royal armies; insomuch that in each +of these <i>tambos</i>, in case of necessity, clothing and arms +could be had for twenty or thirty thousand men. Huana Capac was +always escorted by a considerable body of soldiers, armed with +lances, halberts, maces, and battle axes, made of silver or +copper, and some of them even of gold.</p> + +<p>In their armies, besides these arms, the Peruvians used +slings, and javelins having their points hardened in the fire. On +such parts of their rivers as furnished materials for the +purpose, they built wooden bridges; and where timber could not be +had, they stretched across the stream two large cables made of a +plant named <i>maguey</i>, forming a kind of net work between +these of smaller ropes and masts, strong enough to answer the +purpose of a bridge. In this manner they constructed bridges of a +surprizing magnitude; some of them being thirty yards broad and +four hundred yards long[32]. In such places as did not admit of +the construction of bridges, they passed over rivers by means of +a cable or thick rope extended from side to side, on which they +hung a large basket, which was drawn over by means of a smaller +rope. All these bridges were kept in repair by the inhabitants of +the districts in which they stood.</p> + +<blockquote>[32] Garcilasso de la Vega, p. 65, describes the +bridge over the Apurimac not far from Cuzco, as about two hundred +paces in length. He says that its floor consisted of three great +cables as thick as the body of a man; having another cable on +each side, a little raised, to serve as rails. The two hundred +toises or four hundred yards of the text seem an exaggeration; +perhaps a mistake of the French translator.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The king of Peru was always carried in a species of litter +covered over with plates of gold, and was attended by more than a +thousand of the principal native nobles, who relieved each other +in carrying the royal litter on their shoulders. All these men +were counsellors, principal officers of the household, or +favourites of the prince. The caciques or curacas of the +different provinces were likewise carried in litters on the +shoulders of their vassals. The Peruvians were exceedingly +submissive to their sovereigns, insomuch that even the most +powerful lord always entered the presence barefooted, and +carrying some present wrapped up in a cloth, as a mark of homage; +and even if one person had occasion to go an hundred times in one +day to speak to the king, the present had to be repeated every +time he went. To look the king in the face was considered as a +criminal disrespect; and if any one should happen to stumble +while carrying the royal litter, so as to make it fall, his head +was immediately cut off. At every half league on the public roads +throughout the whole empire, there were Indians in constant +attendance to relieve each other in carrying dispatches, which +they did swifter than our post horses. When any province or +district was subdued, the natives of the place, or at least all +their chiefs and principal people, were immediately removed to +other parts of the empire, and natives from other places which +had been long subjected were sent to occupy the new conquest, by +which means the fidelity and submission of the whole were +secured. From every province of the empire, yearly tributes of +the several productions of their respective countries were sent +to the king; and even some sterile districts above three hundred +leagues distant from Cuzco, had to send yearly a number of +lizards as a mark of their submission, having nothing of any +value to send. Huana Capac rebuilt the temple of the sun at +Cuzco, and covered over all the walls and the roof of that +structure with plates of gold and silver. During his reign, one +Chimocappa, who was curaca or prince of a large district in the +plain, above a hundred leagues in length, chose to erect the +standard of rebellion; but Huana Capac marched against him in +person, defeated him in battle, and put him to death; after which +he commanded that the Indians of the plain should not be +permitted to carry arms. Yet he allowed the son and successor of +Chimocappa to remain in the province of <i>Chimo</i>, in which +the city of Truzillo has been since built.</p> + +<p>Peru was astonishingly full of those animals called sheep; as +Huana Capac and his predecessors had established laws for their +multiplication and preservation. Every year a certain proportion +of these animals belonging to individuals were set apart as a +kind of tythe or offering to the sun, and these consecrated +animals multiplied greatly, no person being allowed to injure +them under pain of sacrilege, except the prince only for his own +use or that of his army. On such occasions, he gave orders for +one of these hunts called <i>chacos</i>, formerly mentioned, at +some of which twenty or thirty thousand sheep have been taken at +one time. Gold was in great request among the Peruvians, as the +king and all the principal persons of the empire used it for the +construction of vessels for all uses, as ornaments for their +persons, and as offerings to their gods. The king had everywhere +carried along with him a kind of couch or table of gold, of +sixteen carats fine, on which he used to sit, and which was worth +25,000 ducats of standard gold. This was chosen by Don Francisco +Pizarro, at the time of the conquest, in consequence of an +agreement, by which he was authorized to appropriate some single +jewel or valuable article to his own use, besides his regular +share of the plunder. When the eldest son of Huana Capac was +born, he ordered a prodigious chain or cable of gold to be made, +so large and heavy that two hundred men were hardly able to lift +it. In remembrance of this circumstance, the infant was named +<i>Huascar</i>, which signifies a cable or large rope, as the +Peruvians have no word in their language signifying a chain. To +this name of Huascar was added the surname Inca, belonging to all +their kings, just as Augustus was given to all the Roman +emperors. Huana Capac had several large magazines full of gold in +various shapes, such as the figures of men and women, of sheep +and animals of all kinds, and of all the kinds of plants which +are found in the country, all accurately represented. He had also +great quantities of vestments of various kinds, and many slings, +in which the fabric was mixed with gold threads; and many bars of +gold and silver made like billets of fire wood.</p> + +<p>Although the main object of this history is to relate the +Spanish Discovery and Conquest of Peru, it seems proper to +explain the circumstances under which they found the affairs of +that empire at their arrival; by which we shall have occasion to +admire the wisdom of Providence, in permitting that enterprize to +take place at a time when that vast country was divided into two +hostile parties, which greatly facilitated the conquest. After +Huana Capac had reduced many provinces to submission, to the +extent of five hundred leagues from Cuzco, he undertook in person +to make the conquest of the kingdom of Quito, which bounded with +his empire in the north-west. Having successfully accomplished +that great enterprise, finding the country exceedingly pleasant, +he continued to reside there for a long while, leaving at Cuzco +several of his children, both sons and daughters, among whom were +his eldest son Huascar Inca, Manco Inca, Paul Inca, and several +others. While at Quito, he took to wife the daughter of the +former lord of that country, by whom he had a son named Atahualpa +or Atabalipa, of whom he was very fond, and whom he left to be +educated in Quito when he returned to Cuzco. After residing for +some years in Cuzco, he made a journey back to Quito, partly +because he delighted in that country which he had subdued, and +partly from affection for his son Atahualpa, whom he loved more +than all the rest of his children. He continued to reside in +Quito all the rest of his life; and at his death, he bequeathed +the kingdom of Quito to Atahualpa[33], which had belonged to his +maternal ancestors. On his death, Atahualpa secured the affection +of the army, and got possession of all the treasure which his +father had in Quito, but the far greater proportion of the +treasure remained in Cuzco, as too heavy for transportation, and +accordingly fell to Huascar, the eldest son.</p> + +<blockquote>[33] This prince is called Atabaliba by Zarate, and +Atabalipa by some other writers, but we have chosen to follow the +illustrious historian of America in naming him +Atahualpa.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Atahualpa sent ambassadors to his eldest brother Huascar, +informing him of the death of their father, and assuring him of +his loyalty and obedience; yet requesting that he might be +permitted to retain the command of the kingdom of Quito, the +conquest of his father; which he alleged was beyond the limits of +the Peruvian empire, and ought not therefore to follow the +ordinary rules of primogeniture, more especially as Atahualpa was +the legitimate heir of that country in right of his mother and +grandfather. Huascar sent back for answer, that if Atahualpa +would come to Cuzco and give up the army, he should receive lands +and possessions sufficient to enable him to live according to his +rank; but that he would on no account give up Quito, a frontier +province of the empire, where of course he must keep up a body of +troops for the defence of the whole. Huascar added, that if +Atahualpa refused submission to these conditions, he would march +in person against him as a declared enemy. On receiving this +message, Atahualpa consulted two of his fathers principal +officers, Quiz-quiz and Cilicuchima, brave and experienced +warriors, who advised him not to wait the invasion of his +brother, but to take the field without delay and march against +him; as the army which was under his orders was sufficient to +enable him to acquire the whole provinces of the empire, and +would increase on the march by means of the provinces which +intervened between Quito and Cusco. Atahualpa followed this +advice and gradually made himself master of the country through +which he marched. Huascar, on hearing of the hostile proceedings +of his brother, sent some light-armed troops against him. The +commander of these troops advanced to the province of Tumibamba +about a hundred leagues from Quito; and learning that Atahualpa +had taken the field, he sent a courier to Cuzco with notice of +the state of the affairs, and to request that he might be +furnished with two thousand officers of experience; by means of +whom he could arm thirty thousand men of the warlike province +called <i>Cagnares</i> which remained in allegiance to Huascar. +These two thousand experienced warriors were immediately sent, by +whose means, and with assistance of the curacas of Tumibamba, +Chaparras, Paltas, and Cagnares[34], in that neighbourhood, +Huascars general was enabled to collect a formidable army. +Atahualpa marched against this army, with whom he fought a battle +which lasted three days, in which he was at last defeated and +made prisoner, in attempting to escape by the bridge of +Tumibamba.</p> + +<blockquote>[34] These names are not to be found in our best +modern maps of Peru: but some other names not unlike, as +Mayobamba, Chachapoyas, Partas, and Caxamarca, are in the present +bishopric of Truxillo, the most northern in Peru proper, and +therefore likely to have been the seat of war against the +revolters in Quito.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While the army of Huascar was celebrating their victory with +great feasts and rejoicings, Atahualpa contrived to escape from +the <i>tambos</i> or palace of Tumibamba in which he was +confined, by digging through a very thick wall with a bar of +copper, which he procured from a woman. He returned immediately +to Quito, where he collected the remains of his defeated army, to +whom he represented that his father had changed him into a +serpent, by which means he had been enabled to escape from his +prison through a small hole; and that his father had assured him +of certain victory, if they would return along with him against +the enemy. His troops were so much encouraged by this stratagem, +that they followed him with great courage, believing themselves +invincible under the protection of Huana Capac. He again attacked +the army of Huascar, which in this second battle was entirely +defeated. Such numbers were slain on both sides in these two +battles, that even to this day large quantities of human bones +remain in the places where they were fought. In pursuit of his +victory, Atahualpa marched into the provinces which adhered to +his brother, which he destroyed with fire and sword. He entirely +destroyed the great city of Tumibamba, which stood on a plain +watered by three great rivers. In his pursuing his conquests, he +gave no quarter wherever he met with resistance but granted mercy +and peace to all such districts as submitted quietly to his +authority, obliging all the warriors to join his army, which by +these means, increased continually as he advanced. On arriving at +Tumbez he was desirous to take possession of the island of Puna, +but as the <i>curaca</i> of that island defended himself +courageously, Atahualpa did not think it prudent to waste much +time in the attempt, more especially as he had intelligence of +the approach of Huascar with a numerous army; for which reason he +continued his march towards Cuzco, and arrived at Caxamarca, +where he established his head-quarters. From this place he +detached two of his principal officers at the head of two or +three thousand light armed troops, with orders to reconnoitre the +army of the enemy, and to bring him word of their numbers and +situation. When this party had arrived at no great distance from +the camp of the enemy, they quitted the direct road and made a +circuit among the woods and mountains, to prevent the enemy from +discovering them. Procuring intelligence that Huascar had retired +to a place at some distance from his camp, attended by seven +hundred of his principal officers and nobles, on purpose to avoid +the noise and confusion of his great army, they attacked his +quarters by surprise, easily defeated his small escort, and made +him prisoner. While endeavouring to make good their retreat to +the camp of Atahualpa with their great prize, they were +surrounded on every side by the vast army of the enemy, which +could easily have exterminated them, being at least thirty to +one. But the commanders of this fortunate detachment, immediately +told Huascar that they would put him to death, if he did not +instantly give orders to his army to retire: and at the same time +assured him that his brother Atahualpa had no farther desire than +to be permitted to enjoy the kingdom of Quito in peace, for which +he would do homage to him as his king and lord. Huascar, +terrified by the prospect of death, and believing their promise +of restoration to liberty and dominion, issued peremptory orders +to his army to desist from their intended attack and to return to +Cuzco, which they did accordingly; and the Atahualpan officers +carried Huascar a prisoner to Caxamarca, where they delivered him +up to their master. Thus were the affairs of Peru situated when +Don Francisco Pizarro arrived in that country with the Spaniards; +which conjuncture was exceedingly favourable to his views of +conquest, of which we shall give an account in the next section, +as the great army of Huascar was entirely dispersed, and +Atahualpa had dismissed a great proportion of his troops, after +this fortunate event, which had placed his enemy in his +hands.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<p><i>Of the Peruvian History before the arrival of the +Spaniards</i>[35].</p> + +<blockquote>[35] The whole of this appendix to the first section +is an addition to Zarate, extracted from Garcilasso de la Vega +and Robertson; which, being too long for a note, has been placed +in the text. The introductory part of this deduction is from the +History of America, Vol. II p. 289. The list of kings is from +Garcilasso, whose disarranged work is too confused for +quotation.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>"Peru, like the rest of the New World, was originally +possessed by small independent tribes, differing from each other +in manners, and in their forms of rude policy. All, however, were +so little civilized, that, if the traditions concerning their +mode of life, preserved among their descendants, deserve credit, +they must be classed among the most unimproved savages of +America. Strangers to every species of cultivation or regular +industry, without any fixed residence, and unacquainted with +those sentiments and obligations which form the first bonds of +social union, they are said to have roamed naked about the +forests with which their country was then covered, more like wild +beasts than like men. After they had struggled for ages with the +hardships and calamities which are inevitable in such a state, +and when no circumstance seemed to indicate the approach of any +uncommon effort towards improvement, we are told that there +appeared on the banks of the lake Titicaca, a man and woman of +majestic form, and clothed in decent garments. They declared +themselves to be children of the sun, sent by their beneficent +parent, who beheld with pity the miseries of the human race, and +who had commanded them to instruct and reclaim them. At their +persuasion, enforced by reverence for the divinity in whose name +they were supposed to speak, several of the dispersed savages +united together, and receiving their commands as heavenly +instructions, followed them to Cuzco where they settled, and +where they begun to lay the foundations of a city, afterwards the +capital of Peru."</p> + +<p>"Manco Capac and Mama Ocollo, for such were the names of these +extraordinary personages, having thus collected some wandering +tribes, formed that social union which, by multiplying the +desires, and uniting the efforts of the human species, excites +industry and leads to improvement. Manco Capac instructed the men +in agriculture and other useful arts; Mama Ocollo taught the +women to spin and weave. By the labour of the one sex subsistence +became less precarious; by that of the other life was rendered +more comfortable. After securing the object of first necessity in +an infant state, by providing food, raiment, and habitations for +the rude people of whom he took charge, Manco Capac turned his +attention towards introducing such laws and policy as might +perpetuate their happiness. By his institutions, the various +relations in private life were established, and the duties +resulting from them prescribed with such propriety, as gradually +formed a barbarous people to decency of manners. In public +administration, the functions of persons in authority were so +precisely defined, and the subordination of those under +jurisdiction maintained with such a steady hand, that the society +in which he presided soon assumed the aspect of a regular and +well-governed state."</p> + +<p>"Thus, according to the Indian traditions, was founded the +empire of the <i>Incas</i>, or Lords of Peru. At first its extent +was small; as the territory of Manco Capac did not reach above +eight leagues from Cuzco: But within these narrow limits he +exercised an uncontrolled authority. His successors, as their +dominions extended, arrogated a similar jurisdiction over the new +subjects which they acquired; the despotism of Asia was not more +complete. The Incas were not only obeyed as monarchs, but revered +as divinities. Their blood was held to be sacred, and by +prohibiting intermarriages with the people, was never +contaminated by mixing with that of any other race. The family +thus separated from the rest of the nation, was distinguished by +peculiarities in dress and ornaments, which it was unlawful for +others to assume. The monarch himself appeared with ensigns of +royalty reserved for him alone; and received from his subjects +marks of obsequious homage and respect, which approached almost +to adoration. But among the Peruvians, this unbounded power of +their monarchs seems to have been uniformly accompanied with +attention to the good of their subjects. It was not the rage of +conquests, if we may believe the accounts of their countrymen, +that prompted the Incas to extend their dominion, but the desire +of diffusing the blessings of civilization, and the knowledge of +the arts which they possessed, among the barbarous people whom +they reduced. During a succession of twelve monarchs, it is said +that not one deviated from this beneficent character."</p> + +<p>"When the Spaniards first visited the coast of Peru in 1526, +Huana Capac, the twelfth monarch from the founder of the state, +was seated on the throne. He is represented as a prince +distinguished not only for the pacific virtues peculiar to the +race, but eminent for his martial talents. By his victorious arms +the kingdom of Quito was subjected, a conquest of such extent and +importance as almost doubled the power of the Peruvian empire. He +was fond of residing in the capital of that valuable province +which he had added to his dominions; and notwithstanding the +ancient and fundamental law of the monarchy against polluting the +royal blood by any foreign alliance, he married the daughter of +the vanquished monarch of Quito. She bore him a son named +Atahualpa, whom, on his death at Quito, which seems to have +happened about the year 1529, he appointed his successor in that +kingdom, leaving the rest of his dominions to Huascar, his eldest +son, by a mother of the royal race. Greatly as the Peruvians +revered the memory of a monarch who had reigned with greater +reputation and splendour than any of his predecessors, the +destination of Huana Capac concerning the succession appeared so +repugnant to a maxim coeval with the empire, and founded on +authority deemed sacred, that it was no sooner known at Cuzco +than it excited general disgust. Encouraged by those sentiments +of his subjects, Huascar required his brother to renounce the +government of Quito, and to acknowledge him as his lawful +superior. But it had been the first care of Atahualpa to gain a +large body of troops which had accompanied his father to Quito. +These were the flower of the Peruvian warriors, to whose valour +Huana Capac had been indebted for all his victories. Atahuaipa +first eluded the demand of his brother, and then marched against +him in hostile array."</p> + +<p>"Thus the ambition of two young princes, the title of the one +founded on ancient usage, and of the other asserted by the +veteran troops, involved Peru in civil war, a calamity to which +it had been hitherto a stranger, under a succession of virtuous +monarchs. In such a contest the issue was obvious. The force of +arms triumphed over the authority of laws. Atahualpa remained +victorious, and made a cruel use of his victory. Conscious of the +defect in his own title to the throne, he attempted to +exterminate the royal race, by putting to death all the children +of the sun descended from Manco Capac, whom he could seize either +by force or stratagem. From a political motive, the life of the +unfortunate Huascar, who had been taken prisoner in a battle +which decided the fate of the empire, was prolonged for some +time; that, by issuing orders in his name, the usurper might more +easily establish his own authority."</p> + +<p>"When Pizarro landed in the bay of St Matthew, in 1531, this +civil war raged between the two brothers in its greatest fury; +and though the two competitors received early accounts of the +arrival of the Spaniards, they were so intent upon the operations +of a war which they deemed more interesting, that they gave no +attention to the motions of an enemy too inconsiderable in number +to excite any great alarm, and to whom it would be easy, as they +imagined, to give a check when more at leisure. By this fortunate +coincidence of events, of which he could have no foresight, and +of which he remained long ignorant from its defective mode of +intercourse with the people of the country, Pizarro was permitted +to advance unmolested into the centre of a great empire, before +any effort of its power was exerted to stop his career. During +their progress, the Spaniards acquired some imperfect knowledge +of the struggle between the two contending factions; and the +first complete information respecting it was received from +messengers sent by Huascar to Pizarro, to solicit his aid against +Atahualpa, whom he represented as a rebel and an usurper."</p> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<p>Manco Capac, the first Inca of the Peruvians, is said to have +reigned about the middle of the twelfth century, as the +traditionary accounts attribute a period of about 400 years +between the commencement of his reign and the decease of Huana +Capac in 1529, which would place the origin of the monarchy about +the year 1129, allowing an average of 30 years to each of 13 +successive reigns. The traditions of such ancient matters among +an ignorant people are little to be depended on; and even +admitting the series of kings to be right as to number, the +ordinary average of <i>twenty</i> years to each of the +<i>thirteen</i> successive reigns would only give 260 years for +the duration of the monarchy, and would carry back the +commencement of the reign of Manco Capac only to the year 1269. +The series of these kings, as given by various Spanish writers, +according to the traditions of the Peruvians, is as follows:</p> + +<p>1. Manco Capac. 2. Sinchi Roca. 3. Lloque Yupanqui. 4. Mayta +Capac. 5. Capac Yupanqui. 6. Inca Roca. 7. Yahuar Huacac. 8. Inca +Roca, likewise named Viracocha. 9. Pachacutec[36]. 10. Yupanqui. +11. Tupac Yupanqui. 12. Huana Capac. 13. Huascar, or +Inti-cusi-Hualpa. 14. Atahualpa. 15. Manco Capac the Second, +crowned at Cuzco by permission of Pizarro; afterwards revolted +and retired to the mountains. 16. Sayri Tupac; who resigned the +nominal sovereignty of Peru to Philip II. He died a Christian, +and left one daughter who married a Spaniard named Onez de +Loyola, and from whom are descended the marquisses of Orepesa and +Alcanises.</p> + +<blockquote>[36] By some authors an Inca Roca is here interposed, +who was deposed after a reign of eleven days.--E.</blockquote> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<p>As the empire of Peru was made up of many barbarous tribes, +its native inhabitants spoke many languages or dialects, which +were only understood in their own particular districts. The +language of the ruling people or tribe to which the royal family +belonged, called the <i>Quichua</i>, was solely used at court, +and we have already seen that the sons of all the chiefs or +curacas of the empire were ordered to be educated at Cuzco, that +they might be all able to converse with the sovereign. In this +language the sounds of <i>b, d, f, g</i>, and <i>r</i>, are said +to have been wanting; and yet that of the <i>r</i> occurs in the +names of several of their kings. Garcilasso says that this letter +had a guttural sound, perhaps resembling the burr, or <i>parler +gras</i> of the French: And it is alleged that this language of a +comparatively barbarous people was nearly as copious and as +artificial as the Greek. The following specimens are given in the +Modern Geography, III. 585, to which are added two examples of +what are called Peruvian poetry, from Garcilasso de la Vega, p. +50. The nouns in this language are declined by altering the +terminations thus; <i>Runa</i>, a man; <i>Runap</i>, of a man; +<i>Runapac</i>, to a man, &c. The verbs have also moods and +tenses, the terminations often extending to a great length.</p> + +<pre> + 1. Huc 5. Chumpi, picheca. 9. Yscon. + 2. Yscay 6. Zocta. 10. Chunca. + 3. Quimza 7. Canchis. 100. Pachac. + 4. Tahua 8. Puzac. 1000. Huaranca. + + The Andes....Anti A Hog.........Cuchi + The Arm......Ricra A House.......Huaci + Bad..........Mana alli[A] A Husband.....Coza + The Beard....Zunca Iron..........Quellay + Beauty.......Zumay A King........Capac, Inca + The Belly....Vicza A Lake........Cocha + A Brother....Huauquey A Lance.......Chuqui + A Canoe......Huampu Land..........Allpa + To Die.......Huauny, pitini Little........Huchuy + A Dog........Alles Love..........Cuyay, munay + To Drink.....Upiana A man.........Runa + The Ears.....Rinri The Moon......Quilla + Eared, or having Mother........Mama + great ears...Ringrim A Mountain....Puna, acha + To Eat.......Micuni The Mouth.....Simi + An Emerald...Umina No............Maria + The Eye......Naui The Nose......Cenca + A Family.....Ayllu A Queen, or + Father.......Mayu Princess...Coya + Fire.........Nina A Sacrifice...Arpay + Many fires...Ninanina Sand..........Aco + A Fish.......Challhua The Sea.......Atun cocha[B] + Flesh........Aycha .......Mama cocha[C] + A Foot.......Chaqui A Ship........Huampu[D] + A Friend.....Cocho Silver........Collqui + Good.........Alli A Sister......Panay + Gold.........Cori Snow..........Riti + Gold dust....Chichi cori A Son.........Churi + Great........Hatun A Stone.......Rumi + A Hatchet....Avri, champi The Sun.......Inti + The Hair.....Caspa Water.........Unu, yaco + The Hand.....Maqui Woman.........Huami + The Head.....Uma Yes...........Y + +</pre> + +<p><i>Specimen of Peruvian poetry</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Caylla Llapi</i> To the Song <i>Pununqui</i> I will Sleep, +<i>Chaupitua</i> At Midnight <i>Samusac</i> I will come.</p> + +<p>[A] Not good.</p> + +<p>[B] Great Lake.</p> + +<p>[C] Mother Lake.</p> + +<p>[D] Huampu likewise signifies a canoe, and probably a ship +might be named Atun huampu, a great canoe.--E.</p> + +<p>SECTION II.</p> + +<p><i>Transactions of Pizarro and the Spaniards in Peru, from the +commencement of the Conquest, till the departure of Almagro for +the Discovery of Chili</i>.</p> + +<p>After the return of Don Francisco Pizarro from Spain to +Panama, he made every preparation in his power for the conquest +of Peru, in which he was not seconded with the same spirit as +formerly by his companion Almagro, by which their affairs were +considerably retarded, as Almagro was the richer man and had +greater credit among the settlers. Diego Almagro, as formerly +mentioned, was much dissatisfied with Pizarro for having +neglected his interest in his applications to his majesty; but at +length became pacified by his apologies and promises, and their +friendship was renewed; yet Almagro could never be thoroughly +reconciled to the brothers of Pizarro, more especially Ferdinand, +against whom he had a rooted dislike. Owing to these disputes a +considerable time elapsed; but at length Ferdinand Ponce de +Leon[1] fitted out a ship which belonged to him, in which Don +Francisco Pizarro embarked with all the soldiers he could +procure, which were very few in number, as the people in Panama +were much discouraged by the great difficulties and hardships +which had been suffered in the former attempt, and the poor +success which had then been met with[2]. Pizarro set sail about +the commencement of the year 1531; and in consequence of contrary +winds was obliged to land on the coast of Peru a hundred leagues +more to the north than he intended[3]; by which means he was +reduced to the necessity of making a long and painful march down +the coast, where he and his troops suffered great hardships from +scarcity of provisions, and by the extreme difficulty of crossing +the different rivers which intersected their line of march, all +of which they had to pass near their mouths, where they are wide +and deep, insomuch that both men and horses had often to pass +them by swimming. The courage and address of Pizarro was +conspicuous amidst these difficulties, by encouraging the +soldiers, and frequently exposing himself to danger for their +relief, even assisting those who were unable to swim. They +arrived at length at a place named <i>Coaque</i>[4] on the sea +side, which was well peopled, and where they procured abundance +of provisions to refresh and restore them after the hardships and +privations they had undergone. From that place, Pizarro sent back +one of his vessels to Panama, and the other to Nicaragua, sending +by them above 30,000 <i>castillanas</i>[5] of gold, which he had +seized at Coaque, to encourage fresh adventurers to join him, by +giving a specimen of the riches of the country. At Coaque the +Spaniards found some excellent emeralds, as this country being +under the line, is the only place where such precious stones are +to be had. Several of these were destroyed by the Spaniards, who +broke them in order to examine their nature; as they were so +ignorant as to believe that good emeralds ought to bear the +hammer without breaking, like diamonds. Believing therefore that +the Indians might impose false stones upon them, they broke many +of great value through their ignorance. The Spaniards were here +afflicted by a singular disease, formerly mentioned, which +produced a dangerous kind of warts or wens on their heads faces +and other parts of their body, extremely sore and loathsome, of +which some of the soldiers died, but most of them recovered, +though almost every one was less or more affected.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] With regard to this person, the original French +translator makes the following observation: "Perhaps this is the +person named Hernando de Luque at the beginning of the first +section, who is said to have been one of the original adventurers +in the enterprize. If so, the name of de Luque on the former +occasion may be an error of the press."--It must be observed +however, that Garcilasso de la Vega names the third person of the +original fraternity Hernando de Luque, and makes no mention +whatever of Ponce de Leon.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[2] Neither Zarate nor Garcilasso mention the number +of troops embarked on this expedition, but we learn from +Robertson, II. 206, that the whole armament consisted of 180 +soldiers, 36 of whom were horsemen.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[3] According to Robertson, II. 293, Pizarro landed +in the bay of St Matthew. The distance of 100 Spanish leagues +from Tumbez, mentioned by Garcilasso as the intended place of +landing, would lead us to the Rio de Santjago in lat. 1° S. +on the coast of Tacames or Esmeraldas. Garcilasso says that +Pizarro had two vessels, which he immediately sent back to +Panama. But these seem to have accompanied the march of Pizarro +to Coaque.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[4] From the sequel, this place appears to have been +in the province of Tacames.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[5] A species of gold coin worth 14 reals 18 +maravedies. Garcilasso says that Pizarro sent 24000 or 25000 +ducats of gold to Almagro, part of which was plunder, and part +received in ransom for prisoners.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Leaving Coaque on account of this strange disease, which +Pizarro attributed to the malignity of the air, he marched on to +that province or district in which <i>Puerto Viejo</i> now +stands, and easily reduced all the surrounding country to +subjection. The captains Sebastian Benalcazar and Juan Fernandez +joined him at this place, with a small reinforcement of horse and +foot, which they brought from Nicaragua[6].</p> + +<blockquote>[6] In making this small progress the whole of the +year 1531 had been employed, and the year 1532 was already begun +before Pizarro left Coaque.--Roberts. H. of Amer. II. +288.</blockquote> + +<p>Having reduced the province of Puerto Viejo to subjection, +Pizarro proceeded with all his troops to the harbour of +<i>Tumbez</i>, whence he determined to pass over into the island +of Puna, which is opposite to that port. For this purpose he +caused a number of flats or rafts to be constructed after the +manner of the Peruvians, formerly mentioned, to transport his men +and horses to the island, which is above twenty miles from the +river of Tumbez. The Spaniards were in imminent danger in this +passage, as the Indians who guided their floats had resolved to +cut the cords by which their planks were held together, on +purpose to drown the men and horses; but as Pizarro had some +suspicion or intimation of their secret intentions, he ordered +all his people to be on their guard, constantly sword in hand, +and to keep a watchful eye on the Indians. On arriving in the +island, the inhabitants received them courteously and requested +that there might be peace between them; yet it was soon known +that they had concealed their warriors in ambush, with the +intention of massacring the Spaniards during the night. When +Pizarro was informed of this treachery, he attacked and defeated +the Indians, and took the principal cacique of the island; and +next morning made himself master of the enemies camp, which was +defended by a considerable body of warriors. Learning that +another body of the islanders had attacked the flat vessels or +rafts in which they had come over, Pizarro and his brothers went +in all haste to assist the Spanish guard which had the care of +them, and drove away the enemy with considerable slaughter. In +these engagements two or three of the Spaniards were killed, and +several wounded, among whom was Gonzalo Pizarro, who received a +dangerous hurt on the knee.</p> + +<p>Soon after this action, Hernando de Soto arrived from +Nicaragua with a considerable reinforcement of foot and horse. +But finding it difficult to subdue the islanders effectually, as +they kept their canoes concealed among the mangrove trees which +grow in the water, Pizarro resolved to return to Tumbez; more +especially as the air of Puna is unwholesome from its extreme +heat, and the marshy nature of its shores. For this reason he +divided all the gold which had been collected in the island, and +abandoned the place. In this island of Puna, the Spaniards found +above six hundred prisoners, men and women, belonging to the +district of Tumbez, among whom was one of the principal nobles of +that place. On the 16th May 1532, Pizarro set all these people at +liberty, and supplied them with barks or floats to carry them +home to Tumbez; sending likewise in one of these barks along with +the liberated Indians, three Spaniards to announce his own speedy +arrival. The Indians of Tumbez repaid this great favour with the +blackest ingratitude, as immediately on their arrival, they +sacrificed these three Spaniards to their abominable idols. +Hernando de Soto made a narrow escape from meeting with the same +fate: He was embarked on one of these floats, with a single +servant, along with some of the Indians, and had already entered +the river of Tumbez, when he was seen by Diego de Aguero and +Roderick Lozan, who had already landed, and who made him stop the +float and land beside them; otherwise, if he had been carried up +to Tumbez, he would certainly have been put to death.</p> + +<p>From the foregoing treachery of the inhabitants of Tumbez, it +may readily be supposed that they were by no means disposed to +furnish barks for the disembarkation of the Spanish troops and +horses; so that on the first evening, only the Governor Don +Francisco Pizarro, with his brothers Ferdinand and Juan, the +bishop Don Vincente de Valverde, captain de Soto, and the other +two Spaniards already mentioned, Aguero and Lozan, were able to +land. These gentlemen had to pass the whole night on horseback +entirely wet, as the sea was very rough, and they had no Indians +to guide their bark, which the Spaniards did not know how to +manage, so that it overset while they were endeavouring to land. +In the morning, Ferdinand Pizarro remained on the shore to direct +the landing of the troops, while the governor and the others who +had landed rode more than two leagues into the country without +being able to find a single Indian, as all the natives had armed +themselves and retired to the small hills in the neighbourhood. +On returning towards the coast, he met the captains Mina and +Salcedo, who had rode to meet him with several of the cavalry +which had disembarked. He returned with them to Tumbez, where he +encamped with all the troops he was able to collect.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards, Captain Benalcazar arrived with the rest of +the troops from the island of Puna, where he had been obliged to +remain till the return of the vessels, as there was not enough of +shipping to contain the whole at once. While he waited for the +vessels, he had to defend himself from continual attacks of the +islanders; but now rejoined the governor with very little loss. +Pizarro remained above twenty days at Tumbez, during which time +he used every endeavour to persuade the cacique to enter into +terms of peace, by sending him repeated messages to that effect, +but all to no purpose. On the contrary, the natives did every +injury in their power to our people, and especially to the +servants and others who went out into the country in search of +provisions; while the Spaniards were unable to retaliate, as the +Indians kept always on the opposite side of the river. The +governor caused three barks or floats to be brought up secretly +from the coast, in which he crossed the river during the night, +with his brothers Juan and Gonzalo, and the Captains Benalcazar +and Soto, with above fifty horsemen. With these he made a very +fatiguing march before day, as the road was very difficult and +uneven, and full of knolls overgrown with brambles and bushes. +About day break he came unexpectedly to the Indian camp, which he +immediately attacked and carried, putting many of the natives to +the sword; and for fifteen days he pursued them into all their +haunts, making a cruel war upon them with fire and sword, in +revenge for the three Spaniards whom they had sacrificed. At +length, the principal cacique of Tumbez sued for peace, and made +some presents of gold and silver in token of submission.</p> + +<p>Having thus reduced the province of Tumbez, Pizarro left a +part of his troops there under the charge of Antonio de Navarre +and Alonso Requelme, the former of whom was Contador or +comptroller of accounts, and the latter treasurer, both in the +service of his majesty. Taking along with himself the greater +part of his troops, he went forwards to the river +<i>Poechos</i>[7], thirty leagues to the southward of Tumbez, in +which march, as the caciques and inhabitants received him +peaceably, he conducted himself in a friendly manner to the +natives. Passing beyond the before mentioned river, he came to +the bay of Payta, which is the best on all that coast; whence he +detached de Soto to reduce the caciques inhabiting the banks of +the river Amatape or Chira, in which he succeeded after a slight +resistance, all the caciques and natives submitting and demanding +peace.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] Perhaps that now called Mancora, intermediate +between the river of Tumbez and that of Piura. In this route +Pizarro had to cross a mountainous district, not mentioned by +Zarate, called the hills of Castro, Aguarro, and +Pachini--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While at this place, Pizarro received a message from Cuzco by +certain envoys sent by Huascar, informing him of the revolt of +his brother Atahualpa, and requesting his assistance to establish +him, as the lawful sovereign, in his just rights[8]. On the +receipt of this message, Pizarro determined to take advantage of +the divisions in Peru. He sent therefore his brother Ferdinand to +Tumbez to bring the troops from thence; and established a colony +at San Miguel in the district of Tangarara, near the sea on the +river Chira[9], as a port in which to receive vessels coming with +reinforcements from Panama. Having placed a garrison in St +Miguel, and made a division of all the gold and silver which had +been procured since leaving Puna, the governor marched with the +rest of his army for the province of Caxamarca, in which he was +informed that Atahualpa then was[10].</p> + +<blockquote>[8] Garcillasso suspects that this message must have +come from some <i>curaca</i> in the interest of Huascar, who was +then a prisoner to Atahualpa.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[9] San Miguel stands on the river Piuru, which runs +into the sea upwards of forty miles farther south than the Chira. +This colony being intended for a harbour to receive +reinforcements, was probably first established at the mouth of +the river, where Sechura now stands. The present town of San +Miguel is near thirty miles from the sea--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[10] In this adventurous march into the interior of +an extensive empire, the forces commanded by Pizarro, who had now +received several reinforcements, consisted of 62 horsemen and 102 +foot soldiers, twenty of whom were armed with cross-bows, and +only three carried muskets or rather matchlocks.--Robertson, H. +of Amer. II. 295. He appears also to have had two small +field-pieces.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On this march towards Caxamarca, the Spaniards suffered +intolerably, while passing through the dry and burning sandy +desert of Sechura, where for above fifty miles they could not +find any water to drink, or a single tree to shelter them from +the sun. This desert reaches from San Miguel or the river Piura +to the province of Motupe, in which latter they found some well +peopled vallies full of verdure, and were supplied with abundance +of provisions and refreshments to restore them after the fatigues +and privations they had suffered in the desert. Marching from +thence by way of the mountain towards Caxamarca, Pizarro was met +by an envoy from Atahualpa, bringing presents from that prince, +among which were painted slippers and golden bracelets. This +messenger informed the governor, that, when he appeared before +Atahualpa, he must wear these slippers and bracelets, that the +prince might know who he was[11]. Pizarro received this envoy +with much kindness, and promised to do every thing that had been +required on the part of Atahualpa; desiring the envoy to inform +his sovereign that he might be assured of receiving no injury +from him or the Spaniards, on condition that the Peruvians +treated them with peace and friendship; as he had it in orders +from the king his master, who had sent him to this country, to do +no harm to any one without just cause.</p> + +<blockquote>[11] This envoy would assuredly bring some other +message; and accordingly Robertson, II. 296, says that he offered +an alliance, and a friendly reception at Caxamarca. Garcilasso +gives a long and vague account of the object of this message, and +enumerates many articles of provisions and curiosities, and some +rich presents of gold and silver dishes and vases which were sent +on this occasion by Atahualpa to Pizarro.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On the departure of the Peruvian envoy, Pizarro continued his +march with great precaution, being uncertain whither the Indians +might not attack him during the passage of the mountains, in one +part of which he had to pass through an almost inaccessible +narrow defile, where a few resolute men might have destroyed his +whole party. On his arrival at Caxamarca, he found another +messenger from Atahualpa, who desired that he would not presume +to take up his quarters in that place until he received +permission for the purpose. Pizarro made no answer to this +message, but immediately took up his quarters in a large court, +on one side of which there was a house or palace of the Inca, and +on the other side a temple of the sun, the whole being +surrounded, by a strong wall or rampart of earth. When he had +posted his troops in this advantageous situation, he sent captain +Soto at the head of twenty horsemen to the camp of Atahualpa, +which was at the distance of a league from Caxamarca, with orders +to announce his arrival. On coming towards the presence of +Atahualpa, Soto pushed his horse into a full career, making him +prance and curvet to the great terror of many of the Peruvians, +who ran away in a prodigious fright. Atahualpa was so much +displeased at his subjects for their cowardice, that he ordered +all who had run away from the horse to be immediately put to +death.</p> + +<p>After Soto had delivered his message, Atahualpa declined +giving any direct answer, not choosing to address his discourse +immediately to Soto: He spoke first to one of his attendant +chiefs, who communicated what the king had said to the +interpreter, after which the interpreter explained what had been +said to Soto. While this circuitous conversation was going on, +Ferdinand Pizarro arrived with some more horsemen, and addressed +Atahualpa in the name of his brother, to the following effect. +"That his brother the general had been sent to wait upon +Atahualpa by his sovereign Don Carlos with an offer of friendship +and alliance, and wished therefore to have an audience of his +majesty, that he might communicate what had been given to him in +charge by the king of Spain." To this Atahualpa replied; "That he +accepted with pleasure the offer of friendship from the general, +provided he would restore to his subjects all the gold and silver +he had taken from them, and would immediately quit the country; +and that on purpose to settle an amicable arrangement, he meant +next day to visit the Spanish general in the palace of +Caxamarca."</p> + +<p>After visiting the Peruvian camp, which had the appearance of +an immense city, from the prodigious multitude of tents and the +vast numbers of men which it contained, Ferdinand Pizarro +returned to his brother, to whom he gave a faithful account of +every thing he had seen, and of the words of Atahualpa. The +answer of that prince gave some considerable uneasiness to +Pizarro, as having rather a menacing appearance, more especially +considering that the army of the Peruvians outnumbered his own +small force in the proportion of one or two hundred to one. Yet +as the general and most of those who were with him were men of +bold and determined resolution, they encouraged each other during +the night to act like men of courage and honour, trusting to the +assistance of God in the discharge of their duty. They passed the +whole night under arms, keeping strict watch round their +quarters, and in complete readiness for whatever might befal.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning of the 16th November 1532, Pizarro drew +up his small body of men in regular order. Dividing his cavalry +into three bodies, under the command of his three brothers, +Ferdinand, Juan, and Gonzalo, assisted by the Captains Soto and +Benalcazar, he ordered to keep themselves concealed within their +quarters till they should receive orders to attack. He remained +himself at the head of the infantry, in another part of the +inclosed court, having issued the strictest commands that no one +should make the smallest motion without his orders, which were to +be conveyed by the discharge of the artillery.</p> + +<p>Atahualpa employed a great part of the day in arranging his +troops in order of battle, pointing out to each of the commanders +where and in what manner their divisions were to attack the +Spaniards. He likewise sent a detachment of 5000 Peruvian +warriors under one of his principal officers named Ruminagui, +with orders to take possession of the defile by which the +Spaniards had penetrated the mountain, and to kill every one of +them who might endeavour to escape in that way[12]. Atahualpa +having given all these orders, began his march and advanced so +slowly that in four hours his army hardly proceeded a short +league. He was carried in his litter in the usual state, on the +shoulders of some of the principal lords of his court, having +three hundred Indians marching before him in rich uniforms, who +removed every stone or other substance which might obstruct the +way, even carefully picking up the smallest straws. He was +followed by a numerous train of curacas or caciques, and +principal officers of his court, all carried in litters. The +Peruvians held the Spaniards in small estimation, they were so +few in number, and imagined they could easily make them all +prisoners without presuming to make the smallest resistance. One +of the caciques had sent to inform Atahualpa not to stand in any +awe of the Spaniards, as they were not only few in number, but so +effeminate and lazy that they were unable to march on foot +without being tired by a very short distance, for which reason +they travelled on the backs of <i>large sheep</i>, by which name +they distinguished our horses.</p> + +<blockquote>[12] Robertson, II. 299, suppresses all mention of +any hostile intentions on the part of Atahualpa.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In the order already described, Atahualpa entered with all his +army and attendants into a large square or enclosure in front of +the <i>tambos</i> or palace of Caxamarca; and seeing the +Spaniards so few in number and all on foot, as the cavalry +remained in concealment, he conceived that they would not +certainly dare to stand before him or to resist his commands. +Rising up therefore in his litter, be said to his attendants, +"These people are all in our power, and will assuredly +surrender." To which they all answered that this was certainly +the case. At this time, the bishop Don Vincente Valverde advanced +towards Atahualpa, holding a crucifix in one hand and his +breviary in the other, and addressed him to the following +effect.</p> + +<p>"There is but one God in three persons who has created the +heavens and the earth and all that are therein. He formed Adam +the first man out of the dust of the earth, and afterwards made +Eve his wife from a rib taken out of his side. All the +generations of men are descended from these our first parents, by +whose disobedience we have all become sinners, unworthy therefore +of the grace and mercy of God, and beyond the hope of heaven, +until Jesus Christ our Redeemer was born of the Virgin and +suffered death to purchase for us life and immortality. After our +Lord had suffered a shameful death upon the cross, he rose again +in a glorious manner; and, having remained a short time on earth, +he ascended into Heaven, leaving St Peter his vicar on earth, and +after him his successors who dwell in Rome, and are named popes +by the Christians. These holy successors of St Peter have divided +all the countries of the world among the Christian kings and +princes, giving in charge to each to subdue that portion which +has been alotted to him. This country of Peru having fallen to +the share of his imperial and royal majesty, the emperor Don +Carlos king of Spain, that great monarch hath sent in his place +the governor Don Francisco Pizarro, now present, to make known to +you on the part of God and the king of Spain, all that I have now +said. If you are disposed to believe all this, to receive +baptism, and to obey the emperor, as is done by the greatest +portion of the Christian world, that great prince will protect +and defend you and your country in peace, causing justice to be +administered to all. He will likewise confirm all your rights and +liberties, as he is accustomed to do to all the kings and princes +who have voluntarily submitted to his authority. But if you +refuse this and choose to run the hazard of war, the governor +will attack you with fire and sword, and is ready at this moment +to do so with arms in his hand[13]."</p> + +<blockquote>[13] Robertson, note cxxx, justly observes, that the +extravagant and absurd discourse of Valverde, of which that given +by Zarate in the text is an epitome, is merely a translation or +paraphrase of a form, concerted in 1509 by a junto of Spanish +lawyers and divines, for directing the office employed in the New +World how to take possession of any new country.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>When Atahualpa had listened to this discourse, very +imperfectly rendered by an ignorant interpreter, he answered, +"That the whole of this country had been conquered by his father +and his ancestors, who had left it in rightful succession to his +elder brother the inca Huascar. That he having been conquered and +taken prisoner, Atahualpa held himself as legitimate sovereign, +and could not conceive how St Peter could pretend to give it away +to any one, without the knowledge and consent of him to whom it +belonged. As for Jesus Christ, who he said had created heaven and +earth and man and all other things, he knew nothing of all this, +believing that the sun his father was the creator of all, whom he +and his nation venerated as a god, worshipping likewise the earth +as the mother of all things, and the <i>guacas</i> as subordinate +divinities, and that Pachacama was the supreme ruler and creator +of all things. As for what he had said of the king of Spain, he +knew nothing at all about the matter, never having seen him." At +the last, he asked the bishop where he had learnt all those +things which he had been telling him. Valverde answered him that +all these things were contained in the book which he held in his +hand, which was the word of God. Atahualpa asked it from him, +opened the book turning over its leaves, saying that it said +nothing to him, and threw it on the ground. The bishop then +turning to the Spaniards, called out, "To arms! to arms! +Christians: The word of God is insulted."</p> + +<p>Pizarro being of opinion that he would be easily destroyed if +he waited for the attack of the Peruvians, immediately ordered +his soldiers to advance to the charge, sending word to his +brothers and the other officers who commanded the cavalry to +execute the orders which they had already received. He likewise +ordered the artillery and the crossbows to commence firing upon +the Indians, on which the cavalry, as had been concerted, sallied +forth and charged through among the Indians in three separate +bodies; while he moved forwards at the head of the infantry, +pushing directly for the litter in which Atahualpa was carried, +the bearers of which they began to slay, while others pressed on +to supply their places. As Pizarro was convinced that he and his +people would be infallibly destroyed if the battle remained for +any length of time undecided, the loss of one soldier being of +infinitely worse consequence to him than the destruction of +hundreds was to the enemy, and that he gained nothing by the +death of thousands of the Peruvians, determined to make every +effort to gain possession of Atahualpa, for which purpose he cut +his way up to the litter in which he was carried; and seizing him +by his long hair dragged him from his seat to the ground. In +doing this, as several of his soldiers were making cuts with +their swords against the golden litter, one of their swords +glancing off wounded Pizarro in the hand. Paying no attention to +this wound, he held fast his rich prize, in spite of the +endeavours of multitudes of Indians to rescue their sovereign, +who were all either killed or driven away, and at length secured +Atahualpa as his prisoner.</p> + +<p>When the Peruvians saw their sovereign in the hands of the +Spaniards, and found themselves assailed in so many places at +once by the enemy, especially by the horse, the fury of whose +charge they were unable to resist, they threw down their arms and +dispersed in every direction, endeavouring to preserve their +lives by flight. A prodigious multitude of them being stopped by +a corner of the great court or square, pressed with such violence +against the wall that a part of it gave way, forming a large +breach by which many of them escaped. The cavalry pursued the +fugitives in every direction till night, when they returned to +quarters[14].</p> + +<blockquote>[14] In this engagement, or massacre rather, +according to one Spanish writer 2000 Peruvians were slain, while +another author swells the number to six or seven thousand, and a +third says five thousand. Of the Spaniards not one was even hurt +except the general Pizarro, who was wounded in the hand by one of +his own soldiers.--Roberts. Hist. of America. II. 302. and note +cxxxi.</blockquote> + +<p>When Ruminagui heard the noise of the artillery, and saw a +centinel who had been placed on the top of a rock thrown down by +a Spaniard, he concluded that the Spaniards had gained the +victory; and was so much alarmed that he marched away with all +his men to Quito, never stopping for any time till he got to that +city, which is two hundred and fifty leagues from Caxamarca.</p> + +<p>Atahualpa being thus made prisoner, and his whole army having +taken to flight, the Spaniards went next morning to pillage his +camp, where they found a prodigious quantity of gold and silver +vessels, excessively rich tents, stuffs, vestments, and many +other articles of immense value. The gold plate alone which was +carried along with the army for the use of Atahualpa exceeded the +value of 60,000 pistoles[15]. Above 5000 women who were found in +the camp of the enemy voluntarily surrendered themselves to the +Spaniards.</p> + +<blockquote>[15] Considerable even as this sum appears, it seems +too small for the sovereign of so vast an empire which abounded +so much in gold; yet we have no means of correcting the amount. +Garcilasso however mentions one piece of goid plate found in the +baths of Atahualpa after the battle worth 100,000 ducats; but his +work is so strange a farrago of confusion and absurdity as to +bear very little authority.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The captive Atahualpa now made submissive application to +Pizarro, earnestly intreating to be well used, and made offer for +his ransom to deliver a quantity of gold that should fill a large +chamber, besides so large a mass of silver that the Spaniards +would be unable to carry the whole away. Pizarro was astonished +at this magnificent offer, which he could hardly credit, yet +promised the fallen monarch that he should be well used, and even +engaged to restore his freedom if he made good his offer. +Atahualpa was so much pleased with this promise, that he +immediately sent numerous messengers through the whole empire, +particularly to Cuzco, ordering all the gold and silver that +could be procured to be brought to Caxamarca to pay his ransom. +He had promised an immense quantity, as he had engaged to fill a +long hall in the <i>tambos</i> or palace of Cazamarca as high as +he could reach with his hand[16], for which purpose the height +was marked by a coloured line drawn round the whole room. +Although large quantities of gold and silver arrived every day +after this agreement, the Spaniards could not be satisfied that +the promise of Atahualpa would ever be fulfilled. They began even +to murmur at the delay, alleging that the time which had been +fixed by Atahualpa for the accomplishment of his promise was +already past; and they alleged that he had fallen upon this +scheme on purpose to gain time for the assemblage of a new army, +with which to attack them at unawares. As Atahualpa had +considerable sagacity, he soon noticed the discontent of the +Spaniards, and asked Pizarro the reason. On being informed, he +made answer that they were in the wrong to complain of the delay, +which was not such as to give any reasonable cause for suspicion. +They ought to consider that Cuzco, from whence the far greater +part of the gold had to be brought, was above 200 <i>large</i> +leagues distant from Caxamarca by an extremely difficult road, by +which all the gold had to be carried on the shoulders of the +Peruvians, and that very little time had elapsed for the +accomplishment of so laborious a work. Having thus endeavoured to +explain the cause of delay in payment of the ransom, he requested +that they would satisfy themselves on the subject by inspection +that he was actually able to perform his engagement; after which +they would not think much of its being delayed a month more or +less. For this purpose, he proposed that he should depute two or +three of the Spaniards, who might go to Cuzco, having orders from +him to be shewn the royal treasures in that city, of which they +would then be able to bring back certain information to satisfy +the rest.</p> + +<blockquote>[16] The omission of the length and breadth of this +room by Zarate, is supplied by Robertson, ii. 503, from the other +original Spanish authors, who say the room was 22 feet long by 16 +feet broad. The reach of Atahualpa could not be less than. 7-1/2 +feet, 2640 cubic feet of gold, even heaped up of hollow vessels, +must have produced a most astonishing value of that precious +metal; but there are no data on which to calculate the numerical +value of this imperial ransom, which the Spaniards certainly +meant to accept, but would never have fulfilled the +alternative.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Opinions were much divided among the Spaniards, as to the +adoption or rejection of this proposal. Several considered it is +a most dangerous measure for any person to trust himself in the +hand of the Peruvians, especially to so great a distance. +Atahualpa considered this doubt of safety as very strange, +especially as they had him in their hands as an hostage, together +with his wives, children, and brothers. On this, Hernando de Soto +and Pedro de Barco resolved to undertake the journey; and +accordingly by the directions of Atahualpa, they set out in +litters, each of which was carried on the shoulders of two men, +with a number of other Peruvians accompanying them, to serve as +reliefs when the others were tired. They were carried in this +manner almost as fast as if they had rode post; as the litter +carriers went along with great swiftness, frequently relieved by +the others, of whom there were fifty or sixty in all.</p> + +<p>Several days journey from Caxamarca, Soto and Barco met a +party of the troops of Atahualpa, who were escorting the Inca +Huascar as a prisoner. This unfortunate prince, on learning who +they were, requested to have a conference with them, to which +they consented, and in which he was distinctly informed of all +the recent events. On being informed of the intentions of his +imperial majesty Don Carlos, and of Pizarro, who commanded the +Spaniards in his name, to cause impartial justice to be executed +both to the Peruvians and Spaniards, he laid before them a +distinct account of the injustice which he had suffered from his +brother Atahualpa, who not only wished to deprive him of the +kingdom, which belonged to him of right, as the eldest son of the +late monarch Huana Capac, but now kept him a prisoner, with the +design of putting him to death. He urged them to return to their +general, and to lay his complaints before him, requesting that +he, who now had both competitors in his power, and was +consequently entire master of the country, would judge between +them, and decree the possession of the empire to him who held the +lawful right of succession. He farther promised, if Pizarro would +do this, that he would not only fulfil all that Atahualpa had +promised, which was to fill the apartment at Caxamarca to a +certain height, but he would fill it with gold to the roof, which +would be three times more than Atahualpa had promised. He assured +them that he was better able to do all this, than was Atahualpa +to perform what he had promised; because Atahualpa, to implement +his engagement, would be under the necessity of stripping the +temple of the Sun at Cuzco of all the plates of gold and silver +with which it was lined; whereas he, Huascar, was in possession +of all the treasures which belonged to his father Huana Capac, +and the former Incas, by which he was able to perform what he had +now offered, and a great deal more.</p> + +<p>All that he alleged was certainly true, as Huascar was in +possession of immense treasures, which he had hidden under ground +in some secret place, unknown to all the world. On this occasion, +he had employed many Indians to transport his wealth into the +place of concealment, after which he had ordered them all to be +put to death, that they might not inform any one of the place. +After the Spaniards were entire masters of the country, they made +every possible search after these treasures, and even continue +their search to the present day, digging in every place where +they suspect they may be concealed, but hitherto without being +able to find them.</p> + +<p>Soto and Barco told Huascar, that it was out of their power to +turn back, being under the necessity of continuing the journey on +which they had been sent by order of their general; but that on +their return they would make a faithful report of all he had +said. They accordingly went on their way towards Cuzco. But this +meeting and conference occasioned the death of Huascar, and the +loss to the Spaniards of the vast treasure he had promised for +his liberty and restoration. The captains who had the custody of +Huascar made a report to Atahualpa of all that had passed in the +interview between their prisoner and the Spanish messengers; and +Atahualpa had sufficient sagacity to see, if these matters came +to the knowledge of Pizarro, that he would feel inclined to take +part with Huascar, especially in consideration of the prodigious +quantity of gold which had been offered for his interference. He +had remarked the extreme eagerness of the Spaniards for the +possession of gold, and feared that they would deprive him of the +kingdom, and give it his brother, and might put himself to death, +as an unjust usurper of the clear rights of another. Being +disposed, from these motives, to order his brother Huascar to be +put to death, he was only restrained from doing this immediately +by one circumstance. He had frequently heard from the Christians, +that one of their principal laws, which was most religiously +observed, was, that all who were guilty of murder were punished +with death, whether the murder were committed by themselves +personally, or by others at their instigation. He resolved, +therefore, to sound Pizarro, and to discover his sentiments on +this subject, which he did with wonderful artifice and +dissimulation. One day he pretended to be overcome with extreme +grief, weeping and sobbing, and refusing to eat or drink, or to +speak with any one. When Pizarro inquired the cause of this +distress, he allowed himself to be long intreated before he would +give any reason of his sorrow. At length, as if overcome by +solicitation, he said, "That he had just received intelligence +that one of his officers had put his brother Huascar to death, by +which news he was entirely overcome with grief, as he had always +entertained the warmest and most respectful affection for him, +not only as his eldest brother, but in a great measure as his +father and sovereign. That although he had taken Huascar +prisoner, he not only had no intention of using him ill in his +person, but did not even mean to deprive him of the kingdom: his +sole object being to oblige him to give up the possession of the +kingdom of Quito, according to the last will of their father, +Huana Capac; who had made a conquest of that country, which was +beyond the boundary of the hereditary empire of the incas, and +which consequently their father had an undoubted right to dispose +of in his favour." Pizarro endeavoured to console the pretended +affliction of Atahualpa, by assuring him, when peace and good +order re-established in the empire, that he would make a strict +inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Huascar, and would +severely punish all who had participated in the crime.</p> + +<p>When Atahualpa found that Pizarro took up this affair with so +much coolness and moderation, he resolved to execute his design, +and sent immediate orders to his officers who had the custody of +Huascar to put him to death. So promptly were these orders +obeyed, that it was difficult to ascertain in the sequel whether +the excessive grief of Atahualpa was feigned, and whether it +preceded or followed the death of his brother Huascar. Most of +the soldiers blamed Soto and Barco for this unhappy event: not +considering the necessity of every one to obey the orders of +their superiors with exactness, according to their instructions, +especially in time of war, without assuming the liberty of making +any alteration or modification according to circumstances in +their own opinion, unless they have express and formal +discretionary power.</p> + +<p>It was currently reported among the Peruvians, that when +Huascar learnt he was to be put to death by order of his brother, +he made the following observation: "I have been only a short +while sovereign of this country, but my faithless brother, by +whose orders I am to die, will not be longer a king than I have +been." When the Peruvians soon afterwards saw Atahualpa put to +death, conformable to this prediction, they believed Huascar to +have been a true son of the sun. It is reported also, that +Huascar should have said, when his father Huana Capac took his +last leave of him, he foretold "That white men with long beards +would soon come into Peru, and advised him to treat them as +friends, as they would become masters of the kingdom." Huana +Capac may have received some intimation of this future +circumstance from the demons; and that the more readily, that +Pizarro had been on the coast of Peru before his death, and had +even begun to make some conquests.</p> + +<p>While Pizarro continued to reside in Caxamarca, he sent out +his brother Ferdinand with a party of cavalry to discover the +country, who went as far as Pachacamac, about a hundred leagues +from Caxamarca. In the district of Huamachucos, Ferdinand met +with Hlescas, one of the brothers of Atahualpa, who was escorting +a prodigious quantity of gold to Caxamarca, part of the ransom of +the captive inca, to the value of two or three millions at the +least, without counting an immense quantity of silver[17]. He +continued his journey from Huamachucos to Pachacamac, not far to +the south of where Lima now stands, through several difficult and +dangerous passes; when he learnt that one of the generals of +Atahualpa, named Cilicuchima was stationed with a large army at a +place about forty leagues from thence. Ferdinand Pizarro sent a +message to the Peruvian general to request that he would come to +speak with him; and as Cilicuchima refused, Ferdinand took the +resolution to wait upon him in person. This was considered by +many as extremely rash and imprudent, to trust himself in the +hands of a barbarous and powerful enemy. He was successful +however in the attempt, as by various representations and +promises, he prevailed on the Peruvian general to dismiss his +army, and to go along with him to Caxamarca to wait upon his +sovereign Atahualpa. To shorten their journey, they took a very +difficult route through mountains covered with snow, where they +were in danger of perishing with cold.</p> + +<blockquote>[17] The sum in the text is quite vaguely expressed; +perhaps pieces of eight reals, or dollars.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On arriving at Caxamarca, before entering into the presence of +Atahualpa, Cilicuchima bared his feet and carried a present to +his sovereign after the custom of the country, and said to him +weeping, that if he had been along with him, the Spaniards should +not have been allowed to make him a prisoner. Atahualpa answered, +that his captivity was a punishment from the gods, whom he had +not honoured and respected as he ought to have done; but that his +defeat and capture were chiefly owing to the cowardice and flight +of Ruminagui with his 5000 men, who ought to have succoured him +when attacked by the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>While Don Francisco Pizarro was in the province of Poecho +between Tumbez and Payta, before he marched to Caxamarca, he +received a letter without any signature, which it was afterwards +learnt had been sent to him by the secretary of Don Diego de +Almagro. He was informed by this letter, that Almagro had fitted +out a large ship and several smaller vessels with a considerable +number of soldiers, in which he proposed to sail beyond the +country of which Pizarro had taken possession, and to reduce the +best portion of Peru under his own authority, as beyond the +government which had been granted to Pizarro by his majesty, +which only extended 200 leagues to the south of the equator[18]. +The governor had never shewn his patents to any person[19]; yet +it was currently reported that Almagro actually left Panama with +the intention of carrying that design into execution; but on +arriving at Puertoviejo, and learning the amazing successes of +Pizarro, and the prodigious quantities of gold and silver he had +already acquired, the half of which he considered as belonging to +him, he changed his purpose, and marched with all his people to +Caxamarca to join Pizarro. On his arrival there, the greater part +of the ransom of Atahualpa was already brought, and Almagro and +his followers were filled with astonishment and admiration at the +sight of the prodigious masses of gold and silver which were +there collected, more than they thought could have been in any +part of the world.</p> + +<blockquote>[18] At 17-1/2 leagues to the degree, this government +accorded to Pizarro, would have reached from about Tacames to the +lat. of 11° 25' S. whereas the kingdom of Peru extends to +lat. 21° 35' S. and its most valuable and richest provinces +would have fallen to the share of Almagro.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[19] This expression is entirely vague, and does not +even say which governor is meant. We shall see afterwards that +this project of Almagro to appropriate the southern part of Peru +took place at a subsequent period, and involved the recent +conquest in long and destructive civil wars.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>When all this gold and silver was melted down, weighed and +essayed, it was found to amount to the amazing sum of six hundred +millions of <i>maravedies</i>, or more than 4,500,000 livres. It +is true that the proof or essay of this gold was made hurriedly, +and only by means of the touchstone, as they had no <i>aqua +fortis</i> to conduct the process in a more exact manner. It +afterwards appeared that this gold had been estimated two or +three <i>carats</i> below its real value; so that the whole +amount ought to have been reckoned at <i>seven</i> millions of +maravedies, or 5,250,000 livres. The quantity of silver was so +large, that the royal fifth amounted to 30,000 marks of fine +silver, most of which was afterwards found to contain two or +three carats of gold. The royal fifth of the gold amounted to 120 +millions of maravedies, or 900,000 livres. Each horseman received +for his share in gold, without counting the silver 240 marks or +12,000 pesos, equal to 80,000 francs. The shares of the horsemen +were a quarter part larger than those of the foot soldiers. Yet +all these sums did not amount to a fifth part of what Atahualpa +had engaged to pay for his ransom. Those who had come along with +Almagro, though considerable both from their rank and number, +certainly had no just title to demand any share in the treasure +which Atahualpa paid for his ransom, as they had no share in his +capture; yet the general assigned each of them 20 marks, or 1000 +pesos, as a donative to keep them in good humour.</p> + +<p>Pizarro thought it now incumbent upon him to send intelligence +to his majesty of the success of his enterprize, for which +purpose he sent over his brother Ferdinand to Spain; and as when +he departed, the precious metals had not been melted or proved, +so that it was impossible to ascertain what was the exact share +belonging to the king, two thousand marks of gold and twenty +thousand marks of silver, were set apart for this purpose[20]. In +making the selection of articles to be sent to Spain, the largest +and finest pieces were chosen, that they might have a grander +appearance: Among these were several large vessels of various +kinds and for different uses, together with figures of men and +women and various animals. When Atahualpa learnt that Ferdinand +Pizarro was to embark for Spain he was much afflicted, having a +great affection for that gentleman, in whom he reposed implicit +confidence; and when Ferdinand came to take leave, he said to +him, "I am sore afflicted at your departure, for I am much afraid +the big-belly and the blinkard will put me to death in your +absence." By the former he meant Requelme the treasurer, who was +very fat, and by the latter Almagro, who had lost an eye, whom he +had observed frequently to mutter against him, for certain +reasons, which will appear in the sequel.</p> + +<blockquote>[20] Reckoning the mark at <i>eight</i> ounces, the +gold at L.4, and the silver at 5s 6d. per oz. this royal fifth +would come to L.108,000, and the whole treasure to five times +that sum, or L.540,000. But as the precious metals were then +worth at least <i>six</i> times as much as now, or would purchase +<i>six</i> times the amount of labour or necessaries, this first +fruit of the conquest of Peru exceeded the value of three +millions sterling.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>As Atahualpa suspected, Ferdinand Pizarro had not been long +gone, when the death of the unfortunate prince began to be talked +of among the Spaniards. This was brought about by the suggestions +of an Indian named Philippillo, who had accompanied the general +into Spain, and now served him as an interpreter with the +Peruvians. He pretended that Atahualpa had secretly laid a plan +for destroying all the Spaniards; for which purpose he had a +great number of armed men concealed in various places, meaning to +employ them when a favourable opportunity occurred. The proofs +and examination of facts and circumstances respecting this +alleged plot, had all to come through Philippillo, as the only +one who knew both languages; and he gave such a turn to every +thing as best suited his own views and purposes. Accordingly the +Spaniards were never able perfectly to discover the truth, or to +penetrate entirely into his motives for this procedure. It has +been alleged by some persons, that Philippillo had become amorous +of one of the wives of Atahualpa, with whom he even had a +criminal intercourse, and expected to secure the quiet possession +of his mistress by the death of that unfortunate prince. It was +even reported that Atahualpa had come to the knowledge of that +amour, and had complained to Pizarro of the criminal and even +treasonable conduct of the paramours; which, by the laws of Peru, +could only be expiated by burning the guilty persons, putting to +death all their near relations, destroying all their cattle and +substance, laying waste the place of their birth, and sowing salt +on the place, so as to render the memory of the crime infamous +for ever.</p> + +<p>It has been alleged by others that the death of Atahualpa was +occasioned by the solicitations and intrigues of those newly +arrived Spaniards who accompanied Almagro, who considered his +continuing to live as prejudicial to their interests. The +soldiers of Pizarro who were with him when Atahualpa was taken +prisoner, insisted that those who came with Almagro had no right +to participate in any part of the treasure given or to be given +on account of his ransom, and could not justly pretend to any +share of what might be collected until all that Atahualpa had +promised was entirely paid up. The soldiers of Almagro, on the +other hand, believed it to be for their interest that Atahualpa +should be removed out of the way; since as long as he might live, +the soldiers of Pizarro would always pretend that all the +treasure which might be procured formed part of his ransom, so +that they would never come in for any share. However this might +be, the death of that unfortunate prince was resolved on, and +even this determination was communicated to him. Astonished at +this fatal intelligence, of which he had never entertained the +slightest suspicion, Atahualpa urged his merciless conquerors to +confine him rather in a stricter captivity, or even to put him on +board their ships. "I know not," said he, "how you can possibly +suppose me so stupid as to think of any treachery against you in +my present situation. How can you believe those troops which you +say are assembled, have been called together by my orders or by +my consent? Am I not a prisoner, in chains, and in your hands? +And is it not easy for you to put me to death whenever these +pretended troops make their appearance? If you believe that my +subjects will undertake any thing against you without my consent, +you are ill informed of the absolute authority I possess over all +my subjects, and the perfect obedience which it is their glory to +render me on all occasions. So to speak, the birds do not dare to +fly, nor the leaves to move upon the trees without my orders; and +how then shall my subjects presume to go to war against you +without my consent."</p> + +<p>All that he could urge was of no avail, as his death was +absolutely resolved upon, although he offered to place hostages +of the highest consideration in the hands of the Spaniards, whose +lives should be answerable for any of the Christians who might be +slain or ill treated by his subjects. Besides the suspicions +already mentioned, which were alleged against Atahualpa, it is +said that he was accused of the death of his brother Huascar. He +was condemned to die, and his sentence was executed without +delay. In his distress, he was continually repeating the name of +Ferdinand Pizarro; saying, if he had been present, he would not +have allowed him to be thus unjustly put to death. Shortly before +his death, he was persuaded by Pizarro and Valverde to submit to +the ceremony of baptism[21].</p> + +<blockquote>[21] Of this tragical event, the illustrious +Historian of America, gives a somewhat different account, II. +310, from Herrera and Garcilasso de la Vega; which, as much too +long for a note, is subjoined in the text to the narrative of +Zarate, and distinguished by inverted commas.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>"While Almagro and his followers openly demanded the life of +Atahualpa, and Philippillo laboured to ruin him by private +machinations, that unhappy prince inadvertently contributed to +hasten his own fate. During his confinement he had attached +himself with peculiar affection to Ferdinand Pizarro and Hernando +Soto; who, as they were persons of birth and education superior +to the rough adventurers with whom they served, were accustomed +to behave with more decency and attention to the captive monarch. +Soothed with this respect from persons of such high rank, he +delighted in their society. But in the presence of the governor +he was always uneasy and overawed. This dread soon came to be +mingled with contempt. Among all the European arts, that which he +most admired, was reading and writing; and he long deliberated +with himself, whether he should regard it as a natural or +acquired talent. In order to determine this, he desired one of +the soldiers who guarded him, to write the name of God on the +nail of his thumb. This he shewed successively to several +Spaniards, asking its meaning; and, to his amazement, they all, +without hesitation, gave the same answer. At length Pizarro +entered; and on presenting it to him, he blushed, and with some +confusion was obliged to acknowledge his ignorance. From that +moment, Atahualpa considered him as a mean person, less +instructed than his own soldiers; and he had not address enough +to conceal the sentiments with which this discovery inspired him. +To be the object of scorn to a barbarian, not only mortified the +pride of Pizarro; but excited such resentment in his breast, as +added force to all the other considerations which prompted him to +put the Inca to death."</p> + +<p>"But in order to give some colour of justice to this violent +action, and that he himself might be exempted from standing +singly responsible for the commission of it, Pizarro resolved to +try the Inca with all the formalities observed in the criminal +courts of Spain. Pizarro himself and Almagro, with two +assistants, were appointed judges, with full power to acquit or +condemn; an attorney-general was named to carry on the +prosecution in the king's name; counsellors were chosen to assist +the prisoner in his defence; and clerks were ordained to record +the proceedings of court. Before this strange tribunal, a charge +was exhibited still more amazing. It consisted of various +articles: That Atahualpa, though a bastard, had dispossessed the +rightful owner of the throne, and usurped the regal power; that +he had put his brother and lawful sovereign to death; that he was +an idolater, and had not only permitted, but commanded the +offering of human sacrifices; that he had a great number of +concubines; that since his imprisonment he had wasted and +embezzled the royal treasures, which now belonged of right to the +conquerors; that he had incited his subjects to take arms against +the Spaniards. On these heads of accusation, some of which are so +ludicrous, and others so absurd, that the effrontery of Pizarro, +in making them the subject of a serious procedure, is not less +surprizing than his injustice, did this strange court go on to +try the sovereign of a great empire, over whom it had no +jurisdiction. With respect to each of the articles, witnesses +were examined; but as they delivered their evidence in their +native tongue, Philippillo had it in his power to give their +words whatever turn best suited his malevolent intentions. To +judges pre-determined in their opinion, this evidence appeared +sufficient. They pronounced Atahualpa guilty, and condemned him +to be burnt alive. Friar Valverde prostituted the authority of +his sacred function to confirm this sentence, and by his +signature warranted it to be just. Astonished at his fate, +Atahualpa endeavoured to avert it by tears, by promises, and by +entreaties that he might be sent to Spain, where a monarch would +be the arbiter of his lot. But pity never touched the unfeeling +heart of Pizarro. He ordered him to be led instantly to +execution; and, what added to the bitterness of his last moments, +the same monk who had just ratified his doom, offered to console, +and attempted to convert him. The most powerful argument Valverde +employed to prevail with him to embrace the Christian faith, was +a promise of mitigation in his punishment. The dread of a cruel +death extorted from the trembling victim a desire of receiving +baptism. The ceremony was performed; and Atahualpa, instead of +being burnt alive, was strangled at the stake."</p> + +<p>Ruminagui, one of the captains under Atahualpa, who had fled +with five thousand men from Caxamarca, as already related, having +arrived in the kingdom of Quito, seized the children of +Atahualpa, and made himself master of that country as if he had +been the lawful sovereign. A short time before his death, +Atahualpa had sent his brother Illescas into the kingdom of +Quito, with orders to bring his children from thence; but +Ruminagui not only refused to deliver them up, but even put them +all to death. After the death of Atahualpa, some of his principal +officers, according to his dying commands, carried his body to +Quito that it might be interred beside the remains of his father +Huana capac. Ruminagui received them in the most honourable +manner, with every outward mark of affection and respect, and +caused the body of Atahualpa to be buried with much pomp and +solemnity, according to the custom of the country. After the +ceremony, he gave a grand entertainment to the officers of the +late unfortunate monarch, at which, when they were intoxicated, +he caused them all to be put to death, together with Illescas the +brother of Atahualpa. He caused this person to be flead alive, +and had a drum covered with his skin, inclosing his head in the +inside of the drum.</p> + +<p>After the governor Pizarro had made a repartition of all the +gold and silver which was found in Caxamarca, he learned that one +of the officers of Atahualpa, named Quizquiz, had assembled some +troops in the province of <i>Xauxa</i>[22], and endeavoured to +excite an insurrection in the country. Pizarro therefore marched +against him, but Quizquiz durst not wait for him in Xauxa, and +retreated to a greater distance. Pizarro pursued, causing +Hernando de Soto to lead the van with a party of horse, while he +led the rear or main body himself. While advancing in this order +into the province of <i>Vilcacinga</i>[23], Soto was unexpectedly +attacked by a vast body of Peruvians, and in great danger of +being totally defeated, five or six of his men being slain; but +on the approach of night, the Peruvians retreated to a mountain, +and the governor sent on Almagro with a reinforcement of cavalry +to Soto. Early next morning the fight was resumed, and the +Spaniards endeavoured to draw the Peruvians into the plain, by +pretending to retreat, that they might not be exposed to the +prodigious quantity of stones which the Indians hurled down upon +them from the mountain. The Peruvians seemed aware of this +stratagem, as they continued to defend their position on the +mountain; though they were not apprized of the reinforcement +which Soto had received, as the morning was thick and misty. +Being unable to induce their enemies to descend from their +advantageous situation, the Spaniards assailed the Peruvians with +so much resolution, that they drove them from their position with +considerable slaughter, and forced them to take to flight.</p> + +<blockquote>[22] Probably the district now called Jauja: as the x +and j have nearly the same sound in Spanish with the aspirated +Greek xi.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[23] Apparently Guancavelica, in which is the town of +Vilca-bamba.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>At this place, a brother of the late Incas, Huascar and +Atahualpa, named <i>Paul Inca</i>[24], came to Pizarro under +pretence of entering into terms of peace and submission. After +the death of his brothers, this prince had been recognised as +king of Peru, and had been invested with the fringed fillet, +which answered among the Peruvians as the crown or emblem of +supreme rule. The Inca told the governor that he had a very +considerable force of warriors in Cuzco, all of whom only waited +his arrival to submit to his orders. Pizarro accordingly marched +towards that city, and arrived within sight of it after several +days march. So thick a smoke was seen to arise from the city, +that Pizarro suspected the Peruvians had set it on fire, and +immediately sent on a detachment of cavalry to endeavour if +possible to prevent the destruction of the city. On their arrival +near Cuzco, a vast body of Peruvians issued from the city and +attacked them with great violence, with stones, darts, and other +arms; insomuch that the Spaniards were forced to retreat above a +league to rejoin the main body of the army which was commanded by +Pizarro in person. He immediately detached the greater part of +his cavalry under the command of his brothers Juan and Gonzalo, +who attacked the enemy with so much courage and impetuosity, that +they were soon defeated and many Peruvians were slain in the +pursuit. On the approach of night, Pizarro reassembled all his +army, which he ordered to lie on their arms; and marched next +morning with every precaution to Cuzco, which he entered without +opposition.</p> + +<blockquote>[24] This name of <i>Paul</i> could hardly be +Peruvian. Manco Capac, a full brother of Huascar, had been +recognized as Inca at Cuzco; perhaps the person named Paul by +Zarate, is the same prince who is called Paullu by Gardilasso, +and may have received that name in baptism at an after +period.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After remaining twenty days in Cuzco, Pizarro was informed +that the Peruvian General Quizquiz had drawn together a +considerable body of warriors, with whom he pillaged and raised +contributions in a province named <i>Condefugo</i>[25]. The +governor detached Hernando Soto with fifty horsemen against +Quizquiz, who did not think proper to await his arrival; but he +took the resolution of marching to Xauxa or Jauja, on purpose to +attack the baggage and royal treasure belonging to the Spaniards, +which had been left there with a guard, under the care of +Requelme the treasurer. Although the Spanish troops in Xauxa were +few in number, they posted themselves in a strong position, +waiting the attack of Quizquiz, and defended themselves so +courageously that he was unable to make any impression upon them, +and accordingly drew off his troops, taking the road to Quito. +The governor sent Soto after him with his detachment of cavalry, +and soon afterwards sent off his two brothers, Juan and Gonzalo, +to reinforce Soto. These three Spanish captains pursued Quizquiz +above a hundred leagues, but were unable to come up with him, and +returned therefore to Cuzco.</p> + +<blockquote>[25] This it probably an error of the press for +<i>Condesugo</i>. To the south of Cusco, and in the plain of +Peru, there are two contiguous districts named the Condesuyos of +Arequipa and Cusco, which are probably the province alluded to in +the text. The term seems Spanish; but it is not unusual with +Zarate to substitute posterior names to those of the period +concerning which he writes.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In that ancient capital of the Peruvian empire, Pizarro and +the Spaniards found a prodigious booty in gold and silver, not +less in value than all they had collected at Caxamarca for the +ransom of Atahualpa. He made a division of this among his +soldiers, and settled a colony in Cuzco, which had long been the +capital of the Peruvian empire, and continued to be so for a +considerable time under the Spaniards. He likewise made a +repartition of Indians among such Spaniards as chose to settle in +the place as colonists: Only a few, however, chose to avail +themselves of their advantage; as a considerable proportion of +the Spaniards were better pleased to return into Spain, that they +might enjoy in repose the treasure which they had acquired at +Caxamarca and Cuzco, than to remain in Peru.</p> + +<p>"The riches displayed by the early conquerors of Peru on their +return among their astonished countrymen, had so great an effect +to induce others to try their fortunes in that golden region, +that the governors of Guatimala, Panama, and Nicaragua could +hardly restrain the people under their jurisdiction from +abandoning their possessions, and crowding to that inexhaustible +source of wealth which seemed to be opened in Peru. In spite of +every check or regulation, such numbers resorted to the standard +of Pizarro, that he was soon enabled to take the field at the +head of five hundred men, besides leaving sufficient garrisons in +San Miguel and other places necessary for the defence of his +conquests[26]".</p> + +<blockquote>[26] This paragraph is added from the history of +America, II. 313, to the text of Zarate, as necessary to account +for the subsequent operations of Pizarro, after the secession of +a considerable part of his original followers.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>It has been already said that Pizarro, soon after his arrival +in Peru, established a settlement at the town of San Miguel in +the province of Tangarara, not far from the harbour of +Tumbez[27], as a secure place of disembarkation for those who +came to join him from Spain. While he still remained at Caxamarca +after the death of Atahualpa, on recollection that he had left a +weak garrison in San Miguel, the governor thought proper to send +a reinforcement of ten horsemen to that place under the command +of Benalcazar. Soon after his arrival, a considerable number of +Spanish soldiers came there from Panama and Nicaragua, and as the +Cagnares made loud complaints to him that they were oppressed by +Ruminagui and the Peruvians of Quito, Benalcazar chose two +hundred of the new recruits, eighty of whom were cavalry, with +whom he marched for Quito, because he was informed that Atahualpa +had left a large quantity of gold in that city, and that he might +likewise protect the Cagnares, who had declared themselves the +friends of the Spaniards. Ruminagui advanced with an army of more +than twelve thousand Peruvians to defend the defiles of the +mountains leading towards the kingdom of Quito, which he +endeavoured to do with considerable judgment, taking advantage of +the nature of the ground, and fighting only in places of +difficult approach. Benalcazar, on his side likewise, joined +stratagem and military conduct to courage and prudence; for, +while he occupied the attention of the enemy by frequent +skirmishes, and demonstrations of attacking them in front, he +detached one of his officers with fifty or sixty horsemen, who +gained possession of a commanding post during the night on the +rear of the Peruvians, so that he was able next morning to render +himself easily master of the pass they had endeavoured to defend. +In this way, Benalcazar gradually drove the enemy from their +strong ground into the plain of Quito, where they were unable to +withstand the charge of the cavalry and suffered considerably. +Ruminagui still endeavoured to make head in several different +posts, which he carefully forfeited with concealed pit-falls, +digging for this purpose broad and deep ditches, in the bottom of +which a number of pointed stakes were set up, the whole covered +over with green turf held up by slender twigs, somewhat like +those described by Caesar as contrived by the inhabitants of +Alesia. But all the contrivances of the Peruvians for surprizing +Benalcazar, or for drawing him into their snares were quite +unavailing. He avoided them all, and never attacked on the side +they expected; often making a circuit of several leagues so as to +attack them unexpectedly on the flank and rear, and always +carefully avoiding every piece of ground that had not a natural +appearance. The Peruvians tried another stratagem, on seeing the +former miscarry: They dug a great number of small pits close to +each other, about the size of a horses foot, in every place +around their camp where they thought the cavalry might come to +attack them. But all their arts and labour were useless, as +Benalcazar was never off his guard, and was not to be deceived by +any of their contrivances, so that they were at last driven all +the way to the city of Quito. It is reported of Ruminagui, that +one day after his arrival in Quito, where he had a great number +of wives, that he told them they might soon expect to have the +pleasure of seeing the Christians, with whom they would have the +opportunity of diverting themselves; and that, believing him in +jest, they laughed heartily at the news, on which he caused most +of them to be put to death. After this cruel deed, he set fire to +a large apartment filled with rich dresses and valuable moveables +belonging to the late Inca Huana Capac, and retired from Quito, +having first made another unsuccessful attempt to surprise the +Spaniards by a night attack, after which Benalcazar made himself +master of Quito with very little opposition.</p> + +<blockquote>[27] Tumbez seems here substituted by mistake for +Payta. San Miguel is not less than 130 miles from Tumbez, and +only about 30 from Payta--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While these things were going on in the kingdom of Quito, the +governor Pizarro received information that Don Pedro de Alvarado, +who was governor of Guatimala, had embarked with a considerable +force for Peru, on which account he deemed it proper to detach +some troops under Almagro to San Miguel, to inquire into the +truth of that report and to prevent the invasion of his +government. As Almagro on his arrival at San Miguel could get no +distinct accounts of the motions of Alvarado, and was informed of +the resistance made to Benalcazar in the kingdom of Quito by +Ruminagui, he accordingly marched there with his troops and +formed a junction with Benalcazar, assuming the command of the +combined forces, after which he reduced several districts and +fortified stations of the natives. But, as he did not find any +gold in that country, which was by no means so rich as he thought +he had reason to expect from report, he soon afterwards returned +towards Cuzco, leaving the command in Quito to Benalcazar.</p> + +<p>After the conquest of New Spain by the Marquis del Valle, he +detached one of his captains named Don Pedro de Alvarado to a +neighbouring country called Guatimala; which that officer +accordingly reduced to subjection after much trouble and many +dangers, and, as a reward of his services, was appointed to the +government of that province by the king of Spain. On receiving +intelligence of the riches of the newly discovered empire of +Peru, Alvarado solicited permission from the emperor Don Carlos +to be permitted to undertake the conquest of some part of that +country, beyond the bounds that had been granted to Pizarro, and +received a patent to that effect. Having received authority for +this purpose, while he was making preparations for the +expedition, he sent one of his officers, named Garcias Holguin, +with two ships to examine the coast of Peru, and to gain some +precise intelligence respecting its actual state. From the report +of Holgum respecting the immense quantities of gold which the +governor Don Francisco Pizarro had found in that country, +Alvarado was encouraged to proceed in his enterprize; flattering +himself, that while Pizarro and his troops were occupied at +Caxamarca, he might be able to acquire possession of Cuzco[28], +which he considered as beyond the two hundred and fifty leagues +which had been assigned as the extent of the government conferred +upon Pizarro. For the better execution of his design, and lest +reinforcements might be sent from Nicaragua to Pizarro, he came +by sea to that place one night, where he made himself master of +two large ships which had been fitted out there expressly for the +purpose of carrying a large reinforcement of men and horses to +Peru. In these two ships, and in those which he brought with him +from Guatimala, Alvarado set sail with five hundred men, cavalry +and infantry, and landed on the coast of South America at the +harbour of Puerto Viejo.</p> + +<blockquote>[28] From the subsequent operations of Alvarado, this +seems an error of the press for Quito.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>From Puerto Viejo, Alvarado marched almost due east with his +army, crossing those mountains which separate the plain country +of Guayaquil from the table land of Quito, which the Spaniards +call the <i>Arcabucos</i>, being thickly covered with brushwood, +but over which the road is tolerably easy and only moderately +steep, being almost under the equator. In this march his men +suffered extremely from hunger and thirst, as the country through +which they went was very barren, and had neither springs nor +rivulets. The only relief they could procure was from certain +large canes as thick as a mans leg, in each of the joints of +which they usually found rather more than a quart of excellent +water. They were so much distressed by famine on this march as to +be under the necessity of eating several of their horses, the +flesh of which sold so high that a dead horse brought more money +on this occasion than he had cost when living. Besides thirst and +famine, they were very much distressed during a considerable part +of the way by quantities of hot ashes falling upon them, which +they afterwards learnt were thrown up by a volcano in the +neighbourhood of Quito, which burns with such violence that its +ashes are often carried by the wind to the distance of eighty +leagues, and its noise like prodigious thunder is sometimes heard +at a hundred leagues from Quito. In the whole march, which was +nearly under the equinoctial line, the troops of Alvarado found +everywhere abundance of emeralds. After a long and difficult +march through these <i>arcabucos</i>, where they were for the +most part obliged to cut their way through the thick brushwood by +means of axes and their swords, they came at length to a high +chain of mountains covered with snow, over which it was necessary +to pass. In this difficult and dangerous passage by an extremely +narrow road, it snowed almost continually, and the cold was so +extremely severe, that although every one put on all the clothes +they had along with them, more than sixty men perished from the +extreme severity of the weather. One of the soldiers happened to +be accompanied by his wife and two young children, and seeing +them entirely worn out with fatigue, while he was unable to +assist them, he preferred to remain with them and perish, +although he might have saved himself. At length, after infinite +toil and danger, they found that they had reached the top of the +mountain, and began joyfully to descend into the lower grounds of +the kingdom of Quito. It is true that in this country they found +other high mountains covered likewise with snow, as the province +is entirely surrounded and interspersed with mountains; but then +there are many temperate vallies among these mountains, which are +well peopled and cultivated. About this time, so great a quantity +of snow melted suddenly on one of these mountains, producing such +prodigious torrents of water, that the valley and village of +<i>Contiega</i> were entirely overwhelmed and inundated. These +torrents bring down immense quantities of stones, and even vast +fragments of rock, with as much ease as if they were only pieces +of cork.</p> + +<p>It has been already said that Almagro had left Benalcazar in +the government of Quito, meaning to return to Cuzco, because no +intelligence had reached him of the motions of Alvarado; and +mention has been made of his having reduced certain rocks and +fortresses into which the Indians of Quito had retired to defend +themselves. This had occupied him so long, that Alvarado had +penetrated into the province of Quito before Almagro had returned +into the south of Peru, being still employed in reducing the +southern districts of Quito. He received the first intelligence +of the arrival of Alvarado while reducing the province of +<i>Liribamba</i>[29], for which purpose he had to pass a +considerable river with much difficulty and danger, as the +Indians had destroyed the bridges, and waited on the other side +of the river to attack him while passing. He defeated them, +though with much difficulty, as the Indians were very numerous, +and their wives fought as bravely as the men, being very expert +in slinging stones. In this engagement the head cacique of the +Indians was made prisoner, and from him Almagro got the first +intelligence of the arrival of Alvarado, who was then only at the +distance of about sixty miles, employed in reducing an Indian +fortress into which one of the captains of the Indians had +retired, whose name was Zopazopaqui. On receiving this news, +Almagro sent seven horsemen to inquire into its truth, and to +bring him exact information of the strength and intentions of +Alvarado. These were all made prisoners by the troops of +Alvarado, who liberated them some time afterwards. Alvarado +advanced with his troops within less than twenty miles of the +camp of Almagro, who, considering the great superiority in number +possessed by Alvarado, formed the resolution of returning to +Cuzco with an escort of twenty-five horse, and to leave the +remainder of his troops under Benalcazar for the defence of the +country.</p> + +<blockquote>[29] Probably that now called Riobamba by the +Spaniards, about 100 miles south from Quito.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>At this time, Philipillo, the Indian interpreter who has been +already mentioned as the cause of the death of Atahualpa, fearing +to incur the punishment of his treachery, fled from the camp of +Almagro to that of Alvarado, taking along with him a principal +Peruvian cacique. These men had concerted with most of the +Peruvian <i>curacas</i> or chiefs who accompanied Almagro, to +hold themselves and their people in readiness to abandon him and +to join Alvarado at the earliest notice sent them for that +purpose. Immediately on his arriving in the presence of Alvarado, +Philipillo offered to make him master of the whole country, +informing him at the same time of the design of Almagro to retire +to Cuzco, and that if he chose to attack him without delay he +might easily make him prisoner, as he had only about eighty +horsemen and a hundred and fifty infantry. On this advice, +Alvarado marched immediately to attack Almagro, whom he found at +Liribamba, resolved to defend himself bravely, and to die +fighting rather than fly. Almagro had thrown up intrenchments for +his defence, having divided his small party into two bands, one +of which he commanded in person, and placed the other under the +command of Benalcazar. Alvarado marched up with his troops in +order of battle; but when just on the point of commencing the +attack, certain propositions of peace were made, and a truce was +agreed upon for the rest of the day and the following night, on +purpose to agree upon conditions[30]. In a conferrence for this +purpose, an agreement was entered into, which was greatly +forwarded by a licentiate named Caldera. It was agreed that +Almagro should pay to Alvarado 100,000 pesos, or 2000 marks of +gold[31], as an equivalent for the expences he had incurred in +fitting out his expedition, and that the two commanders should go +together to Pizarro, for the purpose of procuring the necessary +funds for payment of this agreement. The conditions were kept +secret, lest the companions of Alvarado might prevent their +execution, as their interest had been entirely overlooked in this +agreement. It was therefore given out that Alvarado was to embark +with his people to make farther discovery of the country, leaving +that part which was already occupied and conquered by the +Spaniards, and permission was given to all who thought proper +that they might remain at Quito with Benalcazar. A considerable +number of the followers of Alvarado availed themselves of this +permission, and others accompanied him and Almagro to Pachacamac, +where they were informed Pizarro had gone from Xauxa expressly to +receive them. Before leaving the province of Quito, Almagro +ordered the <i>curaca</i> who deserted from him along with +Philipillo to be burnt alive, and would have treated the +interpreter in the same manner, but Alvarado interceded for him, +and obtained his pardon.</p> + +<blockquote>[30] Garcilasso says that the soldiers of both +armies, being mostly natives of Estremedura, mixed together +without permission of their officers, and made propositions of +peace and amity, by which the generals were in a great measure +forced to an agreement.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[31] Two thousand marks of gold of eight ounces each, +and the ounce at four pound Sterling are worth L.64,000, perhaps +equivalent to near L.460,000 of modern money.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While Almagro and Alvarado were on their march from the +province of Quito for Pachacamac, the <i>curaca</i> or chief of +the Cagnares, informed them that the Peruvian general Quizquiz +had assembled an army of above 12,000 men, with which he had +collected all the people and cattle of the country between and +Xauxa, and intended attacking them on their march. This chief +added, that if they would delay their march for some time, he +would contrive a plan for delivering Quizquiz into their hands. +Almagro was not disposed to put too much confidence in this +proposal, and continued his journey. On arriving in the province +of <i>Chaparra</i>[32], they unexpectedly fell in with above two +thousand Peruvian warriors commanded by a curaca named Sotaurco. +This was the advanced guard of Quizquiz, whose main body was two +or three days march in the rear. Quizquiz had a similar +detachment at a considerable distance on his left flank, on +purpose to raise contributions of provisions from the inhabitants +of the country for the subsistence of his army; and had besides a +rear guard of three or four thousand warriors, two days march +behind. The main body under his own immediate command escorted +all the cattle which had been collected on the march, and great +numbers of prisoners, so that his whole army occupied a space of +above sixty miles of country.</p> + +<blockquote>[32] Perhaps that now called Xibarros, in the south +of the kingdom of Quito.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Sotaurco, the commander of the Peruvian vanguard, endeavoured +to gain possession of a defile or pass in the mountains, by which +he supposed the Spaniards intended to march; but Almagro not only +prevented the execution of that project by seizing the pass, but +even made Sotaurco prisoner. From him Almagro was informed of the +order of march observed by Quizquiz, and determined to make a +forced march with all his cavalry to attack him. In this march, +at a steep stoney pass near a river which it was necessary to +pass, most of the horses lost their shoes; and as it was in the +night, the Spaniards had to replace them as well as they could by +the light of fires and candles. Being afraid lest Quizquiz might +be informed of their approach by some of the natives of the +country, Almagro continued his march with all possible +expedition, and towards the evening of the second day of his +march he came in sight of the Peruvian camp.</p> + +<p>Immediately on seeing the Spaniards, Quizquiz withdrew to some +distance with all the women and people who were unfit for battle, +and placed his troops in a post of very difficult access under +the command of <i>Huaypalca</i>, a brother of the late inca +Atahualpa. Almagro advanced without hesitation to attack them, +although the horses were so weary that they were hardly able to +move though led mostly by the soldiers; besides which the +Peruvians rolled down upon them from the mountain great +quantities of large stones and fragments of rock. In spite of +every obstacle, the Spaniards made their way to the post occupied +by Huaypalca, which they attacked both in front and flank, and +forced him to retire among the steep rocks, where he defended +himself till night, and then drew off under cover of the darkness +to rejoin Quizquiz. Sometime afterwards, it was learnt that the +detached party of Peruvians which marched on the left of +Quizquiz, had made prisoners of fourteen Spaniards, all of whom +they put to death. Almagro, in continuing his march, was opposed +by the Peruvian rear-guard at the passage of a river, so that he +was unable to get over for a whole day. Besides occupying the +opposite bank of the river, the Peruvians had taken possession of +a very high mountain immediately above the place occupied by the +Spaniards, so that they were unable to attack the enemy without +exposing themselves to great danger; and indeed a good many of +the Spaniards were wounded, among whom Alfonso de Alvarado was +pierced quite through the thigh by a javelin, and another officer +of rank was severely wounded. The Peruvians kept firm all night, +but in the morning they abandoned their post on the banks of the +river, leaving the passage free for the Spaniards. The Indians +had burnt all the baggage which they could not carry off, but +above 15,000 Peruvian sheep were found in their camp, and more +than four thousand Indian men and women, of those whom Quizquiz +had made prisoners, who now voluntarily surrendered themselves to +the Spaniards. The Peruvian warriors had retired to a strong post +on the top of a mountain, where Almagro did not think fit to +attack them, as he was desirous to continue his march to the +south.</p> + +<p>On their arrival at San Miguel, Almagro sent the Captain Diego +de Mora to Puerto Viejo, to take the charge of the vessels +belonging to Alvarado, who likewise sent Garcias de Holguin on +his part, that this measure might be executed amicably according +to agreement. After giving all the necessary orders at San +Miguel, and having provided his own men and those of Alvarado +with arms, money, and clothes, he and Alvarado continued their +journey towards Pachacamac. In the course of this march, he left +Captain Martin Astete to build and settle a town now called +Truxillo, in a convenient situation on the coast, in pursuance of +orders to that effect from the governor Don Francisco +Pizarro.</p> + +<p>About this time Quizquiz, having continued his march towards +Quito, had his advanced guard attacked and defeated by one of the +officers belonging to Benalcazar. Quizquiz was much afflicted by +this loss, and knew not well what to do or how to conduct +himself. The curacas or native chiefs in his army advised him to +make his peace with Benalcazar; but he would not listen to this +proposal, even threatening to put them to death if they ever +mentioned such a thing again, and ordered them to prepare for +returning into Peru. But, as they were in want of provisions, and +had no hopes of procuring any in the retreat which Quizquiz +meditated, several of the <i>curacas</i>, at the head of whom was +Huaypalca, remonstrated with him that it was better to die like +brave men in battle against the Spaniards, than to retreat as he +desired and to die of famine in a desert country. As Quizquiz +gave a very unsatisfactory answer to this remonstrance, Huaypalca +gave him a thrust in the breast with his lance, and all the other +curacas fell upon him with their clubs and axes, cutting him to +pieces. After this they dismissed the troops, allowing every one +to go where he pleased.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of Almagro and Alvarado at Pachacamac, they +were joyfully received by the governor, who had come there from +Xauxa to meet them. Pizarro honourably fulfilled the entire +agreement which Almagro had made with Alvarado, by the payment of +the stipulated sum of 100,000 gold pesos; though several persons +remonstrated against paying so large a sum, and alleged that +Almagro had been constrained to enter into the agreement by +necessity, and that Alvarado, instead of receiving so much money, +deserved to be sent prisoner into Spain, for having invaded the +government belonging to another person. After receiving the +money, Alvarado returned quietly to his government of +Guatimala[33].</p> + +<blockquote>[33] According to Garcilosso, Pizarro made an +additional free gift to Alvarado of 20,000 gold pesos to defray +the expence of his voyage back to his government, with emeralds +and turquoises to a considerable value, and several articles of +gold plate for the use of his table.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After the departure of Alvarado, the governor Pizarro began +the establishment of a colony or settlement in the district of +Pachacamac, which he named <i>Ciudad de los Reyes</i>, or the +City of the Kings, otherwise called Lima, to which place he +removed the colonists whom he had formerly established at Xauxa +or Jauja; as the situation of Lima appeared to him exceedingly +well calculated for trade, being near the sea[34]. From that +place, Almagro went with a considerable force to Cuzco, and +Pizarro visited Truxillo on purpose to place that colony on a +proper footing, by making an equitable repartition of the lands +and Indians among the colonists.</p> + +<blockquote>[34] Lima or Los Reyes is built on the banks of a +river named Rimac or Limac by the Peruvians, whence its ordinary +name of Lima. It is about ten miles from the sea, having a port +named Callao at the mouth of the river. This city got the name of +<i>the City of the Kings</i>; either from its foundation being +laid on the 18th of January 1535, on the festival of the <i>three +kings</i>; or in honour of Juana and Carlos, joint sovereigns of +Castile.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While at Truxillo, Pizarro received information that Almagro +was inclined to take possession of the city of Cuzco, having been +apprized by Ferdinand Pizarro, who was sent to Spain, that his +majesty had appointed him a separate government extending a +hundred leagues beyond the boundaries which had been assigned to +Pizarro, and which Almagro alleged were considerably to the north +of Cuzco. Juan and Gonzalo Pizarro, brothers of the governor, who +were then in Cuzco, and several other persons of consideration, +vigorously opposed Almagro and Hernando Soto, who took the part +of Almagro, and a civil war seemed on the point of breaking out: +But Almagro was unable to succeed in his design, as the great +majority of the senators or members of the Cabildo took the part +of the governor and his brothers. Immediately on receiving +intelligence of these disputes, Pizarro posted with all +expedition to Cuzco, where he soon re-established tranquillity by +his presence. He pardoned Almagro, who was much ashamed of having +occasioned so much confusion by attempting a matter of such high +importance on such slight grounds as a mere hearsay or report. +The ancient friendship and association between Pizarro and +Almagro was renewed, and it was agreed that Almagro should go +with a military force on discovery to the south, and if he found +any country worth taking possession of, that the associates were +to use their joint interest at the court of Spain to procure the +government of it for him; but, if no good country were to be +found, the government of Peru was then to be divided between +Pizarro and Almagro. This agreement was solemnly ratified by oath +upon the consecrated host, pledging themselves never to attempt +in future to do any thing contrary to the interests of each +other. Some have said that Almagro, on this occasion, swore that +he would never make any future attempt upon Cuzco, or any part of +the country to the distance of a hundred and thirty leagues to +the south of that city, even in the event of being named by the +king to to its government; and they add, that in addressing +himself on this occasion to the holy body of Christ, he used +these words, "If I should violate the oath which I now make, I +pray, O Lord! that thou mayest punish and confound me in body and +soul."</p> + +<p>After this solemn agreement; Almagro prepared everything for +his departure, and accordingly set out with above five hundred +men, as shall be related in the next section. Pizarro returned to +Lima, whence he sent Alfonso de Alvarado to conquer the country +of the Chachapoyas, which is in the mountainous region of Peru +about sixty leagues from Truxillo. This officer and his followers +encountered much difficulty and labour in this enterprize, in +which they at length succeeded, by forming establishments and +reducing the inhabitants to submission; after which, the +government of the province was conferred upon Alvarado, by whom +the conquest had been effected.</p> + +<p>SECTION III.</p> + +<p><i>Occurrences from the departure of Almagro for Chili, to his +capture by Pizarro, being the first part of the civil wars in +Peru</i>.</p> + +<p>Inconsequence of the agreement between Pizarro and Almagro, +which was ratified on the 12th of June 1535, Almagro soon +afterwards set out upon the proposed discovery and conquest at +the head of five hundred and seventy men, partly cavalry and part +infantry; for so great were the hopes of acquiring riches in this +expedition, that several who had already acquired establishments +in Peru, abandoned their houses, lands, and Indians, to follow +the fortunes of Almagro[1]. Juan, de Saavedra was sent on before +the main body of the army with a detachment of a hundred men; +and, in the course of his march through that province which has +since been called <i>Los Charcas</i>, he met with some Indians on +their road from Chili to Peru, who were going to pay their homage +to the Inca. Almagro having along with him a body of two hundred +men, both horse and foot, made a march of two hundred and fifty +leagues, reducing the whole country in his way, till he arrived +in the district of the <i>Chichas</i>, where he learnt that he +was followed by a body of fifty Spaniards commanded by Niguerol +de Ulloa. Almagro commanded that party to join him, and continued +his march towards Chili, which is 350 leagues beyond the +province, of Chichas, reducing all the tribes on his route to +submission. Almagro halted at this place with half his troops, +and sent on the rest under Gomez de Aivarado, who proceeded sixty +leagues farther; but was forced to return to Almagro, in +consequence of the severity of the weather.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] Though not mentioned directly in the text, it +appears that Almagro knew of and intended to conquer the country +of Chili, and that he chose to march by the high country of Peru, +through the great elevated valley of the lake Titicaca, probably +the highest inhabited land of South America. His object was in +all probability to avoid the extensive desert of Atacama, which +divides the plain of Peru from Chili.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After the departure of Almagro from Cuzco, the Inca Manco +Capac and his, brother Villaoma entered into a plot for +massacring all the Spaniards in Peru on a certain day. Manco +Capac had engaged execute to that part of the conspiracy which +had for its object the destruction of Almagro and his troops, but +which he was unable to accomplish. What was done by his brother +will be related afterwards. Philipillo, the Peruvian interpreter +who has been formerly mentioned, was acquainted with this +conspiracy, on which account he made his escape from Almagro, and +being pursued and taken was condemned to be quartered. Before his +execution, he confessed that he had unjustly procured the death +of Atahualpa, that he might thereby secure to himself one of the +wives of that unhappy prince, of whom he was enamoured.</p> + +<p>About two months after the arrival of Almagro in Chili, one of +his captains named Ruy Dias came to him with a reinforcement of a +hundred men, and informed him that all the natives of Peru had +revolted and had massacred most of the Spaniards in that country. +Almagro was much grieved at this intelligence, and resolved +immediately to return, that he might chastise the revolters and +restore the country to obedience; meaning afterwards to send one +of his captains with a sufficient force to reduce Chili. He +accordingly set out on his return, and was met on his way by +Rodrigo Orgognez, who brought him a reinforcement of twenty-five +men, and was soon afterwards joined by Juan de Herrada with a +farther reinforcement of a hundred. Herrada brought him likewise +the letters patent of the king, by which he was appointed +governor of two hundred leagues of country beyond the boundaries +assigned to Pizarro. This new government which was granted to +Almagro was directed to be named the New Kingdom of Toledo, and +that of Pizarro, the New Kingdom of Castille. Having said at the +commencement of this section, that Almagro carried with him from +Cuzco on this expedition a force of 570 Spanish troops; it must +be remarked that such was his intention, but that in reality he +had only 200 men along with him, after which his army was made up +nearly to the intended number by the different reinforcements of +which we have made mention.</p> + +<p>In the march of Almagro into Chili, his army suffered +excessive hardships from hunger and thirst. Besides their other +fatigues, they had often to encounter Indians of great stature, +clothed in the skins of sea-wolves and seals, who used the bow +and arrow with great strength and address. But the most severe +circumstance during this march was the intense cold which they +encountered in passing over some mountains covered with snow. In +particular, several of the soldiers belonging to Ruy Dias and a +good many horses were frozen to death; and so excessive was the +cold, that when Almagro returned towards Cuzco five months +afterwards, several of the bodies of those who had been frozen to +death were found upright and leaning against the rocks, still +holding the bridles of their horses, which were likewise frozen, +and their flesh still remained as sweet and uncorrupted as if +they had only just expired, insomuch that the troops used the +flesh of these horses as food on their return to Peru. In some +parts of these deserts where there was no snow, the Spaniards +were reduced to great straits from want of water; on which +account they had to make bags or leather bottles of the skins of +sheep, in which to carry water for their supply.</p> + +<p>It is proper to remark, that the Peruvian sheep are much +larger animals than those of Europe, and are used as beasts of +burden. They resemble in some measure the camel in their shape, +except that they have no hunches on their backs, and are able to +carry a load of a hundred pounds or more, with which they are +able to travel four or five leagues a-day. The Spaniards even +sometimes rode on their backs. When fatigued, they immediately +lie down, and it is impossible to make them rise again by any +means whatever, neither blows nor kindness are of any avail, and +it becomes necessary to unload them. When a person rides on one +of these animals, and endeavours to urge it on when weary, it +turns round its head towards the man, blowing upon him a most +offensive breath mixed with a kind of stinking dew, which seems +to proceed from the contents of its stomach. This is a most +useful and profitable animal, as besides serving as a beast of +burden, its wool is excellent and very fine; more especially that +species which is called <i>pacas</i>, which has very long wool. +These animals are supported at very little expence while on a +journey, requiring only a very small allowance of maize, and they +can subsist four or five days without drinking. Their flesh is +well tasted and wholesome, and equal to the best fat mutton of +Spain; and it is accordingly sold in all the butcher-markets of +Peru. At the first settlement of the Spaniards in this country, +before the establishment of regular markets, when any person +killed one of these sheep, his neighbours used to participate, +and they in their turns killed others, and divided them among the +neighbours.</p> + +<p>In some of the level plains of Peru there is a species of +ostrich, which is taken in the following manner. Several horsemen +place themselves in ambush, while others likewise on horseback +pursue the ostriches and endeavour to drive them towards their +companions who are concealed. These birds, although they are +unable to rise in flight into the air, go with astonishing +swiftness, partly by running, and partly by means of short +flights close to the ground, insomuch that a man on horseback is +altogether unable to get up with them, so that it requires +stratagem to kill or take them alive.</p> + +<p>In Chili there are some rivers which have water only during +the day, and are entirely dry during the night. This is owing to +the heat of the sun melting the snow on the mountains by day, by +which temporary rivers, or torrents rather, are formed by day, +which cease again at night when the cold puts a stop to the +melting of the snow. When we have got about 500 leagues along the +coast from Peru towards the south, or in the lat. of about +30° S. rain is often met with, and the winds are no longer so +regular as nearer the line, but blow sometimes one way and +sometimes another, as in Spain and other countries of Europe. +Chili is a tolerably well peopled country, and resembles Peru in +being divisible into two districts, the plain and the mountain, +and its coast is considerably more indented by gulfs and bays +than that of Peru[2]. It enjoys the vicissitudes of summer and +winter nearly as in Spain, but at opposite times of the year, the +winter of Chili being at the same time with the Spanish summer, +and vice versa. The pole seen from that country, which is +directly opposite our <i>Arctic</i> or north pole, is only marked +by a kind of small white cloud or nebula, which is seen after +sunset in that direction in which astronomers have placed the +antartic or south pole. There is likewise seen a constellation of +seven stars, four of them being in form of a cross, followed by +three others, resembling the lesser bear of the astronomers which +turns round the north polar star. These seven stars near the +south pole are situated somewhat like those of the <i>ursa +minor</i>, except that the four which form the cross are nearer +each other than those of the north pole which are seen in our +hemisphere. Our north pole is lost sight of somewhat less than +200 leagues to the south of Panama, under the equator; from +whence, or a little beyond, on either side of the line, these two +constellations may be seen when they rise a little above the +poles of the horizon. On the south side of the equinoctial line, +navigators are only able to see the four stars near the antarctic +pole which form the cross, until they reach the <i>thirtieth</i> +degree of south latitude, after which they get sight of the other +three stars which form this constellation.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] From the desert of Atacama in lat 25° S. to +the island of Chiloe in about lat. 42° S. Chili Proper, +between the Pacific ocean and the western ridge of the Andes, +stretches about 1100 English miles nearly north and south by an +average breadth of about 140 miles.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The change in the length of the days and nights in Chili is +nearly the same as in Spain, only the longest day in Chili is at +that time of the year when Spain has the day shortest. In Peru +and Tierra firma and generally in all places near the equinoctial +line, the days and nights are always equal or nearly so during +the whole year. Even at Lima and other places the difference is +so small as hardly to be noticed. The natives of Chili are +clothed nearly in the same manner with the Peruvians, and use the +same kind of food. The inhabitants, both men and women, are +tolerably well looked. They are governed by great lords, who make +war against each other, and some of whom are able to bring +200,000 men into the field. One of these lords at this time was +named <i>Leuchengorma</i>, who possessed an island about two +leagues from the coast which was consecrated to his idols, in +which was a temple ministered to by two thousand priests. The +subjects of Leuchengorma informed the Spaniards, that there was a +great province about fifty leagues farther on, situated between +two rivers, which was entirely inhabited by women, who did not +admit any men among them but at certain times, for the purpose of +having children, and who sent all their sons to their fathers, +reserving their daughters only to be brought up among themselves. +They said farther, that these women were subjects of +Leuchengorma, and were ruled over by a queen named +<i>Guaboymilla</i>, which signifies <i>golden heaven</i> in their +language, and so named because her country produces a great +quantity of gold. These women manufactured rich stuffs, in which, +and in the gold produced in their country, they paid tribute to +Leuchengorma. Although these things have often been spoken of, +their truth has not as yet been ascertained by the discovery of +the country, Almagro having made no establishment there. Of late, +indeed, Pedro de Valdivia has been sent thither to establish some +colonies, but he has never yet had a sufficient force for making +discoveries, or for colonization, and has settled one colony +only, which is placed about thirty-three degrees to the south of +the equator[3].</p> + +<blockquote>[3] Valparayso stands nearly in the latitude +indicated by the text. Valdivia, taking its name from that +commander, is in lat. 30°40' S.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The whole coast of Chili is well peopled, as far as to the +latitude of 40° south and still farther; which is known by +one of the ships belonging to the fleet sent out by Don Gabriel +de Carvajal bishop of Placentia, which passed through the straits +of Magellan, and sailed along the whole western coast of South +America from south to north, and at length reached the port +belonging to Lima. This ship brought over the first rats ever +seen in Peru, which have so multiplied since that there are +plenty in every town of the whole country.</p> + +<p>These animals are named <i>ococha</i> by the Peruvians, which +word signifies having come from the sea.</p> + +<p>Soon after the departure of Almagro from Cuzco on his +expedition to Chili, Ferdinand Pizarro returned from Spain, where +his majesty made him a knight of the order of St Jago, with other +advantages[4]. He had likewise obtained an enlargement of the +government of his brother to a certain extent, and brought out +with him a commission for Almagro to a new government.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] Zarate is extremely remiss in regard to dates, +and not a little confused in the arrangement of his narrative. We +learn from Robertson, II. 325, that Ferdinand Pizarro returned to +Peru in 1536.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>At this time Manco Capac, whom Pizarro had permitted to assume +the nominal title of Inca of Peru, was detained a prisoner in the +citadel of Cuzco, in consequence of the discovery of a conspiracy +he had entered into with his brothers Paul and Villaoma to +exterminate the Spaniards. Manco Capac wrote to Juan Pizarro, +intreating to be set at liberty before the arrival of Ferdinand +Pizarro at Cuzco; and Juan, who was then in the <i>Collao</i> +endeavouring to reduce certain Indians who had retired into a +strong place among rocks, sent orders to liberate the Inca. On +the arrival of Ferdinand Pizarro at Cuzco, he treated Manco Capac +with much respect, yet kept a constant guard over him, and it is +believed that Ferdinand shewed great friendship for the Inca, in +the hope of procuring gold from him, to send to the king of Spain +or for his own use. Two months after the return of Ferdinand to +Cuzco, Manco Capac solicited permission from Ferdinand to go into +the district of <i>Jucaya</i>[5] on purpose to celebrate a solemn +festival, promising on his return to present him with a statue of +the late Huana Capac of solid gold as large as life. Ferdinand +allowed him to attend this festival, which turned out merely the +unravelment of the plot which had been formed at the time when +Almagro began his march for Chili. Manco Capac gave immediate +orders to put to death some Spaniards who superintended the +working of the mines, and others who were travelling through the +country on various affairs. He sent likewise one of his captains +with a considerable body of troops against Cuzco, who by a sudden +and unexpected attack got possession of the castle of that city. +The Spaniards indeed retook it after six or seven days, yet not +without hard fighting, in which they lost Juan Pizarro; who was +killed by a stone which struck him on the head, at a time when he +was unable to wear his helmet in consequence of a former wound. +His death was much regretted by the Spaniards, being a brave man +and much experienced in the manner of carrying on war with the +Indians, and besides because his manners had made him beloved by +every one.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] According to Robertson, II. 326, the place where +the festival was to be celebrated was only at a few leagues +distance from Cuzco. Garcilasso says that it was a garden +belonging to the Incas only a league from the +city.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Notwithstanding the recapture of the castle of Cuzco by the +Spaniards, the Inca brought a large army against the city, which +he besieged for more than eight months, making frequent assaults +on various parts of the works, chiefly during moon-light nights +when the moon was full. Ferdinand Pizarro and his brothers, +assisted by Gabriel de Roias, Hernand Ponce de Leon, Don Alfonso +Enriquez, the treasurer Requelme, and other brave officers, made +a resolute defence, and were almost perpetually under arms day +and night, as the number of the garrison was exceedingly +inadequate to the extent of the place and the multitude of +assailants. As the Spaniards in Cuzco were aware that the +insurrection was general over all Peru, they hardly doubted but +the governor and all their other countrymen were cut off, so that +they defended themselves as men who had no earthly hope of +succour, depending only on the mercy of God and their own +courage. Their small number was daily diminished, as hardly a day +passed in which the Indians did not kill or wound some of their +people. One time during the siege, Gonzalo Pizarro made a sally +with twenty horsemen, and proceeded to the lake or marsh of +Chinchero which is five leagues from Cuzco, where he was +surrounded by so vast a force of Indians that he must inevitably +have been made prisoner, had not Ferdinand Pizarro and Alfonso de +Toro come up to his rescue with a body of horse. Gonzalo was much +blamed on this occasion for having advanced so far among the +enemy with so few men.</p> + +<p>We have already mentioned that Almagro had resolved to return +into Peru and to make himself master of Cuzco, from the time that +Juan de Herrada had brought him the commission by which he was +appointed to a government beyond that assigned to Don Francisco +Pizarro. The principal officers who were along with him, strongly +urged him to this measure, particularly Gomez Alvarado and Diego +Alvarado, brother and uncle of Don Pedro Alvarado the governor of +Guatimala, and Rodrigo Orgognez; some of whom were eager to +procure settlements in Peru, and others were desirous of gaining +establishments in Chili. To succeed in their design, as reports +of the insurrection in Peru had reached Chili, they instructed +some Indian interpreters to inform Almagro that the governor +Francisco Pizarro and most of the Spaniards in Peru had been +slain by the Peruvians. Urged by all these considerations, +Almagro marched back into Peru, and even arrived within six +leagues of Cuzco without giving notice to Ferdinand Pizarro of +his motions or intentions[6]. Almagro made overtures to the Inca +Manco Capac for an accommodation, offering to forgive him all the +injury he had already done to the Spaniards, in consideration of +joining his party and assisting him to become master of Cuzco, of +which he pretended that he had been appointed governor by the +king of Spain. The Inca proposed an interview between them under +pretence of settling the terms of an agreement, to which Almagro +consented without suspecting any treachery, and went accordingly +with a part only of his troops to the place appointed for the +conference, leaving the rest of his force under the command of +Juan de Saavedra. Taking advantage of this confidence, the Inca +attacked Almagro by surprize with extreme fury, and even killed +and wounded several of his men.</p> + +<blockquote>[6] The return of Almagro to Cuzco was in the year +1537.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In the mean time, Ferdinand Pizarro received notice of the +arrival of Almagro, and that Juan de Saavedra was left at the +village of Hurcos in command of the troops in the absence of +Almagro. He went therefore from Cuzco at the head of an hundred +and seventy of his best troops, in hope of being able to prevail +on Saavedra and the rest to abandon the party of Almagro, or to +fall upon them by surprize and make them prisoners. But Saavedra +got timely notice of his approach, and drew up his forces, +amounting to three hundred Spaniards, in an advantageous +situation for his reception. When the two parties were just about +to engage, Ferdinand Pizarro sent a message to Saavedra proposing +a private interview, that they might endeavour to agree upon an +accommodation, to which the other consented. As this conference +was entirely between themselves, it is difficult to know with any +certainty what passed; but it was reported that Ferdinand +endeavoured to persuade Saavedra to join him with the troops +under his command, for which he offered a large recompense in +gold; but that Saavedra, like a man of honour, peremptorily +refused to betray his general.</p> + +<p>On the return of Almagro from his affair with the Inca, he +rejoined the troops under Saavedra, and marched for Cuzco with +his whole force. While on the march, he made prisoners of four +horsemen who had been sent out by Ferdinand Pizarro to +reconnoitre, from whom he learnt all the particulars of the +insurrection of the Peruvians, who had killed more than six +hundred Spaniards, and had burnt down a great part of the city of +Cuzco, on which news Almagro was very sensibly afflicted. He sent +however, his patents as governor to the senators of the royal +council or Cabildo of Cuzco, whom he urged to receive him as +their governor; since, as he insisted, the bounds of the +government assigned to Francisco Pizarro certainly did not +include their city, and even fell considerably short of it to the +north. In answer to this demand, the council made answer, that +whenever the extent of the government belonging to Pizarro was +accurately measured and determined, they would be ready to accede +to his desires, provided their city was found to be beyond his +limits. This subject was endeavoured to be settled at that time, +and has been since tried to be ascertained by several experienced +persons; but the manner in which this affair ought to be +regulated has never been agreed upon between the two interested +parties. The adherents of Almagro have always insisted, that the +extent assigned by his majesty as the government of Pizarro, +ought to be measured either along the sea coast or by the grand +road of the Incas, taking into the account all the turnings and +windings in either of these routes; by which means, in either of +these ways not only the city of Cuzco, but even Lima according to +the opinions of several persons, would be left out of the +province of Pizarro. He on the other hand, insisted that the +extent of country granted to him, ought to be measured in a +straight line directly from north to south, without any angles or +turnings, or by means of settling the degrees of latitude at the +two extremities, allowing so many leagues to each degree.</p> + +<p>Ferdinand Pizarro offered to admit Almagro and his troops into +Cuzco, and to assign them a particular quarter of the city for +their residence, if he would agree to defer the dispute about the +boundaries, till intelligence were sent to the governor Don +Francisco Pizarro, then at Lima, that he might have it in his +power to endeavour to fall upon some means of settling the +difference between them in an amicable manner. It has been said +by some, that a truce was agreed upon between them on these +principles; and that on the faith of this truce, Ferdinand +Pizarro allowed all the soldiers and inhabitants to retire to +their quarters for rest and refreshment, after their long +fatigues, having spent several days and nights continually under +arms, without time to sleep or even to take proper food. It is +farther said, that Almagro, being informed of this circumstance, +made a night attack on Cuzco, in which he was aided by a thick +mist, so that he got possession of the defences without being +observed. Ferdinand and Gonzalo Pizarro, awakened by the noise, +flew to arms and defended their house, which was the first +attacked, with the assistance of their servants; but as the enemy +set it on fire in several places, they were forced to surrender. +Next day, Almagro obliged the Cabildo to receive him as governor, +and committed Ferdinand and Gonzalo Pizarro to prison. Several of +his confidents even urged him to secure his conquest by putting +the Pizarros to death; but he was chiefly dissuaded from this by +the influence of Diego de Alvarado, who became responsible for +them.</p> + +<p>It has been said that Almagro violated the truce which he had +agreed to with Ferdinand Pizarro, in consequence of the false +representations of several Indians and Spaniards, who told him +that Ferdinand had ordered all the bridges to be broken down, and +was employed in fortifying Cuzco against him. In proof of this, +it is alleged that when Almagro was advancing to attack the city, +and saw the bridges remained uninjured, he said aloud that he had +been imposed on. The governor Don Francisco Pizarro did not +receive any account of these events at Cuzco for a good many days +afterwards. As the Inca Manco Capac had fled with a large body of +Peruvian warriors to the high mountains of the Andes, Almagro +invested his brother the <i>Inca Paul</i>[7] with the royal +fringed fillet, appointing him nominal king of Peru.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] Garcilasso names this prince Paullu +Inca.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Among those things which Don Francisco Pizarro had solicited +from his majesty in reward for his services in the discovery and +conquest of Peru, he particularly requested the grant in +perpetuity to him and his descendants of twenty thousand Indians +in a province named <i>Atabillos</i>[8], with all the revenues, +imposts, rights, and jurisdictions appertaining to them, together +with the title of Marquis of that province. The king gave him the +title of Marquis according to his desire; but in regard to the +grant of Indians which he solicited, answered, that he must in +the first place be better informed of the nature and +circumstances of the country and its native institutions, before +he could determine on that measure, but that Pizarro might rest +assured of having every reasonable concession in his favour.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] Named <i>Atavillos</i> by Garcilasso de la +Vega.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On receiving information of the insurrection of the Peruvians +around Cuzco under Manco Capac, Francisco Pizarro, now Marquis, +sent several detachments of troops to the assistance of his +brother Ferdinand at Cuzco, sometimes ten or fifteen only +together, according as circumstances or convenience occurred, not +believing the state of affairs to be so hazardous as it was in +reality[9]. The Peruvians having accurate information of the +march of these detachments, occupied the difficult passes of the +mountains with parties of warriors, and succeeded on several +occasions to defeat these small bodies, most of whom were slain. +One considerable reinforcement of seventy horsemen, was sent by +the Marquis from Truxillo and San Miguel under the command of +Diego Pizarro, who was waylaid by the Peruvians at a difficult +pass called the mountain of Parios, about fifty leagues from +Cuzco, where he and his men were all slain. One Gonzalo de Tapia, +who was brother-in-law to the Marquis, who went with a body of +eighty horsemen, was likewise defeated and slain; and two other +captains, named Morgoveio and Gaete, while endeavouring to pass +the mountains to the relief of Cuzco, were treated in the same +manner. Of all these different detachments, scarcely one man +escaped, so that those who followed knew nothing of what happened +to those who went before them. The enemy always attacked the +Spaniards while engaged in marching through some deep and narrow +valley among the mountains, occupying both ends of the valley by +strong bodies of warriors, and rolling down great stones and +masses of rock from the steep and high mountains on both sides of +the valley, destroyed our men and horses in a miserable manner, +often without fighting. In this way they at different times +destroyed more than three hundred soldiers, and made themselves +masters of their arms, besides acquiring considerable and +valuable plunder in gold and jewels and silk dresses. Not knowing +the fate of the former detachments, Francisco de Godoy was sent +with a reinforcement of eighty men; but falling in with two of +those who had belonged to the detachment under Gaete, who had +escaped, he learnt from them what had happened, on which he +immediately endeavoured to retreat from the mountain passes, in +which he had considerable difficulty, as the Indians had already +occupied the defiles in his rear. He made good his retreat +however, followed and harassed by the Indians for more than +twenty leagues, sometimes attacking him in the rear and at other +times in the van, and at length got safe to Lima with much +difficulty. About the same time the captain Diego de Aguero +arrived at that place with some other Spaniards, who had saved +themselves from the Indians, who had endeavoured to massacre them +at their country residences.</p> + +<blockquote>[9] The arrangement of Zarate is extremely faulty and +confused, as he here recounts circumstances which preceeded the +return of Almagro to Cuzco. We are here giving a translation of a +original document; not endeavouring to write a history of the +Conquest of Peru, and have not therefore authority to alter the +arrangement of our author.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The marquis sent Pedro de Lerma at the head of eighty cavalry +to drive away a numerous army of Peruvian warriors who had +invaded the lower country in pursuit of Aguero. Lerma fought +against these troops of the Inca a whole day, and at last forced +them to take refuge in a strong place among steep rocks, where +the Spaniards surrounded them. In this battle, Lerma lost several +of his teeth, and several of his men were wounded, but none +killed. The Indians were so exceedingly crowded together among +the rocks to which they had retired, that they were unable to use +their arms, insomuch that the Spaniards might probably have put +an end to the war on this occasion, if the marquis had not sent +them an order to retire. On seeing the retreat of their enemies, +the Indians returned thanks to their gods for their escape from +so great danger, and took post on a high mountain near the city +of Lima on the other side of the river, whence they harassed the +Spaniards by frequent skirmishes and attacks. The commander of +these Indians was named Tyzogopangui, who had along with him one +of the brothers of the Inca, whom the marquis had sent along with +Gaete[10]. While the Peruvians remained in the neighbourhood of +Lima, skirmishing every day with the Spaniards, it often happened +that the natives who were in the service of the Spaniards, who +were called <i>Yanacones</i>, went during the day to their +friends in the mountains, who gave them provisions, and returned +at night to their masters.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] Garcilasso names the Peruvian general Titu +Yupanqui. The remainder of the sentence, respecting the brother +of the Inca and Gaete, is quite unintelligible. I suspect it has +been misunderstood by the French translator and ought to stand +thus: "The commander of these Peruvians was Titu Yupanqui, a +brother of the Inca, and the same person who had driven Gaete and +others to take refuge in Lima."--E.</blockquote> + +<p>As he was in a manner besieged by so large a force of the +enemy in Lima, the marquis concluded that his brothers and all +the other Spaniards in Cuzco had certainly been slain, and that +the insurrection was so general that the inhabitants of Chili had +likewise destroyed Almagro and his army. In this emergency, both +that his Spaniards might not expect to save themselves by sea, +and to convince the Peruvians that he had no intention to leave +the country, he sent off all his ships to Panama. At the same +time he sent notice to the Viceroy of New Spain and all the other +governors in America and the West Indies of the perilous state of +affairs in Peru, intreating them to send him assistance. In these +letters, he is said not to have shewn his usual firmness, and it +is reported that this was occasioned by the earnest solicitations +of many of those around him. He sent orders at the same time to +the commandant of Truxillo to abandon that place, and to come to +his assistance with all the armed men and horses he could +collect, sending off the women and children and all their +valuable effects to the province of Tierra firma. But before the +execution of these orders, the captain Alfonso de Alvarado +arrived at Truxillo with the troops he had taken along with him +for the conquest of the province of the Chachapoyas, whence he +had been recalled by orders from the marquis. Leaving a part of +his troops for the defence of Truxillo, Alvarado marched with the +rest to Lima, where the marquis appointed him lieutenant-general +of his army, in place of Don Pedro de Lerma, who had hitherto +enjoyed that office. This gave great offence to Lerma, and was +the occasion of his revolt, as shall be mentioned in the +sequel.</p> + +<p>As the marquis was now reinforced by a considerable number of +troops, he thought himself in condition to send assistance to +those parts which were in greatest danger, and detached therefore +Alfonso Alvarado with three hundred horse and foot, who pillaged +several districts with very little resistance from the Indians. +But about four leagues from the city of Pachacamac, he was +violently attacked by the Indians, whom he defeated with +considerable slaughter; after which he continued his march +towards Cuzco. On this march the army of Alvarado suffered great +hardships in passing across a large extent of desert country, +five hundred Indians who attended as servants perishing of +thirst; and it is said that all the Spanish infantry must have +died of thirst and fatigue, if they had not been relieved by the +activity of the cavalry in bringing them water from a distance. +After reaching the province of Jauja, Alvarado was joined by +Gomez de Tordoya with two hundred horse and foot, who had been +sent after him. His force being augmented to five hundred men by +this reinforcement, Alvarado proceeded to the bridge of +<i>Lumichaca</i>, where he was surrounded by a numerous army of +hostile Indians. Having defeated these in battle, he continued +his march to the bridge of Abancay[11], continually harassed by +the Indians. At that place he learned that Ferdinand and Gonzalo +Pizarro had been imprisoned by Almagro, who had taken possession +of Cuzco; on which he resolved to halt where he then was till he +might receive precise orders from the marquis for his farther +proceedings.</p> + +<blockquote>[11] Abancay is a town on one of the branches of the +Apurimac about 60 miles west from Cuzco.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>When Almagro was informed of the arrival of Alfonso Alvarado +at Abancay, he sent Diego Alvarado to wait upon him, attended by +seven or eight horsemen, with orders to notify his commission as +governor in these parts. Alfonso, after examining the commission, +declared that he did not consider himself competent to decide +upon an affair of such high importance, and that the documents +ought to be communicated to the marquis. Almagro had come part of +the way from Cuzco towards the camp of Alvarado, where he waited +the return of his messenger; and not seeing him at the time he +expected, he became afraid that Alvarado had detained him and +might advance to Cuzco by another road. He returned therefore to +Cuzco in all haste to provide for his defence. Learning the +discontent of Lerma, on account of having been superseded in the +command of the army by the marquis, and that he was disposed to +come over to his side with eighty men, Almagro marched out from +Cuzco with his troops a fortnight afterwards, and advanced +towards the army of Alfonso Alvarado. While on the march, the +advanced guard belonging to Almagro, by means of an ambush, made +Pedro Alvarez Holguin prisoner, who had been sent out on +discovery by Alvarado. On learning this circumstance, Alvarado +meant to have arrested Pedro de Lerma, as he entertained +suspicions that he was in correspondence with Almagro; but Lerma +had previously escaped to the enemy, carrying along with him the +signatures of all those who had joined him in the plot for +deserting to Almagro.</p> + +<p>After the junction of Lerma, Almagro approached during the +night to the bridge of Abancay with one part of his army, where +he knew that Gomez de Tordoya and a son of Colonel Vilalva waited +for him; and he detached at the same time a large body of his +troops to a ford of the river, where those who had conspired in +his favour along with Lerma had the guard. By these men the +troops of Almagro were received as friends, so that they passed +the river without opposition. Some of these conspirators +contrived during the night to throw above fifty lances belonging +to the cavalry of Alvarado into the river. Owing to all these +circumstances, when Alvarado proposed next morning to have +attacked the enemy, he found himself abandoned by the +conspirators; and a considerable number of his own troops, not +being able to find their arms, did not come up in time for the +attack. By these means Almagro got an easy and bloodless victory, +not a single Spaniard being killed on either side, Rodrigo +Orgognez only losing several of his teeth by a stone thrown from +a sling[12]. After the capture of Alfonso Alvarado, the +Almagrians pillaged his camp, and carried all the adherents of +Pizarro as prisoners to Cuzco, where they were harshly treated. +In consequence of this victory the partizans of Almagro were so +much elated, that they used to say the Pizarros might now retire +from Peru to govern the Mangroves under the equator.</p> + +<blockquote>[12] We learn from the History of America, II. 331, +that this bloodless victory over Alvarado took place on the 12th +July 1537. Garcilasso calls it the battle of the river Amancay, +and names Alvarado Alonso.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In consequence of the victories which Alvarado had gained over +the Indians at Pachacamac and Lumichaca, as already mentioned, +the Inca and Titu Yupanqui were obliged to retire from before +Lima, which they had in a manner blockaded. By this circumstance +the marquis found himself at liberty to act in support of his +interest at Cuzco; and having received considerable +reinforcements from various parts, he began his march for Cuzco +at the head of more than seven hundred men, horse and foot. In +this expedition, his only purpose was to succour his brothers +against the Peruvians, as he had not hitherto received +information of the return of Almagro from Chili, or any of those +other events which had taken place, as before related. Most of +the troops by which the marquis was lately joined, were sent by +Don Alonso de Fuenmayor, archbishop and president of Hispaniola, +under the command of his brother Don Diego de Fuenmayor. Besides +these, Gaspar de Espinosa had brought some troops from Panama, +and Diego de Avala had brought others from Nicaragua. With this +army the marquis set out from Lima for Cuzco, taking the way of +the plain, and arrived in the province of Nasca, about +twenty-five leagues from Lima[13]. At this place he received +intelligence of the return of Almagro, the death of one of his +brothers and imprisonment of the other two, the defection of +Lerma, and the capture of Alvarado. He was sensibly affected by +this afflicting news; and considering that his troops were only +prepared for contending against Indians, he thought proper to +return immediately to Lima to take proper measures under the +present emergency of his affairs.</p> + +<blockquote>[13] Nasca is about 240 miles S.S.E. from Lima, or +about sixty Spanish leagues.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Soon after his return to Lima, the marquis sent the licentiate +Espinosa to endeavour to bring about an accommodation with +Almagro. Espinosa was directed to represent to Almagro, that if +his majesty were informed of the disputes between them, and the +evil consequences of these upon the condition of the colony, he +would assuredly recal both, and send some other person to assume +the government of Peru, who would reap the rich fruit of their +joint labours. If Almagro refused to listen to these +remonstrances, and to enter into a friendly accommodation, +Espinosa was instructed to request that he would set the brothers +of Pizarro at liberty, and would remain at Cuzco without +attempting any farther hostilities, untill they had laid a +statement of their differences before his majesty, and had +received his final orders respecting the boundaries between their +governments. Espinosa was unable to persuade Almagro to agree to +any accommodation, and soon afterwards died. Leaving Gabriel de +Roias as his lieutenant in Cuzco, with the charge of Gonzalo +Pizarro and Alonso de Alvarado, Almagro descended into the plain +with a considerable force, carrying Ferdinand Pizarro along with +him. He penetrated into the province of Chancay, which is only +twenty leagues from Lima, where he even established a colony or +garrison, in a place which was without any manner of doubt within +the province of the marquis.</p> + +<p>On the return of the marquis to Lima, he made additional +levies of troops; giving out openly that he was reduced to take +up arms against Almagro, who had invaded his government. In a few +days he assembled an army of seven hundred men, among whom was a +considerable body of musqueteers, which had been brought from +Flanders with the necessary arms and ammunition by Pedro de +Vergera, along with the troops of Diego de Fuenmayor. Hitherto +there had not been a sufficient number of musquets in Peru to +form entire companies of that species of troops; but on the +present occasion the marquis was enabled to arm two companies +with that powerful weapon, one of which was commanded by the +before named Pedro de Vergera, who had been formerly sent to +discover the province of Bracamoras. Nugno de Castro was +appointed captain of the other company of musqueteers. Diego de +Urbina, nephew of the maestre de campo Juan de Urhina, was made +captain of the pikemen. Diego de Roias, Peranzures, and Alfonso +de Mercadillo, were appointed captains of horse: Pedro de +Valdivia maestre de campo, and Antonio de Vilalva sergeant-major, +who was son of Colonel Vilalva.</p> + +<p>About this time, Alonso de Alvarado and Gonzalo Pizarro, who +remained prisoners in Cuzco[14], made their escape from prison, +and joined the marquis with above seventy men whom they had +persuaded to accompany them, bringing likewise along with them as +prisoner Gabriel de Roias the lieutenant of Almagro. The arrival +of these officers gave much satisfaction to the marquis, both on +account of their escape from danger, and because the +reinforcement they brought along with them gave great +encouragement to his troops. He appointed his brother Gonzalo +lieutenant-general of his army, and Alonso Alvarado maestre de +campo, or major-general of the cavalry. When Almagro learnt that +his prisoners had escaped, and the numerous forces which the +marquis had procured, he became desirous of an accommodation, for +which purpose he sent Alfonso Enriquez, Diego Nugnez de Mercadura +the factor, and Juan de Guzman treasurer, to the marquis to +desire an interview, at which they might regulate every thing +that was in dispute between them. After several messages and +proposals, the marquis proposed to refer the whole matter to the +umpirage of Francisco de Bovadilla, provincial of the order of +Mercy, to which Almagro consented.</p> + +<blockquote>[14] Zarate forgets that only a few lines before, he +had mentioned that Almagro carried these officers along with his +army:--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In virtue of the powers given to him by both parties, +Bovadilla ordained that Ferdinand Pizarro should be set at +liberty; that Cuzco should be restored to the marquis; that both +armies should be disbanded, and the different companies sent in +various directions to discover and conquer the country; and that +finally the whole dispute about the boundaries of the two +governments should be referred to the decision of his majesty. +Bovadilla likewise persuaded Almagro and Pizarro to have an +interview in the village of Mala[15], mid-way between the two +armies, at which they might discuss the terms of an entire +reconcilement, each to be attended by twelve horsemen. They +accordingly set out for that place from their respective camps; +but as Gonzalo Pizarro did not give implicit confidence to the +promise of Almagro, he followed his brother with the whole army, +which he secretly posted in the neighbourhood of Mala, placing +Castro with forty musketeers in ambush among some reeds near the +road by which Almagro had to pass, and directing him, in case +Almagro was accompanied by a larger force than was agreed on, to +give notice by a discharge of musketry, that Gonzalo might hasten +to the defence of the marquis.</p> + +<blockquote>[15] Mala, or San Pedro de Mala, is a town and +sea-port on a river of the same name, about 50 miles south from +Lima.</blockquote> + +<p>Before leaving Chincha on his way to the interview with +Pizarro, Almagro left orders with his lieutenant-general, Rodrigo +Orgognez, to keep vigilant guard againt the machinations of the +enemy, in case the marquis should bring a greater escort than was +agreed upon, that he might send him prompt assistance; and if any +treason were practised against him, that Ferdinand Pizarro should +be considered as an hostage for his safety. On their meeting, the +marquis and Almagro embraced each other with much apparent +cordiality; but after a short discourse, in which no part of +their difference was alluded to, one of the horsemen who +accompanied the marquis, whispered to Almagro that he was in +danger, and advised him to retire without delay, as Gonzalo +Pizarro had placed an ambush to intercept him. Almagro +immediately called for his horse; and several of the attendants +on Pizarro, seeing Almagro about to retire, endeavoured to +persuade the marquis to have him arrested, which could easily +have been done by means of the musqueteers under De Castro. To +this the marquis would by no means consent, being resolved to +keep his promise inviolate, and would not believe that Almagro +meant to go away without coming to some conclusion on the subject +of their meeting. Almagro however went away; and as he saw the +ambush on his way back, he was convinced that treachery was +intended against him, and made loud complaints of the conduct of +the marquis after his return to Chincha. Yet, by the intercession +of Diego de Alvarado, Almagro set Ferdinand Pizarro at liberty, +on condition that the marquis should provide him with a ship and +a free port, by which he might send dispatches to Spain and +receive answers, and that they should continue in peace until +they received the final determination of the sovereign respecting +the boundaries of their governments. Rodrigo Orgognez was +exceedingly averse from this measure of liberating Ferdinand +Pizarro, who had been harshly treated while a prisoner, and who +he believed would be eager for revenge if set free, and strongly +urged Almagro to put him to death. But Almagro would not listen +to his advice, and sent Ferdinand Pizarro to the marquis, +accompanied by his own son the younger Almagro and several +gentlemen. Ferdinand Pizarro was hardly set off on his return, +when Almagro began to repent that he had set him at liberty; and +it is believed he would have been remanded to prison if he had +not made haste on his journey, during which he was met by several +of his brothers principal officers.</p> + +<p>Soon after the liberation of his brother Ferdinand, the +marquis received provisional orders from his majesty, by the +hands of Pedro Anzures; by which the two governors were commanded +to retain the countries which each of them had discovered and +conquered, and in which they had formed establishments at the +time when this provisional order should be notified to them; +neither of them making any attempt to disturb the other until his +majesty should give definitive orders on the subject. Having now +his brother at liberty, the marquis sent a notification to +Almagro of this imperial order, requiring him to retire according +to his majestys orders from the country which he, Pizarro, had +discovered, and in which he had established colonies. Almagro +answered, that he was ready to obey the orders of his majesty, in +keeping possession of the country and establishments he occupied +when the imperial order was notified, for which reason he +required the marquis to leave him in the peaceable enjoyment of +what he how possessed, declaring that on his part he would +carefully and entirely perform whatever should be finally +commanded by his majesty. The marquis replied, that the city of +Cuzco and the adjoining territory had been first discovered, +colonized, and occupied by him, of which he had been violently +dispossessed by Almagro, that in conformity with the orders of +his majesty, therefore, it behoved Almagro to evacuate that city +and territory, or he would drive him from it by force, as all the +compacts and conventions which had been entered into between them +were abrogated by this new regulation of his majesty.</p> + +<p>As Almagro refused to accede to these demands, the marquis +marched against him with his whole force, on which Almagro +retired towards Cuzco, and fortified himself on a high mountain +named Guavtara, breaking up all the roads to render the approach +to his camp as difficult as possible. Ferdinand Pizarro found +means to ascend the mountain during the night by a secret path, +and forced the passages with his musqueteers, so that Almagro was +forced to abandon this position, seeking his safety in flight. +Being sick at the time, he went with the advanced guard, leaving +Orgognez to bring up and protect the rear. One night, Orgognez +learnt by two of Pizarros horsemen who were taken prisoners, that +the enemy were close up with his rear, on which he hastened the +retreat as much as possible, although several of his officers +were anxious for him to turn back upon the pursuers, knowing by +experience that those who usually inhabited the plain were +liable, on their first coming into the mountainous region, to +sickness and vomiting, very much resembling sea-sickness. +Orgognez refused to listen to this advice, because contrary to +the orders of Almagro; yet it was believed he might have been +successful, as the troops belonging to the marquis were in +reality affected by that ordinary malady, and were besides so +much distressed by the snow that Pizarro retired back with his +army into the maritime plain of Peru. Almagro continued his march +to Cuzco, where he employed himself for two months in raising +recruits, procuring ammunition, preparing arms of silver and +copper, founding cannon, and making every preparation to defend +himself against Pizarro.</p> + +<p>After the return of the marquis into the plain, various +consultations were held as to the best plan of procedure, and it +was at last determined that Ferdinand Pizarro, now +lieutenant-general under the marquis, with his brother Gonzalo +Pizarro as major-general, should march with the army against +Cuzco[16]. On this occasion, a manifesto was circulated as the +reason of this measure, that several of the inhabitants of Cuzco +had made complaints to the marquis against the tyranny of +Almagro, who had violently seized their goods and houses, and +dispossessed them of their Indians and every thing that belonged +to them. The marquis returned to Lima, and his brother Ferdinand +marched at the head of the army towards Cuzco. Having arrived on +the mountainous ridge near Cuzco in the evening, all his officers +urged Ferdinand Pizarro to descend immediately into the plain +that the army might encamp there for the night; but Ferdinand +positively rejected this advice, and ordered the army to encamp +on the mountain. Early next morning, the whole army of Almagro +was seen drawn up in order of battle on the plain, under the +supreme command of Orgognez; Francisco de Chaves, Juan Tello, and +Vasco de Guevara, having the command of the cavalry under his +orders. On the side of the mountain there was a great body of +Indians in charge of a small number of Spaniards, intended to be +employed as circumstances might admit in the expected battle. In +the meantime, all the friends and partizans of the marquis who +were in Cuzco were committed prisoners to the citadel, which was +so extremely crowded on this occasion, and the places +appropriated for their confinement so small, that several of them +were stifled.</p> + +<blockquote>[16] According to Robertson, II. 334, after an +unsuccessful attempt to cross the mountains by the direct road +from Lima to Cuzco, Ferdinand marched southwards in the maritime +plain to Nasca, whence he penetrated by the defiles of the +mountains in that quarter.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On the following day, after the solemnization of the mass, +Ferdinand Pizarro marched his army into the plain of Cuzco in +order of battle, and advanced towards the city, intending to gain +possession of some high ground which overlooked the citadel. +Ferdinand and his troops flattered themselves, from their great +superiority in numbers, that Almagro would not risk a battle, and +were even anxious to spare the effusion of Christian blood on the +present occasion, in which the natives of the same country and +subjects of the same sovereign were preparing to destroy each +other, instead of uniting in a common cause for the general good +of all. Orgognez was actuated by a different principle, and had +occupied the only passage by which the troops of Pizarro could +approach towards Cuzco, in which he had drawn up his troops and +artillery with much judgment, under cover of a marsh, across +which it was necessary for the troops of Pizarro to pass before +they could attack his position. Immediately on reconnoitring the +order of the enemy, Ferdinand Pizarro ordered captain Mercadillo +to advance with his cavalry to a proper place for keeping the +Indians in check in case they should attempt to attack his army +while engaged in battle with Orgognez, and whence likewise he +might be able to give succour where necessary during the +approaching engagement. Before the Spaniards began to engage, the +Indians on both sides skirmished with each other. The cavalry of +Pizarro endeavoured to pass the morass, and being opposed by a +squadron of Almagro's horse, the musketeers belonging to Pizarro +advanced in front of their own horse and soon compelled the +adverse cavalry to give ground. On seeing this successful +commencement of the battle, Pedro de Valdivia, a maestre de campo +of the marquis, assured his friends that the victory was their +own. While the troops of Pizarro were passing the marsh, the +Almagrians plied their artillery, and by one discharge five men +belonging to Pizarro were brought down. But Pizarro pressed on +under cover of a close fire from his musketeers, and passed both +the marsh and a rivulet beyond, and drew up in good order on the +firm ground, every one of the captains having been previously +instructed how to proceed with their divisions before the +engagement commenced. As Pizarro noticed that the pikemen in the +army of Orgognez carried their pikes high, he gave orders to his +musketeers to fire a little high, by which means in two vollies +they broke above fifty of the enemies pikes[17]. At this time +Orgognez ordered his army to advance to the charge, and observing +that several of his divisions hesitated, being held in check by +the fire of the musqueteers, he moved on himself at the head of +his main body, directing his attack to that part of the enemy +where Ferdinand Pizarro was seen at the head of his squadrons. +Orgognez apparently despairing of the battle, called out while +advancing, "Follow me who will! I go in the name of God to do my +duty, and to seek an honourable death!" While Orgognez was +advancing, Gonzalo Pizarro and Alonso Alvarado observed that his +flank was uncovered, and accordingly made an immediate charge, by +which above fifty of the Almagrians were overthrown. Orgognez was +wounded by a musket-ball in the head, which broke through his +beaver; notwithstanding which he killed two men with his lance, +and wounded one of Pizarros servants in the mouth whom he mistook +for the general, as he was finely dressed. For some time the +engagement was extremely severe and the combatants were mingled +together; but at length the troops of Pizarro forced the +Almagrians to take to flight after they had a considerable number +killed and wounded.</p> + +<blockquote>[17] Garcilasso informs us that the musketeers of +Pizarro used a kind of chain shot on this occasion; their leaden +bullets being cast in two hemispheres connected together by +several links of a small iron chain.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Almagro being sick, took no part in the battle, which he +observed from a height at some distance, and on seeing his troops +take to flight, exclaimed, "I thought we had come out to fight +like valiant soldiers, not to run away like cowards." He +immediately withdrew to the citadel of Cuzco, to which place he +was pursued by Gonzalo Pizarro and Alonso Alvarado, and made +prisoner. Orgognez was taken prisoner by two of Pizarros +horsemen, who were leading him away when a third came up who bore +him a grudge for some injurious treatment, and cut off his head. +Several others who had surrendered were slain in this manner by +personal enemies, in spite of every endeavour by Ferdinand +Pizarro and his officers to protect them. The soldiers of +Alvarado especially, ashamed and irritated by the defeat they had +formerly sustained at the bridge of Abancay, were eager for +revenge, and put many of the Almagrians to death in cold blood. +Captain Ruy Dias had taken up a prisoner behind him on horseback, +on purpose to protect him, when one of his own troopers run him +through with his lance.</p> + +<p>When the Indian servants of the two armies saw that the battle +among the Christians was ended, they too gave over fighting, and +fell to plundering the dead, whom they stripped of their clothes +and valuables, even pillaging several who were yet alive, but +unable to defend themselves because of their wounds; and as the +conquerors were entirely taken up in pursuing their victory, the +Indians had it in their power to do as they pleased, so that they +entirely stripped everyone whom they found on the field of +battle. The Spaniards, both victors and vanquished, were so worn +out and fatigued by their exertions in this battle, that they +might have been easily destroyed by the Indians who were present, +if they had dared to attack them according to their original +intention; but they were so busied in plundering the killed and +wounded, that they neglected the opportunity of avenging +themselves on their oppressors. This decisive battle was fought +on the 6th of April 1538, in a plain called <i>Cachipampa</i> or +the field of salt by the Indians, about a league to the south of +the citadel of Cuzco, near a salt spring from which the +inhabitants make great quantities of salt; and as these salt +works are in the neighbourhood of the field, this engagement has +been always known by the name of the battle of <i>Salinas</i>, or +of the salt works[18].</p> + +<blockquote>[18] In Zarate the date of this battle is given as +the 26th of April, in which he is followed by Robertson; but +Garcilasso carefully notices the mistake, and assures us that it +was fought on the 6th of the month.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After this decisive victory, Ferdinand Pizarro used every +means to conciliate the officers of Almagros army who had +survived the battle, that he might engage them in the party of +the marquis, and being unsuccessful, he banished several of them +from Cuzco. Being unable to satisfy the demands of all those who +had served him on the late occasion, as many of them thought so +highly of their own merits that the government of Peru would +hardly have been a sufficient reward in their own estimation, +Ferdinand Pizarro resolved to separate the army, sending it away +in various detachments to discover and conquer those parts of the +country which had not been hitherto explored and reduced. By this +measure, he at the same time rewarded his friends by giving them +opportunities to distinguish and enrich themselves, and got rid +of his enemies by sending them to a distance. On this occasion +Pedro de Candia was sent with three hundred men, part of whom had +belonged to Almagro, to conquer the country of Collao, a +mountainous district which was said to be extremely rich. Not +being able to make any progress in this country on account of the +difficulty of the roads, he had to return; besides which his +troops became mutinous, chiefly at the instigation of one Mesa, +who had been commissary of artillery under Almagro, and was +encouraged by the other soldiers of Almagro who served on this +expedition. On this, Candia arrested Mesa and sent him to +Ferdinand Pizarro with the evidences of his guilt. This +circumstance, combined with information of conspiracies in +several other places, which had for their object to free Almagro +from prison and to give him possession of Cuzco, satisfied +Ferdinand Pizarro that the country would never be in quiet while +Almagro lived.</p> + +<p>Ferdinand accordingly brought Almagro to trial, in which he +was convicted of giving occasion to all the preceding disorders, +of which he was the first and chief cause; having begun the war +by several acts of hostilities; having taken forcible possession +of the city of Cuzco by his own private authority, where he put +several persons to death merely for opposing his unlawful +usurpation; and having marched in hostile array into the province +of Chincha, which incontestibly belonged to the province assigned +to the marquis. When sentence of death was pronounced, Almagro +said every thing he could think of to excite the compassion of +Ferdinand Pizarro that he might spare his life. He represented +that the marquis in a great measure owed his present greatness to +him; as he had advanced the greatest proportion of the original +funds for the discovery of Peru. He desired Ferdinand to +recollect, that when he was a prisoner in his hands, he had set +him at liberty contrary to the representations of his officers, +who advised that he should be put to death: And that though he, +Pizarro, might have been ill treated while a prisoner, that had +been done without his orders or knowledge. He intreated him to +consider his very advanced age, which would soon bring him to the +grave, without the disgrace of a public punishment. Ferdinand +expressed his astonishment that one of such great courage should +shew so much fear of death, which was now inevitable, and desired +him to submit to the will of God like a good Christian, and to +meet death with the courage of a gentleman and a man of honour. +Almagro replied, that be ought not to be surprised at seeing him +afraid of death, being a man and a sinner, since even Jesus +Christ had evinced a fear to die. All this however was of no +avail, as Ferdinand caused him to be beheaded.</p> + +<p>After the execution of Almagro, Ferdinand Pizarro went to +Collao, where he punished Mesa for having excited mutiny among +the troops of Candia; after which he sent the three hundred men +under the command of Peranzures to reduce the country which had +been assigned to Pedro de Candia. These troops had to march by a +most difficult and dangerous route among morasses and +uncultivated places, where they thought to have perished of +famine. Ferdinand remained in Collao, which he reduced. This is a +level country containing several gold mines, but so cold that it +produces no maize, the natives living principally on a root named +<i>papas</i>, which resembles truffles. This country likewise +abounds in those Peruvian sheep which have been formerly +described[19]. About this time the marquis came to Cuzco, to +which place Ferdinand went to confer with him, leaving his +brother Gonzalo Pizarro to continue his conquest. Gonzalo +advanced into the province of the Charcas[20], where he was +attacked by a great body of Indians and reduced to great straits, +insomuch that Ferdinand set out from Cuzco to his assistance with +a body of horse. On this occasion, on purpose to encourage these +succours to use every possible expedition, the marquis gave out +that he meant to go in person to relieve his brother Gonzalo, and +actually went two or three days journey from Cuzco. When +Ferdinand arrived at Charcas, he found that Gonzalo had already +extricated himself from his difficulties, having defeated and +dispersed the enemy. They continued together for some time +reducing the country, having frequently to fight with the +Indians, till at last they took their chief prisoner, named +<i>Tixo</i>[21], on which the natives universally submitted. +Ferdinand and Gonzalo now returned to Cuzco, where the marquis +distributed settlements to every one sufficient to maintain them +in ease and comfort.</p> + +<blockquote>[19] Collao in the text is probably Cailloma of +modern maps, a very elevated valley at the head of one of the +branches of the Apurimac. The marshy country beyond, to which +Candia and Peranzures were sent on discovery, is called Musu by +Garcilasso, and was probably the Pampas or marshy plains of the +Mojos or Muju, to the east of the Andes, nearly in the latitude +of Cailloma--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[20] We learn from Garcilasso that in this province +the city of La Plata was afterwards built, not far distant from +the famous mines of Potosi and Porco--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[21] Perhaps the Inca Titu Yupanqui is here meant, +who was named Tizogopangui by Zarate on a former +occasion.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>About this time likewise various other parties were sent out +in different directions to discover and reduce the provinces of +Peru and the neighbouring districts; among the commanders of +these detachments were the captains Vergara, Porcel, Mercadillo, +and Guevera. Pedro de Valdivia likewise was sent to Chili, where +Almagro had formerly been, and Gonzalo Pizarro to Quito, of whose +adventures we shall speak hereafter. When all these matters were +arranged, by which the Spaniards were dispersed in various parts, +and tranquillity was restored to the country, Ferdinand Pizarro +set out for Spain to give an account to the emperor of all the +transactions which had taken place in Peru, though many advised +him not to run the risk of that measure until it was known what +judgment might be formed at court respecting the death of +Almagro. Before his departure, Ferdinand strongly advised his +brother the marquis to put no trust in those who had adhered to +the service of Almagro in the late troubles, who were usually +denominated the <i>Chilese</i>, and particularly that he ought to +keep them at a distance from each other, being well assured that +if even eight or ten of them were permitted to dwell in one +neighbourhood, that they would form conspiracies against his +life.</p> + +<p>SECTION IV.</p> + +<p><i>Expeditions of Pedro de Valdivia into Chili, and of Gonzalo +Pizarro to Los Canelos</i>.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of Pedro de Valdivia in Chili, he was peaceably +received by the Indians, who wished to gather in their crops, as +it was then the season of harvest. When this important business +was accomplished, the whole country rose upon the Spaniards, who +were unprepared for this event and somewhat dispersed, and killed +forty of them before they could draw their forces together. On +this occasion, when Valdivia was about to take the field to +chastise the Chilese, part of his troops threatened to mutiny +against his authority, and he was under the necessity of hanging +several of the ringleaders, among whom was captain Pedro Sancho +de Hosz, who was almost equal to himself in the command of this +expedition. After the suppression of this mutiny, Valdivia took +the field against the Indians, and during his absence an army of +the enemy exceeding seven thousand men came to attack the newly +established city, in which only a small number of Spaniards +remained for its defence, under the command of the captains +Francisco de Villagran, and Alfonso de Monroy. These officers +went boldly out against the Chilese, at the head only of thirty +horsemen, with whom they fought bravely against the immense +number of Chilese archers from morning till night, after which +they retired into the city, extremely fatigued and several of +them wounded, but none of them slain. As the Chilese suffered a +great loss in killed and wounded during this engagement, they +retired during the night.</p> + +<p>For eight years afterwards, Valdivia and his troops defended +themselves bravely against every effort of the Chilese, who +continued the war incessantly. In all that time, Valdivia obliged +his soldiers to cultivate a sufficient quantity of land for their +sustenance, not being able to procure Indians for that purpose, +yet resolved not to abandon the country which had been commited +to his government. At the end of that period he returned into +Peru, at the time when the licentiate Pedro de la Gasca was +employed in levying an army against Gonzalo Pizarro, as shall be +related in the sequel[1].</p> + +<blockquote>[1] We shall have a future opportunity of giving a +better account of the discovery and conquest of Chili than this +extremely meagre notice by Zarate from Molina, Ovalle and other +early authors. The nameless city mentioned by Zarate was probably +St Jago de Chili, which was founded by Valdivia. The commencement +of the Valdivian expedition was in the year +1530.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Soon after the overthrow of the Almagrians, it was reported in +Peru that a very rich country had been discovered to the +eastwards of Quito, which in particular contained great +quantities of cinnamon trees, on which account it got the name of +Los Canelos, or the cinnamon country. The marquis accordingly +resolved to send his brother Gonzalo Pizarro to discover that +country; and as it was necessary to march thither by way of +Quito, where likewise every requisite for the expedition was to +be procured, the marquis conferred the government of the kingdom +of Quito on his brother, till his majestys pleasure might be made +known. Gonzalo Pizarro accordingly set out from Cuzco with a +considerable force, taking his route for Quito by way of the +elevated mountain vallies[2]. In this march he was opposed by the +Indians of the province of Guanuco with so much perseverance and +bravery, that the marquis was under the necessity of sending him +a reinforcement under Francisco de Chaves. After having overcome +this obstacle, he arrived in safety at Quito, where he proceeded +to make preparations for his expedition to Los Canelos.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] This force, according to Garcilasso, amounted to +100 horse, and an equal number of foot.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On account of the hostile conduct of the Guanucos towards +Gonzalo, and because the curacas or caciques of that province, in +conjunction with those of the Conchucos had made frequent attacks +on the city and province of Truxillo, in which they killed all +the Spaniards they could meet with and pillaged the country, not +even sparing their Indian neighbours, the marquis sent a +detachment of troops under Gomez de Alvarado to make a conquest +of Guanuco, with orders to establish a settlement in that country +to keep the natives under subjection. In their military +expeditions, the Peruvians of Guanuco carried an idol along with +them, named Cataquilla, to which they made offerings of all whom +they massacred or made prisoners, and of the spoil which fell +into their hands. They persisted for a long time in their +barbarous hostilities, till at length, Miguel de la Cerna raised +a considerable force in Truxillo, with which he joined Francisco +de Chaves. With these forces conjoined, they fought successfully +against the Indians of Guanuco and reduced them to +subjection.</p> + +<p>When Gonzalo Pizarro had completed the preparations for his +expedition, he set out from Quito in the year 1540 at the head of +200 Spaniards well equipped, of whom the half was cavalry[3]. He +was attended by 4000 friendly Indians[4], and by a flock of 4000 +animals, consisting of swine and Peruvian sheep, to serve as +provisions, and to carry the baggage and ammunition of the army. +After passing a place called Inca, the boundary of the conquests +of Huana Capac towards the north and east, Gonzalo arrived in the +country of the Quixos, where he was opposed by the natives, but +they all disappeared one night, without the Spaniards being able +to make a single prisoner. On the retreat of the Indians, Gonzalo +and his troops took possession of their deserted habitations in +which they rested for some days. While here, the country was +visited by a dreadful earthquake, accompanied by prodigious +thunder and lightning and an immense fall of rain. The earth +opened in many places and swallowed up above five hundred houses. +By the excessive rains, which continued forty or fifty days, a +river in the neighbourhood of the Spanish quarters became so +swollen that it was quite impassable, in consequence of which the +troops suffered much from famine, as they were unable to get +across the river in search of provisions. On the cessation of the +tempest, Gonzalo had to cross a prodigious ridge of mountains, on +the top of which they suffered such extreme cold that many of +their attendant Indians were frozen to death. And as no +provisions or shelter could be had in that elevated region, he +made haste to arrive in the province of Zumaco[5] which is +situated at the foot of a volcano. As provisions were found here +in abundance, the army halted in this place for refreshments. In +the mean time Gonzalo went with a small party of troops to +endeavour to find out a passage through the forest. He at length +reached the banks of a river named Coca, whence he sent for the +remainder of his people to join him from Zumaco. During two +months that the army remained in this country, it never ceased +raining day or night, so that they never had a sufficient +interval in which to dry their clothes.</p> + +<blockquote>[3] According to Garcilasso de la Vega, his force +consisted of 340 Spaniards, of whom 150 were +horsemen.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[4] These Indians, according to Garcilasso, were +laden with arms, provisions, and ammunition, besides large +quantities of hatchets, ropes, nails, and wooden pins, to use +upon occasion.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[5] Perhaps the elevated valley of Macas on the river +Morona which runs into the Tunguragua.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In this province of Zumaco the trees are found which afford +cinnamon. These trees are very large and have leaves resembling +the laurel. Their fruit grows in clusters, consisting of a nut +resembling the acorn of the cork tree, but larger, and containing +a number of small seeds. The fruit, leaves, bark, and roots have +all the taste and flavour of cinnamon; but the best consists of +the shell or nut which contains the seeds. In the whole of that +country vast numbers of these trees are found wild in the woods, +growing and producing fruit without care; but the Indians +cultivate them with much attention in their plantations; and +these cultivated trees produce a much better cinnamon than those +trees which grow wild. This cinnamon is in great request among +the natives, and is exchanged by the inhabitants of Zumaco with +the neighbouring tribes, receiving in return provisions and other +things of which they are in want.</p> + +<p>Leaving the greater part of his people in the country of +Zumaco, as has been already said, Gonzalo penetrated into the +country with much difficulty, accompanied by the most vigorous of +his men, and guided by the Indians, who frequently gave him false +accounts of the country in advance, on purpose to get him away +from their own district. Thus the people of Zumaco informed him +that the country beyond theirs was well peopled and had abundance +of provisions; but he found it extremely barren and very thinly +inhabited. Having penetrated to the province of Coca upon a large +river of that name, he remained there about six weeks, waiting +the arrival of the rest of his people from Zumaco, all the while +treated in a friendly manner by the cacique of the district.</p> + +<p>After his troops were all assembled at Coca, Gonzalo marched +along the course of the river, till at last he arrived at a place +where it fell over a cataract of above 200 fathoms making a noise +that could be easily heard at six leagues distance. A few days +march below that place, the whole waters of the river became +confined in a rocky channel not exceeding twenty feet wide, while +the rocks were at least 200 fathoms in height above the water, +and perfectly perpendicular. After a march of fifty leagues along +the banks of this river, the Spaniards could find no place where +they might possibly cross over, except at that narrow rocky +channel, where a considerable number of Indians opposed their +passage. Having driven away these Indians by means of their +firearms, the Spaniards constructed a wooden bridge across +between the steep rocks, over which they all passed in +safety.</p> + +<p>After crossing the river, the Spaniards penetrated through the +woods to a country named Guema, which was extremely flat and +intersected with rivers and marshes, and in which they could get +no provisions except wild fruits; but after this they came to a +country tolerably peopled, in which there were some provisions. +In this place the natives wore cotton vestments, but in the whole +country through which they had hitherto passed, the few natives +they had seen were entirely naked, either on account of the +continual and excessive heat of the climate, or because they had +no means of procuring clothes: The men had only a kind of girdles +round their waist, with some strings tied to their prepuce, which +passed between their thighs and were drawn up to the girdle; and +the women wore some slight clouts. At this place Gonzalo built a +bark to serve for crossing the rivers in search of provisions, +and to transport the baggage and the sick by water. Besides in +some places the country was so covered with wood, that they were +unable to clear the way by means of their swords and hatchets, +and in other places so inundated, that they were often obliged to +transport the whole party by water. The building of this vessel +occasioned infinite difficulty and labour, as besides cutting +down wood for the purpose, they had to construct a forge in which +to make the necessary iron work, which they made from the shoes +of their dead horses. On this occasion, Gonzalo not only obliged +every one to labour without regard to rank, but gave the example +himself in using both the hatchet and the hammer as occasion +required. Instead of pitch and tar, the gum which exuded from +some trees of the forest was collected; and instead of flax and +hemp, the old clothes of the Indians and the wore-out shirts of +the Spaniards were employed for caulking the scams. They at +length succeeded in making their bark capable of swimming, so as +to transport all their baggage very commodiously; besides which +they hollowed out several canoes to accompany the bark instead of +boats.</p> + +<p>Gonzalo flattered himself that all his difficulties would be +surmounted by means of this bark, and that he would now be able +to pursue his discoveries to any extent he pleased. He continued +his march therefore, accompanied by the bark which carried the +baggage, while the main body had to travel along the banks of the +river, often greatly incommoded in passing marshes, thick woods, +and close brushwood. In some of these places they had to cut +their way through canes and reeds with great toil, by means of +their swords and hatchets; often changing from one side of the +river to the other in search of an easier road. In this march +they were always accompanied by the bark; and at night the whole +party united together, that they might be able to give mutual +assistance in case of need. After having penetrated above two +hundred leagues, always following the course of the river, during +which space they got only wild fruits and roots to support them, +Gonzalo gave orders to Francisco de Orellana, one of his +captains, to go forwards in the bark with fifty men in search of +provisions; with orders to load his bark with these if he found +any, leaving all the baggage at a place where two great rivers +joined, according to information received from the Indians; and +likewise to leave two canoes in a river which crossed the road to +that place by land, to serve for ferrying over the troops.</p> + +<p>Orellana set out accordingly in the bark, and was very soon +carried by the current to the appointed place where the two +rivers met; but finding no provisions, and considering the +immense difficulty of going up the river against a rapid current, +he resolved to trust himself to the stream to try his fortune in +that way. He even neglected to leave the two canoes at this place +according to the orders of Gonzalo; and although several of those +who were along with him in the bark urged him to remain according +to the orders of his general, he insisted upon going forwards, +even maltreating Friar Gaspard de Carvajal, who opposed this act +of mutiny and desertion more forcibly than any of the rest. In +his progress down the river, Orellana and his people frequently +landed in search of provisions, and had often to fight with the +Indians, who sometimes even attacked him in the bark by means of +canoes, on which occasion the Spaniards could hardly defend +themselves they were so crowded. On this last account he built a +second bark, at a place where the Indians received him in a +friendly manner and supplied him with provisions. From these +Indians he was informed of a district a few days journey farther +on, which was entirely inhabited by women, who made war and +defended themselves agaist their neighbours[6].</p> + +<blockquote>[6] Even Garcilasso, who is sufficiently fond of the +marvellous and ever ready to adopt absurdities, honestly relates +of these <i>Amazons</i>, that they were a fierce and wild nation +of men, whose wives went forth to war along with their husbands; +and that Orellana invented the tale of a nation of Amazons to +raise the honour of his atchievement, and to induce the emperor +to bestow upon him the government of the country he had +discovered.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Following continually the stream of the river, but without +finding any gold or silver, or the least indication of these +metals, Orellana arrived at the mouth of this river on the +Atlantic Ocean, about 350 leagues from the island of Cubagua. +This great river is called the Maragnon or Marannon, from a +person of that name who first discovered its mouth. It takes its +rise in Peru on the eastern slopes of the Andes of Quito, and its +entire course measured in a straight line extends to 700 leagues; +but following all its flexures from the Andes to the ocean, it +measures at least 1800 leagues. At its mouth it measures 15 +leagues in breadth, and in many parts of its course is three or +four leagues broad. Orellana went afterwards into Spain[7], where +he gave an account to his majesty of his discovery, which he +pretended to have made at his own charges. He alleged that he had +discovered a very rich country inhabited by a nation of warlike +females, on which account the country and river came to be called +<i>of the Amazons</i>. Having procured a commission of governor +of this new country from his majesty, he levied a force of five +hundred men for its conquest, with which he embarked from +Seville: But having a most unprosperous voyage, in which his +people suffered much from scarcity of provisions, most of his +followers deserted from him at the Canaries, leaving him almost +alone. He died during the subsequent part of the voyage, and all +his remaining companions dispersed themselves among the +islands.</p> + +<blockquote>[7] According to Garcilasso, he contrived with great +difficulty and danger to navigate in his rude bark from the mouth +of the Marannon or Amazons to the island of Trinidada, where he +purchased a ship for his voyage to Spain.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Gonzalo Pizarro was reduced to prodigious straits in +consequence of the desertion of Orellana, both by the want of +provisions and the difficulty of passing the rivers in his +course; besides which Orellana had carried away with him a great +quantity of gold, silver, and emeralds, which he converted to his +own use in making his solicitations at the court of Spain, and in +fitting out his expedition for the conquest and settlement of +Amazonia. On his arrival at the place where Orellana had been +ordered to leave the canoes, for the purpose of facilitating the +passage of certain rivers which fall into the great Maranon, +Gonzalo and his people were exceedingly embarrassed, and had to +make other canoes with much difficulty to enable them to cross +over, that they might continue their journey. When they came +afterwards to where the two large rivers joined[8], and where +Orellana ought to have waited for them, they found a Spaniard who +had been left at this place by Orellana, because he had opposed +the continuation of the voyage, and preferred to wait in that +place for his general[9]. By his account, Orellana had renounced +his dependence on Gonzalo Pizarro, meaning to proceed to discover +the river in his own name and authority, and had prevailed on the +people who accompanied him to elect him of new for their +captain.</p> + +<blockquote>[8] The river Napo joins the Maranon in lat. 3° +20' S. and long. 70° W. But we are uncertain whether this +were the place where Orellana deserted, as there are many +junctions of large rivers in the course of the vast Maranon. The +two greatest of its tributary streams are the Negro which joins +in long. 60° W. from the north, and the Madeira in long. +58° W. from the south.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[9] Garcilasso preserves the name of that faithful +Spaniard, Hernando Sanchez de Vargas, a young gentleman of +Badajoz.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>By the loss of their vessel Gonzalo and his men were deprived +of every means of procuring provisions from the Indians, as all +the mirrors, bells, and other baubles for trading with the +natives of the country had been put on board the bark. In this +hopeless and discouraging situation, above four hundred leagues +distant from Quito, they came to the immediate resolution of +returning to that city; although, from the length and difficulty +of the way, through forests and marshes, they had very little +hope of ever getting back, and could hardly expect to escape +dying of famine in the mountains and deserts over which they had +to pass. In fact above forty actually died of famine during the +march. After recommending themselves to the mercy of God, they +began their march in great dejection; and as the way in which +they came from Peru was full of difficulties and destitute of +provisions, they took another road in their return, altogether at +hazard, which they did not find in any degree better than the +former[10]. Before reaching Peru, they were under the necessity +of killing all their remaining horses to keep themselves from +starving, and even to eat all their dogs. In the course of this +journey likewise, they were reduced to the necessity of feeding +on certain strings, or twining plants, a good deal like the +tendrils of vines, which they found in the woods, and which had +the taste of garlic. During this march a wild cat or a turkey +sold for four dollars, and one of the sea-birds named Alcatraz, +formerly mentioned as being very bad eating, brought a dollar or +more, although reckoned very unwholesome.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] We learn from Garcilasso that this new road was +on the north side of the river, Napo probably, and consequently +that they had kept the south side in their way +eastwards.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Some short time before Gonzalo got to Peru intelligence of his +return had reached Quito, on which the inhabitants collected a +considerable number of swine and Peruvian sheep which they sent +off to meet him. They sent off at the same time a good many +horses, and a supply of clothes for Gonzalo and his officers. +This seasonable supply met them above fifty leagues from Quito, +and one may easily judge that it was received with much joy, +especially the provisions. The whole party, from the general to +the private soldier, was almost entirely naked; as, from the +almost continual rains to which they had been exposed, and the +other hardships of their journey, their clothes were all rotten +and torn to rags, and they were reduced to the necessity of +covering themselves with the skins of beasts. Their swords were +all without scabbards, and almost destroyed with rust. Their legs +and arms were torn and scratched by the brushwood, thorns, and +brakes, through which they had travelled; and the whole party +were so pale, lean, and worn out with fatigue and famine, that +their most intimate acquaintances were hardly able to recognize +them. Among all their privations, what they felt the most +unsufferable, was the want of salt, of which they had not been +able to procure the smallest supply for above two hundred +leagues.</p> + +<p>On arriving in the kingdom of Quito, where every thing they +stood in need of was brought them, they knelt down and kissed the +ground as a mark of gratitude and satisfaction, and returned +thanks to God for their preservation from so many dangers. Such +was their eagerness for food after so long famine, that it became +necessary to regulate their supply, and only to allow them to eat +by little and little at a time, till their stomachs became +accustomed to digest their food. As there had only been sent from +Quito a sufficiency of horses and clothes for Gonzalo and his +officers, they refused to avail themselves of either, not +choosing to enjoy any advantages which they could not share with +their soldiers, by which they rendered themselves extremely +popular and gained their affection greatly. They arrived at Quito +in the morning, and went immediately to church to hear mass, and +to give thanks to God for their delivery from so many and severe +evils; after which every one retired to his quarters, to refresh +and clothe themselves according to their means. This country of +Los Canelos, whence the cinnamon is procured, is immediately +under the equinoctial line, similar in that respect to the +Molucca islands, whence cinnamon is brought into Spain and other +parts of Europe[11].</p> + +<blockquote>[11] It is hardly necessary to say that cinnamon +comes only from Ceylon, not from the Moluccas; and that so +entirely different was the substance sought for in this +disastrous expedition from cinnamon, that it is now entirely +unknown in Europe; unless it be the Canella alba, now only used +as a light aromatic of small value by druggists.<br> + Zarate is generally loose and confused in his accounts, and +almost entirely neglectful of dates. We learn from the History of +America that this unfortunate expedition lasted near two years, +and that two hundred and ten Spaniards and four thousand Indians +perished during its continuance, only eighty Spaniards returning +to Quito. Garcilasso says that two thousand of the Indians +returned along with the Spaniards, and served them during the +hardships of the journey with the most affectionate fidelity, +supplying their extreme necessities with herbs, roots, and wild +fruit, and with toads, snakes, and other reptiles, which the +Spaniards greedily devoured, or they must have died for want of +food.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION V.</p> + +<p><i>Conspiracy of the Almagrians and Assassination of +Pizarro</i>.</p> + +<p>On his return to Quito in 1541, Gonzalo Pizarro received +accounts of the most afflicting nature. When, as formerly +related, Don Diego Almagro was put to death at Cuzco by Ferdinand +Pizarro, a son whom Almagro had by an Indian woman was sent to +reside in Lima. This young man, who was named after his father +Diego Almagro, was of a graceful appearance, handsome, generous, +and excelling in all the martial exercises, being particularly +graceful and dexterous in riding the manage horse. His literary +education likewise had been so carefully attended to, that he was +considered as more versant in these things than his situation +required. Juan de Herrada, formerly mentioned, to whose care he +had been especially confided by his father, undertook the care of +educating young Almagro in the capacity of his governor, and had +been particularly watchful and successful in the charge. Their +house in Lima was the rendezvous of such friends and partizans of +the late Almagro as remained unemployed in Peru, and had been +excepted from the division of lands and Indians after the defeat +of their party, as the adherents of the Pizarros would not, and +their dependents dared not to have any intercourse with them.</p> + +<p>After the voyage of Ferdinand Pizarro to Spain, and the +setting out of Gonzalo Pizarro upon his disastrous discovery of +Los Canelos, Herrada and the younger Almagro, being now left at +entire liberty by the Marquis, who before had held them in a +species of imprisonment, began to take measures for the execution +of an enterprize they had long contemplated. For this purpose +they secretly provided arms and every thing that appeared +necessary for their project of revenging the death of the elder +Almagro. Their partizans were farther animated to the +accomplishment of this design from resentment for the death of +several of their friends and companions, who had been cut off +during the late civil war. The marquis had often used his +endeavours to reconcile Almagro and Herrada to his authority by +gentle means, and by the offer of his friendship and patronage to +them and their adherents; but finding all his advances +ineffectual, he deprived Almagro of the moderate repartition of +Indians which had been assigned to him, on purpose to prevent him +from continuing to form a party by the application of his fortune +to the support of the malcontents. All these precautions were +ultimately ineffectual, as the Almagrians were so closely united +among themselves, that all their property was in a great measure +held common among the members of their party, even every thing +that the individuals acquired by play or otherwise being thrown +into a common stock in the hands of Herrada to serve their +general expence. Their numbers increased daily, by the accession +of all who were dissatisfied by the administration of the +marquis, or who thought their merits overlooked in the +distribution of property and employments. They secretly increased +their store of arms, and took measures for securing the success +of their plot.</p> + +<p>Their conduct, however secretly pursued, being known among +many, came at length to the knowledge of some friends of the +marquis, who endeavoured to put him on his guard against the +machinations of his enemies. But he, confiding in his honour and +good faith, judged of others by himself, and refused to listen to +this advice; saying that it was proper to leave these unfortunate +men in peace, who were already sufficiently punished by the shame +of their defeat, the public hatred, and the poverty to which they +were reduced. So much were the Almagrians encouraged by the +patient indulgence of the marquis, that their chiefs used even to +pass him in public without saluting him or giving him any token +of respect; and one night some of them had the audacity to affix +three ropes to the gibbet, one of which was stretched towards the +palace of the marquis, another towards the house of his +lieutenant, and the third to that of his secretary. Even this +insolence was forgiven by the marquis, in consideration of their +misery and the unhappy situation of their affairs. Profiting by +this indulgence, the Almagrians assembled together almost openly, +several of their party who were wandering about the country +without property or employment, coming to Lima from the distance +even of two hundred leagues. They resolved upon putting the +marquis to death; yet waited to hear from Spain what judgment +might be given in the case of Ferdinand Pizarro, who was there +thrown into prison as accused, of the murder of Don Diego +Almagro; and to prosecute whom Captain Diego Alvarado had gone +home and was actively engaged in soliciting his trial and +punishment. When the conspirators learnt that his majesty had +appointed the licentiate Vaca de Castro to proceed to Peru, on +purpose to examine into all the past disorders, but without +orders to prosecute the death of Almagro with that rigorous +severity which they wished and expected, they resolved upon the +execution of their long concerted enterprize. They were anxious, +however, to learn exactly the intentions of Vaca de Castro, as +the intended assassination of the marquis was by no means +universally approved among the Almagrians. Several of the +gentlemen belonging to the party, although much incensed at the +death of Almagro, were anxious only for redress by legal means, +and in a manner that might be conformable with the pleasure and +service of the sovereign. The chiefs of this conspiracy who were +now assembled in Lima, were Juan de Saavedra, Alfonso de +Montemayor, Juan de Gusman controller, Manuel de Espinar +treasurer, Nugnez de Mercado agent, Christoval Ponce de Leon, +Juan de Herrada, Pero Lopez de Ayala, and some others. In this +assemblage, Don Alfonso de Montemayor was deputed to wait upon +Vaca de Castro; and accordingly set out with letters of credence +and dispatches to meet Vaca de Castro at the beginning of April +1541. After his arrival at the place where Vaca de Castro then +was, and before he proposed to return to his employers, news was +brought of the assassination of the marquis. On this occasion, +Montemayor and some others of the Almagrian party, who were not +concerned in the murder, remained with Vaca de Castro till after +the defeat of the younger Almagro in the battle of Chupas, +preferring the service of their sovereign, in whose name and +authority de Castro acted, to their individual resentments.</p> + +<p>So public had the measures of the conspirators become in the +city of Lima, that several persons gave notice of their +intentions to the marquis, and advised him to employ a guard for +the protection of his person: But he always said that the lives +of others would guard him from violence, and that he was resolved +to give no cause for suspecting that he used precautions of +defence against the judge whom his majesty was sending to Peru. +On one occasion, Juan de Herrada complained to the marquis of a +report that he meant to put all the friends of Almagro to death. +The marquis assured him that the report was entirely groundless; +and when Herrada mentioned that the marquis was collecting a +great number of lances and other arms, as a confirmation of the +report that these were intended against the Almagrians, the +marquis replied in the gentlest terms, that these arms were by no +means intended to be used against him or his friends. He even +presented Herrada with several oranges which he pluckt for him, +which were then esteemed a high delicacy, as they were the first +that were grown in Peru; and told him privately, that if he were +in want of anything, he had only to give him notice, and he might +depend on being provided for. Herrada kissed his hands, and +thanked him for his kindness, going away delighted with the +assurance that the marquis seemed to have no suspicion whatever +of the conspiracy.</p> + +<p>On arriving at his house, where the principal conspirators +waited for him, it was determined to kill the marquis on the +following Sunday, as they had not been able to put their design +into execution on the festival of St John[1] as they at first +intended. On the Saturday immediately preceding, one of the +conspirators revealed the circumstances of the plot in confession +to the curate of the great church of Lima. The curate went that +same evening to communicate the intelligence to Antonio Picado, +secretary to the marquis, who immediately carried the curate to +Francisco Martinez de Alcantara, the marquises brother[2], where +the marquis then was at supper together with his children[3]. On +being informed of the urgent business on which they came, the +marquis rose from table and retired to another room, where the +curate informed him of every thing he had learnt respecting the +conspiracy. The marquis was at first considerably agitated by his +intelligence: but after a moments reflection, he said that he +could not credit the story, as Herrada had been with him only a +few days before, and had conversed with him with much humility; +for which reason he was convinced that the man who now brought +this intelligence had some secret end to serve, and had invented +this story to assume merit. He sent however, for his lieutenant, +the doctor Juan Velasquez[4] meaning to consult with him; but as +Velasquez was ill in bed, the marquis went to his house, and told +him all that he had heard. Velaquez used every argument to +convince him that the story was false, and that he had nothing to +fear. Taking up his rod of office, he declared that no one dared +to revolt so long as he held that badge in his hand, and that the +marquis might rest in security. He may be said in some measure to +have kept his word; for when the Almagrians came next day to kill +the marquis, Velasquez made his escape over a window, and took +his rod of office in his teeth, that he might use both his hands +to assist himself in his descent.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] The festival of St John the Evangelist is on the +5th May but the assasination of the Marquis did not take place +till the 26th June 1541.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In spite of all these assurances the marquis was somewhat +alarmed, insomuch that next day, being Sunday the 26th June 1541, +he determined not to go to church, and had the mass said in his +own house. After church, the doctor Velasquez and captain +Francisco de Chaves, who were the principal persons in the +colony, went along with several other persons to visit the +marquis. Having paid their visit, they all retired to their +houses, except Velasquez and de Chaves who remained to dine with +him. After dinner, between twelve and one o'clock, when all the +attendants of the marquis had retired to their dinner, and the +whole city was quiet, Juan de Herrada and ten or twelve of his +associates all armed sallied forth from the house of Almagro, +which was not more than three hundred paces from the palace of +the marquis, between which were part of a street and the whole +breadth of the great square. On coming out into the street with +their drawn swords, they exclaimed, "death to the tyrant who hath +slain the judge sent by the emperor to execute judgment upon +him." They used these words, and went thus openly, to induce the +inhabitants to believe that their party was numerous, so that no +one might take measures to oppose them. Besides this, the +conspirators believed that there was no time for any one to +interpose to prevent the execution of their purpose, and that it +would either be accomplished, or themselves slain in the attempt, +before any effectual succour would arrive. On their arrival at +the palace of the marquis, one of the party remained at the gate +with a bloody sword in his hand, who cried out repeatedly, +"<i>The tyrant is dead! the tyrant is dead!</i>" This had the +desired effect, as several of the inhabitants who hastened to the +palace on the alarm, being convinced that the marquis was already +slain, retired again to their houses.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Juan de Herrada and the rest of the +conspirators rushed up the stair towards the apartment of the +marquis, who, being alarmed by some of the Indian servants, +desired de Chaves to shut the doors of the saloon and the hall, +while he retired to put on his armour. De Chaves was so much +confused, that instead of fastening the doors he went out to the +staircase demanding the reason of the noise; on which one of the +conspirators wounded him. "This, said he, is not the usage of a +friend," and immediately drew his sword, but was soon overpowered +and slain. The conspirators immediately rushed into the hall, +whence ten or twelve Spaniards who were there made their escape +by the windows: Among these was Velasquez, who, as has been +already mentioned, took his rod of office in his mouth, that he +might use his hands the more readily in making his escape by the +window. The marquis was at this time in his chamber, employed in +arming himself, attended by his brother de Alcantara, two other +gentlemen, and two pages. Seeing his enemies so near, the marquis +was unable to fasten the clasps of his cuirass, but advanced +courageously with his sword and buckler to defend the entry to +the chamber, in which he was bravely assisted by those who were +along with him. He defended himself for a considerable time +successfully, encouraging his brother and the rest by his voice +and example. At length the Almagrians slew de Alcantara, on which +one of the pages took his place beside the marquis. The +Almagrians, being afraid lest succour might arrive, resolved to +make a desperate effort, for which purpose one of the best armed +among them forced in at the door and made room for the rest to +enter, who now attacked the marquis and his faithful companions +with such fury that he was soon exhausted with fatigue and hardly +able to handle his arms. At length the marquis received a mortal +thrust in his throat, and falling to the ground called out in a +loud voice for a confessor. Soon losing all power of speech, he +made the sign of the cross on the floor with his finger, which he +kissed and expired. Besides his brother, the two pages were +likewise slain. Of the Almagrians, four were killed, and several +of the rest wounded.</p> + +<p>When the marquises death was made known, above two hundred men +who waited the event, declared themselves loudly in favour of Don +Diego, and went about the city arresting and disarming all who +seemed to favour the party of the marquis. The conspirators went +out into the street waving their bloody swords, and Herrada made +Don Diego ride on horseback through the city of Lima, proclaiming +him as governor of Peru. The palace of the marquis, and the +houses of Alcantara and Picado the secretary were pillaged, +Herrada assembled the cabildo of the city, and obliged them to +acknowledge Don Diego as governor, under pretence that the elder +Almagro had been appointed by his majesty to the government of +New Toledo, with succession to his son or to any person he might +appoint as his successor. The conspirators likewise put to death +several persons who were particularly attached to the late +marquis, and gave up their houses to be plundered by their own +partizans. It was melancholy to behold the misery and desolation +of the wives and children of those who were thus massacred, and +whose houses were pillaged of every thing valuable, as they went +about the streets bewailing their forlorn condition.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] In a former note, it has been mentioned, on the +authority of Robertson, that Francisco de Alcantara was the uncle +of Pizarro by his mother; yet Garcilasso calls him his brother, +and perhaps he was so by a different father.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[3] The language of the French translator is here +rather equivocal, but distinctly bears the construction here +given of the marquis being at supper in the house of de +Alcantara.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[4] By Garcilasso, Velasquez is called the Chief +Justice.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Some obscure persons[5] carried or dragged the dead body of +the marquis to the church, where no one dared to give it burial, +till one Juan Barbaran and his wife, who had been servants to the +marquis, obtained permission from Don Diego, and buried the +marquis and his brother as well as they could. They were obliged +to hurry over the ceremony as quickly as possible, having hardly +time to clothe the body in the habit of St Jago, of which order +he was a member, and to put on his spurs according to the usual +manner of burying the knights of that order; as they were +informed that some of the Almagrians were hastening to the church +to cut off the head of the marquis to affix it to the gallows. +Barbaran himself performed the ceremonies of the funeral, at +which he was sole mourner, and defrayed all the expences from his +own funds. He next endeavoured to provide for the security of the +children of the marquis, who were concealed in different parts of +the city of Lima, now under the absolute controul of the +Almagrians.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] Garcilasso, quoting Zarate, says that the body +was dragged to church by some negroes; the French translator says +<i>quelques miserables</i>.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>In this melancholy catastrophe, we have a forcible example of +the uncertainty and changeableness of fortune. In a very short +space of time, a private individual who held no important office, +had discovered a vast extent of country containing powerful +kingdoms, of which he made himself master and governor with +almost uncontrolled authority, bestowing on several persons such +ample fortunes and extensive revenues as none of the richest and +most powerful monarchs whom we read of in history had ever given +away in so short a time. Yet was this man assassinated by only +twelve men at noonday, in the midst of a city the whole +inhabitants of which were his creatures, servants, kinsmen, +friends, and soldiers, who had all eaten of his bread and +subsisted on his bounty, even his own domestic servants and those +who were in his house, flying away and abandoning him to his +fate. He was interred in the most obscure manner, all his +richness and greatness having disappeared, not enough being left +to defray the consecrated tapers and other expences of his +funeral. The unsearchable ways of Providence are surprisingly +illustrated by these events; and particularly, that after all the +warnings and just causes of suspicion which had been given him, +he refused to take any precautions for his safety which he could +have done so easily.</p> + +<p>As the discovery and conquest of Peru, the subject of this +work, originated from the two captains of whom I have hitherto +dicoursed, the Marquis Don Francisco Pizarro, and the President +Don Diego de Almagro; it seems proper to attempt giving their +portraitures, with some account of their manners and +qualifications, imitating in this the example of Plutarch; who, +after giving the lives and heroic actions of two great +commanders, institutes a comparison between them, shewing how far +they resembled and differed from each other. We have already said +all that could be learnt respecting their parentage. They were +both personally brave and daring, patient of labour, of hale and +robust constitutions, and exceedingly friendly, being always +ready to do good offices to every one without consideration of +expence. In their inclinations and manner of life they very much +resembled each other, as neither of them were married, though +Almagro attained to seventy-five years of age and the marquis to +sixty-five. Both loved war; but Almagro, when not thus employed, +willingly devoted himself to the management of his private +affairs. They were both advanced in life when they undertook the +discovery and conquest of Peru, in which they both encountered +great fatigues, as has been formerly mentioned; but the marquis +more especially was exposed to great dangers, far beyond those of +the president, who remained long at Panama providing all +necessaries for the success of the enterprize, while the marquis +was actually engaged in the discovery and conquest of the greater +part of the country. Both had great souls, continually occupied +in vast designs and splendid enterprizes; yet both were of gentle +and conciliatory manners, and of easy access to their followers. +They were both liberal and generous in their gifts; yet the +president loved to have his liberalities known and published to +the world; while the marquis carefully concealed his gifts, and +expressed uneasiness when they were known or blazed abroad; being +more anxious to serve the necessities of those to whom he made +them, than to make an ostentatious display of his munificence. +One example of this is worthy of being mentioned. He learnt that +one of his soldiers had lost a horse, on which occasion he went +to a tennis-court belonging to his house, expecting to meet the +soldier in that place, carrying with him an ingot of gold of ten +pounds weight, which he meant to present him with. Not finding +the soldier there, he engaged in a match at tennis without taking +off his coat, as he did not wish the ingot should be noticed, +which was concealed below his waistcoat. He remained there above +three hours, when at length the soldier made his appearance. The +marquis then took him aside and gave him the gold, saying that he +would rather have given him thrice as much than have been obliged +to carry that heavy weight so long.</p> + +<p>Many other examples might be given of the secret liberalities +of the marquis, who gave all his presents with his own hand that +they might not be known. On this account, Almagro was always +considered as more liberal, as his gifts were made in an +ostentatious manner. They may be considered, however, as +perfectly equal in their liberality and munificence; for, as the +marquis used to acknowledge that all came from their common +funds, being partners and associates in every thing derived from +their joint discovery and conquest, the half of all that was +given by one belonged to the other, so that he who consented to +or participated in the present, was equally generous with the +actual donor. Besides, in proof that they both deserved the +praise of liberality, they were both during their lives +prodigiously rich in ready money and vast revenues, beyond any +person or prince not sovereign who had been known for many ages; +yet both died so poor that no mention is made of the treasures or +estates left by them; so that hardly at their deaths was there +sufficient to defray the expences of their funerals; resembling +in that respect Cato and Sylla and some other famous Romans, who +were buried at the public charge.</p> + +<p>Both were exceedingly kind to their servants and dependents, +whom on all occasions they delighted to enrich and advance, and +to rescue from dangers. In this last particular the marquis +carried his attentions even to excess, as appears by the +following instance. In passing a river called the Baranca, one of +his Indian servants, of the Yanaconas tribe, was carried away by +the strength of the current, on which the marquis plunged into +the stream and swam after him, catching him by the hair, and +saved him at the imminent hazard of his own life, in so rapid a +current that the bravest and most vigorous man in his army durst +hardly have made the attempt. When his officers blamed him for +his rashness in thus exposing his life, he answered that none of +them knew how to value a faithful servant. The marquis enjoyed +the authority of governor much longer in tranquillity than +Almagro; who, though he hardly enjoyed that authority at all, was +more ambitious, and evinced a more ardent desire of exercising +command. Both affected simplicity in dress, keeping to the same +fashion in their old age which they had been accustomed to in +their youth. In particular, the marquis used ordinarily to wear a +close coat of black cloth, the wide skirts of which came down +almost to his ankles, while the body had a very short waist and +was closely fitted to his shape. His shoes were of white leather, +with a white or grey hat, and a plain sword and dagger in the old +fashion. Sometimes on festivals, by the entreaty of his servants, +he wore a robe of fine fur which had been sent him by the Marquis +del Valle; but immediately on his return from church he put it +off, remaining in his shirt or a plain jacket, with a napkin +hanging from his neck to wipe away sweat, as he usually passed +most of the day when in peace in playing at bowls or tennis.</p> + +<p>Both Pizarro and Almagro were exceedingly patient of labour +and fatigue, and could submit better than most men to hunger and +thirst and other privations; but especially the marquis, who was +so vigorous that few young men were able to compete with him in +his old days at athletic sports. The marquis in general was more +addicted to play than Almagro, insomuch that he often spent whole +days in playing at bowls, with any one that offered, whether +mariner or miller was all one; and he never allowed any man to +lift his bowl for him, or to use any ceremony whatever in respect +to his rank. He was so fond of play, that few affairs were of +sufficient importance to induce him to give over, especially when +losing. But when informed of any insurrection among the Indians, +he would instantly lay every thing aside, immediately bracing on +his armour and seizing his lance and target, would hasten to the +place where the mutiny had risen, without waiting for his people, +who followed him with all expedition.</p> + +<p>Both the marquis and the president were so brave and so +experienced in the manner of making war with the Indians, that +either of them alone would never hesitate when on horseback and +armed to charge through a hundred Indians. Both were extremely +intelligent, sensible, and judicious, and could take their +measures both in civil and military affairs with great +promptitude and propriety; yet both were so extremely illiterate +that neither of them could read or write, or even sign their +names; which assuredly was a great defect, and exceedingly +inconvenient in carrying on the important affairs in which they +were concerned; and although they in every other respect appeared +like persons of high birth, and deported themselves like noblemen +with much dignity and propriety, yet their entire ignorance of +letters was an evident demonstration of the meanness of their +birth. The marquis placed implicit confidence in his servants and +friends, insomuch that in all his dispatches and orders relative +to the government, and in the assignments of lands and Indians, +he only made two lines with the pen, between which Antonio Picado +his secretary wrote his name, Francisco Pizarro. As Ovid said of +Romulus, respecting astronomy, we may say of Pizarro that he was +more learned in the art of war than in the sciences, and applied +himself more to know how to atchieve glorious conquests than to +acquire literature. Both were exceedingly affable and familiar +with the colonists, making them frequent visits, and they readily +accepted invitations to dinner from any one; yet both were +extremely moderate in eating and drinking; and both refrained +from amorous connection with Spanish women, on the principle that +to intrigue with the wives or daughters of their countrymen was +both prejudicial and dishonourable to their neighbours. Almagro +was the most continent in regard to the Peruvian women, as we +know of no affairs of his gallantry in that country, his only son +being born of an Indian woman of Panama. But the marquis had more +than one attachment in Peru, having lived publickly with a sister +of Atahualpa, by whom he had a son named Don Gonzalo who died at +fourteen years of age, and a daughter named Donna Francisca. By +another Indian woman of Cuzco he had a son named Don +Francisco[6].</p> + +<blockquote>[6] According to Garcilasso, the marquis had only one +son and one daughter, Don Francisco being the son of his brother +Gonzalo. Don Gonzalo, the only son of the marquis, was born of a +daughter of Atahualpa, not a sister, named Angelina. Donna +Francisca was the marquises daughter by Ynes Huayllas Nusta, a +daughter of the Inca Huana Capac, whose Christian name was Donna +Beatrix.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Both Pizarro and Almagro received high rewards from his +majesty for their signal services; the former being created a +marquis, with the authority of governor of New Castille, and the +order of St Jago. Almagro was rewarded with the government of New +Toledo, with the title of President or Lord Lieutenant of that +country. The marquis always evinced the highest respect for his +majesty, the utmost zeal for his service, and the most perfect +obedience for his orders; insomuch that he would often refrain +from doing many things which were evidently within the scope of +his authority, lest he should appear to overstep the bounds of +his commission. Frequently, when sitting in the meeting-houses +where the gold and silver was assessed for the royal fifth, he +would rise from his chair to pick up the small pieces which +started from the scissars; observing that if the hands failed on +such occasions, a loyal subject ought to use his mouth to serve +the king. As these two great men resembled each other in many +things during their lives, so in their deaths they were alike +unfortunate: the president being put to death by the brother of +the marquis, and the marquis slain by the son of the +president.</p> + +<p>The marquis was exceedingly anxious for the improvement of the +country, giving every encouragement to the cultivation of the +soil, and the establishment of colonies of Spaniards in different +places. He built for himself a fine house or palace in the city +of Lima, and had two sluices constructed on the river to drive +mills for its supply; employing much of his leisure in +superintending the workmen, and instructing the overseers how he +wished the works to be carried on. He was particularly diligent +in procuring the erection of a great and handsome church in Lima, +and monasteries for the Dominicans and the order of Mercy; both +of whom he endowed with ample estates in lands and Indians.</p> + +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<h2><a name="chapter2-7" id="chapter2-7">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> + +<p>CONTINUATION OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF PERU, AFTER THE DEATH OF +FRANCISCO PIZARRO, TO THE DEFEAT OF GONZALO PIZARRO, AND THE +RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANQUILITY IN THE COUNTRY; WRITTEN BY +AUGUSTINO ZARATE[1].</p> + +<blockquote>[1] This chapter is merely a continuation of the +history of the discovery and conquest of Peru, by Zarate: but we +have thought proper to divide it in this manner, separating the +transactions which took place during the life of Francisco +Pizarro, from those which occurred after his +death.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION I.</p> + +<p><i>From the revival of the civil wars in Peru, to the close of +the administration of Vaca de Castro, the first governor +appointed from Spain</i>.</p> + +<p>After Don Diego had made himself master of the city of Lima, +he deprived the magistrates of all their insignia of command, but +which he immediately returned to them, with orders to execute +their official duties in his name and authority. He then ordered +the Doctor Velasquez, who had been chief justice or adelantado +under the marquis, and Antonio Picado who had been his secretary, +to be taken into custody[2]. In the next place he appointed Juan +Tello, Francisco de Chaves[3], and one Sotelo to be captains of +his troops. On the news of this revolution, all the idle +vagabonds and debauched blackguards of the country hastened to +enrol themselves under the banners of Don Diego, in hopes of +participating in the plunder of the partizans of Pizarro, and of +being enabled to live licentiously without labour. To enable him +to pay his troops, Don Diego seized the fifth of the precious +metals belonging to the crown, and took possession of the +properties of those who had been massacred, and the revenues of +all the absentees. In a very short time disputes and divisions +arose among those who had taken part with Don Diego, as the +leaders of the malcontent party among them were anxious to +assassinate Juan de Herrada, because every thing was done and +directed by him, Don Diego having only the name of captain +general, while he in fact exercised the whole authority. The +intention of these malcontents being discovered, several of them +were put to death as seditious people; among whom was Francisco +de Chaves, who was put to the rack and afterwards hanged as a +ringleader of this new conspiracy. One Antonio de Orihuela +likewise, who had only arrived of late from Spain, was beheaded, +having imprudently asserted that the Almagrians were tyrants and +usurpers.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] <i>Il les fit prenare</i>, are the words of the +French translator: <i>prendre</i> may possibly be an error of the +press on this occasion for <i>pendre</i>; in which case those +officers of the late marquis were ordered to be <i>hanged</i>; +and indeed they do not appear in the sequel.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[3] There must have been two persons in Peru of this +name and surname, as we have already seen <i>one</i> Francisco de +Chaves killed on the same day with the marquis.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Deputies or messengers were sent to all the cities and +provinces of Peru, to induce the commandants and magistrates to +recognize Don Diego as governor, which was done in many places +out of fear: But Alonso de Alvarado, who was lieutenant governor +in the province of Chachapoyas, ordered the deputies who were +sent into his government to be arrested, declaring for his +majesty in opposition to Don Diego, whom he denounced a rebel. He +was encouraged in this bold procedure, because he was confident +of being able to defend himself with a hundred men whom he +commanded in a strong fortress of his province, which he +fortified with much care. Don Diego used every effort to gain +Alvarado to his party, by flattering promises and menaces of +condign punishment; but he uniformly replied, that he would never +acknowledge his authority without an express command from his +majesty to that effect, and that he hoped, by the blessing of God +and the assistance of the brave men whom he commanded, to revenge +the death of the marquis, and to punish the Almagrians for their +injurious and outrageous conduct, and the contempt of the royal +authority which they had evinced in their whole procedure. +Garcias de Alvarado was therefore sent with a force of cavalry +and infantry, having orders to go in the first place to the +cities of San Miguel and Truxillo, to deprive the inhabitants of +these two colonies of their arms and horses, and then to march +with all his troops against Alonso de Alvarado. Garcias went +accordingly by sea to the port of Jauta, about fifteen leagues +from Truxillo, where he found Captain Alonso de Cabrera, who had +fled thither with all the inhabitants of Guanuco to join the +people of Truxillo against the usurpation of Don Diego. Garcias +made Cabrera and some other of his companions prisoners; and on +his arrival at San Miguel he cut off his head, and likewise put +to death Francisco de Vozmudiana, and Hernando de Villegas.</p> + +<p>When the deputies or messengers of Don Diego arrived at Cuzco +with orders to recognize him as governor general of Peru, Diego +de Silva and Francisco de Carvajal were the chief magistrates of +that city. These officers, together with the other magistrates +and counsellors forming the Cabildo, were unwilling to submit to +his authority, yet durst not declare themselves openly till they +had maturely considered whether they were possessed of a +sufficient force, and had enough of provisions and warlike stores +to defend themselves in case of being attacked. On purpose +therefore to gain time, they desired the messengers of Don Diego +to return to their master, and to desire him to send them other +deputies with more ample and more regular powers or instructions, +after which they would recognize his authority. Gomez de Tordoya, +who was one of the principal members of the royal council of +Cuzco, happened not to be in the city when the deputies arrived, +as he had gone out that day to take the diversion of hawking. The +other members sent therefore a message to inform him of what was +going on, and to desire his presence and advice. On his return to +the city, he met the messengers of Don Diego, and having learnt +the state of affairs, he twisted off the head of an excellent +falcon which he carried on his fist, saying that fighting must +now be followed, not the sports of the field. After a secret +consultation with the rest of the Cabildo on the proper measures +to be pursued on the present emergency, he left the city the same +night, and went to the residence of Captain de Castro. They sent +immediately a message to Pedro Anzurez, the lieutenant of the +province of Charcas, giving him an account of the state of +affairs, and he declared himself at once for the party of his +majesty.</p> + +<p>Immediately afterwards Gomez de Tordoya set off in pursuit of +Pedro Alvarez Holguin, who had lately marched with above a +hundred men to reduce some revolted Indians: On coming up with +Holguin, Tordoya immediately told him all that had taken place, +earnestly intreating him to assist the loyal inhabitants of Cuzco +in their just and honourable intentions, and to assume the +command of such troops as might be collected for the defence of +that city against the usurpation of Don Diego. To induce him to +comply, Tordoya declared himself ready to become one of his +soldiers, and to give an example of implicit obedience to his +commands. Holguin immediately declared for his majesty, and +agreed to assume the command. He and Tordoya assembled the +inhabitants of the city of Arequipa, whom they confirmed in their +loyalty, and immediately set out for Cuzco with all the force +they could collect. On the arrival of Holguin and Tordoya near +Cuzco, above fifty men who had declared themselves for Don Diego +left the city, meaning to join him at Lima; but the royalists +sent de Castro and Ferdinand Bachicao after them with a party of +musqueteers, who came up with and attacked them during the night, +and brought them all back prisoners to Cuzco.</p> + +<p>All the magistrates and councillors of Cuzco concurred not +only in the appointment of Pedro Alvarez Holguin as military +commandant, but they named him captain general and governor of +all Peru, coming under an oath of obedience to him in that high +capacity till the pleasure of his majesty should be made manifest +on the subject: And in testimony of their zealous loyalty, the +whole inhabitants of Cuzco came under obligations to replace all +the sums that Holguin might be under the necessity of taking from +the effects and revenues belonging to the crown for the payment +and equipment of his troops, in case his majesty might not +approve and allow that expence. Besides this, all the inhabitants +of Cuzco, Charcas, and Arequipa engaged voluntarily to serve in +the war, and to contribute towards its expences. Immediately on +his appointment to the supreme power, Holguin made a proclamation +of war against Don Diego as a rebel, and in a short time +assembled a force of 150 cavalry, 100 musqueteers and 100 +pikemen. But learning that Don Diego had more than 800 men under +arms, he did not consider himself powerful enough to wait for him +in Cuzco, deeming it more prudent to march from thence by way of +the mountain road, on purpose to join forces with Alonso de +Alvarado, who had declared for his majesty. Holguin likewise +expected to be joined upon the march by several of the friends +and servants of the late marquis, who had concealed themselves +from the rage of the Almagrians in different parts of the +mountain region of Peru. In pursuance of this plan, Holguin set +out on his march from Cuzco, having appointed Gomez de Tordoya +his maestre de campo or major general, Garcilasso de la Vega[4] +and Pedro Anzurez, captains of horse, Nunno de Castro and +Hernando de Bachicao captains of foot, and Martin de Robles as +ensign to carry the royal standard. On leaving Cuzco, all who +were unfit for active service in the field were left behind, and +proper officers were appointed for maintaining the government and +to distribute justice.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] This officer was father to the historian of the +same name.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>On receiving notice of all these events which had taken place +in Cuzco, and that Holguin had marched from thence with his +troops, Don Diego judged that Holguin would endeavour to form a +junction with Alonzo de Alvarado who commanded in Chachapoyas, +and would therefore proceed by the mountain road towards the +north; he resolved therefore to march in such a direction as +might enable him to intercept Holguin before his junction with +Alonzo de Alvarado, but did not think it prudent to attempt this +before the arrival of the force under Garcias de Alvarado, whom +he had recalled from the originally concerted expedition against +Alonzo de Alvarado[5]. While passing through Truxillo, levying +men and providing arms and horses, Garcias proposed to have +attacked Alonzo de Alvarado, but was resisted by the inhabitants +of a town in the province of Chachapoyas named Levanto, and +receiving his orders of recal from Don Diego he relinquished his +design, and marched in all haste for Lima. Immediately after the +return of Garcias, Don Diego began his march against Holguin, +with a force of 300 horse, 100 musqueteers, and 150 pikemen; but +before his departure, he banished the children of the late +marquis and of Gonzalo Pizarro from the country, and executed +Antonio Picado, having previously put him to the torture to +endeavour to extort confession from him as to any hidden treasure +belonging to the marquis.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] It was now the year 1542.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>"As during the civil dissentions in Peru, all intercourse with +Spain was suspended, the detail of the extraordinary transactions +there between the marquis and the elder Almagro, already +recounted, did not soon reach the court[6]. Unfortunately for the +victorious faction, the first intelligence was brought thither by +some of Almagro's officers, who left the country on the ruin of +their cause; and they related what had happened with every +circumstance unfavourable to Pizarro and his brothers. Their +ambition, their breach of the most solemn engagements, their +violence and cruelty, were painted with all the malignity and +exaggeration of party hatred. Ferdinand Pizarro, who arrived soon +after, and appeared at court with great splendour, endeavoured to +efface the impression which their accusations had made, and to +justify his brother and himself by representing Almagro as the +aggressor. The emperor and his ministers, though they could not +pronounce which of the contending factions was most criminal, +clearly discerned the fatal tendency of their dissentions. It was +obvious, that while the leaders entrusted with the conduct of two +infant colonies, employed the arms which should have been turned +against the common enemy in destroying one another, all attention +to the public good must cease, and there was reason to dread that +the Indians might improve the advantage which the disunion of the +Spaniards presented to them, and extirpate both the victors and +the vanquished. But the evil was more apparent than the remedy. +Where the information which had been received was so defective +and suspicious, and the scene of action so remote, it was almost +impossible to chalk out the line of conduct that ought to be +followed; and before any plan that should be approved of in Spain +could be carried into execution, the situation of the parties, +and the circumstances of affairs, might alter so entirely as to +render its effects extremely pernicious."</p> + +<blockquote>[6] As Zarate introduces Vaca de Castro into the +history of Peru without any previous notice of his appointment, +it has been deemed proper to give a short account of his +commission from Robertsons History of America, II. 339, which, +being too long for a note, is distinguished in the text by +inverted commas--E.</blockquote> + +<p>"Nothing therefore remained but to send a person to Peru, +vested with extensive and discretionary powers; who, after +viewing deliberately the posture of affairs with his own eyes, +and inquiring on the spot into the conduct of the different +leaders, should be authorised to establish the government in that +form which he deemed most conducive to the interest of the parent +state and the welfare of the colony. The man selected in 1539 for +this important charge was Christoval Vaca de Castro, a judge in +the court of royal audience at Valladolid; and his abilities, +integrity, and firmness, justified the choice. His instructions, +though ample, were not such as to fetter him in his operations. +According to the different aspect of affairs, he had power to +take upon him different characters. If he found the governor +still alive, he was only to assume the title of judge, to +maintain the appearance of acting in concert with him, and to +guard against giving any just cause of offence to a man who had +merited so highly of his country. But, if Pizarro were dead, he +was entrusted with a commission that he might then produce, by +which he was appointed his successor in the government of Peru. +This attention to Pizarro, however, seems to have flowed rather +from dread of his power, than from any approbation of his +measures; for at the very time that the court seemed so +solicitous not to irritate him, his brother Ferdinand was +arrested at Madrid, and confined to a prison where he remained +above twenty years[7]."</p> + +<blockquote>[7] The remainder of the circumstances relative to de +Castro, here quoted, are to be found in Robertson II. 353.; the +other events in the history of Peru having been already given +from Zarate.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>"Vaca de Castro, who left Spain in 1540, was driven by stress +of weather in 1541, after a long and disastrous voyage, into a +small harbour in the province of Popayan; and proceeding from +thence by land, after a journey no less difficult than tedious, +he reached Quito. In his way he received accounts of Pizarro's +death, and of the events which followed upon it, as already +mentioned. He immediately produced his commission appointing him +governor of Peru, with the same privileges and authority which +had been enjoyed by Pizarro; and his jurisdiction was +acknowledged without hesitation by Benalcazar, adelantado or +lieutenant general for the emperor in Popayan, and by Pedro de +Puelles, who had the command of the troops left in Quito in the +absence of Gonzalo Pizarro. Vaca de Castro not only assumed the +supreme authority, but shewed that he possessed the talents which +the exercise of it at that juncture required. By his influence +and address, he soon assembled such a body of troops as not only +set him above all fear of being exposed to any insult from the +adverse party, but enabled him to advance from Quito with the +dignity that became his character. By dispatching persons of +confidence to the different settlements in Peru, with a formal +notification of his arrival and of his commission, he +communicated to his countrymen the royal pleasure with respect to +the government of the country. By private emissaries, he excited +such officers as had discovered their disapprobation of Almagro's +proceedings, to manifest their duty to their sovereign by +supporting the person honoured with his commission. Those +measures were productive of great effects. Encouraged by the +approach of the new governor, or prepared by his machinations, +the loyal were confirmed in their principles, and avowed them +with greater boldness; the timid ventured to declare their +sentiments; the neutral and wavering, finding it necessary to +choose a side, began to lean to that which now appeared to be the +safest, as well as the most just[8]."</p> + +<blockquote>[8] We now return to the narrative of +Zarate.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Don Diego had hardly got two leagues from Lima, in 1542, when +secret orders arrived there from Vaca de Castro, addressed to F. +Thomas de San Martin, provincial of the Dominicans, and Francisco +de Barrionuevo, to whom he committed the direction of public +affairs till his own arrival. By these persons, the cabildo of +the city was secretly assembled in the Dominican convent, to whom +these orders were communicated, and who immediately recognized +Vaca de Castro as governor, and Geronimo de Aliaga, his principal +secretary, as adelantado or lieutenant governor of Peru. +Immediately upon this formal act of recognition, the members of +the cabildo and several of the principal citizens fled to +Truxillo, fearing the resentment of the Almagrians. Although all +this had passed in secret, it was communicated on the same night +to Don Diego, who was disposed in consequence to have returned +with the intention of giving up the city to plunder; but he was +afraid lest by delay Holguin might escape into the north of Peru, +and lest by returning, the arrival of the new governor might come +to the knowledge of his troops. He determined therefore to +continue his march against Holguin with all expedition. In spite +of all his precautions, intelligence of the arrival of the new +governor reached his camp, on which several persons abandoned him +secretly, particularly the provincial of the Dominicans, Diego de +Aguero, Juan de Saavedra, Yllen Suarez de Carvajal the +commissary, and Gomez de Alvarado.</p> + +<p>Although every consideration prompted Don Diego to use the +utmost diligence in the present posture of affairs, he was under +the absolute necessity of marching slowly, as Juan de Herrada his +great friend and adviser fell sick of a mortal distemper. Owing +to this delay, Holguin was enabled to get beyond the valley of +Jauja in his march towards the province of Chachapoyas. Yet Don +Diego followed after him with so much diligence that he very +nearly got up with him. In this emergency, as Holguin was by no +means in sufficient force to venture a battle with Don Diego, he +put the following stratagem in practice to enable him to escape, +which effectually succeeded. During the night he detached twenty +horsemen to make an attack on the advanced guard of the enemy, +with orders to take some prisoners if possible, and then to +retire. They executed their orders successfully and made three +prisoners, two of whom Holguin ordered to be immediately hanged, +and offered life and liberty with a considerable reward in money +to the third, if he would carry information to certain persons in +the army of Don Diego, who he pretended were disposed to join +him, that he intended to attack the right wing of the camp in the +ensuing night, that they might be ready to assist him. He even +administered an oath to this soldier that he would religiously +keep the secret from every one but those to whom he was directed +to carry the message. Being a young man and desirous of procuring +the promised large reward, he readily undertook the commission, +and returned to the camp of Don Diego. When Don Diego understood +that this man had come back, and that his two companions were +hanged by Holguin, he suspected that mercy had been shewn him on +some private conditions; for which reason he ordered the soldier +to be put to the torture, who immediately avowed all that had +been confided to him. By this means, Don Diego was led to believe +that Holguin actually intended to surprise him by night, and took +effectual measures to receive him, placing the greatest part of +his troops under arms all night on that side which the soldier +mentioned as the part where Holguin was to attack. The intentions +of Holguin were diametrically opposite to this story which he had +put in the mouth of the soldier, meaning only to gain time for a +secure retreat; so that immediately after dispatching the +soldier, he decamped in the middle of the night, marching with +all possible celerity to get his army into a place of safety, +while Don Diego uselessly kept his army under arms in expectation +of being attacked.</p> + +<p>When Don Diego discovered the trick which had been imposed on +him, he resumed the pursuit of Holguin with as much celerity as +he could: But Holguin had sent a quick messenger to Alonso de +Alvarado, requesting him to hasten to his assistance, which +Alvarado did without delay with all his own troops and several of +the inhabitants of Truxillo. On the junction of these officers a +few davs afterwards, Don Diego discontinued the pursuit, and +returned towards Cuzco. Holguin and Alvarado sent off immediately +to inform Vaca de Castro by letter of all the preceding events, +and counselled him to advance without delay to join them, as they +were in sufficient force to make him master of the country when +strengthened by his authority. At this time Juan de Herrada +expired at Jauja, and Don Diego detached a part of his army to +the low country of Peru to collect those of his party who were at +Arequipa and other places. His officers plundered the city of +Arequipa, and dug up every where about the monastery of the +Dominicans in search of treasure, as they were informed that the +inhabitants of that city had concealed their valuable effects in +that convent.</p> + +<p>Vaca de Castro had reached Peru with much difficulty and +fatigue. The voyage from Panama was exceedingly tedious and +tempestuous, and the vessel in which he sailed lost all its +anchors. Having at last reached the harbour of Buenaventura at +the bottom of the bay of Choco on the coast of Raposo, he went +from thence by land to the frontiers of the government of +Benalcazar, who commanded in Popayan, and thence to Peru. He +suffered much hardship and fatigue in that journey, both from the +length and difficulty of the way and the scarcity of provisions, +so that he fell sick as being quite unused to such fatigues. Yet +as the death of the marquis and the subsequent events were +already known in Popayan, de Castro continued his journey with as +little delay as possible, that he might endeavour by his presence +to remedy the disorders of the country. Although Vaca de Castro +had been sent to Peru ostensibly to investigate into and take +cognizance of the death of Almagro, and of the subsequent +transactions, without any order to deprive the marquis of the +government, or even to suspend his authority; yet he had been +furnished with a secret commission, by which he was authorized to +assume the government, in case the marquis should die during his +voyage, or after his arrival, and to exercise all the functions +of that high office, till the emperor might give orders to the +contrary. By the authority of this commission, he was received in +the camp of Holguin and Alvarado as governor. He was accompanied +thither by several persons who had joined him on his first +arrival in Peru, particularly by Captain Lorenzo de Aldana, who +had been lieutenant governor of Quito under the marquis. He sent +before him Captain Pedro de Puelles, to make preparations for +carrying on the war. He sent likewise Gomez de Royas to Cuzco, +with orders to the magistrates and inhabitants of that city to +receive him as lieutenant. Royas used so much diligence and +address that he arrived at Cuzco and was received and +acknowledged in the command of that place before Don Diego could +reach it with his army.</p> + +<p>When Vaca de Castro passed through the province of Bracamoras +on his way from Quito to Truxillo, Captain Pedro de Vergara, who +was then occupied in reducing that province, and had even +fortified himself in a strong post on purpose to defend himself +against Don Diego, joined him with all his men. At Truxillo the +new governor was joined by Gomez de Tordoya, who had quitted the +camp in consequence of a dispute with Holguin. He was joined +likewise at Truxillo by Garcilasso de la Vega and some other +gentlemen. By all these means, when Vaca de Castro left Truxillo +to repair to the camp of Holguin and Alvarado, he had already +collected a well armed force of more than two hundred men, all +ready to obey his orders. Immediately on his arrival at the camp, +Holguin and Alvarado received him with every demonstration of +joy, giving up to him their standards and all other marks of +authority; all of which he restored, except the royal standard, +which he retained for himself. Having appointed Holguin to the +command of the army, as maestre de campo general, he ordered him +to march forwards to Jauja, and to wait there till he himself +might return from Lima, where he proposed going that he might +establish its government in proper order, and on purpose to +collect men, arms and ammunition. He gave orders to Holguin, that +Captain Diego de Royas should always precede the army about +twenty leagues, with a detachment of thirty horsemen, to gain +intelligence of the motions of the enemy. At the same time he +sent back Diego de Mora to Truxillo, to take the command in that +city. De Castro thus took every proper precaution for the +successful issue of his expedition, with as much prudent +foresight as if he had been all his life enured to warlike +affairs.</p> + +<p>When Don Diego found that Holguin had escaped from his +pursuit, as formerly related, he went to Cuzco with his army, +where Christoval de Sotelo, whom he had detached there before +him, had already taken possession of the city, and had displaced +the magistrates who had been established there under the +authority of the new governor. Immediately on the arrival of Don +Diego at Cuzco, he made every exertion to provide artillery and +gunpowder for the farther prosecution of the war. Both of these +warlike articles are easily made in Peru. As to artillery, there +is abundance of metal for that purpose, and there were also +several persons in Cuzco who were perfectly well acquainted with +the manner of founding cannon: These were <i>Levantines</i> or +Greeks, several of whom had come to Peru out of respect for Pedro +de Candia, who was master of the ordnance to Don Diego. Powder +was likewise easily made in great abundance, as saltpetre is to +be had in every part of that country of excellent quality. At the +same time he had defensive armour made for those of his people +who were in want, forming corslets and helmets of silver mixed +with copper, which answered amazingly well, and, were made by the +native artists, who fabricated every kind of arms in imitation +of, and as good as those of Milan. By these means, and by +collecting all the arms throughout the whole country, every one +of his men was at least provided with a coat of mail, a cuirass +or corselet, and a helmet[9]. In this manner Don Diego was +enabled to equip two hundred musqueteers, and to establish +several companies of men at arms, as hitherto in Peru, hardly any +thing had been seen of that kind, the cavalry being all light +horse except a very few.</p> + +<blockquote>[9] Garcilasso says, that on this occasion, the Inca +Manca Capac, who had retired to the mountains, in remembrance of +the friendship which had subsisted between him and the elder +Almagro, provided Don Diego with large quantities of armour, +swords and saddles, which had been formerly taken from the +Spaniards, sufficient to arm two hundred men.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While these preparations were going on, an unfortunate quarrel +arose between the captains Garcias de Alvarado and Christoval de +Sotelo, in which they drew their swords and Sotelo was slain. As +both of these captains were principal leaders in the Almagrian +party, and had many friends and partizans in the army, this +unfortunate affair occasioned much strife, and had nearly +occasioned a battle between the friends of the two combatants; +but Don Diego appeased them with some difficulty, and by using a +great deal of address. But as Garcias de Alvarado plainly +perceived that Don Diego took the death of Sotelo much to heart, +whom he dearly loved, and feared lest he might take measures +afterwards of revenge, he endeavoured to take precautions in the +meantime for his own safety, and for this purpose proposed to +have assassinated Don Diego. With this view he one day invited +Don Diego to dinner, intending to have put him to death during +the entertainment. Don Diego accepted the invitation, but when +the appointed day came, having some suspicion of what was +intended, he sent an excuse for his absence, on pretence of being +indisposed. As Garcias had provided every thing for the execution +of his design, he went with several of his friends to endeavour +to prevail on Don Diego to come to the entertainment. While on +his way, he met a soldier named Martin Carillo who advised him to +stay away from the house of Don Diego, who he was fully persuaded +intended to put him to death. He continued his purpose however, +and received a similar advice from another soldier a little +farther on. Yet he persisted in going to the house of Don Diego, +and even went up to his chamber, where he found him on a day-bed +under pretence of being unwell. This visit seemed to be expected, +as Don Diego had several armed men concealed in a neighbouring +room.</p> + +<p>Garcias de Alvarado and his followers went into the chamber of +Don Diego, to whom Alvarado said; "I hope, my lord, that your +indisposition is of little importance. You must rise and shake it +off, and you will be the better of some exercise and amusement. +Come along with us, and though you eat little, your presence will +give pleasure to the company who expect you." Don Diego agreed to +go, and called for his cloak, being already armed with his sword +and dagger. While the company in the room made way by going out, +and Garcias de Alvarado went immediately before Don Diego, Pedro +de Onnate and several others who were instructed, shut the door, +and seizing on Garcias told him he was their prisoner. Don Diego +drew his sword, with which he wounded Garcias, saying that he +must be slain, not taken prisoner; and immediately Juan Balsa, +Alfonso de Saavedra, Diego Mendez the brother of Rodrigo +Orgognez, and several others who were concealed in the next room, +rushed out and put Alvarado to death with many wounds.</p> + +<p>On the news of this event spreading through the city, it +occasioned much dissatisfaction and some appearances of an +insurrection which might have had very fatal consequences; but +Don Diego went immediately out into the great square, where he +succeeded in appeasing the people, and the friends of Alvarado +were forced to be quiet. Immediately after this, on purpose to +give employment to his troops, and because he heard that Vaca de +Castro had joined Holguin and Alonso Alvarado, he marched out +from Cuzco, meaning to seek out and give battle to the royalists. +His army on this occasion was the most numerous and best +appointed that had hitherto been seen in Peru, consisting of 250 +horse, 200 musqueteers, and 250 pikemen, many of these being +armed with halberts, and all remarkably well provided with +defensive armour, especially all his cavalry, who, besides coats +of mail, had back and breast-pieces of iron. Besides these, he +had a great train of artillery, and was accompanied by Paul, the +brother of the Inca who had been raised to the Peruvian throne by +the elder Almagro. The assistance of this chief was of great +importance to Don Diego on the present occasion, as his Indians +always went a considerable way before the army, and obliged the +natives of all the districts through which they passed to supply +provisions for the troops, and to furnish people for carrying the +baggage and other necessary services. In this manner Don Diego +proceeded for about fifty leagues to the province of Vilcas, +where he learnt that the royal army was only thirty leagues +distant from him.</p> + +<p>While Vaca de Castro was in Lima, he procured a number of +musquets to be made by the workmen of that city, and made every +other preparation in his power to strengthen his army. Among +other things, as Don Diego had carried off the whole royal +treasure, he borrowed a large sum from the inhabitants of Lima, +for the pay of his troops and other expences of the war; and all +things being regulated, he set out to join the army with as many +men as he could collect, leaving Francisco de Barrionuevo as his +lieutenant in Lima, and Juan Perez de Guevara as commandant of +his marine. He directed his march for Jauja, leaving orders with +the inhabitants of Lima to retire on board the ships, in case Don +Diego, as he threatened, should make an attack upon the city. On +his arrival at Jauja, where Holguin and the army waited for him, +he found that the general had provided good store of arms both +offensive and defensive, and particularly a large supply of +gunpowder which had been made at that place. The governor +incorporated the horsemen whom he brought along with him from +Lima among the troops or companies of cavalry already in the +army, which were commanded by the Captains Pedro Alvarez Holguin, +Pedro Anzurez, and Garcilasso de la Vega, and formed an +additional troop of horse of which he gave the command to Gomez +de Alvarado. Those foot soldiers which he brought with him were +distributed into the companies of Pedro de Vergara and Nunno de +Castro, and he formed a new company of musqueteers, of which he +appointed the bachelor Juan Velez de Guevara captain. Although a +man of letters and educated in the study of the law, Guevara was +an excellent soldier, and particularly attentive to discipline, +and had even greatly assisted in the construction of the musquets +with which his company was armed. Being likewise very learned in +the law, he executed a judicial charge at the same time with his +military command, both on the present occasion under Vaca de +Castro, and during the subsequent troubles produced by Gonzalo +Pizarro, as will be afterwards related. Every day till noon, he +held his judicial sittings and dispatched such affairs of that +kind as occurred, in the ordinary sober dress of a lawyer. After +that, he dressed in richly embroidered uniforms, with a buff +jerkin, a feather in his hat, and his musquet on his shoulder, +exercising his company with much attention, and practised himself +in firing.</p> + +<p>Having drawn together a well armed force of seven hundred men, +370 of whom were cavalry, 170 musqueteers, and 160 armed with +pikes, Vaca de Castro appointed captain Francisco de Carvajal +serjeant major[10] of his army; the same person who was +afterwards maestre de campo general under Gonzalo Pizarro. +Carvajal was an officer of great experience, having served above +forty years in the army, and was bred in the wars of Italy under +<i>the great captain</i>, having risen in that service from the +ranks to a lieutenancy. By him all the movements of the army were +directed.</p> + +<blockquote>[10] The rank of serjeant major in the Spanish +service appears to answer to our adjutant, as applied to a +battalion: On the present occasion Carvajal may be considered as +adjutant general under Vaca de Castro. Maestre de Campo seems +equivalent to Major-General.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>About this time a message was received by Vaca de Castro from +Gonzalo Pizarro, who had just returned to Quito from his +disastrous expedition to Los Canelos, formerly related. Gonzalo +made offer to the governor to march to his assistance with all +the troops he could raise; but de Castro, in answer, after +thanking him for his good will, desired him to remain at Quito +and on no account to come to the army, as he had hope of bringing +Don Diego to terms of accommodation, being only desirous of +restoring the country to peace. In this procedure, the governor +meant in some measure to mortify the pride of Gonzalo Pizarro; +and besides, he feared lest his natural desire of taking revenge +for the murder of his brother might prove an invincible obstacle +against Don Diego agreeing to any accommodation, who would never +venture to submit to any one who was accompanied by Gonzalo +Pizarro, whose friends in the royal army were very numerous. Some +persons allege that Vaca de Castro was afraid of permitting +Gonzalo to join the army, lest they might elect him as their +general, as he was greatly beloved by the soldiers. At this time +likewise, Vaca de Castro sent orders to those persons who had the +charge of the children of the late marquis in San Miguel and +Truxillo, to remain with them there till farther orders, and on +no account to carry them to Lima; alleging, as a specious +pretext, that they were safer there than at Lima.</p> + +<p>All his military preparations being completed, Vaca de Castro +left Jauja with his army in excellent order, taking the route for +Guamanga, as he was informed that Don Diego was in full march to +take possession of that city, or to take post at a very important +passage of a river in that neighbourhood, which would give great +advantage in the future operations of the war to either party +which might obtain possession of that post, as Guamanga was +surrounded by precipitous rocks and deep vallies, serving as +natural fortifications of extremely difficult access. Captain +Diego de Royas, who has been formerly mentioned as commanding the +advanced guard of the royal army, had already occupied the city +of Guamanga; and on receiving intelligence of the rapid march of +Don Diego to that place, had fortified himself there as strongly +as possible, that he might be able to defend it till the arrival +of the army under Vaca de Castro. The governor, therefore, +marched with as much celerity as possible, sending on Captain de +Castro with his company of musqueteers to take post on a craggy +hill of difficult ascent near Guamanga, called <i>Farcu</i> by +the Peruvians and Parcos by the Spaniards. Vaca de Castro, on his +arrival one evening within two leagues of Guamanga, received +information that Don Diego was already in possession of that +city, which disappointed him greatly, more especially as the +whole of his own troops were not yet come up. Alonso de Alvarado +was sent back therefore, to expedite their march, and to bring +them on in good order, as the enemy was so near. Some of the +rear-guard of the army marched that day above five long leagues, +which was a most fatiguing exertion, as the road was full of +rocks and steep passes, and they were under the necessity of +carrying their arms and accoutrements. Having passed the city, +the whole army stood to their arms all night, not having any +accurate intelligence of the enemy, who was believed to be nigh. +Next day, however, learning by their scouts, who had been above +six leagues in advance, that the enemy was still at a +considerable distance, the royalists encamped to take some +rest.</p> + +<p>Receiving more certain information of the situation of the +enemy, who were still at the distance of nine leagues from his +camp, Vaca de Castro sent a letter to Don Diego by Francisco +Ydiaquez, commanding him in his majesty's name to dismiss his +army, and to repair to the royal standard, on doing which he +should be pardoned for all that was past: But, if he refused, he +might expect to be proceeded against with the utmost severity, as +a rebel against the king. The governor sent likewise a private +soldier who was well acquainted with the country, diguised as an +Indian, carrying letters for several gentlemen in the rebel army, +offering them an amnesty and large rewards if they would abandon +Don Diego. Though this man took every precaution to prevent +discovery, his track was noticed in some places in the snow, and +he was followed and carried prisoner to Don Diego, who ordered +him to be hanged. Don Diego complained loudly of Vaca de Castro +for sending spies to corrupt his followers while making offers of +accommodation; and drawing out his army in complete order before +the governors messengers, he ordered all his officers to prepare +for battle, promising that whoever killed any of the hostile +inhabitants of the country, should be rewarded with the wife, +lands, Indians, and wealth of the slain. He then gave an answer +to the governors message, that he would never acknowledge or obey +him so long as he was associated with his enemies, Pedro Alvarez +Holguin, Alonso de Alvarado, Gomez de Tordoya, Juan de Saavedra, +Garcilasso de la Vega, Yllen Suarez de Carvajal, Gomez de +Alvarado, and others of that party. That he would never disband +his army, unless he received a formal amnesty under the royal +sign manual; as he could not give faith to one signed by the +Cardinal de Loaysa. That de Castro was much mistaken in supposing +any of his army would abandon him, and might therefore prepare +for battle, as he was determined to defend the country to his +last breath.</p> + +<p>On receiving this resolute answer, Vaca de Castro marched his +army to a small distance from Guamanga, where the ground was too +rough and uneven for his cavalry, and took up a position in a +smooth plain named <i>Chupaz</i>, where he remained three days, +during all which time it never ceased raining, as it was then the +middle of winter, yet the troops were forced to be always under +arms and ready for action, as the enemy was very near. He had +resolved to give battle, us the enemy obstinately refused all +accommodation; yet finding that several persons in his army +seemed to hesitate on account of the disapprobation which his +majesty had evinced respecting the former battle of +<i>Salinas</i>, on which account Ferdinand Pizarro was detained +in prison, he judged it proper to take some formal judicial +steps, both for his own justification, and to satisfy the +scruples of his troops. He pronounced therefore a formal sentence +against Don Diego, whom he declared a traitor and rebel, +condemning him and all his adherents to death and the +confiscation of all their goods. After signing this judicial +sentence in the presence of the whole army, he commanded the +officers to give him asistance for carrying it into +execution.</p> + +<p>Next morning, being Saturday, the scouts brought intelligence +after mass that the enemy, who had encamped for the night at two +short leagues distance, was very near, and in full march towards +the left of the royalist camp, advancing by some low hills to +avoid a marsh which covered the front of the royalists. Don Diego +wished to gain possession of Guamanga before giving battle, and +entertained no doubt of being victorious, trusting to his great +superiority in artillery over the royalist army. When the two +armies were so near that the advanced guards were within musket +shot, the governor detached Captain Castro with fifty musqueteers +to skirmish with the enemy, while the rest of his troops marched +up the slope of a hill on purpose to intercept the march of the +rebels. This movement was liable to considerable danger, as Don +Diego might have done the royalists much damage by means of his +artillery if he had taken advantage of the nature of the ground +in proper time; for during this conversion, the royalist infantry +were often obliged to halt to recover their order, which was much +deranged by the difficulty of the ground. When Carvajal the +serjeant-major observed this circumstance, he ordered all the +troops to gain the height as quickly as possible without +preserving any precise order of march, and to form again when +they were arrived at the summit. They accordingly got all up, +while Captain Castro and his musqueteers were skirmishing with +the troops of Don Diego; who likewise continued his march, and +drew up in order of battle.</p> + +<p>After the royal army had been marshalled in good order by the +serjeant-major, the governor made them a speech, in which he +exhorted them to recollect that they were loyal Spaniards who +were fighting in the just cause of their sovereign. He told them +that the fate of Peru was now in their hands and depended on +their courage. If defeated he and they could only expect to be +put to death; but if victorious, besides the important service to +the king, which they were bound as good and loyal subjects to +perform, they would thereby secure the possession of their +estates and effects, and to such as had none he would provide +amply in the name and by the authority of his majesty, who only +desired to preserve the sovereignty of Peru, that he might divide +it among those who served him faithfully. In conclusion, he said +there needed not a long harangue to encourage gentlemen of honour +and brave soldiers to do their duty, whose example he proposed to +himself to follow, not pretending to give them one; yet, as a +proof that he meant to imitate their bravery, he intended to +march at their head and should be among the first to break a +lance. They all declared that they would do their duty manfully, +and would rather be cut to pieces than allow themselves to be +defeated, as they all considered themselves interested in the +success of the war on their own accounts, as well as from duty to +the king. All the officers earnestly intreated Vaca de Castro not +to hazard himself in the front of battle, insisting that he +should take post in the rear with thirty horsemen, whence he +might send succour to wherever it might be needed. He consented +to this, and as the day drew towards a close, being within an +hour and a half of sunset, he proposed to postpone the battle +till next morning. But Alonso de Alvarado assured him that he +would be defeated if he delayed, as the whole army seemed then +animated by the best resolution, and it was impossible to say +whether some might not change their sentiments during the night. +The governor assented to this advice, only saying that he wished +to have the power which had been given to Joshua, that he might +stop the going down of the sun.</p> + +<p>At this time the artillery belonging to Don Diego opened its +fire upon the royalists; and as it was dangerous to descend the +hill in front towards the enemy, on account of being too much +exposed in that direction to their guns, the serjeant-major and +Alonso Alvarado directed the army to move by the left, where +there was a hollow which led towards the enemy, by which they +were protected from the balls which all flew over their heads. +The troops marched in the following order. Alonzo de Alvarado was +on the right with his troops of horse, having the royal standard +carried by Christoval de Barientos; on the left were the other +four captains of horse, Pedro Holguin, Gomes Alvarado, Garcilasso +de la Vega, and Pedro Anzurez, all at the head of their +respective troops in excellent order. Between the two wings of +cavalry, the Captains Pedro de Vergara and Juan Velez de Guevara +marched with the infantry; and Nunno de Castro marched in front +with his musqueteers to begin the battle, with orders to retire +when pressed by the enemy under the protection of the main body. +The governor, at the earnest entreaty of his officers, remained +in the rear guard at the head of thirty horse, at some short +distance from the main body, where he could see all that +occurred, so as to send assistance where it was wanted, which he +did with much judgment.</p> + +<p>During the advance of the royalists, the enemy kept up a +constant fire of their artillery, but altogether ineffectually, +as all their balls flew too high. Don Diego observing this +circumstance, suspected that Pedro de Candia the captain of his +artillery was gained by the enemy and did this on purpose; for +which reason he went to him in great rage and killed him with his +own hand. After this he pointed and fired off one of the cannon +against a squadron of the royalists, by which shot several of the +troopers were killed. Seeing this, and considering that the +artillery of the royal army was too insignificant to do much +service, Carvajal determined to leave it behind that the army +might advance more quickly. At this time Don Diego and his +officers had arranged their army in order, the cavalry divided on +the two wings, and the infantry in the centre, having their +cannon in front, directly over against the only ground by which +the royalists could advance to the attack. The rebels believed it +would argue timidity in them thus to wait for the enemy, and that +it was proper for them to advance and meet them half way. This +movement was much against the opinion and advice of Pedro Suarez, +serjeant-major to Don Diego, a brave and experienced officer; who +remonstrated that, as the enemy had to advance over a plain of +considerable extent, they would be greatly injured by the +artillery before they could come to the charge, whereas by +advancing the troops of Don Diego would shorten this dangerous +way for their enemies, and would lose an excellent advantage now +in their power. Nothwithstanding this judicious remonstrance the +Almagrian army continued to advance, and took post near a rising +ground over which the royalists had to march, and after which the +rebel artillery could do them very little harm, and was unable to +prevent them from charging, as the way between was very short. +Suarez was so much dissatisfied at his advice being thus +despised, that he set spurs to his horse and galloped over to the +royalist army.</p> + +<p>About this time the Indians under the command of Paullu the +brother of Inca Manco Capac, attacked the left wing of the +royalists with repeated vollies of stones and arrows, but were +soon put to flight by a few discharges from the musqueteers. +Martin Cote who commanded a company of musqueteers on the side of +Almagro, advanced to that side and began to skirmish with the +adverse musqueteers of Nunno de Castro. At this time the +royalists, advancing slowly and in good order to the music of +their drums and trumpets, made their appearance on the height, +where they halted as waiting an opportunity to charge, in hopes +that the incessant discharge from the artillery of the enemy +might relax. Although now so near, the rebel artillery did them +very little harm, as having to point upwards, most of their balls +flew too high, whereas if the royalists had advanced only twenty +paces farther, they would have been exposed to point blank shot. +The infantry indeed of the royalists suffered materially at this +time, as they were more directly exposed to the shot, insomuch +that by one ball a whole file of seventeen men was brought down. +This made a wide gap in the battalion, which the officers took +care immediately to fill up. The serjeant-major, Francisco de +Carvajal, still held back the royalist cavalry from the charge, +waiting for some relaxation in the fury of the adverse artillery, +by which the captains Pedro Alvarez Holguin and Gomez de Tordoya +were both slain, and several others were killed and wounded by +every discharge. Captain Pedro de Vergara being wounded by a +musket shot, exclaimed loudly against the conduct of the cavalry, +saying that all the infantry would be speedily destroyed if the +cavalry did not charge the enemy. The trumpets immediately +sounded a charge, and the royalist squadrons advanced, on which +those of Don Diego moved forward to meet them courageously. The +shock was so violent that almost all the lances on both sides +were broken, and many horsemen of both armies were borne to the +ground, some killed and others wounded. A bloody engagement +succeeded this charge, in which they fought man to man with +swords, maces and battle axes; some even of the cavalry being +armed with large woodmens axes which they wielded in both hands, +gave such heavy blows as no armour could withstand. After +continuing the battle with great fury till both sides were out of +breath, they drew off for a little.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the royalist infantry advanced against those +of Don Diego, encouraged by the exhortations and example of +Carvajal who marched at their head. "Be not afraid, said he, of +the artillery: I, who am as large as any two of you, do not fear +it, and you all see how many bullets pass by without hurting me." +That his soldiers might not conceive that he confided in the +goodness of his armour, he threw away his coat of mail and +helmet, and advanced in this manner to the rebel cannon; and +being bravely seconded by his men, he soon got possession of them +all, killing several of those who guarded them, after which he +turned them against the enemy. By this vigorous, and successful +exploit, the event of the battle was in a great measure decided. +The day was now ended, and the evening became so dark that the +opponents could hardly distinguish each other except by the +voice. After a short rest, the cavalry renewed the fight, and +victory began to lean to the side of the royalists, when Vaca de +Castro made a furious assault on the left of the enemy, where two +troops belonging to Don Diego still kept their ground, while all +the rest began to fall back. On charging the enemy, the governor +exclaimed, <i>Vittoria! Vittoria!</i> Yet the battle continued +undecided for some time, and several of the horsemen who followed +Vaca de Castro were wounded and unhorsed, two gentlemen and +several others being slain. The rebels were at last thrown into +disorder and fled from the field, being pursued for some +distance. Two of their officers, named Bilboa and de Sosa, were +so enraged on seeing the defeat and flight of their companions, +that they rushed like madmen into the thickest of the enemy, +crying out <i>I am he who killed the marquis</i>, till both were +slain. Many of the Almagrians saved themselves by favour of the +darkness; and some of them, for greater security, threw away +their <i>white</i> scarfs, by which the rebels were +distinguished, and put on the <i>red</i> scarfs of the royalists +who lay dead on the field. Thus Vaca de Castro obtained a +complete victory, although before the charge was given his army +lost many more men than the enemy, insomuch that Don Diego +thought himself till then secure of conquering. Such of the +fugitives as endeavoured to save themselves by way of the plain +were all killed by the Indians; and a hundred and fifty horse, +who made their escape to Guamanga, about two leagues from the +field of battle, were disarmed and made prisoners by the small +number of inhabitants who remained in that city. Don Diego fled +to Cuzco, where Rodrigo de Salazar, his own lieutenant, and +Antonio Ruyz de Guevara, one of the magistrates made him +prisoner. Thus ended the authority of Don Diego Almagro, who one +day was lord and master of the great kingdom of Peru, and the +next day was thrown into prison by officers of his own +appointment. This decisive battle of Chupaz was fought on the +16th September 1542.</p> + +<p>A great part of the night was over before their officers could +reassemble the victorious army, as the soldiers were busied in +pillaging the tents of the rebels, where they got a rich plunder +in silver and gold, and killed several of the wounded fugitives +who were unable to continue their flight any farther. When all +were reassembled, Vaca de Castro made the army remain all the +rest of the night under arms and in order of battle, lest the +enemy might rally and renew the fight. Vaca de Castro employed +himself likewise during most part of the night in going about +among the troops, praising the whole in general, and thanking the +individual soldiers for having so bravely done their duty. In +this battle several officers and soldiers on both sides +signalized themselves remarkably. Don Diego distinguished himself +particularly, shewing much courage, and more conduct than could +have been expected from a young man only twenty-two years of +age[11]. He was animated by what he considered a just vengeance +for the death of his father; and was well seconded by many of his +followers. Many of those on the side of Vaca de Castro, were on +the contrary incited by the desire of avenging the death of the +marquis, for whose memory they preserved an inviolable +attachment, insomuch that no danger could prevent them from using +their utmost efforts to punish his murderers. On the two sides, +about 300 men were slain[12], among whom were several officers +and men of note. Pedro Alvarez Holguin and Gomez de Tordoya +eminently distinguished themselves on the side of the royalists, +having mantles of white velvet richly embroidered over their +armour, owing to which they were particularly marked out by the +musqueteers of the enemy, and both lost their lives in +consequence. Alonso de Alvarado and Carvajal likewise +distinguished themselves signally, particularly the latter, as +already mentioned, in a manner that it seemed almost impossible +he should have escaped. But by despising death, he appeared to +have made it flee from him; as indeed it often happens during +great dangers, that those who meet them bravely are preserved, +while those who shrink are lost. A signal instance of this +happened in the present battle, as a young man who was afraid of +the balls concealed himself behind a projecting rock; where his +head was shattered to pieces by a splinter driven off by a cannon +ball[13]. Many others signalized themselves in the battle, to +most of whom the governor gave competent estates in lands and +Indians, when he made the re-partition of the country, adding his +warm acknowledgements for having resigned their individual +interests and resentments in the service of the crown.</p> + +<blockquote>[11] Garcilasso, himself a mestee, says that Don +Diego was the bravest Mestizo, or son of a Spaniard by an Indian +woman, that ever the New World produced.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[12] According to Garcilasso, of 1500 combatants, +including both sides, 500 men were slain, and about an equal +number wounded; the royalists having 500 killed and 400 wounded, +while the rebels had only 200 slain and 100 wounded. In this +estimate he has surely made a material error, as he makes the +killed and wounded of the royalists equal to the whole number +thay had in the field.--E.</blockquote> + +<blockquote>[13] At this place, a naked list of a great number of +names of those who signalized themselves in the battle, are +enumerated by Zarate, but omitted here as altogether +uninteresting.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The night after the battle was extremely frosty, and as the +baggage was considerably in the rear, only two of the wounded +officers had their wounds dressed, so that a good many of the +wounded died of cold during the night. Next morning, the governor +caused every attention to be given to the wounded, who exceeded +four hundred in number[14], and had the dead buried, ordering the +bodies of Holguin and Tordoya to be carried to the city of +Guamanga, where they were magnificently interred. On the day +succeeding the battle, the governor ordered the heads of several +prisoners to be cut off, who had been concerned in the murder of +the marquis. Next day he went to Guamanga, where Captain Diego de +Royas had already beheaded Juan Tello and some other captains of +the rebels. The governor now gave orders to the licentiate de la +Gama to try the rest of the prisoners, and to punish them +according to their deserts. De la Gama accordingly hanged several +and beheaded others, to the number of forty of the most culpable, +insomuch that in all about sixty were executed. Some others were +banished, and the rest were pardoned, such of them as had +settlements being allowed to return to their houses.</p> + +<blockquote>[14] This appears to countenance the account of +Garcilasso in a former note, who probably quoted from Zarate; but +the latter does not limit this number to the royal +troops.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The governor went afterwards to Cuzco, where he brought Don +Diego to trial, and ordered him to be beheaded. Diego de Mendez, +Gomez Perez, and another, made their escape from prison into the +mountains of the Andes, where they were kindly received by Manco +Capac the fugitive Inca, who had taken refuge in an inaccessible +country. The Inca was much grieved on learning the death of Don +Diego, whom he was greatly attached to, and to whom he had sent +several coats of mail, corselets, cuirasses, and other arms, +which he had taken from the Spaniards whom he defeated and slew, +at the time when he went by order of the marquis to relieve +Gonzalo and Juan Pizarro, then besieged in Cuzco.</p> + +<p>After the death of Don Diego and the entire dispersion of his +adherents, by which peace was restored through the whole country, +the governor did not consider it proper to disband his army, as +he had not sufficient funds to reward them according to their +services; for which reason he resolved to send them in different +detachments to make discoveries and conquests. Captain Vergara +and his troops were accordingly sent back to complete the +conquest of the Bracamoras. The Captains Diego de Royas and +Philip Gutierez were sent with above three hundred men to the +eastwards, where they afterwards made some establishments on the +Rio de la Plata. Captain Monroy was sent to Chili with +reinforcements to Pedro de Valdivia, who was engaged in reducing +that country. Captain Juan Perez de Guevara was sent to reduce +the country of Mullobamba which he had discovered. This is an +exceedingly mountainous country, in which the two great rivers +Marannon and La Plata have their sources, both of which run into +the Atlantic. Its inhabitants are Caribs, or canibals, and their +country so hot that they go entirely naked, or at least have only +a few rags round their loins. While in this country, Juan Perez +got notice of an extensive province beyond the mountains towards +the north, in which there are rich gold mines, and which has +camels and fowls like those of New Spain, and a species of sheep +considerably smaller than those of Peru. In that country it is +necessary to water all kinds of seeds regularly, as it seldom +rains. In it there is a lake, the environs of which are +exceedingly populous. In all its rivers there are certain +<i>fishes</i> as large as dogs, which they likewise very much +resemble, which kill and eat the Indians when they go into the +water or even pass near it, as they often come out of the water +and walk on the dry land[15]. This great country is bounded on +the north by the Marannon, on the east by Brasil, and on the +south by the Rio de la Plata; and it is said that the Amazons +dwell in this country, of whom Orellana received intelligence +while descending the Marannon.</p> + +<blockquote>[15] Obviously a misunderstood description of +alligators. Indeed the whole account of this country, now called +Colona, seems to have been derived from the reports of Indians, +and is in many circumstances entirely fabulous, as is well known +from the more recent accounts of the Jesuit +missions.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Vaca de Castro remained above eighteen months in Cuzco after +the departure of these various expeditions, employing himself in +making a distribution of the unoccupied lands and Indians, and +settling the whole country in good order, issuing likewise many +useful regulations for the protection and preservation of the +Indians. In that period the richest gold mine ever heard of in +our days was discovered near Cuzco in a river named +<i>Carabaya</i>, where a single Indian is able to gather to the +extent of a mark in one day[16]. The whole country being now +perfectly tranquil, and the Indians protected from those +excessive toils to which they had been subjected during the civil +war, Gonzalo Pizarro was permitted to come to Cuzco, and after a +few days went thence to Las Charcas, where he employed himself in +taking care of the extensive estate which he possessed in that +country. He there remained in quiet, till the arrival of the +viceroy, Blasco Nunnez Vela in Peru, as shall be related in the +sequel.</p> + +<blockquote>[16] Carabaya is an elevated valley of considerable +extent, to the south east of Cuzco. A mark of gold or eight +ounces is worth about L.32; hence we may readily believe so rich +a days work was seldom made.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>SECTION II.</p> + +<p><i>Commencement of the Viceroyalty of Blasco Nunnez Vela, and +renewal of the civil war in Peru by the usurpation of Gonzalo +Pizarro</i>.</p> + +<p>At this period, some of the clergy who had been in the New +World, represented to the Emperor Don Carlos and the lords of his +council, that the Spaniards treated the natives in the conquered +provinces of America with extreme cruelty, depriving them of all +their property by excessive exactions, forcing them to labour in +the mines and to dive for pearls beyond their strength, obliging +them to carry heavy burdens in long journeys, and frequently +subjecting them to arbitrary punishments, and even wantonly +putting them to death; insomuch that their numbers were fast +diminishing, and that in a short time they would be entirely +extirpated from Mexico and Peru and the other continental +dominions of Spain in America, as was already the case in the +islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Porto Rico, Jamaica, and others, +where hardly any trace remained of the original inhabitants. To +confirm these representations, they particularly recited many +instances of cruelty exercised by the Spaniards upon the Indians, +among which were numerous circumstances that were by no means +well authenticated. They alleged as one of the greatest of these +evils, and a principal cause of the destruction of the Indians, +that they were forced to carry heavy burdens on long journeys, +far beyond their strength, without any consideration of justice +or humanity. They added that these tyrannical practices had been +carried to the greatest excess by the governors, lieutenants, and +other officers of the crown, and by the bishops, monks, and other +favoured and privileged persons, trusting to their authority and +immunities to be exempted from punishment for their improper +conduct, by which they were encouraged to the commission of every +excess. He who insisted in these remonstrances with the greatest +zeal and perseverance was Fra Bartholomew de las Casas, a +Dominican monk, whom his majesty had raised to the bishopric of +Chiapa.</p> + +<p>After maturely considering these representations, his majesty +was anxious to devise proper means to relieve the Indians from +oppression; and for this purpose he assembled a council of all +those persons to whom the administration of affairs in the Indies +was confided, with several other persons of probity learned in +the laws. By this assembly the whole affair was deliberately +examined, and a code of regulations drawn up by which it was +expected to remedy the abuses complained of. By these regulations +it was enacted that no Indian should be forced to labour in the +mines, or to dive for pearls; that no excessive labours should be +imposed on them, and even that they should not be obliged to +carry burdens except in places where no other means could be +employed; that all Indians should be paid for their labour, and +that the tribute which they were to pay to their masters should +be fixed; that upon the death of any person to whom lands and +Indians now belonged, they were to revert to the crown. Besides, +that all lands and Indians belonging to bishops, monasteries, and +hospitals, or to governors, lieutenant-governors, or other +officers of the crown, should be taken from them and annexed to +the crown, even although the possessor should incline to demit +their offices for the purpose of enabling them to retain their +repartitions. It was particularly ordered in regard to Peru, that +all who had taken any share in the civil wars between the marquis +and Almagro should forfeit their lands and Indians. And finally, +all Indians set at liberty by this regulation were to belong in +perpetuity to the crown, to whom their tributes were to be paid +in all time coming.</p> + +<p>It is perfectly obvious, in consequence of the concluding +clause but one of these regulations, by which all who had taken +any share in the late civil wars were to be deprived of their +lands and Indians, that every individual then in Peru would have +been reduced to poverty, as it may be seen by every circumstance +related in the foregoing part of this history, that every +Spaniard in the country had embraced one or other of these +parties with extreme violence. Even the native Peruvians had +taken a part in the civil discords, and had frequent quarrels and +engagements on the subject, some of them taking part with the +<i>Chilese</i>, and others with the <i>Pachacamacs</i>, by which +titles they distinguished respectively the adherents of Almagro +and of the marquis. Hitherto the only court of justice or royal +audience was held at Panama, at a most inconvenient distance from +Peru. By the new regulations this court of Panama was abolished, +and besides the establishment of a new court on the frontiers of +Gauatimala and Nicaragua for all the provinces from Tierra Firma +northwards, of which the licentiate Maldonado was made president, +another court of royal audience was ordered to be established in +Lima, consisting of four oydors or judges, and a president who +was to have the title of Viceroy and captain general. This +measure was deemed indispensibly necessary for the well being of +this distant country, the richest and most valuable dominion +which belonged to the crown in all America. All these regulations +were enacted and published at Madrid in 1542, and copies of them +were immediately sent to different parts of the New World. These +new reglations gave extreme dissatisfaction to the conquerors of +the American provinces, and particularly to those of Peru; as +every Spanish settler in that country must have been deprived by +them of almost every thing they possessed, and reduced to the +necessity of looking out for new means of subsistence. Every one +loudly declared that his majesty must have received erroneous +information respecting the late events, as the partizans and +adherents both of the marquis and of Almagro, had conducted +themselves to the best of their judgment as faithful subjects of +his majesty, believing that they acted in obedience to his orders +in what respected the two rival governors, who acted in his name +and by his authority, and were besides under the necessity of +obeying their officers, either by force or good will, so that +they were in fact guilty of no crime in what they had done; or, +even if their conduct were in some measure faulty, they certainly +did not deserve to be stript entirely of their property. They +alleged farther, that when they discovered and conquered the +country, which had been done at their own proper cost, it had +been expressly covenanted that they were to enjoy the division of +the lands and Indians among them for their lives, with remainder +to their eldest sons, or to their widows in case of having no +children; and that, in confirmation of all this, an order had +been issued by his majesty, by which all who had participated in +making the conquest of Peru were to marry within a certain +specified time, under the penalty of losing their lands and +Indians, with which regulation most of them had complied; and +that it were now unjust, when they had become old and worn out, +and were encumbered with wives and families, to deprive them of +their substance, when they looked to enjoy repose after all their +fatigues and dangers; being unable from age and infirmity to go +in search of new countries and new establishments.</p> + +<p>Great numbers of persons repaired to Cuzco, where Vaca de +Castro then resided, to lay their complaints before him. He told +them, that he was persuaded his majesty would remedy their +grievances when informed of the true state of affairs, and +recommended therefore that the procurators or syndics of the +different cities should assemble, and elect a deputation to carry +a true statement of matters to the king and royal council of the +Indies, with a humble supplication that his majesty might apply a +proper remedy, by the revocation or modification of those +regulations, which, as they stood, would produce such ruinous +consequences to the colony. On purpose to facilitate this +assembly, the governor promised to repair in person to Lima, as +the most convenient and most central situation for the deputies +of all the other cities. He accordingly set out from Cuzco for +Lima, accompanied by the syndics of all the neighbouring cities, +and by several gentlemen and other persons of consequence.</p> + +<p>In the year 1542, while these things were going on in Peru, +his majesty appointed Blasco Nunnez Vela, who had been commissary +general of the revenue in Castille, as Viceroy of Peru, and +president of the court of royal audience, to carry those +regulations into effect which we have already given an accoun of. +Vela was chosen to this high and important office as a person of +capacity and experience, who would dispense strict justice +without respect of persons, and would punctually fulfil the royal +orders. The four oydors or judges nominated to the royal audience +of Lima were the licentiate Cepeda, doctor Lison de Texada, and +the licentiates Alvarez and Pedro Ortiz. Augustin de Zarate[1], +secretary of the royal council of Castille, was appointed at the +same time auditor general of accounts both for Peru and the +Tierra Firma, as since the discovery and settlement of these +provinces, no accounts of the royal revenues had ever been +rendered to the treasurers. All these persons embarked at San +Lucar de Barrameda on the 1st November 1543, and arrived safe at +the harbour of Nombre de Dios, where they made some stay, on +purpose to prepare for their voyage to Peru. As the viceroy was +eager to proceed, he embarked at Panama in the middle of February +1543, without waiting for the judges of the royal audience, who +anxiously requested to accompany him, and who were accordingly +much chagrined by this procedure. Even before this, some slight +disputes had occurred between them and Vela, which though of +small importance in themselves, had left some impression of +mutual dissatisfaction, and evinced that they were not likely to +agree in the government of the country.</p> + +<blockquote>[1] The author of this history.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Befere leaving the Tierra Firma, the viceroy began to carry +one of the new regulations into effect, by which all Indians were +enjoined to be at liberty to return to their native countries, +whatever might have been the cause of their transportation to +other places. He accordingly collected all the natives of Peru +who happened to be in the province of Tierra Firma; and as there +was a great and constant intercourse between that province and +Peru, the number of Peruvians in Tierra Firma was considerable, +and he ordered all of these to embark in the same ship with +himself at the expence of their masters. The new viceroy had a +quick passage from Panama to the port of Tumbez at the northern +extremity of proper Peru, where he disembarked on the 4th of +March, being resolved to go from thence by land to Lima, and +immediately proceeded to enforce the new regulations in every one +of the places by which he travelled. In regard to some of the +colonists, he fixed the services and tributes which they were in +future to exact from the Indians; and others he deprived entirely +of their lands and Indians, annexing them to the crown. Many of +those who found themselves aggrieved by these regulations, +particularly all the inhabitants of San Miguel and Truxillo, +waited on the viceroy, respectfully yet earnestly entreating that +he would at least postpone the execution of those rigorous +decrees till the arrival of the judges, when they would make +their humble application for justice at Lima in the royal court +of audience. In corroboration of this request, they pointed out +one of the articles of the regulations, which directed that they +were to be put in force by the viceroy and oydors conjunctly, and +that therefore he was not authorised to execute them by his +single authority. All their remonstrances and reasonings were +unavailing, as he refused to listen to them, saying, that the +orders with which he was entrusted were general laws, which could +not be suspended or even postponed in compliance with any +requests or supplications whatever. He persisted, therefore, to +put the regulations strictly in force, through the whole extent +of his journey from Tumbez till his arrival in the province of +Guavara[2], which is eighteen leagues from Lima.</p> + +<blockquote>[2] About that distance to the north of Lima is the +town of <i>Huaura</i>, which is probably the place indicated in +the text, as in many names of places in Peru the initial syllable +<i>Gua</i> or <i>Hua</i>, are interchangeably used by different +authors.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>Immediately on his arrival at Tumbez, the viceroy sent an +express to notify his arrival and the extent of his powers and +authority to the governor Vaca de Castro, whom he directed to +discontinue all exercise of authority as governor. By this +messenger, and by other persons who followed him, the inhabitants +of Lima were informed of the rigorous manner in which the viceroy +had proceeded to enforce the new regulations, and of his refusal +to listen to any supplications or remonstrances on the subject. +On purpose still more to irritate every one against the viceroy, +reports were spread of several other rigorous proceedings as +having been exercised by him, of which he never even conceived +the idea. These news caused much emotion and discontent among the +persons who accompanied Vaca de Castro, insomuch that several of +them urged him to refuse recognizing the viceroy, and to protest +both against the regulations and his commission, as he had +rendered himself unworthy of the government by executing his +commission with extreme rigour, refusing justice to his majestys +faithful subjects, and turning a deaf ear to their respectful +remonstrances. Vaca de Castro soothed them as much as possible, +by assuring them that when the oydors were arrived and had begun +to act as the royal court of audience, they would certainly +listen to their remonstrances on being instructed in the true +state of the country; but that for himself, he could in no degree +consent to disobey the orders of his majesty. At this time, Vaca +de Castro had arrived at Guarachiri, about twenty leagues from +Lima, and on receiving the orders which had been transmitted to +him by the viceroy, he immediately divested himself of his +office, and discontinued from exercising any of the functions of +government; except that he granted some vacant repartitions of +lands and Indians to different people, some of which grants were +in his own name.</p> + +<p>Finding all their representations to Vaca de Castro +ineffectual, the principal persons who attended him set out in +their return to Cuzco, under pretence that they dared not to +await the arrival of the viceroy so long as he was alone; but +that they would return to Lima on the arrival of the judges: Yet, +in spite of these specious pretexts, it was easy to see that they +were much discontented and had evil intentions. Indeed they +clearly evinced this soon afterwards on their arrival at the city +of Guamanga, where they excited a great tumult, and took +possession of all the artillery which Vaca de Castro had disposed +in that place after his victory over Don Diego. They then +collected a great number of Indians, and caused the whole of this +train or artillery to be removed to Cuzco.</p> + +<p>Vaca de Castro continued his journey from Guarachiri to Lima, +which he found all involved in confusion and discontent, the +inhabitants being much divided in opinion as to the expediency of +receiving the viceroy or refusing to recognize him in that +capacity. Some alleged that the orders of his majesty did not +command his recognition till his actual arrival. Others said that +he ought not to be recognized even on his arrival, considering +the unjust regulations which he brought along with him, and the +rigour with which he put them in force, in spite of every +remonstrance and supplication to the contrary. But by the earnest +exhortations of Yllan Suarez, <i>alcalde</i> or judge of police +and royal commissary of Lima, they came at length to the +resolution of receiving the viceroy, and even to admit the +regulations, which were published with much solemnity. Upon this +all the magistrates principal inhabitants of the city, went to +Huaura to welcome the viceroy and to pay him their respectful +compliments. From Huaura he was accompanied by the whole +cavalcade to Lima, where he was received with great pomp and +magnificence, making his entry under a canopy of cloth of gold. +All the magistrates walked in procession, carrying the ensigns of +their office, and dressed in long robes of crimson satin turned +up with white damask. In this grand stile the viceroy was +conducted in the first place to church, and thence to his +palace.</p> + +<p>Next day as the viceroy had received information of the +discontents and seditious conduct of the persons who had retired +to Cuzco, he ordered Vaca de Castro to be arrested and thrown +into the common prison, as he suspected that he had fomented +these seditious practices, and that he had even been their secret +adviser to that step. Although the inhabitants of Lima were by no +means perfectly satisfied with the conduct of Vaca de Castro, +they yet humbly petitioned the viceroy, not to allow a person of +such high rank, who was a member of the royal council and had +been governor of the country, to be thrown into the common +prison; as, even if he merited the punishment of death, and were +to be beheaded next day, he ought to be more honourably dealt +with. The viceroy was softened by these remonstrances, and +ordered Vaca de Castro to be placed under arrest in the palace, +taking a bail bond from the burgesses for his safe custody under +a heavy penalty; and besides, he placed all the effects of the +late governor under sequestration. The inhabitants of Lima were +extremely discontented by the harsh conduct of the viceroy, +holding frequent secret conferences among themselves, and a +considerable number of them withdrew gradually from the city, +repairing to Cuzco, at which place toe viceroy was not +acknowledged.</p> + +<p>At this time Gonzalo Pizarro dwelt at Chuquisaca de la Plata, +in the province of las Charcas, employed in the arrangement of +the estate which had been conferred upon him by his brother the +marquis, where ten or twelve of his most intimate friends resided +along with him. On learning the arrival of the viceroy, the +causes of his mission, and the regulations which he had brought +out for the government of the colony, and which he rigorously +enforced, Gonzalo took the resolution of going to Cuzco, under +pretence of inquiring after news from Spain, and to regulate the +affairs belonging to his brother Ferdinand, according to the +instructions he had received on that subject. While employed in +collecting money for his journey, he received letters from all +parts of Peru, written both by private persons and the +magistrates of the cities and towns, endeavouring to persuade him +to stand forwards in defence of the common interests on the +present emergency, by protesting against the execution of the +royal ordinances, and demanding either that their execution +should be delayed, or that some other remedy should be interposed +to prevent universal ruin among the colonists. Gonzalo was even +urged to this interference, as a person to whom the government of +the country belonged of right, as heir to the marquis his +brother. In some of these letters the writers offered to devote +themselves and their fortunes to his service: Others informed him +that the viceroy had publickly declared he would put Gonzalo to +death. In this way every means was used to irritate Gonzalo, that +he might come to Cuzco to prevent the entry of the viceroy into +that city. As every thing seemed to conspire towards the +accomplishment of the desire which he had always cherished, of +acquiring the government of Peru, he gathered a large sum of +money, both from his own funds and those belonging to his brother +Ferdinand, and repaired to Cuzco accompanied by a retinue of +twenty Spaniards[3].</p> + +<blockquote>[3] Zarate is exceedingly negligent in regard to +dates. We learn from the history of America, II. 370, that the +present occurrences took place in 1544.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>The whole Spanish population of the city went out to meet him, +and received him with every demonstration of joy. Every day +additional persons flocked to Cuzco, withdrawing from Lima in +consequence of the rigorous conduct of the viceroy, who +continually irritated the inhabitants by his tyranny. Numerous +meetings were held in the town-house of Cuzco, both of the +magistrates and the citizens in general, to consult as to what +ought to be their conduct in the event of the viceroy arriving at +their city. Some proposed that he ought to be received, and that +a deputation should be sent to his majesty, praying him to give +relief in respect to the regulations, which would ruin the colony +unless changed or considerably modified. Others alleged, if the +viceroy were received, that he was so determined on the +establishment of the regulations in their entire rigour, that he +would instantly deprive them of all their Indians; and that, +whatever alteration might be afterwards made, it would be +exceedingly difficult to recover them. It was at length resolved +to elect Gonzalo Pizarro procurator-general, and Diego Centeno, +who had been sent to represent the city of la Plata, was +appointed his deputy. Gonzalo was authorised, in the exercise of +this new office, to lay the remonstrances of the Spanish +inhabitants of Peru, in regard to the new regulations, before the +royal Court of Audience; and at first considerable difference of +sentiment took place in the councils of the remonstrants, as to +the mode in which he should proceed to Lima: whether he should be +accompanied by a body of troops for his defence in case of need, +or should go there merely as a peaceful messenger. At last the +former alternative was resolved on, and for the following +reasons, in excuse for taking up arms against the viceroy. First, +that the viceroy had beat up for volunteers at Lima, under +pretence of chastising those who had taken possession of the +artillery. Secondly, that the viceroy conducted himself with the +most inflexible rigour in carrying the regulations into effect, +without listening to the supplications and remonstrances which +had been presented to him, and without waiting for the arrival of +the judges of the royal audience, to whom, not less than to +himself, the authority had been confided for enforcing or +suspending the execution of the regulations. Lastly, because the +viceroy had been several times heard to declare that he would put +Gonzalo to death, on account of his participation in the late +civil war, and in the death of Don Diego. Some of the +remonstrants were disposed to place this measure, of escorting +the procurator general by an armed force, upon a more moderate +pretext, alleging that it was necessary for him to travel through +a part of the country, in his way to Lima, where the Inca was in +arms, and that it was proper in consequence that Gonzalo should +be enabled to defend himself from the hostility of the natives. +Others talked more openly, saying that the viceroy was a person +of an obstinate and inflexible disposition, who did not confine +himself within the bounds of justice and equity, and against whom +it was necessary to have some other protection than that of the +law. Some able persons among them endeavoured to place their +present conduct in a favourable light, by drawing up a kind of +manifesto, in which they endeavoured to demonstrate, that there +was nothing in their present conduct which could be considered as +derogatory to the respect which was due to the royal authority, +as justice allowed every one to repel force by force, and to +defend themselves against unjust oppression, even resisting by +violence a judge who acts unlawfully, and against the essential +forms of law and justice.</p> + +<p>It was flnally determined therefore, that Gonzalo should raise +a body of troops, and for this purpose many of the inhabitants of +Cuzco offered their persons and properties, declaring themselves +ready to hazard their lives in defence of the common cause. +Besides the title of Procurator-general of Peru, for the purpose +of presenting the supplications and remonstrances of the +colonists, Gonzalo was appointed general of the army which was to +defend him against the Inca. As is usual in such matters, these +resolutions were all extended with much formality, to give a +colour of regularity to their proceedings. The remonstrants then +proceeded to levy an army, for the payment of which they took +possession of the royal treasure, and availed themselves of the +property belonging to deceased colonists and some other funds, +under pretence of a loan. After this captain Francisco de +Almendras was detached with some troops to take possession of the +defiles of the mountains, on purpose to prevent any intelligence +of their proceedings being conveyed to Lima. In this measure, +they were aided by Paullu, brother to the Inca, who guarded all +the passes on his side by means of his Peruvians, to prevent any +one from carrying intelligence to the low country.</p> + +<p>The Cabildo or council of Cuzco sent letters to the Cabildo of +la Plata, representing the prodigous injuries which would accrue +to all the colonists from the execution of the obnoxious +regulations, informing them of the measures which they had +resolved upon for averting the ruin of the colony, and requiring +them to approve of and concur in these measures, to which in fact +they were already parties, since captain Diego Centeno, their +deputy, had already consented to them in their name and behalf. +They therefore required their concurrence and assistance, and +requested them to repair immediately to Cuzco with their arms and +horses. Gonzalo wrote by the same conveyance to all the +inhabitants of La Plata, soliciting their individual concurrence +and aid. At this time, Luis de Ribera acted in the city of La +Plata as lieutenant to Vaca de Castro, the former governor, and +Antonio Alvarez, another inhabitant of the same place, held the +office of judge ordinary. These men, on hearing of the +transactions which had taken place at Cuzco immediately revoked +the commission which had been given to Centeno as deputy from +their city, and sent an answer to the regency of Cuzco in the +name of the whole cabildo of La Plata declaring that they were +resolved to obey the orders of his majesty, although it should +cost them their lives and properties: That their city had always +preserved its loyalty against all who had acted against the royal +authority, and they were resolved to persist in the same line of +conduct: That Centeno had only been authorised to concur in their +name to such measures as might appear conducive to the service of +his majesty, the advantage of his dominions, and the preservation +of the natives of the country; and since, in the election of +Gonzalo, and the other measures which had been resolved upon at +Cuzco, they saw no tendency towards those things which had been +confided to Centeno, they could not be implicated in the consent +which Centeno had given beyond his legitimate powers, nor were +they to be considered as bound to ratify what he had done in +their name, as every thing which had been done was contrary to +the orders and instructions which they had given him.</p> + +<p>This letter did not contain the universal sentiments of the +citizens of La Plata, in which Gonzalo had several friends, who +used their endeavours to gain over the inhabitants to his side, +and to engage them to join his army. They even endeavoured more +than once to kill Ribera and Alvarez, but these officers used +such precautions as to baffle all their attempts. Ribera and +Alvarez waited patiently for receiving the regulations from the +viceroy; but owing to the great distance of their city from Lima, +these had not yet reached them. In the mean time, they commanded +all the inhabitants, under severe penalties, to remain in La +Plata; yet several of them left the city and joined the +remonstrants at Cuzco.</p> + +<p>The viceroy made his entry with great pomp, in the month of +May 1544, into Lima, where no one dared to speak to him on the +subject of suspending the obnoxious regulations. The magistrates, +indeed, had already made their respectful remonstrances and +supplications, alleging substantial reasons why they ought to be +suspended, but all in vain. He engaged indeed, after the +regulations should have been carried into effect, that he would +write to his majesty, representing that it was for the interest +of the crown, as well as for the advantage of the natives of the +country, that they should be revoked; and that those who had +drawn them up were certainly ignorant of the true state of the +country, or they could never have advised the king to establish +them. He acknowledged that the regulations were prejudicial to +the royal interest and the good of the country; and he +recommended that deputies should be sent to him from all parts of +Peru, in conjunction with whom he would write to the king what +might be proper on the subject; and that doubtless he would then +receive orders calculated to remedy the apprehended evils: But +that he could not of his own authority suspend the execution of +the ordinances, and must continue to act as he had already done, +as his orders left him no choice but absolute obedience to the +royal instructions.</p> + +<p>At this time three of the judges of the court of audience, +Cepeda Alvarez and Texada, arrived at Lima, leaving Ortiz, the +other judge, sick at Truxillo. The viceroy issued immediate +orders for the inauguration of the royal Court of Audience; for +which purpose all the necessary preparations were made for the +solemn reception of the royal seal, as usual on the first +establishment of this high tribunal. The seal was placed in a +rich casket, carried by a horse superbly caparisoned and covered +by housings of cloth of gold, and led under a canopy of the same +splendid materials, held up by the magistrates of the city +dressed in flowing robes of crimson velvet, in the same ceremony +as is used in Spain on the entry of the king in person into any +of the cities. On this occasion, Juan de Leon led the horse, +being appointed to officiate as chancellor, in the place of the +Marquis de Camarasa, president of Cazorla, who then held the +seals in Spain. After this procession, the court of audience was +installed, and proceeded immediately to business; but a subject +of dispute soon arose between the viceroy and the judges, which +renewed the dissentions which had arisen between them even before +their arrival in Peru, the explanation of which requires some +detail.</p> + +<p>When the viceroy arrived at the <i>Tambo</i> or palace of +Guavra[4], where he waited till he was sure of being received at +Lima, he found written on one of the walls of the <i>tambo</i> to +the following effect: "Whoever may endeavour to deprive me of my +house and property, I shall endeavour to deprive of life." He +dissimulated his displeasure at these words for some time; but +being afterwards persuaded that these words had been written by +Antonio de Solar, to whom the district of Guavra belonged, and +who he believed was not well inclined towards him, because he had +found the tambo entirely deserted on his arrival, he sent for +Solar a few days after his reception at Lima. In a private +conference, he spoke to Solar concerning these words which he had +seen on the walls of the tambo, and reproached him likewise for +having spoken to him personally with much insolence: Then, +ordering the gates of the palace to be shut, the viceroy sent for +one of his chaplains to confess Solar, declaring his resolution +to have him immediately hanged from one of the pillars of a +gallery fronting the great square of Lima. Solar refused to +confess himself, and the dispute continued so long that news of +what was going forwards spread over the city, on which the +archbishop and some other persons of quality came to the palace +and humbly requested the viceroy to defer the execution. At first +he obstinately persisted in his intention; but at last consented +to postpone the execution till next day, and sent Solar to prison +loaded with fetters. On the morrow, the anger of the viceroy was +somewhat appeased, so that he did not renew his orders for +hanging Solar, but detained him for two months in prison and in +irons, without any information or process respecting his +crime.</p> + +<blockquote>[4] It has been already mentioned in a former note, +that this is probably a different orthography for Huaura, a place +about 70 miles to the N.N. W. of Lima.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>After the installation of the court of audience, the judges +went on a Saturday to visit the prison; and having been informed +of the foregoing circumstances by a judicial note or request +presented to them on the subject, they demanded to see Solar, +whom they asked the cause of his imprisonment; to which he +answered that he knew nothing about the matter. On examination, +they found no process against Solar, and the jailor and +registrars were only able to say that the viceroy had given +orders for his imprisonment. On the ensuing Monday, the judges +represented to the viceroy that they had found no process or +informations against Solar, and could only learn as the reason of +his imprisonment that it was by his orders; and consequently, +having no documents to instruct the lawfulness of his detention, +they could not in law or equity do otherwise than order him to be +set at liberty. The viceroy said that Solar had been arrested by +his orders, and that he had even been inclined to have hanged +him, on account of the writing on the wall of the tambo, and +because of his personal insolence when there was no witnesses +present; believing, by his sole authority as viceroy, that he had +the power of arrest, and even of ordering him to be hanged, +without being under the necessity of giving them any reasons for +his conduct. To this the judges made answer, that his authority +as viceroy could only extend so far as justice and the laws of +the kingdom allowed. As the viceroy and they could not agree on +this point, when they visited the prison on the following +Saturday, they ordered Solar to be liberated, desiring him +however to remain under arrest in his own house; and on a +subsequent visitation, they set him entirely at liberty.</p> + +<p>The viceroy was much chagrined by this affront, and sought +anxiously for an opportunity of being revenged, for which he +thought the following circumstance gave him a favourable opening. +The three judges lodged separately with some of the richest +inhabitants of Lima, who likewise provided their tables, and +furnished every thing that was necessary for themselves and their +servants. At first this was done with the consent of the viceroy, +till such time as they might be able to procure and to furnish +houses for themselves. After the dispute concerning Solar, the +viceroy caused them to be informed, that it did not seem to him +consistent with decorum that they should live at the expence of +the citizens, which would be assuredly displeasing to his +majesty, and therefore that they ought to look out for houses for +their accommodation: And that, besides, he did not approve of +their walking about the streets in company with the merchants and +other inhabitants of the city. The judges made answer, that they +had not been able to find any houses for hire, and that they were +under the necessity of waiting till some then building were +finished: That in future they would live at their own charges: +but as to walking in the streets with the inhabitants, it was +neither a criminal nor a forbidden conduct, nor in any way +improper; as even in Spain the members of the royal council, or +of any other tribunal, were in use to do the same, which was even +useful, as in that way the merchants had an opportunity of +informing or reminding them of their affairs. The viceroy and the +judges were always upon bad terms, and their misunderstanding +broke out into disputes on every occasion. It is said that at one +time the licentiate Alvarez, one of the judges, preferred an oath +to a procurator or attorney, respecting a bribe which he had +given to Alvarez de Cueto, brother-in-law to the viceroy, for his +interest to obtain the appointment. By this procedure of Alvarez, +the viceroy is said to have been greatly offended.</p> + +<p>During all this time, the passes of the mountains leading +towards Cuzco had been so well guarded by the Spaniards and +Peruvians appointed for that purpose, that no intelligence could +be had at Lima of what was going on among the remonstrants. It +was only known that Gonzalo Pizarro had gone to Cuzco, and that +all those who had withdrawn from Lima and other places in the +plain had repaired to the same place in expectation of a civil +war. The viceroy and judges of the royal audience issued their +joint proclamation, ordering, in the name of the king, all the +inhabitants of Cuzco, and the other cities of Peru, to recognize +and submit to Blasco Nunnez as viceroy, and to repair with their +arms and horses to Lima to offer their services. Most of these +proclamations were lost by the way; but that which was sent to La +Plata was more fortunate, and, by virtue of its authority, Luis +de Ribera, Antonio Alvarez, and the other magistrates and +officers of that city, proclaimed Blasco Nunnez with much +ceremony and great rejoicings: And, in testimony of their +submission to his authority, they equipped twenty-five horsemen, +being all the city could spare, who were sent to join the viceroy +under the command of Captain Luis de Ribera. Lest Gonzalo might +cut off their passage and arrest them on their march, Ribera made +his way towards Lima by a desert and unfrequented road.</p> + +<p>Some even of the inhabitants of Cuzco got copies of the +proclamation, in consequence of which several of them repaired +secretly to Lima to offer their services to the viceroy, as will +be more particularly specified in the sequel. By their means the +viceroy became acquainted with the transactions at Cuzco, on +which account he found himself under the necessity of using every +effort to increase his forces by means of additional levies; for +which purpose he fortunately possessed ample funds, as Vaca de +Castro had embarked upwards of 100,000 crowns which he had drawn +from Cuzco to transmit to the king, which the viceroy took +possession of and employed for the equipment and pay of his +troops. He appointed Don Alfonso de Montemayor and Diego Alvarez +de Cuero, who was his own brother-in-law, captains of horse; +Martin de Robles and Paul de Menezes captains of foot; and +Gonzalo Diaz de Pignera captain of musqueteers. Vela Nunnez, his +own brother, was made captain-general of the troops. Diego de +Urbina maestre de campo, or major general, and Juan de Aguire +serjeant-major, or adjutant general. Without including the +citizens, his army amounted to 600 men; of whom 100 were cavalry, +200 musqueteers, and the remaining 300 armed with pikes. On +purpose to arm these soldiers, he caused a considerable number of +musquets to be made, some of which were of iron, and others of +cast metal, which he procured by melting down some of the bells +belonging to the great church.</p> + +<p>Besides frequently exercising his troops to perfect them in +their discipline, he occasionally caused false alarms to be given +that he might ascertain their disposition towards him, as it was +much suspected that the majority were by no means hearty in the +cause. Having some suspicion of Vaca de Castro, the former +governor, whom he had lately allowed to be a prisoner at large on +parole not to leave the city, and believing that he had some +secret intelligence with his former friends and dependents, the +viceroy ordered a false alarm one day about noon, reporting that +Gonzalo was near at hand; and when the troops were all assembled +in the great square, he sent his brother-in-law, Diego Alvarez de +Cueto to arrest Vaca de Castro. At the same time he arrested Don +Pedro de Cabrera, Hernan Mexia de Gusman, Lorenço de +Aldana, Melchior Ramirez, and Baltazar Ramirez his +brother-in-law, all of whom he sent prisoners on board a ship +comanded by Jeronimo de Zurbano. A few days afterwards, he set +Lorenço de Aldana at liberty, and sent off Cabrera and +Mexia to Panama, and the two Ramirez to Nicaragua. Vaca de Castro +remained prisoner in the ship, neither he nor any of the rest +being informed of what they were accused, nor were any +informations or law-processes made respecting them. While these +civil discords were going on, two ships loaded with merchandise +arrived at the port belonging to Arequipa[5], both of which were +purchased by Gonzalo Pizarro, with the intention of employing +them to transport his artillery, and for getting possession of +the harbour of Lima, and seizing the ships belonging to the +viceroy, believing that whoever was master of the sea along the +coast of Peru must command the country, by having it in his power +to land in any unguarded place and to do all the mischief he +pleased, on account of the prodigious extent of coast. By +commanding at sea, he would likewise have been enabled to procure +arms and horses from the vessels which are in use to bring these +to Peru, and would have it in his power to stop all vessels +coming there from Spain with merchandise or other supplies. On +learning that Gonzalo had purchased these two vessels, and the +purpose for which he destined them, the viceroy was a good deal +distressed, fearing they might occasion considerable detriment to +his affairs, as he had no means of opposing two ships so well +provided with artillery; yet he took the best measures in his +power to prepare for his defence. He equipped, therefore, one of +the vessels in the port of Lima, which he armed with eight brass +cannon and some others of iron, with several musquets and +cross-bows, appointing Jeronimo de Zurbano to the command, with +orders to make the best resistance he could against the ships of +Gonzalo. Fortunately these preparations became unnecessary; for +the captains Alfonso de la Caçares and Jeronimo de la +Cerna, who dwelt in Arequipa, went secretly by night on board the +two ships which Gonzalo had purchased, and which remained waiting +for their artillery, and by large bribes to the masters and +mariners got possession of them for the viceroy; then, abandoning +their houses lands and Indians, they immediately set sail for +Lima. On their arrival off the harbour of Callao, the viceroy got +notice of their approach from some centinels who were stationed +in a neighbouring island, and having no doubt that they were +enemies, he immediately set out from Lima at the head of a body +of cavalry. In the meantime, Zerbana discharged his artillery +against the two ships, which immediately lowered their sails in +token of peace, and sent some of their people on shore in a boat +to surrender the ships to the viceroy. This circumstance gave +much satisfaction to the viceroy and all the inhabitants of Lima, +as it relieved them from a danger of which they were in great +fear.</p> + +<blockquote>[5] Arequipa is a considerable way from the coast, on +which there are several harbours, thirty or forty miles +distant.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>While these things were going on, Gonzalo Pizarro levied +troops at Cuzco, which he carefully armed and disciplined, and +made every necessary preparation for war. He assembled a body of +500 men, of which he appointed Alfonso de Toro major-general, +retaining the chief command in person. He divided his cavalry +into two troops, one of which he gave the command of to Don Pedro +de Porto-Carrero, placing himself at the head of the other. +Gumiel, and the bachelor Juan Belez de Guevera, were appointed +captains of two companies of pikemen; and Captain Pedro Cermeno +had the command of the musqueteers. He had three standards, one +having the royal arms, which was given to Porto Carrero; a second +having the arms of Cuzco was confided to Antonio de Altamirano, +alcalde of Cuzco, whom he afterwards beheaded as inclined to the +royal interests: the third, bearing his own arms, was carried by +his ensign; but was afterwards given to Captain Pedro de Puelles. +Ferdinand Bachicao was made commander of the artillery, +consisting of twenty excellent field-pieces, with a plentiful +supply of powder, balls, and every other necessary for their +service.</p> + +<p>Gonzalo endeavoured to secure the troops in his interest, +covering his designs and endeavouring to justify his criminal +enterprize by the most specious pretexts. Having assembled his +army he made a long harangue to the soldiers, in which he +represented, "That he and his brothers, as was well known to to +them all, had discovered the kingdom of Peru, which they had +reduced under the dominion of the king at their own proper +charges, and had already remitted very large sums in gold and +silver to his majesty; yet, after the death of the marquis, the +king had not conferred the government of the country, either on +the son of the marquis, or on him who now addressed them, as +ought to have been done in conformity with the promises and +agreements which had been made at the first discovery, but had +even sent a cruel and inflexible person at this time to strip all +of them of their property, as it was quite obvious that every +person in Peru came under the scope of the obnoxious regulations. +Blasco Nunnez Vaca, to whom the execution of these fatal +regulations was confided, caused them to be put in force with the +utmost rigour, not only refusing to listen to remonstrances and +petitions the most respectful, but treating every one harshly who +presumed to offer the most humble representations against their +execution; of all which, and many other things of a like nature, +every one who heard him were able to testify. Besides which, it +was publickly given out, that the viceroy had orders to cut off +his head; although it was well known to them all that he had not +only never done any thing contrary to the service of the king, +but had always conducted himself with the most zealous loyalty. +For all these reasons, and by the consent and appointment of the +city of Cuzco, he had resolved to go to Lima, to make a +representation of their grievances to the royal audience, and +humbly to supplicate a suspension of the ruinous regulations, +that time might be given for sending deputies to the king in the +name and on behalf of the whole kingdom of Peru, to inform his +majesty of the true state of affairs, and of what seemed +necessary to be done in the present conjuncture; having no doubt, +when his majesty was truly informed, that he would devise a +suitable remedy. If however, after using their utmost efforts, +his majesty should still think proper to enforce the regulations, +he and all with whom he acted would then obey the royal orders +with the most entire and unreserved submission. His own journey +and compearance before the viceroy, considering the menaces of +that officer and the troops which he had levied, were obviously +attended with the utmost danger to himself and all who should +accompany him, unless he and they should be in a situation to +defend themselves from lawless violence. For this reason it had +been deemed indispensably necessary that he and the other +deputies should be accompanied by a body of troops, which they +had not the most distant intentions of employing to injure any +person, unless they were attacked. He entreated them, therefore, +to accompany him in his journey to Lima, and to observe during +their march the strictest and most vigilant discipline, and that +they might be assured, he, and those other gentleman who acted +along with him, would reward them liberally for their toil and +bravery, in enabling them to act with effect for preserving the +properties of all from ruin."</p> + +<p>By this specious discourse, in which Gonzalo endeavoured to +persuade his troops that his cause was just and his intentions +pure, a considerable effect was produced, and his soldiers +unanimously declared their determination to follow and defend him +at the risk of their lives. He then marched out from Cuzco, +accompanied by all the inhabitants of that city; and having put +his troops in proper order, he gave permission that same evening +to several of the citizens, as had been previously concerted +between them, to return on purpose to prepare for the journey. +Next morning early, twenty-five of the most eminent citizens, who +had first given their assent to the supplications against the +obnoxious regulations, considering that the steps which were now +taking were criminal and rebellious, and dreading the injurious +consequences which they would necessarily produce in Peru, came +to the resolution of abandoning the party of Gonzalo and offering +their services to the viceroy. They immediately set about +executing this design, and went by long journeys through +unfrequented ways in the deserts and mountains, lest Gonzalo +might order them to be pursued, which he actually did. The +principal persons in this defection were Gabriel de Roias, and +Gomez de Roias his nephew, Garcilasso de la Vega, Pedro del +Barco, Martin de Florencia, Jeronimo de Soria, Juan de Saavedra, +Jeronimo Costilla, Gomez de Leon, Luis de Leon, and Pedro +Manjares[6]. On setting out from Cuzco, they carried with them +the orders they had received from the royal audience, by which +they were enjoined to compear at Lima to submit to the authority +of the viceroy.</p> + +<blockquote>[6] Garcilasso de la Vega differs somewhat in the +names of one or two of these leading men who deserted from +Gonzalo, and enumerates a considerable number more, among whom he +names one Pedro Pizarro, saying they were in all about forty, +with many of whom he was personally acquainted.--E.</blockquote> + +<p>When Gonzalo was informed of this notable defection from his +cause, by which all his troops seemed very considerably +disconcerted, he was almost in the mind to have abandoned his +enterprize, and to withdraw into the district of Charcas with +about fifty horsemen of his most attached friends, to fortify +himself there as well as he could; but after mature reflection, +he considered it as less dangerous to follow his first +intentions, and to continue the march for Lima. Having taken this +resolution, he endeavoured to encourage his troops, by telling +them that the deserters were assuredly ill-informed of the true +state of affairs at Lima, as he had letters from the principal +inhabitants of that city, assuring him that, with fifty horsemen +only, he might easily bring his enterprize to a happy conclusion, +and without incurring the smallest danger, as all the colonists +entertained the same sentiments with him, and only needed his +countenance and direction to declare themselves. He continued his +march accordingly, but very slowly and with infinite difficulty, +on account of the extreme labour which was requisite for bringing +forward his artillery. All the cannon and warlike stores had to +be carried on the shoulders of Indians, by means of levers or +long spars, for which purpose the guns were taken off from their +carriages, and it required twelve Indians to each gun, who were +hardly able to go above a hundred paces under their load, when +they were relieved by an equal number. On this account, 300 +Indians were assigned to each gun, so that the artillery alone, +with its ammunition and stores, required above 6000 Indians to +conduct it over the mountains.</p> + +<p>Several gentlemen and other persons of consideration who +accompanied Gonzalo, began to repent of being engaged in the +enterprize. They had concurred with the rest at the beginning, in +the propriety of remonstrating against the execution of the +obnoxious regulations, and had even offered to risk their lives +and fortunes in that measure; but on seeing the turn which +affairs had taken, and that Gonzalo gradually assumed an +authority to which he had no pretensions, they wished sincerely +to get away from the engagements into which they had entered. +Before leaving Cuzco, Gonzalo had seized the treasure belonging +to the crown, not only without the consent and authority of the +magistrates, but contrary to their advice and desire. They were +anxiously desirous, therefore, of retracing the dangerous and +criminal steps which they had taken, and the rather because they +already believed that it would be unsuccessful. Gaspard Rodriguez +De Campo-rondo, the brother of the deceased Captain Pedro +Anzurez, and who had succeeded to the management of his estate +and Indians, was the leader of these persons who wished to return +to their duty. He and the rest concerted with each other how they +might best abandon Gonzalo and join the viceroy; but they were +somewhat afraid of trusting implicitly to Blasco Nunnez, in +consideration of the extreme severity of his character, fearing +that he might punish them for the share they had taken hitherto +in the insurrection, notwithstanding of this their intended tardy +abandonment of Gonzalo. For this reason they resolved to take +effectual measures for securing an indemnity, and sent off, by a +secret and unfrequented road, letters for the viceroy and the +audience, in charge of a priest named Baltasar de Loaysa, by +which they craved pardon for the past and a safe conduct for +their compearance at Lima; adding, that, as they held some rank +in the insurgent army, being captains under Gonzalo, all their +friends and dependents might be expected to follow their example, +by which in all probability the army of Gonzalo would fall to +pieces of itself. Besides Rodriguez, Philip Gutierez, Arias +Maldonado, Pedro de Vila-Castin, and others to the number of +twenty-five, concurred in this plan of abandoning Gonzalo.</p> + +<p>Loaysa went in all haste to Lima, and, for the better +concealment, he avoided uniting himself with Gabriel de Roias and +the others who had formerly set out from Cuzco to join the +viceroy. On his arrival at Lima, he immediately delivered his +dispatches to the viceroy and the audience, and received without +delay the safe conduct which his employers required. The news of +this affair was soon spread over Lima, in which many of the +inhabitants and others secretly wished well to the party of +Gonzalo, as conformable to their own interest; and they were +therefore a good deal mortified at the defection among the +insurgents, which they supposed would soon occasion the army of +Gonzalo to disperse; after which, the viceroy would assuredly +carry the regulations into execution with the utmost rigour, when +there was no one to oppose him.</p> + +<p>At the time when the viceroy was received at Lima, Pedro de +Puelles, who was lieutenant of Guanuco under Vaca de Castro, came +among the first to pay his compliments and to tender submission +to his authority. As he had resided long in Peru, and had great +experience in the affairs of that country, the viceroy gave him a +new commission, by which he was confirmed in the lieutenancy of +Guanuco, to which city he was sent back, with orders to hold the +inhabitants in readiness to take the field with their horses and +arms in case of need. Puelles not only prepared the people of his +government for taking the field, but even retained in his pay +some soldiers who had come from the province of Chachapoyas along +with Gomez de Soliz and Bonefaz. Thinking it necessary to +strengthen his army as much as possible to oppose Gonzalo, who +was now marching towards Lima, the viceroy sent Jeronimo de +Villegas with a letter commanding Puelles to join him without +delay with all his force. On the arrival of Villegas at Guanuco, +he and Puelles consulted together on the state of affairs, and +concluded that if they should join the viceroy they would give a +decided superiority to his side; and after the defeat of Gonzalo, +having no one to oppose him, the viceroy would then cause the +regulations to be enforced in their utmost rigour, by which the +whole colonists of Peru would suffer extreme injury; as by +depriving them of their Indians, not only the burgesses to whom +they belonged would be reduced to poverty, but even the soldiers +would be materially injured, as the burgesses would be no longer +in condition to furnish subsistence to the troops as now. They +came to the resolution therefore to join the party of Gonzalo, +and set out immediately in search of his army for that +purpose.</p> + +<h2>END OF VOLUME FOURTH.</h2> + +<hr align="center" width="50%"> +<hr align="center" width="25%"> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12514 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |