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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz
+del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2)
+       Written by Himself Containing a True and Full Account of
+       the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain.
+
+Author: Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
+Translator: John Ingram Lockhart
+
+Release Date: May 21, 2010 [EBook #32475]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERNAL DIAZ DEL CASTILLO, 2 OF 2 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Julia Miller, Jane Hyland and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE MEMOIRS
+OF THE
+CONQUISTADOR BERNAL DÍAZ DEL CASTILLO
+
+WRITTEN BY HIMSELF
+
+CONTAINING A TRUE AND FULL ACCOUNT
+OF THE
+DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST
+OF
+MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN
+
+TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH BY
+JOHN INGRAM LOCKHART, F.R.A.S.
+AUTHOR OF "ATTICA AND ATHENS"
+
+IN TWO VOLUMES
+VOL. II
+
+LONDON
+J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY
+MDCCCXLIV.
+
+
+C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
+
+                                                                       PAGE
+
+    CHAP. CXXXVII. How the whole of us marched towards Tezcuco, and
+    what happened to us on our way there                                 1
+
+    CHAP. CXXXVIII. How we marched against Iztapalapan; Cortes taking
+    along with him Alvarado and Oli; while Sandoval was left behind to
+    protect Tezcuco                                                      6
+
+    CHAP. CXXXIX. How ambassadors arrive in Tezcuco from three
+    neighbouring townships, to sue for peace, and to beg forgiveness for
+    the murder of several Spaniards who had fallen into their hands; and
+    how Sandoval marched to Chalco and Tlalmanalco, to assist the
+    inhabitants there against the Mexicans                               8
+
+    CHAP. CXL. How Sandoval marches to Tlascalla in order to fetch the
+    woodwork for building the brigantines, and what happened to him in a
+    place which we termed the Moorish town                              15
+
+    CHAP. CXLI. How Cortes marches against the town of Xaltocan, which
+    lay in the midst of the lake, about twenty-four miles from Mexico,
+    and from thence proceeds to other townships                         18
+
+    CHAP. CXLII. How the captain Sandoval marches to Chalco and
+    Tlalmanalco, and what he did there                                  26
+
+    CHAP. CXLIII. How we marked our slaves at Tezcuco with a red-hot
+    iron, and received intelligence that a vessel had run into Vera
+    Cruz                                                                31
+
+    CHAP. CXLIV. How Cortes made a hostile excursion to all the cities
+    and larger townships which lay round about the lake, and what
+    happened on that occasion                                           34
+
+    CHAP. CXLV. The terrible thirst we suffered on our further march;
+    our dangerous position at Xochimilco, and the many battles we fought
+    there with the Mexicans, until our return to Tezcuco                42
+
+    CHAP. CXLVI. How we discover, on our return to Tezcuco, that a
+    conspiracy had been set on foot by the men of Narvaez's troops to
+    murder Cortes, and all who were of his party; of the author of this
+    conspiracy; his punishment; and of other matters                    53
+
+    CHAP. CXLVII. How Cortes issues orders to the inhabitants of all the
+    townships in the neighbourhood of Tezcuco which were allied with us,
+    to furnish us with arrows and copper points for the same, and what
+    further took place at our head-quarters                             55
+
+    CHAP. CXLVIII. How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops at
+    Tezcuco; and of his further dispositions for conducting the siege of
+    Mexico                                                              57
+
+    CHAP. CXLIX. The manner in which Cortes selects the men who were to
+    row the brigantines; of the commanders who were appointed to each;
+    and of other matters                                                58
+
+    CHAP. CL. Of Cortes' further dispositions for the siege             60
+
+    CHAP. CLI. How Cortes assigns particular stations to the twelve
+    brigantines, the thirteenth being considered unfit for service      68
+
+    CHAP. CLII. How the Mexicans defeated Cortes, and took sixty-two of
+    his men prisoners, who were sacrificed to their idols; our general
+    himself being wounded in the leg                                    81
+
+    CHAP. CLIII. The new plan of operation which we adopt in the siege,
+    and how all our allies return to their several homes                91
+
+    CHAP. CLIV. How Cortes offers terms of peace to Quauhtemoctzin      97
+
+    CHAP. CLV. How Gonzalo de Sandoval marches against the provinces
+    which had sent their troops to cooperate with Quauhtemoctzin       100
+
+    CHAP. CLVI. How Quauhtemoctzin was taken prisoner                  107
+
+    CHAP. CLVII. How Cortes orders the aqueduct of Chapultepec to be
+    restored; and of various other matters                             116
+
+    CHAP. CLVIII. How a certain Christobal de Tapia arrived in Vera
+    Cruz, with the appointment of governor of New Spain                122
+
+    CHAP. CLIX. How Cortes and the officers of the crown forward to
+    Spain the wardrobe of Motecusuma, and the emperor's share of the
+    booty; and what further happened                                   131
+
+    CHAP. CLX. How Sandoval arrives in the town of Tustepec; what he
+    did there; his march to the river Guacasualco, and what further
+    happened                                                           137
+
+    CHAP. CLXI. How Alvarado marches to the province of Tutepec to build
+    a town there; and how far he succeeded in subduing the country, and
+    in founding a colony                                               145
+
+    CHAP. CLXII. How Francisco de Garay arrives with an extensive
+    armament in the river Panuco; how far he was successful; and of many
+    other circumstances                                                148
+
+    CHAP. CLXIII. How the licentiate Zuazo set sail for New Spain in a
+    small vessel, accompanied by two monks of the order of Charity; and
+    their remarkable adventures on this voyage                         163
+
+    CHAP. CLXIV. How Cortes despatched Alvarado to subdue the province
+    of Guatimala, and to found a colony there                          165
+
+    CHAP. CLXV. How Cortes despatched an armament, under Christobal de
+    Oli, to the Higueras and Honduras, to subject these provinces; and
+    what further took place during this expedition                     173
+
+    CHAP. CLXVI. How we who were left behind in Guacasualco were
+    constantly occupied in tranquillising the rebellious provinces; how
+    Luis Marin, by command of Cortes, marches into Chiapa, to subject
+    that province; myself and father Juan de las Varillas being
+    particularly desired by Cortes to join him in this campaign        177
+
+    CHAP. CLXVII. How our agents in Spain brought certain accusations
+    against the bishop of Burgos, and what further happened            195
+
+    CHAP. CLXVIII. How Narvaez, Christobal de Tapia, the pilot Umbria,
+    and the soldier Cardenas bring heavy accusations against Cortes, at
+    the instigation of the bishop of Burgos, and what judgment his
+    majesty pronounced                                                 198
+
+    CHAP. CLXIX. Of Cortes' plans after he had obtained the appointment
+    of governor of New Spain; the way in which he distributes the
+    Indians; and of other matters                                      210
+
+    CHAP. CLXX. How Cortes sends a present to his majesty; 80,000 pesos
+    in gold and silver, besides a magnificent field-piece made of silver
+    and gold, covered with various beautiful figures; also how he sends
+    his father Martin Cortes above 5000 pesos                          219
+
+    CHAP. CLXXI. How twelve monks of the order of St. Francis, with the
+    vicar-general and father-superior Martin de Valencia, arrive at Vera
+    Cruz, and how they are received by Cortes                          221
+
+    CHAP. CLXXII. How Cortes sends his majesty 30,000 pesos worth of
+    gold, with an account of the conversion of the Indians, the
+    rebuilding of the city of Mexico, and of the expedition of
+    Christobal de Oli to the Honduras; also how the vessel which
+    conveyed this gold at the same time carried secret letters to Spain,
+    written by the royal accountant Rodrigo de Albornoz, in which Cortes
+    and the whole of the veteran Conquistadores were calumniated in the
+    vilest manner                                                      224
+
+    CHAP. CLXXIII. How Cortes sent out a captain named Francisco de Las
+    Casas against Christobal de Oli, on receiving intelligence that this
+    officer had made common cause with Diego Velasquez, and had
+    renounced all further obedience to him                             228
+
+    CHAP. CLXXIV. How Cortes himself marches at the head of his troops
+    to the Honduras in search of Christobal de Oli; of the officers and
+    men he selected on this occasion, and of other matters             233
+
+    CHAP. CLXXV. How we commence our march from Guacasualco, and the
+    terrible fatigues and hardship we had to undergo for the space of
+    two years and three months                                         238
+
+    CHAP. CLXXVI. How Cortes, on our arrival at Ciguatepec, despatches
+    Francisco de Medina in search of Simon de Cuenca, with orders for
+    the latter to repair with the two vessels to Triunfo de la Cruz; and
+    what further happened                                              245
+
+    CHAP. CLXXVII. Cortes' further plans after his arrival among the
+    Acallan townships; how he orders the powerful cazique of Mexico
+    Quauhtemoctzin and the king of Tlacupa to be hung; his reasons for
+    doing this; and of other matters                                   250
+
+    CHAP. CLXXVIII. We continue our march, and what further happened to
+    us                                                                 255
+
+    CHAP. CLXXIX. How Cortes entered the town founded by Gil Gonsalez de
+    Avila; the great joy of the inhabitants at his arrival, and what he
+    further did there                                                  265
+
+    CHAP. CLXXX. How eighty of us, on the second day after our arrival
+    in Buena Vista, marched out under the command of Luis Marin to
+    explore the country and to search for provisions                   266
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXI. How Cortes embarks, with the soldiers who accompanied
+    him on this expedition, and with all the inhabitants of Buena Vista,
+    for Puerto de Caballos, where he founds a colony, to which he gives
+    the name of Natividad                                              269
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXII. Sandoval commences to subdue the province of Naco,
+    and the opposition he meets with from the natives                  272
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXIII. How Cortes disembarks in the harbour of Truxillo,
+    and the inhabitants rejoice at his arrival                         273
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXIV. How Sandoval, during our stay at Naco, takes forty
+    Spanish soldiers with their captain prisoners, who, on their march
+    from the province of Nicaragua, had everywhere plundered and
+    otherwise ill-used the inhabitants                                 277
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXV. How Cortes receives a letter from the licentiate Zuazo
+    out of the Havannah, and of its contents                           281
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXVI. How Pedro Arias de Avila is apprized by two of his
+    confidants that Francisco Hernandez was in close correspondence with
+    Cortes, and about to declare his independence of him; the steps
+    which Arias took upon this                                         289
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXVII. How Cortes, after setting sail, was twice obliged to
+    put back into the harbour of Truxillo; and what further happened   290
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXVIII. How Cortes despatches one of his servants, named
+    Martin de Orantes, to Mexico, with letters to Francisco de las Casas
+    and Pedro de Alvarado, in which he empowers them to take upon
+    themselves the chief government of New Spain; but in case they were
+    absent he conferred the same power on Estrada and Albornoz         292
+
+    CHAP. CLXXXIX. How the treasurer, with several other cavaliers,
+    requested the Franciscan monks to despatch father Diego de
+    Altamirano, a relation of Cortes, to Truxillo, to desire our general
+    to hasten his departure for Mexico                                 296
+
+    CHAP. CXC. Cortes sets sail from the Havannah, and has a favorable
+    passage to Vera Cruz, where he is received with the greatest
+    rejoicings                                                         300
+
+    CHAP. CXCI. How the licentiate Luis Ponce de Leon, who was
+    commissioned to make inquiries into Cortes' government of New Spain,
+    arrives in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua                         303
+
+    CHAP. CXCII. How the licentiate commences the investigation against
+    Cortes, and all those persons who had filled judicial offices; and
+    how he fell ill shortly after, and died                            309
+
+    CHAP. CXCIII. How, after the death of Ponce de Leon, Marcos de
+    Aguilar assumes the government; the disputes which arose in
+    consequence, and of other matters                                  311
+
+    CHAP. CXCIV. Marcos de Aguilar dies, and in his will appoints the
+    treasurer Alonso de Estrada governor; and of other matters         318
+
+    CHAP. CXCV. How Cortes receives letters from the Cardinal de
+    Siguenza, then president of the council of the Indies, and from
+    several other cavaliers, advising him to repair to Spain without
+    delay; the death of his father Martin Cortes; and of other
+    matters                                                            326
+
+    CHAP. CXCVI. How the royal court of audience arrive in Mexico during
+    Cortes' stay in Spain, and what their first occupations were       336
+
+    CHAP. CXCVII. How Nuņo de Guzman, on the intelligence that the
+    emperor had cashiered the royal court of audience, determines to
+    subdue the province of Xalisco, at present called New Galicia      343
+
+    CHAP. CXCVIII. The arrival of the new members of the royal court of
+    audience in Mexico                                                 344
+
+    CHAP. CXCIX. Cortes returns to New Spain as marquis del Valle
+    Oaxaca, and captain-general of New Spain and of the South Sea,
+    accompanied by his wife Doņa Maria de Zuniga, and father Leguizamo
+    and other monks                                                    348
+
+    CHAP. CC. Of the vast expenses to which the marquis Hernando Cortes
+    put himself in fitting out the expeditions to the South Sea, and of
+    their unfortunate termination                                      349
+
+    CHAP. CCI. Of the great festivities which took place in Mexico on
+    account of the peace which was concluded between our emperor and the
+    king of France; and of Cortes' second journey to Spain             355
+
+    CHAP. CCII. How the viceroy sends out a squadron of three vessels
+    into the South Sea to the assistance of Francisco Vasquez Coronado,
+    in the conquest of Cibola                                          357
+
+    CHAP. CCIII. Of a very extensive armament which was fitted out by
+    Alvarado in the year 1537                                          ib.
+
+    CHAP. CCIV. What befel the marquis del Valle on his second visit to
+    Spain                                                              363
+
+    CHAP. CCV. Of the brave officers and soldiers who sailed from the
+    island of Cuba with the fortunate and spirited captain Hernando
+    Cortes, afterwards marquis del Valle                               370
+
+    CHAP. CCVI. Of the stature and outward person of several brave
+    officers and soldiers, and of their age when they first joined
+    Cortes                                                             383
+
+    CHAP. CCVII. Of the great merit which is due to us, the true
+    Conquistadores                                                     387
+
+    CHAP. CCVIII. Of the human sacrifices and abominations practised by
+    the inhabitants of New Spain; how we abolished these, and introduced
+    the holy Christian faith into the country                          388
+
+    CHAP. CCIX. How we introduced the Christian religion among the
+    Indians; of their conversion and baptism; and of the different
+    trades we taught them                                              390
+
+    CHAP. CCX. Of other advantages which arose from our glorious
+    conquests                                                          393
+
+    CHAP. CCXI. The deliberations which took place at Valladolid in the
+    year 1550, in the royal council of the Indies, respecting the
+    distribution of Indians in perpetuity                              398
+
+    CHAP. CCXII. Of various remarks which were made respecting my
+    history, which the reader will be pleased to hear                  401
+
+    CHAP. CCXIII. Of the planets and signs in the heavens which
+    prognosticated our arrival in New Spain; how these were interpreted
+    by the Mexicans; and of other matters                              406
+
+    NOTES                                                              411
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: Footnote 54 was missing from the original text and
+has, therefore, been inserted at the appropriate place.
+
+The following errata have been corrected in the text.]
+
+
+ERRATA.
+
+    P. 141, _l._ 32, _for_ then, _read_ there.
+       165,      19, _for_ Guanaca, _read_ Guaxaca.
+       199,      15, _for_ with, _read_ and.
+       345,      38, _omit_ to be.
+       354,      22, _for_ forgot, _read_ forget.
+       366,       6, _for_ enbonpoint, _read_ embonpoint.
+
+
+
+
+CONQUEST
+
+OF
+
+MEXICO AND NEW SPAIN.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXVII.
+
+    _How the whole of us marched towards Tezcuco, and what happened to
+    us on our way there._
+
+
+When Cortes found himself so well provided again with muskets, powder,
+crossbows, and horses, and observed how impatient the whole of us,
+officers as well as soldiers, were to commence the siege of the great
+city of Mexico, he desired the caziques of Tlascalla to furnish him with
+10,000 of their troops to join us in the campaign of Tezcuco, as this
+was one of the largest towns of New Spain, and next in importance to
+Mexico. The elder Xicotencatl (now called Don Lorenzo de Vargas) assured
+him that not only the 10,000, but many more troops were at his service,
+and that the brave cazique Chichimeclatecl, our particular friend, would
+himself march out at their head. Cortes returned him the most sincere
+thanks, and, after having reviewed the whole of his troops, whose exact
+number[1] I have forgotten, we commenced our march on the fourth day
+after Christmas of the year 1520.
+
+The first night we quartered in a township which was subject to Tezcuco,
+and were provided with everything we required. From this place we
+arrived on the Mexican territory, where, if possible, we observed still
+greater precaution, and always had four of the horse-patrol and an equal
+number of foot in advance to explore the defiles, as we had been
+informed on our march that a very formidable mountain pass had been
+blocked up by large trees which the enemy had felled when notice of our
+approach was received in Mexico and Tezcuco. During this day's march,
+however, we met with no kind of obstacle, and quartered ourselves for
+the night about twelve miles further on, at the foot of a mountain.
+Here we found it very cold, but kept a sharp look out. With break of day
+we continued our march further up the mountain, and speedily arrived
+where the mountain pass had been blocked up by felled trees, and a deep
+hollow had been made; but as we had great numbers of Tlascallans with
+us, we soon managed to clear away the trees, and to fill up the hole, so
+as to enable our cavalry to pass over, a company of crossbow-men and
+musketeers marching in advance. We now ascended the mountain for some
+time, and then descended a little, until we came to a spot whence we had
+a fine view of the lake of Mexico and its large towns standing in the
+midst of the water.
+
+As soon as we beheld this city again, we thanked the Almighty for having
+conducted us thus far, and we promised ourselves to act more prudently
+in this campaign against Mexico than we had done previously. On
+descending this mountain, we observed numbers of signal fires about
+Tezcuco and the townships subject to it, and when we had arrived at
+another formidable pass, we came up with a large body of Mexicans and
+Tezcucans. They were waiting our arrival near a bridge which had been
+half burnt down, the water being of considerable depth. We, however,
+soon put the enemy to flight, and got safely on the opposite side,
+though our enemies still continued to yell fearfully from out the
+defiles and other places where we could not get at them, but that was
+all they did.
+
+Although it was impossible for our cavalry to manoeuvre here, our
+friends the Tlascallans did not remain inactive, for they spread
+themselves about the country, and carried off everything they could lay
+their hands on, although Cortes had ordered that no hostilities should
+commence unless the enemy attacked us first; the Tlascallans, however,
+maintained that if these Tezcucans had been friendly inclined towards
+us, they would not have marched out against us as far as the bridge to
+stop our further progress.
+
+The night following we took up our quarters in another township under
+Tezcuco. Here the whole of the inhabitants had fled; nevertheless we
+took every precaution, as we were almost sure we should be attacked by a
+vast body of Mexicans who were lying in wait for us in another mountain
+pass; this we had learnt from five Mexicans whom we had taken prisoners
+at the bridge just mentioned, but we afterwards heard that they had not
+dared to run the risk of an engagement with us, and had, consequently,
+marched off their troops; besides which, at that time, the Mexicans and
+Tezcucans were not upon the best of terms with each other; and the
+smallpox was raging throughout the whole of this district, so that they
+were not able to bring many warriors into the field; while our recent
+victories over the Mexican garrisons of Quauquecholla, Itztucan,
+Tepeaca, Xalatzinco, and Castilblanco, had spread terror through the
+country, and it was firmly believed that the united forces of
+Huexotzinco and Tlascalla had joined us in this campaign.
+
+The spot where we had encamped for the night may have been about eight
+miles from Tezcuco, which we left at break of day, and observed every
+military precaution as we passed along. We had scarcely proceeded a
+couple of miles when our scouts came in with the glad tidings to Cortes
+that about ten Indians were approaching, all unarmed, and bearing a
+species of golden banner: neither had they, on passing by any dwellings
+or plantations, been assailed by such terrible yells as on the day
+before; but everything wore the aspect of peace. Cortes and the whole of
+us were delighted with these good omens, and we halted for some time to
+rest a little. Seven distinguished Tezcucans now came up, carrying a
+golden banner at the point of a long lance, which they lowered, in token
+of peace, as they approached nearer to us. When they had arrived in the
+presence of Cortes, who had Doņa Marina and Aguilar standing at his
+side, they addressed him as follows: "Malinche, our lord and master
+Coanacotzin,[2] the king of Tezcuco, has sent us to you to beg of you to
+take him into your friendship. He awaits you in his city of Tezcuco;
+and, in token of peace, he sends you this golden banner: at the same
+time he requests you will command your brothers and the Tlascallans not
+to commit any depredations in his country, and wishes you to take up
+your quarters in his city, where he will provide you with everything you
+may require."
+
+These persons likewise assured us that the troops which lay in wait for
+us in the defiles and mountain passes were not of Tezcuco, but the whole
+of them were Mexicans sent out against us by Quauhtemoctzin. Cortes and
+the whole of us were overjoyed at the message which the king of Tezcuco
+had sent us. He embraced the ambassadors and three of them most
+affectionately, for they were relatives of Motecusuma, and well known to
+most of us as having been officers of that monarch. Our general then
+ordered the Tlascallan chiefs into his presence, and strictly enjoined
+them not to allow their men to commit any depredations in this country,
+nor injure any one, as we were at peace with the inhabitants. These
+orders they obeyed, though they were not so very particular as to the
+manner in which they procured themselves provisions, as every house had
+a plentiful supply of maise, beans, dogs, and fowls.
+
+Cortes, however, suspected the Tezcucans were not in earnest in sueing
+for peace, and deliberated with our officers on the subject, who were
+all of the same opinion, and observed that if the Tezcucans had been
+honestly inclined they would not have come in so great a hurry, and
+would have brought provisions with them. Cortes, nevertheless, accepted
+of the golden banner, which may have been worth about eighty pesos; he
+thanked the ambassadors, and assured them that it was not our custom to
+ill-use any of our emperor's subjects; on the contrary, they always
+experienced the kindest treatment from us. This they themselves would
+find to be true, if they abided faithfully by the peace they now sought
+of us; he had also commanded the Tlascallans not to injure any of the
+inhabitants; but as the Tezcucans on our retreat from Mexico had
+murdered upwards of forty Spaniards and 200 Tlascallans, and plundered
+them of all they possessed, he must demand of their king Coanacotzin,
+and of the caziques of Tezcuco, restitution of the stolen property, and
+if they delivered up this to him he would pardon the murder of the
+Spaniards, whom they could not restore to us again. The ambassadors
+replied, that they would faithfully communicate all this to their
+monarch, but assured us that the teules he spoke of were, by order of
+Cuitlahuatzin, all sent to Mexico with everything they had possessed,
+and were there sacrificed to Huitzilopochtli.
+
+Cortes, not wishing to intimidate them, made no further reply, but
+desired one of them to remain with us and dismissed the others in peace.
+
+The next place we came to was one of the suburban villages of Tezcuco,
+but I have forgotten its name. Here we were furnished with excellent
+provisions and every other necessary. On our road we destroyed some
+idols which we found in a large building where we stopped. The next
+morning we entered Tezcuco itself, and it immediately struck us as
+singular that we should neither meet with women nor children, but only
+with grown up men, who all appeared very shy of us, as if they were
+about to commence hostilities. Notwithstanding this we took up our
+quarters here, but Cortes gave strict commands that none of the officers
+or men should stir out of the large courtyards adjoining our quarters,
+and to be altogether upon their guard, as the inhabitants did not appear
+very peaceably inclined, and it was necessary we should first see how
+matters stood.
+
+Alvarado and Oli with several soldiers, among which number I was myself,
+were ordered to take possession of the great cu, which was very high,
+and to take with us twenty musketeers as a guard. From which place we
+were narrowly to watch the town and lake, of which we had an excellent
+view from this height. We had no sooner arrived at the top of the temple
+than we espied the inhabitants of this and the surrounding townships
+running off with all they possessed; some fleeing to the mountains,
+others again concealing themselves in those parts of the lake which were
+thickly grown with reeds; the lake itself being crowded with large and
+small canoes.
+
+Information of this was immediately forwarded to Cortes, who then
+determined to seize the king of Tezcuco, who had sent him the golden
+banner, but was informed by the papas, whom he had despatched to call
+their monarch, that he had fled with several distinguished personages to
+Mexico.
+
+In this way the first night passed away, during which time we kept a
+vigilant look out, posted our sentinels in all directions, and made
+frequent patrols. The next morning, very early, Cortes sent for the
+chief authorities of the town, of whom many were opposed to the runaway
+monarch, as they were at issue with him on various points respecting the
+privileges he exercised in governing the town. When these made their
+appearance, he desired them to detail every circumstance to him, and
+inquired of them how long Coanacotzin had been king. They replied, that
+Coanacotzin, in order to raise himself to the throne, had murdered his
+elder brother, the former regent; and that this was done in secret
+understanding with Cuitlahuatzin, who had attacked and driven us out of
+Mexico after the death of Motecusuma; but that there were other persons
+in the town who had a nearer claim to the crown of Tezcuco, particularly
+one young man, who was indeed the rightful heir. This young man shortly
+after became a convert to Christianity, and was baptized with great
+solemnity by father Olmedo, and named after his godfather, Don Hernando
+Cortes.[3] He was the lawful son of the former prince of Tezcuco,
+Nezahal Pintzintli.[4] He was, therefore, without any further delay
+raised to the throne, and installed with all due solemnity, to the great
+satisfaction of the inhabitants, who obeyed the new king with the best
+of good will. That, however, he might be thoroughly confirmed in our
+holy religion, learn the art of governing, and the Spanish language,
+Cortes gave him for stewards the bachelor Escobar, and Antonio de
+Villareal, who was married to the beautiful Isabella de Ojeda. The brave
+Pedro Sanchez Farsan, whose wife was the courageous and excellent Maria
+de Estrada, was appointed commandant of the town, and he was
+particularly cautioned not to allow the king to have any communication
+with the Mexicans. This prince subsequently rendered us the greatest
+services; and he was greatly esteemed and beloved by his subjects. The
+first thing Cortes required of him at present was a sufficient number
+of hands to assist us in launching the brigantines when they should be
+completed, and to lengthen and deepen the canals where they were to be
+launched; he then informed the king and chief personages of Tezcuco for
+what he intended these vessels, and of his determination to inclose
+Mexico on all sides. They not only declared their willingness to
+cooperate with us, but even sent messengers to the neighbouring
+townships, inviting them to seek our friendship, subject themselves to
+our emperor, and declare war against Mexico.
+
+The whole of our troops were now divided into companies, to each one was
+assigned some particular station, which, indeed, was very necessary, as
+Quauhtemoctzin sent out from time to time numbers of large pirogues and
+canoes, to see whether we were off our guard or not.
+
+About this time several tribes which were subject to Tezcuco came to sue
+for peace with us and beg forgiveness, if we thought they had been any
+way implicated in the late murders of our countrymen. Cortes received
+them most kindly, and took them into his friendship. The building of our
+brigantines was now rapidly continued, and there were every day from
+seven to eight thousand Indians employed to lengthen and deepen one of
+the canals. As we had an equal number of Tlascallans in our service, who
+greatly desired to heap up honour for themselves in assisting us against
+the Mexicans, Cortes easily persuaded them to accompany him in an
+expedition against Iztapalapan, through which town we had passed on our
+first march to Mexico. Cuitlahuatzin, the king of this township, had
+been raised to the throne of Mexico, after the death of Motecusuma, and
+the inhabitants had done us considerable damage, and were continually
+committing their depredations on the townships of Chalco, Tlalmanalco,
+Amaquemecan, and Chimalhuacan, because these had entered into alliance
+with us. We had now been twelve days in Tezcuco without having achieved
+any thing worthy of mention, and therefore determined to open the
+campaign against Iztapalapan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXVIII.
+
+    _How we marched against Iztapalapan; Cortes taking along with him
+    Alvarado and Oli; while Sandoval was left behind to protect
+    Tezcuco._
+
+
+The expedition against Iztapalapan was principally undertaken to please
+the Tlascallans, so great was their desire to try their strength again
+with the Mexicans on the field of battle. Their patience was almost
+exhausted, and they longed to revenge the death of their countrymen who
+were slain in our disastrous flight from Mexico. To this was likewise
+added, that the Tezcucans could scarcely supply the necessary provisions
+for so great a body of men, and it was not our interest to be too
+burdensome to them.
+
+Cortes commanded this expedition in person, accompanied by Alvarado,
+Oli, thirteen horse, twenty crossbow-men, six musketeers, and two
+hundred Spanish foot. These troops were joined by the whole of our
+Tlascallan friends, and twenty of the Tezcucan chiefs, all relations of
+the Prince Don Hernando, and enemies to Quauhtemoctzin.
+
+After the necessary arrangements had been made, we commenced our march
+towards Iztapalapan, which lies above sixteen miles from Tezcuco, and,
+as I have before stated, half the town stands in the lake itself. We
+marched forward with every military precaution, as the Mexicans had
+posted their scouts in all quarters to watch our movements, so that they
+might be able to throw a body of troops into any place we might threaten
+to attack.
+
+On this occasion again they had received due information of our design,
+and they had strengthened the garrison of Iztapalapan with above 8000
+warriors; so that we found a considerable army ready to receive us in
+front of that town. The enemy bravely stood their ground for a
+considerable length of time, but at last gave way, so vigorously did we
+set upon them with our horse, crossbows, and muskets; while our friends
+of Tlascalla rushed upon them like so many furious dogs. The Mexicans
+now retreated into the town itself, where we pursued them; but this it
+appears was by a preconcerted plan, and had almost proved fatal to us.
+The enemy retreated before us, threw themselves into their canoes, and
+concealed themselves, partly in the houses which stood in the water, and
+partly among the reeds which grew in the lake. By this time it was quite
+dark, and as the enemy remained perfectly quiet, we contented ourselves
+with the victory we had gained, and neglected to observe our usual
+military precautions. While we thus thought ourselves secure, and least
+of all imagined we were threatened by any danger, so vast a flood of
+water rushed all of an instant into the town, that we must undoubtedly
+have all been drowned, if the distinguished Tezcucans who were with us
+had not given us timely notice to quit the houses. The enemy had cut
+through two dams, and thereby at once inundated the town; so that many
+of our Tlascallan friends, who were not accustomed to deep waters, and
+consequently unable to swim, were drowned. We others likewise got a
+thorough wetting, lost our powder, and were obliged to retreat from the
+town in all haste, with great risk of our lives. And thus, with our
+clothes completely drenched, with empty stomachs, and shivering with
+cold, we passed a most terrible night, the enemy continually assailing
+our ears with derisive shouts and horrible yells from their canoes and
+houses. But something still worse awaited us, for the inhabitants of
+Mexico, who had been apprized of our perilous situation, now came
+advancing towards us in vast numbers, both by land and water, and fell
+upon us the next morning with such dreadful fury, that it was only by
+exerting ourselves to the utmost we were able to make a stand against
+them. In this engagement we lost two Spaniards and one horse, and great
+numbers of our men were wounded. By degrees, however, the enemy became
+less furious in their attacks, and we were thus enabled to retreat to
+Tezcuco, not a little annoyed at the defeat we had sustained. If we did
+not reap much honour for ourselves in this last battle, it must be
+remembered we had lost all our powder. We had, however, taught our
+enemies to respect us a little, for they remained perfectly quiet after
+our retreat to Tezcuco, and occupied their time in dressing their
+wounds, burying the dead, and repairing the houses which had been
+damaged. I must now return to Tezcuco, where in the meantime ambassadors
+had arrived from other townships to sue for peace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXXXIX.
+
+    _How ambassadors arrive in Tezcuco from three neighbouring
+    townships, to sue for peace, and to beg forgiveness for the murder
+    of several Spaniards who had fallen into their hands; and how
+    Sandoval marched to Chalco and Tlalmanalco, to assist the
+    inhabitants there against the Mexicans._
+
+
+The second day after our return to Tezcuco, three of the neighbouring
+townships sent to Cortes, to sue for peace, and beg forgiveness, for
+having put some Spaniards to death; they strove to exonerate themselves
+from all guilt, by stating that they had been compelled to march against
+us by command of Cuitlahuatzin, who had ascended the Mexican throne
+after Motecusuma's death; they had merely done, they said, what they
+could not avoid, and had sent the Spaniards they had captured, with
+their horses, and everything else belonging to them, to Mexico. These
+townships, which thus came to sue for peace, were Tepetezcuco and
+Otumpan; the name of the third I have forgotten. This was the same
+Otumpan where the memorable battle took place which we fought against
+the flower of the Mexican army.
+
+The inhabitants of these townships were terrified when they heard of our
+march against Iztapalapan, and concluded they might now also expect a
+visit from us; and though they would have been pleased to hear that we
+had perished in the water, or had been worsted in the last battle, yet
+they considered it more advisable, by seeking peace of us, to avert the
+castigation they feared.
+
+Cortes, seeing he could not do better under the present circumstances,
+granted them a pardon for the past, but made them give a solemn promise
+to remain faithful to our emperor in future, to obey us in everything,
+and never again to enter into an alliance with Mexico; to all of which
+they faithfully adhered. After this, ambassadors arrived from another
+township, which lay in the midst of the lake, and was called Mizquic,
+though we called it Little Venice. The inhabitants of this place had
+never been upon intimate terms of friendship with the Mexicans, and now
+utterly detested them. An alliance with these people, from their
+situation in the midst of the lake, was of the utmost importance to us,
+and we also flattered ourselves we should, through them, gain the
+friendship of the other townships which lay on the lake. These
+ambassadors accordingly were most courteously received by our general,
+and he dismissed them with the most flattering assurances of our
+friendship and protection.
+
+During this interview Cortes received information that a large body of
+Mexican troops were marching against the four townships which had been
+the first to solicit our friendship. The inhabitants there durst not
+venture of themselves to bid any defiance to the enemy, but intended to
+fly to the mountains, or seek refuge with us in Tezcuco. They begged so
+hard for assistance, that Cortes at length complied with their request,
+and marched thither with twenty horse, two hundred foot, thirteen
+crossbow-men, and ten musketeers, accompanied by Alvarado and Oli. These
+towns lay about nine miles from Tezcuco, and were threatened with total
+destruction by the Mexicans for having concluded peace with us. In
+particular they were afraid of losing the crops of maise in front of the
+lake, which were now ready for harvesting, and from which the
+inhabitants of Tezcuco and the four townships had thought to supply us.
+The Mexicans declared they were coming to cut this maise, as it was
+their property, and those townships had always till then cultivated
+those lands for the papas of Mexico; and indeed many lives had already
+been lost in disputes respecting these fields.
+
+Cortes, being now well acquainted with the true state of the case, sent
+word to the inhabitants of those places that they had nothing to fear,
+but to remain quietly at home, and send him word when they were desirous
+of harvesting their maise crops. He would then despatch an officer, with
+several horse, to protect the reapers. With this they were perfectly
+satisfied, and we returned to Tezcuco.
+
+When we found that our stock of maise was nearly all gone, we sent
+notice of it to those townships, and they immediately commenced reaping
+their crops; and we marched thither to protect them, with ten horse, one
+hundred foot, and a few musketeers and crossbow-men, besides the
+Tlascallan troops, and we took up our position on the maise plantations.
+
+I myself was twice present on these expeditions. On one occasion we had
+a very sharp skirmish with the Mexicans, a large body of whom had
+arrived in upwards of 1000 canoes, and secreting themselves among the
+maise plantations, had commenced carrying off our allies. We instantly
+fell upon them, and though they fought courageously, yet we compelled
+them to take to their canoes again. In this skirmish we had one man
+killed and twelve wounded, of the Tlascallans from fifteen to twenty
+were killed, and five were carried off alive.
+
+The day following this skirmish we learnt that the townships Chalco and
+Tlalmanalco, with their dependent villages, were desirous of making
+peace with us, but were prevented from doing so by the Mexican garrisons
+stationed there. They complained bitterly of the treatment which they
+suffered from them; their wives were dragged away, and if handsome were
+often violated in the presence of their parents and husbands.
+
+About this time our carpenters in Tlascalla had proceeded so far with
+the building of the brigantines, that the timber was ready to be put
+together; we were therefore very awkwardly situated, from being so
+closely bound to Tezcuco, where we had no time to make any arrangements
+for transporting the brigantines hither; for now the inhabitants of this
+township, then those of Mizquic, or Little Venice, then again others
+which stood in alliance with us, came to beg assistance against the
+Mexicans; besides this, many of our Tlascallan friends longed to return
+home with their booty, consisting in gold, salt, and other matters, but
+durst not venture, on account of the insecurity of the road, as the
+Mexican troops were spread in all directions.
+
+Under these circumstances, Cortes deemed that the inhabitants of
+Tlalmanalco and Chalco, before all others, required our more immediate
+assistance, that they might be enabled to form an alliance with us. The
+other townships might defend themselves as well as they could for the
+present, as it would not do to leave Tezcuco without any troops; indeed
+the utmost vigilance was necessary in that town. Lugo and Sandoval
+therefore received instructions to march out, with fifteen horse, two
+hundred foot, a few crossbow-men and musketeers, besides our friends of
+Tlascalla. They were to dislodge the Mexican troops from Chalco and
+Tlalmanalco, and clear the road leading to Tlascalla and Vera Cruz,
+along which the enemy had stationed small detachments.
+
+Information of all this was previously conveyed to the inhabitants of
+Chalco by some trustworthy men of Tezcuco, that they might fall upon the
+Mexicans at the same moment with our troops. Nothing could have been
+more agreeable to the wishes of the inhabitants of Chalco, and they
+accordingly held themselves in readiness to rise up against the enemy at
+the proper time.
+
+Sandoval composed his rearguard of five horse, an equal number of
+crossbow-men, and the greater part of the Tlascallans, who had all their
+booty with them. As the Mexicans had everywhere sent out scouts and
+spies to watch our movements, our present march to Chalco was no secret
+to them. They had therefore collected a strong body of their troops, and
+fell upon our rearguard, which was chiefly composed of Tlascallans. It
+may easily be supposed that our five horse and few crossbow-men could
+not stand long against these overpowering numbers; two were very soon
+killed, and the rest wounded. Sandoval had indeed hastened to their
+assistance with the first alarm, had succeeded in driving back the
+Mexicans, and killing seven of their men; yet they managed to gain their
+canoes, and retreat to a place of safety, which was the more easy for
+them to do, as the whole of the population of this district was subject
+to the Mexicans.
+
+Sandoval was uncommonly vexed when he found the five horses and their
+riders covered with wounds, two crossbow-men killed, and the rest all
+wounded. He severely reproached them for not having defended themselves
+better, and for the little protection they had proved to our Tlascallan
+friends. He could easily see, he added, that they had but recently
+arrived from Spain, and knew very little about fighting.
+
+His first care now was to provide for the safety of the Tlascallans and
+their baggage, and to despatch the letters Cortes had given him to Vera
+Cruz. In these letters our general had given the commandant of that town
+an account of all our conquests, and of his determination to besiege
+Mexico, and blockade it on all sides; the letter closed by desiring him
+to observe the utmost vigilance, and with orders to send all those of
+his men who were sufficiently strong for service to Tlascalla, where
+they were to remain until the road should be cleared of the enemy.
+
+After Sandoval had despatched his messengers with these letters, and
+conducted our Tlascallan friends to where they were out of the enemy's
+reach, he marched back to Chalco, which was not very far distant. On
+this march he was particularly on his guard, since he was well aware
+that Mexican troops were lurking about in all directions, and lay
+concealed in every house. He had indeed not advanced far along a level
+tract of country, covered with maguey and maise plantations, before he
+was vigorously attacked. The enemy, on this occasion, carried, besides
+their usual weapons, long pikes, which were especially intended against
+the charge of our horse upon their line. Sandoval, however, twice broke
+through their dense ranks, and, with the Spanish troops and small body
+of allies we had still left, he drove the enemy completely out of the
+field. Five Spaniards, six horses, and many of our allies, were wounded.
+This time the enemy received a severe retribution for the fresh attack
+they made upon our troops; and, among the eight prisoners which were
+made, three were Mexicans of distinction.
+
+When the inhabitants of Chalco, which lay at a small distance from the
+field of battle, found Sandoval was approaching their town, they came
+out to welcome him, and expressed their great joy at the victory he had
+gained.
+
+The next day Sandoval informed the inhabitants that he was obliged to
+leave again for Tezcuco. They told him they were desirous of
+accompanying him there, to pay their respects to Malinche, and to
+present to him the two sons of their late cazique, who had died a few
+days previously of the smallpox. On his death-bed, they said, he
+expressed a wish to the chiefs of the country that his sons might be
+introduced to Cortes to be installed by him as caziques of Chalco. The
+dying man had likewise recommended them to subject themselves to the
+great monarch of the teules, as it had been prophesied by their
+forefathers that, at some period or other, there would arrive from the
+rising of the sun a people with beards, for whom the dominion of these
+countries was predestined, and there was not the least doubt that that
+prophecy was fulfilled in our persons.
+
+Sandoval returned to Tezcuco, taking along with him the two princes,
+several distinguished personages of Chalco and the eight Mexican
+prisoners. Cortes was highly delighted on seeing him again, and after
+Sandoval had related all that had taken place, he retired to his own
+quarters to receive the caziques of Chalco. He paid them every respect,
+and, according to their request, acknowledged them as vassals of our
+emperor, and then installed the two sons of the late cazique into their
+government. After the caziques had fulfilled their commission, they
+handed over their presents, which may have been worth about 200 pesos.
+
+With the assistance of Doņa Marina and Aguilar, Cortes had perfectly
+comprehended what these caziques had said. He showed them every possible
+kindness, and gave the government of Chalco to the elder prince, with
+several towns which were subject to it, and to the younger the township
+of Tlalmanalco, Chimalhuacan, Ayotzinco, and of other small towns, so
+that the elder came in for a little more than half of his father's
+dominions.
+
+After Cortes had instilled many useful things into the hearts of these
+men and the young caziques, he dismissed them; and they offered, in
+return, to render us every service that lay in their power, assuring
+him, at the same time, that they had been peaceably inclined from the
+beginning, and that they had been prevented sooner taking the oath of
+allegiance to our emperor from fear of the Mexican garrison. They
+likewise informed Cortes that, previous to our retreat from Mexico, they
+had concealed from the Mexicans two Spaniards who had been sent by him
+to demand of them tribute in maise, and had conveyed them safely during
+night-time to our friends of Huexotzinco, thereby saving their lives.
+This we knew to be perfectly true, for we had been duly informed of it
+by one of those two Spaniards who had escaped to Tlascalla.
+
+Cortes returned these excellent men many hearty thanks for their kind
+feeling, and invited them to stay a couple of days longer with us, lest
+they should fall into the hands of the Mexicans, as he intended to
+despatch one of his officers to Tlascalla to fetch the woodwork of which
+our brigantines were to be made, they should then be safely conducted to
+their homes.
+
+After this interview with the caziques, Cortes determined to send the
+eight Mexicans whom Sandoval had taken prisoners, to Mexico, and
+commissioned them to make the following disclosures, in his name, to the
+new monarch Quauhtemoctzin: "He, Cortes, was very anxious to preserve
+the monarch of Mexico and his great city from destruction, and hoped,
+therefore, he would send messengers of peace to us, in which case every
+injury we had received at the hands of the Mexicans would be forgiven
+them and altogether forgotten, nor should we demand restitution of the
+things they had taken from us. It was an easy matter to make war, but it
+always terminated in the destruction of those who first began it. We
+were by no means ignorant of the vast preparations which were going on
+for the defence of Mexico; it would all, however, prove useless, and the
+only consequences would be the destruction of his metropolis, and of
+all its inhabitants. He should bear in mind the amazing power of our
+Lord God, who lent us his aid on all occasions, and remember also that
+all the surrounding townships had declared in our favour. For the rest,
+there was nothing the Tlascallans so greatly desired as a war with the
+Mexicans, to revenge the death of their fellow-countrymen. We hoped,
+therefore, he would send messengers to sue for peace, which we would
+conclude with him on the most honorable terms."
+
+With this message, to which Doņa Marina and Aguilar joined some good
+counsel, the eight prisoners repaired to Mexico. Quauhtemoctzin,
+however, would not even deign an answer to our proposals of peace, but
+continued his warlike preparations for the defence of his metropolis,
+and sent orders to all his troops in the provinces to hold themselves in
+readiness to march out at a moment's notice, and that every Spaniard who
+was captured should be brought alive to Mexico, there to be sacrificed
+to his gods. In order to gain the good wishes of his people, he exempted
+many from paying tribute, and made a vast many promises.
+
+About this time, the Quauhtitlans again arrived in our quarters, whom,
+as we saw above, the Mexicans had ill-used for having formed an alliance
+with us. The dispute, they said, respecting the maise plantations, which
+had been formerly cultivated for the use of the priests of Mexico, was
+renewed by the Mexicans, who each week returned to fall upon the
+reapers, many of whom they had carried off prisoners to Mexico. Cortes,
+therefore, determined to put an end to these depredations, and marched
+thither in person at the head of a hundred foot, twenty horse, twelve
+crossbow-men and musketeers. In order to make sure of success, spies
+were posted at proper places, who were to bring immediate notice of the
+enemy's approach. Thus prepared, we espied early one Wednesday morning a
+strong body of Mexicans advancing towards us; and when they had come
+near enough, we sallied out upon them, and drove them back to their
+canoes; four of them were killed, and three taken prisoners.
+
+After this skirmish, Cortes returned to Tezcuco, and the enemy ever
+after left those townships in peace. I must now relate what happened to
+Sandoval on his march to Tlascalla, whither he had been despatched to
+fetch the materials for building our brigantines.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXL.
+
+    _How Sandoval marches to Tlascalla in order to fetch the woodwork
+    for building the brigantines, and what happened to him in a place
+    which we termed the Moorish town._
+
+
+Having so long impatiently awaited the completion of the brigantines,
+and ardently longed to commence the siege of Mexico, Cortes ordered
+Sandoval, with two hundred foot, twenty horse, and twenty musketeers and
+crossbow-men, besides a strong body of Tlascallans, and twenty of the
+most distinguished persons of Tezcuco, to march to Tlascalla, in order
+to fetch the woodwork for constructing the brigantines. He was also to
+take along with him the aged persons and young children of Chalco, as
+they would be in greater security there. Cortes had previously brought
+about a friendly alliance between the Chalcans and Tlascallans; for as
+the Chalcans, up to this moment, had belonged to the confederation of
+Mexico, they had always joined the Mexicans in their expeditions against
+Tlascalla, so that a deadly enmity existed between these two states. By
+his mediation, Cortes now put an end to this ill-feeling, and made
+friendship between them, which proved greatly to the advantage of both.
+
+Sandoval, on this occasion, was also ordered to repair to another
+township which lay close to the road leading to Tlascalla, in order to
+chastise the inhabitants there. This township was subject to Tezcuco,
+and was commonly termed by us the Moorish town.[5] Here, on our retreat
+from Mexico, about forty of Narvaez's men and several of Cortes' old
+soldiers, with numbers of Tlascallans, had been put to death, and the
+latter plundered of three loads of gold. These people were now to be
+severely punished for their conduct, although the principal guilt lay
+with Tezcuco, which, at that time, was closely allied with the Mexicans,
+and had had the chief hand in that affair.
+
+After Sandoval had safely conducted the Chalcans into Tlascalla, he
+marched on to the Moorish town, where, however, the inhabitants had been
+duly apprized of our approach, and were all fled to the mountains.
+Sandoval, however, pursued them, and killed three or four of the
+inhabitants, and took four of the principal personages, and numbers of
+women and children, prisoners. These people he treated very kindly, and
+inquired of them how they had managed to defeat so many Spaniards in a
+body? They replied, that great numbers of Mexicans and Tezcucans had
+fallen upon them while passing through a very narrow defile in the
+mountains, where the Spaniards could only march one abreast; some had
+been killed, and the rest were taken prisoners. These were conveyed to
+Tezcuco, where they were divided between the Mexicans and Tezcucans.
+They themselves had certainly joined in that attack, but they had merely
+followed the commands of their superiors. All this the Tezcucans had
+done, they said, to revenge the death of Cacamatzin their king, whom
+Cortes had taken prisoner, but who perished on the night of our
+disastrous retreat from Mexico.
+
+The blood of our unfortunate countrymen was even then sticking to the
+walls of the temple in this township. Here were likewise found on an
+altar the entire skins of the faces of two Spaniards, with the beards
+still hanging to them. The skins had been dressed in the same way as the
+leather we use for making gloves. In the same manner they had prepared
+the skins of four horses. Great care had been taken of the hair and
+horseshoes, which were suspended in the chief temple as tokens of
+victory. Further were discovered numerous articles of Spanish dress
+which had been brought as an offering to the idols; on one of the walls
+of a house were found written in charcoal the following words: "Here the
+unfortunate Juan Yuste, with several of his comrades, was imprisoned by
+the enemy." This Juan Yuste was a cavalier who had served under Narvaez,
+and was one of the most distinguished personages among his troops.
+
+Sandoval and his men were sorely grieved at the sight of all this, but
+what could they do better than show mercy in return? The whole of the
+inhabitants had fled away, and those women they had captured were
+sobbing for their husbands and fathers. Sandoval, therefore, set the
+four distinguished prisoners with all the women at liberty, and
+despatched them to bring back the inhabitants who had fled to the
+mountains. These soon made their appearance, begged forgiveness for the
+past, and declared themselves vassals of our emperor, with the promise
+henceforth to be faithful to us and in every way to oppose the Mexicans.
+In answer to the queries respecting the gold of which they had plundered
+the Tlascallans, they replied, that the Mexicans and chiefs of Tezcuco
+had taken it away with them under the pretence that Motecusuma had
+robbed the temples of it to present it to Malinche.
+
+Sandoval now marched into Tlascalla, and arrived safely in the
+metropolis of that country, where the caziques had their residence. He
+found everything in the best order possible, the whole of the woodwork
+was quite finished and ready to be removed; for which 8000 Indians were
+taken into our service, who transported the whole of the wood and other
+materials on their shoulders. These were accompanied by an equal number
+of warriors, besides an additional 2000 porters to convey our
+provisions.[6]
+
+Chichimeclatecl, who, the reader will remember was equally brave as he
+was high in rank, took the chief command over the Tlascallans in person;
+under him commanded two distinguished personages, named Teucepil[7] and
+Teutical, besides other caziques. Martin Lopez, however, with the
+assistance of other Spaniards, whose names I have forgotten, more
+immediately superintended the transport itself. Sandoval had feared he
+should be obliged to wait a few days in Tlascalla until the building
+materials could be removed, but was highly delighted to find all went on
+so expeditiously. His march towards Tezcuco was attended with the same
+ease, so that after the space of two days all had arrived on the Mexican
+territory. Here matters began to wear a different aspect, and his troops
+were assailed by the enemy with hideous yells from out the fields and
+mountain recesses where they were out of the reach of the cavalry and
+musketeers. Martin Lopez, therefore, deemed it necessary that greater
+military precaution should be adopted on their march, particularly as
+the Tlascallans expressed their fears of being suddenly attacked by
+large bodies of Mexicans. Sandoval, therefore, distributed the cavalry,
+crossbow-men and musketeers, in such a manner that a portion were always
+in advance of the transport, and the remainder he placed along the
+flanks. Chichimeclatecl, who was commander-in-chief of the Tlascallans,
+was ordered to bring up the rear, where Sandoval likewise took his
+station. This chief was excessively hurt at this arrangement of the
+troops, and considered from the post which had been assigned him, that
+Sandoval put little trust in his bravery; but as the latter himself
+followed in the rear, and he was informed that the Mexicans generally
+attacked the rear first where the baggage was, he became satisfied,
+embraced Sandoval, and thanked him for the honour he had thus conferred
+upon him.
+
+After another two days' march the transport arrived in front of Tezcuco,
+and Sandoval made his entry with great magnificence. The Tlascallans had
+expressly put on their finest mantles, had decorated their heads with
+the most beautiful feathers, and marched into the town in the best
+military order, while the drums and pipes were playing. Several hours
+elapsed before the whole had entered the town, and yet none of our
+Tlascallan friends moved out of the ranks, while they continually kept
+crying out: _Long live the emperor, our master! Spain for ever!
+Tlascalla for ever!_ Cortes and his officers came out to meet them, and
+gave Chichimeclatecl and all of them the most hearty welcome.
+
+The woodwork was carried to the neighbourhood of the canals and
+harbours, where the brigantines were to be completed. Martin Lopez, who
+had the chief conduct of these operations, now again set diligently to
+work. His principal assistants were Andreas Nuņez, the elder Ramirez, a
+certain Diego Hernandez, with several other carpenters, and two smiths.
+The work went on so expeditiously that the brigantines were finished in
+a very short time, and had now merely to be caulked, provided with
+masts, sails, and then to be rigged. We were obliged, however, to keep a
+sharp look out, lest the Mexicans should destroy the brigantines, which
+lay on the staples so very near to the lake; indeed they had three
+several times attempted to set fire to them, on which occasions we took
+fifteen of their numbers prisoners, who gave us a very minute account of
+all that was passing in the city of Mexico, and of Quauhtemoctzin's
+designs. He was determined, they said, not to make peace with us under
+any consideration whatsoever; the Mexicans had resolved either to perish
+in battle or to destroy us all. One despatch after the other was sent to
+the townships subject to Mexico, commanding the inhabitants to make
+vigorous preparations for war, and tribute was no longer to be demanded.
+Night and day were the Mexicans toiling to deepen and widen the canals
+which intersected the causeways, which were then strengthened by
+fortifications and palisades. To defend themselves against our horses
+they had constructed long pikes, to the end of which they had fastened
+our own swords they had taken on the night of our retreat from Mexico.
+They had furnished themselves with quantities of round stones for their
+slings, and large broadswords, with abundance of other weapons.
+
+We were no less assiduous in our warlike preparations, and the canals
+which had been dug for the launch of our brigantines were now of
+sufficient width and depth to swim vessels of considerable burden;[8]
+which, however, is not surprising, as 8000 Indians were daily occupied
+at this work.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLI.
+
+    _How Cortes marches against the town of Xaltocan, which lay in the
+    midst of the lake, about twenty-four miles from Mexico, and from
+    thence proceeds to other townships._
+
+
+The materials for building the brigantines were transported to Tezcuco
+by about 15,000 Tlascallans, who in a few days grew weary of doing
+nothing; added to which, our provisions were beginning to fail; and as
+the Tlascallan general was excessively ambitious, and very courageous,
+he told Cortes he was desirous of rendering our emperor some signal
+service, and by measuring his strength with the Mexicans, give us some
+proof of his loyalty, and convince us of his courage; and at the same
+time to revenge the death of so many of his countrymen. Our general had
+merely to inform him at what point he should attack the enemy.
+
+Cortes returned him many thanks for his kind offers, and informed him
+that he intended to march out himself on the following day with a body
+of troops. His attack would be directed against the town of Xaltocan,
+which lay twenty miles from Tezcuco, in the midst of the lake, and was
+connected with the mainland by a causeway. He had already thrice
+admonished the inhabitants of that town to sue for peace, and but very
+recently made them offers of peace through their neighbours of Tezcuco
+and Otumpan. However, they not only refused to send us messengers of
+peace, but treated our ambassadors with contempt, and even laid violent
+hands on them, and then sent them back with this answer to Cortes: "Only
+come, you will not find us unprepared; come whenever you like, you will
+always meet with the same reception, and death will be your portion!
+This was the answer they were desired to give, by command of their
+gods."
+
+Cortes considered this expedition against the Xaltocans of no small
+importance, and was therefore determined to command in person. The
+troops he took with him consisted of two hundred and fifty Spanish foot,
+thirty horse, with a good number of musketeers and crossbow-men;
+accompanied by the whole of our Tlascallan friends, and a company of the
+best warriors of Tezcuco. Of our own officers Cortes selected Alvarado
+and Oli; Sandoval remaining behind for the protection of Tezcuco, and of
+our brigantines. We were indeed obliged to be particularly on our guard,
+for Mexico lay close at hand, nor could we altogether place confidence
+in the Tezcucans, as the Mexicans had so many friends and relations
+among them. Before his departure Cortes left especial orders with
+Sandoval and Lopez to expedite the building of the brigantines, and only
+allowed them fifteen days more to finish and launch them. He then, after
+having attended mass, set out on his march. In the neighbourhood of
+Xaltocan he came up with a large body of Mexicans, who had taken up a
+strong position, from which they imagined to make a successful attack
+upon the Spaniards and their horses. Cortes here placed himself at the
+head of the cavalry, and, after our musketeers and crossbow-men had
+fired in among the enemy, he charged their line full gallop, and killed
+several of them. The Mexicans then retreated to the mountains, where
+they were pursued by the Tlascallans, who slew above thirty more of
+their numbers. The first night Cortes encamped in a small hamlet,
+ordered frequent patrols, posted sentinels in all quarters, and observed
+every military precaution, as there were many considerable townships in
+this district. Here we learnt that Quauhtemoctzin had despatched large
+bodies of troops to the assistance of Xaltocan, which were stationed in
+canoes on the lake.
+
+Very early next morning we were attacked by the joint forces of the
+Mexicans and Xaltocans. They kept pouring forth showers of arrows and
+stones upon us from the small islands which rose among the marshes, by
+which ten Spaniards and numbers of Tlascallans were wounded. Here our
+cavalry was completely useless, as they could not pass through the
+water, which lay between them and the enemy; for they had previously cut
+through the causeway which led to Xaltocan, and thereby inundated the
+country. Our musketeers and crossbow-men certainly kept up a brisk fire
+upon the Mexicans, but here again they had found means to shield their
+bodies, by raising up boards alongside of their canoes.
+
+Thus all our endeavours proved fruitless, while the enemy kept
+continually mocking and jeering at us; in derision calling our men old
+women, and Malinche himself a man of no courage, but whose whole art lay
+in deceit and flattery. Cortes must certainly have returned without
+accomplishing anything, if two Indians of Tepetezcuco--which was at
+great enmity with Xaltocan, had not pointed out to one of his men a spot
+which had been flooded three days previously, but was shallow enough for
+them to wade through into the town.
+
+On receiving this information Cortes ordered the crossbow-men,
+musketeers, with our other troops, and several of the Tlascallans, to
+step boldly into the water, which reached up to their middles, and push
+forward, while he himself took up his position on the mainland, with the
+cavalry to cover their rear, should the Mexicans feel inclined to attack
+them from behind.
+
+The enemy now fell furiously on those advancing through the water, and
+wounded several of them; but our men were not to be daunted by this, and
+kept moving forward steadily until they had reached the dry part of the
+causeway. The road to the town was now open to them, and they made
+terrible havoc among the enemy's ranks, and richly repaid them for the
+abusive language they had thrown out. The Mexicans, with the
+inhabitants, now took refuge in their canoes, and fled to Mexico. Our
+men made a considerable booty, in cotton, gold, and other matters, then
+set fire to some houses, and returned to the mainland, where Cortes was
+stationed; for they feared to take up their night's quarters in the
+town, as it was entirely surrounded by water.
+
+In this engagement our troops captured several fine young females, who
+had not been able to escape from the town. The Tlascallans likewise made
+a rich booty, and loaded themselves with cotton stuffs, salt, gold, and
+other matters.
+
+The night following Cortes encamped in a hamlet about four miles from
+Xaltocan, where our men dressed their wounds; but one Spaniard, who had
+been shot in the throat by an arrow, died soon after. Sentinels were
+posted as before, and frequent patrols made during the night, for the
+country was very thickly populated.
+
+The next day Cortes marched to another extensive township, called
+Colvatitlan, but was everywhere met with yells and jeers from the
+Mexicans and the inhabitants. Our men were obliged to bear all this
+patiently, as our cavalry could not act here, and it was totally
+impossible to get at the Mexicans, who had posted themselves on the
+different small islands. Cortes, however, marched into Colvatitlan
+without opposition, and found the town quite deserted by the
+inhabitants. Here he took up his quarters for the night, and adopted
+every military precaution.
+
+The day following he marched to another large township, called
+Tenayucan, which, on our first march to Mexico, we had termed the town
+of Serpents, because we found in a large temple there two
+horrible-looking idols, shaped like serpents. This town was likewise
+deserted by its inhabitants, who had all fled to Escapuzalco, which lay
+four miles further on. This was the same Escapuzalco where the great
+Motecusuma had all his gold and silver articles manufactured; we
+therefore called it the _town of Silversmiths_. About two miles from
+this place lay Tlacupa, the same where we passed the latter part of the
+night of sorrows, and the enemy killed several more of our men. Before
+our troops reached this town they fell in with a numerous body of the
+enemy, formed of the inhabitants of the towns they had passed through,
+joined by those of Tlacupa and Mexico, which lay in the immediate
+neighbourhood. They attacked our troops with such impetuosity, and with
+their ranks so firmly closed, that it was with the utmost difficulty
+Cortes was able to break their line with the cavalry, and then even our
+foot had much hard fighting with sword in hand before they could compel
+the enemy to retreat. Cortes quartered his men for the night in
+Escapuzalco, and next morning continued his march. If, however, he had
+been attacked the previous day by large bodies of the enemy, their
+numbers were greatly increased on this, and they observed more method
+in their manoeuvres, and wounded several of our men. They were, however,
+compelled to fall back into their fortifications, and the Spaniards
+forced their way into the town, where they plundered and set fire to a
+great number of houses.
+
+When the news of the unfortunate termination of the battle reached
+Mexico, additional troops were immediately ordered to Tlacupa to oppose
+Cortes, and received instructions first to attack the Spaniards, and
+then to fall back upon Mexico, in order to entice the Spaniards to
+pursue them along the causeway. This stratagem succeeded admirably, for
+Cortes was deceived by their apparent flight, and pursued the enemy as
+far as a bridge, thinking the victory was already his. When the Mexicans
+considered they had caught the Spaniards sufficiently deep in the foil,
+they turned suddenly round, and fell upon them with such terrific
+numbers, by land, from their canoes, and from the house-tops, that
+Cortes almost gave himself up for lost. In his hurried flight over the
+bridge he was attacked by so vast a body, that all opposition was
+fruitless. One of our ensigns, determined not to relinquish his hold of
+the colours, was dangerously wounded in the struggle, and at last
+tumbled headlong with them into the water, but was fortunate enough to
+escape drowning, and, by dint of great bravery, succeeded to rescue
+himself and his flag, just when the Mexicans laid hold of him, and were
+about to drag him out of the water into a canoe.
+
+In this unfortunate engagement we had five men killed and many wounded,
+and it was with the greatest difficulty our men could fight their way
+through the dense body of the enemy, and regain the main land.
+
+After this battle Cortes stayed five more days in Tlacupa, during which
+time he had another engagement with the Mexicans and their allies; after
+which he began his march back to Tezcuco by the same road he had come.
+The Mexicans, who construed this movement into a flight, and imagined
+that Cortes had lost all courage, thought this was the moment to gain
+great honour to themselves, by giving the Spaniards a signal defeat. For
+this purpose they lay in wait for them in a spot where they could get
+easily at our horse; but met with so rough a reception from our troops,
+that a considerable number of them were slain. Cortes lost one man and
+two horses; but had so far cooled the enemy's lust for battle, that they
+no longer harassed him on his march, and in a few days he reached the
+township of Aculman, about eight miles and a half from Tezcuco, to which
+it was subject. When we were informed of his arrival there, Sandoval,
+with all of us, accompanied by nearly the whole of the caziques and
+troops of Tezcuco, went out to meet him. The joy at seeing each other
+again was very great, for we had been without any tidings of Cortes or
+his troops for fifteen days.
+
+After the first welcomes had passed, and some arrangements made with
+respect to our troops, we returned that same day to Tezcuco, as we durst
+not leave that town unprotected at night. Cortes encamped for the night
+at Aculman, and did not arrive at Tezcuco until the day following.
+
+As the Tlascallans had made a considerable booty in this expedition,
+they requested leave of our general to return to their country, which he
+readily granted; and they took their route through a part of the country
+where the Mexicans had omitted to station any troops; so that they
+arrived safely in Tlascalla with all their spoils.
+
+After the lapse of four days, during which time our general and his men
+had rested from their fatigues, the chiefs of several townships in the
+northern districts of the country arrived in Tezcuco, with a present of
+gold and cotton stuffs, and desired to be admitted as vassals of our
+emperor. These townships were Tucapan, Maxcaltzinco, Naultzan, and many
+others of less note.
+
+When the chiefs of these townships were brought into Cortes' presence
+they paid him the profoundest veneration, and handed over the presents
+to him; then informed him that they were desirous of being on terms of
+friendship with us, and of becoming subjects of the king of Spain. They
+likewise said, that these townships had assisted the Spaniards in the
+battle of Almeria, where the Mexican commander Quauhpopoca, on whom we
+had taken so direful a revenge, had put several teules to death.
+
+Cortes, who had always thought to the contrary, was highly delighted on
+hearing this; he showed these ambassadors every kindness, and graciously
+accepted of their present. No inquiries were made as to what the conduct
+of these townships had latterly been; but Cortes, without any
+hesitation, acknowledged them vassals of our emperor, and then dismissed
+them with flattering assurances of his friendship.
+
+About this time messengers also arrived from other townships which were
+in alliance with us, to beg our general's assistance against the
+Mexicans, who had fallen hostilely into their country with a large body
+of troops, and had carried off numbers of them prisoners, and scalped
+many others. Similar bad tidings were likewise received from Chalco and
+Tlalmanalco, the inhabitants of which towns stated that their
+destruction was inevitable if they did not receive immediate assistance,
+as the enemy was rapidly advancing against them in great numbers. They,
+however, did not merely give a verbal description of the danger they
+were in, but likewise brought forth a large piece of nequen cloth, on
+which they had depicted the different squadrons of the enemy's troops
+which were marching against them.
+
+Cortes was greatly perplexed to know what he should do, and scarcely
+knew what answer to give, nor how he should be able to send assistance
+to both places at once; many of our men were wounded, and almost worn
+out with fatigue; four had died of their wounds, and eight others of
+pleurisy, and of bleeding profusely from the nose and mouth, occasioned
+by the weight of our arms, which we durst never lay aside, and by the
+forced marches and the quantity of dust which got down our throats.
+
+Our general, however, informed the ambassadors of the first-mentioned
+townships that he would soon repair to their assistance; but desired
+them in the meantime to apply to their neighbours for help, and with
+their united forces to oppose the advancing foe. It was their timidity,
+he said, which inspired the Mexicans with courage; for the latter had
+not so many troops at their command as formerly, from the vast increase
+of their opponents on all sides.
+
+By these representations Cortes succeeded in allaying their fears and
+arousing their courage, but they requested some authority from him in
+writing to show to their neighbours, in which he should command them to
+repair to their assistance.
+
+To explain their motive for desiring this, I must remark, that though
+the Indians at that time could neither read nor understand our writing,
+yet they looked upon any written document as signifying a more
+particular and peremptory command. They were therefore highly delighted
+when Cortes gave them the required letter, and they showed it to their
+friends, who then instantly marched out their troops to join them, and
+with their united forces they now boldly advanced against the Mexicans,
+and fought with pretty good success in the battle which followed.
+
+We must now return to Chalco, respecting the safety of which Cortes was
+particularly solicitous; for it was of the greatest importance to him
+that this province should be kept clear of the enemy. Our line of
+communication with Vera Cruz and Tlascalla ran through this country, and
+from which we also obtained the greater part of our provisions, as the
+soil was uncommonly productive of maise. Sandoval, therefore, was
+ordered to march thither very early next morning with 200 foot, twenty
+horse, twelve crossbow-men, and ten musketeers, besides all the
+Tlascallan troops which still remained with us,--though these had
+greatly decreased in numbers; for, as I have above mentioned, most of
+them had departed to their homes with the booty they had made. A company
+of Tezcucans was therefore added to this detachment, and placed under
+the immediate command of Luis Marin, an officer with whom Sandoval lived
+on the most intimate terms of friendship. We others remained behind for
+the protection of Tezcuco and our brigantines, nor did Alvarado or Oli
+leave our head-quarters on this occasion.
+
+Before accompanying Sandoval to Chalco, I must make a few comments on
+some observations which fell from several cavaliers, who, on comparing
+my account of Cortes' expedition to Xaltocan with that of Gomara,
+discovered that I had omitted three things mentioned in his history. One
+circumstance was, that Cortes had appeared before Mexico with the
+thirteen brigantines, and fought a terrible battle with Quauhtemoctzin's
+whole armed force, which had been distributed in the canoes and large
+pirogues. The other, that Cortes, when he had advanced up to Mexico
+along the causeway had held a parley with the Mexican chiefs, and
+threatened to reduce the town by famine: and the third, that he had not
+acquainted the inhabitants of Tezcuco with his intention of marching
+against Xaltocan, from fear they might betray his designs to the
+Mexicans.
+
+The answer I made those gentlemen on these three points was, that at the
+time of our expedition against the Xaltocans, our brigantines were not
+completed, and that it must appear ridiculous in itself, for the
+brigantines to have found their way overland thither, and that our
+cavalry and other troops should have taken their road through the lake.
+But as we have above seen, when Cortes had advanced along the causeway
+from Tlacupa, it was with great difficulty he made his retreat good, nor
+had we at that time besieged the town so closely as to be able to cut
+off all its supplies of provisions; on the contrary, Mexico was then
+still in possession of the districts whence it obtained those supplies.
+Everything which Gomara relates as having taken place on that occasion
+did not happen till some time after. It is equally untrue when this
+historian states that Cortes took a roundabout way in order to conceal
+his design upon Xaltocan from the Tezcucans on his march thither; he had
+no choice of roads, as there was only one, which led through the
+territory of Tezcuco.
+
+These are indeed shocking blunders; but I am well aware that they must
+not be laid entirely to the door of Gomara, but for the most part to the
+false information which had been furnished him, and this expressly to
+bestow all the renown of our deeds of arms on Cortes, and thereby throw
+the heroic valour of his soldiers into the shade. What I relate is the
+pure truth, and these same cavaliers were subsequently convinced that my
+statements were correct. Having thus digressed for a short time I must
+return to Sandoval, who, after he had attended mass marched out with his
+troops from Tezcuco and arrived in front of Chalco by break of day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLII.
+
+    _How the captain Sandoval marches to Chalco and Tlalmanalco, and
+    what he did there._
+
+
+Sandoval set out with his troops on the 12th of March, 1521. The first
+night he encamped at Chalco, and arrived the next morning early before
+Tlalmanalco, where the caziques and inhabitants gave him a most hearty
+welcome, and provided abundance of food for his troops; but the caziques
+informed him he had still to march further on to the large township of
+Huaxtepec, where a large body of Mexican troops was stationed, who would
+be joined by all the warriors of the province.
+
+Sandoval, on receiving this information, concluded that there was no
+time to be lost, and immediately marched towards Chimalhuacan, which was
+subject to Chalco, where he quartered his troops for the night. The
+inhabitants of Chalco had sent out spies in every direction, and learnt
+that the enemy was not far off, but lay in wait for the Spaniards in the
+thickets and hollows of the mountains. Sandoval, who was an officer of
+great determination and foresight, ordered his march as follows: the
+musketeers and crossbow-men went in advance, the cavalry were to follow
+three and three together, and when the former had discharged their
+pieces, the horse were to charge the enemy's line at full gallop, and to
+direct the point of their lances at the face, and continue the attack
+until the enemy was put to flight. The infantry were to keep their ranks
+firmly closed, and not to rush in upon the enemy until a signal for that
+purpose was given. This order of attack Sandoval deemed necessary, as
+the enemy's numbers were very great, and the nature of the ground
+unfavorable for his manoeuvres; besides that, it was impossible to
+discover whether the Mexicans had not dug pits or laid other snares to
+entrap the Spaniards; so that it was quite necessary his small army
+should keep close together in a body.
+
+After Sandoval had marched a little further on he came up with the
+Mexicans, who were advancing towards him in three distinct bodies, with
+fearful yells and the horrible din of drums and shell trumpets, and
+instantly fell upon our troops like so many furious lions. As soon as
+Sandoval observed that the enemy intended to fall upon him in three
+distinct bodies, he likewise changed his order of attack, and commanded
+the cavalry to charge the foe without delay, and not wait for the rest
+of the troops. He then placed himself at their head, encouraged his men
+and rushed forward to the attack, under the cry of--"Santiago!" The
+powerful shock which the enemy thus sustained certainly caused some of
+them to recoil, but they immediately closed again and boldly advanced
+against our horse, being greatly assisted by the unevenness of the
+ground and a deep break, where it was difficult for our horse to
+manoeuvre. Sandoval, perceiving the enemy's advantage, ordered his foot
+to close their ranks again, placed the crossbow-men and musketeers in
+front, and those who were armed with swords and shields on the flanks.
+In this order they were again to advance to the attack as soon as they
+heard a shot from the other side of the break, which would be a signal
+to them that the cavalry had charged and driven the foe back on to the
+level ground. Our allies were likewise ordered to follow the example of
+the Spanish foot; this was accordingly done and the object accomplished.
+
+In this attack the enemy had observed better order in their mode of
+fighting, and our troops had many wounded. They certainly retreated, but
+only to make a stand at another and more favorable position. Sandoval,
+with the horse, followed close at their heels, but merely took three or
+four prisoners, and lost Gonzalo Dominiguez, whose horse unfortunately
+stumbled and fell with its whole weight upon him, and he expired a few
+days after of the consequences.
+
+I particularly mention the loss of Dominiguez, because he was one of the
+most courageous men of our troops, and one of the best cavalry officers;
+and considered equally brave in battle as Oli and Sandoval. Every one of
+us deeply lamented the death of this excellent officer. Sandoval now
+pursued the enemy with the whole of his troops up to the town of
+Huaxtepec, where his further progress was arrested by an army of above
+15,000 Mexicans, who completely hemmed him in on all sides. Numbers of
+his men were wounded and five horses killed; but as the ground was level
+here, he succeeded by a desperate charge of his cavalry to break the
+enemy's line, and drove them back into the town. Here the Mexicans were
+again about to make a stand behind some entrenchments which they had
+thrown up; but the Spaniards and their allies allowed them no time to
+rally, and our horse was so close at their heels, that at last they
+shut themselves up in a strong part of the town where it was impossible
+to get at them.
+
+Sandoval concluded the enemy would remain quiet for the remainder of the
+day: he therefore allowed his men to take a little rest, ordered the
+wounded to be attended to, and provisions to be distributed, of which a
+considerable booty had been made. Just as his men were in the midst of
+their repast, two of the cavalry and other of the outposts came up in
+all haste, crying out, "To arms! to arms! to arms! the Mexicans are
+advancing in great numbers!" But as it was always the custom of our men
+to have their weapons ready at hand, they instantly arranged themselves
+in order of battle, and marched to a large open space, where the
+conflict was renewed. Here again the Mexicans courageously maintained
+their position for a short time behind some entrenchments which had been
+thrown up, and wounded several of our men; but Sandoval attacked them so
+vigorously with his cavalry, the musketeers, crossbow-men, and remaining
+foot, that the enemy was completely beat out of the town, and offered no
+further resistance that day.
+
+Sandoval being now sure that he had gained a complete victory, offered
+up thanks to the Almighty, and recreated himself in a garden of
+extraordinary beauty, belonging to this township, in which there were
+many spacious buildings, and altogether so many remarkable objects to be
+seen, as were nowhere else to be found in New Spain. The whole of the
+grounds were indeed laid out in a style worthy of a great monarch, and
+it required some considerable time to visit all parts of it, as it was
+above a mile long.
+
+I was not present myself in this expedition, and did not see this garden
+until twenty days after, when I accompanied Cortes on his excursion
+through the different large townships which surround the lake. I had
+been laid up with a severe wound in the throat, which I received from a
+lance, in the battle of Iztapalapan, and had nearly cost me my life. The
+scar is still visible.
+
+But the reader will have already discovered, from my mode of describing,
+that I was not present in this expedition; as I have never used the
+expression--we did this, we marched thither; but always put--so and so
+was done, our troops marched to this place, and to that place, and so
+on. Nevertheless, everything took place exactly as I have related; for
+at head-quarters the minutiæ of every engagement soon become known, and
+one cannot add to or suppress any facts.
+
+When Sandoval on the following day found that the enemy had entirely
+quitted the neighbourhood, he despatched five of the inhabitants, whom
+he had taken prisoners in the late battles, two of whom were chiefs, to
+the caziques of this township, desiring them to send him messengers of
+peace, and assured them a free pardon for all the past. They, however,
+sent word that they durst not comply with this summons, from fear of the
+Mexicans. Offers of a similar nature, which Sandoval made to another
+large township, met with no better success. This latter place was called
+Acapalista,[9] and lay about eight miles from Huaxtepec. It was in vain
+that Sandoval desired them to consider the difference between war and
+peace, and to ask themselves what benefit their neighbours of Huaxtepec
+had derived from all the Mexican troops they had harboured. He desired
+them to drive away the Mexican garrison, or he would himself march
+against them, and treat them as enemies. Their reply to this was as
+follows: "He might come when he liked: they had made up their minds to
+make a sumptuous repast off their bodies, and to offer up savoury
+sacrifices to their gods."
+
+The caziques of Chalco, who were with Sandoval being aware that there
+was a much stronger body of Mexicans lying in Acapalista than had yet
+appeared in the field of battle, and that they merely awaited a
+favorable opportunity to renew the attack upon their town, urgently
+requested him to march thither, and drive the enemy out of that town.
+Sandoval at first refused to comply with their request, considering that
+he himself, with many of his troops, and most of the horses, were
+wounded, and that he did not wish to advance farther than Cortes had
+ordered him; besides which, several cavaliers of Narvaez's troops urged
+him to return to Tezcuco, and represented to him that Acapalista was a
+town of great strength, where they might easily meet with a total
+overthrow. But the captain Luis Marin strongly advised Sandoval to the
+contrary, and thought he was not justified in returning before the work
+was half finished, as the enemy would certainly renew the attack upon
+Chalco, and thereby defeat the object of the expedition altogether. By
+these arguments Sandoval was convinced of the necessity of marching
+against this town, which lay only eight miles farther on, and he set out
+for that place.
+
+When he had arrived in the neighbourhood of the town, a large body of
+Mexicans came advancing towards him, and attacked him so vigorously with
+their lances, slings, and arrows, that three horses and several of his
+men were instantly wounded, nor was Sandoval able to get at the enemy,
+who immediately retreated to the rocks and the fortified heights above,
+making a terrific noise with their drums, shell trumpets, and hideous
+yells.
+
+Sandoval now despatched a few horse in advance, to see whether the
+Mexicans, in case he should attack the town itself, could march to its
+assistance, and halted, with the rest of his troops, in the plain. As
+the caziques of Chalco and the other Indian allies showed no desire to
+come to an engagement with the enemy, Sandoval determined to put them to
+the proof, and cried out to them: "Well, why do you stand looking idly
+on there? Why don't you advance to the attack? Are we not come here to
+protect you?" But they replied, they durst not attack this strong place,
+and considered that the teules had come to do the hardest part of the
+work for them.
+
+Sandoval was soon convinced that there was not much dependence to be
+placed in these Indians, and he therefore stormed the fortified heights
+with the whole of his Spanish troops. Although numbers of his men were
+wounded, and he himself severely so on the head, he continued to push
+forward, and forced his way into the town, where considerable havoc was
+made among the enemy's ranks, which was increased by the Chalcans and
+Tlascallans, who now joined in the conflict with great intrepidity. Our
+troops, indeed, gladly left the last part of the work to them, as soon
+as the enemy was put to flight, for they felt compassion for the
+inhabitants, and satisfied themselves by capturing some few pretty
+females and other objects of value. The Spaniards even checked our
+allies in their horrid cruelties, and rescued many a man and woman from
+their grasp who otherwise would have been sacrificed to the idols.
+
+The Mexicans had fled to some steep rocks beyond the town; and, as
+numbers of them were wounded, they washed off the blood from their
+bodies in a small brook, so that the very water was tinctured by it,
+though for no longer a space of time than would take to repeat an Ave
+Maria. Yet Gomara relates that the water was so completely mixed with
+blood that our men would not quench their thirst at it.[10] But it was
+not necessary for them to go to this brook for that purpose, as in the
+town itself there were numbers of wells full of the purest water. After
+this engagement, Sandoval marched back to Tezcuco, taking with him great
+numbers of prisoners, among whom were many beautiful Indian females.
+
+When Quauhtemoctzin received intelligence of this defeat of his troops,
+he was excessively grieved; and the more so as the people of Chalco were
+his subjects, and had now, for the third time, taken up arms against
+him. He was, however, determined to be revenged; and while Sandoval was
+marching back to Tezcuco, he assembled an army of upwards of 20,000 men,
+and despatched these in 2000 canoes to Chalco. Here they arrived so
+suddenly, that Sandoval had scarcely entered Tezcuco, and had but just
+seen Cortes, when messengers arrived in canoes from Chalco to solicit
+his immediate return. Cortes, who was speaking with Sandoval when this
+message arrived, was so enraged that he would not hear his report to the
+end; accused him of having neglected his duty, and commanded him to
+return immediately to Chalco with those of his men who were not wounded.
+Sandoval's feelings were greatly hurt at Cortes' reproaches; but what
+grieved him more than all was, that he would not even listen to him. He,
+however, instantly returned to Chalco, which he and his men reached
+excessively fatigued by the weight of their arms and the great distance
+they had marched. The Chalcans, in the meantime, had begged assistance
+from their neighbours the Huexotzincans and Tlascallans on the first
+information they received that the Mexicans intended to invade their
+territory again; and these two powers had made such haste that they
+arrived that very night, with an army of above 20,000 men. This inspired
+the Chalcans with fresh courage; they attacked the Mexicans in the open
+field, fought with uncommon bravery, and of the enemy's chief officers
+alone they killed and captured as many as fifteen, without mentioning
+the numbers they made prisoners. This defeat was most humbling to the
+Mexicans, and they were much more ashamed of it than if they had
+suffered it from us.
+
+When Sandoval arrived in Chalco, he found the enemy was already
+vanquished; and, as there was no fear of the Mexicans returning, he
+marched back to Tezcuco, taking the prisoners along with him, and now
+Cortes appeared highly delighted. Sandoval, however, had not forgotten
+the harsh treatment he had so recently suffered from him, and
+peremptorily refused, in his anger, to call upon him, although Cortes
+had sent an invitation to him, and assured him that he had now been
+informed of the true state of the case, and was convinced that no blame
+could be attached to him. They subsequently became reconciled, and
+Cortes strove, by every means in his power, to regain Sandoval's
+friendship.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLIII.
+
+    _How we marked our slaves at Tezcuco with a red-hot iron, and
+    received intelligence that a vessel had run into Vera Cruz._
+
+
+As Sandoval had brought a great many slaves with him, and there were
+besides numbers we had taken on previous occasions, Cortes resolved they
+should be marked with a red-hot iron. It was, therefore, announced that
+each person was to bring his slaves to a certain house for that purpose.
+Our men accordingly came with their slaves, and imagined they would
+merely have to pay the fifth of their value to the emperor, and that
+then they would be entirely their own without any further deduction.
+
+If, however, Cortes and others had acted meanly towards us in Tepeaca,
+the meanness they now displayed was still greater. First, the emperor's
+fifths were deducted; then a second fifth was set apart for Cortes, and
+other portions for our officers; and, during the night preceding the
+last division, all the finest females had disappeared. Cortes had
+faithfully promised the men that all the slaves should be sold by public
+auction, but this was not done, for the officers of the crown acted in
+this matter just as they pleased. This was a good hint for us in future;
+so that afterwards, when we had captured any beautiful Indian females,
+we concealed them, and gave out that they had escaped, as soon as it
+came to marking day; or if any one of us stood in favor with Cortes, he
+got them secretly marked during the night-time, and paid a fifth of
+their value to him. In a short time we possessed great numbers of such
+slaves; and if we were questioned about them, we merely said they were
+Naborias[11] of the neighbouring tribes near Tlascalla, who had come to
+sue for peace. I must also observe that two months had scarcely elapsed
+before some of our female slaves knew of every soldier in the troop
+whether he behaved well to his Naborias or not; whenever, therefore,
+these females were put up to auction, and they found they had been
+bought by a man who bore a bad name in this way, they disappeared, and
+were nowhere to be found. If they did not recapture them it was all the
+same; they were still debited to the buyer in the royal accounts. Our
+soldiers fared no better in the division of gold; for if any of them
+went to demand their share, so many items were balanced against them
+that they really considered themselves fortunate if they had not to pay
+something into the bargain.
+
+About this time a vessel arrived in Vera Cruz, from Spain, with the
+following passengers: Julian de Alderete, a native of Tordesillas, who
+had been appointed royal treasurer; further, the elder Orduņa, from the
+same place, who lived for some time in Puebla. After the conquest of
+Mexico he brought over five or six daughters from Spain, all of whom he
+married well. A Dominican friar, named Pedro Melgarejo de Urrea, from
+Seville, who brought with him a papal bull,[12] by which we obtained
+absolution for all the sins we may have been guilty of during these
+wars. By means of this bull, Urrea amassed a large fortune in the space
+of a few months, with which he returned to Spain, whither he was
+accompanied by Geronimo Lopez, as a commissary of his holiness. This
+same Lopez subsequently became the royal secretary in Mexico.
+
+Among the numerous other passengers, I can still remember the following
+names: Antonio de Caravajal, who commanded one of our brigantines, and
+is still living at Mexico, far advanced in years; Geronimo Ruiz de la
+Mota, of Burgos, who likewise commanded a brigantine, and, after the
+conquest of Mexico, married a daughter of Orduņa. There was also a
+certain Briones, of Salamanca, who was hung four years ago for exciting
+a revolt among the troops in the province of Guatimala; and, lastly,
+there was Alonso Diaz de la Reguera, who lived for some time in
+Guatimala, and is now residing at Valladolid.
+
+This vessel had likewise a large store of arms, powder, and other
+matters on board;[13] wherefore her arrival was hailed by us all. If I
+remember rightly, we also heard on this occasion that the bishop of
+Burgos stood no longer at the head of affairs, and that he had
+altogether fallen into his majesty's disgrace ever since his majesty had
+been convinced, by the reports of our agents, of the great and wonderful
+services we had rendered the crown, and which the bishop above
+mentioned, in his official reports, to favour Diego Velasquez, had
+placed in the opposite light.
+
+In the meantime our brigantines were fast approaching towards
+completion, and we were all awaiting the moment with impatience when we
+should be able to lay close siege to Mexico. We had just begun our
+preparations when messengers arrived from Chalco with the information
+that the Mexicans were again marching against that town, and they
+therefore begged we would come immediately to their assistance. Cortes
+promised them he would himself march with his troops to their relief,
+and not rest until he had completely driven the enemy from their
+territory. He therefore immediately issued orders that three hundred
+foot, thirty horse, the greater part of our musketeers and crossbow-men,
+with the troops of Tezcuco and Tlascalla, should hold themselves in
+readiness to march out. Of our principal officers, Alvarado, Tapia, and
+Oli accompanied him on this occasion. The royal treasurer Julian de
+Alderete, and father Pedro Melgarejo, both of whom had just arrived from
+Spain, also joined him. I myself accompanied Cortes in this expedition,
+at his own particular desire.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLIV.
+
+    _How Cortes made a hostile excursion to all the cities and larger
+    townships which lay round about the lake, and what happened on that
+    occasion._
+
+
+Cortes now marched out with a considerable body of troops to fulfil the
+promise he had made to the inhabitants of Chalco, in order at once to
+put an end to the attacks which the Mexicans almost weekly made upon
+this town. Sandoval was left behind with a strong detachment of foot and
+horse for the protection of Tezcuco and our brigantines.
+
+We set out on our march very early on the morning of the 5th of April,
+1521, after we had attended mass, and took up our quarters the first
+night in Tlalmanalco, where we were kindly entertained by the
+inhabitants. The next day we reached Chalco, which lies in the immediate
+vicinity of the former place; and Cortes instantly sent for all the
+caziques of the province, whom he then addressed at some length by means
+of our interpreters, informing them that his present expedition was
+directed against the townships which lay on the borders of the lake, in
+order to force them into obedience, and also to explore the territory,
+and form his plans for blockading the city of Mexico. Our thirteen
+brigantines, he told them, would shortly be launched, and he requested
+them to assemble all their warriors by the next day, that they might
+join our troops in this expedition. Upon which the caziques one and all
+declared their willingness to comply with his desires.
+
+The following morning we continued our march, and arrived as far as the
+township of Chimalhuacan, which was subject to Chalco. Here we were
+joined by upwards of 20,000 of our allies, who had assembled from
+Chalco, Tezcuco, Huexotzinco, Tlascalla, and other townships. This was a
+larger body of Indians than had ever, up to this time, joined our troops
+in New Spain. All these warriors had been induced to join us in the
+hopes of making a rich booty; but the expectation of plentiful repasts
+off human flesh, which never failed after an engagement, was no less an
+incitement; and I cannot better compare these many thousands of Indians
+than to the large flocks of vultures, ravens, and other birds of prey
+which, in the Italian wars, follow the armies, to satiate themselves on
+the dead bodies which have fallen in battle.
+
+This ferocious appetite of our Indian allies was but too soon to be
+glutted; for we received information that large bodies of Mexican
+troops, with their allies from the surrounding neighbourhood, stood
+ready prepared to attack us in an adjoining valley. At this
+intelligence, Cortes issued orders that we should equip ourselves for
+battle early the following morning. We accordingly left Chimalhuacan
+next day very early, after we had attended mass.
+
+Our march lay through some steep rocks, and we soon arrived between two
+small mountains whose tops had been fortified. Hither a vast number of
+Indians, with their wives, had fled, who yelled excessively, and threw
+out all manner of abusive language towards us. We, however, took no
+notice of them, but marched on quietly to an extensive township called
+Yauhtepec, which was quite deserted by its inhabitants. We made no stay
+in this place, but marched on until we arrived in a plain where there
+were several small wells, but little water. On one side of the plain was
+a high rocky mountain, with a fortification which was most difficult of
+approach. When we had arrived in the vicinity of this rock, we found
+that it was crowded with Indians, who jeered at us and greeted us with a
+shower of arrows, lances, and stones, by which three of our men were
+wounded. Here Cortes ordered us to halt, and said, "It appears that the
+Mexicans have everywhere taken up some stronghold, and mock at us,
+because they imagine we cannot get at them." He then despatched a few of
+the horse and crossbow-men to reconnoitre a part of the rock, in order
+to discover some more favorable point to attack the enemy. They,
+however, returned with the answer that the rock was only accessible at
+the spot where we had halted, and that, on all other sides, it rose up
+perpendicularly. Cortes then commanded us to ascend and storm the
+enemy's fortresses. The first ensign Christobal del Corral and the other
+ensigns were to lead the way, and all the remaining foot to follow them.
+Cortes, with the cavalry, stationed himself in the plain beneath, to
+cover our rear, and protect the baggage against other bodies of
+Mexicans. As soon as we commenced this laborious ascent, the Indians
+began rolling down large stones and huge lumps of rock upon us, and it
+was terrible to behold how these heavy masses rebounded as they
+thundered down the rugged steeps. It was a miracle that we were not all
+crushed to pieces; and certainly Cortes had, in this instance, not acted
+as a prudent general when he ordered this perilous attack. At my very
+feet a soldier named Martinez, a native of Valencia, and who had been
+butler to a gentleman of distinction in Castile, was completely smashed
+by a piece of rock, and died without a single groan or sigh. Two other
+soldiers, one of whom was named Gaspar Sanchez, a nephew of the
+treasurer of Cuba, and the other, Bravo, met with a similar death from
+the rolling masses of stone. We, nevertheless, continued the ascent with
+great intrepidity: but scarcely a few moments had elapsed before another
+brave soldier, named Alonso Rodriguez, with two of his companions, were
+crushed to death, and most of us were struck on the head by the pieces
+of stone which were split off the rock by the tumbling masses.
+
+At that time I was still an active young fellow, so that I kept up close
+with the ensign Corral, and we reached some hollows in the rock, along
+which we continued to advance for some time, but at the imminent risk of
+our lives, until Corral could proceed no further, and held himself fast
+by one of the thick trees with prickly thorns which grew in these
+hollows; his head was wounded all over, his face covered with blood, and
+his colours torn into rags. Here he turned round to me, and said, "Alas!
+Seņor Bernal Diaz, it is impossible to advance further this way; for
+even if the tumbling masses of rock do not crush us, we shall scarcely
+be able to hold fast by our hands under these projecting masses." As we
+were thus clinging to the rock by our hands, I espied Pedro Barba, who
+commanded the crossbow-men, with two soldiers, likewise clambering up to
+this projection, and I cried out to him, "Captain, don't give yourself
+any further trouble; there is neither place here to put your hand or
+foot, unless you wish to roll headlong down the mountain." To this he
+answered, in the fulness of his courage, or because he thought he was
+bound to speak as an officer in high command, "Here we have to do with
+deeds, not words." I was obliged to swallow this reproach, and replied,
+"Well, we shall see how well you will manage to get up here!" The words
+were scarcely out of my mouth when other large pieces of the rock came
+rolling down from the heights above, by which Pedro Barba was wounded,
+and one of his men crushed to death. This seemed to deter Barba, and he
+would not move a step further up.
+
+The ensign Corral now called out to the soldiers to apprize Cortes that
+it was impossible to ascend further, and that the descent was equally
+dangerous. This information was conveyed from one man to the other until
+it reached Cortes, who had even lost three men in the plain below, and
+several others were severely wounded, by the lumps of rock which came
+tumbling down. He had, however, not been able to see the perilous
+situation we were in, from the winding of the rock, but had fully
+expected to find that the greater part of us were either killed or
+dreadfully wounded. He now immediately signified, by loud cries and a
+few musket shots, that we should descend. This we accordingly did with
+the utmost precaution, each one striving to assist his neighbour down
+the steep rocks, until we all safely arrived in the plain beneath; our
+heads were covered with wounds and blood, and the colours of our ensigns
+were torn to rags. When Cortes saw the terrible condition we were in,
+and was informed that we had lost eight men, he offered up thanks to the
+Almighty that the rest of us had escaped so well.
+
+Among other things that came to be spoken about were the few words which
+passed between Pedro Barba and myself; indeed the latter mentioned it
+himself; and the ensign Corral gave such a description of the terrible
+masses of rock which came rolling down, that every one was astonished at
+our escape, and the account of the great dangers we had had to brave was
+noised about through the whole of our camp.
+
+In the meantime a large body of Mexicans were lying in wait for us in a
+spot where we could neither see nor imagine them to be. They had been
+stationed there in case the other troops on the rock just mentioned
+should require assistance; but when they were informed that our attempts
+to storm this fortified rock had failed, both these bodies determined to
+fall upon us from various points at once.
+
+When Cortes received notice of their approach, he ordered the horse and
+the whole of our troops to march against them. The ground we occupied
+was quite level, and fertile meadows stretched along between the hills.
+The enemy now retreated before us, and we pursued them until they took
+up a strong position on another rock, without our being able to do them
+much harm, as they continually fled to places where we could not
+possibly get at them.
+
+We therefore returned to our former position, in front of the first rock
+we had attempted to ascend; but as not a single drop of water had passed
+our lips the whole day, and as our horses were equally parched with
+thirst, and the few wells here contained nothing but muddy water, for
+the best were in the enemy's possession, we broke up our encampment, and
+formed another, about six miles further on, at the foot of a mountain,
+as before; but here also we found but little water.
+
+Near this rocky mountain there stood several black mulberry trees and
+about ten or twelve houses, and we had scarcely rested a few minutes
+when the wild war-whoop of the Indians resounded from the mountain top,
+and we were immediately greeted with a shower of arrows and lances,
+while large masses of the rock came rolling down, as before. Here the
+enemy were in greater numbers than on the former occasion, and their
+position much stronger, as we soon discovered. All the firing of our
+musketeers and crossbow-men was to no purpose, for the enemy was beyond
+their reach, and too well protected by their entrenchments. An attempt
+to ascend the rock was attended with no better success; twice had we
+essayed this from the houses just mentioned, and some few of us had
+reached a good way up; but we found it even more terrific than the
+former rock; so that we did not exactly gain much honour in this affair,
+and were forced to cede the victory to the Mexicans and their allies.
+
+We encamped for the night beneath the mulberry trees, but were almost
+dying with thirst. The following morning our crossbow-men and musketeers
+were ordered to take up their position on a very steep rock, which lay
+near to us, and to direct their fire at the enemy in their entrenchments
+on the rock opposite.
+
+Francisco Verdugo and Julian de Alderete, who were excellent
+crossbow-men, joined this small detachment, which was placed under the
+command of Pedro Barba. While these were on their way thither, the rest
+of our troops once more attempted the ascent of the mountain from the
+above-mentioned houses; but the enemy continually rolled down numbers of
+large and small stones, that a great number of our men were soon
+wounded; and even if we had not met with this opposition, our toil would
+have been fruitless, for the rock was so steep that we could scarcely
+move or hold fast by our hands. While we were thus fatiguing ourselves
+to no purpose, the detachment of musketeers and crossbow-men had arrived
+at their place of destination, but they were only able to kill and wound
+a very few of the enemy.
+
+The combat had lasted in this way for above half an hour, when matters
+took a sudden change, and peace was concluded with the enemy, through
+the interposition of a merciful Providence. This sudden change was owing
+to the circumstance of a number of women, children, and poor people, who
+had been carried to a level space on the top of the rock for safety,
+having no water to quench their burning thirst. In order that we, who
+were beneath, might know what they desired, the women waved their
+cloaks, and made signs with their hands, to indicate they were willing
+to bake bread for us; while the Indian troops discontinued to throw
+their lances, arrows, and stones, upon us.
+
+When Cortes learnt what they desired, he ordered all hostilities to be
+stayed, and gave the Indians to understand by signs that they should
+send down to us five of their most distinguished men, to conclude peace
+with us. It was not long before these made their appearance, and with
+profound respect begged forgiveness for the past, and assured our
+general that it was fear for us only which had induced them to take up
+this strong position on the mountain. Cortes answered them rather
+harshly, that they had all deserved death, for having commenced
+hostilities with us; but as they now came of their own accord to sue for
+peace, he would substitute mercy for justice; but told them they must go
+to the opposite rock, and call the chiefs of the other troops, that
+they might likewise come and sue for peace; and inform them, that if
+they refused we would continue to surround them until they died of
+thirst, as we were well aware that they could get no water, there being
+very little to be had in any part of this neighbourhood.
+
+While these personages were on their way to the other rock, Cortes
+entered into conversation with father Melgarejo, and the royal
+treasurer, Alderete, and described to them the battles we had fought
+previous to their arrival in New Spain; the great power of the Mexicans,
+and the large cities we had seen up to the present moment in this
+country; when they assured our general, that if the bishop of Burgos had
+informed the emperor as faithfully of the truth as he was studious of
+falsehood in his account, the emperor would certainly by this time have
+nobly rewarded him and his troops. No monarch, they said, had ever been
+rendered the vast services he had received at our hands, who had thus,
+without his knowledge, subjected so many large cities to him.
+
+After this discourse, Cortes ordered the ensign Corral and myself, and
+two of our officers, Xaramillo and Pedro de Ircio, to ascend the rock,
+in order to inspect the enemy's fortifications there, and whether our
+musketeers and crossbow-men had killed or wounded many of the Indians;
+and altogether to see what kind of people they were. "But I must desire
+you not even to take as much as a grain of maise from them," added
+Cortes; and I understood him to say, "Mind you look to your own
+advantage."
+
+We then began to ascend by a very dangerous path, and we found the
+enemy's position here even more formidable than the first one, for the
+rocks were perpendicular. There was only one entrance to the
+fortification itself, which was not broader than double the width of the
+mouth of a baker's oven. At the summit of this rock we found a spacious
+greensward, on which were encamped great numbers of Indian warriors,
+women, and children. All the loss they had sustained was twenty killed
+and several wounded. There was not a drop of water for all this crowd of
+human beings to drink. A considerable number of bundles of cotton stuffs
+and other matters were lying about, destined as tribute for
+Quauhtemoctzin. When I saw all these matters, and knew they were going
+to be sent as tribute to Mexico, I ordered four Tlascallans who were
+with me, and four Indians who had charge of these goods, to take each a
+load and follow me. Just at that moment Pedro Ircio came up, and ordered
+that everything should be left where it was. I first remonstrated with
+him for this, but was forced in the end to obey his commands, because he
+was an officer. "Did you not yourself," said he, "hear Cortes say that
+we were not even to touch a grain of maise belonging to these people. I
+will certainly inform against you if you do not leave these things where
+they are." I acquiesced of course, but I told him I was of opinion that
+these things were not comprehended in Cortes' commands. However, I
+returned without taking a single thing with me.
+
+When we had again arrived in the plain below, and given Cortes an
+account of what we had seen, Pedro de Ircio thought our general would be
+pleased to hear how he had restrained me from carrying off the packages
+of cotton stuffs; but Cortes said to him angrily, "Why did you not allow
+Bernal Diaz to take those things away? Really I am astonished that you
+did not yourself stay with those people above! Is it thus that you
+understood me, when I told you to look to your own advantage? Bernal
+Diaz, who understood my meaning, was thus forced to return the things
+which he had taken from those dogs! who now laugh in their sleeves at
+having killed and wounded so many of our men!"
+
+Upon this, Ircio offered to ascend the rock again, and to fetch the
+packages; but Cortes said to him sharply, "There is no time for that
+now."
+
+In the meantime the caziques from the other rock had arrived in our
+camp; and after giving many reasons why Cortes should pardon them, he
+granted them their request, and declared them vassals of our emperor.
+
+As water was so very scarce in the whole of this district, we marched
+back to the town of Huaxtepec, where those extensive gardens where,
+which I have mentioned above: and I must declare, that during the whole
+course of my life I never beheld such a splendid spot! I therefore drew
+the attention of Cortes to them, and he instantly repaired thither with
+Alderete, the royal treasurer. They both walked about in the garden for
+a length of time, and acknowledged they had never seen any thing so
+beautiful in Spain.[14] The whole of us encamped for the night in this
+garden, and the caziques of the township came to offer their services to
+Cortes; for Sandoval, on his visit here, had concluded peace with them.
+The following morning we marched towards Cuernavaca, and came up with a
+strong body of Mexicans who had been drawn out of this town to oppose
+us; but our cavalry charged them with great impetuosity, put them to
+flight, and pursued them for about three miles, up to another large
+township, called Teputztlan. Here the Mexicans were so very careless,
+that our troops fell upon them before their spies could give notice of
+our approach, and we made a considerable booty, besides taking many fine
+female prisoners; but the Mexicans and the other inhabitants fled
+precipitately from the town.
+
+Cortes sent three or four several times to the caziques of this
+district, desiring them to come and sue for peace, otherwise we should
+burn down their town and put them all to death. However, they each time
+sent word that they had no wish to come, and we set fire to half the
+houses of the town, in order to frighten the other towns of this
+district into obedience. It was not till then that the caziques of
+Yauhtepec, through which we had passed this day, made their appearance,
+and declared themselves vassals of our emperor.
+
+The next day we marched to Coadalbaca, which we often erroneously termed
+Cuernavaca.[15] In this town lay a strong garrison of Mexicans, besides
+the troops of the place itself, and it was rendered difficult of access
+from a hollow eight fathoms deep, which lay in front of the town, and
+through which a small stream of water flowed. There was no other way for
+our cavalry to get into the town than by two bridges, but these had been
+burnt down by the enemy, who were strongly entrenched on the other side
+of this deep hollow, and incessantly annoyed us with their arrows,
+lances, and slings. While they were thus attacking us Cortes received
+information that a couple of miles further up there was a spot where our
+cavalry could pass over. Our general, therefore, immediately repaired
+thither with the horse, while the rest of us strove to get over in the
+best way we could. We succeeded above our expectations, by climbing up
+and along the branches of the trees which grew on each side of this
+hollow, but this was attended by considerable danger, and three of our
+men fell down into the water, one of whom broke his leg. My head grew
+quite dizzy as I thus passed across the depth; but as soon as twenty or
+thirty of us, with a great number of Tlascallans had reached the
+opposite side, we fell upon the rear of the Mexicans before they were in
+the least aware of it; for they had considered it an impossibility for
+us to pass the hollow, and imagined in their astonishment, when they saw
+us approaching, that we were much more numerous than was really the
+case, particularly as Oli, Alvarado and Tapia, with the greater part of
+our cavalry who had risked their lives by crossing a bridge which had
+been almost burnt down, appeared there at the same time. We now fell in
+a body upon the enemy, who instantly turned round and fled to the
+mountains, and other parts of this deep hollow, where we could not
+possibly follow them. A short time afterwards Cortes arrived with the
+remaining cavalry, and we now took possession of the town without any
+further opposition. Here we took many fine Indian females prisoners, and
+otherwise made a rich booty, particularly of large sized mantles. Our
+general now allowed us to rest for the remainder of the day, and we all
+quartered ourselves comfortably in a garden belonging to the chief of
+the town.
+
+We had not been long here before our outposts brought intelligence that
+twenty Indians were approaching, who, to judge from their bearing, must
+either be caziques or men of distinction, and seemed to be coming with
+some message or to sue for peace. They proved, indeed, to be the
+caziques of the town, who approached Cortes with the utmost veneration,
+handed over to him a present in gold, and begged pardon for their recent
+behaviour towards us. In excuse for not having come earlier to demand
+peace of us, they said that Quauhtemoctzin had secretly commanded them
+to treat us as enemies, and that they had not been able to avoid this as
+their town formed one of the fortifications of the country, and was
+occupied by a Mexican garrison. They were now, continued they,
+convinced, that there was no fortification we could not take, and it was
+therefore their sincere wish to become friendly with us.
+
+Cortes was very kind to these caziques, and spoke to them of our
+emperor, and of his mercy to all those who willingly obeyed him; and it
+was in his name he now acknowledged them as his subjects. I still
+remember the extraordinary expression these caziques made use of on this
+occasion; namely, that our gods in punishment for their not having sued
+earlier for peace, had given their gods authority to chastise their
+persons and deprive them of their property.[16]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLV.
+
+    _The terrible thirst we suffered on our further march; our dangerous
+    position at Xochimilco, and the many battles we fought there with
+    the Mexicans, until our return to Tezcuco._
+
+
+From Cuernavaca we marched towards Xochimilco, a large town lying about
+eleven miles from Mexico,[17] and of which the greater part was built in
+the water. On our march we adopted our usual military precautions, and
+arrived at a forest of pine trees, without being able to obtain a single
+drop of water all the way. Our arms were very heavy, and the day, which
+had been exceedingly hot, was now far spent, and we were almost parched
+with thirst, yet we had still several miles to go, nor did we know for
+certain whether we should find the wells, which, it was said, lay
+further on.
+
+By this time the whole of our troops were almost exhausted with fatigue,
+and our Tlascallan friends lost all courage after one of their
+countrymen and an old Spaniard died of thirst. Cortes, observing the
+great distress we were in, ordered us to halt under the shade of the
+pine trees, and despatched six of our horse in advance, along the road
+leading to Xochimilco, in search of some town or village where it was
+said we should find the wells, as our general proposed to encamp near
+them for the night.
+
+This small body of cavalry, among which were Oli, Valdenebro, Truxillo,
+and other brave men, had scarcely left, when I slipt away without being
+observed by Cortes and the others, taking with me three of my Tlascallan
+naborias, who were active young fellows, and I followed the three
+above-mentioned cavalry officers until I was observed, and they halted
+to wait my coming up. They advised me to return immediately, that I
+might not fall into the hands of the Mexicans. I was not, however, to be
+deterred by this; and Oli, with whom I stood on a very friendly footing,
+at length gave me permission to accompany them, but to hold my hands
+ready for battle and my legs for flight. I would at that moment have
+risked my life to obtain a drink of water, so painful was my thirst.
+
+We may have advanced about a couple of miles in a straight line when we
+came up to a number of country houses which lay scattered among the
+hills, and were subject to Xochimilco. Our officers entered these
+dwellings without delay, in search of water, which they found, to their
+inexpressible joy. One of my Tlascallans, who had followed them,
+instantly returned to me with a large earthen jug full of water, with
+which I and my servants quenched our thirst. I now again returned to the
+wood where Cortes had halted with our troops, and it was high time I
+did, as the inhabitants were beginning to assemble, and they followed us
+with hootings and yells. I had ordered the jug to be replenished with
+water, and gave it to one of my Tlascallans to carry. On my return, I
+met Cortes, who had again put his troops in motion. I informed him that
+we had found water in a small village not far off, and that I had
+brought him a jug full. My Tlascallans had taken the precaution to cover
+up the jug carefully, that no one might take it from them, for thirst
+knows no law. Cortes and the other officers by whom he was surrounded
+were highly delighted, and drank their fill; we then continued our
+march, and reached the small village before sunset. There was still some
+water left in the houses, but not sufficient for the whole of our
+troops, so that several of the men, in order at least to moisten their
+mouths, chewed a kind of thistle, the sharp prickles of which wounded
+their tongues and lips. The small detachment of horse now also returned,
+and informed our general that they had found the wells where we were to
+encamp for the night, but these were still a good way off, and the whole
+neighbourhood was beating to arms.
+
+We encamped near the wells for the night, ordered the pickets and
+outposts as usual, and otherwise took every precaution. I myself formed
+one of the night watch, and, if I still remember rightly, it blew a
+strong gale of wind, and some rain was falling.
+
+The next morning very early we marched towards Xochimilco, and arrived
+in front of that town about eight in the morning. Here an immense body
+of the enemy stood ready to oppose us, part of whom were stationed in
+the open fields, and the rest in front of a bridge which had been
+destroyed, and near which large entrenchments had been thrown up. At the
+end of their pikes they had fastened the swords we had lost on our
+unfortunate retreat from Mexico, and many of the chiefs were armed with
+our own broadswords, which had been beautifully polished. The whole of
+the Mexicans appeared to be well-armed, and the entire plain was filled
+with warriors.
+
+The conflict for the possession of the bridges lasted about half an
+hour, yet, with all our firing and hard fighting, we were not able to
+force them. Our situation became truly perilous, for large bodies now
+fell upon our rear, so that the only choice we had left was to cross the
+water at all hazards. In this we fortunately succeeded, partly swimming,
+and partly wading through. Several of our men, while thus crossing over,
+drank so much water that their stomachs swelled out to an enormous size.
+In crossing this water, we lost two men, and had several wounded;
+nevertheless, we succeeded, by dint of our swords, to drive the enemy
+before us along a causeway which led to the main land. Cortes, who was
+advancing with the cavalry from another quarter, fell in with a body of
+more than 10,000 Mexicans, who were coming to the assistance of the
+town. The Mexicans, on this occasion, received the charge of the cavalry
+with fixed lances, and wounded four of our horses. Cortes himself had
+got into the midst of the enemy, and rode a dark brown horse, which we
+commonly termed the _flatnose_. Whether this animal, which was otherwise
+an excellent horse, had become too fat, or was over-fatigued, I cannot
+say; but, to be short, it fell down with its rider, and numbers of
+Mexicans instantly laid hold of our general, tore him away from the
+saddle, and were already carrying him off. When some of the Tlascallans
+and the brave Christobal de Olea saw this, they immediately flew to his
+assistance, and, by dint of heavy blows and good thrusts, they cut their
+way through to our general, and assisted him into his saddle again.
+Cortes fortunately escaped with only a wound on the head, but Olea had
+received three very severe wounds.[17] Those of us who stood nearest now
+also hastened to the assistance of Cortes; for, as every street was
+crowded with the enemy, we were obliged to attack them in separate
+bodies and from different points, so that, for some time, we had totally
+lost sight of him; but we concluded, from the terrific yells of the
+Mexicans, that there must be a severe struggle between them and the
+cavalry. We therefore cut our way through the enemy, at the risk of our
+lives, to the spot where Cortes, surrounded by only ten of the cavalry,
+was bravely repelling the desperate attacks of the enemy. The Mexicans
+had taken up a position behind a deep canal, which had been strengthened
+by a palisade; they thus had the advantage ground: but we soon put them
+to flight.
+
+As Olea, who had saved our general's life, was severely wounded, and had
+lost much blood, and the streets were still crowded by the enemy, we
+advised Cortes to march back to some entrenchments, under cover of which
+his own and Olea's wounds could be dressed. This retrograde movement was
+not accomplished without considerable difficulty and danger; for the
+Mexicans now imagined we were going to retreat altogether, and fell upon
+us with redoubled fury.
+
+In the midst of this second conflict, Alvarado Tapia and Oli, with the
+main body of the cavalry, made their appearance, who had been attacking
+the enemy at other points. The blood was trickling down Oli's face, nor
+had any one of them escaped without a wound. They said they had been
+attacked by terrific bodies of the enemy, in the open fields, and had
+not been able to drive them back. The reason of their having been
+separated from the rest of the cavalry was, because Cortes, after he had
+passed across the water, ordered the horse to divide into two bodies,
+and attack the enemy at different points.
+
+While we were busily engaged dressing the wounds of our men, all at once
+there arose from out of the streets and adjoining fields terrific yells,
+with the wild war music of the enemy; the courtyard in which we had
+stationed ourselves was suddenly filled with Mexicans, and, in a very
+few moments, many more of our men were wounded. But the enemy drew very
+little advantage from this bold enterprise; for we set upon them so
+vigorously in return, that great numbers of them soon lay stretched on
+the ground. Our cavalry also galloped in among them, and slew a great
+many more. On our side, we had only one man killed and two horses
+wounded.
+
+We drove the enemy completely out of the open square, and took
+possession of another more spacious, in which stood several large
+temples, where we could rest ourselves in greater safety. Several of our
+men mounted to the top of these temples, from whence they could see the
+great city of Mexico and the extensive lake which it commanded; but at
+the same time they espied more than 2000 canoes, all filled with
+warriors, making straightway to us as fast as their paddles could bring
+them.
+
+These troops were commanded by Quauhtemoctzin to attack us immediately,
+and to leave us no peace night or day. He had likewise despatched
+another 10,000 men by land, to fall upon us from another quarter: and
+another 10,000 men stood ready to march hither to relieve the first,
+that not a single man of us might escape alive from Xochimilco. All this
+we learnt the day following from the five Mexican chiefs whom we took
+prisoners. But the Lord Jesus had disposed otherwise for us.
+
+As soon as intelligence was received of the approach of this vast fleet
+of canoes, we were doubly vigilant, and strong detachments were placed
+at all the places and canals where we thought the enemy would disembark.
+Our horses stood ready saddled, and every officer, including Cortes
+himself, made the rounds during the whole of the night, and kept a sharp
+look-out on the causeway and towards the mainland. I myself was posted
+with ten men near a stone wall. We were furnished with stones,
+crossbows, muskets, and long lances, and were to prevent the enemy from
+landing in this quarter. Similar small detachments were stationed at the
+other canals.
+
+I and my comrades thus keeping a sharp look-out, we heard all at once
+the noise of several canoes, which were advancing directly towards us;
+but we gave the enemy so rough a reception with our slings and lances,
+that they durst not venture to land; and while one of our men had
+hastened to inform Cortes of what was going forward in this quarter, a
+second and still more numerous squadron of canoes arrived, and attacked
+us most vigorously with lances, stones, and arrows, wounding two of our
+men; but we defended ourselves with no less vigour: and, as it was an
+uncommon dark night, these canoes again joined the great body of the
+fleet, which had repaired to some other small harbour or deeper canal,
+where the whole of them disembarked. These troops, who, it seemed, were
+not very willing to fight at night-time, joined those which
+Quauhtemoctzin had sent by land, and both together formed an army of
+above 15,000 men.
+
+I must here mention a circumstance, which, however, I hope the reader
+will not construe into vanity on my part.
+
+When one of the men belonging to my small detachment brought Cortes
+intelligence that a number of Mexican canoes had approached the spot
+where we were stationed, he, with ten of the cavalry, was just coming
+towards us. As they approached us with the utmost silence, I and Gonzalo
+Sanchez cried out to them, "Who goes there? How? can't you open your
+mouths?" and then slung three or four stones at them. But Cortes, who
+immediately recognized us by our voices, remarked to Alderete, father
+Melgarejo, and our quartermaster Christobal de Oli, who accompanied him,
+"I am in no fear with regard to this quarter; for here are posted two
+men who came with me when I first arrived in this country, and to whom I
+would intrust a more important command than this!" He then came up and
+spoke to us himself, and observed that our position was one of great
+danger, and that, in case of need, we were instantly to send for
+assistance. Our general had scarcely left us when we heard him driving a
+soldier back to his post, which he had deserted. It was one of those who
+came with Narvaez.
+
+There is likewise another circumstance which I must not forget to
+mention. In the battle of the previous day, our musketeers had spent all
+their powder, and the crossbow-men their arrows; Cortes, therefore,
+during the night-time, ordered us to collect all the arrows we could
+find, and to furnish them with fresh feathers and points, of which we
+had always a good stock by us. With this work our crossbow-men were
+occupied the whole of the night, and Pedro Barba, captain of that
+company, never left them for a moment; Cortes himself looking in from
+time to time to see how they were getting on.
+
+When daylight appeared, our camp was assailed by the whole of the
+Mexican troops from different points at once; but as we were never
+unprepared for an attack, our cavalry rushed out towards the land side,
+and we others, with the Tlascallans, towards the lake, and fell so
+vigorously on the Mexicans that we soon killed three of their chiefs,
+and numbers of their troops died of their wounds the day following. The
+Tlascallans behaved with uncommon bravery, and took five Mexican chiefs
+whom they brought in prisoners, from whom we learnt the exact number of
+troops which Quauhtemoctzin had ordered against us.
+
+On our side we had only one killed, but a great number of wounded.
+
+This battle, however, had not yet terminated; for our cavalry, in
+pursuing the enemy, came up with the 10,000 warriors whom Quauhtemoctzin
+had despatched to the assistance of the others. Several of the officers
+who commanded these troops wore our Spanish swords, of which they were
+not a little vain; and they said it was by our own swords we were to be
+vanquished.
+
+Our few horse durst not encounter so large a body of the enemy, and
+therefore drew off to one side, until they should be joined by Cortes
+with the rest of the troops. When our general was informed of their
+critical position, he instantly sallied out, with the rest of our
+cavalry, who had remained in the courtyard on account of their wounds,
+and all our foot, with the Tlascallan troops. A most terrible and
+obstinate conflict now ensued; but at length, by dint of heavy blows and
+thrusts, we repulsed the enemy, with considerable loss. On this occasion
+eight distinguished Mexicans fell into our hands, from whom we learnt
+that Quauhtemoctzin had despatched against us another considerable fleet
+of canoes, and other large bodies of his troops by land. These troops he
+had sent off with the perfect assurance that, coming suddenly upon us,
+they would complete the victory, after we had been fatigued by such
+constant fighting, and weakened by loss of men and the number of our
+wounded.
+
+When we heard this we were doubly on our guard, and our general
+determined to abandon the town on the following morning, and not wait
+for any further attacks. We therefore made the best use of our time to
+dress our wounds and repair our weapons.
+
+During this interval, it appears that some prisoners of Xochimilco
+pointed out to the Tlascallans several houses belonging to rich
+individuals, in which were hidden many valuable things, such as
+manufactured cotton interwoven with feathers, women's shifts, gold, and
+other matters. These houses stood in the lake, but it was possible to
+reach them by a causeway, and by passing over two or three bridges which
+lay across the deep canals. The Tlascallans communicated this to several
+of our men, who instantly repaired to these houses, which they found
+quite unprotected, and, as they had been told, filled with various
+articles of value. They stowed away as much as they possibly could, and
+returned with a rich booty to our head-quarters. When others of our men
+saw these rich spoils, they likewise paid a visit to these dwellings,
+and were busily engaged in emptying some wooden cases, which were full
+of different things, when a large fleet of Mexican canoes arrived with a
+numerous body of troops, and suddenly fell upon the plunderers, of whom
+they wounded the greater part, and carried off four alive to Mexico. It
+was indeed a wonder that the rest escaped. Two of the four Spaniards
+were Juan de Lara and Alonso Hernandez; the two others belonged to the
+company which stood under the command of Andreas de Monjaraz, but I have
+forgotten their names.
+
+These unfortunate men were brought into the presence of Quauhtemoctzin,
+who questioned them about the smallness of our army, the number of our
+wounded, and the object of our present expedition: and when he thought
+he had gained sufficient information, he ordered their arms and legs to
+be chopped off, and to be sent to those towns which had concluded peace
+with Cortes, accompanied by the message that he hoped to kill us all
+before we could escape to Tezcuco, and with our hearts and our blood he
+would make a savoury offering to his idols.
+
+Quauhtemoctzin then despatched a large fleet of canoes filled with
+troops, and a considerable army by land, to Xochimilco, with strict
+commands not to allow one of us to escape alive out of that town.
+
+Not to fatigue the reader with a description of the many battles we
+fought with the Mexicans during these four days, I will confine myself
+by stating that, with break of day, so vast a number of Mexicans rushed
+all at once upon us from the inlets of the lakes, from the streets, and
+from the mainland, that it was with the utmost exertions only we were
+able to cut our way through them to a large square which lay at a short
+distance from the town, and where the inhabitants usually held their
+markets. There we halted for a few minutes, with the whole of our
+baggage, to arrange the order of our march.
+
+Previous to quitting this place, Cortes addressed a few words to us, in
+which he reminded us of our perilous position, having still to pass by
+several dangerous points, where the whole armed force of Mexico was
+lying in wait for us. It would, therefore, be desirable, he said, to
+leave behind as much of our baggage as we could possibly spare, for it
+would only encumber our movements in battle.
+
+To this we one and all replied, that we were men who had the power to
+defend our baggage, ourselves, and his person, if God lent us his
+protection; and that we considered it but a small sacrifice which he
+required us to make. When he saw in what an excellent disposition we
+were, he commended us all to God, and arranged the order of march. The
+wounded and our baggage were placed in the centre, one half of the
+cavalry formed the vanguard, and the other half the rearguard; and the
+crossbow-men and Tlascallans were distributed in a similar manner: for
+we purposely collected our chief strength around the baggage, as the
+Mexicans invariably made their first attack upon this. Our musketeers
+were of no use to us, as all their powder was consumed.
+
+In this way we began to move forward; but as soon as the Mexicans found
+we were leaving the square, they concluded it was from fear, as was
+indeed the case; they sallied out upon us, wounded two of our men, and
+attacked our centre with great intrepidity to make themselves master of
+our baggage; but they were unable to make any impression on the close
+order of our ranks.
+
+During the whole of our march to Cojohuacan, which lay about eight miles
+from Xochimilco, we had continual skirmishes with the Mexicans, who took
+every favorable opportunity of annoying us with lances, stones and
+arrows, and then suddenly retreated beyond the canals, where we could
+not follow them. In this manner we reached Cojohuacan, at ten o'clock in
+the morning, and found the town quite deserted by its inhabitants.
+
+I must here observe that there are a number of towns lying round about
+Mexico, all at about eight miles distance from each other. Of these,
+Xochimilco, Cojohuacan, Iztapalapan, Chohuilobusco, Quauhnahuac,
+Mizquic, and three or four other towns, are half-built in the lake
+itself, and none of these towns lie at a greater distance from each
+other than from six to eight miles, which accounts for the Mexicans
+being able to assemble so vast a body of troops against us in
+Xochimilco.
+
+When we arrived in this deserted town, we dressed our wounds, furnished
+ourselves with arrows, and rested for the remaining part of the day; and
+indeed we required some repose, for we knew we should have to fight many
+more battles before we reached Tezcuco.
+
+The next morning very early we again continued our march, and took the
+road towards Tlacupa, which lay about eight miles further on. Large
+bodies of the enemy fell upon us at three different places along our
+route, but we each time repulsed them, and pursued them to their canoes
+in the inlets and canals.
+
+On one occasion during this march, Cortes left the main body with ten of
+the cavalry, among which were four of his grooms, to lay an ambuscade
+for the Mexicans, who every now and then came suddenly upon us from the
+inlets of the lake. Cortes attacked and routed a body of Mexicans, who,
+after a short stand, fled with precipitation, and were pursued by our
+general; in doing which he fell himself into a more terrible ambush,
+from which the enemy suddenly burst upon him, and wounded two of his
+men; and he, with all those who accompanied him, would undoubtedly have
+been killed or taken prisoners if he had not instantly retreated. The
+enemy, however, succeeded in capturing two of his grooms, who were
+brought before Quauhtemoctzin, and afterwards sacrificed to his gods.
+
+The main body of our army had, in the meantime, arrived with flying
+colours in Tlacupa, while only Cortes, with the ten horse, remained
+behind, and we began to fear that some misfortune had befallen him;
+wherefore Alvarado, Oli, and Tapia immediately turned back with a strong
+body of horse in the direction we had seen him take. They soon came up
+with the two grooms who had escaped from the enemy, and who related how
+they had been indebted for their lives to a precipitate retreat; and
+that Cortes was following behind, as he was obliged to ride at a gentle
+pace, his horse having been wounded. It was not long before our general
+came up, to the great joy of all; but he appeared excessively grieved
+at the loss of his two grooms, almost to shedding tears.
+
+Just as Cortes entered Tlacupa, it began to rain very fast; for which
+reason we rested here for a couple of hours in a large square of the
+town. Our general, with several other officers, the treasurer Alderete,
+(who fell ill here,) father Melgarejo, and several soldiers, including
+myself, ascended to the top of the great temple of this town, from which
+we beheld the neighbouring city of Mexico, with the numerous other towns
+which stood in the lake. When father Melgarejo and Alderete beheld all
+this splendour at once, they could scarcely find words to express their
+astonishment; but when they contemplated the great city of Mexico more
+minutely, and saw the numerous canoes hurrying up and down this immense
+lake laden with merchandize or provisions for the city, or occupied in
+fishing, they were actually terrified, and exclaimed to each other that
+our arrival in New Spain could not be by the power of man alone, and
+that it was through the great mercy of Providence that our lives were
+still preserved. They had once before remarked, said they, that no
+monarch had ever been rendered such signal services by his subjects as
+we had rendered to our emperor; but now they were more convinced than
+ever, and would duly inform his majesty of what they had seen.
+
+Father Melgarejo then consoled our general for the loss of his two
+grooms, which so greatly afflicted him. While we soldiers were thus
+gazing upon the city of Mexico, we again by degrees recognized those
+spots which had become so memorable to us, and we pointed out to each
+other the great temple of Huitzilopochtli, the Tlatelulco, and the
+causeways, with the bridges over which we made our disastrous retreat.
+At this moment Cortes sighed more deeply than he had previously done for
+the loss of his two grooms, whom the enemy had carried off alive. And it
+was from this day our men began to sing the romance, which commences--
+
+    "En Tacuba esta Cortes
+    Con su esquadron esforsado,
+    Triste estava y mui penoso
+    Triste y con gran cuidado,
+    La una mano en la mexilla
+    Y la otra en el costado," etc.
+
+As our general was thus standing in deep contemplation, the bachelor
+Alonso Perez, who was appointed fiscal after the conquest of New Spain,
+and lived in Mexico, stepped up to him and said, "General, you should
+not thus give way to grief; it is ever so during war time, and men will
+certainly never have occasion to sing of you as they did of Nero,--
+
+    'Mira Nero de Tarpeya[18]
+    A Roma como se ardia,
+    Gritos dan niņos y viejos,
+    Y el de nada se dolia.'"
+
+To which Cortes replied, "How often have I not offered peace to that
+city! But it is not that circumstance alone which causes my grief; I am
+likewise thinking of the dreadful scenes we have to go through before we
+can subdue this place; though, with the assistance of God, we shall
+accomplish this also."
+
+I must now, however, quit these discourses and romances; indeed the time
+was ill suited for such things. Our officers now deliberated whether or
+not we should march a short distance along the causeway, which lay near
+to Tlacupa; but as we had no powder left, and only a few arrows, besides
+that most of our men were wounded, and as a similar attempt which Cortes
+had made a month earlier on this same causeway had ended so
+disastrously, it was resolved we should continue our march, lest the
+Mexicans should fall upon us this very day, or during the night. From
+the near vicinity of the metropolis it was easy for Quauhtemoctzin to
+send a body of troops against us at any moment. We therefore broke up
+our quarters here, and marched straight forward to Escapuzalco, which we
+found entirely deserted by its inhabitants. From this place we came to
+Tenayucan, or the town of Serpents, as we called it; (the reader will
+remember what I related in a former chapter respecting the origin of
+this name.) The inhabitants of this place had likewise fled. We next
+came to Quauhtitlan, and the rain came down in torrents during the whole
+of the day, so that we could scarcely drag one foot after the other,
+from the weight of our arms and of our clothes, which were completely
+drenched with water.
+
+It was perfectly dark when we entered this township, which was also
+deserted by its inhabitants. The rain came down in torrents during the
+whole night, which created a great deal of mire and dirt. The
+inhabitants and Mexicans, who had fled to places where we could not get
+at them, kept hooting at us from the evening until next morning, without
+intermission. Owing to the extreme darkness of the night, and the heavy
+rain which was falling, we neither posted sentinels nor made any rounds;
+there was nothing but disorder to be seen in our camp, and no one
+remained at his post. I can speak from experience, for the first watch
+had been assigned to me; but no officer came to make the rounds, or see
+that all was right.
+
+The next day we marched to a large township, whose name I have
+forgotten. The streets were covered with mud, and not an inhabitant was
+to be seen. On the following morning we arrived at Aculman, which is
+subject to Tezcuco; and the inhabitants of this place being apprized of
+our approach, came out to meet us. They were accompanied by several
+Spaniards, who had arrived from Spain during our absence. Besides these,
+Sandoval, with the troops under his command, and Don Fernando, king of
+Tezcuco, had likewise come out to welcome us. Every one was overjoyed at
+our return, but particularly the inhabitants of the surrounding
+neighbourhood, who brought us quantities of provisions.
+
+Sandoval returned this same day to Tezcuco, fearing the enemy might make
+an attack on this town in the night time. The following morning Cortes
+also left, for this place, where we arrived quite fatigued, and covered
+with wounds; besides that, we had to mourn the loss of many of our brave
+companions in arms, whom the Mexicans had carried off alive, and
+sacrificed to their idols. I must now inform the reader what a perilous
+posture affairs had assumed at Tezcuco.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLVI.
+
+    _How we discover, on our return to Tezcuco, that a conspiracy had
+    been set on foot by the men of Narvaez's troops to murder Cortes,
+    and all who were of his party; of the author of this conspiracy, his
+    punishment; and of other matters._
+
+
+During our absence a conspiracy had been set on foot by a most intimate
+friend of the governor of Cuba, named Antonio de Villafaņa, a native
+either of Zamora or Toro, in conjunction with others of Narvaez's
+troops, whose names, for honour's sake, I will refrain from mentioning
+here. The object of this conspiracy was to murder Cortes on his return,
+which was to be done in the following manner.
+
+The conspirators designed handing over a letter to Cortes while he sat
+at dinner with his officers and other soldiers, which was to be securely
+fastened and sealed, purporting to come from his father, with a vessel
+that had just arrived from Spain. While he was occupied in the perusal
+of this letter, he and the whole of the officers and soldiers who sat
+at table with him, and offered any resistance, were to be poignarded to
+death.
+
+All this being settled, it pleased the Almighty that the conspirators
+should also let two other distinguished officers into the secret, whose
+names, however, I must likewise repress. Both these officers had
+accompanied us on our recent expedition around the lake, and one of
+these officers, after Cortes should have been killed, was to be
+appointed one of the new captain-generals. In the same manner the other
+chief appointments, besides all our property and horses, had already
+been disposed of by the conspirators. The Almighty, however, in his
+mercy, prevented this horrible deed from being carried into effect, the
+consequences of which would have been continual divisions, the
+inevitable loss of New Spain, and the total destruction of our troops.
+The whole of this conspiracy was discovered to Cortes by one of our
+soldiers a couple of days after his return to Tezcuco, and he had thus
+sufficient time to adopt active measures for suppressing it before it
+spread further. The honest man who made the discovery to him assured him
+also that there were several men of rank among the conspirators.
+
+Cortes, after he had handsomely rewarded this man, communicated the
+whole affair, under the seal of secrecy, to the officers Alvarado, Oli,
+Lugo, Sandoval, Tapia, and myself; also to the two alcaldes for the
+year, and to all those in whom he could place confidence. He then
+ordered us to arm ourselves without any further delay, and he then
+proceeded with us to the quarters of Antonio de Villafaņa.
+
+On entering his apartment we found him in conversation with several of
+the conspirators, and the four alguacils who accompanied us immediately
+arrested him. The rest instantly took to flight, but Cortes had many of
+them seized. Villafaņa being thus in our power, Cortes thrust his hand
+into that officer's bosom, and drew forth a paper, containing the whole
+plan of the conspirators, to which all their names were attached.
+Cortes, on perusing this paper, found the names of several men of
+importance among the list of conspirators; and being desirous of saving
+them from dishonour, he afterwards gave out that Villafaņa had swallowed
+the paper, and that he had not read it himself, nor even so much as seen
+it.
+
+A criminal suit was now instituted against Villafaņa, when he, with
+several others who were implicated in it, made a full confession of the
+whole matter. Cortes, the two alcaldes, and the quartermaster Oli, who
+formed the court-martial, then pronounced Villafaņa guilty, and
+sentenced him to be hung; and, after he had confessed to father Juan
+Diaz, he was executed in front of his own quarters.
+
+Here Cortes allowed the matter to rest, though several of the
+conspirators were kept in close confinement, and in order to frighten
+them appearances were made as if they likewise would have to share a
+similar fate with Villafaņa. Our general, however, was desirous of
+saving their names from dishonour; to which may be added, that this was
+not exactly the time to go to the utmost severity of the law.
+
+From that moment our general had a body guard, consisting of the captain
+Antonio de Quiņones, a native of Zamora, and twelve trustworthy men, who
+were to be near his person both night and day. In the same way he
+likewise requested the rest of us in whom he could place confidence to
+watch over the safety of his person. He never, however, evinced any
+animosity in his subsequent behaviour towards the other conspirators,
+though he took care to be particularly upon his guard against them.[19]
+
+After this miserable affair was ended, notice was given that the
+prisoners we had made in our expedition round the lake were to be
+brought in to be marked within the space of two days. In order not to
+waste many words on the subject, for the third time I will merely state
+that our men were even more shamefully cheated on this occasion than on
+the former. First the emperor's fifths were deducted, then those of
+Cortes, and after him our chief officers committed their piracies. If,
+therefore, any of us had an Indian female who was handsome or strong of
+limb, we certainly took her to be marked with the iron, but stole her
+away the night following, and took care not to show her again until some
+considerable time had elapsed; so that numbers of our slaves were never
+marked at all, and yet we employed them as our naborias.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLVII.
+
+    _How Cortes issues orders to the inhabitants of all the townships in
+    the neighbourhood of Tezcuco which were allied with us, to furnish
+    us with arrows and copper points for the same, and what further took
+    place at our head-quarters._
+
+
+Our brigantines were now so far advanced towards completion, that they
+had merely to be rigged. For each brigantine a number of spare oars had
+been made in case of need. The canal in which these vessels were to be
+launched, and through which they were to be conveyed into the lake, was
+now also sufficiently deep and wide to swim these vessels.[20] Cortes
+now, therefore, began to make active preparations for the siege of
+Mexico. He issued orders to all the townships which lay in the vicinity
+of Tezcuco, and were in alliance with us, for each of them to furnish
+him with 8000 copper points for our arrows, to be made after the model
+of our Spanish ones, of which some were sent them for that purpose. They
+were also to furnish an equal number of arrows, which were to be made
+from a wood particularly adapted for that use, and they received some of
+our Spanish arrows to work by. He allowed them eight days for the making
+and delivery of these; and indeed both the arrows and the copper points
+arrived at Tezcuco in the time specified. Our stock of these now
+consisted of 50,000 pieces, and the arrow points made by these people
+were even better than those we brought from Spain.
+
+Cortes then ordered Pedro Barba, who commanded the crossbow-men to
+divide the arrows and copper points among his men, and see that every
+man fixed the points neatly to the arrows, and attached the feathers
+with strong glue. Every crossbow-man was also to furnish himself with
+two closely twisted cords for his bow; further to provide himself with a
+number of spare nuts for the bows, that if one should crack or fly off
+he might have another in readiness. The crossbow-men were also to
+exercise themselves in shooting at heaps of earth to ascertain the
+strength of their bows. Care was therefore taken that they should not
+want for Valencian strings to twist the cords of, for the vessel of Juan
+Burgos, which had recently arrived from Spain, had fortunately brought a
+good supply of these as well as of bows, powder, muskets and other arms,
+besides a quantity of horseshoes. In the same way our cavalry were
+ordered to equip themselves, have their horses fresh shod, and to
+exercise them daily in all manner of cavalry evolutions.
+
+Cortes then sent word to the elder Xicotencatl, his two sons, and to
+Chichimeclatecl, informing them that we should leave Tezcuco after the
+feast of Corpus Christi, and begin the siege of Mexico. He therefore
+requested them to send him 20,000 warriors from their country, from
+Huexotzinco, and from Cholulla, who were now all in friendly alliance
+with each other. But it was unnecessary to inform the Tlascallans of our
+intentions, for they were always duly apprized beforehand by those of
+their countrymen who accompanied us in our expeditions and returned home
+with the booty they had made. The inhabitants of Tlalmanalco and Chalco
+were also requested to hold themselves in readiness to march out at a
+moment's notice. These and all our other allies were informed of the day
+when we proposed to commence operations against Mexico. From all sides
+we received the most friendly assurances of assistance, and that Cortes'
+orders would be punctually obeyed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes reviews the whole of his troops at Tezcuco; and of his
+    further dispositions for conducting the siege of Mexico._
+
+
+After Cortes had thus acquainted our allies with his designs against
+Mexico, he determined to review the whole of his troops, and selected
+for this purpose the second day of Easter. This review was held in the
+large square of Tezcuco, and our muster-roll gave the following numbers:
+Eighty-four horse; six hundred and fifty foot soldiers, of whom some
+were armed with swords and shields, and others with lances; one hundred
+and ninety-four crossbow-men and musketeers.
+
+Out of these troops he selected the men who were to serve on the
+thirteen brigantines; each of which required twelve rowers and a
+captain, with twelve crossbow-men and musketeers. In this way the
+thirteen brigantines required two hundred and eighty men, who, with the
+additional number of artillerymen, amounted to three hundred and
+twenty-five. Next the cannon, with the necessary powder was distributed
+among them; and when all this was done, Cortes published the articles of
+war, which ran as follows:
+
+First of all it was forbidden under a heavy penalty to blaspheme either
+against our Lord Jesus Christ, his blessed mother, the holy apostles, or
+against any of the saints in general.
+
+Secondly, no one was to ill-use any of our allies, take anything from
+them, not even of the booty they might make, whether this consisted of
+gold, silver, jewels, or of anything else; for we were to bear in mind
+that they joined us in this war at our own particular request.
+
+Thirdly, none of the men, either during day or night time, were to leave
+our head-quarters, whether to fetch provisions from any of the townships
+allied to us, or for any other purpose whatever. Any one found guilty of
+this would be severely punished.
+
+Fourthly, every soldier was to supply himself with a sufficient number
+of arms and keep them in proper order; for we were to remember how well
+the Mexicans were provided with everything in the shape of weapons.
+
+Fifthly, all gambling for horses or weapons was strictly forbidden.
+
+Lastly, none of the men, whatever company they belonged to, were to lay
+themselves down to rest without being completely armed and were to keep
+their shoes on, to which an exception was merely granted in cases of
+urgent necessity when a person was severely wounded, or unable to do
+duty; for we should be prepared to receive the enemy at a moment's
+notice.
+
+Besides these the usual articles of war were again read over, which,
+among other things, threatened punishment of death to the sentinel who
+deserted his post or fell asleep while on duty. The same punishment
+would be inflicted on any soldier who left his quarters without his
+captain's permission, or who left his commanding officer in a moment of
+danger and took to flight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXLIX.
+
+    _The manner in which Cortes selects the men who were to row the
+    brigantines; of the commanders who were appointed to each, and of
+    other matters._
+
+
+Cortes on selecting the men who were to serve on board the brigantines
+could not find a sufficient number of sailors to row them. All the
+sailors who had come with us, with Narvaez, and with the vessels which
+had recently arrived from Jamaica, had been duly noted down, but even
+then there was not a sufficient number. Besides which many would not
+condescend to this work, saying, it was unreasonable to think of making
+rowers of them.
+
+Cortes then turned his attention to those who daily went out a fishing,
+and found they were mostly natives of Palos, Moguer, Triana, or other
+coast towns, which were celebrated for producing capital sailors. All
+these persons were commanded under threats of severe punishment, to
+enter without delay upon the service of the brigantines. Many, indeed,
+who were men of noble birth, remonstrated with our general, and told
+him, it was insulting to think of setting them to such work; but Cortes
+paid no respect to persons, and by these means he mustered one hundred
+and fifty capital oars, who indeed had better days of it than we who had
+to fight on the causeways, and obtained a much greater share of booty
+than we did, as will be sufficiently seen hereafter.
+
+As soon as each brigantine was fully equipped for war, Cortes ordered a
+flag, bearing the royal arms, to be hoisted; and a second one, bearing
+the number of the vessel. The following were the commanders appointed:
+viz. Pedro Barba, Garcia Holguin, Juan de Limpias, the deaf Carvajal,
+Juan Xaramillo, Geronimo de la Mota, the other Carvajal, who now lives
+at an advanced age in the street San Francisco; a certain Portillo, an
+excellent soldier, who had just arrived from Spain and had brought a
+beautiful wife with him. The naval captain Zamora, who lives at present
+in Guaxaca. A certain Colmero, who was both a good sailor and a good
+soldier. Further, Lerma, Gines, Nortes, Briones of Salamanca, Miguel
+Diaz de Auz, and one other officer, whose name has slipped my memory.
+
+The whole of the crews were strictly enjoined to pay implicit obedience
+to their commanders; and any one who left his vessel was liable to
+severe punishment. The several commanders then received their particular
+instructions as to the manner in which they were to cooperate with the
+land forces.
+
+All these matters had just been arranged when Cortes received
+intelligence that the Tlascallan chiefs were marching with a large body
+of troops, consisting of Tlascallans and Huexotzincans. The chief
+command of these had been intrusted to the younger Xicotencatl, the same
+who commanded against us in our battles with Tlascalla. He was likewise
+accompanied by his two brothers, the two younger sons of the excellent
+Don Lorenzo de Vargas. One of the chiefs of Cholulla likewise made his
+appearance, but with a very small body of men; for, though the
+Cholullans had broken off their alliance with Mexico from the time we
+had punished them so severely, yet they never stood upon the best of
+terms with us; on the contrary, they appeared as if waiting to see how
+matters would terminate, and then to side with the triumphant party.
+After our direful retreat from Mexico, they were almost upon the point
+of declaring against us.
+
+When Cortes was informed of Xicotencatl's approach, who had come a day
+before the time appointed, he went out with Alvarado and several other
+officers to a distance of about a mile from Tezcuco, and welcomed him
+and his brothers with every demonstration of joy. Xicotencatl, with his
+men, marched forward in the best order, and all were accoutred in their
+best garments. Every company had a standard, on which was embroidered a
+white bird with expanded wings, being the arms of Tlascalla, and
+resembled an eagle. Every one of the men had a bunch of plumes stuck on
+his head; they struck up their war music, waved their flags, and
+continually cried out, "Long live the emperor, our master! Spain for
+ever! Tlascalla for ever!"
+
+It took these troops about three hours before they had all entered the
+town, and our general ordered them to be provided with good quarters,
+and the best food we could get. When they had all entered the town, he
+once more bid them heartily welcome, assuring them he would enrich them
+all, and then desired them to rest from their fatigues, adding, that he
+would let them know the next day the duty they would have to perform.
+
+Almost at the very moment these Tlascallans were marching into Tezcuco,
+a letter was put into Cortes' hands from Hernando de Barrientos, who was
+at Chinantla, about 360 miles from Mexico. Barrientos related that,
+while he was exploring the mines, being left behind for that purpose by
+Pizarro, the Mexicans had attacked him, and killed three of his
+companions, and that he alone had been fortunate enough to escape to the
+inhabitants of Chinantla, who were at enmity with the Mexicans. This was
+the same people who had furnished us with those long lances in our
+battle against Narvaez.
+
+Without wishing to repeat the whole contents of this letter, I will only
+state that Cortes, in answer to it, told him he was about to besiege
+Mexico, and cautioned him to keep on good terms with the caziques of the
+country, and not to leave that place until he should receive further
+intelligence from head-quarters; for he would run great danger of being
+murdered on the road by the Mexicans.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CL.
+
+    _Of Cortes' further dispositions for the siege._
+
+
+Cortes now divided the whole of our troops into three divisions. The
+first division, consisting of one hundred and fifty foot, all well armed
+with swords and shields, thirty horse, and eighteen musketeers and
+crossbow-men, was commanded by Alvarado, under whom Guiterrez de
+Badajoz, Andreas de Monjaraz, and Jorge de Alvarado had each the command
+of fifty men and a third part of the musketeers and crossbow-men; the
+cavalry being under the immediate command of Alvarado himself. To this
+division 8000 Tlascallans were added, and Alvarado, in whose division I
+also was, received orders to take up his position in the town of
+Tlacupa. Cortes particularly recommended us to furnish ourselves with
+good weapons, helmets, gorgets, and steel coverings for the legs, to
+protect our bodies from the destructive weapons of the Mexicans. These
+precautions were, indeed, very necessary; but, notwithstanding all our
+defensive armour, scarcely a day past by in which the enemy did not kill
+or wound some of our men.
+
+The second division was placed under the command of Oli, and consisted
+of thirty horse, one hundred and sixty-five foot, and twenty
+crossbow-men and musketeers. Andreas de Tapia, Verdugo, and Lugo
+commanded under him, he himself having the immediate command of the
+cavalry. To this division, likewise, 8000 Tlascallans were added, and
+they were to take up their position in the town of Cojohuacan, about
+eight miles from Tlacupa.
+
+Sandoval was appointed to the command of the third division, consisting
+of twenty-four horse, fourteen crossbow-men and musketeers, and one
+hundred and fifty foot armed with shields and swords. To this division
+were added 8000 Indians from the townships of Chalco, Huexotzinco, and
+other places in alliance with us. Cortes appointed Luis Marin and Pedro
+de Ircio, two intimate friends of Sandoval, to command under him, the
+latter himself having the immediate command of the cavalry. This
+division was to take up a position near Iztapalapan, and Sandoval's
+instructions were to attack that town, and do as much damage there as he
+could, until he received further orders. Sandoval did not leave Tezcuco
+before Cortes was about to step on board, who himself took the chief
+command of the brigantines. On this flotilla there were altogether 325
+men. Thus Sandoval, Oli, and Alvarado were each ordered off to different
+points: one marched to the left, the other to the right; and those who
+are not acquainted with the situation of this town or of the lake in
+general, would imagine that these divisions were removing from one
+common centre rather than approaching it. Each of these three captains
+received particular instructions for his plan of operation, and the next
+morning was fixed for our departure.
+
+In order to be detained as little as possible, we sent off the whole
+body of Tlascallans in advance to the Mexican frontiers. These troops
+marched out in the best possible humour, under their commander
+Chichimeclatecl and other officers, but discovered that their
+commander-in-chief, the younger Xicotencatl, had remained behind. After
+considerable inquiries, it was found that he had secretly returned to
+Tlascalla on the previous night to take forcible possession of the
+caziquedom and territory of Chichimeclatecl. It appears, according to
+the accounts of the Tlascallans, that he wished to avail himself of this
+favorable opportunity of raising himself to supreme power in his own
+country, which the absence of Chichimeclatecl offered to him, who, in
+his opinion, was the only person that stood in his way since the death
+of Maxixcatzin, as he did not fear any opposition from his old blind
+father. This Xicotencatl, the Tlascallans further added, had never felt
+any real inclination to join us in the war against Mexico, but had
+frequently assured them it would terminate in the destruction of us
+all.[21]
+
+When Chichimeclatecl received information of this, he instantly returned
+to Tezcuco in order to apprize Cortes of it. Our general, on hearing
+this, despatched five distinguished personages of Tezcuco, and two
+Tlascallans, who were his particular friends, after Xicotencatl, to
+request his immediate return to his troops, in Cortes' name. They were
+to remind him that his father Lorenzo de Vargas would certainly have
+marched out against Mexico in person, if blindness and old age had not
+prevented him; that the whole population of Tlascalla continued loyal to
+his majesty, and that the revolt he wished to excite would throw
+dishonour on his own country. These representations Cortes desired
+should be accompanied by large promises, to induce him to return to
+obedience. Xicotencatl, however, haughtily replied, that he was
+determined to abide by his resolve, and our dominion in this country
+would not have continued thus long if his father and Maxixcatzin had
+followed his advice.
+
+Upon this our general ordered an alguacil to repair in all haste with
+four of our horse and five distinguished men of Tezcuco to Xicotencatl's
+abode, to take him prisoner, and hang him without any further ceremony.
+"All kindness," added Cortes, "is thrown away upon this cazique. His
+whole time is spent in devising plots and creating mischief. I cannot
+suffer this to continue any longer; the matter has now come to a
+crisis."
+
+As soon as Alvarado received information of these commands, he urgently
+begged of Cortes to pardon Xicotencatl. Our general replied that he
+would consider about it, though he secretly gave the alguacil peremptory
+orders to put him to death, which was accordingly done. Xicotencatl was
+hung in a town subject to Tezcuco, and thus an end was put to all his
+plottings. Many Tlascallans assured us that the elder Xicotencatl
+himself had cautioned Cortes against his son,[22] and had advised him to
+put him to death.
+
+This affair delayed our departure from Tezcuco for one day; and thus it
+was not till the 13th of May, 1521, that we commenced our march. As our
+road lay for a considerable distance in the same direction, our division
+under Alvarado and that under Oli marched out at the same time. The
+first night we encamped in the township of Alcuman, to which place Oli
+had despatched some men in advance to prepare quarters for his troops,
+and had ordered that the houses which they took possession of should, by
+way of distinction, be decorated with green boughs. When we arrived with
+Alvarado, we found, to our surprise, that every house had been taken,
+and the two divisions were just about to settle the matter, sword in
+hand, when the officers stepped in between, and thereby put a stop to
+the dispute. But the insult which had thus been offered to us was not so
+easily to be forgotten; when, therefore, this circumstance became known
+to Cortes, he sent off father Melgarejo and Luis Marin to us, with
+letters to every officer and soldier, in which he reproached us for
+quarrelling, and admonished us to keep peace with each other. From this
+moment Alvarado and Oli were never upon such friendly terms as formerly.
+
+The following morning the two divisions continued their march, and we
+encamped for the night in a town subject to Mexico, but which was quite
+deserted by its inhabitants. This was likewise the case in Quauhtitlan,
+where we took up our quarters the next night.
+
+Tenayucan and Escapuzalco, through which we marched the day following,
+were also quite deserted. Our Tlascallan friends spread themselves all
+through these townships, and entered into every house during the fore
+part of the evening, from which they brought in quantities of
+provisions. We adopted every military precaution for the night, as we
+were not far distant from Mexico, and could plainly hear the Mexicans,
+who were lying in crowds in their canoes on the lake and along the
+causeways, hooting and yelling fearfully throughout the whole of the
+night, and challenging us to the combat. Their object, was to induce us
+to fall upon them in the dark, when they would have had a great
+advantage over us. We had, however, received a sufficient warning by our
+former misfortune, and very wisely kept ourselves as quietly as possible
+until next morning, which was a Sunday.
+
+After father Juan Diaz had said mass, we commended ourselves to the
+protection of the Almighty, and both divisions marched forward to cut
+off the aqueduct of Chapultepec, which lies about two miles from
+Tlacupa, and supplies Mexico with water. On our way thither, we fell in
+with several bodies of Mexicans, who had received intelligence that this
+was to be the commencement of our operations against Mexico. The enemy
+had in every way the advantage ground over us, and attacked us
+vigorously with lances, arrows, and stones, by which three of our men
+were wounded; but we soon put them to flight, and they were so closely
+pursued by the Tlascallans that they lost twenty killed, and seven or
+eight were taken prisoners. We were now able to destroy the aqueduct
+without any further opposition, and the city of Mexico was deprived of
+this source of obtaining water during the whole of the siege.
+
+As soon as we had destroyed this aqueduct, our officers determined to
+make an attempt upon one of the bridges on the causeway leading from
+Tlacupa. We had scarcely begun to move along the causeway when numbers
+of canoes, filled with troops, advanced swiftly from both sides, while
+other large bodies of the enemy came marching up the causeway against
+us, so that we were quite astounded at the very sight. In the first
+encounter thirty of our men were wounded and three killed.
+Notwithstanding all this, we fought our way up to the first bridge.
+According to what we afterwards heard, it was the wish of the Mexicans
+that we should pass over the bridge; for we had no sooner done so than
+we were assailed by such terrific crowds, as to be unable to move. What
+indeed could we do on a causeway which was no more than eight paces in
+breadth, where we were attacked on all sides at once? Our crossbow-men
+and musketeers certainly kept up a continued fire on the canoes, but the
+enemy received but a trifling loss this way, for they had raised boards
+alongside of their canoes, by which their troops were sheltered from our
+fire. Those of the enemy's troops which attacked us on the causeway
+itself we certainly drove back each time into the water, but fresh
+troops kept pouring in too fast for us to gain much advantage this way.
+Here our cavalry was of no manner of use to us, while the horses were
+greatly exposed to the attacks of the enemy on each side of the
+causeway, and many were consequently wounded. If our cavalry attempted
+to pursue the enemy into the water, the latter had provided against this
+by palisades, behind which they retired, and stretched out against them
+their long lances, to which they had fastened the swords we
+unfortunately lost on our retreat from Mexico.
+
+In this way the battle continued for upwards of an hour, the enemy each
+time returning to the attack with such excessive fury that, at length,
+we could stand our ground no longer: nor was this all, for we now saw
+another large fleet of canoes approaching with a fresh body of men, who
+were ordered to fall upon our rear. We therefore determined to retreat
+back along the causeway, for which purpose we ordered the Tlascallans to
+move off first, that we might effect our retreat in perfect good order.
+Here the Tlascallans had greatly embarrassed us in our movements, who,
+it is well known, never can fight standing in the water.
+
+The instant the Mexicans perceived we were turning back, and saw the
+Tlascallans moving off the causeway, they set up most distracting yells,
+and attacked us man to man with great fierceness. It is indeed out of my
+power to describe it. The whole of the causeway was instantly covered
+with lances, arrows, and stones, besides that vast quantities fell into
+the water. When we had again reached the mainland, we returned fervent
+thanks to the Almighty for having rescued us from this severe battle.
+
+Eight of our men were killed and fifty wounded: added to all this, we
+were obliged to put up with the hootings and jeers of the enemy, who
+kept calling upon the Tlascallans to come with double their numbers next
+time, and they would very soon settle their impudence. Our first deeds
+of arms, therefore, merely consisted in destroying the aqueduct of
+Chapultepec, and in reconnoitring the lake along the causeway, in which
+we did not exactly reap much honour.
+
+For the rest, we passed the following night very quietly in our
+quarters, posted our sentinels, and dressed our wounds. One of our
+horses was so severely wounded that it died soon after.
+
+The following morning Oli determined upon taking up the position
+assigned to his division at Cojohuacan, about six miles further on; and
+however Alvarado and the other cavaliers might beg of him not to
+separate the two divisions, yet he would not alter his determination.
+Christobal de Oli was a man of uncommon bravery, whose pride was wounded
+at the unsuccessful attempt we had made upon the causeway, and he
+accused Alvarado of inconsiderateness for having ordered the attack.
+Nothing, therefore, could induce him to stay, and he marched off with
+his men to Cojohuacan.
+
+The separation of the two divisions was very impolitic at this juncture;
+for if the Mexicans had been aware of the smallness of our numbers, and
+had attacked either of the divisions during the five following days,
+before the brigantines had arrived, we should with difficulty have
+escaped destruction. Both divisions, therefore, remained as quiet as the
+enemy would allow them, though not a day passed by that the Mexicans did
+not land troops to annoy us in our camp, and, if possible, to entice us
+into places where we should be unable to act, and they could attack us
+to greater advantage.
+
+Sandoval, as we have seen, left Tezcuco with his division four days
+after the feast of Corpus Christi, and marched towards Iztapalapan. His
+route lay through townships which were either subject to, or in alliance
+with Tezcuco. As soon as he arrived at Iztapalapan, he commenced his
+military operations by burning down the greater portion of the houses
+which stood on the mainland.
+
+It was not long before large bodies of Mexican troops arrived for the
+protection of Iztapalapan, with whom Sandoval had a severe skirmish, and
+drove them back again to their canoes; but still they continued to
+shower their arrows and darts upon him, and wounded several of his men.
+
+During this conflict a thick smoke was seen to rise from several signal
+fires which had been lighted on the surrounding hills. This had been a
+signal to call in all the canoes of Mexico and of the other towns
+situated on the lake, as Cortes had just run out from Tezcuco with the
+thirteen brigantines.
+
+The first attack our general made with this fleet was against a rocky
+height on an island near Mexico. This place had been strongly fortified,
+and was garrisoned by a great number of Mexicans and inhabitants of
+other townships. All the canoes of Mexico, Xochimilco, Cojohuacan,
+Huitzilopuzco, Iztapalapan, and Mexicalzinco, had united in a body to
+oppose Cortes, which was the reason why the attack was carried on with
+so little vigour against Sandoval, who, however, was not able to do the
+enemy much damage, as most of the houses stood in the water; though, in
+the commencement of the attack, our allies had made many prisoners. In
+Iztapalapan, Saudoval found himself on a peninsula in the lake, and the
+only way by which he could reach Cojohuacan was by a causeway which ran
+half way through the lake, on which he would have been assailed from
+both sides by the enemy, without his being able to defend himself with
+much advantage.
+
+When Cortes observed the vast number of canoes which kept continually
+crowding around the brigantines, he began to feel alarmed, and this not
+without reason, for their number amounted to above 4000. He therefore
+abandoned his attack upon the rock, and selected a position with his
+brigantines, where he would be able to observe all the enemy's
+movements, and steer off in any direction he might choose. He likewise
+issued orders to the respective commanders of the brigantines not to
+commence an attack on the canoes before the wind, which had just
+commenced blowing from the land, should have increased. When the
+Mexicans found our fleet was moving off again, they not incorrectly
+ascribed it to fear, and they immediately advanced with their canoes to
+fall upon the brigantines. There now suddenly arose a stiffish breeze,
+our rowers pulled with all their might, and Cortes ordered the
+brigantines to run right in among the canoes. Numbers were bored into
+the ground, many of the enemy killed and wounded, and all the rest of
+the canoes turned round, and made off at a rapid rate, to seek refuge
+between the houses built in the lake, where they could not be followed
+by the brigantines. This was our first naval engagement, and Cortes
+gained the victory, thanks be to the Almighty.
+
+After this encounter he steered for Cojohuacan, where Oli had taken up
+his position. Here again he fell in with large bodies of the enemy, who
+lay in wait for him at a point of considerable danger, and attempted to
+carry off two of the brigantines. They attacked him at the same time
+from their canoes, and from the tops of the temples. Cortes now fired
+in upon them with the cannon, and killed great numbers. The artillerymen
+fired away so incessantly upon this occasion, that all their powder was
+consumed, and some of them had their faces and hands burnt. Cortes then
+despatched the smallest brigantine to Iztapalapan, to bring away all the
+powder Sandoval had with him there, and wrote word to him not on any
+account to quit that place. He himself staid the two next days with Oli,
+on whose position the enemy continued their attacks without
+intermission.
+
+I must now also relate what took place at this time in Tlacupa, where I
+was stationed with Alvarado.
+
+When we received intelligence that Cortes had run out with the
+brigantines, we advanced along our causeway up to the bridge, but this
+time with greater precaution. Our cavalry was stationed in front of the
+causeway, while the remaining troops moved along in a close body up to
+the bridge, the crossbow-men and musketeers keeping up an incessant fire
+upon the enemy. In this way we renewed the attack each day, and repaired
+the gaps in the causeway, but three of our men had been killed.
+
+In the meantime the enemy did Sandoval considerable damage from the tops
+of the houses which stood in the water, and he therefore resolved to
+attack those which he was best able to get at. Quauhtemoctzin then sent
+off a large body of troops to the assistance of the town, with commands
+to cut through the causeway in Sandoval's rear. Cortes observing a vast
+number of canoes going in the direction of Iztapalapan, instantly
+steered with the brigantines for the same place, and ordered Oli, with
+the whole of his division, to shape his course thither along the
+causeway. They found the Mexicans already hard at work in cutting
+through the causeway, and concluded from this that Sandoval was
+destroying the houses which stood in the water. They found him, as they
+had suspected, already in the heat of an engagement with the enemy, who,
+however, retired on the approach of the brigantines.
+
+Cortes now ordered Sandoval to quit Iztapalapan with his troops, and to
+take up his position at Tepeaquilla, in front of the causeway, which
+leads from this place to Mexico. This Tepeaquilla is at present
+dedicated to our dear lady of Guadaloupe, where so many miracles have
+happened, and still daily take place.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLI.
+
+    _How Cortes assigns particular stations to the twelve brigantines,
+    the thirteenth being considered unfit for service._
+
+
+Cortes, our officers, and the whole of the troops were now convinced
+that it was impossible to fight our way to the city along the causeways,
+unless we were covered on each side by a couple of the brigantines. Our
+general therefore joined four of these to Alvarado's division, he
+himself retaining six others near his head-quarters, which he had taken
+up where Oli was stationed; the remaining two he sent to Sandoval, for
+the smallest brigantine was not considered of sufficient bulk to make
+head against the large canoes, and was taken out of the service
+altogether, and the men distributed among the crews of the other twelve.
+
+As soon as the brigantines arrived at our station Alvarado placed two on
+each side of the causeway, which were to cover us as we advanced to the
+attack of the bridges. We now fought with better success than we had
+previously done for the brigantines kept off the canoes, and prevented
+them from attacking our flanks; so that we now succeeded in forcing some
+of the bridges, and in destroying several of the enemy's entrenchments.
+The conflict, however, was no less severe; on the contrary, the Mexicans
+made so good a use of their lances, arrows, and slings, that, although
+our jackets were thickly quilted with cotton, they wounded the greater
+part of our men; nor did they desist from the attack till night came on;
+but they had the great advantage over us, that they could relieve their
+troops from time to time, by pouring in fresh men, and could shower
+innumerable quantities of stones, arrows, and lances, upon our
+brigantines, from the tops of the houses. Indeed I cannot find a more
+appropriate expression than shower, although they alone can feel its
+full force who were present on the occasion. If we did at times succeed,
+with the utmost exertion, to force an entrenchment or a bridge, and we
+omitted to station a strong detachment to guard it, the enemy returned
+in the night, made another opening in the causeway, threw up larger
+entrenchments, and dug deep pits, which immediately filled with water,
+and these they covered slightly over, that we might sink down into them
+in the midst of the battle of the following day, when the canoes would
+hasten up to profit by the confusion, and carry off our men prisoners.
+For this purpose numbers of canoes were lying wait in places where they
+were out of the reach of our brigantines, though they were always ready
+at hand, if their assistance was required. But the enemy had provided
+in another artful way to render our brigantines useless in certain spots
+of the lake, by driving numbers of stakes into the water, whose tops
+were just below the surface; so that it was often impossible for our
+vessels to avoid them, and they consequently stuck fast, and left our
+troops open to the attacks of the canoes.
+
+I have before mentioned of what little use the cavalry was to us in our
+operations on the causeway; for whenever they did drive the Mexicans
+before them up to the bridges, the latter leaped into the water, and
+retreated behind the entrenchments which they had thrown up on the
+causeway itself, where other bodies of the enemy stood ready to receive
+them armed with extremely long lances, with which, and various kinds of
+projectiles, they severely wounded our horses; so that the owners of the
+horses were very unwilling to risk them in such unequal conflict; for at
+that time the ordinary price of a horse was from 800 to 1000 pesos.
+
+When night came on, and released us from the attacks of the enemy, we
+returned to our encampment, and attended to our wounds, which we dressed
+with bandages steeped in oil. There was likewise a soldier among our
+troops, named Juan Catalan, who charmed the wounds, and the Lord Jesus
+blessed this man's exertions in a manner that he invariably succeeded in
+his cures. Indeed, if all our wounded, each day we renewed the attack,
+had remained behind in our camp, none of the companies could ever have
+sallied out with more than twenty men at a time. When our friends of
+Tlascalla observed how this man charmed the wounds, and how every one
+who was wounded applied to him for assistance, they likewise brought him
+all their wounded, and these were so very numerous, that his only
+occupation throughout the day consisted in charming wounds.
+
+Our officers and ensigns were most exposed to the enemy's weapons, and
+were oftener wounded in consequence; for which reason a fresh set of men
+were each day appointed to carry our tattered colours. With all these
+hardships we had to suffer, it will at least be thought that we had
+plenty of food. But of this we were likewise deprived, and we should
+have thought ourselves fortunate if we had only had some refreshing food
+for our wounded; we had not even a cake of maise! Miserable indeed was
+our distress! The only means we had of keeping soul and body together
+was by eating herbs and cherries, and at last we had nothing to subsist
+on but wild figs; Cortes and Sandoval's divisions fared no better than
+ours, and the Mexicans likewise continued the attack upon them from
+morning to night. Every blessed day that came they were obliged to
+advance fighting their way up to the bridges along the causeway; for the
+Mexicans, and the troops which lay in the other towns of the lake,
+merely awaited the morning dawn, when the signals were given from the
+summit of the great temple of Huitzilopochtli to rush out upon us both
+by land and water.
+
+The operations of the besieged were carried on with perfect order, and
+it was previously settled where the different bodies of their troops
+were to direct the attack.
+
+As we began to experience that our daily advancing along the causeway
+each time cost us a loss of men, besides that we gained little advantage
+by it, for the Mexicans returned in the night, and again took possession
+of the points we had forced, we determined to alter our plan of
+operations, and took up a position on a more spacious part of the
+causeway, where several towers rose up together, and where we should be
+able to quarter ourselves for the night. Though we were miserably off
+here, and had nothing to protect us from the rain, nor to cover us from
+the piercing rays of the sun, we were not to be deterred from our
+purpose. The Indian females who baked our bread were obliged to remain
+behind in Tlacupa, protected by our cavalry, and the Tlascallans, who at
+the same time covered our rear, that the enemy might not fall upon us
+from the mainland. After these precautions had been adopted, we began to
+carry out our principal object, which was to make ourselves master of
+the houses in the suburbs, and of the intervening canals. These last
+were then immediately filled up, and the houses pulled down; for, as I
+have before mentioned, it was difficult to destroy them by fire, as they
+were detached, and stood in the water. It was from the tops of the
+houses that we received most injury from the enemy; so that, by
+destroying these, we gained a considerable advantage. Whenever we had
+taken one of the enemy's entrenchments, a bridge, or forced any other
+strong position, we were obliged to occupy the spot night and day with
+our troops, which we regulated in the following manner:--Each company
+watched by turns; the first from the evening time until midnight; the
+second from midnight until a couple of hours before daylight; and the
+third from that time till morning, when they were relieved by forty
+other men. The watch was each time relieved by a like number, though
+none of these watches left the spot; but when the following arrived, the
+former lay themselves on the bare ground, and took a little repose; so
+that when daylight came there were always one hundred and twenty men
+collected together ready for action. On other nights, when we expected
+some sudden attack, the whole of the men marched up at once, and
+remained under arms until the enemy approached. We had every reason to
+be upon our guard, for we learnt from several Mexican officers, whom we
+had taken prisoners in the different engagements, that Quauhtemoctzin
+and his generals had come to the determination of falling some day or
+night suddenly upon our encampment on the causeway; and concluded that,
+after they had destroyed us, they might easily make themselves masters
+of the two other causeways occupied by Sandoval and Cortes. To
+accomplish this finishing stroke, the nine towns lying in the lake,
+besides Tlacupa, Escapuzalco, and Tenayucan, were to cooperate with
+them. While we should thus be attacked on every side, they meant to
+carry off the Indian females with our baggage, which we had left behind
+in Tlacupa.
+
+As soon as we received this information, we sent notice of it to the
+Tlascallans and our cavalry, who were stationed at Tlacupa, and ordered
+them to be particularly upon their guard, and to keep a sharp look out
+all day and night. Nor was it long before the enemy put their scheme
+into operation; for one midnight an immense body of Mexicans came
+storming up against us; a couple of hours after another such a body; and
+with daylight a third came pouring forth. At one time they moved up with
+the utmost silence; at another they came fiercely along with hideous
+yells; and it was terrible to behold the innumerable quantities of
+lances, stones, and arrows they showered upon us. Though they wounded
+many of our men, we valiantly maintained our ground, and drove them back
+with great loss. The Mexicans had at the same time attacked the cavalry
+and Tlascallans on the mainland at Tlacupa; the latter suffered
+severely, as they were never much upon their guard during night-time.
+
+In this way, amidst rain, wind, frost, up to our ancles in mud, and
+covered with wounds, we patiently bore our fatigues, with a morsel of
+maise cake, a few herbs and figs to stay our hunger, which was the more
+gnawing from the incessant exertions of our bodily strength. Yet,
+however bravely we might fight, we advanced but slowly, and the little
+advantages we gained cost us a number of killed and wounded. The bridges
+we forced were as often retaken by the enemy, and if we filled up an
+opening in the causeway new gaps were made, and this continued day after
+day, until the Mexicans altered their plan of operations, as will
+shortly be seen.
+
+After thus enumerating these continued scenes of bloodshed and slaughter
+which took place at our station, and those of Cortes and Sandoval, the
+reader will ask, what advantage we had derived in destroying the
+aqueduct of Chapultepec? I must confess, very little; for the enemy
+received, during the night-time, a plentiful supply of water as well as
+of provisions from the towns surrounding Mexico, by means of their light
+canoes.
+
+In order to cut off these supplies, Cortes determined that two
+brigantines should cruise about the lake during the whole of the night
+to capture these canoes, and it was agreed that the provisions found in
+them should be equally distributed among the three divisions. Although
+we sensibly felt the absence of our brigantines during the attacks which
+the enemy made upon us in the night-time, yet we soon began to find what
+great advantage we had gained by thus diminishing the enemy's supplies.
+No day passed without our brigantines capturing several of these
+transports laden with maise, fowls, and other necessaries of life,
+though a few always managed to elude our vessels and slip into the town.
+The Mexicans, therefore, were determined if possible to rid themselves
+of these troublesome brigantines, and thought of the following
+stratagem: They fitted out thirty large pirogues, manned with their best
+rowers and most courageous warriors, which they ran out during the
+night-time and concealed them among the reeds of the lake, where they
+could not be seen by the brigantines. At a short distance from the place
+where the pirogues lay concealed, stakes had been driven into the water,
+of which it was intended our two vessels should run foul. In the
+twilight the enemy sent out two or three canoes which were covered with
+green boughs, as if laden with provisions for Mexico; and these received
+instructions to move off in a direction where it was presumed they would
+be pursued by our brigantines.
+
+As soon as our brigantines espied the two canoes they went in pursuit of
+them, the latter keeping close into the reeds, and continually nearing
+the spot where the pirogues lay in ambush. The greater exertions the
+canoes made to escape, the more eager were our brigantines in pursuit,
+and when these were close in upon the spot where the pirogues lay
+concealed, the latter suddenly darted forth from the reeds, and attacked
+the brigantines on all sides. In an instant all the officers, soldiers,
+and sailors were wounded, nor could the brigantines seek refuge in
+flight, as they had become entangled among the stakes. In this
+unfortunate affair we lost one of the brigantines and two of our
+officers, one of whom, named Portillo, a man of great courage, and who
+had served in Italy, was killed on the spot; the other was Pedro Barba,
+a very clever officer, who died of his wounds three days after. Both
+these brigantines belonged to Cortes' division, and he was sorely
+grieved at the loss we had thus sustained; but we very shortly after
+paid the enemy out in their own coin, as will presently be seen.
+
+In the meantime Cortes and Sandoval, with their divisions, had many
+severe encounters with the enemy, but particularly Cortes, as he
+insisted that all the houses which were taken should be immediately
+pulled down, and the gaps in the causeway filled up. So that every inch
+of ground was rendered secure and level, of which possession was taken.
+
+Alvarado had received similar instructions from our general, and was not
+to pass over any bridge or canal before the part which intersected the
+causeway was completely filled up; nor to advance beyond any house until
+it was levelled to the ground.
+
+These commands were strictly adhered to, and with the woodwork and
+stones of the houses which we pulled down we filled up the openings in
+the causeways. In all these operations, and indeed during the whole of
+the siege, our Tlascallan friends lent us the most efficient services.
+When the Mexicans found we were thus by degrees pulling down their
+houses and filling up the canals, they determined to alter their plan of
+operation, and commenced by cutting a wide and deep opening in that part
+of the causeway lying between us and the city; they deepened the lake on
+each side of this opening, and threw up entrenchments near it; strong
+stakes were then driven into the water to keep off our brigantines, or
+that they might run foul of them on coming to our assistance. Besides
+this, great numbers of canoes full of men were constantly lurking in
+places where we could not see them, with orders not to rush out upon us
+before we had advanced up to the entrenchments on the causeway.
+
+One Sunday morning large bodies of the enemy came advancing towards us
+from three different points, and fell so fiercely upon us that it was
+with much difficulty we could maintain our ground. I had forgotten to
+mention that Alvarado had posted half of the cavalry on the causeway,
+for they no longer ran so great a risk of being killed, as most of the
+houses lay in ruins, and there was more space for them to manoeuvre in,
+without their being exposed to the attacks of the enemy from the
+house-tops or from the lake. The enemy, as I have just said, advanced
+bravely from three different points, one body from the quarter where the
+deep gap had been made in the causeway, the other from the direction
+where the houses lay in ruins, the third from the side of Tlacupa, so
+that we were almost surrounded. Our cavalry, with the Tlascallans, had
+the good fortune to cut their way through the dense crowds which fell
+upon our rear, while our foot bravely opposed the two other bodies,
+which, after a few moments' desperate fighting began to give ground; but
+this was a mere stratagem of the Mexicans to allow us to take possession
+of the first entrenchment, and after a short stand they even retreated
+beyond the second. We thought we had already gained the victory, and
+waded through the shallow part of the water in vigorous pursuit of the
+enemy up to some large buildings and towers; while they, to deceive us
+the more effectually, constantly faced about to fling their arrows at
+us; and, when we in the least expected it, they suddenly turned round
+upon us and in an instant we were surrounded and attacked with excessive
+fury from all sides. It was impossible to resist their overwhelming
+numbers, and we began to retreat towards the causeway in the best order
+we could, with our ranks firmly closed. The first opening in the
+causeway which we had just taken from the enemy was already occupied by
+numerous canoes, so that we were compelled to make for the opening which
+the enemy had recently cut, where the water was very deep, and
+additional large holes had been dug. Here we had no other resource left
+than to make our way, either by swimming or wading through; but most of
+us got into the deep holes, when the canoes were instantly at hand to
+take advantage of our perilous situation.
+
+On this occasion five of our men were made prisoners, and immediately
+taken into the presence of Quauhtemoctzin; and most of us were severely
+wounded. The brigantines certainly made every attempt to assist us, but
+were unable to come near enough, owing to the heavy stakes that had been
+driven into the water, between which they stuck fast, and were instantly
+assailed by showers of missiles from the house-tops and the numberless
+canoes, by which two of the rowers were killed, and the greater part of
+the troops on board wounded.
+
+It was indeed a real wonder that all of us did not perish in these deep
+gaps. I myself was in extreme danger, for several Mexicans had already
+laid hands on me, but I succeeded in freeing one of my arms, and the
+Almighty gave me power to cut my way through the enemy, though I was
+severely wounded in the arm, and just as I had reached a place of safety
+I fell down breathless and exhausted. This sudden prostration of
+strength was no doubt owing to the extraordinary exertions I had made to
+disengage myself from the enemy's grasp, and to the quantity of blood I
+had lost. I gave myself up for lost when the Mexicans laid hold of me,
+and commended my soul to God and the holy Virgin.
+
+Alvarado, with the cavalry, had hard work to keep off the numerous
+bodies who attacked our rear from the side towards Tlacupa, and had not
+advanced up to this fearful passage; there was only one cavalry soldier,
+recently arrived from Spain, who ventured too far, and perished with his
+horse. Alvarado was already coming up to our assistance, with a small
+body of horse, but fortunately not before we had made good our retreat
+beyond the deep gap; for, had he arrived a few minutes earlier, we
+should, no doubt, have faced about, fought our way back again into the
+town, and the Mexicans would certainly have cut us off to a man.
+
+This battle took place on a Sunday, and the Mexicans were so elated with
+the victory they had gained over us, that they fell upon our camp with
+renewed courage, and in so large a body that they would certainly have
+taken it by storm but for our cannon and the desperate courage we
+displayed for the preservation of our lives. During this night, the
+whole of us remained under arms ready for action, and the horses stood
+ready saddled and bridled. Cortes was excessively grieved at the defeat
+we had sustained, and despatched a letter to Alvarado by one of the
+brigantines in which he told him not, under any circumstances, in future
+to pass beyond a gap or opening in the causeway before it had been quite
+filled up; and to keep the horses saddled all day and night, and to
+observe the utmost vigilance.
+
+Our recent defeat having taught us prudence, we set about filling up the
+larger opening with the utmost expedition, and completed the work in
+four days; though it was a labour of great difficulty, and we were the
+whole time exposed to the attacks of the enemy, who killed six of our
+men and wounded several others. During the night, each company watched
+by turns to prevent the Mexicans from destroying our day's work.
+
+As the Mexicans were encamped over against us, we could observe how they
+regulated their night watches: they were relieved four times during the
+night, and the men posted at such distances around a large fire, which
+was kept up till morning, that they could not be seen excepting at the
+moments when they poked the fire or when the next watch came to relieve.
+On some nights the fire became extinguished by the rain, but it was
+instantly relit; though everything was done in the utmost silence and
+not a word was exchanged, for they only communicated with each other by
+whistling. Many a time when we heard the guard approaching to relieve
+the watch, our crossbow-men and musketeers would shoot in among them at
+random, but without doing them the slightest injury, as they were posted
+in places which, even during broad daylight, were beyond the reach of
+our fire, particularly behind a deep ditch, which they had recently dug,
+and strengthened by a palisade and breastwork. The Mexicans never
+omitted to return the compliment, and let fly many an arrow at us in the
+same way.
+
+The conflict on the causeway was daily renewed, and we always made our
+attacks in the best order possible, so that we soon became masters of
+the fosse just mentioned, behind which the enemy encamped at nights, but
+we had each time to encounter vast bodies of men, and the whole of us
+were more or less wounded. After fighting the whole day until nightfall,
+there was naturally nothing further to be done than to return to our
+former position; but each time we commenced our retreat, other bodies of
+the enemy fell furiously upon us. The Mexicans were confident they
+should, one time or other, be able to annihilate us during one of these
+retreats, and they rushed upon us with the very fury of tigers, and came
+in so close upon us that we were compelled to fight foot to foot. But
+after a time, when we had got more accustomed to their mode of fighting,
+we first ordered the Tlascallans off the causeway; for these were very
+numerous, and delighted in combating with the Mexicans, under our
+immediate protection, though they only embarrassed our movements, of
+which the enemy were sly enough to take advantage. As soon as we
+considered the Tlascallans sufficiently in advance of us, we firmly
+closed our ranks and began our retreat, which was covered by our
+crossbow-men and musketeers, and by the four brigantines, which kept up
+with us, two on each side of the causeway. When we reached our
+encampment we dressed our wounds with bandages steeped in warm oil, and
+ate our supper off the maize-cakes, the herbs, and the figs which were
+sent us from Tlacupa. When this was finished, a strong detachment was
+again posted for the night at the opening in the causeway, and when
+daylight broke forth the battle was renewed. Such was our life, day
+after day; and however early we might march out, we always found the
+enemy ready to receive us, or they had already advanced up to our
+outposts and defied us to the combat under the most abusive language.
+Cortes, with his division, fared no better than we did; the fighting was
+continued night and day, and many of his men were killed and wounded.
+For the rest, matters stood with him exactly as they did with us on the
+causeway of Tlacupa, and two brigantines still continued cruizing on the
+lake at night-time to intercept the canoes laden with water and
+provisions for Mexico.
+
+On one occasion two Mexicans of distinction were captured, who informed
+Cortes that forty pirogues and a great number of canoes lay hid among
+the reeds of the lake to make another attempt upon the two brigantines.
+Our general returned these men many thanks for what they had
+communicated, made them some presents, and promised to bestow
+considerable lands upon them after Mexico should be taken; they then
+described to him the spot where the armed pirogues lay in ambush, and
+the different places where the heavy stakes had been driven in, of which
+it was intended the brigantines should run foul while pursuing the
+pirogues in their sham flight.
+
+Cortes was now determined to pay the enemy out in their own coin, and in
+the night-time concealed six of our brigantines in a place where the
+reeds stood very thick, at about a mile distant from the spot where the
+pirogues lay in ambuscade. Each brigantine was entirely covered with
+green boughs, and the men on board were ordered not to make the least
+noise during the whole of the night. Very early next morning, Cortes
+ordered one of our other brigantines to run out as usual to waylay the
+convoys of provisions going to Mexico. Both the above-mentioned
+distinguished Mexicans were taken on board to point out the place where
+the pirogues lay concealed, as our brigantine was purposely to steer in
+that direction. As soon as the Mexicans observed the brigantine
+approaching, they run out two of their canoes into the lake to allure
+the brigantine to their pursuit. The stratagem was laid on both sides in
+the very same way, and it was now only to be seen which should outdo the
+other. Our brigantine sharply pursued the two canoes, which were moving
+off in the direction of the concealed pirogues, but suddenly turned
+round as if she durst not venture nearer land. The instant the pirogues
+found the brigantine was turning back, they rushed forth out of the
+reeds and pulled away at their utmost speed in pursuit of her. The
+brigantine pretended to seek her safety in flight, and steered in the
+direction where our six others lay concealed, the pirogues following
+with the utmost confidence. When these were near enough, a shot was
+fired as a signal to the Spanish vessels, upon which they, in their
+turn, rushed out upon the pirogues and canoes with the utmost velocity,
+and bored several of them into the ground. Now the other brigantine also
+came up which had shammed flight, so that many of the canoes were
+captured, and numbers of the enemy killed and wounded. From this moment
+the Mexicans never again attempted similar stratagems on the lake, nor
+durst they venture so close in our neighbourhood with their convoys of
+provisions.
+
+When the inhabitants of those towns which lay in the lake found that we
+were daily gaining fresh victories both by land and water, and that our
+allies of Chalco, Tezcuco, Tlascalla, and other districts, became more
+and more closely united to us, they began to consider the great losses
+they continually sustained, and the numbers of prisoners we took. The
+chiefs of these towns, therefore, held a conference among themselves,
+which ended in their sending an embassy to Cortes to sue for peace, and
+humbly to beg forgiveness for the past; adding, that they had been
+obliged to obey the commands of Quauhtemoctzin.
+
+Cortes was uncommonly rejoiced to find these people were coming to their
+senses, and we others belonging to the divisions of Alvarado and
+Sandoval likewise congratulated ourselves on this circumstance.
+
+Our general received the ambassadors kindly, and told them their towns
+had certainly deserved severe punishment, but he would, nevertheless,
+pardon them. The towns which sued for peace on this occasion were
+Iztapalapan, Huitzilopuzco, Cojohuacan, Mizquic, and all the other towns
+lying in that part of the lake which contained sweet water.
+
+On this occasion Cortes declared that he would not alter his present
+position until Mexico itself had sued for peace, or that the town was
+conquered by force of arms.
+
+The above-mentioned towns were now ordered to assist us with all their
+canoes and troops in the siege of the metropolis, and to furnish us with
+provisions. They promised faithfully to obey these commands, joined us
+with all their armed men, but were very sparing with their supplies of
+provisions.
+
+In our division, under Alvarado, there was no room to quarter any of
+these new troops, which those who have visited this country during the
+months of June, July, and August, can easily imagine, as the whole
+surrounding neighbourhood is covered with water. The fighting on the
+causeways in the meantime continued without intermission, and by degrees
+we had taken a number of temples, houses, bridges, and canals, which
+latter we instantly filled up with the ruins of the buildings we pulled
+down, and every foot of ground we gained from the enemy was instantly
+secured by our troops; yet, with all our exertions and watchfulness, the
+enemy still succeeded in making fresh apertures in the causeway, behind
+which they threw up new entrenchments.
+
+As the three companies of which our division was composed considered it
+a dishonour that one company should constantly be employed in filling up
+the canals, while the others were fighting, Alvarado, to put an end to
+all feelings of jealousy, arranged that the three companies should
+perform the same duties alternately.
+
+By pursuing this mode of operation, in which we were ably assisted by
+the Tlascallans, we by degrees pulled down everything before us, so that
+at last the town lay open to our view. It was only in the evening, when
+we returned to our encampment, that the whole of the three companies
+were again under arms, as at that time we had most to fear from the
+enemy.
+
+Cortes and Sandoval had likewise similar toils to go through day and
+night. On the land side they were incessantly attacked by immense bodies
+of the enemy, and from the lake by innumerable armed canoes. Cortes on
+one occasion marched with his division along the causeway, to force a
+very broad and deep opening, which the Mexicans had strengthened by
+means of a palisade and mound, defended by a large body of troops.
+Cortes finding it was impossible to pass across this opening but by
+swimming, ordered his men to make the attempt; but they were so
+vigorously assailed by the enemy from the entrenchments, and those
+stationed on the house-tops, who literally showered down stones upon
+them, while the canoes attacked them from each side of the opening, that
+a great number of his men were wounded, and a few killed. Here the
+brigantines were rendered totally useless, by the large stakes which had
+been driven into the water. Cortes and the whole of his troops were
+often on the brink of destruction; as it was, he had four men killed,
+and above thirty wounded. At length, by dint of hard fighting, he
+succeeded in forcing this formidable point; but the day was already so
+far advanced, that there was no time left to fill up the wide aperture,
+and he therefore sounded a retreat, in which he had again to fight his
+way through dense crowds of the enemy, who wounded the whole of his men,
+and the greater part of the Tlascallans.
+
+Quauhtemoctzin now determined to adopt a new plan of operation, and this
+he commenced on St. John's day, in the summer month, the very day we
+made our second entry into Mexico, after the defeat of Narvaez. This
+day, it seems, the monarch had purposely fixed upon to attack the three
+divisions at the same moment with the whole of his armed force, both by
+land and water. It was his firm resolve to destroy us all at once, and
+his idols encouraged him to make the attempt. The attack was to commence
+before break of day, when it was yet dark, and the Mexicans had provided
+against the possibility of our obtaining any assistance from the
+brigantines, by driving numbers of additional stakes into the water.
+They now fell upon us with such fierceness and determination, that they
+would certainly have stormed our camp itself, if the one hundred and
+twenty men who had the watch had not been veterans in service. We were
+certainly very nigh our destruction, and had fifteen men wounded, of
+whom two died within the space of eight days. The two following nights
+the enemy sallied out in a similar manner, but we each time repulsed
+them with considerable loss. Cortes and Sandoval were likewise attacked
+in the same way.
+
+Quauhtemoctzin, with his generals and papas, finding that no advantage
+was to be gained over us in this way, determined to attack our position
+at Tlacupa with his united forces. This was accordingly put into
+practice as soon as day began to dawn, and they fell upon us from all
+sides with great intrepidity, and threw our line into disorder; but at
+this moment it pleased the Almighty to refresh our strength; our troops
+rallied again, and in their turn fell courageously upon the infuriated
+foe. Our brigantines too lent us what assistance they could, and the
+cavalry, with lances fixed, spurred their horses on, while our
+crossbow-men and musketeers, strove to do their utmost; we others, armed
+with swords, thrusting and cutting in among the enemy most valiantly, so
+that at last we drove them back. This was a more terrible battle than
+any we had fought on the causeways. Alvarado himself was wounded in the
+head, and eight of our men were killed. If the Tlascallans had likewise
+encamped this night on the causeway, we should no doubt have suffered
+more severely, as their numbers would have embarrassed our movements;
+but experience had taught us prudence, and each night we ordered them to
+draw off to Tlacupa, and we only considered ourselves safe when assured
+they had left the causeway.
+
+In this engagement we slew a great number of the enemy, and among the
+many men we took prisoners there were four personages of high rank.
+
+By this time the reader will certainly be wearied of reading of battles
+which were every day renewed; but I have not exaggerated them, for
+during the ninety-three days we lay before this great and strong city,
+we were compelled to fight both day and night almost without
+intermission; and certainly, of all these numerous engagements, I am at
+least bound to mention the most striking occurrences. If I were desirous
+of relating every circumstance I should never finish, and my book would
+resemble 'Amadis de Gaule,' and other such romances, whose authors can
+find no end to their pretty stories. I will, however, be as brief as
+possible in my further account of this siege, and hasten on to St.
+Hippolytus' day, when we subdued this vast city, and took
+Quauhtemoctzin, with all his generals, prisoners. But, before we were so
+far successful, we suffered great hardships, and the whole of us were
+near perishing in the attempt, particularly the division under Cortes,
+as the reader will shortly see.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLII.
+
+    _How the Mexicans defeated Cortes, and took sixty-two of his men
+    prisoners, who were sacrificed to their idols; our general himself
+    being wounded in the leg._
+
+
+Cortes, finding at length that it was impossible to fill up all the
+canals, gaps, and openings in the causeway, and that the Mexicans always
+destroyed at night what we had completed in the day, reopening the
+apertures we had filled up, and throwing up new entrenchments, called
+the principal officers of his division together, to deliberate on the
+present state of the siege. He told them the men would not be able to
+continue this fatiguing mode of warfare much longer, and he therefore
+proposed to them that the three divisions should fall upon the city at
+the same moment, and fight their way up to the Tlatelulco, and there
+encamp with the troops. Cortes at the same time wrote to Alvarado and
+Sandoval, desiring them also to deliberate on this point with their
+officers and soldiers. From that place, he added, they would be able to
+attack the enemy in the streets, and not have to encounter such severe
+engagements, or make those dangerous retreats every evening, nor have
+everlastingly to toil in filling up the openings and canals.
+
+As it always happens in such cases, opinions were very different. Some
+pronounced this plan to be altogether unadvisable, and were for pursuing
+the present plan of operation, which was, to pull down the houses as we
+advanced, and fill up the openings. Those of us who were of this opinion
+gave as our principal reason for so thinking, that if we fortified
+ourselves in the proposed way on the Tlatelulco, the causeways must fall
+into the hands of the Mexicans, who, with the vast number of men at
+their command, would undoubtedly reopen the hollows we had filled up,
+and make other fresh apertures in the causeways. In this great square we
+should night and day be assailed by the enemy; while our brigantines
+would not be able to come to our assistance, on account of the stakes
+driven in the water. In short, we should be surrounded on all sides, and
+the Mexicans would be masters of the town, of the lake, and of the
+surrounding neighbourhood.
+
+This, our opinion,[23] we took care to draw up in writing, to avoid a
+recurrence of what took place on our unfortunate retreat from Mexico.
+
+Cortes indeed listened to our reasons for objecting to his plan, but
+nevertheless determined that the three divisions, including the cavalry,
+should make an attempt on the following day to fight their way up to the
+Tlatelulco, and that the Tlascallans, with the troops of Tezcuco, and
+of the towns which had recently subjected themselves to our emperor,
+should cooperate with us; the latter were more particularly to assist us
+with their canoes.
+
+The following morning, accordingly, after we had heard mass, and
+commended ourselves to the protection of God, the three divisions
+sallied forth from their respective encampments.
+
+On our causeway we had forced a bridge and an entrenchment, after some
+very hard fighting, for Quauhtemoctzin sent out terrific masses to
+oppose us; so that we had great numbers of wounded, and our friends of
+Tlascalla above one thousand. We already thought victory was on our
+side, and we kept continually advancing.
+
+Cortes, with his division, had fought his way across a very deep
+opening, of which the opposite sides were merely connected by an
+extremely narrow path, and which the artful Mexicans had purposely so
+contrived, as they justly foresaw what would take place.
+
+Cortes, with the whole of his division, now sure of victory, vigorously
+pursued the enemy, who from time to time faced about, to fly their
+arrows and lances at him; but all this was a mere stratagem on their
+part, to entice Cortes further into the city; and this object was
+entirely accomplished.
+
+The wheel of fortune now suddenly turned against Cortes, and the joyous
+feelings of victory were changed into bitter mourning; for while he was
+eager in pursuit of the enemy, with every appearance of victory, it so
+happened that his officers never thought to fill up the large opening
+which they had crossed. The Mexicans had taken care to lessen the width
+of the causeway, which in some places was covered with water, and at
+others with a great depth of mud and mire. When the Mexicans saw that
+Cortes had passed the fatal opening without filling it up, their object
+was gained. An immense body of troops, with numbers of canoes, which lay
+concealed for this purpose in places where the brigantines could not get
+at them, now suddenly rushed forth from their hiding places, and fell
+upon this ill-fated division with incredible fierceness, accompanied by
+the most fearful yells. It was impossible for the men to make any stand
+against this overwhelming power, and nothing now remained for our men
+but to close their ranks firmly, and commence a retreat. But the enemy
+kept rushing on in such crowds, that our men, just as they had retreated
+as far back as the dangerous opening, gave up all further resistance,
+and fled precipitately. Cortes indeed strove to rally his men, and cried
+out to them, "Stand! stand firm, gentlemen! is it thus you turn your
+backs upon the enemy?" But all his commands were fruitless here, and
+every one strove to save his own life. Now the awful consequences of the
+neglect to fill up the opening in the causeway began to show
+themselves. In front of the narrow path, which the canoes had now broken
+down, the Mexicans wounded Cortes in the leg, took sixty Spaniards
+prisoners, and killed six horses. Several Mexican chiefs had already
+laid hands on our general, but with great exertion he tore himself from
+their grasp, and at the same moment the brave Christobal de Olea (who
+must not be confounded with Christobal de Oli) came up to his
+assistance, cut down one of the Mexican chiefs who had seized hold of
+Cortes, and rescued his general, by cutting his way through the enemy
+sword in hand, assisted by another excellent soldier, called Lerma. But
+this heroic deed cost Olea his life, and Lerma was very nigh sharing a
+like fate. During this dubious conflict for the rescue of our general's
+person several other of our men had by degrees hastened up to his
+assistance, who, though themselves covered with wounds, boldly risked
+their lives for Cortes. Antonio de Quiņones, the captain of his guards,
+had likewise hastened up; they now succeeded in dragging Cortes out of
+the water, and, placing him on the back of a horse, he reached a place
+of safety. At this instant his major-domo, Christobal de Guzman, came up
+with another horse for him; but the Mexicans, who had become excessively
+daring, took him prisoner, and instantly carried him into the presence
+of Quauhtemoctzin. The enemy in the meantime pursued Cortes and his
+troops up to their very encampment, hooting and yelling most fearfully.
+
+We under Alvarado had likewise advanced along our causeway with like
+confidence of victory; but, when we least expected it, an immense body
+of Mexicans, completely clothed in their military costume, rushed out
+upon us with the most dissonant howls, and threw at our feet five bloody
+heads of our countrymen, whom they had captured of Cortes' division.
+"See these heads!" they cried; "we mean to kill you all in the same way
+we have Malinche and Sandoval, with the whole of their troops! These are
+some of their heads; you will certainly know them again." Under these
+and similar threats they continued to surround us on all sides, and fell
+so furiously upon us that all our courageous fighting was to no purpose:
+yet they were unable to break through our firmly closed ranks, and we
+began to retreat with a steady step, after we had sent the Tlascallans
+in advance to clear the causeway and the dangerous passages. The
+Tlascallans, at the sight of the five bleeding heads, had really
+credited the enemy's shout of triumph, that Malinche, with Sandoval and
+all their teules, had been killed; and they were seized with sudden
+terror.
+
+As we were thus retreating, we continually heard the large drum beating
+from the summit of the chief temple of the city. Its tone was mournful
+indeed, and sounded like the very instrument of Satan. This drum was so
+vast in its dimensions that it could be heard from eight to twelve miles
+distance. Every time we heard its doleful sound, the Mexicans, as we
+subsequently learnt, offered to their idols the bleeding hearts of our
+unfortunate countrymen. But we had not near accomplished our retreat;
+for the enemy attacked us from the house-tops, from out their canoes,
+and from the mainland at the same time, while fresh troops were
+constantly pouring in. At this moment Quauhtemoctzin commanded the large
+horn to be sounded, which was always a signal to his troops that he
+allowed them no choice but death or victory. With this at the same time
+was mingled the melancholy sound of the drum from the temple top, which
+filled the Mexicans with terrific fury, and they ran headlong against
+our swords. It was really a horrible sight, which I am unable to
+describe, though even at this moment it comes vividly to my mind. If the
+Almighty had not lent us additional strength, we must all have perished,
+as the whole of us were wounded. To Him alone we are indebted for our
+preservation, and without His aid we should never again have reached our
+quarters. Indeed, I cannot sufficiently praise God, who this time again,
+as on so many other occasions, rescued me out of the hands of the
+Mexicans. When we had reached our encampment, a brisk charge of our
+cavalry upon the enemy made somewhat open space for us; but we were
+mostly indebted to our two brass cannon mounted in front of our camp,
+which were continually fired among the dense crowds of the enemy on the
+causeway, each shot mowing numbers of them down. But the Mexicans,
+confident of victory, kept continually advancing to the attack, and
+poured showers of stones and lances into our very quarters. No one
+rendered more effectual service on this day than a cavalier named Pedro
+Moreno, who is still living in Puebla: for, at this moment of imminent
+danger, he himself served our cannon, as our artillerymen were all
+either killed or unable to serve from their wounds. This Pedro Moreno
+had indeed, on all occasions, proved himself an excellent warrior, yet
+it was particularly on this day that we were so much indebted to his
+assistance. The severity of our numerous wounds, and the distress we
+were in, was all rendered more terrible from the uncertainty we were in
+respecting the fate of Cortes' and Sandoval's divisions, as the distance
+between us was full two miles. The words the Mexicans had uttered when
+they threw the five bleeding heads at our feet, that Malinche and
+Sandoval, with all their teules, had been cut to pieces, still rung in
+our ears, and we suffered intense anxiety. Though we had firmly closed
+our ranks, and were able to defend ourselves against the furious attacks
+of the enemy, yet we thought we should be obliged to succumb in the end.
+
+While we were thus assailed by the enemy by land, numerous canoes
+attacked the brigantines, from one of which the enemy succeeded in
+carrying off one man alive, besides killing three others, and wounding
+the captain, with all the men on board. This brigantine would certainly
+have fared much worse if the one under the command of Juan Xaramillo had
+not come up to its assistance.
+
+One of these brigantines, under Juan de Limpias Carvajal, had got so
+jammed in between the stakes that it was with difficulty she was got
+afloat again. It was on this occasion that Carvajal lost his hearing, by
+over exertion of his strength. He now lives at Puebla, and fought on
+that day so courageously, and knew so well how to spur on the men at the
+oars, that he succeeded in breaking through the stakes and rescuing the
+brigantine from falling into the enemy's hands. This was the first of
+our brigantines which had succeeded in breaking through the stakes.
+
+By this time, Cortes, with his division, had also reached his
+encampment; but here the enemy fell upon him anew, threw three of our
+countrymen's heads among his troops, crying out, at the same time, that
+these were some of the heads of Sandoval's and Alvarado's men, whom they
+had put to death, with all their teules!
+
+At this sight Cortes was completely dismayed; nevertheless he strove to
+hide his feelings, and commanded his officers to keep the ranks firmly
+closed, and oppose a solid front to the enemy. At the same time he
+despatched Tapia, with three horse, to Tlacupa, to see how matters stood
+with our division, and, in case we had not suffered an entire defeat, to
+keep in a firm body together, and observe the utmost vigilance both
+night and day; but this we had of course done without requiring to be
+reminded of it.
+
+Tapia and his companions fulfilled their commands with the utmost
+expedition; and, though they had a skirmish in a dangerous pass where
+Quauhtemoctzin had posted a strong detachment, intending thereby to cut
+off our line of communication, yet they arrived safe in our camp, though
+all four were wounded. They still found us hotly engaged with the enemy,
+but rejoiced exceedingly to see how courageously we defended ourselves.
+After conveying Cortes' instructions to us, they related what had taken
+place with his division, but took care not to tell the whole truth, for
+they said there were only twenty-five killed, and that all the rest of
+the troops were in excellent condition.
+
+We must now turn to Sandoval, who was advancing victoriously along the
+causeway, until the Mexicans, after Cortes' defeat, turned the great
+body of their troops against him, and he was soon obliged to commence a
+retreat. Two of his men were killed, and all the others wounded, he
+himself in three different places, on the head, thigh, and arm. The
+enemy likewise threw in among his men six bleeding heads of our fellow
+soldiers, crying out that those were the heads of Malinche, Alvarado,
+and other officers, and that he and his men would share a similar fate.
+They then fell upon him with increased fury: but the brave Sandoval was
+not to be discouraged by this; he ordered his men to close their ranks
+more firmly, and, as the causeway was very narrow, he first ordered the
+Tlascallans, who were in great numbers in his division, to march off the
+causeway, and then commenced his retreat under cover of his brigantines,
+the musketeers, and crossbow-men. It was, however, no easy task, as his
+men were terribly wounded and altogether disheartened. As soon as
+Sandoval had reached the end of the causeway, the Mexicans surrounded
+him on all sides; but he emboldened his officers and soldiers so, that
+they kept in a body together, cut their way through the enemy, and
+arrived safely in their camp, where they were able to adopt every
+military precaution for its defence.
+
+Sandoval, now considering his troops out of danger, gave the command of
+his division to captain Luis Marin; and, after his wounds were bandaged
+up, he set off, accompanied by two horse, for Cortes' head-quarters. On
+his road he was continually harassed by bodies of the enemy; for, as I
+have above mentioned, Quauhtemoctzin had everywhere stationed troops in
+order to cut off our communication.
+
+Sandoval, on coming up to Cortes, said to him, "Alas! general, what a
+shocking business this has been! Thus miserably have your great schemes
+terminated!" At these words, tears started from Cortes' eyes, and he
+cried out, "O! my son Sandoval! if this misfortune has befallen us for
+my sins, I have not been so entirely the cause of it as you suppose. The
+royal treasurer Juan de Alderete neglected to do his duty, and did not
+obey my orders to fill up the opening in the causeway. The man is not
+accustomed to war, nor does he know how to obey."
+
+Alderete was standing by when Cortes uttered these words, and he could
+not restrain himself from retorting the guilt upon Cortes, and
+maintained that when the latter was advancing victoriously forward, he
+had spurred his men on to follow quickly at his heels, and cried out,
+"Forward, cavaliers!" Nothing had at all been mentioned about filling up
+the opening in the causeway, otherwise he, with the company under his
+command, would certainly have attended to it. Others again reproached
+Cortes for not having sooner ordered off the numerous body of allies
+from the causeway; and, in short, many disagreeable remarks were made on
+both sides, which I would rather not repeat here.
+
+During this sharp altercation, two of the brigantines which had
+accompanied Cortes as he advanced along the causeway, made their
+reappearance. Nothing had been seen or heard of these for a length of
+time, and they had been given up as lost. It appears they had become
+jammed in between the stakes, in which awkward position they were
+attacked by numbers of canoes. At length, after a great deal of hard
+fighting, they succeeded, with the assistance of a strong breeze, and
+the utmost exertions of their oars, to break through the stakes and gain
+the deep water, but the whole of the men on board were wounded. Cortes
+was exceedingly rejoiced at their safe return, for he had given them up
+for lost, but had not mentioned this to his troops, that they might not
+become more disheartened than they already were.
+
+Upon this Cortes despatched Sandoval in all haste to Tlacupa to see how
+matters stood with our division, to assist us in the defence of our
+encampment, if, at least, we were not totally overthrown. Francisco de
+Lugo was ordered to accompany him thither, as it was naturally to be
+supposed that small detachments of the enemy were everywhere dispersed.
+Cortes acquainted Sandoval at the same time that he had previously
+despatched Tapia with three horse there for the same purpose, but feared
+they must have been killed on the road.
+
+When Sandoval was about to mount his horse, Cortes embraced him, with
+these words: "Go, for heaven's sake! You see I cannot be everywhere at
+the same moment: to you I intrust the chief command of the three
+divisions for the present, as I am wounded and almost exhausted with
+fatigue. I beg of you rescue our three divisions from destruction. I
+doubt not that Alvarado and his troops have defended themselves like
+brave warriors; yet I cannot help fearing he has been forced to succumb
+to the overwhelming numbers of these dogs, for you see how I have fared
+with my division, and it may have gone worse with his."
+
+Upon this Sandoval and Lugo threw themselves on horseback and galloped
+off for our encampment, where they arrived about the hour of vespers,
+but we had received intelligence of Cortes' defeat many hours
+beforehand. They still found us engaged with the Mexicans, who were
+doing their utmost to storm our camp from that side of the causeway
+where we had pulled down several houses, while, at the same time, they
+attacked us with their canoes from the side towards the lake. They had
+driven one of our brigantines between the stakes, killed two of the men,
+and wounded all the rest.
+
+When Sandoval saw how I and many of my comrades stood up to our middles
+in the water to get the brigantine clear of the stakes, he applauded our
+courage, and bid us do our utmost to save the vessel from falling into
+the hands of the enemy, as the Mexicans had already fastened many ropes
+to her, and were trying to tow her off into the town behind their
+canoes. Sandoval's encouraging words were not lost upon us, and we
+fought with such determination that at length we rescued the vessel. On
+this occasion I was wounded by an arrow.
+
+While we were fighting for the possession of this brigantine, fresh
+bodies of the enemy kept continually crowding up the causeway. We
+received many more wounds, and even Sandoval was hit in the face by a
+stone at the moment Alvarado was coming up to his assistance with
+another small body of the cavalry; and when Sandoval saw how daringly I,
+with many of my comrades, opposed the enemy, he ordered us to retreat
+slowly, that all our horses might not be sacrificed. As we did not
+immediately obey his commands, he cried out to us, "Are we then all to
+perish for your sakes? For heaven's sake, my brave companions, make good
+your retreat!" These words were scarcely out of his mouth when both he
+and his horse were again wounded. We now ordered our Indian allies to
+move off the causeway, and we began to retreat slowly but with our faces
+always turned towards the enemy. Our musketeers and crossbow-men kept up
+a continued fire upon them; the cavalry at intervals charged the enemy's
+line at half speed, and Pedro Moreno thundered away with the cannon. But
+whatever number of the infuriated enemy we might mow down, it mattered
+not, they still continued to follow us, for they had made up their minds
+to overcome us that very night and sacrifice us to their idols.
+
+After we had at last, with excessive toil, crossed a deep opening, and
+had arrived at our encampment, where we were pretty secure from the
+enemy's attacks, Sandoval, Lugo, Tapia, and Alvarado stood together
+relating what had befallen each of the respective divisions, when all in
+a moment the large drum of Huitzilopochtli again resounded from the
+summit of the temple, accompanied by all the hellish music of shell
+trumpets, horns, and other instruments. The sound was truly dismal and
+terrifying, but still more agonizing was all this to us when we looked
+up and beheld how the Mexicans were mercilessly sacrificing to their
+idols our unfortunate companions, who had been captured in Cortes'
+flight across the opening.
+
+We could plainly see the platform, with the chapel in which those
+cursed idols stood; how the Mexicans had adorned the heads of the
+Spaniards with feathers, and compelled their victims to dance round the
+god Huitzilopochtli; we saw how they stretched them out at full length
+on a large stone, ripped open their breasts with flint knives, tore out
+the palpitating heart, and offered it to their idols. Alas! we were
+forced to be spectators of all this, and how they then seized hold of
+the dead bodies by the legs and threw them headlong down the steps of
+the temple, at the bottom of which other executioners stood ready to
+receive them, who severed the arms, legs, and heads from the bodies,
+drew the skin off the faces, which were tanned with the beards still
+adhering to them, and produced as spectacles of mockery and derision at
+their feasts; the legs, arms, and other parts of the body being cut up
+and devoured!
+
+In this way the Mexicans served all the Spaniards they took prisoners;
+and the entrails alone were thrown to the tigers, lions, otters, and
+serpents, which were kept in cages. These abominable barbarities we were
+forced to witness with our own eyes from our very camp; and the reader
+may easily imagine our feelings, how excessively agonizing! the more so
+as we were so near our unfortunate companions without being able to
+assist them. Every one of us thanked God from the bottom of his soul for
+His great mercy in having rescued us from such a horrible death!
+
+While we were thus gazing upon this dismal scene, fresh troops of
+Mexicans came storming along in great numbers, and fell upon us from all
+sides with the fury of wild beasts; and continually cried, "Only look up
+to the temple! such will be the end of you all! This our gods have often
+promised us!" but the threats which they threw out against our
+Tlascallan friends were even more terrible. They threw among them the
+bones of the legs and arms of their countrymen and of ours which had
+been roasted and the flesh torn off, crying out at the same time, "We
+have already satiated ourselves with the flesh of your countrymen and of
+the teules; you may, therefore, as well enjoy what remains on these
+bones! Do you see the ruins of those houses there which you have pulled
+down? you will soon have to build us up much larger and finer ones. Only
+remain faithful to the teules, and we promise you you shall be with them
+when we sacrifice them to our gods!"
+
+Quauhtemoctzin, after gaining this victory, forwarded the feet and hands
+of our unfortunate countrymen, with their beards and skins, as also the
+heads of the horses they had killed, to all our allies and his own
+relations, accompanied by the assurance that more than half of the
+Spaniards had been killed, and that he would soon have the rest in his
+power. He therefore ordered those towns which had entered into our
+alliance immediately to send ambassadors to Mexico, otherwise he would
+march against them and put the whole of the inhabitants to death.
+
+From this moment the enemy attacked us without intermission day and
+night; but as we were always upon our guard, and kept in a body
+together, we gave them no opportunity of taking us by surprise.
+
+Our officers shared the hardships with the meanest soldiers, and the
+horses stood always ready saddled, one half on the causeway, the other
+at Tlacupa. Whenever we filled up any opening, the Mexicans were sure to
+return and open it again, and throw up more formidable entrenchments on
+the opposite side. Our allies of the towns which lay in the lake, who
+had up to this moment assisted us with their canoes, began to fall off
+after they had lost so many of their men and numbers of their canoes,
+and though they lent no aid to the Mexicans, yet they only awaited the
+final issue of the siege to forsake us altogether.
+
+Sandoval, Tapia, Lugo, and the other officers who had arrived from the
+other divisions, now thought it high time to return to their own troops
+and inform Cortes as to how matters stood with us. They accordingly
+hastened back to our general's head-quarters, and told him how valiantly
+Alvarado and his men were defending themselves, and the great vigilance
+which was observed in his camp.
+
+Sandoval, who was always a good friend to me, told Cortes on this
+occasion how he had found me, with several others, up to my middle in
+the water fighting away to rescue one of the brigantines; adding, that
+had it not been for us, she must undoubtedly have been lost with all the
+men on board. What he further added in my praise I will not mention, as
+it concerns my own person, but it was often repeated by others and
+sufficiently known to all the troops.
+
+When Cortes learnt what excellent order we observed in our camp, his
+heart grew lighter, and he commanded the divisions to keep out of the
+way of the enemy as much as possible, and confine themselves to the
+defence of the respective encampments, on which the Mexicans renewed the
+attack every morning by throwing in darts, stones, and other missiles.
+But after we had strengthened our encampment by a deep and broad ditch
+we considered ourselves more secure, and remained quiet for the four
+following days. Cortes and Sandoval allowing their troops a like period
+of rest, and certainly we stood much in need of it, for we were all
+wounded and quite enfeebled by continued fighting, and the little
+nourishment we received. On that terrible day the loss of the three
+divisions amounted to sixty men and seven horses. The short repose we
+enjoyed was most beneficial to us, but we had now to deliberate on our
+future plan of operation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLIII.
+
+    _The new plan of operation which we adopt in the siege, and how all
+    our allies return to their several homes._
+
+
+For the next five days we stood at night under arms on the causeway, the
+brigantines lying on each side in the lake, while one half of our
+cavalry kept patrolling about Tlacupa, where our baggage and
+baking-house were; the other half being stationed near our camp. As soon
+as the day began to dawn, the Mexicans renewed the attack upon our
+encampment, which they were determined to take by storm.
+
+Similar attacks were likewise made on the encampments of Sandoval and
+Cortes, until we changed our plan of operation. The Mexicans in the
+meantime made solemn sacrifices every day in the large temple on the
+Tlatelulco, and celebrated their feasts. Each time the infernal drum
+resounded from the temple, accompanied by the discordant noise of shell
+trumpets, timbrels, horns, and the horrible yells and howlings of the
+Mexicans. Large fires were kept up on the platform of the temple during
+the whole night, and each night a certain number of our unfortunate
+countrymen were sacrificed to their cursed idols, Huitzilopochtli and
+Tetzcatlipuca, who, in the discourses which the papas held with them,
+promised that we should all be killed in a few days. As these gods were
+lying and evil-minded beings, they deceived the Mexicans with these
+promises in order that they might not be induced to sue for peace with
+the teules. Unfortunately the Tlascallans and our other allies began to
+put faith in these oracles after our last defeat.
+
+One morning large bodies of Mexicans again fell upon us with the
+intention of surrounding us on all sides. Each separate body of the
+Mexicans was distinguished by a particular dress and certain warlike
+devices, and regularly relieved each other in battle. In the midst of
+their fierce attacks they constantly cried out, "You are a set of
+low-minded scoundrels, you are fit for nothing, and you neither know how
+to build a house nor how to cultivate maise. You are a pack of
+worthless fellows, and only come to plunder our town. You have fled away
+from your own country and deserted your own king; but before eight days
+are past there will not be one of you left alive. Oh! you miserable
+beings, you are so bad and beastly that even your very flesh is not
+eatable. It tastes as bitter as gall!"
+
+It is most probable that after they had feasted all the bodies of
+several of our companions, the Almighty, in his mercy, had turned the
+flesh bitter. Against the Tlascallans they threw out more terrible
+language, threatening to turn them all into slaves, fatten some for
+their sacrifices, and reserve others for rebuilding their houses and
+tilling the ground.
+
+All these abominable threats they uttered in the midst of fighting, and
+they came pouring forth over the ruins of the houses we had destroyed,
+or they fell upon us in the rear from their numerous canoes; but the
+Almighty each time gave us fresh vigour, so that we were able to make a
+good stand against the enemy and beat them back with considerable loss
+in killed and wounded.
+
+About this time our allies of Huexotzinco, Cholulla, Tezcuco, and
+Tlascalla, had become wearied of the war, and secretly agreed with each
+other to return to their homes. Without mentioning a single word either
+to Cortes, Sandoval, or Alvarado, they all suddenly left our
+encampments, only a few of the most faithful remaining with us. In
+Cortes' division there remained a brother of the king of Tezcuco, the
+brave Suchel, (who was subsequently baptized with the name of Don
+Carlos,) with about forty of his relations and friends. In Sandoval's
+division a cazique of Huexotzinco, with about fifty men: and in our
+division the sons of our honest friend Don Lorenzo de Vargas, with the
+brave Chichimeclatecl, and about eighty men.
+
+We were not a little dismayed to find that our allies had thus suddenly
+decamped, and when Cortes questioned those who remained as to the
+motives which had induced their countrymen to desert us, they replied,
+that their companions had at length began to fear the threats of the
+Mexicans and the oracles of their idols, that we should all be
+destroyed, particularly when they saw what numbers of our men were
+killed and wounded; besides their own great losses, which already
+amounted to above 1200 men. To all this was added the warnings of the
+younger Xicotencatl, whom Cortes had caused to be hung at Tezcuco,
+namely, that sooner or later we should all be put to death, as he had
+been assured by his soothsayers.
+
+Our general was greatly alarmed at this desertion, but took care to hide
+his real feelings from those few of our allies who had remained
+faithful, and merely remarked, with a placid smile on his countenance,
+that there was nothing to fear, and he was surprised that their
+countrymen did not see through the real design of the Mexicans in
+promulgating the false oracles of their gods. By this and other
+plausible speeches, added to vast promises, he strengthened them in
+their fidelity.
+
+On one of these occasions the above-mentioned Suchel, who was a man of
+uncommon bravery, and a cazique in his own right, said to Cortes:
+"Malinche, you should not humble yourself each day to renew the conflict
+with the enemy. In my opinion you should rather command your officers to
+cruize round the town with the brigantines, in order to cut off all its
+supplies of water and provisions. In that city there are so many
+thousands of warriors that their store of provisions must soon become
+exhausted. The only supply of water they have is from the rain that
+falls, and what they obtain from wells recently dug, which cannot be
+wholesome to drink. What can they do if you cut off their supplies of
+provisions and water? for a war against hunger and thirst is the most
+direful of all calamities!"
+
+When he had done speaking Cortes gave him a hearty embrace, thanked him
+for his good advice, and promised to bestow valuable townships upon him.
+To this he had been advised all along by many of us soldiers; but a
+Spanish soldier has too much spirit to reduce a town by famine; he is
+all impatience to fight his way in.
+
+After Cortes had maturely considered this plan, he sent word by means of
+brigantines to Alvarado and Sandoval to desist from the daily attacks
+upon the town. This new method of conducting the siege was greatly
+favoured by the circumstance that our brigantines stood no longer in
+fear of the stakes which the enemy had driven into the lake, for if
+there was a stiffish breeze and the men vigorously plied their oars, the
+brigantines were sure each time to break through them. By this means we
+became complete masters of the lake, and all the detached buildings
+which stood in the water. When the Mexicans saw the great advantage we
+gained over them in this way they became considerably disheartened.
+
+In the meantime we continued the combat on the causeways, and in the
+space of four days we had with great difficulty and labour filled up the
+wide opening in front of our camp. Two companies repelling the attacks
+of the enemy, while the third was occupied in filling up the aperture.
+Cortes did the same with his division, and himself assisted in dragging
+along beams and planks to make the causeway more safe. Sandoval was
+similarly engaged on his causeway, and now the brigantines were able to
+lend us considerable assistance, since they no longer feared the stakes.
+
+In this way we continually kept advancing nearer and nearer to the city,
+though the enemy constantly renewed their attacks upon us, and that with
+so much fury and intrepidity that it was often with difficulty we could
+repulse them. But the Almighty had strengthened our arms, and our
+crossbow-men and musketeers did great execution among the crowded ranks
+of the enemy; yet we had still every evening to retreat along the
+causeway to our encampment, which was not the easiest part of the day's
+work, as the enemy, still big with the recent victory they had gained
+over us, fought with great confidence. At one time they fell upon us
+from three sides, and wounded two horses, but thank heavens we cut our
+way through, slaughtered a considerable number of them and made many
+prisoners. On our side we had likewise several wounded, but this did not
+discourage us, we each day returned to the conflict, dressed our wounds
+at night with bandages steeped in warm oil, supped off vegetables,
+maize-cakes, and figs, and then posted our watches for the night.
+
+The hellish rejoicings on the summit of the large temple were still kept
+up during the night. Really it is impossible to describe the dreadful
+and dismal sound of this diabolical drum, with the yelling and other
+dissonant noises which burst forth each time the Mexicans sacrificed one
+of our countrymen between the large fires they had kindled on the summit
+of the temple! For ten successive days were these inhuman sacrifices
+continued, until all their prisoners were gone; Christobal de Guzman,
+who was among the number, they had reserved for the last, and kept alive
+for eighteen days.
+
+During these sacrifices the idols delivered their oracles, and promised
+the Mexicans our total destruction before ten days had expired, if they
+only persevered in their attacks upon us. And thus it was they allowed
+themselves to be deceived!
+
+The following morning early the Mexicans again advanced in numerous
+bodies to the attack, and would undoubtedly have forced their way up to
+our encampment if we had not kept up a steady fire upon them with our
+cannon, which Pedro Mareno served with great effect. I must not forget
+to mention that they shot our own arrows at us from five crossbows which
+they had captured, the use of which they had compelled the Spaniards
+whom they had taken prisoners to teach them; but the injury they did us
+with these was next to nothing.
+
+Matters went on in the same way at the two other encampments, with which
+we kept up a constant communication, by means of the brigantines, which
+also conveyed Cortes' different commands, and these he always put down
+in writing.
+
+While the three divisions were thus steadily carrying on their
+operations against the city, our brigantines were also continually on
+the alert, and two of those belonging to Cortes' division diligently
+chased the convoys of provisions and water going to Mexico. On one
+occasion they captured a large canoe quite filled with a species of
+slime,[24] which, when dried, tastes very much like cheese. The number
+of prisoners our vessels took was likewise very great.
+
+Twelve or thirteen days may now have passed away since our unfortunate
+defeat; and as Suchel, the brother of the king of Tezcuco, became daily
+more convinced that we had the advantage over the Mexicans, and that
+their threats to destroy us all within ten days had been a mere trick of
+their idols to delude them, he sent word to his brother to despatch the
+whole armed force of Tezcuco to aid in the siege. The king of Tezcuco
+soon complied with his brother's wishes, and before two days had elapsed
+above 2000 of his warriors arrived in our camp. I still remember quite
+well that they were accompanied by Pedro Sanchez Farsan and Antonio de
+Villareal, who subsequently married the lady Ojeda. The first of these
+gentlemen, it will be remembered, Cortes had appointed commandant of
+Tezcuco, and the second chamberlain to the king of that place. Cortes
+was not a little rejoiced at the arrival of this considerable body of
+men, and did not forget to bestow his praises on them.
+
+The Tlascallans followed the example of the Tezcucans, who shortly after
+returned in great numbers, under the command of Tecapaneca, cazique of
+Topoyanco. In the same way large bodies of men arrived from Huexotzinco,
+but very few came from Cholulla.
+
+Cortes commanded all these Indian troops to repair to his head-quarters,
+having previously taken the precaution to station detachments along the
+line of their march, to protect them against any attacks of the enemy.
+
+When they had all arrived he stepped into the midst of them, and
+addressed them in Spanish, which was interpreted by Aguilar and Doņa
+Marina. He assured them he had never doubted their being well and
+faithfully inclined towards him, from the time they had become subjects
+of our emperor, and experienced our bounty. When he invited them to join
+him in this campaign against Mexico, he had had no other object in view
+than that they might reap a real benefit by it, and return home laden
+with booty; and to give them an opportunity of revenging themselves on
+their old enemies, with whom they had never been able to cope previous
+to our arrival in their country. Though they had fought bravely, and
+stoutly assisted us on every occasion, they should nevertheless bear in
+mind that each day we ordered their troops to draw off from the
+causeways, because they embarrassed our movements; and though our
+numbers had been so very scanty, yet we had never stood in need of their
+assistance; for we had told them over and over again that the Lord Jesus
+was our stronghold, from whom all victory comes. They were likewise
+convinced that we were able to level houses to the ground, and pull up
+the palisades, without their aid. For the rest, he was bound to make the
+observation to them that, according to the strict articles of war, they
+had deserved punishment of death, because they had deserted their
+general at a time when the battle was at its height. He would, however,
+pardon them, on account of their ignorance of our laws and articles of
+war; he must now likewise forbid them, under any pretence whatever, to
+kill any Mexicans that might be taken prisoners; for he was anxious to
+make himself master of the city, by pacifying its inhabitants.
+
+After Cortes had done speaking, he embraced Chichimeclatecl, the two
+younger Xicotencatls, and Suchel of Tezcuco, bestowed great praise on
+their faithful adherence to our emperor, promising to reward them with a
+larger extent of territory than they already possessed, besides a gift
+of numerous slaves. He was equally kind towards the caziques of
+Topoyanco, Huexotzinco, and of Cholulla, and then distributed these
+Indian auxiliaries equally among the three divisions.
+
+As our battles with the Mexicans continued day after day in the same
+manner, I will not go so much into particulars as heretofore. I have
+merely to add, that during these days it began to rain very fast every
+evening, and that the heavier the showers the more welcome they were to
+us; for as soon as the Mexicans were wet they desisted from their
+attacks, and did not molest us on our retreats at night. Neither must I
+omit to mention that towards the close of the ninety-three days in which
+we kept Mexico closely besieged, we upon one occasion fell with our
+divisions at the same moment into the town, and fought our way up to the
+wells, from which the Mexicans, as I have above mentioned, drew all
+their drinkable water. These wells we completely destroyed; but we
+certainly did not accomplish this without encountering a severe
+opposition from the enemy, who directed their long lances more
+particularly against our cavalry, which here galloped up and down on the
+level dry ground in fine style.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLIV.
+
+    _How Cortes offers terms of peace to Quauhtemoctzin._
+
+
+After we had by degrees gained so many advantages over the Mexicans,
+taken most of the bridges, causeways, and entrenchments, and levelled so
+many houses to the ground, Cortes determined to despatch three
+distinguished Mexicans, whom we had taken prisoners, to Quauhtemoctzin,
+to offer him terms of peace. At first the three men refused to accept of
+this commission, assuring our general that Quauhtemoctzin would put them
+to death if they came with such a message. But at length, by fair words
+and promises, added to some valuable presents, he persuaded them into
+compliance. He then desired them to take the following message to their
+monarch: "He (Cortes) felt a great affection for Quauhtemoctzin, as he
+was so near a relative, and son-in-law to his late friend, the powerful
+Motecusuma. He should indeed feel sorely grieved if he compelled him to
+destroy the great city of Mexico. He was also grieved to see so many of
+its inhabitants, with his subjects of the surrounding country, daily
+becoming victims to these continued battles. He now therefore, in the
+name of our emperor, offered him terms of peace, with forgiveness for
+all the injury he had done us. He advised him to take this offer, which
+had now been made four several times to him, into his serious
+consideration, and no longer allow himself to be deceived by the
+inexperience of youth, and the bad advice of his evil-minded papas and
+cursed idols. He ought to reflect on the vast number of men he had
+already lost; that we were in possession of all the cities and towns of
+the surrounding neighbourhood; that the number of his enemies daily
+increased; and that, at least, he should have some compassion for his
+subjects. He (Cortes) was also well aware that provisions began to fail
+in Mexico, and that the inhabitants had no means of obtaining water."
+
+By means of our interpreters these three distinguished personages
+perfectly comprehended what Cortes said to them, yet they begged of him
+to give them some written document which they might present to
+Quauhtemoctzin, for they well knew we were accustomed to accompany every
+message of this nature with a letter, or amatl, as they termed any
+written order.
+
+When these three personages arrived in the presence of Quauhtemoctzin
+they fulfilled their commission with many tears and sighs. The Mexican
+monarch on this occasion was surrounded by his chief officers, and at
+first appeared inclined to be angry with those who thus presumed to come
+with such a message. But as he was a young man of a kind and affable
+disposition,[25] he assembled all his great officers, and the most
+distinguished of his papas, and told them that he felt inclined to put
+an end to the war with Malinche and his troops. The Mexicans, he
+continued, had already tried every mode of attack, and put every species
+of defence into practice, and had continually altered their plans of
+operation; yet, when they thought the Spaniards vanquished, they each
+time returned with renewed vigour. They were aware that a considerable
+body of auxiliaries had recently joined their enemies; that every town
+had declared against Mexico; the brigantines no longer feared the stakes
+they had driven into the lake; the cavalry galloped without fear through
+their streets, and they were threatened with the most terrible of
+calamities, want of provisions and water. He now therefore demanded the
+opinion of each person present, but more particularly of the papas, who
+were acquainted with the wishes of their gods. He desired every one
+fearlessly to speak his mind, and state his views of the matter.
+
+Upon this, it is said, they declared themselves to the following effect:
+"Great and mighty monarch! You are our lord and master, and the sceptre
+you sway is in good hands. On every occasion you have shown great
+penetration and power of mind, and you have deserved a crown, even had
+it not been yours by inheritance. Peace is certainly an excellent thing,
+but you must remember that, from the moment these teules set foot in
+this country and in Mexico, our condition has daily grown worse.
+Remember the many presents your uncle the late powerful Motecusuma
+bestowed upon these teules, and the important services he rendered them,
+and what treatment he received in return! Reflect on the fate of
+Cacamatzin, the king of Tezcuco: and your uncle, how did he end his
+days? What has become of your relatives the kings of Iztapalapan,
+Cojohuacan, Tlacupa, and of Talatzinco? Have not even the very sons of
+the great Motecusuma perished? All the gold and wealth of this great
+city has vanished. Great numbers of the inhabitants of Tepeaca, of
+Chalco, and even of Tezcuco, have been led away into slavery, and have
+been marked in the face with a red-hot iron! Remember, therefore, above
+all things, what our gods have promised you. Listen to their advice, and
+put no trust in Malinche and his fine words. It is better to be buried
+sword in hand under the ruins of this city than to submit to the power
+of those who wish to turn us into slaves, and have prepared every
+species of torture for us."
+
+This speech the papas accompanied with the assurance that the gods, a
+few nights ago, while they were sacrificing to them, had promised the
+Mexicans victory.
+
+"If," answered Quauhtemoctzin, rather sorrowfully, "these are your
+wishes, let them be done! Make the most of the maise and other
+provisions we have still left, and let us all die sword in hand! Let no
+man presume, from this moment, to mention the word peace in my presence!
+He who dares so to do I will put to death with my own hand."
+
+Every one present then swore that they would exert themselves
+unceasingly day and night, and sacrifice their lives in the defence of
+the metropolis. They likewise found means to provide for their most
+pressing wants by making arrangements with the inhabitants of Xochimilco
+and other townships to provide them with water; and in Mexico itself new
+wells were dug, from which, contrary to all expectations, they obtained
+drinkable water. All hostilities had now been staid for two days in
+expectation of an answer from Quauhtemoctzin; when all of a sudden our
+three camps were attacked by immense bodies of the enemy with lion-like
+fierceness, and with such confidence as though they were sure of
+victory. During this attack, Quauhtemoctzin's horn was sounded, and it
+was with great difficulty we prevented the enemy from disordering our
+ranks; for the Mexicans now ran right upon our swords and lances, so
+that we were obliged to fight them foot to foot.
+
+We certainly each time remained master of the field, and at length got
+more accustomed to these attacks; yet many of us were continually
+wounded. In this way the infuriated enemy fell upon us at different
+points for six or seven days consecutively, and great was the slaughter
+we made among their ranks; but we could not give them a complete
+overthrow.
+
+One time the Mexicans cried out, "What does Malinche mean by his
+repeated offers of peace? Does he imagine we are so foolish as to listen
+to him? Our gods have promised us victory, and we have abundance of
+provisions and water. Not one of you will escape alive from here;
+therefore speak no more to us about terms of peace. Such things belong
+to women; arms were made for man!"
+
+With these words they fell upon us with the fury of mad dogs, and the
+combat lasted until the darkness of night put an end to it. We then as
+usual marched back to our encampment, having first ordered our Indian
+auxiliaries from the causeway. We then posted our watches for the night,
+and ate the little supper we could get under arms, after having fought
+from the first dawn of day to the fall of night.
+
+In this way the siege continued many days, until three townships in
+alliance with Mexico, named Matlaltzinco and Malinalco, the third I have
+forgotten, which lay about thirty-two miles from Mexico, agreed to fall
+upon our rear with their united forces, while the Mexicans, at the same
+moment, were to attack us from the city. In this way they thought they
+could not fail to destroy the whole of us; but we shall soon see how
+this scheme terminated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLV.
+
+    _How Gonzalo de Sandoval marches against the provinces which had
+    sent their troops to cooperate with Quauhtemoctzin._
+
+
+In order that these events may be rendered more intelligible, I must
+recur to the defeat which Cortes' division sustained on the causeway,
+when sixty of his men, or rather sixty-two, as subsequently appeared,
+were taken prisoners. The reader will remember that Quauhtemoctzin,
+after that unfortunate day, sent the feet and hands, with the skins torn
+from the faces of the murdered Spaniards, and the heads of the dead
+horses to Matlaltzinco, Malinalco, and other townships. This he did to
+blazon forth the victory he had gained over us; and he summoned the
+inhabitants to cooperate with him, and carry on the war with us day and
+night without intermission, and on a certain day to fall upon our rear,
+while he with his troops sallied out upon us from the city; in that way,
+he assured them, they could not fail to give us a total overthrow, as
+above half of our men had been killed in the last battle. This message
+from Quauhtemoctzin met with the more favorable reception in
+Matlaltzinco, as the monarch had many relations on his mother's side in
+this township. It was therefore resolved that the whole armed force of
+the country should be called out, and march to the relief of Mexico.
+
+The warriors of these three townships accordingly put themselves in
+motion, and commenced hostilities by plundering and ill-using the
+inhabitants of the districts they passed through, and carrying off their
+children to sacrifice them to their idols. The inhabitants of these
+places, therefore, applied to Cortes, who instantly despatched Andreas
+de Tapia, with twenty horse, one hundred Spanish foot, and a strong body
+of our allies to their assistance. Tapia soon dispersed the enemy, with
+considerable loss, and they fled precipitately to their own country.
+
+Cortes was excessively pleased with the promptness that Tapia had
+displayed, who, however, had scarcely returned to head-quarters, when
+messengers arrived from Quauhnahuac, praying for immediate assistance
+against these same tribes of Matlaltzinco and Malinalco, who had fallen
+hostilely into their country.
+
+Cortes, on receiving this intelligence, instantly ordered off Sandoval
+with twenty cavalry, eighty of his most nimble foot soldiers, and a
+considerable body of allies to their assistance. God only knows how
+perilous the situation of the three divisions became by the expedition
+against these warlike tribes, as most of our troops were suffering from
+severe wounds and lacked all manner of refreshments! Much indeed might
+be said in praise of the victories which Sandoval gained over the enemy,
+but I will not detain my reader with them, but merely state that he
+speedily returned to his division. He brought in prisoners with him, two
+of the most distinguished personages of Matlaltzinco, and restored peace
+to the country. We certainly derived great advantages from this
+expedition; our allies were protected from any further attacks, a new
+and dangerous foe was put down, and it proved to Quauhtemoctzin that the
+power of his allies in the provinces was very feeble; for the Mexicans
+had triumphantly cried out to us in the last battles, that the warriors
+of Matlaltzinco, and of other provinces, would march against us; and
+then, as their gods had promised them, we should all be destroyed.
+
+After the successful termination of this expedition Cortes again offered
+terms of peace to Quauhtemoctzin, in the same way as on the former
+occasion, and told him that the emperor, our master, again offered him
+terms of peace, that the city might not be totally destroyed, which was
+the only reason we had staid hostilities for the last five days. He
+ought to reflect that he had scarcely any provisions and water left for
+his troops and the unfortunate inhabitants, and that two thirds of the
+city lay in ruins. He might convince himself by questioning the two
+chiefs of Matlaltzinco, whom he expressly sent to him on this occasion,
+what he had to expect from their country in the shape of assistance. To
+this message, which Cortes accompanied by offers of sincere friendship,
+Quauhtemoctzin would not deign an answer, but ordered the two chiefs of
+Matlaltzinco to leave the city and return to their homes. Immediately
+after this our three divisions were, if possible, attacked with greater
+fury than on any previous occasion; and whatever numbers of these
+infuriated beings we might kill, they were not to be deterred, and it
+seemed as if they only sought death. Under the cry of, "Tenitoz rey
+Castilla? Tenitoz Axaca?" which in their language means: What will the
+king of Spain say to this? What will he now say? They showered forth
+upon us volumes of lances, arrows, and stones, so that the whole
+causeway was completely covered with them. However courageously the
+Mexicans might defend themselves, we nevertheless each day made new
+inroads upon the city. Their numbers had greatly decreased, nor did they
+make any fresh openings in the causeway; though they never failed to
+harass us every evening when we marched back to our encampment.
+
+By this time there was not a grain of powder left among the three
+divisions, when fortunately a vessel ran into Vera Cruz which had become
+separated from an armament that had been fitted out by a certain
+licentiate, named Lucas Vasquez de Aillon, but which had been
+shipwrecked on the islands off Florida. This vessel had on board a
+number of soldiers, with a good store of powder, crossbows and other
+matters, of which we stood in need. All this was immediately forwarded
+to us by Rodrigo Rangel, who kept Narvaez in close custody at Vera Cruz.
+
+Cortes now carried on the siege with more determination, and issued
+orders for the three divisions to advance as far as possible into the
+city, and even to make an attempt to force the Tlatelulco, on which
+stood the chief temples of Mexico.
+
+Cortes, with his division, soon fought his way up to another square
+where some smaller temples stood, in which were suspended from beams the
+heads of several of my companions in arms who had been slain in the
+different engagements. The hair of these heads and beards was much
+longer than when on the living body, and I certainly should not have
+believed this if I had not seen it with my own eyes three days after,
+when our division had likewise advanced up to this spot. Among these
+heads I recognized those of three of my companions in arms. At this
+melancholy sight the tears rolled from our eyes, and we allowed these
+sorrowful remains of our fellow-countrymen to hang there for the
+present, until twelve days after, when we took them down with others we
+found elsewhere in these temples, and buried them in a church we
+founded, which is now called the Church of the Martyrs. Alvarado, with
+his division, had fought his way up to the Tlatelulco, but found so
+formidable a body of Mexican troops stationed there for the defence of
+the temples and idols, that it took him a couple of hours' hard fighting
+before he had entire possession of it. Here our cavalry was of the
+greatest assistance to us, as they were less restricted in their
+movements on this open space, and charged the crowded ranks of the enemy
+with much success.
+
+As the enemy attacked us in great numbers from three different points,
+our three companies also fought in detached bodies, and one of these,
+commanded by Guiterrez de Badajoz, was ordered by Alvarado to make an
+attempt on the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. This company fought most
+valiantly with the enemy, and particularly with the priests, who lived
+in great numbers in houses near the temple, and our men were beaten back
+down the steps of this building again, up which they had advanced to a
+considerable distance. Alvarado seeing this, now also commanded the two
+other companies who were fighting away in another direction to assist
+the other in storming the temple. The body of the enemy's forces we thus
+suddenly quitted, instantly followed us, yet this did not deter us from
+ascending the steps of the temple. By heavens! it was a most terrific
+piece of labour to take this elevated and strongly-fortified building,
+and much might be said in praise of our courage for attempting it. We
+were all dreadfully wounded, yet we were determined to gain the summit
+to plant our standard there, and set fire to the idols. When we had
+accomplished this, we had still to fight about with the Mexicans at the
+foot of the temple until night came on; for owing to their immense
+numbers it was impossible to give them an entire defeat.
+
+While we were accomplishing this splendid deed of arms on the temple of
+Huitzilopochtli, Cortes was hotly engaged with the enemy in another
+quarter of the town, at a great distance from us. When he saw the flames
+issuing on a sudden from the summit of the chief temple, and our
+standard waving there, he expressed his joy aloud, and all his troops
+would gladly have been with us at that moment. But they found too many
+difficulties to surmount, as the distance between us was a good mile,
+and a number of bridges and canals intervening, all of which they must
+have forced. Besides this they everywhere met with so determined an
+opposition that it was quite impossible for them to fight their way into
+the heart of the city. It was not till four days after, when the three
+divisions had cleared the streets of the enemy and could meet together
+without any further obstacle, that they likewise advanced up to this
+temple, and Quauhtemoctzin found himself obliged to retire with the
+whole of his forces into a part of the city which lay in the midst of
+the lake, after we had levelled all his palaces to the ground. But even
+from this quarter the Mexicans continued their attacks upon us, and when
+we commenced our retreat towards nightfall they followed us with greater
+fierceness than on former occasions.
+
+Cortes, finding that day after day passed away without the Mexicans
+seeming any way inclined to sue for peace, determined to try if he
+could not gain some decisive victory over them by suddenly falling upon
+them from an ambush. For this purpose he selected thirty horse and one
+hundred of the most active foot soldiers from the three divisions; these
+troops were ordered to conceal themselves with 3000 Tlascallans very
+early one morning in some extensive buildings which belonged to one of
+the Mexican grandees. Cortes then marched as usual with the remaining
+troops along the causeway into the city, the cavalry clearing the
+streets in advance, followed by the musketeers and crossbow-men. When he
+had arrived at a bridge which lay across a broad canal, and was defended
+by a vast body of the enemy, he ordered his men to make a sudden
+retreat, and our allies to move off the causeway. The Mexicans, who
+imagined Cortes was retreating from fear, fell upon his rear with great
+impetuosity; but as soon as he saw the enemy had passed the houses in
+which we lay concealed, he fired a cannon, which was the signal
+previously agreed upon; and we rushed forth from our ambush with the
+cavalry at our head, and fell in our turn upon the enemy's rear. Cortes
+then faced about with his men and our Tlascallan friends, and attacked
+the enemy in front. A terrible slaughter now ensued in the ranks of the
+Mexicans, and they never after showed any inclination to molest us when
+we marched back to our encampments in the evening.
+
+Alvarado, with his division, had in a similar manner attempted to entrap
+the enemy by an ambush, but he was not equally successful.
+
+As for myself I was not with my division on this occasion, Cortes having
+purposely selected me to join his troops in the ambush above-mentioned.
+
+We had now entire possession of the Tlatelulco, and Cortes ordered our
+three companies to fortify themselves on this large square, to save the
+men the trouble of marching thither every morning from the encampment
+which was two miles off. Here we lay quietly for three days without
+doing anything worthy of notice, and Cortes, in the hopes that the
+Mexicans would now certainly sue for peace, would not allow any more
+houses to be pulled down, nor any further attacks to be made on the
+other parts of the city. He then forwarded another message to the
+Mexican monarch, in which he desired him to surrender, and assured him
+he would have nothing to fear for his own person; on the contrary, he
+would meet with the most honorable treatment, and that he should
+continue in possession of his dominions and cities as heretofore. This
+message our general accompanied by a supply of provisions, consisting in
+maize-cakes, fowls, venison, figs, and cherries, as he knew the monarch
+had scarcely any food left. Quauhtemoctzin, on receiving this message,
+called a council of war composed of his chief officers, in which it was
+agreed that the monarch should return this answer to Cortes: "He,
+Quauhtemoctzin, was now very desirous of putting an end to the war, and
+wished to have a personal interview with Cortes in the space of three
+days, to settle the terms of peace."
+
+Four distinguished Mexicans accordingly arrived in our camp with an
+answer to that effect. We really now thought Quauhtemoctzin earnestly
+desired peace, and for this reason Cortes sumptuously regaled these four
+ambassadors, and presented them on leaving with a further supply of
+provisions for their monarch, who returned this civility by sending
+other ambassadors with a present of two splendid mantles for our
+general, with the assurance that he would meet Cortes according to his
+promise.
+
+But this message which Quauhtemoctzin had sent was a mere blind to gain
+time in order to repair the bridges and deepen the canals, and get in a
+fresh supply of arms; and, to be short, the three days expired, but no
+Quauhtemoctzin made his appearance. His courtiers continually cautioned
+him not to put any trust in Cortes, and supported their arguments by
+reminding him of his uncle Motecusuma's miserable end; they assured him
+that Cortes would exterminate the whole of the Mexican nobility, and
+they advised him to excuse himself for not meeting Cortes, under the
+pretence of ill health. They faithfully promised him to march out to a
+man against the teules, and they despaired not of gaining a decisive
+victory over us some day or other, for this had been promised them by
+their gods.
+
+When the three days had passed by and Quauhtemoctzin did not make his
+appearance, we concluded that we had been imposed upon by the Mexicans,
+who, however, did not leave us much time to vex ourselves about it, for
+all of a sudden they renewed the attack upon us with their accustomed
+fierceness, so that we were scarcely able to maintain our ground. The
+same befell the divisions of Alvarado and Sandoval, and it was as if the
+war had only just commenced.
+
+As we had become rather careless from the certain expectation that peace
+was going to be concluded, the enemy found us not quite so well
+prepared, and wounded several of our men, one of whom died shortly
+after. We likewise lost two horses, and many others were wounded; but we
+did not leave them much room to brag of this sally, and made them pay
+dearly for it, as Cortes now ordered us to penetrate into that part of
+the town where Quauhtemoctzin had himself retreated; who, when he
+perceived that he was upon the point of losing this last quarter of the
+city, sent messengers to propose a parley between himself and Cortes on
+the banks of a large canal, in such a manner that he was to stand on one
+side of the canal and our general on the other. Cortes accepted of this
+proposal and the following day was fixed for the interview. Our general
+repaired to the spot which had been fixed upon at the proper hour, but
+no Quauhtemoctzin came; however, he sent in his stead several
+distinguished personages, who offered as an excuse for their monarch's
+not coming, that he feared we should kill him with our crossbows and
+muskets. Cortes assured them upon his oath that no injury should befall
+their monarch; but all to no purpose, they were not to be persuaded.
+
+During this discourse two of these Mexican grandees drew forth from a
+small package they had with them some maize-cakes, a piece of broiled
+fowl, and a few cherries, and began to eat, all which was only done that
+Cortes might not think they were in want of provisions. Our general then
+sent back word to Quauhtemoctzin by these messengers, that he was now
+quite indifferent whether he came or not; he would himself soon come and
+pay him a visit in his own house, and see all his stores of provisions.
+
+For the five following days both armies remained perfectly quiet; but
+during this interval a great number of poor people who were starving for
+want of food deserted to our divisions, which was the principal reason
+why Cortes ordered all hostilities to be staid, as he still lived in
+expectation that the enemy would sue for peace. But we were again
+disappointed in our hopes.
+
+There happened to be in Cortes' division a soldier named Sotelo, who had
+served in Italy under the great captain,[26] and who had fought at
+Garayana,[27] and in other famous battles. This man was always talking
+about the different battering engines which had been used in that war,
+and said, he would himself engage to construct a species of catapult on
+the Tlatelulco, and batter down the houses in which the enemy still held
+out, and this so effectually that the Mexicans would soon find
+themselves obliged to sue for peace.
+
+Cortes allowed himself to be persuaded by the great things which this
+man promised, and issued the necessary orders for the construction of
+such a machine; and the stone, wood, lime, and iron, which this man
+required for his wonderful machine were soon provided for him. Two of
+these catapults were soon finished, by which large stones, of the size
+of buckets, were to be cast upon the houses. But these machines proved a
+complete failure, and the stones which they were to throw to a distance
+fell at the foot of the engine itself. Cortes was excessively annoyed
+with this soldier for having persuaded him to listen to his schemes, and
+ordered the machines to be destroyed. Cortes then determined that an
+attack should be made with the brigantines on that quarter of the town
+where Quauhtemoctzin had retreated. The manner in which this was done I
+will relate in the following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLVI.
+
+    _How Quauhtemoctzin was taken prisoner._
+
+
+Cortes finding the catapult of no manner of use, and that the Mexicans
+still refused to sue for peace, ordered Sandoval to penetrate with our
+twelve brigantines into that quarter of the city where Quauhtemoctzin
+had retreated with the flower of his army and the principal personages
+of Mexico. He at the same time gave orders to the men not to kill nor
+wound any Mexican, if it were at all possible to avoid it, and that they
+should not be the first to attack, but to level the houses to the
+ground, and destroy the numerous breastworks that had been constructed
+on the lake.
+
+Cortes then mounted to the summit of the chief temple on the Tlatelulco,
+in order from thence to view Sandoval's manoeuvres, and was accompanied
+by Alvarado, Luis Marin, Lugo, and other soldiers.
+
+When Sandoval appeared with the brigantines in the quarter where
+Quauhtemoctzin's palace stood, the latter soon saw it would be
+impossible to hold out much longer, and he began to think of making his
+escape, lest he should be put to death, or taken prisoner. He had for
+some time past ordered that fifty large pirogues should always be ready
+at hand, with which, when the danger was at its height, he intended to
+escape to a part of the lake, which was thickly covered with reeds, and
+from there to reach the mainland, and seek refuge in some township which
+was friendly with the Mexicans. The same course he had also advised his
+chief officers and grandees to adopt. Accordingly, as soon as the
+principal inhabitants found Sandoval was penetrating into their very
+houses with his troops, they began to carry off all the property they
+could take with them in their canoes, and took to flight; so that the
+lake was instantly covered with numbers of canoes. When Sandoval was
+informed that Quauhtemoctzin, with the chief personages of Mexico, had
+likewise fled, he immediately staid the work of destruction in which his
+men were occupied, and ordered the brigantines to the pursuit of the
+canoes, and particularly to look out for the pirogue which conveyed the
+monarch himself. If they succeeded in taking him alive, they were not to
+ill-use him, but to show him every courtesy, and to secure his person in
+the most respectful manner possible.
+
+Garcia Holguin, who was an intimate friend of Sandoval, commanded the
+swiftest brigantine, and had the best rowers. Sandoval, therefore,
+selected Holguin's vessel, and pointed out to him the direction in which
+Quauhtemoctzin and his grandees were said to have steered with the large
+pirogues. Holguin now flew in pursuit, and it pleased God that he should
+overtake the canoes, and the fleet of large pirogues which conveyed
+Quauhtemoctzin and the grandees of Mexico. He soon recognized the one in
+which Quauhtemoctzin was himself, by the beautifully carved work with
+which it was ornamented, by the tent, and other decorations. Holguin now
+made a sign for the pirogues to stop, and as they did not instantly
+comply, he ordered his men to level their crossbows and muskets at them.
+When Quauhtemoctzin observed this, he began to fear, and he cried out,
+"Forbid your men to shoot at me. I am the king of Mexico, and of this
+country. I only beg of you not to touch my wife, my children, these
+females, or anything else I have with me here, but take me alone to
+Malinche."
+
+Holguin was greatly rejoiced when he heard these words, and on coming up
+to the pirogue he embraced the monarch, and assisted him most
+courteously into his brigantine, with his wife and twenty of his
+grandees. Soft mats and cloaks were then spread out on the poop of the
+vessel for seats, and what food there was on board set before them. The
+canoes in which the baggage was laden were not touched, but ordered to
+follow the brigantine.
+
+Sandoval had stationed himself at a spot whence he could watch the
+movements of the other brigantines, and give signals to them. When he
+was informed that Garcia Holguin had taken Quauhtemoctzin prisoner, and
+that he was already on his way with the monarch to Cortes, he ordered
+his men to pull with all their might to overtake Holguin, and cried out
+to him, when he was come near enough, to deliver up his prisoner to him.
+This Holguin refused to comply with, saying that _he_, and not Sandoval,
+had taken the monarch prisoner; to which the latter replied, that that
+had nothing to do with it, as he was commander-in-chief of the
+brigantines, and he (Holguin) stood under his commands, and had acted
+upon his orders; that he had purposely selected him for this purpose,
+because he was his particular friend, and his brigantine the fastest
+sailer.
+
+While Sandoval and Holguin were thus disputing, another brigantine
+hastened off to Cortes, (who was still standing on the summit of the
+temple, watching Sandoval's movements), in order to obtain the reward
+for bringing the first news of the monarch's capture. They at the same
+time informed him of the dispute between Sandoval and Holguin as to whom
+the honour was due of taking him prisoner.
+
+On this news our general instantly despatched Luis Marin and Lugo to
+settle the dispute, by telling Sandoval and Holguin that they were
+jointly to bring in the monarch, his wife and family, captives, when he
+himself would decide whose prisoner the monarch was, and to whom the
+honour was due.
+
+Our general in the meantime ordered some elevated seats to be erected,
+and covered with soft cushions and mantles, and a good repast to be
+prepared. Holguin and Sandoval soon after arrived with the monarch, and
+conducted him into the presence of Cortes, who received him with the
+utmost respect, and embraced him affectionately, at the same time
+expressing the kindest feelings towards him and his officers.
+Quauhtemoctzin then said to Cortes, "Malinche! I have done what I was
+bound to do in the defence of my metropolis, and of my subjects. My
+resources have now become entirely exhausted. I have succumbed to
+superior power, and stand a prisoner before you. Now draw the dagger
+which hangs at your belt, and plunge it into my bosom."
+
+These words the monarch uttered under a flood of tears, and with heavy
+sighs, while several of his officers broke out into loud lamentations.
+Cortes assured him, by means of our interpreters, in the most kind
+manner, that he esteemed him the more for his bravery, his powerful and
+courageous defence of his city, and that, far from making him any
+reproaches on that head, it redounded more to his honour than to his
+shame. He certainly could have wished that he had accepted his offers of
+peace, to save the city from destruction, and the lives of so many of
+his subjects that had been sacrificed in battle; as, however, it had
+been impossible to avoid all this, and it could not now be remedied, he
+ought no longer to grieve, but compose his mind, and strive to raise the
+desponding spirits of his officers; assuring him he should remain, as
+heretofore, lord of Mexico, and of the other provinces attached to it.
+
+Quauhtemoctzin and his officers thanked Cortes for this promise; upon
+which the latter inquired after his wife and the other women, who, he
+had been given to understand, had likewise accompanied him in the
+brigantine. Quauhtemoctzin said that he had himself begged of Sandoval
+and Holguin to leave them behind in the canoes until Malinche's
+pleasure should be known. Our general then sent for them, and regaled
+them with the best of everything he had at hand. As it was now getting
+late, and beginning to rain, he commissioned Sandoval to convey the
+monarch, with his family and suite, to Cojohuacan; Alvarado and Oli at
+the same time being ordered off to their respective stations, and Cortes
+himself returned to his head-quarters at Tepeaquilla.
+
+Quauhtemoctzin was taken prisoner on St. Hippolytus' day, the 13th
+August, 1521, about the hour of vespers. Praise and glory be to our Lord
+Jesus Christ, and to his blessed mother, the Virgin Mary. Amen.
+
+During the night of this day it thundered and lightened without
+intermission, and about midnight with terrific vehemence.
+
+Subsequent to Quauhtemoctzin's capture we soldiers had become so very
+deaf that we could scarcely hear anything, and we felt a similar
+sensation to what a person experiences when standing in a belfry and all
+the bells are ringing at once, and then cease all of a sudden. The
+reader will certainly not think this an ill-timed comparison if he only
+considers how our ears were constantly assailed during the ninety-three
+days which the siege of Mexico lasted, both night and day, with all
+manner of noises. In one quarter rose the deafening yells, piping, and
+war-whoop of the enemy; here some were calling out to the canoes to
+attack the brigantines, the bridges, and the causeways; there the
+Mexicans drove their troops together with loud yells to cut through the
+dykes, deepen the openings, drive in palisades, throw up entrenchments,
+while others cried out for more lances and arrows; in another place the
+Mexicans shouted to the women to bring more stones for the slings;
+between all which was heard the dismal din of the hellish music of
+drums, shell trumpets, and particularly the horrible and mournful sound
+of the huge drum of Huitzilopochtli; and this infernal instrument, whose
+melancholy tone pierced to the very soul, never ceased a moment. Day and
+night did all this din and noise continue without intermission; no one
+could hear what another said; and so my comparison of the belfry is the
+most suitable I can imagine.
+
+I will now add a few words about Quauhtemoctzin's outward appearance.
+This monarch was between twenty-three and twenty-four years of age, and
+could in all truth be termed a handsome man, both as regards his
+countenance and his figure. His face was rather of an elongated form,
+with a cheerful look; his eye had great expression, both when he assumed
+an air of majesty or when he looked pleasantly around him; the colour of
+his face inclined more to white than to the copper-brown tint of the
+Indians in general. His wife was a niece of his uncle Motecusuma; she
+was a young and very beautiful woman.
+
+With regard to the dispute between Sandoval and Holguin as to which
+could claim the honour of Quauhtemoctzin's capture, Cortes settled it
+for the present by observing, that a similar dispute once happened among
+the Romans between Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sylla, when the latter
+took king Jugurtha prisoner, who had fled for safety to the house of his
+father-in-law Bocchus. "When Sylla," said Cortes, "made his triumphal
+entry into Rome, he led Jugurtha by a chain, among his trophies of
+victory. This Marius considered Sylla had no right to do without asking
+his permission, he (Marius) being commander-in-chief, and Sylla having
+merely acted upon his orders; but as Sylla belonged to the order of the
+patricians, these declared in his favour, they being opposed to Marius,
+as a stranger of Arpinum, and a man who had risen from the lowest ranks,
+though he had been seven times consul. From this circumstance arose
+those civil wars between Marius and Sylla; but the question as to whom
+the honour of Jugurtha's capture was due was never decided."
+
+After relating this circumstance, Cortes added, that he would lay the
+matter before the emperor for his imperial decision as to who could
+claim some memento of the monarch's capture in his armorial bearings.
+They would therefore have to await a decision on this point from Spain.
+This, indeed, arrived after the lapse of two years, by which Cortes was
+permitted to place a series of kings in his escutcheon; as, for
+instance, Motecusuma and Quauhtemoctzin, kings of Mexico, Cacamatzin of
+Tezcuco, the kings of Iztapalapan, Cojohuacan, and Tlacupa, and another
+powerful king, who was a relative of Motecusuma, and lord of
+Matlaltzinco and of other provinces, and was said to have the best claim
+to the throne of Mexico. I must now say something of the dead bodies and
+skulls which we saw in that quarter of the town where Quauhtemoctzin had
+retreated. It is a real fact, and I can take my oath on it, that the
+houses and the canals were completely filled with them, a sight which I
+am unable to describe; and we were scarcely able to move along the
+streets, and through the courtyards of the Tlatelulco, on account of the
+number of dead bodies. I have certainly read of the destruction of
+Jerusalem, but should not like to decide whether the carnage was equally
+great there as it was here; but this I know, that most of the troops, as
+well of the town itself as those from the townships and provinces which
+stood under the dominion of Mexico, were most of them slain; that bodies
+lay strewed everywhere, and the stench was intolerable; which was the
+reason why, after the capture of Quauhtemoctzin, the three divisions
+drew off to their former stations. Cortes himself became indisposed that
+day, from the horrible stench.
+
+Our troops in the brigantines had now a great advantage over us in
+making booty, for they were able to get at all the houses that lay in
+the lake, in which the Mexicans had concealed all their wealth; and also
+to those places in the lake which were thickly grown with reeds, and
+whither those Mexicans, whose houses were pulled down during the siege,
+fled with all their property; besides which, they had had frequent
+opportunities, while foraging in the country, to plunder several
+distinguished Mexicans, who had fled to seek refuge among the Otomies.
+We other soldiers, who fought away on the causeways and mainland,
+derived no such benefits; all we got were severe wounds from arrows,
+stones, and lances. Whenever we did penetrate into the houses, the
+inmates had already escaped with their valuables; for we were unable to
+get at the houses without first filling up a canal, or throwing a bridge
+across, which took up a considerable time: and this was my reason for
+observing in a former chapter, that the troops whom Cortes selected for
+the service of the brigantines fared better than those who were
+stationed on the mainland. There was not the slightest doubt about this;
+for when Cortes asked Quauhtemoctzin after Motecusuma's treasure, he and
+his generals declared that the greater part of it had been carried off
+by the crews of the brigantines.
+
+As the atmosphere of the town had become perfectly pestiferous, from the
+decomposed bodies, Quauhtemoctzin requested Cortes to allow the whole of
+the inhabitants, with the remaining part of his troops, to leave the
+city. This our general readily granted, and the causeways were crowded
+for three days and nights with men, women, and children, on their way to
+the mainland. These poor beings were quite emaciated, and had a
+death-like appearance; their bodies covered with filth, and they spread
+around them so abominable a stench, that we grew miserable at the very
+sight.
+
+As soon as all the inhabitants had left the city, Cortes sent some
+persons there to see how things looked in general. The houses were found
+crammed with dead bodies, and among them several poor people were found
+still alive, though too weak to stand, and lying in their own filth,
+like those hogs which are fed upon nothing but grass. Every spot of
+earth in the town looked as if it had been ploughed up, for the famished
+inhabitants had dug up every root out of the ground, and had even peeled
+the bark from the trees, to still their hunger; neither did we find any
+fresh water, for that in the wells was of a salty flavour; and yet
+during this horrible famine the Mexicans had not eaten the flesh of
+their countrymen, though they so greedily devoured that of the
+Tlascallans and Spaniards.[28] Certainly no people ever suffered so much
+in this world from hunger, thirst, and the horrors of war, as the
+inhabitants of this great city.
+
+After we had thus subdued the great, the populous, and the celebrated
+city of Mexico, a solemn service was performed, to offer up our thanks
+to the Almighty. After this Cortes ordered a banquet to be prepared in
+Cojohuacan, to celebrate the conquest with a joyous feast, at which the
+wine which had come with a vessel recently run into Vera Cruz, and the
+hog's meat from Cuba, were not spared.
+
+To this banquet all the officers and soldiers were invited; but when the
+guests arrived there was scarcely sufficient room at the table for one
+third of them, which occasioned a good deal of ill-will, and it would
+have been better if Cortes had never given the banquet at all; for many
+curious things happened on this occasion, and Noah's tree gave rise to
+many foolish pranks. There were some folks who, when they had eaten and
+drank too much, instead of leaving the table, sicked all over it; others
+declared that they possessed gold enough to buy themselves horses with
+saddles of gold; and the crossbow-men swore they would for the future
+not shoot another arrow unless its point was made of pure gold; some
+kept stumbling about, and many rolled headlong down the steps.
+
+After the banquet we had a ball, in which the ladies joined who had
+accompanied our army; and nothing could be more ridiculous than to see
+the leaps which their gallants took who were accoutred in full armour.
+The ladies who danced were only few in number, and I will not mention
+their names, nor should I like to repeat the satires which appeared at
+their expense on the following day; but I must not forget to mention
+that father Olmedo expressed his disapprobation aloud at the scandalous
+conduct of the men during this banquet and dance, and observed to
+Sandoval, that this was not the way to return thanks to God, or to
+obtain his assistance for the future!
+
+Sandoval mentioned this to Cortes, who, as he was always discreet in
+what he did, instantly sent for this pious man, and said to him:
+"Excellent father! it is impossible to restrain the soldiers when they
+are enjoying themselves after their manner. I certainly should have done
+better if I had withheld this inducement from them. It is, however, in
+the power of your reverence to put a stop to all this, by ordering a
+solemn procession to the church, where, in a sermon, you can give us a
+severe reprimand from the pulpit. Then you will also have a good
+opportunity of commanding the men not to rob the Indians of their
+daughters, or of anything else, and in future to discontinue their
+frequent disputes among each other, and to comport themselves as good
+Catholic Christians, that the Lord may prosper their lives."
+
+This proposal was highly approved of by father Olmedo, and he thanked
+Cortes for it; though the idea had, in fact, originated with Alvarado. A
+procession was therefore instantly ordered, which we joined with flying
+colours and a few crosses, the image of the Virgin Mary being carried in
+front, and we sang supplicatory hymns as we moved along.
+
+The day following father Olmedo preached a sermon, and many soldiers,
+with Cortes and Alvarado, made the communion, and we again offered up
+our thanks to the Almighty for the victory.
+
+There are several circumstances relating to this memorable siege which I
+have omitted to mention, which, though they may appear out of place
+here, I should feel loth to pass by in silence.
+
+Above all things I have to notice the great courage which our friends
+Chichimeclatecl and the two younger Xicotencatls displayed in our
+battles with the Mexicans, and altogether what efficient services they
+rendered us. The same I must say of Don Carlos, brother of the king of
+Tezcuco, who proved himself a man of extraordinary bravery and valour.
+There was also another chief, from one of the towns lying in the lake,
+but whose name I have forgotten, who showed astonishing feats of
+heroism; and many other chiefs among our allies signalised themselves in
+this siege; for which reason Cortes addressed them at considerable
+length in an eloquent speech, bestowing the highest praises on them,
+with thanks for their powerful assistance, and dismissed them with the
+promise that he would shortly present them with extensive territories,
+and numerous vassals, so as to make them all great caziques. As they had
+made a rich booty of cotton stuffs, gold, and other valuable matters,
+they returned highly delighted to their several homes; neither did they
+forget to carry away with them large quantities of the flesh of the
+Mexicans they had slain, which they had salted down and smoked, for
+their relations and friends, to regale them with it at their feasts.[29]
+
+It is now a long time since we fought these terrible battles, which
+continued without intermission day and night, and I cannot be too
+thankful to the Almighty for my preservation; and now I must relate
+something extraordinary which befel myself.
+
+The reader will remember above that I stated how we could see the
+Mexicans sacrificing our unfortunate countrymen; how they ripped open
+their breasts, tore out their palpitating hearts, and offered them to
+their abominable idols. This sight made a horrible impression on my
+mind, yet no one must imagine that I was wanting either in courage or
+determination; on the contrary, I fearlessly exposed myself in every
+engagement to the greatest dangers, for I felt that I had courage. It
+was my ambition at that time to pass for a good soldier, and I certainly
+bore the reputation of being one; and what any of our men ventured, I
+ventured also, as every one who was present can testify; yet I must
+confess that I felt terribly agitated in spirit when I each day saw some
+of my companions being put to death in the dreadful manner above
+mentioned, and I was seized with terror at the thought that I might have
+to share a similar fate! Indeed the Mexicans had on two different
+occasions laid hold of me, and it was only through the great mercy of
+God that I escaped from their grasp.
+
+I could no longer divest myself of the thoughts of ending my life in
+this shocking manner, and each time, before we made an attack upon the
+enemy, a cold shudder ran through my body, and I felt oppressed by
+excessive melancholy. It was then I fell upon my knees, and commended
+myself to the protection of God and the blessed Virgin; and from my
+prayers I rushed straightway into the battle, and all fear instantly
+vanished. This feeling appeared the more unaccountable to me, since I
+had encountered so many perils at sea, fought so many sanguinary battles
+in the open field, been present on so many dangerous marches through
+forests and mountains, stormed and defended so many towns; for there
+were very few great battles fought by our troops in New Spain in which I
+was not present. In these perils of various natures I never felt the
+fear I did subsequent to that time when the Mexicans captured sixty-two
+of our men, and we were compelled to see them thus slaughtered one by
+one, without being able to render them assistance. I leave those
+cavaliers to judge who are acquainted with war, and know from experience
+what dangers a man is exposed to in battle, whether it was want of
+courage which raised this feeling in me. Certain it is that I each day
+pictured to myself the whole extent of the danger into which I was
+obliged to plunge myself; nevertheless, I fought with my accustomed
+bravery, and all sensation of fear fled from me as soon as I espied the
+enemy.
+
+Lastly, I must acquaint the reader that the Mexicans never killed our
+men in battle if they could possibly avoid it, but merely wounded them,
+so far as to render them incapable of defending themselves, in order
+that they might take as many of them alive as possible, to have the
+satisfaction of sacrificing them to their warrior-god Huitzilopochtli,
+after they had amused themselves by making them dance before him,
+adorned with feathers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLVII.
+
+    _How Cortes orders the aqueduct of Chapultepec to be restored; and
+    of various other matters._
+
+
+The first duty which Cortes imposed upon Quauhtemoctzin was to repair
+the aqueduct of Chapultepec, in order to supply Mexico with fresh water;
+also to bury the dead and all other putrid remains of flesh; to clean
+the streets, repair the causeways and bridges, and build up the houses
+and palaces which had been pulled down during the siege. After the space
+of two months the inhabitants were to return to the city, and the
+quarter which they and that we were to inhabit was marked out. Besides
+these, many other regulations were made, but which I have now forgotten.
+
+Quauhtemoctzin and all his officers, after a time, complained to Cortes
+that many of our officers and soldiers had carried off their wives and
+daughters, whom they begged might now be restored to them. Cortes, in
+answer to this request, told them it would be a difficult matter to get
+the women out of the hands of the soldiers again, but promised he would
+do his best for them. He then gave them permission to go in search of
+the females they spoke of, and to bring those they found into his
+presence, that he might see how many of them had become converts to
+Christianity, and which of them felt a desire to return to their parents
+and husbands, as he would restore all those to them who felt inclined to
+leave. Cortes then issued orders to all three divisions to deliver up
+all those females who felt any inclination to return to their families.
+
+The Mexicans did not fail to profit by this permission; they went from
+one quarter to another, and found most of the women again; but there
+were only three that showed any desire to return to their homes; the
+rest all remained with our soldiers. Many even concealed themselves on
+hearing that their relations were coming in search of them; others
+declared they would never again return to the worship of idols; and many
+of them were with child.
+
+We now likewise constructed a secure harbour for our brigantines, and
+built a fort, to which a special alcalde was appointed, in the person of
+Alvarado (if I remember rightly), who filled this command until it was
+subsequently bestowed upon a certain Salazar de la Petrada, who came
+from Spain for that purpose.
+
+The next thing which Cortes did was to collect all the gold, silver, and
+jewels that had been found in Mexico, of which, however, there was very
+little; for Quauhtemoctzin, it was said, had ordered all the treasures
+to be thrown into the lake four days previous to his capture. A great
+quantity had likewise been purloined by the Tlascallans, Tezcucans,
+Huexotzincans, Cholullans, and other auxiliary troops which had assisted
+us in the siege, besides what had fallen into the hands of the troops on
+board the brigantines.
+
+The crown officials were positive that Quauhtemoctzin had concealed the
+greater part, and asserted that Cortes was very pleased that the monarch
+refused to say a word where it was hidden; for he would then be able to
+get the whole treasure into his own possession.
+
+The officers then proposed that Quauhtemoctzin and the king of Tlacupa,
+his most intimate friend and cousin, should be put to the torture, in
+order to extort from them a confession as to what had become of the
+treasures: but Cortes could not make up his mind to insult so great a
+monarch as Quauhtemoctzin, whose territory more than trebled that of
+Spain, and that for mere lust after gold.[30] Moreover, the monarch's
+household assured us they had given up all the gold they possessed to
+the officers of the crown, which, it was well known, amounted to 380,000
+pesos, the whole of which had been melted into bars; and one thing is
+certain, that the emperor's and Cortes' fifths were deducted from that
+sum; but the conquistadores were not at all satisfied, and considered
+this sum much below the real amount, and several expressed their
+suspicion to Alderete, the royal treasurer, that Cortes' only reason for
+not wishing to put the monarch to the torture was, that he might
+secretly take possession of all his riches. Cortes, not willing that
+such a suspicion should any longer lie upon him, or that he should
+afterwards be called to an account on this score, at last consented that
+both should be put to the torture. Boiling hot oil was then applied to
+their feet; upon which they confessed that, four days prior to
+Quauhtemoctzin's capture, all the gold, with the cannon, crossbows, and
+muskets, which we had lost in the night of sorrows, when we retreated
+from Mexico, besides those which had been taken in Cortes' last defeat
+on the causeway, had been thrown into the lake. A number of good
+swimmers were then sent to dive for the treasure in the spot they
+pointed out, but nothing was found. Yet there was some truth in the
+statement; for I was myself present when Quauhtemoctzin led us to a
+large and deep reservoir of water, built of stone, which lay near his
+palace. From this reservoir we fished up a sun of gold similar to the
+one sent us by Motecusuma, besides many jewels and other trinkets,
+though all of little value. The king of Tlacupa also informed us that he
+had hidden all manner of valuable things in some large houses, about
+twelve miles from Tlacupa, and he would accompany us there to point out
+the spot where he had buried them.
+
+Alvarado was then despatched thither with six soldiers, among which
+number I also was; but when we arrived at the spot, this king assured us
+he had merely invented all this in the hopes that we would have killed
+him in a moment of anger at our disappointment. We consequently returned
+without the treasure, and thus there was no more smelting of gold into
+bars for the present. But it is an undoubted fact that there was very
+little left in the treasury of Motecusuma when it came into the hands of
+Quauhtemoctzin; for by far the greater part had been taken out as a
+present for our emperor.
+
+Among the things which were collected together on this occasion, there
+were various objects of beautiful workmanship, which it would be too
+tedious to describe. One thing however is certain, and many were bold
+enough to assert it, that the emperor's fifths were not taken of a third
+part of what there really was.
+
+I said above that there was some truth in what was stated by
+Quauhtemoctzin with regard to his having ordered a quantity of gold and
+other things to be thrown into the lake. I, with many of my companions
+proved this to be a fact, for we frequently dived to the bottom of the
+water in the spot which had been pointed out by the monarch. Each time
+we brought up some trifling trinket or other, which were afterwards
+demanded of us by Cortes and the royal treasurer. On one occasion they
+both accompanied us to this spot, and took a number of good divers with
+them, who brought up various ornaments of gold, worth altogether about
+one hundred pesos; but this was nothing in comparison to the treasure
+which was said to have been thrown in by the command of the monarch.
+
+When the gold we took on this occasion came to be divided, the officers
+and all our men were of opinion that what would fall to each one's share
+would scarcely be worth accepting; wherefore father Olmedo, Avila,
+Alvarado, and other cavaliers proposed to Cortes, that the whole should
+be distributed among the invalids, the blind, the lame, the deaf, and
+those who had been accidentally burnt by powder; assuring him that we
+others who enjoyed good health, would gladly accede to this. Their
+object in making this proposal was to induce Cortes to add so much to
+each one's share as to make it worthy of our acceptance; for the
+suspicion was become pretty general that he had concealed the greater
+part of Quauhtemoctzin's treasure.
+
+In answer to this Cortes said he would first see how much each man's
+share amounted to, and he would try if he could not satisfy all
+parties. Our officers and men now insisted that this calculation should
+instantly be gone into, when it was found that every cavalry soldier
+would have to receive 100 pesos, and the musketeers and crossbow-men I
+forget how much. None of the men would accept of this miserable
+pittance, and they began to throw out bitter complaints against Cortes
+and the royal treasurer, who excused himself by saying, that there was
+nothing more for them, as Cortes had deducted for himself an equal
+portion with the crown, and had besides claimed large sums in payment
+for the horses which had been killed, and such like; also, many curious
+objects of value had not at all been added to the common stock, but had
+been set apart as particular presents for the emperor. They should not,
+therefore, concluded Alderete, cavil with him about it, but with Cortes.
+
+As there were friends and partisans among our troops of the governor of
+Cuba, and soldiers of Narvaez's corps who were besides this ill inclined
+towards Cortes, they obstinately refused to accept of the gold which was
+offered them, saying, they were entitled to much more.
+
+About this time Cortes was staying at Cojohuacan, and inhabited a large
+palace, the walls of which had been recently fresh plastered and
+white-washed, so that they were well adapted for writing on with
+charcoal or other colours. Every morning that came, a couple of biting
+epigrams or satires were found written on these walls, either in prose
+or rhyme. One time for instance you would read: _The sun, moon, stars,
+firmament, the sea and the earth have their fixed course, and if ever
+they do diverge from their regular course, they always correct
+themselves again; may Cortes, in his love of power, take this as a
+precept._ At another time: _We are much more conquered ourselves than
+conquerors, and should not be called the conquerors of New Spain, but
+the conquered of Cortes._ Then again: _Cortes is not content with taking
+his share of the gold as general, but must also have his royal fifths._
+Again: _Alas! how my heart does grieve, ever since I have seen my share
+of the booty!_ And then again: _Diego Velasquez has spent all his
+fortune to discover the coast up to Panuco, but Cortes has reaped the
+harvest._ Such like sayings were numerous, many of which I should not
+wish to repeat here.
+
+Cortes never neglected to read these epigrams as soon as he rose in the
+morning; the greater part of which were in rhyme, and not exactly so
+homely as those above quoted. As he was himself a bit of a poet, he
+wrote answers in verse beneath them, which had always reference to his
+deeds of arms, and tended to lower those of Diego Velasquez, Grijalva,
+and of Narvaez. These, his answers, were so pointed, that each day the
+epigrams became more severe, when Cortes at length wrote: _White wall,
+the paper of fools!_ And the following morning was found under it: _And
+of the wise and honest!_ Our general very well knew who were the writers
+of these verses; namely, a certain Tirado, one of Velasquez's partisans,
+and son-in-law of the elder Ramirez, who lived in la Puebla; a certain
+Villalobos, who returned afterwards to Spain; and one Mansilla, with
+others, who were always ready to oppose Cortes in everything. These
+verses grew at length of so scandalous a nature, that father Olmedo told
+Cortes he ought to put a stop to them. Our general followed this good
+advice, and ordered that no one henceforth should presume to dirty the
+walls with any beastly sayings, under threats of severe punishment.
+
+For the rest we were all deeply in debt. A crossbow was not to be
+purchased for less than forty or fifty pesos, a musket cost one hundred,
+a sword fifty, and a horse from 800 to 1000 pesos, and above. Thus
+extravagantly had we to pay for everything! A surgeon, who called
+himself Mastre Juan, and who had cured some very severe wounds, demanded
+most exorbitant fees for his cures. There was also an apothecary and
+barber, named Murcia, who likewise cured wounds. Various other
+impositions were practised, and payment was demanded of the men as soon
+as they had obtained their shares of the booty.
+
+Serious complaints were made about this, and Cortes knew no other remedy
+than to appoint two men of business-like habits and of well-known
+honesty, to examine each demand and tax the amount. One of these persons
+was named Santclara, the other Llerena, and no debt was considered valid
+unless it had been examined by them; and two years were allowed to
+liquidate a debt we were unable to pay at the moment.
+
+In the smelting of the gold there was also allowed an eighth of alloy to
+every ounce, to assist the men in the purchase of the necessaries of
+life, as about that time a number of vessels had arrived at Vera Cruz
+with various kinds of merchandise. But we derived no advantage from
+this, on the contrary it proved very prejudicial to us; for the
+merchants added the same per centage to the price of their goods, and
+sold for five pesos what was only worth three, and so this alloy became,
+as the Indians termed it, _tepuzque_, or copper. This expression
+afterwards became so common among us, that we added it to the names of
+distinguished cavaliers, to express the worth of their character; as for
+instance we would say, Seņor Don Juan of so much tepuzque.
+
+Complaints were now made of the excess of alloy which was mixed with
+the gold; at length two gold workers were even detected in stamping the
+gold mark on pure copper, in punishment for which Cortes ordered them to
+be hung. But all these are stories which do not exactly belong to my
+history.
+
+Our general becoming weary of the continued reproaches which were thrown
+out against him, and the everlasting petitions for loans and advance in
+pay, determined at once to get rid of the most troublesome fellows, by
+forming settlements in those provinces which appeared most eligible for
+this purpose. He accordingly despatched Sandoval to Tuztepec, to form a
+settlement there, and punish the Mexican garrison lying in that
+township, for having, about the time of our unfortunate retreat from
+Mexico, put to death sixty Spaniards, and six Spanish ladies, all of
+Narvaez's corps. He was, first of all, to leave a settlement at
+Medellin, then to proceed to the river Guacasualco, form a settlement in
+the harbour there, and then subdue the province of Panuco.
+
+Rodrigo Rangel and Pedro de Ircio were ordered off to Vera Cruz; the
+younger Juan Velasquez to Colima and Villa Fuerte, in the province of
+Zacatula; Christobal de Oli, who about this time married a Portuguese
+lady, named Doņa Filipa de Araujo, was sent to Mechoacan; and Francisco
+de Horozco was commissioned with the colonization of Oaxaca.
+
+The inhabitants of the provinces I have just mentioned would not at
+first credit that Mexico had fallen; but when they found it to be a
+fact, the kings and caziques of those distant provinces sent ambassadors
+to congratulate Cortes on his victory, and to declare themselves vassals
+of our emperor; as also to convince themselves with their own eyes that
+we had really levelled that terrible city to the ground. Each of these
+ambassadors brought with them valuable presents in gold, and many had
+their young sons with them, to whom they pointed out the ruins of
+Mexico, just as we would show our children the spot where Troy once
+stood.
+
+I will now answer a question which the curious reader will surely ask
+himself, namely, why we, the true Conquistadores of New Spain, and of
+the strong city of Mexico, did not settle down there, but selected other
+provinces by preference? The reason is, that we had learnt from
+Motecusuma's rent-rolls where those districts lay from which he derived
+the greatest quantity of gold, cacao, and cotton stuffs. All our
+thoughts and desires were bent upon those provinces whence the monarch
+obtained the largest tribute in gold, and when we found that even
+Sandoval, one of our chief officers, and a particular friend of Cortes,
+likewise left Mexico for the provinces, we no longer hesitated to follow
+his example; the more so, as there were no gold mines in the
+neighbourhood of Mexico, nor did it produce cotton or cacao, but merely
+maguey and maise, from the former of which the inhabitants prepare their
+wine. We therefore considered the country surrounding the metropolis
+very poor, and we consequently settled in other provinces, though we
+were greatly disappointed in our expectations! This Cortes had well
+foreseen, and I still remember that he said to me, when I requested his
+permission to accompany Sandoval: "Upon my conscience, brother Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo, you are making a great mistake. I should feel
+delighted if you would stay with me in Mexico; but if you have made up
+your mind to accompany your friend Sandoval, I will not oppose your
+wishes, and may God be with you. You may rely upon it I will take every
+opportunity to promote your welfare; but I am sure you will soon regret
+having left me."
+
+Before we commenced our march each man received an account of his share
+of the booty, when it was found that all our shares of the gold were due
+to the officers of the crown, in payment for the slaves we had bought at
+the auctions.
+
+I will not here trouble the reader by enumerating what number of horse,
+crossbow-men, musketeers, or other soldiers left for the provinces, nor
+will I give the date of the month, but merely inform him that the first
+troops left a few days after the capture of Quauhtemoctzin, and the
+second expedition two months later.
+
+I must now relate the important news which arrived about this time from
+Vera Cruz.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLVIII.
+
+    _How a certain Christobal de Tapia arrived in Vera Cruz, with the
+    appointment of governor of New Spain._
+
+
+After Cortes had despatched these several detachments to bring the
+provinces into complete subjection, and leave settlements in them, a
+certain Christobal de Tapia, who had been veedor at St. Domingo, arrived
+at Vera Cruz, with the appointment of governor of New Spain, which had
+been procured him by Fonseca, bishop of Burgos. He likewise brought with
+him several letters from the bishop for Cortes, and many others of the
+conquistadores, as also for the officers of Narvaez's corps, by which
+they were desired to support Tapia in the government. Besides this
+appointment, which was drawn up in due form by the bishop, Tapia had
+several other blank papers with him, which were merely signed, so that
+he was at liberty to fill them up as he might think proper, by which
+means he would obtain unlimited power in New Spain. He was ordered to
+make us vast promises if we assisted him in his government, but to
+threaten us with severe punishment if we refused to obey him.
+
+As soon as Tapia arrived at Vera Cruz, he showed his appointment to
+Gonzalo de Alvarado, who was then commandant of that place, as Rodrigo
+Rangel, who had previously filled that office, had recently been
+deprived of it by Cortes, but for what reason I cannot say.
+
+Alvarado perused these papers with the most respectful veneration, as
+containing the commands of his emperor and master; but as to acting up
+to their contents, he told Tapia he must previously consult with the
+alcaldes and regidors of the town, to take the matter into mature
+consideration, and investigate as to how he had obtained the
+appointment, as he (Tapia) could not expect that they should exactly
+place implicit belief in what he said, and they should also like to
+convince themselves whether his imperial majesty was really cognizant of
+the drawing up of this appointment.
+
+As Tapia was by no means satisfied with this answer, they advised him to
+repair to Mexico, where he would find Cortes, with all his officers and
+troops, who would, no doubt, on perusing his papers, pay him the respect
+which was due to his appointment.
+
+Upon this Tapia wrote to Cortes, and acquainted him in what capacity he
+had come to New Spain. Now as Cortes was remarkable for his great tact,
+he answered this man in much more courteous terms than the former had
+used in his letter to him, saying the most obliging and pleasant things;
+at the same time he despatched several of our principal officers to
+visit Tapia at Vera Cruz. These were Alvarado, Sandoval, Diego de Soto,
+Andreas de Tapia, and a certain Valdenebro, to all of whom Cortes sent
+couriers with orders for their immediate return from the provinces, and
+to repair to Vera Cruz. He likewise requested father Melgarejo to hasten
+thither, in order to be present at the meeting; but Tapia had already
+started for Mexico, to wait upon Cortes himself, and was met on his road
+by our officers, who paid him the greatest respect, and proposed that he
+should turn off with them to Sempoalla. When arrived there they
+requested him to produce his papers, that they might convince themselves
+whether or not he was really sent by his imperial majesty, and whether
+his appointment bore the royal signature. If he could convince them of
+this, continued our officers, they would immediately promise obedience
+to him, in the name of Cortes and the whole of New Spain.
+
+Tapia then produced his papers, and all the officers acknowledged, with
+respectful veneration, that, to all appearances, his appointment came
+direct from his majesty; but that it was impossible the emperor could be
+cognizant of all the particulars, nor of how matters stood in general,
+and they were determined to petition his majesty against his
+appointment. They assured him he was not fit for the important office of
+governor of New Spain; that the bishop of Burgos, the avowed enemy of
+the Conquistadores, the faithful servants of his majesty, had procured
+this appointment without first acquainting his majesty with the real
+state of affairs, merely to favour the governor of Cuba, and him
+(Tapia), to whom he had promised one of his own nieces in marriage, a
+certain Doņa Fonseca.
+
+When Tapia found that all his eloquence, papers, letters, promises, and
+threats availed him nothing, he fell ill from downright vexation. Our
+officers then wrote Cortes word of everything that had transpired, and
+advised him to forward a few bars of gold, with some jewels, to sooth
+Tapia in his excessive disappointment; all of which our general sent
+without delay, and our officers purchased some negroes and three horses
+from Tapia, who then returned to St. Domingo. Neither did he meet with
+the best of receptions there, as the royal court of audience and the
+Hieronymite brotherhood had been exceedingly vexed with him for having
+persisted in going to New Spain, though they had so strongly advised him
+not to do so, as the time was badly chosen, and his arrival there would
+create disputes, and only tend to interrupt the progress of the conquest
+of New Spain. But Tapia had placed all his reliance on the protection of
+the bishop of Burgos, wherefore they had not dared to detain him by
+force in St. Domingo, particularly as his appointment had been made out
+by the president of the council of the Indies, and as the emperor
+himself still continued in Flanders.
+
+I will now return to Cortes' plan of forming settlements. Alvarado, as I
+have mentioned above, was sent for this purpose to a province abounding
+in gold, called Tuztepec, which must not be confounded with Tutepec,
+whither Sandoval was despatched for the same end. Sandoval was also to
+make a settlement on the river Panuco, as Cortes had received
+intelligence that a certain Francisco de Garay had fitted out an
+extensive armament for the same object, in which Cortes wished to
+anticipate him.
+
+About this time our general again sent Rodrigo Rangel to Vera Cruz as
+commandant of that place, and ordered Gonzalo de Alvarado to conduct
+Narvaez to Cojohuacan, where Cortes still occupied the same palace,
+until the one should be finished which was building for him in Mexico.
+Cortes' motive for ordering Narvaez to be brought to Mexico was,
+because he had been informed that, in a conversation he had had with
+Christobal de Tapia, he thus addressed him: "Seņor, you are come here
+with the same lawful authority as I came before you, but it will avail
+you no more than it did me, who arrived, moreover, in this country with
+so large a body of troops. I advise you to be upon your guard, lest they
+put you to death. You have no time to lose; for the wheel of fortune
+still turns in favour of Cortes and his men. Strive to get as much gold
+out of them as you can, and with that journey to his majesty in Spain,
+and relate to him how matters stand here; and if you can rely upon the
+bishop Fonseca's protection, so much the better for your cause. This is
+the best advice I can give you."
+
+Narvaez, on his journey to Mexico, was greatly surprised at the large
+towns he passed through; but when he came to Tezcuco, then to
+Cojohuacan, and saw the lake, with the numerous other large towns, and
+Mexico itself, he was perfectly astonished.
+
+Cortes had given orders that he should be treated with the utmost
+respect, and, immediately on his arrival, was to be brought into his
+presence. Narvaez, on coming up to our general, fell down on one knee to
+kiss his hand. Cortes, however, would not consent to this, but, raising
+him up, embraced him affectionately, and desired him to take a seat next
+to his person; when Narvaez thus addressed him: "General! I am now
+convinced, from what I have seen of this vast country and its numerous
+towns, that of all the deeds of arms which you have accomplished in New
+Spain with your troops, the least victory has been that which you gained
+over me and my troops; and had these even been much more numerous I am
+sure we should have been defeated. You cannot be too highly honoured and
+rewarded for having subjected so vast a territory, with so many large
+cities, to the sceptre of our emperor. I am convinced that the most
+famous generals of our time will agree with me, that what you have
+accomplished surpasses everything that the greatest and most renowned
+captains have ever done before you, in the same degree as the city of
+Mexico surpasses every other town of the world in strength of position.
+Indeed, you and your brave soldiers have merited the greatest rewards
+from his majesty."
+
+To these and other flattering speeches, Cortes answered, "What we have
+done was certainly not of ourselves alone, but through the great mercy
+of the Almighty, who protected us, and the good fortune which always
+attends the troops of our great emperor."
+
+Cortes now also began to make the necessary regulations for the
+rebuilding of the great and celebrated city of Mexico; he marked out
+the ground for the churches, monasteries, private dwellings, public
+squares, and assigned a particular quarter of the town for the Mexican
+population. This city was rebuilt with so much splendour, that, in the
+opinion of those who have travelled through the greater part of
+Christendom, Mexico, after its restoration, was a larger and a more
+populous city than any they had seen, and the architectural style of the
+houses more magnificent.
+
+While Cortes was busily engaged with these matters, he received
+intelligence that the province of Panuco had revolted, and the whole of
+its numerous and warlike population had risen up in arms. Many of the
+Spanish settlers had been murdered by the inhabitants, and the few who
+had escaped begged for immediate assistance.
+
+As soon as our general heard this bad news, he determined to march
+thither in person, as all our chief officers were absent, with their
+respective detachments, in the provinces. He therefore collected all the
+cavalry, crossbow-men, musketeers, and other troops he could; and it
+fortunately happened that considerable recruits arrived in Mexico about
+this time from those who came in the suite of Tapia, and of the troops
+of Vazquez de Aillon, whose expedition to Florida terminated so
+miserably; besides that, numbers had arrived from the Caribbee and other
+islands.
+
+Cortes left a strong garrison in Mexico, under the command of Diego
+Soto, and set out on his march with no more than 250 Spanish troops,
+including the musketeers, crossbow-men, and 130 horse; but to this small
+body he added 10,000 Mexican auxiliaries.
+
+Before Cortes left, Christobal de Oli returned from the province of
+Mechoacan, which he had completely subdued, and was accompanied by many
+caziques, as also by the son of Consi, the great cazique of the
+province. He likewise brought with him a large quantity of gold, but of
+very inferior quality, being considerably mixed with copper and silver.
+
+This expedition to the province of Panuco cost our general a large sum
+of money, which he subsequently requested the emperor to reimburse him;
+but the board of finance refused this, and told him he ought to bear all
+the expenses himself, as he had subdued that province to suit his own
+private views, and to anticipate Garay, who was fitting out an extensive
+armament in Jamaica for the same purpose.
+
+Cortes found the whole province of Panuco in a terrible state of
+rebellion. He several times offered the inhabitants peace, but to no
+purpose, and the consequence was a series of battles, of which ten were
+very severe, three Spaniards and four horses being killed, besides one
+hundred of the Mexican auxiliaries. In these battles the enemy had
+brought 60,000 men into the field; yet Cortes defeated them with
+considerable loss, and they never after felt any inclination to fight
+against him.
+
+Cortes, finding that the district he was in contained abundance of
+provisions, staid eight days in a township near the field of battle,
+and, ardently desirous of restoring peace to the country, he sent father
+Olmedo and ten distinguished caziques he had taken prisoners in the last
+battles, with Doņa Marina and Aguilar, to the enemy. Father Olmedo then
+addressed the several chiefs in a suitable speech, and asked them, among
+other things, how they could have entertained a hope of maintaining
+their independence, as they well knew that the city of Mexico, which had
+been defended by so many brave warriors, was obliged to surrender to our
+emperor. They ought, therefore, to sue for peace, and he promised them
+that Cortes would pardon their past behaviour. By these and other
+representations which the excellent father made to them, mixed up with a
+few threats, they were brought to their senses, and began to reflect on
+the large body of men they had lost, and the number of towns which had
+been sacked and burnt to the ground; so that, at length, they agreed to
+send a message of peace to Cortes, with a few ornaments of gold. Our
+general received the ambassadors very kindly, and assured them of his
+future friendship.
+
+From this place Cortes marched, with half of his troops, to the river
+Chila, which lay at about twenty miles from the sea shore, and requested
+the tribes inhabiting the country on the opposite side to send him
+messengers of peace. But as their bellies were still full of the flesh
+of the many Spaniards they had killed belonging to the several
+expeditions which had been sent thither during the two last years by
+Garay, to form settlements, they imagined they would be able to
+overthrow Cortes with the same ease. They likewise placed great
+dependence in the inaccessibility of the places they inhabited, which
+lay between large lakes, rivers, and morasses; they therefore not only
+refused to return an answer, but murdered the ambassadors whom Cortes
+had sent to them. He, however, still remained quiet for a few days, to
+see whether they would not alter their minds; but, finding they
+persisted in their hostile feeling towards him, he ordered all the
+canoes which lay in the river to be seized; and with these, and some
+boats he ordered to be constructed from the wrecks of the old vessels
+belonging to Garay's expedition, he crossed the river with one hundred
+and fifty men, among which there were fifty horse, the rest being, for
+the greater part, crossbow-men and musketeers. The enemy, who had posted
+strong detachments at different points along the banks of the river,
+allowed our troops to cross unmolested, but were ready to receive them
+on the opposite side.
+
+If these Guastecs had come with great numbers into the field on previous
+occasions, they came this time with more, and fell upon our men like so
+many furious lions. In this encounter they killed two soldiers and
+wounded above thirty others; three horses were likewise killed and
+fifteen wounded. Our Mexican auxiliaries also suffered a considerable
+loss; but Cortes gave the enemy so rough a reception that they soon took
+to flight, leaving behind them great numbers of killed and wounded.
+
+Cortes quartered his troops for the night in a township which was quite
+deserted by its inhabitants, but where he found abundance of provisions.
+The following morning, as his men were looking about the place, they
+came to a temple, inside of which they found suspended various articles
+of Spanish dress, the scalps and the tanned skins of the faces of
+several Spaniards, with the beards attached to them. These were the
+remains of the soldiers of Garay's expedition to the river Panuco. In
+many of these skins our men recognized former acquaintances, and some
+even their intimate friends. It was indeed a melancholy sight to them,
+and they took down those miserable remains to give them Christian
+burial.
+
+From this place Cortes marched to another township, and observed every
+military precaution, the men being each moment prepared for an attack,
+as he well knew that the tribes of this province were very warlike. His
+spies soon came in with the intelligence that large bodies of the enemy
+lay in ambush to fall suddenly on our men while they should be dispersed
+among the houses.
+
+Our troops being thus apprized of the enemy's intentions, the latter
+were unable to do them much injury; yet they bravely attacked our
+troops, and fought with great intrepidity for about half an hour, when
+our cavalry and musketeers succeeded in putting them to flight. In this
+engagement Cortes had two horses killed, besides seven others wounded,
+and fifteen of the men so severely that three died shortly after. These
+Indians have the peculiar custom, when they are compelled to retreat, to
+face about three several times to renew the attack, a mode of warfare
+which has seldom been found among these tribes. After this battle, the
+enemy retreated to a river which was of considerable depth, and very
+rapid. Our cavalry and light-armed foot pursued them most vigorously,
+and wounded great numbers.
+
+The day following, Cortes marched further up the country, and passed
+through several townships, but every one was deserted by its
+inhabitants. In these towns they found, in subterranean vaults, a great
+number of large earthen jars filled with the wine of the country.[31]
+Our general, after marching in this way for another five days, and
+nowhere meeting with any of the inhabitants, returned to the river
+Chila.
+
+Cortes now again invited the inhabitants on the opposite side of the
+river to send ambassadors to conclude peace with him, and this time he
+was more successful; for, as they had lost a great number of men, and
+feared another incursion into their country, they sent word that they
+would despatch messengers of peace to us after the lapse of four days,
+which time they required to collect some gold for a present. Cortes
+therefore patiently awaited the time specified; but, as no one came, he
+then determined to attack a large township which lay on the banks of a
+lake, surrounded by rivers and morasses. This place he was resolved to
+attack from the lake side, to do which he had to cross the latter; and
+this he accomplished by means of canoes fastened two and two together.
+On these a part of our troops, with a great number of Mexicans, embarked
+in a dark rainy night, passed unobserved across the lake, and fell into
+the town before the inhabitants were in the least aware of it. The town
+was completely destroyed, and most of the inhabitants killed, our
+Mexican auxiliaries carrying off a rich booty.
+
+As soon as the inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood received
+information of this, they no longer hesitated as to what they should do;
+and, in the space of five days, messengers of peace came pouring in from
+all sides; the most distant mountain tribes, whose territory our troops
+had not yet visited, alone refusing to send any ambassadors.
+
+Cortes then laid the foundation of a town, about four miles from the
+river Chila, and left there one hundred and fifty Spaniards, among whom
+were twenty-seven horse, thirty-six musketeers and crossbow-men. The
+whole of the townships which had sued for peace he divided among these
+troops as commendaries. Of this town, which received the name of
+Santisteban del Puerto, he appointed Pedro Vallejo commandant.
+
+Cortes was just on the point of leaving this new town, and of marching
+back to Mexico, when he received certain information that three
+townships, which had previously stood at the head of the rebellion in
+this province, had again conspired to revolt. The inhabitants of these
+three townships had put a great number of Spaniards to death after they
+had sued for peace and had declared themselves vassals of our emperor,
+and now were using every means to persuade the population of the
+surrounding neighbourhood to join them in an attack upon our new
+settlement, and kill every Spaniard left behind when Cortes should have
+departed with the remaining troops for Mexico. Cortes having convinced
+himself of the truth of this report, burnt the three towns to the
+ground, but they were subsequently rebuilt by these same tribes.
+
+About this time the following misfortune happened. Cortes, previous to
+leaving Mexico, had sent orders to Vera Cruz for a quantity of wine,
+preserved fruits, and biscuits, besides a number of horse shoes, all of
+which was to be forwarded to the province of Panuco. A vessel without
+delay was despatched with these things from Vera Cruz, which arrived
+safe off the coast of Panuco, where, unfortunately, it was overtaken by
+a terrific storm from the south, and went to the bottom of the sea: only
+three of the crew were saved, who clung to some loose pieces of wood and
+were driven to a small island about sixteen miles from the mainland,
+which was covered in places with white sand.
+
+Every night great numbers of seals came on shore to sleep on the sand,
+and these were the means of keeping the three men alive, who killed them
+and roasted their flesh at a fire which they kindled after the Indian
+manner, by rubbing two pieces of wood vehemently together. By digging a
+well towards the middle of the island they procured themselves fresh
+water, and at last even found a species of fig, so that they could not
+at least die of hunger; and in this way they continued to live for the
+space of two months, when they were rescued in the following manner.
+
+Cortes having waited a length of time in vain at Santisteban del Puerto
+for this vessel, wrote to his major-domo at Mexico to know the reason
+why the things he sent for had not arrived. When his major-domo received
+this letter he soon guessed that some accident must have happened to the
+vessel, and instantly sent out another in search of her. It pleased God
+in his great mercy that the vessel should approach the small island
+where the three Spaniards had been cast on shore, who had had the good
+sense to keep a large fire burning night and day.
+
+The reader can easily picture to himself the great joy of these men when
+this vessel arrived off the island: they immediately embarked in her,
+and sailed for Vera Cruz. One of these men, whose name was Celiano,
+subsequently lived in Mexico.
+
+Cortes was on his way to Mexico when he received information that
+several tribes which inhabited the wildest part of the mountains had
+risen up in arms, and were committing every kind of depredation against
+those of their neighbours who had entered into an alliance with us. He
+therefore determined to put an end to these hostilities before he
+returned to the metropolis; but these ferocious tribes being apprized of
+his approach, lay wait for him in a dangerous mountain pass, attacked
+his baggage, killed many of the Indian porters, and plundered them of
+all they carried. Our cavalry, which now came up to the assistance of
+those who had charge of the baggage, lost two horses from the rugged
+state of the road. These Indians, however, had to pay dearly for all
+this when our troops reached their towns, for the Mexican warriors
+showed very little mercy, and killed and took numbers of them prisoners.
+The cazique and his chief officer were hung, and the baggage of which
+they had plundered our troops was retaken.
+
+After the execution of these men, Cortes commanded the Mexicans to stay
+hostilities, and he summoned the chiefs and papas of the province to
+send him ambassadors, who now arrived without delay, and acknowledged
+themselves subjects of our emperor. Cortes then appointed the brother of
+him who had been executed, cazique of the place; and, after thus
+restoring peace to the province, he continued his march to Mexico.
+
+I must here observe that there is not a more wicked, a more uncivilized,
+or a more filthy people in the whole of New Spain than the inhabitants
+of the province of Panuco; and in no part were human sacrifices found to
+be so frequent or so barbarous. The inhabitants were excessive
+drunkards, and guilty of every kind of abomination: however, they met
+with due punishment; for, after our troops had visited their country a
+few times with fire and sword, they received, in the person of Nuņo de
+Guzman, who became governor there, a much severer scourge. He sold
+almost the whole of them for slaves to the different islands, as we
+shall see in the proper place.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLIX.
+
+    _How Cortes and the officers of the crown forward to Spain the
+    wardrobe of Motecusuma, and the emperor's share of the booty; and
+    what further happened._
+
+
+After this campaign in the province of Panuco, Cortes was busily
+occupied with the rebuilding of the city of Mexico.
+
+Alonso de Avila, who had been despatched to the island of St. Domingo to
+communicate there in Cortes' name with the royal court of audience and
+the Hieronymite brotherhood, had by this time returned to Mexico, and
+had obtained for Cortes the necessary powers from the above courts to
+subdue the whole of New Spain, turn the inhabitants into slaves, mark
+them with a red-hot iron, and distribute the Indians into commendaries
+in the same manner as was customary at Hispaniola, Cuba, and Jamaica.
+This power granted to Cortes was to remain in force until the emperor's
+pleasure was known on this head. The Hieronymite brotherhood duly
+apprized his majesty of all this, and despatched a vessel for that
+purpose to Spain; and though the young emperor was at that time still in
+Flanders, their despatches arrived safely in his hands. As the
+Hieronymite brotherhood were well aware of the bad feeling which the
+bishop of Burgos always had evinced towards us, they purposely omitted
+to acquaint him with the nature of these despatches; and, upon the
+whole, they never communicated with him excepting on matters of trifling
+import.
+
+Alonso de Avila, as I have before remarked, was a man who feared no one,
+and had formerly held some office immediately under the bishop of
+Burgos, so that it was fortunate he happened to be absent upon the
+mission just mentioned, in St. Domingo, when Christobal de Tapia arrived
+at Vera Cruz with the appointment of governor of New Spain, as the
+latter had brought letters from the bishop to him, and on such an
+occasion the determined character of Avila might have greatly injured
+our general's cause.
+
+Cortes, who was thoroughly acquainted with this man's disposition,
+always strove to keep him at a distance from his person; and now again,
+upon the advice of father Olmedo, he presented him with the lucrative
+township of Quauhtitlan, which would give him constant occupation; and
+Cortes added to this a considerable sum of money, by which he gained him
+so completely over to his side, that he soon after intrusted him with a
+most important mission, by despatching him and Quiņones, the captain of
+the guards, to Spain, as his own procuradores, and those of New Spain in
+general; and provided them with two vessels which were to carry over to
+the emperor 88,000 pesos, in gold bars, and the wardrobe of Motecusuma,
+which had hitherto been in the possession of Quauhtemoctzin. The latter
+was a valuable present, and well worthy of our great emperor's
+acceptance, as it contained jewels of the most precious kind, pearls of
+the size of hazel nuts, and various other precious stones, which I
+should not like to enumerate singly, even if my memory would allow me.
+At the same time were sent the bones of the giants which we found in the
+temple of Cojohuacan, similar to those bones which were previously given
+to us by the Tlascallans, and which we had sent to Spain on a former
+occasion.
+
+Three tigers, and several other curiosities, which I have now forgotten
+by name, were likewise shipped on board these two vessels.
+
+The chief magistrates of Mexico, on this occasion, wrote a letter to the
+emperor, and we, the conquistadores, with father Olmedo and the royal
+treasurer, drew up an humble address to our monarch, in which we first
+of all mentioned with praise the many important and faithful services
+which Cortes and all of us had rendered to his imperial majesty; we gave
+him a full account of the siege of the city of Mexico and the discovery
+of the southern ocean, and added we were convinced these countries would
+prove a source of great wealth to Spain. We then requested his majesty
+to send to New Spain a bishop and monks of different religious orders,
+but all to be pious and well-informed men, that they might assist us in
+extending the holy catholic faith in these countries. We likewise humbly
+petitioned his majesty to appoint Cortes viceroy of New Spain, as he had
+proved himself so meritorious and faithful an officer to the Spanish
+crown. In the same way we begged the favour for ourselves, that all
+appointments made by the crown in this country might exclusively be
+given to us the conquistadores or to our sons. Further, we requested his
+majesty not to send any lawyers into the country, as those persons, with
+all their learning, would merely breed lawsuits, discord, and confusion
+throughout the whole country. We then mentioned how Christobal de Tapia
+had been sent as viceroy to New Spain by the appointment of the bishop
+of Burgos, assuring his majesty that Tapia was not fit to fill such an
+important situation, and that if he had been allowed to enter upon the
+viceroyalty of New Spain, that country would undoubtedly have been lost
+again to the Spanish crown. We were compelled to clear up all these
+circumstances to his majesty, as we feared the bishop of Burgos had not
+only omitted to lay before his majesty our previous despatches, but had
+also misrepresented things to him, in order to favour his friends
+Velasquez and Tapia, to the latter of whom he had promised the hand of
+his niece Doņa Petronella de Fonseca. Tapia had certainly produced
+papers relative to his appointment, of the genuineness of which there
+could really be no doubt, and we had indeed perused them with deep
+veneration, and we would immediately have obeyed the instructions they
+contained if we had considered Tapia a proper person to fill the
+important office of governor; but as he was neither a soldier nor a man
+of sufficient mind and determination of character, nor possessed of
+talents requisite for a viceroy, we found ourselves necessitated to
+inform his majesty of the whole state of affairs, which was the real
+object of this present humble address of his majesty's faithful and
+obedient servants. We then prayed his majesty to decide in these
+matters, and particularly requested that he would not allow the bishop
+of Burgos in any way to interfere in matters which concerned Cortes and
+ourselves, as otherwise all further conquests we contemplated in New
+Spain would be interrupted; nor should we even be able to maintain peace
+in the provinces that were subdued. As a proof of the bishop's enmity
+towards us, we mentioned that he had forbidden the two harbour masters
+of Seville, Pedro de Isasaga and Juan Lopez de Recalte, to allow any
+arms or soldiers which were destined for Cortes or our army in general,
+to leave that place. We then gave his majesty an account of the recent
+campaign of Panuco, how the inhabitants had been obliged to sue for
+peace, and had declared themselves vassals of his majesty; what terrible
+battles they had fought with Cortes, and how they had killed all the
+officers and soldiers which Garay had sent thither from time to time.
+This campaign, we went on to say, cost Cortes above 60,000 pesos, which
+he had paid out of his own private purse, the reimbursement of which he
+had in vain solicited from the royal treasurers; that Garay was fitting
+out a new armament in Jamaica destined for the province of Panuco, but
+it was advisable that his majesty should issue orders for him to
+postpone that expedition until we should have completely subdued the
+country, that he might not again sacrifice the lives of his men to no
+purpose, and create an insurrection in the country, which would be sure
+to ensue if he arrived there beforehand, as the Indians, and
+particularly the Mexicans, would immediately conclude that there was no
+unanimity in the operations of the Spanish generals; conspiracies would
+be formed, and the whole country would rise up into open rebellion.
+
+These and many other things we wrote to his majesty, nor was Cortes' pen
+idle on this occasion, for he also sent the emperor an account of every
+circumstance in a private despatch, which contained twenty pages, and I
+know their contents pretty well, as I read them all through with great
+attention. Among other things, he solicited his majesty's permission to
+proceed to Cuba in order to take the viceroy Diego Velasquez prisoner,
+and send him to Spain, there to stand his trial for having sent persons
+to murder him, Cortes, and for having upon the whole endeavoured to
+confuse the affairs of New Spain.
+
+With these despatches, the money, and other valuable matters, Quiņones
+and Avila set sail from Vera Cruz on the 20th of December, 1522, and
+safely passed through the straits of Bahama. On their voyage two of the
+three tigers broke lose and made their escape, after wounding several
+of the crew; it was then determined that the third should be killed,
+which was in fact the most ferocious of the three. Without any further
+accident they arrived off the island of Tercera, where they dropped
+anchor. During their stay on this island, Quiņones, who had a vast idea
+of his courage and was of a very amorous disposition, got into a quarrel
+about some female, and received such a terrible blow on the head that he
+died a few days after of the consequences, so that Avila had to transact
+all our business himself.
+
+The two vessels then continued their voyage, but had not advanced far
+beyond the island of Tercera when they fell in with the redoubted French
+corsair Jean Florin, who attacked and took both vessels, carrying Avila
+with the crews to France.
+
+About this same time Jean Florin captured another vessel, bound from St.
+Domingo, having on board above 20,000 pesos, besides a quantity of
+pearls, sugar, and a great number of cow hides. With these valuable
+prizes the corsair returned to France a wealthy man, and made the king
+and the lord high admiral of France splendid presents out of the things
+he had captured; and the whole of France was amazed at the treasures we
+thus forwarded to our emperor. This very circumstance even created a
+great desire in the mind of the French king to take possession of part
+of the Caribbee islands; and it was upon this occasion he exclaimed that
+our emperor could carry on the war with him solely with the riches he
+drew from the West Indies! And yet at that time the Spaniards had not
+subdued or even discovered Peru. The king of France on this occasion
+also sent word to our great emperor, that as he and the king of Portugal
+had divided the world between themselves, without offering him any part
+of it, he should like them to show him our father Adam's will, that he
+might convince himself whether he had really constituted them the sole
+heirs to these countries. As long as they refused to comply with this,
+he would consider himself justified to possess himself of everything he
+could on the high seas: and indeed it was not long before he again sent
+out Jean Florin with a small fleet, who took considerable prizes at sea,
+between Spain and the Canaries; but as he was returning home with them
+to France he fell in with three or four Biscay men of war, who attacked
+him with such determination, that after a severe engagement he was
+obliged to surrender, with the whole of his vessels, and he, with his
+captains, was brought in a prisoner to Seville. These prisoners were
+then immediately sent to the emperor, who, however, on the first
+intelligence of their capture, ordered them to be tried, when they were
+found guilty, and the whole of them were hung in the harbour of Pico.
+
+Such was the miserable end of Jean Florin, who carried off to France all
+the gold we had intended for our emperor! As for Avila, he was detained
+a close prisoner in one of the French fortresses, as the king of France
+expected a large ransom for a man who had been commissioned to convey so
+vast a treasure from the new world to Spain; but Avila by some means or
+other succeeded in bribing the commandant of the fortress, and secretly
+sent intelligence to Spain of the object of his mission; he even managed
+to forward Cortes' despatches, with all his papers and our letters,
+either into the hands of the licentiate Nuņez, who was a cousin of
+Cortes, and reporter of the royal council of Madrid, or into those of
+Cortes' father or of Diego de Ordas. These papers were instantly
+despatched to his majesty in Flanders, without their being at all
+noticed to the bishop of Burgos, who had not been able to hide his
+pleasure when he heard that all the gold, with our despatches, had
+fallen into the hands of the French corsair.
+
+From this moment we had nothing further to fear from the bishop, for his
+majesty now received full particulars of all the circumstances; and
+though he felt grieved at the loss of so much gold, yet he was in one
+sense pleased it had fallen into the hands of the French king, for it
+would convince that monarch we should never let our emperor want for
+money to wage war with him. He also sent peremptory orders to the bishop
+of Burgos to aid Cortes in every way with regard to the affairs of New
+Spain; adding, that he was shortly coming to Spain himself, in order to
+investigate the dispute between Cortes and the governor of Cuba. When
+news of the capture of Avila, with the loss of the whole treasure we
+sent by him, reached New Spain, we all felt exceedingly grieved; but
+Cortes immediately collected all the gold and silver he could, which had
+recently been brought in from the province of Mechoacan, and of this he
+ordered a cannon to be cast, which he intended as a present to the
+emperor, and gave to it the name of phoenix.
+
+The government of the township of Quauhtitlan was also carried on in the
+name of Avila until the arrival, three years after, of his brother Gil
+Gonsalez in New Spain, who was deputed by Avila to take the sole
+government of his Indian property, as he himself was determined never
+again to cross the sea, though he had obtained the appointment of
+treasurer of Yucatan.
+
+But all this is rather foreign to my narrative, and I will rather relate
+what happened to Sandoval and the other officers whom Cortes sent out to
+form settlements in the provinces. But so many circumstances happened in
+the meantime, that I was obliged to break the thread of my history, and
+they were certainly too important to withhold from the curious reader.
+There was the arrival of Christobal de Tapia in Vera Cruz, which obliged
+Cortes to recall Sandoval and Alvarado from their expeditions into the
+provinces, in order that they might assist him with their excellent
+support and counsel in a matter of so much importance. Then there was
+the insurrection in the province of Panuco, and the mission to our
+emperor; and so it happened that my narrative became rather confused.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLX.
+
+    _How Sandoval arrives in the town of Tustepec, what he did there;
+    his march to the river Guacasualco, and what further happened._
+
+
+As soon as Sandoval arrived in the township of Tustepec, messengers of
+peace came to him from every part of the province, and there were only a
+few Mexican chiefs who durst not make their appearance, on account of
+the sixty Spaniards, with their wives, (all of Narvaez's corps,) who had
+been massacred in this place. It was two months after this tragical
+affair that I arrived at Tustepec with Sandoval, and I took up my
+quarters in a kind of tower, which had been a temple. In this same tower
+my unfortunate countrymen had sought refuge when they were attacked by
+the inhabitants, and had defended themselves until hunger, thirst, and
+wounds put an end to their existence. I selected this tower, which was
+very high, to rid myself of the moschitoes, which swarmed in this
+neighbourhood, and plagued us all day long; besides which, I was here in
+the immediate vicinity of Sandoval's quarters, which rendered mine
+doubly convenient to me.
+
+Sandoval was very desirous of getting the above-mentioned chiefs into
+his power, and at length succeeded in capturing the principal one, who
+was tried, and sentenced to the stake. Several other Mexicans were
+brought in at the same time with this chief, but though they had equally
+deserved death, they were allowed to go at large, and thus one had to
+suffer for all. Sandoval then sent to the townships of the province of
+the Tzapotecs, which lay about forty miles further on, desiring them to
+despatch messengers of peace to him; but they refusing to do so, he
+ordered off the captain Briones (who had commanded one of the
+brigantines, and had, as he himself assured us, signalized himself in
+the Italian wars,) against them, with one hundred men, among whom there
+were thirty crossbow-men and musketeers, besides one hundred auxiliaries
+of the allied provinces. The Tzapotecs were duly apprized of Briones's
+approach, and lay in ambush for him, from which they fell suddenly upon
+him, and wounded more than a third part of his men, of whom one died
+soon after. The Tzapotecs inhabit the most rugged and inaccessible
+mountain districts, where no cavalry can approach, and even the foot
+soldiers could with difficulty move along narrow paths, one behind the
+other; besides which, these mountains are enveloped in everlasting
+mists, and the dew is always falling, which renders the ground so
+slippery that it is dangerous to move along. The lances of this people
+were also very formidable, and much longer than ours, and provided with
+a species of blade made of flint, which is much sharper than a Spanish
+sword. They also had light shields, which covered the whole body, and
+they use the bow, the pike, and the sling. When these wild people, who
+are excessively nimble, bounded from one rock to another, where our men
+could not get at them, they communicated with each other by means of
+piping and shouting, and the noise rolled and resounded through the
+mountains for a length of time, until lost in distant echoes.
+
+The captain Briones then returned with a great number of his men
+wounded, he himself having been struck by an arrow. The township where
+he met with this defeat was called Tiltepec, and the inhabitants
+subsequently submitted of their own accord, when the district was given
+as a commendary to a soldier, named Ojeda, the one-eyed, who at present
+lives in the town of San Ildefonso.
+
+When Briones called upon Sandoval to give him an account of his
+expedition, and said a great deal about the courage of the Tzapotecs,
+Sandoval reminded him of the many bloody engagements he had spoken of in
+his Italian campaigns, and added, "It appears, nevertheless, captain,
+that you experienced hotter work on this occasion than in any of your
+previous battles?"
+
+Briones, who appeared greatly annoyed, swore that he would at any time
+rather stand over against heavy cannon and a large army, would even
+rather fight against the Turks and Saracens, than against the Tzapotecs;
+and adduced good reasons for saying so.
+
+To this Sandoval immediately answered, "Then I must say I am sorry I
+gave you that command; but after the many things you have told us of
+your Italian campaigns, I could not help thinking but this expedition
+would be a mere frolic to you. In what light will these Tzapotecs look
+upon us henceforth? At present they will certainly entertain a different
+notion of our bravery to what they did previously!"
+
+After this unfortunate expedition, Sandoval sent word to the inhabitants
+of the province of Xaltepec that they should despatch ambassadors to us,
+and declare themselves vassals of our emperor. This tribe also belongs
+to the Tzapotecs, and their country is bounded by that of the Minxes,
+another very courageous and warlike tribe, with whom the Xaltepecs
+happened to be at war just then. Twenty of the caziques and principal
+personages soon made their appearance, bringing with them a present of
+gold dust in ten small tubes, besides various pretty ornaments. These
+chiefs were clad in very large cotton cloaks, which hung down to their
+feet, and were embroidered after the manner of the Moorish mantle. They
+presented themselves to Sandoval with a most respectful demeanour, who
+received them most courteously, and gave them some glass beads. This
+kind reception emboldened them to beg of him that some of his teules
+might accompany them home, in order to assist their country in a war
+against the Minxes; but as Sandoval at that moment could not well spare
+any of his men, as a great part of Briones' detachment was wounded, and
+many suffering with fever, of which four men had recently died, he put
+off these chiefs with many flattering assurances, and promised them he
+would request Malinche, who was at Mexico, to send a strong body of
+teules to their assistance; in the meantime he would send eight of his
+companions with them to explore the dangerous passes and that part of
+the country from which they intended to fall upon the Minxes. But
+Sandoval's real motive in sending these ten soldiers with them was, that
+they might visit those districts, and particularly the mines whence the
+Xaltepecs obtained their gold. Three of the caziques Sandoval desired
+should remain with him, and the rest left in our company. It happened
+that there were three soldiers of the name of Castillo in Sandoval's
+troops, who all accompanied the caziques on this occasion. One was
+Alonso de Castillo, surnamed the _Discreet_, because he always gave a
+ready and suitable answer to any question that was put to him; the
+second was myself, whom the soldiers surnamed the _Gallant_, for at that
+time I prided myself very much on my courteous behaviour: the third
+Castillo had a very meditative countenance, and always took a long time
+to consider before he replied; but when he did it was sure to be
+something very ridiculous, and he was surnamed the _Deliberate_. But
+enough of this. We arrived in the province, and began diligently to
+explore the mines, accompanied by a great number of Indians, who washed
+the gold dust for us in a kind of trough, from the sand of three
+different rivers. In this way we obtained four tubes full of gold dust,
+each about the thickness of the middle finger. Sandoval was highly
+delighted when we brought him these, and concluded that the country must
+contain rich gold mines. He then divided the townships of the province
+among those of his men whom he intended leaving behind; for himself he
+took the townships of Guazpaltepec, which at that time was by far the
+best property in this province, and lay in the neighbourhood of the
+mines, from which Sandoval collected above 15,000 pesos' worth of gold,
+and he was quite surprised at his own good fortune. The chief command of
+the province he gave to Luis Marin, and presented him with lands equal
+to an earldom; in the course of time, however, these possessions turned
+out less valuable than was at first expected. Sandoval also offered me
+some very good and valuable townships in this province, and I wish to
+heavens I had accepted of them. These places were called Maltlatan,
+Ozotekipa, and Orizaba, where the viceroy at present has a mill. I
+refused these possessions, because I considered that I was in honour
+bound not to leave Sandoval, who was my particular friend. He was well
+aware of my reasons, and in the subsequent campaigns I made with him he
+strove in every way to further my views.
+
+In this province Sandoval laid the foundation of a town, which, by the
+desire of Cortes, he named Medellin, after the latter's native place, in
+Estremadura. There was a bay in this province, into which the
+Chalchocucea river[32] empties itself, or, as we termed it, the Banderas
+stream, where we made the 16,000 pesos during the expedition under
+Grijalva; at first all communication with Spain was from this harbour,
+until Vera Cruz became the chief port.
+
+We now marched towards the river Guacasualco, and we may have been about
+240 miles from the last-mentioned town, when we arrived on the confines
+of the province of Citla, the climate of which is the most bracing of
+all, the country itself abounding in provisions, and more thickly
+populated than any we had visited. It was of this province I remarked
+that it was forty-eight miles long, as many in breadth, with a vast
+population.
+
+When we arrived at the river Guacasualco we sent for the caziques of the
+different townships; but as three days passed by without any one making
+his appearance, or our receiving any answer, we concluded the
+inhabitants were preparing to attack us. At first, indeed, they had
+resolved to oppose our crossing the river, but they soon came to a more
+reasonable determination, and arrived in our camp on the fifth day with
+a supply of provisions, and a few ornaments of very pure gold. They
+immediately offered to furnish us with a sufficient number of large
+canoes, if we felt any inclination to cross the river. Sandoval thanked
+them for their kind offer, but previously held a consultation with us as
+to whether it was advisable for all the troops to cross over at once;
+and we resolved that four men should first pass over, to see how matters
+stood in the township opposite, which lay close to the river side, and
+to get the chief cazique, whose name was Tochel, into their power. Four
+of our men accordingly went across the river, and after looking well
+about them, they brought us word that everything wore the most peaceable
+aspect, and were accompanied by the son of Tochel, who came with another
+small present of gold. Sandoval was vastly pleased with this news, and
+desired the caziques to furnish him with 100 canoes, which were fastened
+two and two together, to convey the horses across the river. It happened
+to be the day of Pentecost when we crossed over, and for this reason we
+called the township, which lay on this river, Villa de Espiritu Santo;
+also because it was the anniversary of the day on which we defeated
+Narvaez under the cry of Espiritu Santo.
+
+As this province submitted to our arms without offering any resistance,
+the flower of the troops which went out with Sandoval on this occasion,
+settled down here; as for instance, besides Sandoval himself, Luis
+Marin, Diego de Godoy, Francisco de Medina, Francisco Marmolejo,
+Francisco de Lugo, Juan Lopez de Aguirre, Hernando de Montes de Oca,
+Juan de Salamanca, Diego de Azamar, Mexia Rapapelo, Alonso de Grado, the
+licentiate Ledesma, Luis de Bustamente, Pedro Castellar, the captain
+Briones, a certain Mantilla, myself and several other cavaliers and men
+of distinction, all of whom I am unable to mention by name; but the
+reader may have some idea of our numbers, when I inform him that on days
+of parade, or whenever an alarm was sounded, we could always muster in
+the great square above eighty men on horseback; and it must be
+remembered that eighty horse at that time was more than five hundred at
+the present day; for horses were very scarce then in New Spain,
+excessively dear, and often not to be had at any price.
+
+The following are the provinces which Sandoval divided into commendaries
+on this occasion, after they had been fully explored by our
+troops,--Guacasualco, Guazpaltepec, Tepeca, Chinanta, and the
+Tzapotecas; along the banks of the river there were: Copilco, Cimatan,
+Tabasco, the mountains of Cachula, the country of the Zoqueschas and of
+the Quilenes; the districts of Tacheapa, Cinacatan and Papanachasta. All
+these districts were divided among the inhabitants of the new town, and
+as far as regards myself I should have been perfectly contented if I
+could have kept what I obtained on this occasion; but the country was of
+itself not very productive, and then we were led into ruinous lawsuits
+with three towns, which had by degrees sprung up in these parts; for
+instance, the town of Vera Cruz laid claim to Guazpaltepec, Chinanta,
+and Tepeca; Tabasco to the province of the Quilenes and Zogues; and,
+lastly, the town of Santo Ildefonso to the province of the Tzapotecs. If
+we had been allowed to retain our original boundaries we should have
+been rich men, but when his majesty issued an order that the boundaries
+of every Indian township and of all the Spanish towns should be
+accurately defined, our possessions became so terribly curtailed on
+every side, that at last we had nothing but a blank remaining, which is
+the reason why Guacasualco, which was at first the most beautiful and
+most thriving settlement of all, and where the most noble of the
+conquistadores of all New Spain had settled, fell to nothing again, and
+is at present a mere village, with a scanty population. While Sandoval
+was busily occupied with the founding of this town and in subduing other
+provinces, intelligence arrived that a vessel had run into the river
+Aguayalco, which forms a very bad harbour, and lies about sixty miles
+from Guacasualco. The passengers on board this vessel were Donna
+Catalina, the wife of Cortes; her brother Juan Juarez, who subsequently
+settled in Mexico; the lady Gambrana, with her sons; Villegas, with his
+daughters; and even their grandmother, besides several other married
+ladies. If I am not mistaken there was also Elvira Lopez, the tall, the
+wife of Juan Palma, who came with us to New Spain, but was subsequently
+condemned to the gallows; after which his widow married a certain
+Argueta. Of the number of gentlemen who came on this occasion, I
+remember a certain Antonio Diosdato, who settled in Guatimala.
+
+On the first intelligence of their arrival, Sandoval left with most of
+the officers and several of the soldiers to pay his respects to these
+ladies, and to those by whom they were accompanied. I still remember how
+heavily it rained at the time, and the difficulty we experienced in
+crossing the rivers, which had all overflowed their banks; heavy gales
+were blowing from the north, and indeed it was from distress of weather
+that the vessel had put into that harbour. Donna Catalina and all the
+passengers were highly delighted at our arrival, and they immediately
+accompanied us back to Guacasualco, from whence Sandoval despatched a
+courier to Mexico to inform Cortes of the arrival of his wife; who, with
+the other ladies, soon after left for the same place, accompanied by
+Sandoval, Briones, Lugo, and other cavaliers.
+
+It is said that Cortes was greatly vexed when he received intelligence
+of their arrival, though he did not show it, and even issued the
+necessary orders to give his wife a splendid reception. On the whole of
+her road to Mexico, as may be imagined, the greatest honours were paid
+to her, and when she arrived in the city itself all manner of
+festivities and tournaments took place to welcome her arrival. But the
+joy of this excellent lady was of short duration, for scarcely three
+months had elapsed when we received intelligence of her death, from a
+violent asthma.
+
+I must now relate what befel Villafuerta, who was sent out to colonize
+Zacatula, and Juan Alvarez Chico, who marched to Colima for a like
+purpose. Both of them had encountered the most obstinate resistance from
+the inhabitants, the whole of whom rose up in arms against them and
+killed several of their men. Cortes was excessively annoyed at the
+unfortunate termination of these expeditions; but as Oli happened to
+return about the same time from Mechoacan with a great quantity of gold,
+after having restored perfect tranquillity to that district, he looked
+upon him as the most likely man to subdue the provinces of Zacatula and
+Colima. He therefore despatched him thither as commander-in-chief with
+fifteen horse and thirty musketeers and crossbow-men.
+
+When Oli had arrived within a short distance of Zacatula, a large body
+of the enemy suddenly fell upon his troops in a narrow pass, with great
+dexterity; killed two of his men and wounded several others; he
+nevertheless drove them back, and safely reached the town built by
+Villafuerta, which with the whole settlement he found in a miserable
+condition. No one durst stir out of the town to visit the townships
+which had been bestowed upon him as a commendary; for the inhabitants
+had already put four Spaniards to death who had attempted to collect
+their rents.
+
+In all the provinces where Spanish settlements are formed, the chief
+colonists are presented with commendaries, and it is when these persons
+travel to the different townships to demand their tribute, that the
+inhabitants generally rise up in arms and murder every Spaniard they can
+seize. Christobal de Oli, therefore, had to fight many a severe battle
+before he could put down the insurrection, and he lost many of his men.
+What became of Juan Alvarez Chico, who had been sent to form settlements
+in Colima, I cannot exactly remember, though I think he was killed in
+one of the battles he fought with the natives.
+
+After Oli, as he thought, had restored peace to the province, he
+returned to Mexico, he having a short time previously married a
+beautiful Portuguese lady, named Filipa de Araujo; but he had scarcely
+set foot in Mexico when he received intelligence that the two provinces,
+Zacatula and Colima had again risen up in arms. This happened just about
+the time when Sandoval reached Mexico with Cortes' wife, and our general
+thought it best to despatch Sandoval to these rebellious provinces,
+though he could only furnish him with a few horse, and fifteen
+crossbow-men and musketeers; but every one of these men were of the
+original conquistadores, who made very short work with the rebels,
+punished two of the caziques of Colima, and completely quelled the
+rebellion, nor did the inhabitants ever after break out into
+hostilities. Sandoval was equally successful in Zacatula, so that he
+soon returned to Mexico.
+
+We who were stationed at Guacasualco, had in the meantime also our work
+to do, for scarcely had Sandoval departed when most of the provinces in
+which our commendaries lay again revolted, and it was with great
+difficulty we at length succeeded in tranquillising the inhabitants. The
+first district which had rebelled was that part of Xaltepec lying among
+rugged and almost inaccessible mountains, inhabited by a tribe of the
+Tzapotecs; this example was followed by Cimatan and Copilco, which are
+situated between large rivers and morasses; and, within forty-eight
+miles of Guacasualco, a Spaniard had been murdered on his own property.
+
+While the whole of us regidors, with the captain Luis Marin, and one of
+the alcaldes of the town were making arrangements for an expedition
+against the rebellious provinces, we were informed that a small vessel
+had run into the harbour, having on board Juan Bono de Quexo. This man
+said he came with authority from our emperor, we therefore determined to
+call upon him without delay to inquire the nature of his business.
+
+This Bono had first arrived in New Spain with Narvaez, and thus he was
+well known to us all. After he had given each of us a hearty embrace, he
+desired us to call a council of the chief authorities of the town, that
+he might notify to them certain powers with which he was invested by his
+majesty, and lay before them the instructions he had received from the
+bishop of Burgos, from whom he brought letters for all of us. He was
+provided with a number of blank papers, with only the bishop's signature
+attached to them, which Juan Bono now filled up with the names of the
+regidors, accompanied by all manner of fine promises, according to the
+instructions he had received from the bishop; these appointments were to
+be presented to the proper persons mentioned therein, if we gave up
+possession of the country to Cristobal de Tapia. This Bono was not at
+all aware that Tapia had returned to St. Domingo; and the bishop had so
+little suspected that we should not have acknowledged the authority of
+Tapia, that he sent Bono after him with this commission. Among others,
+my name was also put down in one of these appointments, as regidor.
+
+Bono did not disclose any part of his commission, or produce any of his
+papers, until we were all duly assembled in council; but as soon as he
+mentioned the nature of his business, we stopped any discussion on the
+matter, by telling him that Tapia himself had long ago left New Spain
+again, and we advised him to repair to Mexico, and lay his commission
+before Cortes.
+
+When Bono, to his great surprise, found that Tapia had left the country,
+he became quite downcast, set sail the very next day for Vera Cruz, from
+whence he journeyed overland to Mexico. What passed between him and
+Cortes I do not know, but I understood that the latter supplied him with
+a certain sum of money to defray the expenses of his voyage back to
+Spain.
+
+I could say a good deal of the numerous battles we fought, and of the
+great fatigues we underwent during our stay at Guacasualco, in putting
+down the frequent insurrections in the provinces; but it is high time I
+should relate something about the expedition of Alvarado to the province
+of Tutepec.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXI.
+
+    _How Alvarado marches to the province of Tutepec, to build a town
+    there; and how far he succeeded in subduing the country, and in
+    founding a colony._
+
+
+To give an account of Alvarado's expedition to the province of Tutepec,
+we must return to the period immediately following the conquest of
+Mexico. It will be remembered that after the news of the fall of that
+large city had spread through the provinces, ambassadors arrived from
+all parts to congratulate Cortes on this great victory over the Mexican
+power, and the different tribes declared themselves vassals of our
+emperor. Among the more powerful tribes which submitted on this occasion
+was that of the Tecuantepec--Tzapotecs, whose ambassadors brought with
+them a present in gold, stating at the same time that they were at war
+with their neighbours, the Tutepecs, who had commenced hostilities with
+them, because they had submitted to the Spanish crown. This tribe
+inhabited the coast on the South Sea, they added,--and possessed great
+quantities of gold, both in the raw material and in ornaments; they
+themselves now came to request Cortes to assist them against their
+enemies with some of his cavalry, musketeers, and crossbow-men.
+
+Cortes assured them, in a very affectionate manner, that he would send
+Tonatio (as they called Alvarado) with them. He accordingly despatched
+Alvarado thither with a considerable detachment, consisting of one
+hundred and eighty men, among whom there were thirty-five horse; and a
+further reinforcement of twenty men, most of whom were crossbow-men,
+would join him in the province of Guaxaca, where the captain Francisco
+de Orozco commanded in chief.
+
+Alvarado left Mexico in the year 1522, and first of all marched to a
+mountainous district, where it was said disturbances had recently broken
+out; but he found all in profound peace here, and the inhabitants well
+disposed towards the Spaniards; nevertheless, he appears to have been
+very tardy in his movements, for he did not reach Tutepec until forty
+days after. The inhabitants, who had received intelligence of his
+approach, came out to meet him with every show of magnificence, and
+conducted him to the most populous of all their townships, where stood
+the temples and their largest buildings. The houses were very crowded,
+and made of straw, for in this excessively hot climate the dwellings
+have no upper stories, and are not built of stone. Father Olmedo here
+observed to Alvarado, that it would not be advisable to quarter the
+troops in the houses, for if the inhabitants were to take it into their
+heads to set fire to the town there would be no possibility of escape.
+Alvarado considered his apprehensions well founded, and encamped with
+his men at the extremity of the town. The cazique soon after arrived
+with a valuable present in gold, which he repeated almost every day, and
+provided the troops with abundance of provisions. When Alvarado found
+what a quantity of gold the inhabitants possessed, he ordered them to
+make him a pair of stirrups of the finest gold, and gave them a couple
+of his own for a pattern; and indeed those they made turned out very
+good.
+
+Notwithstanding all the gold which Alvarado received from this cazique,
+he ordered him to be imprisoned a few days after his arrival, as the
+people of Tecuantepec had assured him that the whole province was upon
+the eve of rising up in arms against him, and that the chiefs of Tutepec
+had only invited him to quarter his troops in the large houses in the
+heart of their town, that they might set fire to them, and burn him,
+with all his men, to death.
+
+Many credible persons have asserted that Alvarado's only motive for ill
+using this cazique was, to extort more gold from him; one thing,
+however, is certain, that he gave Alvarado gold to the value of 30,000
+pesos, and that he died in prison from excessive grief. Father Olmedo
+indeed strove to give him every consolation in his last days, but all
+his endeavours proved fruitless; melancholy had sunk too deeply into
+his heart. The caziquedom then devolved upon his son, from whom Alvarado
+extorted even more gold than from the father.
+
+Alvarado then sent a small detachment of his troops to visit the other
+townships of the province, and distributed these among the settlers of
+the new town which he founded, to which he gave the name of Segura,
+because most of the new inhabitants had formerly settled in the town of
+Segura de la Frontera, or Tepeaca. After he had done all this, he
+ordered the vast quantity of gold he had collected from the townships to
+be securely packed, in order that he might take it with him to Mexico,
+and hand it over to Cortes; for he pretended that the latter had desired
+him to collect all the gold he possibly could, as it was to be forwarded
+to his majesty, to make up for the loss of that which Jean Florin had
+carried off to France; and that he had received particular instructions
+from our general not to divide any of it among the men who accompanied
+him on this expedition. When Alvarado was about to make preparations for
+his departure, a certain portion of his troops, mostly musketeers and
+crossbow-men, formed a conspiracy to put him and his brothers to death,
+because he had refused, after their repeated solicitations, to give them
+any share of the gold, or to distribute among them any very lucrative
+Indian townships.
+
+This plot was fortunately discovered to father Olmedo by one of the
+conspirators, named Trebijo, the evening preceding the night on which
+the bloody deed was to have been carried out. Father Olmedo instantly
+communicated what he had heard to Alvarado, who was about to start, in
+company of some of the conspirators, to go a hunting. Alvarado therefore
+pretended to be taken with a sudden pain in his side, and turning to
+those who were to have accompanied him, he said, "Gentlemen, I must
+return to my quarters; let a barber immediately come to bleed me."
+
+As soon as Alvarado had arrived in his quarters he sent for his brothers
+Jorge and Gonzalo Gomez, with the alcaldes and alguacils; he then
+ordered the conspirators to be seized, and two of them, after a short
+trial, were sentenced to the gallows. One of these men was a certain
+Salamanca, of Condado, who had formerly been a pilot; the other was
+Bernardino Levantisco, and both of them died like good Christians, after
+father Olmedo had fully convinced them of the enormity of their crime.
+This example of severity brought the remaining conspirators to their
+proper senses; so that Alvarado was enabled to depart with the gold for
+Mexico without any fear.
+
+Alvarado had certainly laid the foundation of a new town, but it soon
+fell to nothing again; for the settlers had obtained very poor lands;
+the climate was excessively hot, and very unhealthy; many of the
+Spaniards soon fell ill, and the Indian naborias and slaves whom they
+had brought with them died away very fast. The place swarmed with
+moschitoes, mice, and even lice;--to which was added, that Alvarado had
+carried off all the gold. The inhabitants therefore determined to leave
+the new town, and to settle elsewhere; so that they soon dispersed, and
+some returned to Mexico, some settled in Guaxaca, and others in
+Guatimala. When Cortes received intelligence of this, he instituted a
+formal inquiry into all the circumstances, and it was found that the
+determination to abandon the new town had been agreed upon in a council
+held by the alcaldes and regidors of the place. Sentence of death was
+then pronounced against the guilty personages; but father Olmedo begged
+so hard of Cortes to mitigate this severe sentence, that the latter at
+length, though very reluctantly, yielded to his prayers, and altered the
+sentence into that of banishment.
+
+Such was the ill-fated termination of the colony of Tutepec, which never
+after rose again, for every one feared the unhealthy climate, though the
+country was uncommonly rich. When the inhabitants, who could not forget
+Alvarado's cruel and unjust treatment, saw that all the Spaniards were
+leaving, they revolted anew, which obliged Alvarado to return, and he
+again forced them to lay down their arms and to sue for peace.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXII.
+
+    _How Francisco de Garay arrives with an extensive armament in the
+    river Panuco; how far he was successful; and of many other
+    circumstances._
+
+
+I have above mentioned that Francisco de Garay was governor of Jamaica,
+and that he already possessed great wealth, when he heard of the rich
+countries we had discovered in our expeditions under Cordoba and
+Grijalva, and of the 20,000 pesos with which we returned to Cuba on our
+second voyage.
+
+When he therefore received information of a new armament that was
+destined for New Spain, under command of Hernando Cortes, he himself was
+seized with a great desire likewise to discover some new countries, and
+certainly he had more wealth at his command than we had, to fit out an
+armament for such a purpose. He had learnt a good deal about the new
+countries from our old chief pilot Alaminos; of their riches, and how
+thickly populated the provinces were on the river Panuco; and as several
+other sailors who had accompanied us on those expeditions, confirmed
+what Alaminos had told him, he thought it worth his while to request his
+majesty to grant him the permission to make further discoveries on the
+river Panuco, and to appoint him governor of all the lands he should
+discover. For this purpose he despatched his major-domo, Juan de
+Torralva, to Spain, with letters and presents for those gentlemen who at
+that time governed the affairs of India, begging of them to procure him
+the appointment above-mentioned.
+
+His Majesty was at that time in Flanders, and the president of the
+council of the Indies, Don Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, bishop of Burgos
+and titular archbishop of Rosano, with the two licentiates Zapata and
+Vargas, and the secretary Lopez de Conchillos, governed the affairs of
+India just as they thought proper. Garay therefore easily obtained the
+appointment of adelantado and governor of the provinces bordering on the
+river St. Peter and St. Paul, and of all the countries he should
+discover.
+
+By virtue of this appointment he fitted out three vessels, having on
+board 240 men; including a strong body of cavalry, crossbow-men, and
+musketeers. The chief command of this armament he gave to Alonso Alvarez
+Pinedo, who, as I have above mentioned, was soon cut off, with the
+greater part of his men, by the Indians, so that there was only one
+vessel with sixty men that escaped to Vera Cruz, who, with their
+captain, Comargo, entered our army.
+
+Garay, being ignorant of the miserable termination of this expedition,
+sent out two more vessels, under command of Diaz de Auz and Ramirez,
+with many soldiers, horses, a quantity of provisions, and a considerable
+store of arms of various kinds; but when these vessels arrived in the
+river Panuco, and nowhere met with any traces of the other armament,
+excepting a few pieces of burnt wood of the first vessels, lying on the
+shore, they likewise put into Vera Cruz. Though I have mentioned all
+this above, it was nevertheless necessary to recapitulate these
+circumstances here, to render the whole more intelligible to the reader.
+
+After Garay had thus spent so much money to no purpose, and heard of the
+great good fortune which attended Cortes; of the large towns he had
+discovered, and of the vast treasures in gold and jewels which he had
+accumulated in New Spain, envy, as well as thirst for riches, also rose
+up in his breast to torment him; and he was resolved to fit out as
+extensive an armament as he possibly could, and to take the command of
+it himself. He accordingly equipped a small fleet, consisting of eleven
+vessels and two brigantines, on board of which there were 130 horse and
+840 foot, most of the latter being armed with muskets and crossbows. As
+he was a man of great wealth, he spared no expense in fitting out this
+splendid armament. With this fleet Garay left Jamaica in the month of
+June, of the year 1523, sailed in the direction of Cuba, and thence ran
+into the harbour of Xagua, where he learnt that Cortes had already
+subdued the whole province of Panuco; that he had founded a colony
+there, and that the expedition had cost him above 60,000 pesos; that he
+had petitioned his majesty to unite the government of this province with
+that of New Spain, and to appoint him the viceroy. This of itself was
+disheartening to Garay; but when he further heard of the heroic deeds of
+Cortes and his companions, and how we with a mere handful of men had
+gained the victory over Narvaez, although he had an army of 1300 men,
+besides eighteen heavy guns, he began to fear the good fortune of our
+general. His apprehensions were further augmented by what he heard from
+several distinguished personages of Cuba, who had come to pay their
+respects to him at Xagua; among these was also the licentiate Zuazo,
+whom the royal court of audience at St. Domingo had expressly sent to
+Cuba, to reside near Diego Velasquez. From the different interviews
+which Garay had with Zuazo, he soon foresaw that, if he proceeded to
+Panuco, he would have to dispute its possession with Cortes; he
+therefore proposed to Zuazo that he should accompany him thither, and
+act as a mediator between himself and Cortes. To this Zuazo replied,
+that he was not at liberty to leave his present abode without permission
+from his superiors, but that he would follow him as soon as possible.
+
+Garay then weighed anchor and sailed in the direction of Panuco. He
+encountered very boisterous weather at sea, so that he was driven too
+far north off the mouth of the river Palmas, which he entered with his
+fleet on the day of Santiago de Compostella. Here he sent several of his
+officers, with a small detachment of his troops, on shore, who returned
+with so bad an account of the country that Garay determined to leave
+this place and go in search of the river Panuco, and to repair to the
+town Cortes had founded, where, at the same time, he would be nearer to
+Mexico. Upon this, Garay again required the whole of the officers and
+soldiers to take the oath of fidelity, and to promise implicit obedience
+to him as captain-general. He likewise appointed the alcaldes, the
+regidors, with all the chief authorities of a town he intended to found,
+and to which he said he would give the name of Garayana. He now
+disembarked the whole of his men and horses, and gave the command of the
+fleet to an officer named Grijalva, whom he ordered to sail as close as
+possible to the shore, while he marched with his troops along the coast.
+The first two days he passed over a desolate and boggy country; he then
+crossed a river, which took its source in the mountains, lying about
+twenty miles inland, and arrived in a township which was quite deserted
+by its inhabitants, but where he found abundance of maise and fowls,
+besides the delicious fruit of the guayaba tree. The soldiers likewise
+brought in a few of the inhabitants prisoners, who understood the
+Mexican language; and Garay, after making them handsome presents, sent
+them to the neighbouring townships to incline the inhabitants peaceably
+towards him. He then marched round a large morass, and visited several
+townships, everywhere meeting with the kindest reception from the
+inhabitants, who brought him quantities of fowls, and a species of geese
+which they catch among the swamps. Many of his men had by this time
+become wearied of marching up and down the country; and having got it
+into their heads that the officers withheld from them some kinds of the
+provisions which the inhabitants brought in, a part of the troops
+rebelled, and plundered these townships for three days successively. On
+the fourth day, the whole of the troops again marched forward, with some
+Indian guides, and arrived at a very broad river, which they had no
+other means of crossing but by canoes which were furnished them by the
+friendly townships just mentioned. The horses were obliged to swim
+across, each rider in a canoe leading his horse by the bridle; but as
+there were a considerable number of horses, it was a very tedious
+business, and five were unfortunately drowned. At length the whole of
+the troops had passed across, but they had to encounter another
+formidable morass, through which they found their way after undergoing
+many fatigues, and so reached the province of Panuco. Here Garay
+expected to have found provisions in abundance; but the whole of the
+townships had scarcely any food left for themselves, while the
+inhabitants were still in a very excited state, owing to the recent
+incursion which Cortes had made into this neighbourhood; and wherever
+there were any provisions left, the Indians took care to hide them as
+soon as they received information of the approach of so large a body of
+troops and horses; indeed they even totally deserted their towns, so
+that in the very place where Garay had thought to rest and refresh his
+troops, he only encountered greater difficulties and fatigues. In the
+deserted houses his men found nothing but mice, moschitoes, and lice,
+which made an unmerciful attack upon the new comers. To all this misery
+was added, that the fleet, which should have sailed close into the
+shore, and on board of which there was abundance of food, had not
+arrived in the harbour, nor had any tidings of it been received. The
+information with respect to the non-arrival of the vessels was given
+them by a Spaniard, who, on account of some misdemeanour or other, had
+been obliged to quit the town of Santisteban del Puerto. This man
+likewise informed Garay's men that there was a town not far off, and
+also that the Mexican territory was not very distant, which, he added,
+was amazingly fertile, and inhabited by wealthy personages. This account
+greatly excited the men, so that they began to stroll about the country
+in small bodies, plundered every place they came to, and took the road
+leading to Mexico.
+
+Garay, who was well acquainted with the turbulent spirit of his troops,
+and fearing he should not be able to keep them much longer together,
+despatched Diego de Ocampo, one of his chief officers, with a letter to
+Pedro Vallejo, who was at that time Cortes' commandant of Santisteban,
+to learn which way he was inclined. In this letter Garay informed
+Vallejo that he had been appointed by his majesty governor of these
+provinces; that he had disembarked his troops in the river Palmas; and
+that at last, after undergoing excessive fatigues, he had reached the
+land of his destination.
+
+Vallejo gave Ocampo and those who accompanied him a very honorable
+reception, answered in the most polite terms, and assured him Cortes
+would be delighted to have for neighbour so distinguished a governor;
+but he told him that he had expended a large sum of money in subjecting
+this province, of which he also had been appointed governor by his
+majesty. Garay, however, was at liberty, continued Vallejo, to march his
+troops into the town of Santisteban whenever he thought proper, and he
+would render him every service in his power; only he must beg of him not
+to allow his men to ill-use the Indian population, of which two
+townships had already complained to him.
+
+Vallejo then sent an express to Cortes, inclosing Garay's letter to him,
+and gave him at the same time a circumstantial account of the posture of
+affairs, adding, that he must either send him a strong reinforcement of
+troops, or repair in person to Santisteban.
+
+Cortes, on the receipt of Vallejo's letter, sent for father Olmedo,
+Alvarado, Sandoval, and Gonzalo de Ocampo, brother to him whom Garay had
+despatched to Vallejo. These gentlemen he instantly sent off to Garay
+with certain papers containing his appointment of governor of all the
+countries he might subdue, granted to him by his majesty, until the
+lawsuit should have terminated which was pending between him (Cortes)
+and the governor of Cuba. The answer which Vallejo had given to Diego de
+Ocampo was perfectly satisfactory to Garay, and he marched his troops
+close up to the town of Santisteban; but Vallejo being informed that a
+small detachment of the latter was strolling heedlessly about the large
+and beautiful township of Nechaplan, he sent out a body of his own men
+to attack them, who captured above forty of their numbers, and brought
+them in prisoners to Santisteban, which, it appears, was the very thing
+these men had desired. Garay was greatly incensed at this, demanded
+Vallejo to deliver up the men to him again, and threatened, unless he
+complied, to punish him by virtue of the royal authority with which he
+was vested. Vallejo, however, answered, that his reason for seizing
+these men was, because they were marching about the country without any
+legal authority, and had plundered the inhabitants: and that he
+(Vallejo) should act up to Cortes' instructions until he received some
+especial command from his majesty to the contrary; adding, that he must
+again request him not to allow his men to plunder and ill-treat his
+majesty's subjects.
+
+While this dispute was going on, father Olmedo, with Alvarado and the
+other officers, arrived in Santisteban; and as Gonzalo de Ocampo was at
+that time alcalde major of Mexico, it was his duty to give Garay notice
+to quit that territory, of which the government had been conferred upon
+Cortes by his majesty. Several days were spent in these negotiations,
+which were carried on by word of mouth, between the two parties, by
+father Olmedo, and Garay began to discover that numbers of his men
+deserted to Vallejo, that Cortes' officers were accompanied by a
+considerable body of horse and musketeers, and that they daily increased
+in numbers. Two of his vessels had been lost in a heavy storm, and the
+rest lay at anchor in the mouth of the harbour, and were summoned by
+Vallejo to run in, otherwise he should be obliged to treat them as
+corsairs; to which the captains replied, that it was no business of his
+where they anchored their vessels, and he might keep his commands to
+himself.
+
+Garay, who greatly feared the good fortune which always attended Cortes'
+arms, durst not take any decisive step; while, on the other hand, Ocampo
+of Mexico, Alvarado, and Sandoval were carrying on their secret
+negotiations with his troops, but particularly with the captains of the
+vessels, with some of whom they came to a secret understanding that they
+should run into the harbour and declare for Cortes. The first two
+captains who ran in with their vessels were Martin Lepuzcuano and
+Castromucho, and they surrendered to Vallejo, who then immediately
+repaired to the mouth of the harbour with the two vessels, and commanded
+Juan de Grijalva either to run into the harbour or to quit his present
+station without delay and put to sea again. This message Grijalva
+answered by firing a broadside at him; but Vallejo was not to be daunted
+by this, and repaired on board Grijalva's vessel in one of his own
+boats, accompanied by a royal secretary, and handed over to him letters
+from Alvarado and father Olmedo, who made large promises to him in the
+name of Cortes. While Grijalva was perusing these letters, the rest of
+the vessels ran one after the other into the harbour, so that no other
+resource was left him than to follow their example, and to yield up his
+sword to Vallejo, who had demanded it of him in the name of Cortes,
+though he, with all the other captains, were immediately set at liberty
+again, according to the advice of father Olmedo, who always said it was
+most pleasing to God and to our emperor when disputes were settled
+without spilling any blood.
+
+When Garay found what a miserable state his affairs were in, that a
+portion of his men had deserted, and that the rest had rebelled against
+him; how two of his vessels had foundered at sea, and the rest had
+declared for Cortes, his despondency was at its height. He earnestly
+requested Cortes' officers to deliver up to him again his troops and his
+vessels, and declared that he would return to the river Palmas, and thus
+put an end to all further disputes. These officers, in reply, wished him
+every success in this undertaking, and said they would order all his men
+who were strolling about the country to repair to his standard again,
+and reembark with their general; they promised also to furnish him with
+a good supply of provisions and other matters. Garay was highly
+delighted with this offer, and the strictest orders were accordingly
+issued to seize all the men who had rebelled, and to take them into the
+presence of Garay: but all threats proved fruitless, and the few of
+Garay's soldiers who were recaptured maintained that their agreement was
+to serve in the province of Panuco, and that their oath did not bind
+them to follow their general's standard anywhere else. They even used
+stronger language than this; and declared, without any reserve, that
+Garay did not possess the requisite talents for a commander, and that he
+was altogether no soldier.
+
+When Garay found that, notwithstanding all his remonstrances and
+threats, he could not alter the minds of his men, he completely
+despaired. Our officers then advised him to write to Cortes, and they
+promised to use all their influence with the latter, and induce him to
+assist Garay in his expedition to the river Palmas; indeed, father
+Olmedo and Alvarado pledged their words to obtain this for him. Garay
+accordingly wrote a letter to our general, in which he gave him an
+account of his voyage, and of the fatigues he had undergone, then begged
+his permission to visit him in Mexico, in order that they might come to
+some understanding with each other, and consider what steps they could
+take to promote his majesty's best interests in this matter. Father
+Olmedo and our officers also wrote to Cortes, and strongly recommended
+Garay's cause to him, adding, that he was a gentleman with whom he had
+formerly lived on the most intimate terms of friendship.
+
+When Cortes read Garay's letter, he could not help feeling excessively
+grieved at his misfortunes, and sent him a most polite answer in return,
+expressing his deep concern at the unfortunate position of his affairs,
+and invited him to repair in person to Mexico, where he would feel happy
+to aid him with his counsel, and otherwise to lend him every assistance
+in his power to prosecute his further designs. Cortes then despatched
+orders for the inhabitants of the towns through which Garay would have
+to pass, to give him an hospitable reception, and even sent various
+kinds of refreshments for him to the different stages along his route.
+In Tezcuco a banquet was prepared in his honour, and when he had
+approached to within a short distance of Mexico, Cortes went out to meet
+him, accompanied by several officers.
+
+Garay was not a little astonished when he beheld the many large towns,
+and at length the city of Mexico itself. Cortes gave him his own new
+palace to live in, and immediately began to converse with him about the
+posture of his affairs, and to deliberate what further steps it would be
+most advisable for him to adopt. Alvarado, Sandoval and father Olmedo
+used their utmost influence with Cortes to further Garay's views; and
+the latter had scarcely been four days in Mexico when father Olmedo, in
+order to substantiate the good understanding which had arisen between
+him and Cortes, brought about the preliminaries of a marriage between a
+natural daughter of the latter, who was still very young, and the son of
+Garay.
+
+It was at length settled that Garay should continue commander-in-chief
+of his fleet, and that he should colonize the country on the river
+Palmas, for which purpose Cortes was to furnish him with everything that
+was necessary, and even with officers and men. It was also agreed that
+Cortes should give a very large sum of money as a marriage portion to
+his daughter.
+
+By these bright prospects and the friendly disposition which Cortes
+evinced towards him, Garay's spirits were again raised, and I am sure
+that everything would have been fulfilled as agreed upon between them,
+if Providence had not disposed otherwise.
+
+Garay soon after inhabited the house of Alonso Villanueva, as Cortes was
+making great alterations in his palaces. This Villanueva had upon one
+occasion been despatched by Cortes to purchase horses in Jamaica, but
+really I am unable to say whether previous or subsequent to this time;
+at all events, Garay and he were very intimate friends, wherefore he had
+requested permission of Cortes to inhabit the latter's house.
+
+Narvaez was still in Mexico at this time, and renewed his former
+friendship with Garay. As may naturally be supposed, each related to the
+other his misfortunes, and as Narvaez was a man of a haughty
+disposition, he said smilingly to Garay on one occasion: "What very fine
+things, Seņor Adelantado, have been told me by several of the men who
+have deserted your troops! They assert, that on every occasion when you
+wished to encourage your officers you used to say: 'We must show
+ourselves brave men and fight valiantly about with Cortes' soldiers, and
+not allow ourselves to be cozened as Narvaez was.' But what say you now,
+Seņor? I lost one of my eyes in the battle I fought with Cortes; lost my
+army and all my property in the courageous defence which I offered, and
+indeed it was no joke to defeat me. No one in the world can have greater
+luck than this man; but it must be remembered that he has officers and
+soldiers who lend him the most vigorous assistance in all his
+undertakings, which alone has rendered it possible for him to have the
+good fortune of an Octavius, the victorious career of a Julius Cæsar,
+and the endurance of a Hannibal in battle."
+
+To which Garay replied, "That it was unnecessary for him to mention all
+this, for the deeds spoke for themselves;" and indeed, added he, "where
+will you find another man who would dare, after destroying his fleet, to
+penetrate with a handful of men in the midst of a country so thickly
+populated, in order to wage war against powerful states and large
+cities?"
+
+Narvaez then mentioned other heroic deeds of our general, and in this
+way they discoursed for a length of time with each other about the
+wonderful conquest of New Spain! Garay, soon after, even begged Cortes
+to grant Narvaez and his wife permission to return to the island of
+Cuba. This lady, whose name was Maria Valenzuela, possessed great
+wealth, and she had formerly known Cortes at Cuba, and was even related
+to him. She had herself also petitioned Cortes to liberate her husband.
+Our general now not only granted this request, but also gave Narvaez
+2000 pesos to defray the expenses of his voyage. Narvaez could scarcely
+find words to thank Cortes sufficiently for so much kindness, and
+promised him, by everything that was holy, never under any circumstance
+whatever to go against his interests.
+
+But to return to Garay, whose unfortunate expedition terminated in the
+following manner. On Christmas eve of the year 1523 he accompanied
+Cortes to church in order to attend midnight mass, performed by father
+Olmedo; after church they both returned home in high spirits and sat
+down to breakfast, when it appears that Garay, who was not in very good
+health, caught cold by standing in a draught, which ended in pleurisy,
+accompanied by a violent fever. The medical men bled and purged him, but
+the disease continually grew worse, so that father Olmedo was desired to
+inform him of the danger he was in, that he might confess, while he was
+yet able, and make his last will. Father Olmedo accordingly disclosed to
+him that his end was drawing nigh, and he ought to think of preparing
+for death as a good Christian and an honest cavalier, that he might not
+lose his soul in the next world, as he had his riches in this. "Your
+advice is good, father," answered Garay; "I wish to confess this very
+night, to receive the holy sacrament, and to make my last will." All
+this he fulfilled with great devotion, appointed Cortes with father
+Olmedo his executors, and four days after rendered up his soul again to
+his God and his Creator.
+
+It is peculiar to the climate of Mexico that those who are attacked by
+pleurisy, generally die within three or four days; this we experienced
+to our great sorrow in Tezcuco and Cojohuacan, where we lost numbers of
+our men from this disease. For the rest, every honour was paid to the
+last remains of Garay; and Cortes, with several officers, put on
+mourning. May his soul rest in peace. Amen! It is, however, to be
+regretted that he died far away from his wife and family in the house of
+a stranger. After his departure from Mexico pretty work was going on
+with his troops in Panuco; for as the officers and soldiers had no
+commander-in-chief, any one who got it into his head raised himself to
+captain or general, and in this way there stood successively at the head
+of the troops, Juan Grijalva, Gonzalo de Figueroa, Alonso de Mendoza,
+Lorenzo de Ulloa, Juan Medina, Juan de Villa, Antonio de la Cada, and a
+certain Taborda, who was the most rebellious of all. Garay's son, to
+whom Cortes' daughter was betrothed, nominally indeed, had the chief
+command, but the men troubled themselves very little about him; and they
+dispersed themselves in small bodies of fifteen and twenty-five about
+the country, plundered the townships, forcibly carried away the women,
+and in every respect conducted themselves as if they were plundering
+among the Moors. At last the inhabitants were resolved to suffer this no
+longer, and they united in a body with the determination to destroy
+these cruel invaders, and in the space of a few days they killed upwards
+of 500 Spaniards, all of Garay's troops, the most of whom were
+sacrificed to their gods and their flesh was devoured. In one township
+alone, above one hundred were slaughtered in this way. Cortes' troops in
+Santisteban were no longer able to quell these disturbances, nor did the
+Indians any way fear them; for when the garrison had upon one occasion
+marched out against them, they defended themselves so valiantly that our
+troops were obliged to retreat back to the town, to which the Indians
+had even the temerity to lay siege, and made repeated attacks upon it
+both day and night, and they would certainly have taken it if there had
+not been seven or eight of the veteran conquistadores among the
+garrison, who, with Vallejo, continually spurred on the rest of the men,
+and took every military precaution to prevent so terrible a disaster.
+These determined men also lent every assistance they could to the rest
+of Garay's troops, but at the same time showed the necessity of their
+continuing to encamp outside the town, so as to prevent the enemy from
+making a combined attack upon the latter. Three separate engagements
+were fought between the Indians and the troops of Vallejo, joined to
+those of Garay, and though the former was killed himself and many
+Spaniards wounded, yet the Indians were each time defeated with
+considerable loss. The inhabitants had altogether become so furious and
+exasperated, that on one occasion during night-time they burnt alive in
+one of their towns forty Spaniards and fifteen horses.
+
+When Cortes received intelligence of this terrible state of things he
+felt excessively annoyed, and was upon the point of marching himself to
+Panuco at the head of his troops to quell these disturbances, but he was
+still suffering from the consequences of a broken arm, so that he was
+compelled to leave this to Sandoval, whom he instantly despatched
+thither with one hundred foot, fifty horse, fifteen crossbow-men and
+musketeers, two cannon, and a body of 10,000 Tlascallan and Mexican
+auxiliaries. Sandoval's instructions were to punish the inhabitants in
+such a manner as to discourage them from ever after breaking out into
+rebellion. As Sandoval was a man who could not rest night or day
+whenever he had any important business on hand, he never stayed a moment
+longer in any place than was absolutely necessary. Having received
+intelligence that the enemy had stationed the whole of their troops in
+two narrow passes, he divided his men into two bodies, of which one was
+to attack the first and the other the second pass. The crossbow-men and
+musketeers were instructed to keep up a constant fire upon the enemy,
+who, however, bid a stout resistance in their turn, and wounded several
+of the Spanish and auxiliary troops. When Sandoval found that all his
+attempts to force the first pass were fruitless, and having no better
+fortune on the following day, he sent orders for the other body, which
+had been equally unsuccessful at the second pass, to turn back upon the
+road leading to Mexico, he himself drawing off his men in the same
+direction. The enemy, who imagined he retreated from fear, likewise
+quitted their position, and followed Sandoval with terrific yells. The
+latter now encamped in a secure spot, where he remained quiet for three
+days; and one midnight, when he thought the enemy less upon their guard,
+he suddenly broke up his camp, and, with the cavalry in advance, forced
+his way through the narrow passes, with the whole of his troops; but
+even then it was with great difficulty he succeeded, and three of his
+horses were killed, besides numbers of the troops wounded: however, as
+soon as he had the advantage ground, he fell with great impetuosity upon
+the enemy, who had received considerable reinforcements during the
+night. So vastly had their numbers increased, that he began to entertain
+serious doubts as to the issue of the battle; he therefore firmly closed
+his ranks, and so continued to combat with the enemy, who rushed upon
+the points of the swords with the savage ferocity of so many tigers, and
+they even succeeded to wrest the lances from six of the less experienced
+cavalry soldiers. Sandoval was terribly enraged at this latter
+circumstance, and swore he would rather go to battle with a few men who
+knew how to fight, than with a great number who did not: and he then
+instructed the cavalry how to aim at the enemy's face; and if the
+Indians grasped the lances, to hold them firmly with the hand placed
+under the arm, give spurs to the horses, and, by a sudden jerk, wrest
+the lance from the enemy's grasp, or drag him along with it.
+
+After this battle, in which neither party had gained any advantage over
+the other, Sandoval encamped for the night near a small river. Here he
+carefully posted his watches, and, having been taught experience in our
+battles with the Mexicans, he ordered his auxiliary troops to encamp at
+a good distance from the Spanish, to avoid all confusion if the enemy
+commenced the attack in the dark. Sandoval had indeed every reason to
+suppose that the Indians would fall upon him in the night, for they had
+taken up a position so very near to his camp that their war-whoop and
+military music were quite audible; but they made so sure of victory,
+they said, (as Sandoval learnt from his auxiliaries,) that they would
+rather wait till morning, and then put him, with all his men, to the
+sword.
+
+As soon as daylight broke forth, Sandoval marched out, with the whole of
+his troops in close order, towards some houses whence the enemy's
+war-music resounded. He had scarcely proceeded a mile when he came up
+with three large bodies of the enemy, who immediately began to hem him
+in on all sides. Sandoval, observing this, placed half of his cavalry in
+each wing, and attacked the enemy with such determination that he
+completely routed them, and slew great numbers. Two Spaniards, who had
+but recently come to New Spain, were killed in this battle, besides
+three horses. The Mexicans and Tlascallans then spread themselves
+through the different townships, killed several more of the enemy, set
+fire to every place, and brought in great numbers of prisoners.
+
+The road to Santisteban was now open, and when Sandoval arrived there he
+found the garrison in a most deplorable condition: greater part of the
+troops were either sick or wounded, but what was worse, they had neither
+food for themselves nor their horses.
+
+The reader may easily imagine how welcome Sandoval's arrival was, and he
+soon learnt how Garay's troops had behaved, and how the garrison would
+probably have been cut to pieces if it had not been for the assistance
+of seven or eight veteran Conquistadores, who each day marched to the
+field of battle, kept Garay's troops outside the city, and so occupied
+the enemy's attention in another quarter that they did not even allow
+them time to think of storming the town. Sandoval then embraced these
+brave men, and gave to each of the Conquistadores, who were all his old
+companions in arms, a separate command, and desired them to divide all
+the foot and cavalry into two bodies, and so sally out of the town,
+forage the country round, damage the enemy's property as much as
+possible, and bring in as many prisoners as they could take,
+particularly of the chiefs. He himself, to his great sorrow, was obliged
+to remain behind, as he was severely wounded in the leg, and had been
+struck in the face by a stone.
+
+The two detachments obeyed his commands in every respect; they soon
+brought in a quantity of maise and other provisions, with several women,
+a number of poor people, and five chiefs who had fought in the recent
+battles. Sandoval ordered all these prisoners to be released, with the
+exception of the five last mentioned, and ordered his troops not to
+bring in any other prisoners excepting those who had had a hand in the
+murder of the Spaniards. The rest of the inhabitants they were to
+encourage to approach the town peaceably, and to live on terms of
+friendship with the Spaniards.
+
+Several officers of distinction belonging to Garay's troops, who had
+done their worst to create the insurrection in this province, had
+remained behind in the town on this last occasion. These gentlemen,
+whose names I have mentioned above, considered themselves grossly
+insulted when they found that Sandoval had not intrusted them with any
+command, but had selected the veteran Conquistadores. They therefore
+began to murmur and to inveigh bitterly against the dispositions which
+Sandoval had made, and even spoke to Garay's son of making common cause
+with the inhabitants, and of revolutionizing the province. After
+Sandoval had regarded their intrigues in silence for some time, he at
+length addressed these discontented personages to the following effect:
+"Instead, gentlemen, of being thankful to me for having marched into
+this province to your assistance, and for rescuing you from the imminent
+danger in which you lived, you have, I hear, thrown out language against
+me which little becomes cavaliers of your stamp. It is no dishonour to
+you that I put those in command who have proved themselves able
+officers. I should, indeed, have been a fool had I not done so; and if
+you had shown yourselves equally deserving, I should not have forgotten
+you: but I should like to know whether you showed any fitness to command
+when you allowed yourselves to be hemmed in on all sides by the Indians.
+You yourselves have unanimously declared that you would have been on the
+brink of destruction had it not been for the eight veteran
+Conquistadores; it is for this reason, and because they are acquainted
+with the country, that I intrusted them with the command. These
+jealousies never entered our mind when we were besieging Mexico; our
+only thoughts were how we should best be able to promote his majesty's
+interests. Follow, therefore, our example for the future. I do not
+intend staying much longer here, for I must soon return to Mexico, if,
+at least, these Indians do not kill me; but he whom I shall leave behind
+as Cortes' commandant of this town will not allow you much leisure time;
+therefore, moderate your anger, and learn to judge better of me in
+future!" Here Sandoval ended, but all he said produced very little
+effect.
+
+The following day Sandoval marched out with the whole of his troops, and
+made so excellent a disposition of his men, that he captured above
+twenty caziques who had all been concerned in the massacre of Garay's
+troops and of several other Spaniards belonging to the colony. He then
+invited all the townships to send him messengers of peace, which they
+accordingly did, with the exception of a few. After this, he forwarded
+an account to Cortes of every circumstance, and requested to know what
+course he was to adopt with the prisoners, and whom he should appoint
+commandant of Santisteban in the room of Vallejo; nor did he omit to
+mention the courage and skill which the eight veterans above mentioned
+had throughout displayed.
+
+Cortes received this letter just at the moment when he was surrounded by
+a great number of the old Conquistadores, and by several Spaniards who
+had recently arrived from Spain. He was highly delighted to find that
+Sandoval had so speedily quelled the disturbances, and exclaimed aloud,
+in the presence of all, "O! Sandoval, how much am I not indebted to you,
+and what vast fatigues do you not undergo for me?" Every person present
+joined in the praise of Sandoval, declaring unanimously that he was a
+most excellent officer, and might be compared with the most renowned
+captains of any age.
+
+Cortes, in answer to Sandoval's letter, told him that those of the
+Indians who had been guilty of the murder of so many Spaniards, and had
+wantonly killed so great a number of horses, were to be tried and
+punished according to law; for which purpose he would despatch to him
+the alcalde major Diego de Ocampo, who would investigate the matter in
+due form. The remaining part of the population he was to treat with
+every possible kindness, and strictly to forbid the troops of Garay or
+any other Spaniards to plunder or in anywise to ill-use the inhabitants.
+
+Sandoval was vastly pleased when Ocampo arrived, who, without delay,
+brought the Indian caziques and chiefs to trial; and, as they themselves
+confessed they had had a hand in the murder of the Spaniards above
+mentioned, they were found guilty, and some were sentenced to be hung,
+some to be burnt alive, and others were liberated altogether. The sons
+and brothers of those who had been sentenced to death were appointed to
+the vacant caziquedoms, according to their respective rightful claims.
+
+Here Ocampo's business did not end, for he was likewise empowered by
+Cortes to institute inquiries against those of Garay's troops who had
+strolled about the country like so many banditti, and thereby caused the
+insurrection among the Indian population. The whole of these fellows
+Ocampo put on board one of the vessels, and sent them to the island of
+Cuba. Grijalva he left the choice, by command of Cortes, either to
+accept of 2000 pesos, which would instantly be paid down to him, and
+sail with the others to Cuba, or to repair to Mexico and enter the
+service of Cortes, by which he would benefit himself and be raised to
+high honours; but he, with the whole of them, chose rather to return to
+Cuba, where the greater part had Indian commendaries. This vessel was
+therefore well victualled, and sailed under the command of a certain
+Vallecillo for the last-mentioned island.
+
+Ocampo and Sandoval, upon this, returned to Mexico, where they were
+splendidly received by Cortes and the whole town; and the joy at
+Sandoval's triumphant return was the greater, as every one had
+entertained doubts as to the probable issue of this campaign. Father
+Olmedo even proposed a day of thanksgiving, which was accordingly
+celebrated in the church of our dear Lady. For the rest, this province
+ever after remained very tranquil and obedient.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXIII.
+
+    _How the licentiate Zuazo set sail for New Spain in a small vessel,
+    accompanied by two monks of the order of Charity; and their
+    remarkable adventures on this voyage._
+
+
+I mentioned in a former chapter that the licentiate Zuazo promised
+Garay, during the few days he stayed at Cuba, that he would repair in
+person to Mexico, and try to settle the differences between him and
+Cortes. He had first wished to render an account to the royal court of
+audience at St. Domingo of his administration of justice in the island
+of Cuba, after which he really set sail for New Spain. On this voyage he
+took along with him two monks of the order of Charity, one of whom was
+named Juan Varillas, and the other Gonzalo Pondevedra. The former was a
+native of Salamanca, and a most intimate friend of father Olmedo, to
+visit whom he had purposely asked permission of his superiors, and had
+been staying some time at Cuba with father Gonzalo to await a favorable
+opportunity of crossing over to New Spain. As he was a relation of
+Zuazo, he begged he would allow father Gonzalo and himself to accompany
+him on this occasion. This Zuazo readily granted, and they both
+accordingly embarked with him in a small vessel. They had scarcely
+doubled the cape of Sant Anton, (which is also called the land of
+Gamatabeis, a wild tribe of Indians whom the Spaniards have not yet
+subdued,) when, either through ignorance of the pilot or owing to heavy
+currents, they were driven out of their right course, and were wrecked
+off the Viboras isles, which lie between the shallows near the so termed
+Alacranes sands. When large vessels get aground here, they are
+inevitably lost; whereas the smallness of Zuazo's vessel was the very
+means of his preservation. Yet, in order to lighten the vessel, they
+were obliged to throw a great part of the cargo overboard, which, as it
+principally consisted of smoked meat, soon brought great numbers of
+sharks about the vessel. One of the sailors, who had ventured with some
+others into the shallow water, was seized and devoured by one of these
+monsters; the rest would, no doubt, have shared a similar fate if they
+had not immediately hastened on board again. It was, therefore, with
+great difficulty and much risk the whole of the crew at length managed
+to get on to the island; but as they had thrown all their provisions and
+their water-casks overboard, they had at first nothing to eat or drink;
+at length, indeed, they managed to fish up a few pieces of their smoked
+meat from the sea. They would even have been without fire had it not
+been for two Cuba Indians, who, by rubbing two pieces of dry wood
+together, soon kindled a flame. After searching about for some time,
+they likewise had the good fortune to meet with fresh water; and as the
+island was small and very sandy, numbers of turtles came to lay their
+eggs in the sand. These creatures, which they found would lay one
+hundred eggs each, the two Indians of Cuba easily captured by turning
+them on their backs, so that they were unable to move. With these eggs,
+the flesh of the turtle, and of seals which came on land during the
+night, thirteen people nourished themselves for many days.
+
+Among the hands on board this small vessel there happened to be two
+carpenters of Ribera, who had fortunately rescued their tools; it was
+therefore determined that they should construct a boat from the timber
+of the vessel. When they had finished and completely rigged this boat, a
+supply of turtles and smoked seals' flesh, with some water, was put on
+board, besides a sea-chart and a compass. With this frail bark, three
+Spanish sailors, and one of the Cuba Indians, boldly put out to sea in
+quest of some harbour of New Spain, whence they might send a vessel to
+the rescue of those left on the island. After encountering various kinds
+of weather, they at length arrived safe in the river Bandera, where at
+that time goods were landed from Spain. The three Spaniards immediately
+repaired to Medellin, where a certain Simon de Cuenca was Cortes'
+commandant, to whom they related their unfortunate shipwreck off the
+Viboras isles. Cuenca, on hearing this, fitted out a small vessel, which
+he despatched thither with a letter to Zuazo, in which he told him how
+pleased Cortes would be to hear of his arrival in New Spain. Cortes, to
+whom Cuenca had sent information of this circumstance, highly commended
+the conduct he had pursued, and desired him, as soon as Zuazo and his
+companions should arrive, to provide them with every necessary, and with
+horses for their journey to Mexico.
+
+This vessel had very favorable weather, and soon reached the little
+island. The joy of Zuazo and his companions can easily be imagined; but
+they had, in this interval, to their great sorrow, lost their friend
+father Gonzalo, who gradually sunk under hardships to which he was
+unaccustomed. They commended his departed soul to God, embarked on board
+the vessel which had come to their deliverance, and, in a short time,
+reached the coast of New Spain, from whence they arrived in Medellin,
+where they met with a very kind reception. From this place they hastened
+to Mexico, where Cortes gave them one of his own palaces to live in, and
+shortly after appointed Zuazo his alcalde major.
+
+What I have here related of Zuazo's voyage to New Spain I have copied
+word for word from a letter which Cortes wrote to us the town council of
+Guacasualco about it, which exactly corresponds with what the sailors
+related themselves. The reader may, therefore, rely upon this as being a
+true narrative.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXIV.
+
+    _How Cortes despatched Alvarado to subdue the province of Guatimala,
+    and to found a colony there._
+
+
+Cortes strove to emulate Alexander the Macedonian in all things; his
+thoughts were always busied with some grand scheme, and his love of
+dominion knew no bounds: when, therefore, with the assistance of his
+excellent officers and brave soldiers, he had rebuilt and repeopled the
+great city of Mexico, and had founded the towns of Guaxaca, Zacatula,
+Colima, Vera Cruz, Panuco, and Guacasualco, he also determined to subdue
+the thickly-populated province of Guatimala, the inhabitants of which
+were very warlike. Cortes knew that there were gold mines in this
+country, and had several times invited the inhabitants to submit, but
+received no answer in return; he therefore resolved to despatch Alvarado
+thither to subdue the country and to found colonies in it. For this
+important campaign he selected above 300 foot, of which 120 were
+musketeers and crossbow-men, 153 horse, and four field-pieces, with an
+abundant supply of powder. The chief artilleryman was Usagre, and above
+300 auxiliary troops, composed of Tlascallans, Cholullans, and Mexicans
+were joined to these forces. Father Olmedo, who was a most intimate
+friend of Alvarado, also begged Cortes that he might join him in this
+campaign, in order to preach the gospel to the inhabitants; but our
+general, who always wished to have father Olmedo near his person,
+refused his request, and appointed another excellent priest to this
+expedition who had come to New Spain with Garay, and who gladly
+undertook the office of missionary. Father Olmedo, however, left Cortes
+no peace until he had obtained his consent, though this was given with
+great reluctance, as the father was of valuable assistance to him, and a
+man whom he consulted in all matters of importance.
+
+The instructions which Alvarado received were, above all, to strive by
+every means to gain the inhabitants by kindness and friendship; besides
+which, father Olmedo was supplied with the necessary interpreters,
+through whom he was to make every exertion to induce the inhabitants to
+abolish their human sacrifices and other abominations, and to lead them
+into the bosom of our holy Christian church. As soon as these troops
+were in marching order, Alvarado took leave of Cortes, and left Mexico
+on the 13th of December of the year 1523. He took his route over some
+mountains in the province of Guantepec, and quelled an insurrection
+there which had broken out among the inhabitants of the country. From
+this place he marched to the large township of Tecuantepec, which is
+inhabited by a tribe of the Tzapotecs, where he met with the kindest
+reception, and was even presented with some gold. The province of
+Soconusco, which he next came to, he also found in perfect peace. This
+country was at that time thickly populated, and contained about 15,000
+inhabitants, who all quietly submitted, and brought Alvarado a present
+in gold; but as soon as he left this province, everything began to wear
+a warlike appearance, and, on his next day's march, when he arrived in
+the neighbourhood of the Zapotitlan townships, he came up to a bridge
+which lay across a small river, near to which there was a dangerous
+pass, and large bodies of the enemy were drawn up in order of battle, to
+prevent Alvarado from crossing over. Here Alvarado encountered a severe
+engagement, and lost one horse, and had many of his men wounded, of whom
+one died shortly after. It was not only the warriors of Zapotitlan which
+opposed Alvarado, but they were joined by so vast a body of the
+inhabitants from the surrounding country, that, though the Spaniards
+continually mowed down the enemy's ranks, they were obliged to renew the
+attack three several times; and it was only after a good deal of hard
+fighting that our troops at last gained a complete victory over them,
+and they then submitted as vassals to our emperor. The next township
+Alvarado came to was Quetzaltenanco, which had a considerable
+population, and likewise bid an obstinate resistance to the Spaniards,
+of whom a great number were wounded. The inhabitants of this place had
+been joined by their neighbours of Utatlan, the chief of a series of
+townships round about Quetzaltenanco: nevertheless, Alvarado put them to
+flight, and strewed the field of battle with dead and wounded.
+
+From this place his route lay through a dangerous and very narrow
+mountain defile, about six miles in length. The troops therefore marched
+forward with every military precaution, and began to ascend the
+acclivity. When they had arrived at the most elevated point of the pass,
+they found a fat old Indian female and a dog, which had been sacrificed
+to their gods; a certain sign of war. This indeed was soon verified; for
+they had not marched far before they came up with immense bodies of the
+enemy, who were lying in wait for them, so that Alvarado stood in great
+danger of being hemmed in on all sides. At this spot the pass was so
+narrow, and the ground so thickly strewed with stones, that the horse
+were scarcely able to render any assistance; but the crossbow-men,
+musketeers, and the rest of the foot, armed with bucklers and swords,
+closed the more bravely with the enemy, who retreated fighting, down the
+narrow pass to some deep hollows, where other bodies stood drawn up in
+order of battle. From this place the enemy, by a preconcerted plan, fell
+back, as Alvarado advanced, to another position, where they had posted
+above 6000 of their men. These were the warriors of Utatlan and their
+subjects, who had made sure they would easily be able to cut off
+Alvarado, with the whole of his men; but our troops fought with such
+determination and courage, that they put the enemy to flight, having
+only three of their men and two horses wounded. The enemy, however,
+rallied again, were joined by other large bodies, and renewed the attack
+with great intrepidity. The most desperate part of the action took place
+near a fountain, where a strong body of the enemy rushed forth from an
+ambush; so that the Spaniards were compelled to fight foot to foot with
+the Indians, who had in particular singled out the cavalry, and each
+horse was attacked by three of the enemy, while several others at the
+same time strove to pull them to the ground, by hanging to their tails.
+Here the Spaniards were placed in the utmost danger, for the enemy's
+numbers were overwhelming; but father Olmedo encouraged the men,
+reminding them that they were fighting with the intention of serving the
+Almighty, and to promote His holy religion; that the Lord would assist
+them, and that they must either conquer or die in this battle!
+
+Notwithstanding this, and the utmost endeavours of the Spaniards, the
+victory remained dubious for a length of time, until at last the enemy
+began to give way. Now the cavalry were able to gain the open field, and
+they dispersed the Indians on every side with considerable slaughter, so
+that they were unable to show themselves for the next three days. During
+this time Alvarado encamped on the field of battle, and sent out small
+detachments to forage. He then marched, with the whole of his troops,
+to the township of Quetzaltenanco, where he learnt that two caziques of
+Utatlan were killed in the recent battles. In this place he allowed his
+men to halt for some time, to dress their wounds, but soon received
+intelligence that the surrounding tribes again contemplated an attack
+upon him, for which purpose they had assembled an army of two
+Xiquipiles, there being 8000 warriors to one Xiquipil. With this
+formidable body of 16,000 men the enemy were determined to conquer or
+die. On receiving this information Alvarado drew out his troops on the
+open plain in order of battle; nor was it long before the enemy came
+pouring forth with great force, and strove to surround him on all sides;
+but as the cavalry were unrestricted in their movements on this level
+plain, they made heavy charges on the enemy's line, who were soon put to
+a disorderly flight. Several of Alvarado's men were wounded, but some of
+the most distinguished chiefs had fallen in the battle; so that from
+this moment the Indians really began to fear the Spaniards, and the
+whole province came to the determination of suing for peace, and they
+sent ambassadors to Alvarado with a small present in gold. But all this
+was mere stratagem on the enemy's part, whose object was to entice the
+Spaniards, under the assumed cloak of peace, to the strongly situated
+town of Utatlan, which was surrounded by deep hollows, and there to put
+them to death, when they least suspected any treachery.
+
+As I have just stated, a great number of distinguished personages
+arrived in Alvarado's camp to sue for peace; they handed over their
+miserable present, were remarkably courteous in their behaviour, and
+begged of Alvarado to pardon their late hostilities, and to acknowledge
+them as vassals of our great emperor. This humble language they
+accompanied by an invitation for him and his troops to return with them
+to the town of Utatlan, which they said was very large, and they would
+provide them excellent quarters, with every possible comfort.
+
+Alvarado, who did not for an instant imagine they had any treacherous
+designs, received the caziques very kindly, granted them the peace they
+sued for, and accepted of their polite invitation. The next morning
+early he drew out all his troops, and marched to Utatlan; but as soon as
+the Spaniards arrived in this town they were struck with the warlike
+aspect which everything wore. There were only two gates by which the
+town could be entered, one of which was approached by a flight of
+twenty-five steps, and the other by a causeway, which was intersected in
+several places. There was also a large building, which was strongly
+fortified; the houses of the town stood very close together, and the
+streets were uncommonly narrow. There was neither a woman nor a child
+to be seen anywhere, for these had all been concealed in the hollows
+adjoining the town, and it was very late before the troops could obtain
+any provisions, which even then were bad. The caziques had likewise
+assumed a different tone to that of the previous day, and Alvarado was
+secretly informed by some of the inhabitants of Quetzaltenanco that the
+caziques of Utatlan intended to fall suddenly on his troops in the
+night, and massacre them all; for which purpose they had concealed a
+number of their warriors in the adjoining hollows, who were to rush
+forth from their hiding-place the instant they observed the smoke rising
+from the houses of the town which would be set on fire, and to fall upon
+the Spaniards, who would be half suffocated by the smoke and flames,
+while the inhabitants attacked them from another quarter.
+
+The instant Alvarado was apprized of the imminent danger which
+threatened him, he assembled the officers, with the whole of the men,
+and informed them of what he had heard, adding, that their safety now
+depended upon their leaving the town as quickly as possible, and in
+gaining some level spot between the hollows, as it was then too late to
+reach the open field. He then made the necessary arrangements for the
+troops to abandon the place, and called upon the principal personages of
+the town, as if he were quite unconscious of their designs; but in the
+course of the conversation he remarked, as if by chance, that his horses
+were accustomed to go to grass for a certain time each day, for which
+reason he would be obliged to quit the town again, where altogether the
+houses were too much crowded, and the streets too narrow for him. This
+came like a thunderclap upon the caziques, nor could they hide their
+inward grief and vexation when they saw the Spaniards marching out
+again.
+
+As soon as Alvarado was outside the town he threw off the mask, ordered
+the chief cazique to be seized, and he was tried in due form by a
+court-martial, which sentenced him to be burnt at the stake. Before this
+sentence was put into execution father Olmedo begged permission of
+Alvarado to make an attempt to convert this Indian to Christianity, for
+which purpose he requested that his execution might be postponed for one
+day; but of this one day came a second day, at the end of which it
+pleased the Lord Jesus to incline the cazique's heart to Christianity,
+and he allowed himself to be baptized by the father, who then prevailed
+upon Alvarado to commute his sentence into that of hanging. The son of
+this unfortunate man was then raised to the caziquedom. But matters did
+not end here, for Alvarado was now attacked by the Indians, who lay
+concealed in the hollows, but he soon put them to flight.
+
+There was another large township in this province, called Guatimala, the
+inhabitants of which had been duly apprized of all the battles which
+Alvarado had fought since his arrival in the country, and how he had
+each time come off victorious. They also knew that he was staying at
+Utatlan, and that he made frequent incursions into the surrounding
+townships, and compelled them to submit to his arms. As the inhabitants
+of Guatimala were at enmity with the Utatlans, they despatched
+ambassadors to Alvarado with a present of gold, and declared themselves
+vassals of our emperor; adding, that they were ready to assist the
+Spaniards in carrying on the war in that province. Alvarado received
+these ambassadors in the kindest manner possible, thanked them for their
+present, and he told them, in order to prove whether they were in
+earnest in soliciting his friendship and in their offers of assistance,
+that he would demand of them 2000 of their troops to join his army. He
+was totally unacquainted, he continued, with the country, which was
+besides so full of hollows and narrow passes, that he should be glad of
+this reinforcement to clear the roads which had been barricaded by
+trees, and to transport his baggage. The inhabitants of Guatimala soon
+showed they were friendly disposed, and it was not long before the
+required troops, with their generals, arrived in the Spanish camp.
+Alvarado staid about eight days in the province of Utatlan, during which
+time he made repeated incursions into the different townships, and as
+several of these again revolted after submitting to the Spanish crown,
+great numbers of the male and female inhabitants were carried off as
+slaves and marked with the red-hot iron. Of these slaves a fifth were
+set apart for his majesty, and the remainder were immediately divided
+among the troops.
+
+Upon this Alvarado marched to Guatimala, where the inhabitants gave him
+a kind and hospitable reception. Here the men enjoyed some rest, and
+they congratulated each other on the success that had attended their
+arms, and now they thought with pleasure on the fatigues they had
+undergone. Among other things, Alvarado declared to father Olmedo and
+his officers, that he had not been in any battle where he considered
+himself in greater danger than in the one they had recently fought with
+the tribes of Utatlan, who had combined excessive ferocity with uncommon
+bravery, and he considered that his men had done wonders on that
+occasion. "It was the arm of God," remarked father Olmedo, "that was
+with us, and that He may not desert us in future, let us appoint a day
+of thanksgiving to the Almighty and the blessed Virgin, and celebrate
+high mass, and I will preach a sermon to these Indians." Alvarado and
+the other officers immediately fell in with this idea, and after an
+altar had been erected the whole of the men made the communion, and high
+mass was performed with every solemnity. A great number of Indians were
+present on the occasion, to whom father Olmedo preached so many
+excellent things, and gave so many convincing proofs of the truth of our
+holy religion, that above thirty of them became converts to
+Christianity. In the course of the two following days they were
+baptized, and several others expressed a similar wish, when they found
+that the Spaniards made more of the converts than of the others. Upon
+the whole, there was nothing but rejoicing and happiness between the
+troops of Alvarado and the inhabitants of this place.
+
+I must now relate that the caziques of Guatimala drew Alvarado's
+attention to some townships which lay at no great distance in front of a
+lake. The inhabitants of these places were at enmity with Guatimala, and
+their stronghold was a rock of great height, which they had further
+strengthened by various outworks. Of these townships, Atatlan was the
+principal one, and it was very evident the inhabitants bore the
+Spaniards very little good will, since, notwithstanding their near
+vicinity, they had not thought proper to send them any messengers of
+peace. Alvarado, therefore, sent them a most polite invitation to come
+and make a friendly alliance with him; but all the answer they returned
+was to ill-use the messengers. This invitation Alvarado renewed three
+several times, and as they still refused to despatch any ambassadors to
+him, he determined to march thither in person, with 140 foot, 40 horse,
+and 2000 auxiliaries of Guatimala. When he had approached within a short
+distance of the township he again sent a friendly message to the
+inhabitants, who replied by a flight of arrows; upon which he advanced
+up to the water's edge. At this moment a vast body of Indians fell
+suddenly upon him, under the sound of their wild music, the whole of
+them accoutred in their full war costume, with lances of uncommon
+length. This was a very severe conflict which lasted for some time, and
+a good number of the Spaniards were wounded; but the Indians at last
+fled precipitately and strove to regain the fortified rock, but Alvarado
+followed so close at their heels that he carried the rock before they
+could rally themselves, and he would have slaughtered a great number of
+them if they had not leaped into the water and made for a small island
+on the lake. He then permitted his troops to plunder the houses which
+lay on the banks, and encamped on a plain which was covered with maise
+plantations. The day following he marched to Atatlan, which he found
+quite deserted by its inhabitants; from this place he sent out small
+detachments to forage the country, and particularly the
+cacao-plantations, which abounded in this neighbourhood. One of these
+detachments succeeded in capturing two chiefs of the township, whom
+Alvarado despatched with some others that had been taken prisoners on
+the previous day, to the caziques, desiring them to come and sue for
+peace; if they complied, he would liberate all the prisoners he had
+taken, and they themselves should receive the most honorable treatment;
+but if they still obstinately refused to submit, he would punish them as
+he had the inhabitants of Quetzaltenanco and Utatlan, by cutting down
+all their cacao trees, and otherwise damaging their property in every
+possible manner. These threats had the desired effect, they sent
+messengers with a present in gold, and submitted as vassals to our
+emperor; when Alvarado again returned to Guatimala.
+
+Father Olmedo, in the meantime, was doing all in his power to convert
+the Indians to Christianity; he ordered an altar with a cross to be
+erected, in front of which he regularly performed mass, and the
+inhabitants, on these occasions, imitated the Spaniards in all their
+religious ceremonies. Father Olmedo also placed on the altar an image of
+the Virgin Mary, which had been presented to him by Garay in his dying
+moments. This image was of such extreme beauty that the Indians became
+quite enamoured of it, and father Olmedo explained what was meant by
+such an image, and how Christians prayed before it.
+
+Nothing now happened for several days worthy of mention, excepting that
+by degrees every township of the surrounding neighbourhood sent
+ambassadors to Alvarado, and declared themselves vassals of our emperor;
+even the Pipiles, a tribe inhabiting the sea-coast along the southern
+ocean. As most of the ambassadors complained that the inhabitants of a
+township, named Izcuintepec, who were a very ill-disposed people, would
+not allow them to pass through their territory; besides that they
+committed all manner of depredations on their neighbours; Alvarado
+determined that they also should sue for peace and submit to his power.
+But as they showed no inclination to do either, and sent an insolent
+answer to his message, he marched out one morning with the greatest part
+of his troops, accompanied by a strong body of auxiliaries, and fell
+suddenly upon this township before the inhabitants in the least
+suspected his approach. But it would have been better if Alvarado had
+never visited this ill-fated town, for he treated the inhabitants in a
+manner that was neither conformable with justice nor with the wishes of
+our emperor.
+
+What I have related of this campaign in the province of Guatimala is
+more minutely described in a memorial written by Gonzalo de Alvarado, a
+brother of Pedro, and an inhabitant of Guatimala; by perusing which the
+reader may gain further particulars, and will be enabled to correct any
+errors I may have committed. I consider myself bound to make this
+observation, as I was not present in this campaign, for I did not arrive
+in Guatimala until the year 1524, when the inhabitants had again
+revolted, just as we were about returning to Mexico from our expedition
+to the Higueras and Honduras, under the captain Luis Marin. On that
+occasion we had several engagements with the enemy, who had everywhere
+dug deep holes and barricaded the narrow passes along the line of our
+march. We were detained two whole days in the township of Juanagazapa,
+or Petapa, the neighbourhood of which was full of deep hollows, and we
+had several battles with the enemy, who strove to prevent our march
+through a very dangerous mountain pass. Here I was slightly wounded by
+an arrow, and it cost us much hard fighting before we could force this
+passage. I could say a good deal of the battle we fought on this spot,
+and it is with difficulty I restrain myself at present, in order to
+relate all the circumstances more fully in the proper place. It was
+about this time also that a rumour was spread of Cortes' death. With
+respect to the inhabitants of Guatimala, I have merely further to remark
+that they were not a very warlike people, nor did they ever bid any
+stout resistance unless they were strongly posted in the hollows of the
+mountains, and then even their arrows did us very little harm.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXV.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches an armament, under Christobal de Oli, to the
+    Higueras and Honduras, to subject these provinces; and what further
+    took place during this expedition._
+
+
+Cortes was informed that the provinces of Higueras[33] and Honduras were
+uncommonly rich, and possessed lucrative gold and silver mines; in which
+belief he had been further strengthened by the assertions of several
+sailors who had visited these parts, and affirmed that they had
+witnessed with their own eyes that the Indians there fastened pieces of
+gold to their fishing nets instead of lead, in order to sink them;
+besides which, these sailors were of opinion there must be somewhere in
+that latitude a narrow arm of the sea, which ran into the southern
+ocean, and this was another reason why Cortes was desirous of exploring
+those parts, particularly as he had received instructions from his
+majesty to use his utmost endeavours to discover some such passage to
+the southern ocean, in order to promote the trade with the spice islands
+by a shorter route. Cortes therefore determined to fit out an expedition
+for this purpose, the command of which he gave to Oli, his
+quartermaster-general. He was induced for various reasons to intrust
+this man with so important a command; first of all, Oli was entirely
+indebted to him for his successful career in life; secondly, he was a
+married man; and lastly, he possessed considerable property in the
+neighbourhood of Mexico; so that Cortes considered he could every way
+place implicit reliance on his fidelity and obedience. As the route
+overland to these provinces would have been too tedious, expensive, and
+difficult, Cortes determined for an expedition thither by sea, and
+fitted out five vessels and one brigantine, with three hundred and
+seventy men, among whom there were one hundred musketeers and
+crossbow-men, with twenty-two horse. In this corps there were also five
+of the veteran Conquistadores, all men who had distinguished themselves
+on every occasion. They had already settled themselves quietly down in
+New Spain, and were in every respect entitled to enjoy the sweets of
+repose; but Cortes was not the man to whom you could say, "I am now
+tired, general, of military life, allow me therefore to spend the
+remainder of my days in peace and quiet;" but he commanded you to go,
+and if you would not, he forced you. Among other officers who
+accompanied Oli was Briones of Salamanca, the same who commanded one of
+the brigantines during the siege of Mexico, and who had formerly served
+in the campaigns of Italy. This man was of a most irascible disposition,
+and he hated Cortes from the bottom of his soul; but he was not the only
+one, for several others took part in this expedition who were equally
+ill inclined towards our general, who had made himself a great many
+enemies among the troops, by neglecting to bestow upon them a fair
+proportion of the Indians and of the gold.
+
+Oli's instructions were to set sail from Vera Cruz, and shape his course
+for the Havannah, where he would find Alonso de Conteras, one of Cortes'
+veterans, whom the latter had despatched thither, in advance, with 6000
+pesos, to purchase horses, cassave bread, and salted meat, for the
+armament, all of which Oli was to take on board, and then sail straight
+for the Higueras, to which place he would then have an easy voyage.
+Cortes' further instructions were, that he should make every possible
+effort to gain the Indians by kindness, and to build a town in some
+advantageous spot, near some harbour, from whence he could by degrees
+subject the whole country, and induce the inhabitants to bring in their
+gold and silver; but he was, above all things, to search for the
+passage to the southern ocean, and should he arrive there, to explore
+the harbours on that coast, if he found any.
+
+To this armament were also appointed two priests, one of whom understood
+the Mexican language, and they were particularly desired to preach the
+gospel among the Indians, and by kindly remonstrances, joined to
+convincing arguments, induce them to abolish their human sacrifices,
+with other abominations practised among them. Every place the troops
+visited they were to look out for those diabolical cages in which the
+Indians shut up those they intended as victims for their sacrifices;
+these they were ordered to release, and the cages were to be destroyed.
+The priests were also to erect crosses in every township, and they were
+provided with a number of images of the Virgin Mary to present to the
+inhabitants.
+
+After Cortes had strongly impressed all this on Oli's mind, he bid him
+and all his troops an affectionate farewell. When Oli arrived in Vera
+Cruz he found everything in readiness, so that he was enabled to embark
+immediately with his troops, and set sail; but I have forgotten both the
+year and the day of the month when he left.[34] However, he had a very
+favorable passage to the Havannah, where he found the horses, with the
+provisions and other necessaries, in readiness. Here he was also joined
+by five of the veteran Conquistadores, who had been banished from New
+Spain by Diego de Ocampo, in the height of his wrath, during the
+investigation into the affairs of Panuco, after Garay's troops had
+occasioned an insurrection in that province. These men were the first
+who whispered the idea into Oli's ear of revolting against Cortes, and
+Briones had frequently spoken to him to the same effect; but Diego
+Velasquez, governor of Cuba, and the mortal enemy of Cortes, urged him
+in the strongest terms to refuse all further obedience to our general.
+He even visited Oli on board the vessels, and they came to a secret
+agreement between themselves jointly to subdue the Higueras and Honduras
+in his majesty's name. Oli was to take upon himself the active part, and
+Velasquez, on his side, was to procure him every necessary, and to
+support him with his money. His majesty was to be duly apprized of all
+this, and to be petitioned to confer upon them the government of all
+their conquests.
+
+With respect to Christobal de Oli, I must observe that he was a man of
+uncommon bravery, and excelled both as a cavalry and foot soldier; but
+he certainly did not possess sufficient talent for a commander-in-chief,
+but was second to no man under command. About this time he may have been
+in his forty-sixth year, and was either a native of Baëza or of Lunares.
+His outward appearance was extremely handsome; high of stature,
+carrying with it the very expression of muscular power; his limbs were
+beautifully proportioned, and his shoulders broad, while a ruddy hue,
+most pleasing to the eye, was constantly upon his cheek. There was only
+one fault to be found with his features, which was a deep cut in his
+under lip. In language he was rather imperious and coarse, but in other
+respects very agreeable in conversation; he had, upon the whole, many
+good qualities, particularly a noble frankness of disposition, which
+gained him the confidence of every person. As long as he staid in Mexico
+he was quite devoted to Cortes, but subsequently his ambitious desire
+for command, and not to be commanded, with the bad advice of evil-minded
+persons, completely blinded him. It must also be remembered that in his
+early youth he had served under Velasquez, and he could not forget the
+bread which, as a boy, he had eaten in his house. In this way it
+happened that he quite forgot he was vastly more indebted to Cortes than
+to Diego Velasquez.
+
+After he had thus come to a secret understanding with the governor of
+Cuba, he was visited by many of the inhabitants of this place, who all
+strongly advised him to throw off the yoke of Cortes, thereby
+strengthening him in his evil designs. The armament being now fully
+equipped, he set sail from the Havannah, and arrived on the 3d of May,
+after a very prosperous voyage, about sixty miles on the other side of
+Puerto Caballo, and disembarked his men in a small bay, where he
+immediately began to lay the foundations of a town, to which he gave the
+name of Triunfo de la Cruz, and, according to the instructions he had
+received from Cortes, he selected the alcaldes and regidors from among
+the veteran Conquistadores above mentioned. He likewise took possession
+of the country for his majesty in the name of Cortes, and otherwise
+punctually obeyed the orders he had received, that the latter's friends
+might not discover what his real intentions were, until a good
+opportunity should offer itself of gaining them over to his side. I have
+likewise been assured that, if he found these provinces did not produce
+much gold or silver, he was determined to return to Mexico, and assure
+Cortes that his only reason for making that secret agreement with
+Velasquez was to procure troops and provisions at the latter's expense;
+the best proof of which would be his having taken possession of the
+country in Cortes' name.
+
+Let us in the meantime allow Oli to build his new town, for it was not
+till eight months after that Cortes received intelligence of his revolt,
+when I will return to this subject. I must now relate what took place in
+Guacasualco, and how I, with the captain Luis Marin, was despatched to
+subdue the province of Chiapa.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXVI.
+
+    _How we who were left behind in Guacasualco were constantly occupied
+    in tranquillising the rebellious provinces; how Luis Marin, by
+    command of Cortes, marches into Chiapa, to subject that province;
+    myself and father Juan de las Varillas being particularly desired by
+    Cortes to join him in this campaign._
+
+
+A considerable number of us veteran Conquistadores and persons of
+quality had settled ourselves in the province of Guacasualco, and the
+lands which had been divided among us were of very considerable extent,
+lying dispersed among the provinces of Guacasualco, Citla, Tabasco,
+Cimatan, and Chontalpa, stretching across the mountains of Cachulazoque
+and Guilenes as far as Cinacatan; including also Chamula, the town of
+Chiapa, Papanaustla, and Pinula, in the neighbourhood of Mexico;
+further, the provinces of Chaltepec, Guazcatepec, Chinanta, and Tepeaca,
+besides several townships. But in the beginning most of the provinces we
+had subdued in New Spain each time rebelled when the different
+proprietors came to demand their tribute, and they were frequently put
+to death by the inhabitants; which was also the case in Guacasualco,
+where the whole of the townships had from time to time rebelled against
+us; so that we were constantly obliged to march in small detachments
+from one district to another, in order again to bring the inhabitants to
+obedience.
+
+Among others, the inhabitants of Cimatan likewise revolted, and
+peremptorily refused to obey our mandates; and our captain Luis Marin,
+not wishing to send any strong detachment of his troops thither at
+first, despatched myself, Rodrigo de Enao, Francisco Martin, Francisco
+Ximenes, with four Indians of Guacasualco, to the rebels, in order to
+try if we could not induce them by kind remonstrances to return to their
+duty.
+
+In this province the generality of townships lie between marshes and
+deep rivers; when, therefore, we had arrived within eight miles of the
+place of our destination, we despatched a messenger to the inhabitants
+to inform them of our arrival; but instead of returning any answer,
+three separate bodies of their warriors, armed with bows and lances,
+marched out against us, and attacked us so vigorously, that two of our
+companions were instantly killed. I myself was dangerously wounded by an
+arrow in the throat, from which the blood flowed so fast that my life
+was in the utmost danger. Next Francisco Martin was wounded, who stood
+close to me; and we, in our turn, certainly wounded several of the
+enemy; but at length we were compelled to seek our safety in flight, and
+try if we could not take possession of some canoes which lay near at
+hand, in a river called the Macapa. While my comrades were striving to
+accomplish this, I was obliged, though heavily wounded, to remain alone
+behind; and in order not to be killed outright, I summoned what little
+recollection I had, and hid myself between the bushes. Here I was again
+enabled to take courage, and I swore to the blessed Virgin that these
+dogs should not, at least, get me into their power this time! I then
+collected all my strength, leaped forth from among the bushes, fell
+vigorously upon the Indians, and I succeeded, by dint of heavy blows and
+thrusts, to cut my way through them; so that I was enabled, though
+wounded afresh, to reach the spot where Francisco Martin, with four
+trustworthy Indians, was waiting with the canoes. Even then we must all
+of us have undoubtedly been cut to pieces, if these faithful men had not
+defended our baggage to the last, thereby drawing off the enemy's
+attention from us; and while they were busily engaged in plundering our
+trunks we found time to set the canoes afloat, and to push off from the
+shore. Thus, through the great mercy of God, we made our escape by means
+of these canoes, and passed across this deep and broad river, which
+abounded with alligators; but in order to elude the pursuit of these
+Cimatecs, we were obliged to conceal ourselves for the space of eight
+days among the mountains. In the meantime the news of our disaster had
+reached Guacasualco, and the four Indians, who had also been fortunate
+enough to save themselves by flight, confidently asserted, as we were so
+long in returning, that we must have been killed. Luis Marin, who
+likewise gave us up for lost, had already, as was customary at that
+time, divided our Indian commendaries among the other Conquistadores,
+and had written to Cortes for fresh indentures to convey the property;
+besides that, he had sold off all our moveable goods by public auction.
+However, after the space of twenty-three days, we again, to the surprise
+of all, made our reappearance in Guacasualco, where our friends were
+indeed delighted to see us, but those who had obtained our possessions
+drew very long faces.
+
+Luis Marin was at length fully convinced that he should never be able to
+put down the rebellion in the provinces, unless he was allowed a
+stronger body of troops, for now he was sacrificing the lives of the few
+men he had to no purpose. He resolved therefore to repair in person to
+Mexico, and beg Cortes for a further reinforcement, and other
+necessaries, to carry on a war. He particularly cautioned the Spaniards
+to remain quiet during his absence, and ordered that they should not
+move to a greater distance than twenty miles from the town, unless to
+procure themselves provisions.
+
+When Marin reached Mexico, and had given Cortes an account of the state
+of affairs in Guacasualco, he only furnished him with twenty soldiers,
+and desired him to return thither without delay. Among these was Alonso
+de Grado, whom I have so often mentioned above, and father Juan de las
+Varillas, who was a profound scholar, and had come to New Spain with
+Zuazo. According to his own account, he had studied in the college of
+Santa Cruz, at Salamanca, and he said he was of a very distinguished
+family.
+
+Marin's instructions from Cortes were to march with all the Spaniards
+who had settled in Guacasualco, and the fresh troops he brought with
+him, into Chiapa, to quell the disturbances, and found a new town in
+this province. We therefore equipped ourselves in the best possible
+manner for this campaign, and commenced operations by clearing the road
+along the line of our route, for the country was full of swamps and
+dangerous mountains. We had to carry along with us heavy beams, by means
+of which our horse were to pass the marshes, but even those were
+insufficient in many places. In this way, with the utmost difficulty, we
+arrived at Tezpuatlan, which township we could only reach by ferrying
+across a broad river in canoes, for which purpose we had first to run up
+the river to a considerable distance. From this place we arrived at
+Cachula, which lies high among the mountains, in the province of Chiapa,
+and must not be confounded with a township of the same name, prettily
+situated in the neighbourhood of la Puebla de los Angeles. Leaving
+Cachula, we passed through several small townships dependent on it; here
+we made ourselves a perfectly new road along the river, which flows from
+Chiapa, for there was previously no road whatever in this place. The
+inhabitants of the surrounding districts lived in perpetual fear of the
+Chiapanecs, who at that time were the most warlike people of New Spain.
+I will not even except the Tlascallans, the Mexicans, the Zapotecs, or
+the Minges; nor were the monarchs of Mexico ever able to subdue them;
+besides which, their population was extensive, and their warlike spirit
+universally dreaded. They were continually at war with their neighbours
+of Cinacatan, the tribes on the lake Quilenayas, and with the Zoques; in
+short, they levied contributions on all the surrounding townships,
+dragged the inhabitants forcibly away to sacrifice them to their gods,
+and devoured their flesh at their festive orgies. They posted troops in
+all the narrow passes of Teguantepec, to lay wait for the trading Indian
+merchants, thereby often destroying all intercourse between the
+different provinces. They had even carried off into slavery the
+population of whole districts, and formed settlements of them in the
+neighbourhood of Chiapa, compelling them to cultivate their plantations.
+
+After we had marched to a considerable distance up this river towards
+Chiapa, (it was during the lent of the year 1524,) we halted within a
+short distance of this place. Here Marin reviewed his troops, which he
+had been unable to do up to this moment, as a number of the inhabitants
+of the country had been absent, besides many of the soldiers, to collect
+the tribute of the townships, which lay dispersed among the Cachula
+mountains. Our muster-roll gave twenty-five horse, but of which five
+were scarcely fit for service; fifteen crossbow-men, and eight
+musketeers. We had one field-piece, and one artilleryman, who had served
+in the campaign of Italy; but that was all, for he was the most
+determined coward I ever saw. The rest of our Spanish troops consisted
+of those who were armed with swords and bucklers, amounting to sixty
+men. Further we were joined by eighty Mexicans and the cazique of
+Cachula, with several other distinguished personages. But the men of
+this latter place stood in such dread of the enemy, that we could only
+employ them in clearing the road as we advanced, and to transport our
+baggage.
+
+As we approached nearer to the enemy we conducted our march with greater
+military precaution, and the nimblest of our men were always in front of
+the troops. I myself formed one of the scouts on this occasion and had
+left my horse behind, as the nature of the ground here was in every
+respect unfavorable for the cavalry. We were continually a couple of
+miles in advance of the main body, and as the inhabitants of Chiapa are
+very expert huntsmen, we soon came up with some of them, and immediately
+they kindled fires in various directions to assemble their warriors. In
+the vicinity of their townships the road was uncommonly narrow, but the
+country round about was beautifully cultivated with maise and different
+kinds of leguminous plants. The first township we came to was Estapa,
+which lay about sixteen miles from the chief town, and was totally
+deserted by its inhabitants; but we found abundance of provisions,
+consisting in fowls, maise, and other eatables, so that we had a right
+good supper. As we had carefully posted our watches, and sent out the
+patroles and pickets, we could not be taken by surprise, and two of the
+horse came suddenly galloping up with the intelligence that a large body
+of the enemy was approaching. However, we were always ready for action,
+so that we marched out against them before they could enter the town. A
+very severe conflict ensued, for the enemy were well provided with
+bows, arrows, lances, pikes of uncommon length, and excellent cotton
+cuirasses. Besides which they were armed with a species of club, shaped
+like a scimitar, and as the ground was strewed with stones they did us
+much injury with their slings, and by an artful manoeuvre attempted to
+surround us, killing two of our men and four horses in the first
+encounter. Besides which, father Juan and thirteen soldiers, with
+several of our Indian auxiliaries, were wounded, and Luis Marin himself
+in two places. The battle lasted until nightfall, when, to our great joy
+the enemy retreated after we had severely punished them with our swords,
+muskets, and other weapons. Fifteen of their number lay dead on the
+field of battle, and several were so dreadfully wounded that they were
+unable to move. Two of these, who appeared to be men of distinction,
+assured us that we should be attacked on the following day by the whole
+armed force of the country.
+
+This night we spent in burying our dead and in dressing the wounds of
+our men. Our captain was himself very unwell, as he had lost much blood;
+and by standing so long on the field of battle had chilled his wounds.
+We observed the utmost vigilance during this night: the horses stood
+saddled, and the whole of us were ready for action at a moment's notice,
+for we were almost certain that the enemy contemplated some sudden
+attack. We considered our position in every respect dangerous, as with
+all our firing and courageous fighting we had not been able to drive the
+foe from the field of battle, and we soon discovered that we had to deal
+with bold and intrepid warriors. Our cavalry were therefore commanded to
+charge the enemy's line in small bodies, five abreast, and to poise
+their lances at the face. Several of us veteran Conquistadores had
+frequently cautioned the new recruits to adopt this mode of attack, but
+many of them had neglected this good advice, and imagined they had done
+enough by merely wounding their antagonist. Four of the less experienced
+ones had paid dearly for this neglect, for the Indians wrested the
+lances out of their hands and wounded them and their horses with their
+own weapons. In this battle, six or seven of the enemy had boldly set
+upon each horse at a time, and laid hold of them with their hands; one
+of the men they had already dragged by force from his saddle, and they
+would undoubtedly have carried him off and sacrificed him to their idols
+if we had not hastened up to his assistance.
+
+During this night we came to the determination of marching early the
+next day against the town of Chiapa itself. And, indeed, it might in
+every respect be termed a town, so fine an appearance had the houses,
+besides being so regularly built. Its population amounted to above 4000
+souls, in which that of the many surrounding townships is not included,
+though the whole of them were subject to Chiapa. Early next morning,
+accordingly, we marched forward for this place and observed the utmost
+military precaution; but we had scarcely advanced one mile when we came
+up with the united forces of this province. The enemy, with surprising
+swiftness and accoutred in their most splendid war costume, fell upon us
+from all sides at once under the most hideous yells, and fought with the
+ferocity of infuriated lions. Our black artilleryman, (for he was every
+way entitled to the appellation of negro,) in the dread of the moment
+had quite lost his senses, and forgot to fire the cannon; but when at
+last, by hollowing out to him at the top of our voices, he summoned
+sufficient courage to fire it with a trembling hand, he wounded three of
+our own men, instead of committing any destruction among the enemy's
+ranks. Our captain seeing how matters stood, now ordered the cavalry to
+form themselves in the small bodies above mentioned, the rest of the
+troops to close in a firm body together and in that way to fall
+vigorously upon the enemy; but their numbers were too great, and if
+there had not been many of us present who were accustomed to Indian
+warfare, the rest of the troops would have been in the greatest
+consternation. We were indeed astonished to find how firmly these
+Indians maintained their ground. Father Juan kept constantly encouraging
+us to the attack, by saying, "That our reward would lay with God and the
+emperor." Our captain likewise animated us with the cry of: "Forward!
+gentlemen, Santiago is with us!" And now we fell upon the enemy with
+renewed courage and compelled them to give way. From the very
+unfavorable state of the ground, which was covered with loose stones,
+our cavalry were unable to pursue the enemy with any success; but we
+kept as close at their heels as we possibly could, and marched with less
+precaution, as we thought this day's work was at an end, and we offered
+up thanks to God for our victory. However, when we had arrived near to
+some small hills we found even larger bodies of men drawn up in order of
+battle. Besides their usual weapons they had a number of ropes with
+loops at the end, which they threw at the horses in order to pull them
+to the ground. Strong nets which they use for the purpose of snaring the
+wild deer were also fixed at certain distances to catch our horse, and
+they had other smaller ropes with loops, which were to be thrown about
+our necks to pull us towards them. The whole of these troops in an
+instant fell upon us, pouring forth as they came along so vast a number
+of stones, darts, and arrows, that almost every man of us received a
+fresh wound. In this severe engagement we lost two Spaniards and five
+horses, and four of the cavalry soldiers had their lances wrested from
+their hands.
+
+During this battle we saw a very fat old Indian female marching up and
+down between the enemy's ranks. She was, we were told, venerated as a
+goddess by these people. She had divined to her countrymen that we
+should be vanquished the moment she appeared among them on the field of
+battle. This woman carried in her hands an idol, carved of stone; and an
+earthen censer, in which she burnt incense; her body was daubed all over
+with various colours, and raw cotton was sticking to the paint. Without
+evincing the least fear she walked into the midst of our Indian allies
+while they were hotly engaged with the enemy; but this cursed witch met
+with very little respect from them, for they tore her limb from limb.
+
+When we saw what terrific bodies of the enemy attacked us from all
+sides, and the astonishing bravery with which they fought, we began to
+consider ourselves in a very critical position, and we begged of father
+Juan to commend us in prayer to the protection of the Almighty. We then
+once more fell vigorously upon the enemy and put them to flight. Numbers
+concealed themselves in the fissures of the rocks, others threw
+themselves into the river and sought to escape by swimming, of which art
+these Indians are likewise perfect masters. We now halted for a short
+time while father Juan sang a salve, in which those who had a good voice
+joined in chorus. This melody was indeed pleasing to the ear, and we
+thanked the Almighty the more fervently for this victory, when we
+considered our great loss in killed and wounded. We then marched to a
+small township at no great distance from the town, near the river side.
+Here the cherry-trees were hanging full of ripe fruit, for it was then
+lent, which is the season when cherries come to perfection in this
+country, and they were of a most delicious flavour; we spent the whole
+day here in order to bury our dead in places where they would not easily
+be discovered by the inhabitants. Several of our men were wounded, and
+ten of the horses very severely so; we therefore resolved to pass the
+night in this township.
+
+The hour of midnight was already past, when ten distinguished Indians
+arrived in our camp from the townships in the neighbourhood of Chiapa.
+They had crossed the deep and broad river with five canoes in the utmost
+silence, in order to elude the vigilance of the Chiapanec troops, and as
+they came creeping along the bank in a very suspicious manner they were
+seized by our outposts and brought in prisoners, which was the very
+thing they desired. When brought into the presence of our captain they
+addressed him as follows: "We are not, sir, Chiapanecs, but natives of
+the province of Xaltepec. The base Chiapanecs once commenced a
+destructive war with us and put great numbers of our countrymen to
+death, and after plundering us of all we possessed they carried off the
+greater part of the inhabitants with our wives into slavery, to till
+their grounds. It is now twelve years that we have toiled for them in
+base servitude. We are compelled to labour in the plantations of our
+oppressors, are obliged to fish for them and to do all manner of hard
+work; but this is not all, for whenever it suits them they forcibly
+carry off our wives and daughters. We now come to offer you a sufficient
+number of canoes to pass the river, which we will despatch hither this
+very night. We will also point out to you the safest ford, for we assure
+you, without our assistance, you will have great difficulty and run
+great risk in crossing over. In reward for this good office, we beg of
+you when you shall have vanquished these Chiapanecs, to rescue us out of
+their power and allow us to return to our homes. And in order that you
+may place perfect reliance in what we have stated, we have brought as a
+present for you three ornaments of gold in the shape of diadems, which
+we have left behind in the canoes, besides some fowls and cherries."
+
+They then begged permission of our captain to return to their canoes, in
+order to fetch these presents, telling him what great precaution they
+were obliged to use not to fall into the hands of the enemy, who had
+posted watches everywhere along the river.
+
+Our captain joyfully accepted of their kind offer, and not only promised
+to grant them their wish of returning to their own country, but to give
+them a share of the booty we should make in Chiapa. On further
+questioning them respecting the last battle, they informed us that the
+enemy had above 120 dead and wounded, but they were determined to attack
+us the next day again with their united forces; besides that, they would
+bring into the field the inhabitants of the townships which they, the
+ambassadors, now represented, but assured our captain they had secretly
+agreed among themselves to run over to him as soon as the action
+commenced. The enemy intended, they further said, to fall upon us while
+we were crossing the river, should we make this dangerous attempt.
+
+Two of these Indians remained with us, while the others returned to
+their townships, in order to make the necessary arrangements for
+despatching twenty canoes to us by break of day, which arrived
+punctually at the time mentioned. In the meantime we laid ourselves
+down to enjoy a little rest, but took every precaution in posting our
+watches, as we could plainly hear the wild music of shell-trumpets and
+drums each time a fresh body of the enemy arrived on the banks of the
+river.
+
+When day began to dawn we again recognized our new friends as they were
+secretly coming up with their canoes; but the Chiapanecs had already
+suspected these people would turn their arms against them, and run over
+to our side, and had taken several of them prisoners; the rest had fled
+to the top of an elevated temple, where they fortified themselves, and
+so it happened that the battle should first commence between the enemy
+and their former slaves.
+
+Our new allies now led us to the place where we were to ford the river,
+and they exerted themselves to the utmost to hasten our passage across,
+for they feared the enemy would sacrifice those of their countrymen whom
+they had captured in the night, unless we arrived speedily to their
+rescue. When we came to the ford our horse and foot united in a close
+body together, in order to stand the better against the rapid stream; we
+then boldly marched into the water, which reached up to our breasts; but
+the canoes kept close up with us at our side, and in this way we
+fortunately reached the opposite shore; but here we were suddenly
+attacked by the enemy with excessive fury before the half of us could
+get on dry ground. The greater part of us were instantly wounded, some
+severely so in two places; two of the horses were lost, and one cavalry
+soldier, named Guerra or Guerrero, a native of Toledo, had unfortunately
+got with his horse into a whirlpool, where he himself was drowned, but
+his horse swam on shore.
+
+We were unable for a length of time to gain a firm footing on dry land,
+and drive back the enemy; nor could we succeed till our new allies fell
+upon their rear, and richly did they repay them for their last twelve
+years of oppression. The whole of us now leaped on shore, and attacked
+the enemy so vigorously that they fled away in disorder. Our captain
+then drew up the troops in order of battle, desired our new allies, who
+had assembled in great numbers, to join our ranks, and in this way, with
+flying colours, we marched in a direct line for the metropolis itself.
+When we arrived in the principal quarter of the town, where the temples
+stood, we found the houses so crowded together, that we durst not risk
+to quarter ourselves there, from fear of fire, but encamped in an open
+space, where we were out of all danger. Our general then despatched
+three of our new allies, and six Chiapanec chiefs, whom we had taken
+prisoners, with a message to the enemy, desiring them to submit
+peaceably to our emperor. These messengers were also commissioned to
+inform the enemy that if they sued for peace without delay, their
+recent hostilities would be pardoned; but in case they refused to do so,
+we were determined to punish them severely, and would commence by
+setting fire to the town. These threats soon brought the enemy to their
+senses, and they immediately despatched ambassadors to us with a present
+in gold, offered various excuses for having commenced hostilities with
+us, and declared themselves vassals of our emperor. At the same time
+they begged of our captain to forbid our allies setting fire to any more
+of their dwellings; for they had burnt down several houses in a small
+township near Chiapa. Luis Marin willingly complied with this request,
+and strictly commanded both our allies and the inhabitants of Cachula
+not to commit any further destruction of property.
+
+In this town we found three large wooden cages filled with prisoners,
+all of whom were merchants, who had been purposely waylaid on the high
+road by the Chiapanecs, and thrown into these dens to fatten for their
+sacrifices, and they were all fastened by means of collars to strong
+beams. Some of these unfortunate beings belonged to the country of the
+Tzapotecs, others to that of the Quilenes, and several of them were
+inhabitants of Guautepec and of the province of Soconusco.
+
+We instantly liberated the whole of these prisoners, and sent them to
+their respective homes. We also found in the temples diabolical looking
+idols, all of which father Juan ordered to be burnt on the spot, with
+the remains of several old and young Indians who had been sacrificed in
+these buildings. In the temples we also discovered traces of other
+abominations of a most horrible nature.
+
+Our captain now sent to every township in the neighbourhood, desiring
+the inhabitants to come and sue for peace, and to declare themselves
+vassals of our emperor. The first who came over were the people of
+Cinacatan, Capanaustla, Pinola, Quehuiztlan, Chamula, and those of other
+townships, whose names I have forgotten; after these came the Quilenes,
+and other tribes who speak the Zoque language. All these tribes
+expressed their utter astonishment that we should have been able to
+vanquish the Chiapanecs with so small a body of men, but were
+excessively rejoiced, for the whole of them were at enmity with this
+people.
+
+We remained altogether five days in Chiapa, during which time father
+Juan celebrated the holy mass, confessed many of our men, and preached
+several sermons to the Indians in their own language, of which he
+possessed considerable knowledge. The inhabitants listened to him with
+great delight, knelt down before the cross, and promised they would
+allow themselves to be baptized. They became indeed excessively fond of
+father Juan, and said we appeared to be a very good kind of people.
+While we were thus living on the most friendly terms with the
+inhabitants, one of our men, without asking our captain's leave, quitted
+the camp with eight Mexicans, and marched to the township of Chamula,
+which had already submitted to our arms without offering any resistance.
+This man demanded, in the name of his captain, gold ornaments from the
+inhabitants, of which they gave him a small quantity; but finding at
+length he could exact no more from them, he took the principal cazique
+prisoner, which presumptuous behaviour so exasperated the inhabitants,
+that at first they were going to kill the Spaniard, but for the moment
+contented themselves by rising up in arms, and persuaded their
+neighbours of Quehuiztlan to do the same. When Luis Marin received
+intelligence of this, he ordered the guilty Spaniard to be brought into
+his presence, and immediately sent him off to Mexico, there to appear
+before the tribunal of Cortes, being unwilling to punish him himself, as
+he was a person in high authority; nor will I, for the sake of his
+honour, mention his name at present, as I shall again have occasion to
+speak about him, for he afterwards committed an offence of a more
+criminal nature, and was, upon the whole, very cruel to the Indians.
+Luis Marin then sent a messenger to the Chamulans, desiring them to
+return to their former obedience, as he had sent the Spaniard who had
+offended them to Mexico, where he would meet with severe punishment; but
+they returned a most impudent answer to this message, which we were the
+more determined to resent, as they had incited their neighbours of the
+surrounding townships to join them in the revolt. We therefore resolved
+to march against Chamula, and not to desist until we had thoroughly
+subdued the inhabitants.
+
+Before our departure, father Juan and our captain said many edifying
+things to the inhabitants of Chiapa respecting our holy religion, and
+admonished them to abolish their idol-worship, the sacrificing of human
+beings, and other abominations which they practised. Father Juan then
+placed a cross and the image of the blessed Virgin on the altar which
+had been erected, and Luis Marin explained to them, among other things,
+how we were all vassals of our great emperor, and then took possession
+of above half their town, in which we intended to form a settlement. Our
+new allies, who were so serviceable to us in assisting us across the
+river, marched, with their wives, children, and all their property from
+the land of the Chiapanecs, and settled themselves forty miles further
+down the river, at a spot where at present Xaltepec stands, the
+neighbouring township of Istatlan being also comprehended in their
+territory.
+
+Before we entered on our expedition against Chamula, we sent to the
+inhabitants of Cinacatan, who are a people of sound understanding, and,
+for the greater part, merchants, desiring them to provide us with 200
+porters, as we should pass over their town on our way to Chamula. In the
+same way we requested the Chiapanecs to furnish us with 200 of their
+warriors to join us in this campaign; these they supplied without any
+hesitation.
+
+In this way we marched out one morning very early from Chiapa, and
+arrived on the first day near some salt pits, where the people of
+Cinacatan had erected huts for us made of green boughs; and about noon
+on the following day, which happened to be Easter Sunday, we reached the
+latter township itself. From this place we once more sent a message to
+the Chamulans, desiring them to return to obedience; but as they still
+obstinately refused, we were obliged to continue our march thither. The
+distance from Cinacatan to Chamula may have been about twelve miles; the
+town itself, from its natural position, was a perfect fortress, and on
+the side we contemplated our attack was a deep ravine, which was even
+more formidable and less easy of approach at other points. When we had
+arrived near to the town, we were greeted by so vast a number of arrows,
+darts, and stones from the heights above, that the ground was literally
+covered with them, and five Spaniards, with four horses, were wounded;
+the enemy, at the same time, yelling most hideously, accompanied by the
+wild music of shell-trumpets, pipes, and drums, all of which must indeed
+have terrified those who had never heard the like before. Our captain
+soon discovered that the cavalry would not be able to act at all among
+these rugged mountains, and therefore ordered them to move back again
+into the plain beneath, and watch the movements of the Quiahuitlans, who
+had likewise revolted, and might fall upon our rear while we were thus
+hotly engaged with the Chamulans.
+
+We now commenced an incessant fire upon the enemy with our muskets and
+crossbows, but were unable to do them any injury, so securely were they
+posted behind the breastworks, their position being in every respect
+advantageous, and they continually wounded our men. In this way the
+battle lasted until nightfall, and we were no further advanced than when
+we commenced our attack in the morning. At one time we attempted to
+force a passage which led between the ramparts; but here no less than
+2000 Indians stretched out against us a forest of long lances; and if we
+had entered this passage we should have run great danger of being pushed
+headlong down the deep hollow, and so have been dashed to atoms. Finding
+we should never be able to make any impression on the fortress in this
+way, we determined to send to a small township in the neighbourhood for
+some wood and other materials, and to construct a species of penthouse
+sufficiently large to cover twenty men, who were to undermine the
+fortress with mattocks and pick-axes. Accordingly, when the penthouse
+was finished, our men set hard to work, and at length succeeded in
+cutting an opening sufficiently large to admit one person at a time; and
+by this means only was it possible to get into the town, for we had
+carefully inspected the spot on all sides, full four miles in
+circumference, and we found but one other entrance to this rocky height,
+which would have been even more difficult to force, and a person might
+as well have thrown himself at once down an abyss as to have attempted
+an attack upon it, so very steep was the descent. While we were busily
+at work under our penthouse in widening the breach, the enemy cast down
+upon us a quantity of burning pitch and resin, boiling water and blood,
+hot ashes and firebrands; but when they found we were not to be daunted
+by this, they rolled down huge pieces of rock upon the penthouse, by
+which it was shattered, and we were obliged to retire in order to
+construct stronger ones.
+
+When these were finished, and we were again moving on with them towards
+the breaches we had made, four priests, with several distinguished
+personages, all well covered with shields, appeared on the battlements,
+and cried out to us, "As your only object is to obtain gold, come in
+here, we have it in abundance!" With these words they threw towards us
+seven diadems of very fine gold, besides various other trinkets, all of
+which they accompanied by a cloud of stones, arrows, and darts. As we
+had by this time made two considerable breaches, and it was growing dark
+and beginning to rain, we retreated to our camp for the remaining part
+of the day: our captain also sent orders to the cavalry not to quit
+their position on the level plain, but narrowly to watch the enemy's
+movements, and to keep their horses ready saddled and bridled.
+
+The enemy continued their fearful yells during the whole of the night,
+with the discordant sound of shell-trumpets, drums, and screeching
+pipes. The next day, they said, we were all to be killed, for this had
+been promised them by their gods. The following morning early, when we
+again moved forward with our penthouses to widen the breaches, the enemy
+defended themselves right valiantly, and wounded five of our men. I
+myself received a heavy thrust from a lance, which completely pierced my
+armour, and I should certainly have lost my life on the spot if my
+cuirass had not been strongly quilted with cotton. Thus I fortunately
+escaped with only a slight wound, and with my jacket considerably torn.
+
+By this time it was mid-day, and rain fell in torrents, which was
+followed by so dense a fog that we could scarcely see each other; for as
+this township lay very high among the mountains, it either rained there,
+or the place was enveloped in a mist. Owing to the great darkness, our
+captain had ordered the men to desist from the attack; but, for myself,
+as I was well acquainted with the Mexican mode of warfare, I soon
+concluded, from the circumstance of the enemy's war music gradually
+dying away, and their yells becoming less frequent, that they were
+likewise desirous of retiring, on account of the fog. After a short time
+I could not count above 200 of the enemy's lances; so that I, with one
+of my companions, boldly entered one of the breaches, and we certainly
+did not encounter a greater number of the enemy than I had counted
+lances. In an instant they fell upon us, and we should undoubtedly have
+been killed if some Indians of Cinacatan had not hastened to our
+assistance and alarmed the rest of our troops, who now likewise forced
+their way in between the breaches into the fortress. As soon as the
+enemy espied our troops rushing in, they fled precipitately; the women
+and children ran off to the other declivity, which was the most
+difficult to reach; we, however, followed them closely, and took a
+number of them prisoners, besides thirty men. The township was now
+entirely in our possession, but we found nothing in it, with the
+exception of a few provisions, and we quitted the place almost
+immediately again. We then returned along the road leading to Cinacatan,
+and formed our camp on the banks of the river where at present Ciudad
+Real stands, which is also termed Chiapa de los Espaņoles. When we had
+arrived here, our captain liberated six of the women and a like number
+of the men, and despatched them to their countrymen with offers of
+peace, and also to assure them they had nothing further to fear from
+us,--on the contrary, we would liberate all the prisoners we had taken.
+This message met with a favorable reception, and ambassadors were sent
+to us next morning by the inhabitants, who now, for the second time,
+declared themselves vassals of our emperor, and, as we had promised, all
+the prisoners were instantly restored to their families.
+
+After we had satisfactorily arranged all matters here, Luis Marin
+presented the township of Chamula to me as a commendary, for Cortes had
+expressly desired him to give me some valuable possession in the
+conquered countries. I always stood upon very good terms with Luis
+Marin, and he had not forgotten that I was the first man who forced his
+way into the town. This place, according to the deeds I received from
+Cortes, was given to me in perpetuity, but I only enjoyed the rents
+which it produced for little more than eight years, at the end of which
+time Ciudad Real was founded, and my commendary became the property of
+the inhabitants. When I entered into possession of it, I desired father
+Juan to preach to the inhabitants, and to explain our holy religion to
+them, with which he willingly complied, and ordered an altar to be
+constructed in the town, on which he placed a cross and the image of the
+blessed Virgin. Fifteen of the inhabitants allowed themselves to be
+baptized, and the father said he hoped to God they might all become good
+Catholic Christians. I felt highly delighted with all this; for, as
+these people were my own property, I naturally took a more particular
+interest in their welfare.
+
+Though Chamula had again submitted to our arms, the townships of
+Guegustitlan still obstinately held out, notwithstanding all our kind
+messages to the caziques; we had, therefore, no other resource left than
+to march against them, and subdue them by force of arms. Each of these
+townships (for there were three) was strongly situated, and we therefore
+left our allies, with the baggage, in the camp, our captain only taking
+the most nimble and active of the Spanish troops with him, besides 300
+warriors of Cinacatan. The distance to Guegustitlan was sixteen miles;
+but the enemy had everywhere cut down trees and constructed barricades
+along the line of our march to obstruct the cavalry; however, with the
+assistance of our Indian friends, we soon cleared these obstacles out of
+our way, and it was not long before we attacked one of the three
+townships. The place was well fortified and filled with warriors fully
+equipped for war; we, nevertheless, stormed the town, although it was
+even more difficult of access than Chamula. The enemy had not waited to
+offer any resistance to our arms, and we found the town quite deserted
+by its inhabitants, who had also carried off all their store of
+provisions; but it was not long before our Indian friends brought in two
+of the inhabitants prisoners, whom our captain immediately liberated,
+desiring them to go and call their countrymen. We staid one whole day in
+this place, during which time the inhabitants of all three townships
+submitted themselves as vassals to our emperor, and presented us with a
+small quantity of gold and some quetzal feathers, which are of great
+value in this country.
+
+After we had returned to our camp we deliberated whether or not we
+should follow up Cortes' instructions, and lay the foundations of a town
+in this neighbourhood. Many of us were in favour of doing so, but
+others, who had lucrative possessions in Guacasualco, were quite
+opposed to it, and said we should have no shoes for the horses; that the
+most of us were wounded, and we were altogether too small in numbers to
+think of settling in a country so thickly populated: besides that, all
+the townships were strongly situated among steep mountains, inaccessible
+to our cavalry. But those who objected most to our founding a colony
+here were Luis Marin himself and Diego de Godoy, a very blustering sort
+of a man, both of whom felt more inclination to return to Guacasualco.
+
+I have above spoken of a certain Alonso de Grado, who was a very
+turbulent fellow, though but a poor soldier. This man had managed to
+procure privately from Cortes a certain grant by which he was to have
+half the gold we should find in Chiapa when we had subjected this
+township. Grado now produced this document and claimed half of the gold
+found in the temples of this place, and of that which we had obtained
+from the inhabitants, altogether valued at about 15,000 pesos; but our
+captain maintained that, out of this gold, the value of the horses was
+to be deducted which had been killed in our recent campaign. This, added
+to other circumstances, gave rise to high words between the two, and
+Grado frequently made use of unbecoming expressions during the dispute;
+and the secretary Godoy, to make matters worse, now also put in his
+word, and things at length came to such a pass that Luis Marin lost all
+patience, and threw both these gentlemen into chains. After they had
+been in prison for about eight days, our captain sent Grado on his
+parole to Mexico, and also released Godoy, who had shown full contrition
+for his past behaviour. This was very impolitic on the part of Luis
+Marin as far as regarded himself, for Grado and Godoy now concocted
+measures together, and the latter wrote a letter to Cortes, in which he
+scandalized our captain in every possible manner. Alonso de Grado also
+requested me to draw up a letter to Cortes, in which he wished me to
+exculpate him in this affair, for he had been assured by Godoy that
+Cortes would believe me. I willingly complied with his request, and drew
+up a faithful account of the whole matter, but stated that no blame
+could be attached to Luis Marin. With these letters Grado set out for
+Mexico, after our captain had made him promise on oath to appear before
+Cortes within the space of eight days; for the distance from this place
+to Mexico by the road we had marched was 760 miles.
+
+Our next step was to march to Cimatan, in order to punish its
+inhabitants, who, it will be remembered, killed two Spaniards on the
+occasion when Francisco Martin and myself so narrowly escaped. When we
+were on our march thither, and had arrived at no great distance from
+Tapelola, we came to some large mountains, containing several dangerous
+passes, through which our march lay to this township; Luis Marin,
+therefore, sent to the caziques of this place, desiring them to clear
+the roads for us that our horses might pass along in greater safety.
+This they readily undertook to do; but even then it was with great
+difficulty our cavalry could pass through the defiles. From Tapelola we
+marched peaceably over the townships Silo, Suchiapa, and Coyumelapa, to
+Panguaxaya, and it was not until we approached the townships of
+Tecomayacatl and Ateapan, which then formed but one town, that matters
+began to assume a different aspect. These were the most populous
+townships in the province, and formed part of my commendary. As the
+inhabitants of themselves were very numerous, and had besides called in
+the assistance of their neighbours, they mustered a very considerable
+body of troops, and attacked us as we were crossing the deep river which
+flows through the midst of their town. Six Spaniards were wounded and
+three of our horses killed, the battle continuing very sharply for a
+length of time before we could reach the opposite shore and drive the
+enemy back, who set fire to the houses in their flight, and then escaped
+to the mountains. Here we rested for five days to cure our wounds, and
+we sent out frequent foraging parties who captured many a fine Indian
+female. We then forwarded a message to the inhabitants, inviting them to
+return to obedience, with which they instantly complied, and their wives
+and children were again restored to them. The secretary Godoy had indeed
+advised Luis Marin not to return the prisoners, but to mark them with
+the iron and retain them as slaves, a punishment to which all those were
+subject who had once acknowledged themselves vassals of our emperor, and
+afterwards revolted without any apparent reason. These people, Godoy
+maintained, had commenced hostilities with us from sheer obstinacy, and
+we ought at least to demand a sufficient number of slaves as a
+compensation for the loss of our three horses. For myself, I loudly
+protested against this, and said it would be unjust to punish these
+people who had freely submitted again to our arms. At length Godoy and
+myself got to high words about this matter, which ended in our drawing
+swords and wounding each other, when our friends interfered and brought
+about a reconciliation between us. Luis Marin, who was, upon the whole,
+a very kind-hearted man, was convinced of the justness of my
+observation, and ordered all the prisoners to be returned to the
+caziques, and so we departed from them in perfect peace.
+
+From this place we marched towards Cimatlan and Talatupan. At the
+entrance of this township the Indians had constructed, on the top of a
+hill, a species of rampart, with loop-holes, beyond which lay a marsh of
+considerable extent. When we had arrived up to this outwork, the enemy
+suddenly showered their arrows upon us, wounding above twenty of our men
+and killing two horses; and if we had not made a hasty retreat our loss
+might have been very serious.
+
+The Indians of this province excel as archers, and fly their arrows with
+so much strength that they will pierce a jacket doubly quilted with
+cotton.
+
+After this momentary attack upon us, the Indians drew back to the
+marshes, and we remained two whole days in this place, during which time
+we despatched several messages to them; but as they obstinately refused
+to submit, and were securely posted between the swamps, where our horse
+could not manoeuvre, nor would it have been an easy matter for the foot
+to have got at them, and as we ourselves were quite tired of roving
+about, we unanimously determined to march back to Guacasualco. We took
+our route through the townships of Guimango, Nacaxu, Xuica,
+Teotitan-Copilco, and several others, all belonging to the province of
+Chontalpa. We then crossed the rivers Ayagualulco, and Tonala, and we
+arrived safely in Guacasualco, when the owners of those horses which had
+been killed in this campaign were reimbursed for their loss from the
+gold collected in Chiapa and Chamula.
+
+In the meantime Alonso de Grado reached Mexico, and presented himself to
+Cortes; who, when he learnt the real state of the case, grew excessively
+angry with this officer, and said to him, "It appears thus, Seņor
+Alonso, that you cannot live in peace with any one! I must earnestly
+advise you to alter your bad disposition; if not, I will give you 3000
+pesos, and send you off to Cuba. I cannot suffer you to go on in this
+manner any longer!" Alonso de Grado then humbly begged his pardon, and
+expressed his sorrow for what had happened, so that our general, and
+even Luis Marin, became reconciled to him shortly after.
+
+I must now conclude this chapter, in order to acquaint the reader with
+what was going on at the imperial court in Spain respecting the bishop
+of Burgos.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXVII.
+
+    _How our agents in Spain brought certain accusations against the
+    bishop of Burgos, and what further happened._
+
+
+The reader must have seen, from what I have stated in former chapters,
+that the bishop of Burgos and archbishop of Rosano, Don Juan Rodriguez
+de Fonseca, favoured Diego Velasquez in every way, and that, on the
+other hand, he took every opportunity of thwarting the designs of Cortes
+and of all of us. But now, by divine permission of the Lord Jesus
+Christ, the holy father Adrian[35] was elected Pope in the year 1521;
+and as this happened at the time he was governor of Spain, our agents
+repaired to the town of Vittoria, where he was then residing, to kiss
+his holiness's feet. There arrived with them, at the same time, in
+Vittoria, a German gentleman of distinction named La Chau,[36] who had
+been despatched thither by the emperor to congratulate the new Pope. As
+this gentleman had heard a great deal of the heroic deeds of Cortes and
+his troops, how we had conquered New Spain, what great and memorable
+services we had rendered to his majesty, and of the many thousands of
+Indians we had converted to Christianity, he supplicated his holiness to
+investigate the matter of dispute between Cortes and the bishop of
+Burgos. To this his holiness consented, and he immediately took the
+matter in hand, which he did the more earnestly, as the complaints of
+our agents had emboldened several other men of distinction to prefer
+charges of injustice and oppression against the bishop. This bishop was,
+upon the whole, detested, as, in his capacity of president of the
+council of the Indies, during the emperor's absence in Flanders, he had
+governed in the most arbitrary manner; notwithstanding this, it was a
+matter of no small difficulty for our agents to reject him as the judge
+in our own affairs.
+
+Francisco de Montejo, Diego de Ordas, the licentiate Francisco Nuņez,
+and Martin Cortes, were purposely staying at Valladolid to wait an
+opportunity of preferring their charges against the bishop. In this
+place they found great protection and favour from several distinguished
+cavaliers and grandees of the court, particularly from the duke of
+Bejar, so that our agents were emboldened to maintain with great
+firmness that they could not acknowledge the bishop as judge in their
+affairs, for which they gave the following reasons:
+
+Firstly. Diego Velasquez had given the bishop of Burgos a very lucrative
+commendary in Cuba, the gold mines of which the former worked with the
+inhabitants of the island, and sent the produce to Spain for the
+bishop. Not one of the townships of that island had Velasquez set apart
+for the emperor, although he was so greatly indebted to him.
+
+Secondly. In the year 1517 one hundred and ten of us, under an officer
+named Cordoba, had fitted out an armament at our own expense, with which
+we had discovered and explored the coast of New Spain. The circumstances
+relative to the expedition had been so represented to his majesty by the
+bishop of Burgos, as if Velasquez had fitted out the armament at his own
+expense, and had discovered the country himself, although he had had
+nothing to do with it either one way or the other.
+
+Thirdly. It was not until this expedition returned that Velasquez sent
+out one of his nephews, named Juan Grijalva, with a small armament to
+make further discoveries. Grijalva returned to Cuba with above 20,000
+pesos' worth of gold, the greater part of which found its way into the
+pocket of the bishop, and not a fraction of it was paid into the royal
+treasury.
+
+Fourthly. When Cortes, during the progress of the conquest of New Spain,
+despatched Montejo and Puertocarrero, cousin to the earl of Medellin, to
+Spain, with the sun of gold, the moon of silver, and the gold dust, with
+various kinds of jewels and trinkets as a present to his majesty,
+accompanied by despatches from Cortes and all the Conquistadores,
+containing a full account of our transactions in the new world, the
+bishop refused to give our agents an audience, and abused them in a most
+shameful manner, calling them traitors and the agents of a traitor, and
+took away from them the present we had destined for his majesty. He
+suppressed our despatches to the emperor, and sent his majesty an
+account which was the very opposite of ours, and had represented matters
+in such a way as though everything came from his creature Diego
+Velasquez. But he did not stop here; for he retained the greater part of
+the valuable present himself, and when Puertocarrero begged permission
+of the bishop to repair in person to his majesty in Flanders, he cast
+him into prison, where he died.
+
+Fifthly. The bishop had forbidden the two chief harbour-masters of
+Seville to allow any vessels having on board troops, ammunition, or
+other matters for Cortes, to leave that harbour.
+
+Sixthly. The bishop, without authority from his majesty, had wished to
+give the most important appointments to men who neither possessed the
+requisite talents nor merited to fill such offices: for instance, the
+government of New Spain he had conferred upon Christobal de Tapia, who
+could not even have been intrusted with an inferior command, and whose
+only claim to that office was his marriage with Doņa Petronella de
+Fonseca, a niece of the bishop, and a near relative of Velasquez.
+
+And lastly. The bishop lent a favorable ear to all the false statements
+of Velasquez's agents, while he suppressed, distorted, and garbled the
+true and faithful accounts which Cortes and the rest of us despatched to
+his majesty.
+
+These and other complaints against the bishop, which were accompanied by
+undeniable proofs were properly drawn up by our agents, and with these
+they repaired to Saragossa, where his holiness was staying, to whom they
+handed over this document and challenged the bishop as an unfit person
+to be judge in these matters.
+
+After his holiness had perused this representation of the case, and had
+convinced himself that there was very little truth with regard to the
+enormous expenses to which Velasquez pretended to have put himself, and
+that upon the whole he had only had the interest of his patron and the
+bishop at heart; but that Cortes, on the other hand, had had the
+interest of the emperor in view, his holiness not only declared that the
+bishop was unfit to preside as judge in the dispute between Cortes and
+Velasquez, but superseded him as president of the council of the Indies.
+
+His holiness at the same time appointed Cortes governor of New Spain,
+and decreed that Velasquez was to be reimbursed for his expenses in
+fitting out the armament. His holiness also sent several papal bulls
+with a number of indulgences for the hospitallers and the churches of
+New Spain, and addressed a separate letter to Cortes, and the whole of
+us Conquistadores, in which his holiness admonished us to use our utmost
+endeavours to convert the Indians to Christianity; to abolish all human
+sacrifices and other abominations from the country, and to gain the
+friendship of the people: hereby we should merit the highest rewards
+from his majesty, and his holiness, as the pastor of our souls, would
+supplicate the Almighty in prayer to send a blessing on our endeavours
+in the service of Christianity. This letter was likewise accompanied by
+other bulls, by which absolution was granted us for all the sins we had
+committed during the conquest.
+
+After this very favorable decision of his holiness, both as supreme
+pontiff and governor of Spain, our agents themselves wrote to his
+majesty, who had just arrived from Flanders,[37] and inclosed certain
+papers which had been drawn up by his holiness respecting the
+subject-matter. His majesty, after making the most minute inquiries into
+the affair, confirmed the decision of the pope, appointed Cortes
+governor of New Spain, and also ordered that Velasquez should be
+reimbursed the expenses of the expedition. But the emperor even went
+further than this, and deprived Velasquez of the government of Cuba,
+because he had fitted out the armament under Narvaez for New Spain
+without his permission, and in opposition to the commands of the royal
+court of audience at St. Domingo, and of the Hieronymite brotherhood;
+also because he had refused to obey the orders of the auditor Vasquez de
+Aillon, and had even had the audacity to throw him into prison, though
+he had been expressly despatched to Cuba by order of the royal court of
+audience to forbid the armament leaving this island.
+
+When the bishop of Burgos was informed of the decision to which his
+holiness and his majesty had come, he fell ill from excessive vexation,
+quitted the court and retired to his country seat at Toro. His brother,
+Don Antonio de Fonseca,[38] lord of Coca and Alaexos, tried all in his
+power to get him reinstated into his late office, but all his endeavours
+proved fruitless with the emperor.
+
+Thus, all in a moment, everything terminated favorably for Cortes, but
+the instability of good fortune soon began to show itself, for now
+Narvaez, Christobal de Tapia, and the soldier Cardenas brought heavy
+accusations against him. To all of which was added the charges preferred
+against our general by the pilot Umbria, whom Cortes had sentenced to
+have his legs cut off on the occasion when Cermenno and Escudero were
+hung for a conspiracy they had formed against his life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXVIII.
+
+    _How Narvaez, Christobal de Tapia, the pilot Umbria, and the soldier
+    Cardenas, bring heavy accusations against Cortes, at the instigation
+    of the bishop of Burgos, and what judgment his majesty pronounced._
+
+
+After the pope and the emperor, as I have just related, had pronounced
+judgment in favour of Cortes, Pamfilo de Narvaez and Christobal de Tapia
+arrived in Spain. They were accompanied by the soldier Cardenas and the
+pilot Umbria, and immediately repaired to the bishop of Burgos at Toro,
+and begged of him to aid in the accusations which they had determined to
+bring against Cortes before his majesty. As nothing could be more
+welcome to the bishop than this, he promised to lend them every support,
+and upon his advice they joined Velasquez's agents, named Bernardino
+Velasquez, Benito Martin, and Manuel de Rojas, and presented themselves
+to his majesty, before whom they preferred the following charges against
+Cortes:
+
+Firstly. Diego Velasquez had sent out three several armaments for the
+discovery and colonization of New Spain, in which he had expended large
+sums of money. Of one of these expeditions he had appointed Cortes
+commander-in-chief, but the latter had deserted with the whole armament
+and had refused all further obedience to him.
+
+Secondly. When Diego Velasquez upon this despatched Narvaez with
+eighteen vessels, 1300 foot, a considerable body of horse, musketeers,
+and crossbow-men to New Spain, Cortes not only refused to acknowledge
+the papers in which the president of the council of the Indies conferred
+the government of the country on Narvaez, but he had even attacked the
+latter with his troops, killed several of his officers, and then, after
+Narvaez had lost an eye in the battle, took him and the whole of his men
+prisoners.
+
+Thirdly. When upon this the bishop of Burgos conferred the appointment
+of governor of New Spain upon Christobal de Tapia, and the latter
+repaired in person thither to enter upon the government in the name of
+his majesty, Cortes again refused all obedience and forced Tapia to
+leave the country.
+
+Fourthly. Cortes had demanded in the name of his majesty large
+quantities of gold from all the townships throughout New Spain, which
+the inhabitants accordingly had brought him, but he had put the whole of
+it in his private purse.
+
+Fifthly. Cortes had taken an equal fifth with his majesty of the booty
+found in Mexico, which had created great discontent among the men.
+
+Sixthly. He had tortured Quauhtemoctzin and other caziques, in order to
+extort more gold from them.
+
+Seventhly. Cortes never divided any of the gold among his troops, but
+kept all to himself.
+
+Eighthly. Cortes was building himself palaces and houses with
+fortifications, which had the extent of whole townships; the inhabitants
+of the surrounding districts were compelled to labour in the
+construction of the edifices, and were obliged to fetch large cedar
+trees and enormous blocks of stone from the most distant parts.
+
+Ninethly. He had poisoned Francisco de Garay in order that he might get
+possession of his vessels and of his troops.
+
+Besides these they brought many similar charges against Cortes, so that
+his majesty was excessively annoyed, imagining that all they said was
+true, and he would not listen to any more, telling them that these
+accusations were quite sufficient.
+
+During this audience, Narvaez, with his stentorian voice, was heard to
+express himself as follows: "Your majesty can easily imagine how matters
+went with me on the night that Cortes attacked and defeated me; for when
+his men thrust out one of my eyes, and I found my quarters all in
+flames, I quickly secreted the deed by which I held my appointment from
+your majesty, between my cuirass; but one of Cortes' officers took these
+papers forcibly from me, nor could I obtain possession of them again.
+They even spread the rumour that I had no appointment at all, but that
+the papers they took from me were bonds of some kind or other."
+
+The emperor could not help laughing at what Narvaez said, but promised
+that he and the others should have justice done them. His majesty then
+appointed a commission from the gentlemen of his court and of his privy
+council, in whose honesty he could place the most implicit confidence to
+make inquiries into the several charges, and to pronounce judgment upon
+them. The names of the gentlemen who composed this commission were:
+Mercurio Catarinario,[39] high chancellor of Italy; seņor la Chau; the
+doctor de la Rocha; Hernando de Vega, who was lord of Grajales and
+comendador-mayor of Castile; the doctor Lorenzo Galindez de Caravajal,
+and the licentiate Vargas, who was treasurer-general of Castile. His
+majesty desired these gentlemen to make the most minute investigation
+respecting the dispute between Velasquez and Cortes, and also into the
+present charges which were preferred against the latter; and
+particularly recommended them to have no regard to persons, but to give
+their decision in conformity with strict justice. These gentlemen then
+assembled in the house of the high chancellor, and ordered Narvaez, with
+his three companions and the agents of Velasquez into their presence. In
+the same way they cited before them Martin Cortes, the licentiate Nuņez,
+Montejo, and Ordas. These latter gentlemen being made acquainted with
+the several charges which had been prepared against Cortes, replied to
+the following effect:
+
+That with regard to the assertion, that Velasquez was the first
+discoverer of New Spain, and that he had expended large sums of money in
+the discovery, it was entirely false, as the whole merit of it was due
+to Cordoba, who had fitted out the armament at his own expense.
+Velasquez, on the contrary, in many circumstances connected with this
+expedition, had laid himself open to the imputation of guilt, as he had
+tried all in his power to induce Cordoba and his companions, for certain
+considerations, to land at the Guanajas islands, in order to carry away
+forcibly from thence a great number of the inhabitants as slaves, to
+work his mines in Cuba; of all of which our agents produced undeniable
+proofs. Neither could Velasquez, they continued, claim any merit to
+himself when he subsequently despatched his relative Grijalva to New
+Spain, as he had not commissioned him to form any settlements, but he
+merely desired him to carry on a trade of barter with the Indians. Nor
+had Velasquez put himself to any great expense on this occasion, as the
+greater part of the expenses in fitting out the armament had been borne
+by the officers and soldiers themselves, one of whom, Francisco de
+Montejo, now stood before the honorable commission. From this expedition
+Grijalva had returned to Cuba with 20,000 pesos worth of gold, of which,
+however, Velasquez had not paid one farthing into the royal treasury,
+but claimed the whole amount for himself, and sent it to the bishop of
+Burgos, to obtain further favours from him. In the same way he had
+bestowed upon the bishop great numbers of Indians to work his gold mines
+in Cuba, without his ever so much as thinking to set any of the
+townships apart for the crown. Of all this they likewise produced
+undeniable proofs.
+
+If Velasquez, continued our agents, did give Cortes the chief command of
+the armament he afterwards fitted out, his appointment was certainly by
+divine ordinance, and it proved most fortunate for the emperor's
+interest, as every other general must have succumbed to the immense
+bodies of the enemy which everywhere opposed his march into the interior
+of the country. However, Velasquez's intention in fitting out this
+expedition was not to make any conquests, or form any settlements, but
+merely to carry on a trade of barter with the Indians; in proof of
+which, they could produce the original papers, containing his
+instructions. Cortes had remained in that country, and founded a colony
+there, because his troops had insisted on it, and because he himself was
+convinced that it would be both serviceable to God and to his majesty.
+Respecting all these circumstances, Cortes' troops drew up an account,
+which they had despatched to his majesty, with all the gold they had
+collected up to that moment; indeed Cortes and his men were never for a
+moment forgetful of the deep veneration and the dutiful obedience which
+they owed to their monarch. Our agents then gave a long description of
+the great partiality which the president of the council of the Indies
+had undisguisedly shown on every occasion for Velasquez; how he had
+taken all the gold, with our despatches, from our agents, and put half
+of the former into his own pocket; how he had calumniated us to his
+majesty, purposely omitted to mention what great services we had
+rendered to the crown, suppressed real facts, and altogether placed
+things in a false light. But this was not all; for when our agents
+wished to repair in person to Flanders, in order to throw themselves at
+his majesty's feet, and give him a faithful account of all the
+circumstances, the bishop cast one of those gentlemen, named
+Puertocarrero, a relative of the earl of Medellin, into prison, where he
+died. With the same hostile feeling and party spirit the bishop had
+issued peremptory orders that neither ammunition, troops, nor anything
+else destined for Cortes, should leave the port of Seville, and every
+obstacle was to be laid in his way to thwart his designs. He had not
+hesitated to term Cortes and the whole of his men a pack of traitors;
+and the only cause of his hatred was his own interested connexion with
+Velasquez, and the intended marriage of his niece with Christobal de
+Tapia, in consideration of which the latter was to receive the
+appointment of governor of New Spain.
+
+In proof of this and other matters, our agents produced copies of
+letters we had written to his majesty, besides other important
+documents; so that Velasquez's party were unable to confute them on any
+point.
+
+With respect to the armament of Narvaez, continued our agents, Velasquez
+had fully deserved punishment of death, as he had fitted it out against
+Cortes without any authority from his majesty, and against the wishes
+and express orders of the royal court of audience at St. Domingo, and of
+the Hieronymite brotherhood, whom the emperor had appointed viceroys of
+the West Indies. Diego Velasquez had, upon the whole, troubled himself
+very little about his majesty, but had always applied to the president
+of the council of the Indies. In his hatred he had forgotten the true
+interests of the crown, for which reason he had continually bred
+disturbances among the troops in New Spain, though it was so necessary
+towards the conquest of the country, and the conversion of the
+inhabitants, to maintain the strictest union among the men. Velasquez
+had gone so far in his refractory and disrespectful behaviour towards
+the authorities of St. Domingo, that he had ordered to be imprisoned and
+sent back to Cuba the licentiate Vasquez de Aillon, whom the royal court
+of audience had expressly despatched to New Spain to admonish Narvaez
+not to commence hostilities with Cortes. As Narvaez was now himself
+present, and had had the audacity to accuse Cortes and his troops of
+_crimen læsæ majestatis_, they must retort this charge upon him, and
+they demanded that punishment of death might be pronounced against him,
+as the moment he landed in New Spain he sent word to Motecusuma that his
+only object for visiting his dominions was to liberate him from prison,
+and to hang Cortes, with the whole of his men, as traitors. By this he
+had caused an insurrection throughout the whole country, which up to
+that moment had enjoyed perfect tranquillity. This conduct was the less
+excusable in him, since Cortes, immediately upon Narvaez's arrival in
+Vera Cruz, had written a most polite letter to him, and requested him to
+produce his appointment, as, if he possessed such an instrument, signed
+by his majesty, Cortes was ready to acknowledge his authority. To this
+Narvaez not only refused to reply, but had called Cortes and the whole
+of his men traitors, proclaimed war against them, and even declared them
+outlaws. Notwithstanding all this, Cortes had repeatedly offered Narvaez
+peace, and earnestly requested him not to create a rebellion in the
+country; for this was threatened by his conduct, and New Spain would
+certainly be lost again to the Spanish crown. Cortes had even offered to
+share the government of New Spain between himself and Narvaez, and to
+allow the latter his choice of the provinces. But even to this Narvaez
+had returned no answer; so that Cortes found himself compelled to pursue
+a more determined course, and to demand satisfaction of him for having
+imprisoned a royal auditor. Cortes at length proposed a personal
+interview with him, which Narvaez had certainly accepted, but this never
+took place, for his intentions were to seize Cortes during the
+conference. This could be proved by Duero, who now stood before the
+honorable commissioners, as at that time he held a command under
+Narvaez, and had himself warned Cortes of the latter's treacherous
+designs against his life.
+
+Neither could Velasquez's agents confute any part of these statements;
+our agents therefore continued: With regard to the expedition of Garay,
+Cortes had not been the cause of its failure, but the inhabitants of
+Panuco, who had risen up in arms against the troops, the whole of whom,
+with Garay, would certainly have been cut off to a man, if the latter
+had not, in the imminent danger in which he was placed, begged
+assistance of Cortes; for which purpose Garay had repaired in person to
+Mexico, where he met with the kindest reception from Cortes; but that a
+few days after he caught a violent cold, of which he died, and not of
+poison, as had been imputed to Cortes, who could have had no cause
+whatever to adopt such a course, even if he had in any way feared Garay,
+as the latter did not possess the requisite talents for command, and had
+himself caused great discontent among his troops, who even rebelled
+against him, on account of his having marched them immediately upon
+landing to a pestilential part of the country, full of swamps and
+uninhabitable, on account of the vermin with which it swarmed. When his
+men therefore heard of the riches of Mexico and the liberality of
+Cortes, they dispersed of their own accord, and traversed the country
+like so many banditti, plundered and burned the townships, and forcibly
+carried off the females, until the natives rose up against them in a
+body. Cortes' only reason for despatching several of his officers to
+Garay was that they might assist him with their advice and authority; to
+peruse his papers, and see how far they interfered with the powers which
+Cortes had obtained from his majesty. When Garay found that the whole of
+his men had deserted, and that the greater number of his vessels were
+lost, he repaired in person to Mexico, to beg assistance from Cortes. On
+his road thither he everywhere met with the heartiest reception; in
+Tezcuco a splendid banquet took place in his honour, and when he had
+approached within a short distance of Mexico, Cortes himself came out to
+meet him, and quartered him in one of his own palaces. They became so
+friendly with each other, that the preliminaries of a marriage were
+settled between a daughter of Cortes and the eldest son of Garay, and in
+consideration of this union it was particularly stipulated that Cortes
+was to assist Garay in an expedition to the river Palmas. But because
+Garay soon after fell suddenly ill, and it pleased the Almighty in his
+wisdom to call him to another world, Velasquez's agents had thought
+proper to reproach Cortes with his death! who, however, had given
+sufficient proofs of the deep sorrow he felt at his untimely end, by the
+funeral pomp with which he honoured his last remains, and the mourning
+which he put on; besides which, the surgeons had stated on oath that
+Garay died of pleurisy.
+
+Cortes had likewise been reproached for subtracting an equal fifth with
+the emperor from all the gold that was collected; but to this the answer
+was, that the troops had unanimously agreed to allow him such a share of
+the gold when they elected him captain-general and chief justice of New
+Spain, with the proviso, however, that this should only remain in force
+until his majesty should otherwise dispose. For the rest, Cortes was in
+every way entitled to this portion, as he had embarked his whole fortune
+in the service of his majesty, and on different occasions had paid large
+sums out of his own private purse, as, for instance, in the expedition
+against Panuco alone he had expended above 60,000 pesos; moreover, it
+would have been impossible for Cortes to have sent those valuable
+presents for his majesty to Spain unless the troops had allowed him this
+fifth.
+
+Against this justification of Cortes' conduct, Velasquez's agents were
+also unable to bring in a word, and our agents continued:
+
+Cortes had likewise been reproached for giving his men so trifling a
+share of the gold; but how was it possible for him to give more than he
+possessed; for the conquest of the city of Mexico had produced very
+little gold, as the Tlascallans and other auxiliaries had carried off
+the greater part of the booty. It was likewise a false accusation
+against Cortes to say he had put Quauhtemoctzin and other caziques to
+the torture, in order to extort more gold from them. Cortes indeed had
+been quite averse to this inhuman act, but the officers of the crown had
+insisted on it, in order to force from them a confession as to where
+they had concealed Motecusuma's treasure.
+
+It was certainly true, continued our agents, that Cortes was building
+extensive and splendid mansions, but in this he had the emperor's
+interest entirely at heart, for they were all built in his majesty's
+name. It was, however, altogether false that he ordered the wood and
+stone to be brought to Mexico from distant parts, for the wood grew near
+to the city, and was conveyed thither by water; and as for the stones,
+they had, in all truth, a sufficient supply in the place itself, from
+the numerous temples which had been pulled down. Velasquez's agents had
+altogether misrepresented things, with regard to the system of building
+in Mexico. Cortes had certainly one great advantage with regard to
+labourers, for he had only to say the word, and Quauhtemoctzin readily
+furnished him with the necessary workmen from the surrounding townships;
+but this was quite in accordance with the custom of the country, where
+the subjects are always obliged to build the houses for their chiefs.
+
+Narvaez's accusation, said our agents, is equally unfounded, when he
+says that Alonso de Avila took the papers from him containing his
+appointment, and had refused to return them, or that he had said these
+papers were nothing but bonds. Cortes never saw Narvaez's appointment,
+or gave any one orders to demand it of him; though it is a fact that all
+the papers which were found upon Narvaez were three bonds or securities
+for some horses which he had sold upon trust.
+
+The complaints of the pilot Umbria and of the soldier Cardenas were mere
+fabrications, continued our agents. The first had not had his feet cut
+off without cause, but conformably to a just sentence, for having, with
+two of his companions, who had suffered death for it, deserted his
+general, and seized one of the vessels, with the intention of running
+off with her to Cuba.
+
+Cardenas, who complains that he had no share of the first gold we
+collected, which was sent to his majesty, had himself, with several
+others, signed his name to a certain document, by which he yielded up
+all claim to his share, in order that the whole of the gold might be
+forwarded as a present to the emperor. Nevertheless, Cortes had given
+him 300 pesos from his own private purse, in order to induce him to
+return with his wife and family to New Spain. With this sum of money he
+had been richly renumerated, for he was quite unfit for military
+service, and besides this was not altogether right in his head.
+
+Our agents further continued to say, that they were quite surprised
+accusations should be preferred against Cortes and his troops for having
+marched against Narvaez, defeated his army, taken his officers
+prisoners, and burnt his quarters to the ground! They had sufficiently
+explained above what Narvaez's conduct had been in New Spain, and no
+person could deny that he had compelled Cortes to take up arms against
+him: and it appeared like a judgment from heaven that Cortes, with only
+266 men, without cavalry, or cannon, or muskets, should have overthrown
+Narvaez, with a body of 1300 men, who were fully equipped for war,
+besides having a fine park of artillery. New Spain would undoubtedly
+have been lost again to the Spanish crown, if Narvaez had entered upon
+the government of that vast territory. It would have been the same case
+if Christobal de Tapia had been allowed to assume that dignity, who,
+however, had had sufficient common sense to see the difficulty of his
+position, and had considered himself very fortunate in selling off to
+Cortes the horses and negroes which he brought over with him for a good
+price, and to return from whence he came. However, if he had repaired to
+Mexico, and had shown his appointment to Cortes, the latter would
+certainly have obeyed him; but the cavaliers and the authorities of the
+different towns would never have consented to the chief command of New
+Spain passing from the hands of Cortes into those of an individual, whom
+every one at the first sight could see had not the requisite talents to
+fill an office of so much importance. Those cavaliers and distinguished
+personages had even drawn up petitions to his majesty, in which they
+humbly supplicated him to withdraw the appointment of Tapia.
+
+Here our agents closed the defence; and as the complainants had nothing
+further to say, and the pleadings of both parties had lasted five days,
+the commission closed the court, and retired to deliberate on their
+verdict, which ran as follows:
+
+The commissioners were of opinion that Cortes and the other true and
+only Conquistadores of New Spain had on every occasion proved themselves
+loyal and faithful servants of his majesty. Great good fortune had
+certainly attended all their undertakings, but the courage and
+intrepidity which they had displayed in the terrible and bloody battles
+with the Indians, the victory which they gained over the large body of
+troops under Narvaez with a handful of men, fully merited this good
+fortune. The commissioners declared that Velasquez was not justified in
+commencing his suit respecting the government of New Spain; but that he
+was at liberty to sue Cortes in the proper law courts for the monies he
+had expended in fitting out the armament.
+
+They confirmed the pope's appointment of Cortes as governor of New
+Spain; every division of land which he had made should stand good, and
+further power should be granted to him to distribute the lands in
+future, according to the best of his judgment; as it was quite evident
+that in everything he had done up to the present moment he had strove to
+promote the service of God, and the best interests of his majesty; and
+it was therefore to be supposed he would continue to do so in future.
+
+With respect to the accusations brought against Cortes concerning
+Garay's death, the commissioners could not pronounce judgment at
+present, but would thoroughly investigate this matter on some future
+occasion: neither could they at present come to any decision with regard
+to Narvaez's charge that his papers had been taken away from him, as the
+defendant Alonso de Avila was then a prisoner in France; but they would
+apply to the French king for his release in order to examine him. With
+respect to the pilot Umbria and the soldier Cardenas, the commissioners
+would petition his majesty to grant them each a commendary in New Spain
+that would produce them an annual rent of 1000 pesos.
+
+With regard to the Conquistadores themselves, they would propose that
+lucrative commendaries should be bestowed upon them all, and that they
+should take precedence in the churches and in all other places.
+
+These several decisions were then drawn up in proper form, and
+despatched to the royal court at Valladolid to receive his majesty's
+confirmation.
+
+His majesty not only confirmed the decision to which the commissioners
+had come, but issued other royal letters by which Cortes was empowered
+to banish from New Spain all deserters and those Spaniards who strolled
+about the country like vagabonds, as they obstructed the conversion of
+the Indians to Christianity. Further, all lawyers were forbidden to
+settle in New Spain for a certain number of years to come, for they only
+created lawsuits, quarrels, and dissensions among the inhabitants.
+
+These royal letters were given at the court of Valladolid on the 17th of
+May, in the year one thousand five hundred and so many years,[40]
+countersigned by the above commissioners, by Don Garcia de Padilla, and
+by the royal secretary Don Francisco de los Cobos, who subsequently
+became comendador-mayor of Leon. Besides all this, his majesty wrote
+letters to Cortes and all of us the veteran Conquistadores, in which he
+expressed his unqualified satisfaction with the great and excellent
+services we had rendered the crown.
+
+About this time also, Ferdinand king of Hungary and king of the Romans
+wrote a letter to Cortes, in which he thanked him for the beautiful
+present of gold ornaments and jewels which he had sent him, adding, that
+he had heard, with much pleasure, of the great services he had above all
+things rendered to God, and then to his master and brother the emperor,
+and to the whole of Christendom, and that he should feel happy at all
+times to promote his interests with the emperor. Thus much he thought
+himself indebted to a man who possessed so many noble qualities, and who
+had rendered himself so meritorious; in like manner he wished to express
+his high esteem for his brave companions in arms.
+
+This letter besides passed many high encomiums on the Conquistadores,
+and I still remember that it was signed with the words, _I the king and
+Infante of Castile_, countersigned by the private secretary Castillejo.
+I read the letter myself two or three times at Mexico, for Cortes shewed
+it to me in order to convince me of the great esteem in which we the
+true Conquistadores were held by his majesty.
+
+As soon as these royal mandates and letters had been put into the hands
+of our agents, they despatched them in all haste to Mexico by a cousin
+of Cortes named Rodrigo de Paz, who was accompanied by Francisco de las
+Casas, a nobleman of Estremadura, and also a relative of our general.
+These gentlemen embarked in an excellent sailing vessel, and had a most
+favorable voyage. They stopped on their way at Cuba, and there, under
+sound of trumpet, published the decision which his majesty had come to
+in favour of Cortes, and they then demanded of Velasquez an account of
+the monies which had been expended in fitting out the armament. The
+governor of Cuba, however, took the unfavorable termination of his suit
+so to heart, that he fell ill and died shortly after very poor and
+unhappy.
+
+In order to save myself the trouble of recurring to these matters, I
+must observe that Francisco de Montejo and Diego de Ordas did not forget
+to profit by their stay at the imperial court, and their endeavours
+proved very successful. Montejo was appointed governor and chief-justice
+of Yucatan and Cozumel, and was allowed to assume the Don before his
+name; and Diego de Ordas was confirmed in his New Spanish possessions,
+received a commendary of the order of St. Jago, and was allowed to
+assume the volcano of Huexotzinco in his escutcheon.
+
+After these high honours had been conferred upon them, both these
+gentlemen returned to Mexico, though Ordas, after a lapse of three
+years, again returned to Spain, and obtained permission from the emperor
+to subdue the country on the river Marannon; he accordingly fitted out
+an armament for this purpose, but lost both his property and his life in
+the expedition.
+
+When the bishop of Burgos found that everything had terminated in our
+favour, and heard of the great honours which his majesty had bestowed
+upon Cortes and upon all the Conquistadores, he naturally concluded that
+the gentlemen who had formed the commission of inquiry must have soon
+seen through all his doings with the governor of Cuba, and have been
+convinced that he had kept back all the gold which we had sent for his
+majesty to Spain, and that he had suppressed all mention of the great
+services we had rendered to the crown. These reflections preyed so hard
+upon his mind, that, like his creature Diego Velasquez, he fell
+dangerously ill, in which miserable state he had the additional vexation
+to see his nephew Don Alonso de Fonseca appointed to the archbishopric
+of Santiago, on which he had himself calculated.
+
+I must now return to Rodrigo de Paz and Francisco de las Casas, who were
+sent to New Spain with the despatches containing Cortes' appointment of
+governor. They made their entry into Mexico in the most splendid manner,
+after which feasts and rejoicings took place, and couriers were
+despatched to every part of the country where Spaniards resided, to
+spread the happy news.
+
+The gentlemen who had brought these despatches, and other persons who
+had accompanied them from Medellin were not forgotten by Cortes.
+Francisco de las Casas he appointed a captain, and afterwards bestowed
+upon him the productive township of Anguitlan. Rodrigo de Paz was
+likewise presented with extensive and lucrative commendaries, besides
+that Cortes appointed him his private secretary and major-domo. This man
+gained so much influence that he ruled all those about him, and even
+Cortes himself. There was not a single person who had come to New Spain
+with Rodrigo de Paz on this occasion that was not handsomely rewarded;
+even the captain of the vessel in which they had arrived received so
+large a sum of money from Cortes that he returned to Spain a rich man.
+
+I must now answer some questions which were put to me by a few gentlemen
+who had read this account; namely, how I, who was at that time in the
+interior of New Spain, and certainly occupied very differently than in
+relating what was going on in the other hemisphere, could vouch for the
+truth of what I had written of the occurrences which then took place in
+Spain; of the declaration of his holiness, of the accusations which
+were preferred against Cortes, and his defence before the royal
+commission by our agents, and of other matters?
+
+My answer to them was, that, besides myself, the whole of my companions
+the veteran Conquistadores were duly informed of every circumstance. We
+had only to read the four or five accounts which our agents despatched
+to us in New Spain, to convince us how warmly they had our interest at
+heart; though I indeed remarked, as soon as I had perused these
+despatches, that all the endeavours of our agents were only exerted in
+behalf of Cortes and of themselves, and that we others, who had
+undergone all the fatigues and perils to place Cortes in that high and
+meritorious position, would have to toil to the last day of our lives.
+However, we must pray to God mercifully to remember us, and to instil
+the thoughts into our emperor's mind likewise of rewarding us according
+to our merits, which we may fully hope for from his majesty, who is so
+good a catholic.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXIX.
+
+    _Of Cortes' plans after he had obtained the appointment of governor
+    of New Spain; the way in which he distributes the Indians; and of
+    other matters._
+
+
+I and other of the most experienced and deserving of the veteran
+Conquistadores had always made sure that, as soon as Cortes should
+receive the appointment of governor of New Spain, he would remember the
+day when he set sail from Cuba, and that he would bring back to his mind
+the great troubles by which he was immediately after surrounded, and
+that he would have remembered all those of the men who, soon after he
+had landed with his troops in New Spain, had procured him the
+appointment of captain-general and chief justice of the country, and
+have borne in mind that we never for a moment left his side in all the
+subsequent battles and dangers. By heavens! he ought never to have
+forgotten any one of us,--we who always took his part, who exerted
+ourselves to the utmost for him on the occasion when a portion of the
+troops clamoured to return to Vera Cruz, and strove hard to persuade him
+to abandon all thoughts of the campaign against Mexico, on account of
+the vast power of this state and the great strength of its metropolis.
+We were the same men who marched with him into Mexico, who assisted him
+in taking the powerful Motecusuma prisoner in the midst of his warriors,
+who lent him such efficient aid against Narvaez, and then instantly
+marched back with him to Mexico to the assistance of Alvarado; the same
+men who fought the terrific battles on the disastrous retreat from this
+city, and who had to mourn the loss of so many of their brave companions
+on that night of sorrows; the men by whose valour the memorable battle
+was gained on the plains of Otumpan; who again put down the
+insurrections in the provinces, conquered all the large townships which
+lay around the lake, and subdued the country; who rallied round his
+person when a conspiracy was set on foot by Villafaņa and others to put
+him to death; who patiently endured the indescribable fatigues and
+hardships of the ninety-three days' siege of Mexico, during which time
+we had night and day encountered the attacks of an infuriated enemy
+until at length we placed him in possession of that strong city. We
+remained faithful to him when Christobal de Tapia arrived in New Spain
+with the appointment of governor. We wrote three several times to his
+majesty in praise of the great services he had rendered to the crown,
+extolling his loyalty to the skies, and begging of his majesty to confer
+upon him the appointment of governor. I will not even mention the many
+other great services which we rendered to our general; but certainly,
+after he had obtained the government of New Spain, he ought to have
+remembered the brave and courageous men who also, subsequent to the
+conquest of Mexico, made those severe campaigns to Colima, Zacatula, and
+Panuco, and those of the troops who from extreme poverty were obliged to
+relinquish the settlement founded by Alvarado at Tutepec.
+
+We had altogether shared badly in the division of the Indians, and
+miserable districts of the country had been allotted to us, although his
+majesty had so often desired Cortes to reward our meritorious conduct,
+and to give us the preference in all matters. In all his letters which
+he wrote to his agents in Spain he ought never to have omitted
+mentioning our names with unbounded praise, and ought to have made it a
+point of obtaining from his majesty, for ourselves and children, the
+preference in all official appointments in New Spain: but he never gave
+this a thought; and on both occasions, the one when he obtained the
+appointment of governor, and the other when he went to Spain himself and
+became Marquis of Oaxaca, he only strove to further his own ends, and he
+forgot his brave companions in arms. Indeed, the most sensible and
+intelligent of the Conquistadores were quite of opinion that nothing
+would have been juster on the part of Cortes, and nothing more
+practicable at that time, than to have divided the whole of New Spain
+into five equal parts: one fifth, containing the best townships, to have
+been set apart for the crown; a second fifth for the churches,
+hospitals, and cloisters, and for gifts which his majesty might think
+proper of bestowing on those men who had distinguished themselves in the
+Italian campaigns or elsewhere; the three remaining fifths to have been
+divided among the whole of the true Conquistadores, according to their
+respective stations and merits, and this in perpetuity. At that time his
+majesty would have consented to such a division, as the whole of the
+conquest of New Spain never cost the crown anything, and his majesty
+himself had altogether a very imperfect notion of the country. Besides
+which, his majesty was then still in Flanders, and would have been
+pleased to know the country was in the hands of such faithful and
+courageous subjects.
+
+But nothing of all this ever entered Cortes' mind, while our condition
+was daily growing worse; and at present there are even many of us
+veteran Conquistadores who have not the common necessaries of life! What
+will become of our children which we shall leave behind? But enough of
+all this; let us now see to whom Cortes distributed the townships.
+
+The first persons who were rewarded by the governor were Francisco de
+las Casas and Rodrigo de Paz, with the royal factor, the inspector, and
+treasurer, who had come from Spain with those gentlemen. Then came a
+certain Avalos, and one Saavedra, both relatives of Cortes. Next follow
+Barrios, who was married to his sister-in-law Doņa Xuarez; a certain
+Alonso Lucas, Juan and Luis de la Torre, Alonso Valiente, and the
+squinting Ribera. But these are only a few instances; for a person had
+only to come from Medellin,[41] or to stand in favour with some great
+personage, and flatter Cortes a little, and he was presented with some
+of the best lands in New Spain. I am not going to reproach Cortes for
+having remembered all these people, for there was plenty to do all this
+with, but certainly he should have given the preference to his soldiers,
+as he had been recommended to do by his majesty; to those men through
+whose assistance he was elevated to that high station. Whenever any
+campaign was in contemplation, or any battles to be fought, he never for
+an instant forgot where every individual man of us was to be found, and
+his commands to march to the field of battle never failed to reach us.
+But I will put an end to my complaints of the neglect which we suffered,
+for now it cannot be remedied.
+
+Though I must not forget to mention how conscious Cortes was of the
+injustice which he had done us, and that he even acknowledged it. After
+the death of Luis Ponce de Leon and of Marcos de Aguilar soon after,
+whom the former, as will be seen in the proper place, appointed his
+successor in the government, myself, with several officers and
+cavaliers of the veteran Conquistadores called upon Cortes, and begged
+of him, conformably to his majesty's commands, to give us some of the
+numerous Indians which fell to his share on that occasion. To this he
+replied, that we fared no worse than he himself did. "But," added he,
+"if his majesty should again be pleased to appoint me governor of New
+Spain, upon my conscience, I will repair the neglect you have suffered
+at my hands, and will bestow the best commendaries on those for whom his
+majesty intended them. You may depend upon it I will make good the great
+errors I have committed."
+
+With these fine words and flattering promises he thought to satisfy the
+old and tried Conquistadores.
+
+A little before Cortes received the appointment of governor, the new
+officers of the crown arrived in Mexico: these were Alonso de Estrada,
+of Ciudad Real, as royal treasurer; as factor, Gonzalo de Salazar; as
+accountant, Rodrigo de Albornoz, of Paladinos, (Julian de Alderete
+having died a short time previously); as veedor, Pedro Almindez
+Chirinos, a native of Ubeda, or of Baëza, besides many others.
+
+About this time Rodrigo Rangel, although he was neither present at the
+siege of Mexico nor in many of the great battles we fought in New Spain,
+all of a sudden got it into his head that he must also reap some glory
+to himself; he therefore begged of Cortes to give him a small body of
+troops in order to put down the rebellion which had arisen among the
+Zapotec townships, and also that Pedro de Ircio might be allowed to join
+the expedition in order to support him with his good counsel. Cortes
+very well knew what kind of man Rangel was; that he was not fit for any
+kind of service, as he constantly suffered from ill health. He was
+gouty, had large swellings in his groins, was covered all over with
+sores, and so debilitated in strength that he could scarcely move along
+on his thin ulcerated legs. Cortes consequently refused this man his
+unreasonable request, representing to him what a ferocious people the
+Zapotecs were, and how excessively difficult it was to subdue a people
+like this who inhabited rugged mountains covered with eternal mists;
+that no cavalry could penetrate into their country, or, at most, they
+were wholly useless there; how, owing to the narrow and steep mountain
+paths, his men would only be able to march one abreast, and then with
+great risk of their lives, from the slippery state of the ground, which
+was covered with perpetual dew. For an expedition of this nature,
+continued Cortes, the most experienced and robust of soldiers were
+required, who thoroughly understood the art of war. Rangel, however, was
+a very conceited fellow, and also a native of Medellin, and solicited so
+strongly that Cortes at length granted him his request; but, from what
+we afterwards heard, it would appear that Cortes only gave way to him to
+rid himself for ever of this man, who was of a malicious disposition,
+thinking he would never survive this campaign. However, this is very
+little to the purpose, and I will rather acquaint the reader that
+letters arrived from Cortes to twelve of us soldiers who had settled in
+Guacasualco, with orders for us to accompany Rangel on this expedition.
+I was likewise among the number, and it happened that all twelve of us
+were neighbours.
+
+I have already informed the reader, in a previous chapter, that the
+country of the Zapotecs consists of high mountains; how nimble and
+courageous the inhabitants are, and how they communicate with each other
+by means of piping, the shrill sound of which reechoes through all the
+valleys. In such a place it may readily be imagined that a man like
+Rangel, and the troops under such a leader, would not be able to achieve
+anything. Wherever we came, the inhabitants had fled away; besides
+which, the houses were not built together as in other townships of New
+Spain, but straggling about, some on the mountains, others in the
+valleys. The rainy season had just set in when we arrived in this wild
+country, and poor Rangel suffered so violently from the swellings in his
+groins, that he cried out aloud in the agonies of pain. The rest of us,
+therefore, were not a little annoyed that we were compelled to sacrifice
+our time for such a man; however, he was soon convinced himself that all
+his trouble was to no purpose, and he resolved to relinquish the
+expedition, and to allow the men to return to their respective abodes.
+Pedro de Ircio, whom Rangel had purposely taken with him to profit by
+his good counsel, was the first who advised this latter step, and left
+him to return to Vera Cruz, where he had settled. Rangel himself marched
+back with us to Guacasualco, the warm climate of which he affirmed would
+agree best with his health. This we looked upon as a greater calamity
+even than marching out with him into the field of battle; however, we
+were obliged to submit, and we put the best face we could on the matter.
+When we had arrived in Guacasualco, he got it into his head to march to
+Cimatan and Talatupan, in order to put down the insurrection which still
+continued in these provinces. The inhabitants there principally confided
+in the strength of their positions, which lay between rivers, swamps,
+and marshy ground, where every step was attended with danger; besides
+which, they were remarkably expert archers, and the arrow which flew
+from their enormous bows seldom missed its aim.
+
+In order that we might not dispute his word, Rangel produced his
+instructions from Cortes, in which he was also commanded to march
+against the rebellious provinces of Cimatan and Talatupan; he,
+therefore, in his capacity of commander-in-chief, summoned all the
+inhabitants of Guacasualco to join him in the expedition, and we stood
+in such awe of Cortes' mandates that we durst not offer the slightest
+opposition to Rangel's authority; and above one hundred of us, with all
+our horses, about twenty-six musketeers and crossbow-men, marched out
+with him. We passed through Tonala Ayagualulco, Copilco, Zacualco,
+crossed several rivers in canoes; and then marched through Teutitan and
+the townships of Chontalpa, until within twenty miles of Cimatan. Thus
+far the whole country was in profound peace; but a little further on we
+found the whole armed force of the country drawn up against us, strongly
+posted between the swamps and dangerous passes, having fortified their
+position by ramparts and a palisade, from which they flew their arrows
+at us through loop-holes. When we had arrived near enough, the enemy
+showered their arrows so quickly upon us, that six of our horses were
+killed and eight men wounded. Rangel himself, who was seated on
+horseback, received a slight wound in the arm. We, the veteran
+Conquistadores, had often told him what bold, crafty, and expert
+warriors he would have to encounter here, and now he began to believe so
+himself; and as he was a man who talked a good deal, he said if he had
+followed our advice this would not have happened to him; and, for the
+future, he desired we would take upon ourselves the command of the
+troops during this campaign.
+
+After the wounds of our men and those of our horses had been dressed,
+Rangel desired me to reconnoitre the enemy's position, and take with me
+two of our most active musketeers, and a remarkably fierce dog which he
+possessed; he himself, as he had been advised, would follow me at some
+distance behind with the cavalry and the rest of our troops. When I,
+with my two companions, approached near to Cimatan, we came up to other
+fortifications equally as strong as the former, from out of which we
+were greeted with a cloud of arrows and darts. The poor dog lay
+instantly dead at our feet, and I myself should have shared a similar
+fate if my jacket had not been very thickly quilted with cotton, for I
+was wounded in no less than seven places by the enemy's arrows, one of
+which struck my leg; nor did my two companions fare better. I now called
+out to some of our Indian troops, who were close behind us, to hasten
+back and call the whole of the foot to our assistance, but to desire the
+cavalry not to advance, as they would not be able to manoeuvre here, and
+would only expose their horses to the enemy's unerring arrows.
+
+With the musketeers, crossbow-men, and the remaining foot, we now
+marched forward in a body to the attack, and very soon beat the enemy
+out of their entrenchments, who then retreated precipitately to the
+swamps, where it was impossible to follow them without great risk, for
+the ground was of so spongy a nature that the moment we set foot on it
+we sank down, and it was with great difficulty a person was got out
+again.
+
+By this time Rangel had come up with the horse, and we quartered
+ourselves in a number of houses which stood together, and were quite
+deserted by the inhabitants; here we remained quiet for the remaining
+part of the day and dressed our wounds. The next morning we marched
+direct for Cimatan itself, and our route lay through extensive open
+plains, in which there were many dangerous bogs. In one of these the
+enemy lay in wait for us, and certainly they had calculated well in
+taking up their position here, for they easily foresaw, when the
+cavalry, in the heat of the battle, spread themselves in the open plain,
+they could not fail to get into the swampy ground, where they would be
+unable to move. We had many times cautioned Rangel about this, but he
+refused to listen to our advice; and, indeed, he was the first to get
+fixed in the bogs, where he lost his horse, and would himself
+undoubtedly have been killed if several of us had not hastened to his
+assistance, for several Indians had already laid hold of him to carry
+him off and sacrifice him to their idols. He thus narrowly escaped with
+his life, though his head, which, besides, was covered with sores, had
+been shockingly beat about by the enemy.
+
+As this district was very thickly populated, and there was another
+township not very far off, we determined to march thither; but the
+inhabitants, on our approach, fled precipitately. Here we halted for a
+short time to dress Rangel's wounds and those of three other soldiers.
+
+The next township we came to was likewise deserted by its inhabitants;
+but in this neighbourhood the enemy had thrown up a very formidable
+entrenchment, with a palisade of uncommon strength, supplied with
+loop-holes. Here we had scarcely rested a quarter of an hour when the
+enemy came suddenly pouring forth into the town from all sides, and fell
+upon us with so much intrepidity that they killed one of our men and two
+horses, and it was with the utmost difficulty we could succeed in
+driving them back again.
+
+Our friend Rangel suffered greatly from the wounds he had received on
+his head; besides which he was tormented by the moschitoes and a large
+species of bat which bite people and suck their blood, so that he could
+get no rest day or night; and as it rained without intermission, he,
+with several of the men who had recently arrived from Spain, grew
+heartily sick of this mode of warfare; these soldiers brought forcibly
+to his mind the bad state of his health, the little advantage we had
+gained by the three several battles we had fought with the enemy, and
+how we had lost eleven horses and two men, besides that numbers were
+wounded, and that it would be impossible to accomplish anything more in
+a country so full of swamps and morasses. All this Rangel listened to
+with secret delight, for to turn back was the very thing he so ardently
+desired himself; however, in order to save appearances, and that it
+might seem as if his determination of marching back to Guacasualco was
+upon the advice and at the request of the troops themselves, he called a
+council of war, for which he selected those only whom he well knew would
+be of the same opinion with himself. I, with twenty of the men, just at
+that moment returned from a short excursion to some cacao plantations in
+the neighbourhood to try if we could not capture a few of the natives,
+and we had the good luck to bring in three females and two men
+prisoners. When I arrived in Rangel's quarters, he took me aside; he
+spoke a good deal about the terrible wounds on his head, and assured me
+that the greater part of the troops had advised him to relinquish the
+expedition and return to Cortes in Mexico.
+
+I declared myself against this step without any hesitation; and, as we
+had known each other for four years, even before we left Cuba, I said
+boldly to him, "How, Seņor; you have advanced up to Cimatan, and now
+wish to return? What will Cortes think of this, and what will your
+enemies say? How they will always throw in your teeth that you were
+neither able to gain any advantage over the Zapotecs nor to subdue the
+inhabitants of this province, although you had among your troops some of
+the most experienced of the Conquistadores, of those who settled in
+Guacasualco! Here not your honour alone is at stake but ours also;
+wherefore I, with a number of my companions, have determined further to
+explore these swamps and mountains, and to force our way into Cimatan,
+the principal township of the province. My horse you may give to some
+other soldier who is expert in handling the lance, it is of no use to me
+in this country, for, on account of the bad state of the ground, the
+cavalry are always obliged to remain behind the rest of the troops."
+
+As Rangel was a great talker, and a man who soon fell into a passion, he
+jumped up from his seat, immediately ordered all the troops to assemble
+around him, and cried out to them, "The die is cast! by heavens! (for he
+could scarcely say two words together without swearing.) We must march
+forward! I am now convinced of the policy of so doing, since Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo has explained to me what our duty is. He is perfectly
+right in what he says."
+
+Many of the men were certainly anything but pleased with this second
+determination of Rangel; on the other hand, however, several were
+delighted, and thus we marched forward again. I, at the head of the
+musketeers and crossbow-men, marched in advance with every military
+precaution, the cavalry following at some distance. The first town we
+came to was quite deserted by the inhabitants; we therefore continued
+our march towards Cimatan itself. Here we met with a very stout
+resistance from the enemy before we could drive them to flight, and take
+possession of the towns. Many of the Indians as they fled set fire to
+their own dwellings, and all the prisoners we took were about fifteen
+men and women, but we immediately set them at liberty again, and
+despatched them with a kind message to their countrymen, desiring them
+to send ambassadors to us, and conclude peace with us, when we would
+freely pardon their past hostilities. These prisoners soon returned with
+their relations and a great number of poor people, among whom we
+distributed all the booty we had made. The whole of these people then
+left, and promised they would persuade the enemy to send us messengers
+of peace, and declare themselves vassals of our emperor; but they took
+very good care neither to return themselves, nor to send us any message
+whatever. Upon this Rangel turned to me, and said: "By heavens, you have
+deceived me! You may now therefore go with some of your companions, and
+just catch me an equal number of Indians, as I have lost by thus
+following your advice." I did not give him an opportunity of repeating
+this command, but I immediately marched off at the head of fifty men,
+and attacked some houses which lay among the marshes. The inhabitants
+fled precipitately, and sought refuge among the large thorn bushes,
+which they term Xiguaquetlan, where it was impossible for any one to
+penetrate without being severely wounded by the sharp prickles; we
+managed, however, to capture twelve men and women among the cacao
+plantations, whom we presented to our captain. This put him into so good
+a humour again, that he liberated these prisoners, and despatched them
+with a very friendly message to the enemy, but all to no purpose; the
+Cimatecs still defied us, and we were thus obliged to return to
+Guacasualco without accomplishing our object.
+
+These are the two campaigns of Rangel, in which he thought to have
+reaped so much glory, when he so ardently solicited Cortes to bestow the
+chief command on him. Two years after we made a more successful
+expedition against the Zapotecs, and we completely subdued them, and
+other provinces in that quarter. The pious father Olmedo also did his
+utmost to give them some notion of the holy Christian religion: he
+taught them the articles of faith, preached to them, and of these
+Indians alone he baptized above a hundred; but he was unable to continue
+this holy occupation very long, as he was growing old and infirm;
+besides that, his enfeebled frame could not stand the ruggedness of the
+roads.
+
+I must now, however, return to Mexico, and relate what magnificent
+presents Cortes sent to his Majesty in Spain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXX.
+
+    _How Cortes sends a present to his majesty; 80,000 pesos in gold and
+    silver, besides a magnificent field-piece made of silver and gold,
+    covered with various beautiful figures; also how he sends his father
+    Martin Cortes above 5000 pesos._
+
+
+Cortes had by this time collected about 80,000 pesos, and now also the
+field-piece was finished, which received the name of Phoenix, and was in
+every way a present worthy of the acceptance of so renowned a sovereign
+as our great emperor. This beautiful cannon was cast of silver, and bore
+the following inscription:
+
+    No bird like this was ever born,
+    As a servant I have no second,
+    And you have not your equal in the world.
+
+Cortes therefore determined to forward all this treasure to his majesty
+in Spain, and commissioned a nobleman of Toledo, named Diego de Soto to
+be the bearer: whether Juan de Ribera, who squinted with one eye, and
+had been Cortes' private secretary, accompanied this gentleman, I cannot
+exactly remember; but one thing I know, that very little reliance could
+be placed in his honesty. I also imagined that he played falsely at
+cards and cheated at dice; besides which he possessed many other bad
+qualities. I merely mention all this because he behaved so villanously
+to Cortes in Spain, for he not only kept back the money which the latter
+confided to his care for his father Martin Cortes,[42] but he repaid
+kindness with ingratitude, and so far forgot all the favours which
+Cortes had bestowed upon him, that, instead of speaking good of our
+general, or even the truth, he calumniated his benefactor in every
+possible manner. As this Ribera was a man who possessed considerable
+eloquence, and as he had been private secretary to Cortes, his
+aspersions were generally credited in Spain, by the bishop of Burgos in
+particular; and he created the more evil, as at that time Narvaez,
+Christobal de Tapia, and the agents of Velasquez had renewed their
+charges against Cortes, complaining to his majesty that he could not
+depend upon the honesty of the decision to which the commissioners had
+come, as Cortes had bribed them all with valuable presents. All this
+created a most unfavorable change in Cortes' affairs, and he fell so
+greatly into his majesty's displeasure that matters, in all likelihood,
+would have terminated most unfavorably for him if the duke of Bejar, who
+was greatly attached to Cortes, had not employed his utmost endeavours
+for him and become his bail until he should be summoned to take his
+trial in due form. The duke's reason for espousing Cortes' cause so
+warmly was, because the preliminaries of a marriage had been settled
+between the latter and a niece of the duke. This lady's name was Juana
+de Zunniga, daughter to the earl of Aguilar Don Carlos de Arellano, and
+she had also a brother who was a great favorite with the emperor. As
+about this time also the 80,000 pesos, with the other valuable presents
+arrived in Spain, accompanied by letters from Cortes, in which he
+expressed to his majesty his thanks for the great honours which his
+majesty had bestowed upon him, and for the just sentence he had
+pronounced in his favour; the inquiries which were going to be
+instituted against him were dropped, and the storm which was gathering
+over him blew over. But now again the proud inscription which he had
+placed on the silver field-piece created a great deal of ill-feeling
+towards him, and several of the dukes, marquisses and earls, who had
+likewise rendered great services to our emperor, considered it amazingly
+presumptuous that Cortes should attempt, by this inscription, to raise
+his merits so far above all others. Even his greatest patrons, the
+admiral of Castile, the duke of Bejar, and the earl of Aguilar, greatly
+disapproved of this self-praise.[43] But why, I ask, should they term
+this presumptuous in our general? Can any one mention to me another
+general who has accomplished so many heroic deeds as Cortes, or who has
+conquered for our emperor a country of the magnitude of New Spain, or
+who has been the means of converting so many thousands of heathens to
+Christianity? Though, to be sure, the merit and glory of all this is not
+due to Cortes alone, but also to his brave companions in arms! We have
+equally merited for ourselves grants of land and honorable escutcheons,
+with those brave men of former times who were so honoured by their
+monarchs!
+
+With respect to the beautiful field-piece, we further received
+information that it was presented to his majesty by the
+comendador-mayor of Leon, Don Francisco de las Cobos, but that it was
+never removed from Seville, for it was smelted there and the value of
+the metal was altogether estimated at 20,000 ducats. This present, with
+all those which Cortes sent on former occasions to Spain, though some
+unfortunately never reached their place of destination, not only spread
+the fame of Cortes to all parts of the empire, but throughout the whole
+of christendom, and his name was in every person's mouth. Neither must I
+forget to mention, that after Martin Cortes had in vain demanded of the
+squinting Ribera to deliver up the money to him which had been sent by
+our general, he commenced an action against him; to which, however, an
+end was speedily put by the death of Ribera, who fell ill on a journey
+to the town of Cadahalso, after eating too heartily of fat bacon. His
+death was so sudden that he had not even time to confess his sins; may
+God have mercy on his poor soul! Amen!
+
+While all this was going on in Spain, Cortes was very busily employed in
+rebuilding the city of Mexico, and he strove by every possible means to
+increase its population by holding out rewards to the inhabitants of the
+country to settle there. For this purpose he declared the town free from
+all tribute, until all the buildings should be completed, the causeways,
+aqueducts and bridges repaired, and the churches and the hospitals were
+entirely finished both inside and out.[44] The superintendence of the
+latter he gave to the excellent father Olmedo, who had already brought
+together all the Indians who were suffering from ill health, and
+attended to them with the most affectionate care. But about this time
+there likewise arrived in Vera Cruz twelve Franciscan monks from Spain,
+who were accompanied by the very pious father, Martin de Valencia, whom
+his holiness had appointed vicar-general of New Spain. He was a native
+of the village of Valencia de san Juan, in the district of Campo, and we
+shall see in the following chapter how this reverend father was received
+in Mexico.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXI.
+
+    _How twelve monks of the order of St. Francis, with the
+    vicar-general and father-superior Martin de Valencia, arrive at Vera
+    Cruz, and how they are received by Cortes._
+
+
+The reader will remember my mentioning in a former chapter that we
+begged of his imperial majesty to send to New Spain some really good
+and pious monks of the Franciscan order, that they might assist us to
+convert the Indians to Christianity, and preach the doctrine of our holy
+faith to them, in which father Olmedo had made so good a beginning.
+Cortes and the whole of us Conquistadores had also on the same occasion
+written to the general of the Franciscan order, who was afterwards the
+cardinal, brother Francisco de los Angeles, and begged of him to send us
+some very pious men of his order, that we might be enabled to fulfil our
+promise to the Indians, whom we had so often assured that the emperor
+would despatch to them religious men, who led a much more pious life
+than we did. This we had repeatedly told the Indians, and they always
+inquired of us in return if those men would possess the same good
+qualities as father Olmedo. To which we answered in the affirmative.
+
+It was in compliance with this, our request, that the general of the
+Franciscan order sent the twelve monks, with their superior, who arrived
+in Vera Cruz. Among these religious men was also the father Toribio
+Motalma, to whom the caziques and distinguished personages of Mexico
+gave the name of _Motolinia_,[45] which signifies _the poor brother_,
+because he distributed everything he received among the Indians; so that
+it often happened he had nothing left to still his hunger. He was always
+clad in the meanest garments, went barefoot, and was continually
+preaching to the Indians, who became greatly attached to him, and they
+revered him as a holy person.
+
+When Cortes received intelligence of the arrival of these reverend
+personages in Vera Cruz, he gave orders that they should be received
+with the profoundest respect in every town they passed through on their
+road to Mexico, whether Indian or Spanish. If they halted at a distance
+from any habitations, huts were to be constructed for them; in every
+township they came to the bells were to be rung, the whole of the
+inhabitants were to go out to meet them with crosses, wax lights, and
+flying colours; and in order to give the Indians some notion of humility
+and veneration, the Spaniards were particularly instructed to fall down
+on their knees before them, and to kiss their hands and their cowls.
+
+Besides all this, Cortes sent refreshments for these monks to every
+stage along their route, and wrote most affectionate letters to them.
+When they had arrived within a short distance from Mexico, Cortes
+himself, accompanied by father Olmedo, and the whole of his brave
+officers and men, went out to meet them; as also Quauhtemoctzin, lord of
+Mexico, with the most distinguished Mexicans, and a great number of
+other caziques from the principal townships. As soon as we beheld these
+pious men, Cortes and all the rest of us dismounted, and walked up to
+them; and the first who went down on his knees before Francisco de
+Valencia was our general himself; but when he was going to kiss the
+reverend father's hand, the latter would not allow him, and Cortes then
+only kissed his cowl.
+
+The meeting between father Olmedo and the newly-arrived was of the most
+affectionate kind, and they embraced each other most heartily; then we
+officers and soldiers, with Quauhtemoctzin, and the other caziques,
+likewise knelt down before them, and kissed their garments.
+
+Cortes' respectful conduct towards these monks made a deep and
+astonishing impression on the Mexican monarch, and the other grandees of
+the country; and it served as an excellent precept to all Indians, when
+they beheld the man whom they almost feared, and revered as a god,
+humble himself before these religious men, and stand in their presence
+with his head uncovered. In the presence of men who came without any
+covering to their feet, their garments of the meanest kind, their
+appearance altogether poverty stricken, and their countenances
+emaciated, besides that they came on foot, and not on horseback; all
+this amazed the Indians, who ever after throughout the whole country
+paid the greatest veneration to these men.
+
+Our reverend guests were quartered in a house which had been purposely
+prepared for their reception; and father Olmedo, at the desire of
+Cortes, acted as their host.
+
+About four years afterwards twelve other monks of the Dominican order
+arrived in New Spain, with their provincial or prior, father Thomas
+Ortiz, a native of Biscay, and who had been prior in a cloister near
+Punta del Drago, but unfortunately he and his companions were unable to
+bear the hot climate; for they all fell ill, and most of them died;
+however, I will relate these circumstances more fully in the proper
+place. Subsequently several other very pious and excellent men of this
+same order arrived from Spain, who were particularly assiduous in their
+endeavours to convert the Indians of Guatimala to Christianity.
+
+With all this, Cortes' mind was never at ease, and he constantly
+apprehended that the bishop of Burgos and the agents of Diego Velasquez
+would renew their complaints against him to his majesty, or injure him
+in some way or other; and as his father, with Diego de Ordas, sent him
+the most favorable account of their progress in settling the
+preliminaries of marriage between himself and Doņa Juana de Zunniga, he
+considered it would be great policy on his part to send all the gold he
+could possibly collect to Spain, partly to convince the duke of Bejar of
+the riches he possessed, and of the magnitude of his conquests, but
+particularly to ingratiate himself further with his majesty to obtain
+additional honours and favours from him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXII.
+
+    _How Cortes sends his majesty 30,000 pesos worth of gold, with an
+    account of the conversion of the Indians, the rebuilding of the city
+    of Mexico, and of the expedition of Christobal de Oli to the
+    Honduras; also how the vessel which conveyed this gold at the same
+    time carried secret letters to Spain, written by the royal
+    accountant Rodrigo de Albornoz, in which Cortes and the whole of the
+    veteran Conquistadores were calumniated in the vilest manner._
+
+
+After Cortes had been appointed governor of New Spain, he considered
+himself called upon to give his majesty a circumstantial account of what
+was going on in the country; of the conversion of the Indians, the
+rebuilding of the city of Tenochtitlan-Mexico, and of other important
+circumstances; among which he mentioned, in the first place, the
+expedition he had sent to Honduras, and he was very particular in
+bringing under his majesty's notice the great expenses to which it had
+put him. He then went on to state that he had conferred the chief
+command of this armament on Christobal de Oli, who had allowed himself
+to be bribed by Diego Velasquez to make common cause with him, and
+renounce all further obedience to Cortes.
+
+Our general then told his majesty that he was determined, if his majesty
+should think proper, to despatch another officer to the Honduras, to
+deprive Oli of the command, and cast him into chains; but if he
+resisted, he would himself march against him. A severe punishment,
+continued Cortes, ought to be inflicted in this instance, in order to
+deter other officers who were sent out to subdue other provinces from
+following Oli's example. He must therefore earnestly supplicate his
+majesty's permission to march against this officer.
+
+In these despatches Cortes preferred other much heavier charges against
+Diego Velasquez, not only with regard to having bribed Oli to revolt,
+but on account of the many conspiracies which he had caused to be formed
+against his life during the expeditions to the rebellious provinces,
+and, upon the whole, for having attempted to disturb the peace of the
+country, which had obliged him to punish the more guilty ones with the
+utmost rigour of the law. He then went on to say that he would have been
+able to forward his majesty a much larger sum on this occasion than
+30,000 pesos, if the revolutionary spirit which his enemies strove to
+increase on all sides had not thrown obstacles in his way, and thereby
+impeded his operations. Our general concluded by assuring his majesty he
+would take every opportunity of sending as much gold as he possibly
+could to Spain.
+
+Cortes at the same time wrote to Diego de Ordas, to his father, and to
+his relative, the licentiate Francisco Nuņez, who was reporter to the
+royal council, giving them a full account of the conduct of Rodrigo de
+Albornoz; how this man secretly calumniated him in Mexico, because he
+had omitted to give him as great a number of Indians as he had required,
+and had refused to give him the daughter of the king of Tezcuco in
+marriage, for whom he had contracted a better match with a gentleman of
+quality; besides which he had been informed that this Albornoz had been
+secretary to the bishop of Burgos in Flanders, and that he was a perfect
+creature of this prelate. He constantly kept up a secret correspondence
+with some one or other, even by means of figures, and Cortes thought it
+most likely that he had on this occasion secretly written to his patron
+the bishop, and slandered him in every possible manner; he therefore
+cautioned his friends to be upon their guard, and narrowly to watch his
+interests, for Cortes thought the bishop was at that time still
+president of the council of the Indies.
+
+In consequence of these apprehensions, Cortes sent duplicate copies of
+all his despatches, so that if one set were seized at Seville by the
+bishop's functionaries, the other might arrive safe in the proper hands.
+
+The accountant Albornoz had indeed, as it proved, forwarded letters by
+this same vessel to his majesty, to the bishop of Burgos, and to the
+royal council of the Indies, in which he renewed all the late
+accusations against our general, adding besides several new ones: among
+others, he assured his majesty that Cortes levied vast quantities of
+gold upon the caziques, under the pretext of forwarding it to his
+majesty; thereby occasioning great discontent throughout the whole
+country. He had assembled a considerable number of the distinguished
+females of the country, in order to marry them to his Spanish soldiers;
+but if honorable men requested any one of them in marriage, he was sure
+to refuse them, and retained them rather as his own mistresses. The
+caziques of the country in general looked upon him as a king; in fact,
+they knew of no other king than Cortes, who took to himself an equal
+fifth of the whole revenue of the country with the emperor, and he had
+amassed immense treasures to himself. Yet he was so artful, that it was
+impossible to divine his plans. He was building large fortresses, and it
+might be his intention to declare his independence of the Spanish crown,
+and turn traitor to his own country. It was, at all events, high time
+for his majesty to adopt some decisive step to prevent this, and
+despatch some personage of distinction to New Spain, in order to deprive
+Cortes of the chief command, and of all sovereign power in the country.
+
+Besides this, Albornoz slandered Cortes in various other ways, and the
+bishop of Burgos determined to profit by it; and as Narvaez, Tapia, and
+the agents of Diego Velasquez still continued their solicitations at
+court, the bishop strenuously urged them to renew their accusations
+against Cortes, and he strove to add further weight to their complaints
+by the accounts which had just been received from Albornoz.
+
+After his majesty had read these severe charges against our general, he
+considered they were all true, and he said to Narvaez, who was spokesman
+for the rest: "I am now determined that Cortes shall be punished! Though
+he may send me a quantity of gold, yet the accusations that are brought
+against him are becoming too frequent, and I love justice before all the
+treasures he can procure me."
+
+His majesty did not long delay to carry out his threats, for he
+despatched orders to the admiral of St. Domingo to repair at the head of
+600 men to Mexico, to seize Cortes' person, and if he found him guilty
+to cut off his head without any further ceremony, and to punish all
+those who assisted in the defeat of Narvaez. The emperor, in order to
+spur the admiral on to fulfil his commands, even promised to appoint him
+admiral of New Spain.
+
+The admiral duly received these commands, but either from want of money
+to fit out an armament sufficiently extensive for this purpose, or
+whether he considered it a hazardous enterprise, he continually delayed
+to act up to the emperor's commands. Certain it is, however, that his
+friends cautioned him against Cortes' good fortune in arms, who, with a
+handful of men, had defeated the large body of troops under Narvaez, and
+they likewise assured him that he would not find Cortes or his
+companions in arms guilty of anything wrong, but in every sense loyal
+and faithful servants of his majesty. To all this was added, that it had
+been observed to the emperor what a very distinguished appointment
+admiral of New Spain would be, and that it was too great a reward to
+bestow on any one for a mere expedition of this nature.
+
+In the meantime while the admiral of St. Domingo was making preparations
+for fitting out this armament, Cortes' agents, his father Martin Cortes
+and father Melgarejo de Urrea, got information of all that was going
+forward, and they no longer doubted from the letters they received from
+Cortes himself, that the accountant Albornoz, or others of his enemies,
+had been secretly plotting against him at court. These gentlemen,
+therefore, called upon the duke of Bejar, to whom they gave a full
+account of all the circumstances, and then laid before him Cortes' own
+letters. When the duke saw how perilous the posture of affairs looked,
+and how necessary it was to lend immediate assistance, he repaired to
+his majesty without delay, accompanied by several of his distinguished
+relatives, Martin Cortes, and father Melgarejo. After paying to his
+majesty the deep respect which was due from them to their sovereign and
+master, the duke humbly begged his majesty not to put any faith in what
+the accountant Albornoz might say, who was the avowed enemy of Cortes,
+and that his majesty would be pleased to countermand the orders he had
+given to the admiral of St. Domingo, at least if less suspicious
+witnesses than the accountant Albornoz did not come forward against
+Cortes. As his majesty, continued the duke, was a monarch who loved
+justice above all things, it was necessary to be doubly precautious in
+taking proceedings against Cortes and his companions in arms, who had
+rendered those services to their monarch, of which history could not
+produce another example. He himself still continued to place implicit
+confidence in the loyalty of Cortes towards his majesty, and in the same
+way as he had previously offered to answer for Cortes with his head, he
+was now quite ready to do the same again, and to stake the whole of his
+possessions in the bargain. After the duke had thus declared himself to
+the emperor, he gave his majesty an account of the letters which Cortes
+had written to his own father, in which he had explained the reasons of
+Albornoz's hatred to him. He then reminded his majesty of the vast
+quantities of gold which Cortes had forwarded to Spain, and of the many
+and great services he had altogether rendered to the crown, and brought
+forth excellent arguments in justification of Cortes' conduct. His
+majesty was so far convinced of the sound reasoning of the duke, that he
+determined to despatch to New Spain a man of high rank, distinguished
+talents, and of an unblemished character, there thoroughly to
+investigate the matter on the spot itself.
+
+The imperial court was at that time in Toledo, of which town a cavalier
+and licentiate, named Luis Ponce de Leon, a cousin to the corregidor,
+earl Don Martin de Cordoba, was then the vice-regidor. It was on this
+gentleman that his majesty's choice fell, and Ponce de Leon accordingly
+received the important commission to repair, without delay, to New
+Spain, there to make the strictest inquiries into the accusations which
+had been made against Cortes, and if he found him guilty to punish him
+according to the utmost rigour of the law.
+
+The licentiate Luis Ponce de Leon promised his majesty to employ his
+utmost endeavours to bring the truth of the matter to light, and made
+preparations for his journey to the New World; but he did not leave
+Spain till two and a half years after, so that I shall subsequently
+again have to recur to these circumstances. Nor did we receive any
+information from Cortes' father of what had taken place in Spain until
+after this time had elapsed. For the rest, Albornoz continued regularly
+to despatch his slanders to the emperor, and even did not spare the
+viceroy himself, Don Antonio de Mendoza, a man of exalted mind, worthy
+of the most grateful remembrance, and whose name will be ever glorious.
+However spotless the government of this gentleman might be, however
+honest in his distribution of justice, yet this Albornoz presumed to
+slander him to the emperor, and this merely because they were not upon
+good terms with each other. Subsequently all the charges which Albornoz
+had made against Cortes became known to this excellent viceroy, but he
+contented himself by merely ordering Albornoz into his presence, and
+laying before him the slanderous letters which he had written; he said
+to him with his usual mildness and composure of countenance: "Since you
+are so accustomed to write to his majesty, do not write falsehood, and
+thereby wantonly precipitate others into ruin!" Albornoz, as may easily
+be imagined, stood quite confounded and abashed.
+
+I must now relate how Cortes, ignorant at that time of the secret
+machinations of his enemies at the imperial court, sent out an armament
+against Christobal de Oli.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXIII.
+
+    _How Cortes sent out a captain, named Francisco de las Casas against
+    Christobal de Oli, on receiving intelligence that this officer had
+    made common cause with Diego Velasquez, and had renounced all
+    further obedience to him._
+
+
+In order to render this chapter quite intelligible to the reader I must
+recur to prior events. I mentioned above that Cortes fitted out an
+armament for the Honduras and Higueras, the command of which he
+intrusted to Christobal de Oli. It was not long before our general
+received intelligence of the unfortunate termination of this expedition,
+as far as regarded himself. When, therefore, he learnt that Oli had made
+common cause with Diego Velasquez, and had determined to act independent
+of him, he became very pensive. But, as he was remarkably spirited, and
+not accustomed to joke in matters of this kind, he at once determined
+either to march against Oli in person, or to send out an officer against
+him on whom he could place implicit reliance, as he had previously
+declared to his majesty.
+
+About this time there had arrived in Mexico a cavalier, named Francisco
+de las Casas. As he was a man in whom he could confide, being also
+related to him, he resolved to send him against Oli. For this purpose he
+fitted out a small armament, consisting of five vessels, well provided
+with cannon and other ammunition. On board of this fleet he embarked one
+hundred men, among whom were several of the veteran Conquistadores, as
+for instance, Pedro Moreno Medrano, Juan Nuņez de Mercado, Juan Vello,
+and many others, whose names I will not mention, as they died on their
+way thither.
+
+Francisco de las Casas received full powers from Cortes to seize Oli and
+throw him into chains. He set sail from Vera Cruz with very favorable
+weather, and arrived in a short time in the bay of Triunfo de la Cruz,
+where Oli had founded a town of the same name, and in front of which his
+vessels lay at anchor. As Francisco de las Casas on entering the bay had
+hoisted a white flag, Oli scarcely knew what to think at first, but
+thought at all events it was better to be upon his guard, and ran out
+two of his smallest vessels, well-armed with a strong body of men, in
+order to prevent Las Casas from entering into the harbour and landing
+his troops, though he was as yet quite ignorant who the new comers were.
+Las Casas, who was a man of great courage and determination, immediately
+lowered his boats, on board of which he placed one of the falconets and
+the most active of his men, well armed with muskets and crossbows, being
+resolved, he said, to land his troops some how or other. A severe
+conflict now ensued, in which Las Casas bored one of Oli's vessels into
+the ground, killed four of his men and wounded several others.
+
+Christobal de Oli, seeing that matters were growing very serious,
+thought it advisable on his part to stay hostilities, in order to gain
+time to assemble all his troops about him; for he had, a few days
+previously, despatched two companies to the river Pechin against a
+certain Gil Gonsalez de Avila, who had begun to subdue the country
+there. He therefore sent word to Las Casas that he was desirous of
+making terms of peace with him; to which Las Casas so far consented that
+he staid hostilities for the present, and lay out at sea with his
+vessel for the night, in order to effect a landing in some other bay.
+How much more fortunate it would have been for him if he had acted
+according to the letter which was secretly thrust into his hand during
+the engagement! In this letter namely, several of Oli's men who favoured
+Cortes advised Las Casas by all means to land his troops without delay;
+that they would all run over to his side and deliver up Oli a prisoner
+to him. Fortunately for Oli, and unfortunately for Las Casas, a furious
+north wind, which is the most dangerous of all on this coast, arose
+during the night, and the whole of his vessels were wrecked; thirty of
+his men were drowned, and all the ammunition and stores went to the
+bottom. Las Casas and the rest of his men, after wandering about the
+country for two days benumbed with wet and cold, without a morsel of
+food to eat, were all taken prisoners by Oli's troops.
+
+Christobal de Oli, it may be imagined, was excessively rejoiced that
+things had thus terminated so unexpectedly in his favour, and he exulted
+greatly in having the person of Las Casas in his power. He immediately
+took the latter's troops into his service, and compelled them to take a
+solemn oath never to desert him, but to oppose Cortes if he should come
+with an army against him; not until they had promised all this did he
+set them at liberty. Las Casas alone he kept a prisoner.
+
+Shortly upon this the detachment also returned which had been sent
+against Gil Gonsalez de Avila. This man had arrived in the country with
+the appointment of governor of Golfo Dulce, and he had already founded,
+at about four miles distance from the bay of the same name, a town which
+he called San Gil de Buena Vista. The country bounding on the river
+Chipin was at that time inhabited by a very warlike people; and as by
+far the greater part of Gil Gonsalez's troops were suffering from ill
+health, the latter had only been able to throw a feeble garrison into
+the town of Buena Vista. Christobal de Oli had been duly apprized of
+this, and ordered the town to be attacked; but his troops could not so
+easily get possession of the place as they expected. Avila's small body
+of men defended themselves most vigorously, and eight of the soldiers,
+with a cousin of his, were killed. Christobal de Oli was both rejoiced
+and proud to have taken prisoners the chief commanders of two separate
+armaments; and as he bore the character of being an excellent soldier,
+which, indeed, no one could deny, and it was of importance to him that
+the success of his arms should be made known through the islands, he
+immediately sent information of his good fortune to the governor of
+Cuba.
+
+After this victory he marched his troops towards the interior of the
+country to a large township named Naco, which lay in a very populous
+district. It was upon this occasion that Naco was completely destroyed,
+and the whole of the surrounding country laid waste, and this I relate
+from eyewitness, as I subsequently visited these parts myself, when I
+accompanied Cortes on his expedition to the Honduras, of which a full
+account will be given in the proper place.
+
+From Naco, Oli sent out a strong detachment to forage the country, under
+the command of Briones, who had been one of the first to advise Oli to
+declare his independence of Cortes. This Briones was of a turbulent
+disposition, besides being very passionate, and had only the upper half
+of his ears left, having had the bottom halves, as he asserted, cut off
+by the enemy, while he, with several other officers, was obstinately
+defending some fortification. He terminated his life in a miserable
+manner, for he was subsequently hung at Guatimala for creating a
+sedition among the troops. Some time after Briones had been sent out by
+Oli to a distant part of the country with a considerable body of his
+troops, he received intelligence that he had deserted, with the whole of
+the men under his command, and was marching in the direction of New
+Spain; this news was indeed found to be perfectly correct.
+
+This circumstance, Las Casas and Avila thought, presented to them a most
+favorable opportunity to rid themselves of Oli, who still continued to
+treat both of them as prisoners of war, though they were allowed to go
+at large, for Oli depended too much upon his own personal courage to
+fear anything from them. The whole of the adherents of Cortes secretly
+joined Las Casas and Avila, and they agreed upon a certain signal to
+fall upon Oli and stab him to death under the cry of "In the name of the
+emperor and of Cortes, down with the tyrant!" Everything had been
+arranged in the best possible manner for this purpose, and Las Casas, on
+one occasion said to Oli: "Seņor captain, do grant me my liberty and
+allow me to return to New Spain, in order that I may render an account
+to Cortes of the unfortunate termination of this expedition? I promise
+you to become mediator between yourself and Cortes, and to procure for
+you the government, with the chief military command of this country, and
+I will myself see the appointment drawn up in due form. What can you
+gain by detaining me a prisoner, for I am only a hindrance to you in all
+your undertakings?" To this Oli replied, "That he was perfectly
+contented with things as they were, and that he was delighted to have a
+man of his worth about him."
+
+"But have at least then," continued Las Casas, "some thought for your
+own personal safety, for I might get it into my head some day or other
+to put you to death!"
+
+As Las Casas said all this in a joking humour, he took no notice of it,
+and continued as little on his guard as ever.
+
+One evening Las Casas, Avila, Juan Nuņez de Mercado, and other soldiers
+of Cortes' party were invited to sup with Oli. The first two, as
+prisoners of war, were not allowed to carry arms, but had concealed on
+their persons large knives, which were ground very sharp. The whole of
+the company had already laid aside their cloaks to seat themselves at
+table, and stood around Oli, discoursing on Cortes' good fortune and the
+conquest of the strong city of Mexico. As Christobal de Oli was thus
+quite off his guard, not in the least suspecting that there was any
+design upon his life, Las Casas, on a sudden, seized forcibly hold of
+his beard and stabbed him in the neck with his knife. Upon this the
+other conspirators fell in a body upon him, and gave him so many stabs,
+that he fell to the ground; but as he was a man of enormous muscular
+power he regained his consciousness, while the conspirators were sitting
+at table enjoying their suppers, and assembling all his strength he
+started up from the floor with the cry of: "_My friends, assist your
+captain!_" and then ran out to hide himself in the woods until his
+adherents should have rallied round him. And, indeed, a great part of
+his troops instantly assembled for this purpose; but Las Casas cried out
+to them: "In the name of the emperor and of Cortes I command you to fall
+upon the tyrant! His tyranny is no longer to be borne!"
+
+As soon as these names were mentioned no one durst stir a finger in
+Oli's defence; on the contrary, every one quietly submitted and
+immediately obeyed Las Casas' commands, by hurrying off in search of Oli
+to bring him in a prisoner. He then made known that any one who knew of
+Oli's concealment and neglected to give information of it should suffer
+death.
+
+By this means it was soon discovered where Oli lay concealed, and after
+he had been brought in a prisoner, a criminal suit was commenced against
+him in due form, and sentence of death being passed on him he was
+decapitated by order of these two officers, Las Casas and Avila on the
+market-place at Naco.
+
+Thus miserably did Christobal de Oli end his days by listening to the
+advice of bad men, and forgetting how greatly he was indebted to Cortes,
+who had appointed him quartermaster-general, and had bestowed upon him
+lucrative commendaries. He had always proved himself a man of great
+courage, and was recently married to a Portuguese lady, named Filipa de
+Araujo, by whom he had a daughter.
+
+As soon as Las Casas and Avila had got rid of their common enemy they
+assembled all the troops; they divided the command equally between
+themselves, and continued on the best terms with each other. Las Casas
+soon after founded the town of Truxillo, which he so called from his
+native place of Truxillo in Estremadura; and Avila despatched a small
+body of troops to the town which he had previously founded, called Buena
+Vista, in order to see what condition the colony was in. The command of
+this small detachment he gave to an officer named Armenta, with orders
+not to make any changes there, if at least he found everything in the
+same condition as when he left it; but to await his return from New
+Spain, whither he would immediately repair to beg Cortes for a fresh
+supply of troops. Las Casas likewise determined to proceed with Avila to
+Mexico, in order that they might jointly give Cortes an account of every
+circumstance that had transpired.
+
+I must, however, close this chapter here, for I shall have to return to
+these occurrences in the proper part of my history; I have merely to
+observe, that Cortes did not receive intelligence of what I have just
+related till some considerable time after.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXIV.
+
+    _How Cortes himself marches at the head of his troops to the
+    Honduras in search of Christobal de Oli; of the officers and men he
+    selected on this occasion, and of other matters._
+
+
+Several months having now elapsed since the departure of Las Casas with
+the armament, and Cortes still without any tidings from him, he began to
+fear that some misfortune had befallen him. The more he thought of the
+many dangers to which vessels are exposed, and the various changes of
+good and bad fortune which are inseparable from an expedition of this
+nature, the more he regretted, notwithstanding all the confidence he
+placed in Las Casas, that he had not gone in person at the head of the
+armament. All this, added to the assurances he had received of there
+being lucrative gold mines along the coast of the Honduras, determined
+Cortes to march thither in person at the head of his troops.
+
+His first care was to have the fortifications of Mexico well mounted
+with cannon, and a good supply of ammunition to be laid by in the
+arsenals for the protection of the city. The government of New Spain he
+intrusted in his absence to the treasurer Alonso de Estrada and to the
+accountant Albornoz. How he could make choice of the latter is quite
+beyond my speculation; but he certainly would not have done so if he had
+been aware of the infamous manner in which Albornoz had slandered him to
+the emperor.
+
+The licentiate Zuazo, who has so often been mentioned in the course of
+this history, he appointed alcalde-mayor of Mexico, and the entire
+management of his own private property he gave to his relative Rodrigo
+de Paz.
+
+After he had thus made every provision for the government and security
+of Mexico, he particularly desired the crown officers, to whom he had
+intrusted the chief government, the Franciscan friar Toribio Motolinia,
+and the excellent father Olmedo, who was held in the highest estimation
+in Mexico, and had deservedly the greatest influence on all classes of
+people, to act in harmony to assist each other in the conversion of the
+Indians and to maintain peace and good order throughout the provinces,
+as well as in the city itself. In order, however, to deprive the
+discontented of the Indian population in the city and in the provinces
+of all possibility of choosing any leader of distinction, should they
+take it into their heads to rise up in arms during his absence, he took
+along with him Quauhtemoctzin, besides the king of Tlacupa, and several
+others of the most distinguished caziques of the country, among whom the
+chief of Tapiezuela held the first rank, and even despatched a message
+to the caziques of Mechoacan, desiring them also to join his army.
+
+As Geronimo de Aguilar had died some time previously, he only took Doņa
+Marina with him as interpretess. The suite of principal officers and
+cavaliers who accompanied him in this expedition was very brilliant; of
+which I shall only mention Sandoval, Luis Marin, Francisco Marmolejo,
+Gonzalo Rodriguez de Ocampo, Pedro de Ircio, the brothers Avalos and
+Saavedra, Palacios Rubios, Pedro de Sauzedo, Geronimo Ruiz de la Mota,
+Alonso de Grado, Sante Cruz Burgales, Pedro de Solis, Juan Xaramillo,
+Alonso Valiente, Navarrete, and Serna; further, Diego de Mazariegos,
+cousin to the treasurer Gil Gonsalez de Benavides, Herman Lopez de
+Avila, Gaspar Garnica, and several others, whose names I have forgotten.
+The priests who joined this army were, father Juan de las Varillas, of
+Salamanca, and two Flemish monks, who were profound theologians, and
+preached a good deal. Besides these, there was another priest, whose
+name has slipped my memory. Of the officers of his household, Cortes
+selected his major-domo Carranza, his chief waiters Juan de Jasso and
+Rodrigo Maņeco, his butler Cervan Bejarano, and two stewards of the
+kitchen department, San Miguel and Guinea.
+
+As Cortes took with him a great quantity of gold and silver utensils
+and ornaments, he gave the immediate charge of these to a certain Tello,
+of Medina, and another person, named Salazar, of Madrid. As physician he
+took the licentiate Pedro de Lopez, of Mexico, and as surgeon Diego de
+Pedraza. To all these was added a number of pages, of whom Don Francisco
+de Montejo was one, who subsequently commanded in Yucatan, and was son
+to the oft-mentioned Montejo, adelantado of the latter province;
+further, there were two pages appointed as his lance-bearers; his chief
+equerry Gonzalo Rodriguez de Ocampo, with a number of grooms, and three
+Spanish mule-drivers; two falconers, Garci Caro and Alvaro Montanes; a
+number of performers on the sackbut, clarion, and dulcimer; lastly, a
+buffoon and a juggler, who likewise entertained the men with
+puppet-shows; further, he took with him a large herd of swine, in order
+that the troops might have a constant supply of fresh meat on their
+march. Besides the numbers of Indians which accompanied the several
+caziques, a body of 3000 Mexican warriors were also joined to this army.
+
+Just as Cortes was about to commence his march from Mexico, the factor
+Salazar and the veedor Chirinos, who were both hurt and disappointed
+that Cortes had not thought proper to give them any particular
+appointment during the time he would be absent, urged on the licentiate
+Zuazo and Rodrigo de Paz, besides all the veteran Conquistadores and
+Cortes' intimate friends who remained behind in the metropolis,
+earnestly to dissuade him from leaving Mexico, and not to intrust the
+government of the country to other hands, as there was not the least
+doubt but that the whole of New Spain would revolt in his absence. These
+representations occasioned much debate between both parties; but as
+Cortes abided by the resolution he had taken, the factor and veedor
+begged of him to allow them, at least, to accompany him to Guacasualco,
+through which his march lay, and so far to accept of their services.
+
+Cortes thus left Mexico[45] at the head of his army, and took the road
+leading to the last-mentioned province. The splendour with which he was
+received in every township he came to, and the festivities which took
+place in his honour, were really astonishing. On his march he was also
+joined by fifty men who had but recently arrived from Spain, all
+light-hearted extravagant young fellows.
+
+In order that his troops might not be detained on the road for want of
+provisions, and to procure these the more readily, he divided his army
+into two bodies, which marched by different routes to Guacasualco.
+Immediately about his person were Sandoval, the factor and the veedor,
+who vied with each other in their attentions to him; but none of them
+carried their politeness so far as the factor, who, whenever he
+addressed Cortes, bowed himself almost double, with his head uncovered,
+and took every opportunity, under the most flattering assurances of his
+devoted attachment, to dissuade him from this tedious and perilous
+expedition, and summoned to his aid all the subtlety of rhetoric in
+representing to him the evils that might ensue from it, and the little
+advantage he could gain. He would often sing out, when riding along at
+the side of Cortes:
+
+    Turn back, dear uncle, turn back;
+    Dear uncle, turn back!
+
+To this Cortes likewise replied, in a singing tone of voice:
+
+    Forward, nephew; forward, nephew;
+    Let not omens dishearten you;
+    The will of God it must be done;
+    Forward, nephew; forward, nephew!
+
+When the division which was commanded by Cortes himself arrived in the
+neighbourhood of Orizaba, the property of the squinting Ojedo, Doņa
+Marina was married to Juan Xaramillo, and the hymeneal knot was solemnly
+tied in presence of witnesses.
+
+The army now marched further on towards the extensive township of
+Guazaltepec, which was comprised in the commendary of Sandoval. From
+this place we received intelligence in Guacasualco of Cortes' approach,
+and the whole of us officers and distinguished personages of the town,
+with the alcaldes, regidors, and all the chief authorities, immediately
+marched out, and we advanced about 132 miles into the country to receive
+our general. This was done with such zeal on our part as if we were each
+going to receive some large benefice; and I merely mention this
+circumstance to show the reader how much Cortes was esteemed and feared
+at the same time. He was always pleased to find this kind of respect
+paid to his person, and it was impossible to go too far in your
+attentions to him.
+
+The army now continued its march from Guazaltepec further on towards
+Guacasualco, and had to pass over a very broad and rapid river, when the
+first ill omen showed itself; for three of the canoes, which were
+conveying across considerable sums of money and other things, upset, and
+all they contained went to the bottom. Upon this occasion Juan Xaramillo
+lost the half of his baggage, nor was it possible to save any part that
+floated down the river, on account of the enormous alligators with which
+the water abounded.
+
+From this place Cortes marched over the townships of Uluta up to the
+broad river of Guacasualco, where every preparation had been made to
+convey the army across, for which purpose a great number of canoes lay
+ready fastened two and two together. In the town of Guacasualco itself
+triumphal arches had been erected, and every preparation had been made
+to entertain our general as magnificently as possible. Sham fights took
+place between Christians and Moors, all kinds of fireworks were
+displayed at night, and various other rejoicings were kept up.
+
+Cortes staid altogether six days in Guacasualco, during which time the
+veedor and factor left him not a moment's peace, with their
+representations to relinquish the expedition, and return to Mexico. They
+constantly reminded him of the men to whom he had confided the chief
+government, and told him that the accountant Albornoz was a man fond of
+innovation, restless of disposition, and double-faced; that the
+treasurer openly prided himself on being a son of his catholic majesty;
+so that very little trust could be placed in either of these gentlemen.
+From the moment he had intrusted the government to them, and even
+previously, they had laid their heads together, and determined upon some
+secret movement. They likewise reminded Cortes of the letters he had
+received on his march hither, from Mexico, in which it was stated that
+his two representatives had already began to slander his government of
+the country. In short, the veedor and factor spoke in such eloquent and
+flattering terms of their great attachment to his person, and how much
+more fitting persons they were themselves to have been intrusted with
+the government in his absence than the two other gentlemen, that at last
+they actually persuaded him to grant them equal power in the
+administration; and not only this, but with the additional authority to
+take the sole government into their own hands, if they saw that Albornoz
+and Estrada acted against the true interests of his majesty.
+
+The power which Cortes thus conferred upon the veedor and factor was the
+source of many evils, and of the terrible insurrection which shortly
+after burst out in Mexico, and of which I will give a full account in a
+following chapter, when our army has fairly reached the town of
+Truxillo, after a long and tedious march. I will only take this
+opportunity of observing, that father Olmedo, and the Franciscan monks
+who accompanied us, did not hesitate a moment to tell Cortes how greatly
+they disapproved of this measure, and said, they hoped to God he would
+not have to repent of this step: and indeed their apprehensions were but
+too well confirmed by future events! Cortes, however, took little heed
+of what the good Franciscans had said; for only the words of father
+Olmedo, whom he consulted on most occasions, had ever any weight with
+him.
+
+When the factor and the veedor took leave of Cortes before returning to
+Mexico, it was ludicrous to behold their reverential bows, and to hear
+the compliments they paid him. The factor, in particular, had a manner
+of sighing peculiar to himself, and he appeared ready to burst into
+tears when he took leave of Cortes, and the deed of appointment, which
+had been drawn out by his intimate friend, the secretary Alonso
+Valiente, was put into his hands. Both these gentlemen now set out for
+Mexico, whither they were accompanied by Hernan Lopez de Avila, as he
+was suffering from severe pains in his joints and large swellings in his
+groins, so that he could scarcely move along.
+
+We will now wish them a pleasant journey, and begin to think of our
+tedious march, during which we suffered so many hardships, that it was a
+wonder any of us ever returned alive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXV.
+
+    _How we commence our march from Guacasualco, and the terrible
+    fatigues and hardship we had to undergo for the space of two years
+    and three months._
+
+
+The first thing Cortes did, after despatching the veedor and factor to
+Mexico, was to write to his major-domo Simon de Cuenca, at Vera Cruz,
+ordering him to load two small vessels with maise biscuits, six pipes of
+wine, oil, vinegar, smoked hog's flesh, and other provisions, besides a
+good quantity of horseshoes. Cuenca was himself to take charge of these
+vessels, and to sail in along the coast until he should receive further
+instructions as to the place he was to put into.
+
+The next thing he did was to issue orders to all the Spanish settlers at
+Guacasualco, with the exception of those who were ill, to join him in
+this expedition. The reader will remember, from what I stated in a
+former chapter, that the first Spanish colonists of Guacasualco were all
+of the oldest Conquistadores of New Spain, and most of them were of
+noble families. The whole of us had now hoped to enjoy some repose, and
+that we should have been allowed to recover from all the great fatigues
+and hardships we had undergone; and we were just bringing our lands into
+a pretty good state of cultivation, when we received orders from Cortes
+to accompany him in an expedition of above 2000 miles from Guacasualco,
+the whole of our route lying through a hostile country; on an expedition
+which lasted for two years and three months, and in which we lost
+everything we took with us! Not one of us had sufficient courage to say
+no; and if he had, it would have availed him nothing, for he would have
+been compelled to go! We therefore equipped ourselves in the best
+possible manner, caparisoned our horses, and patiently awaited our
+general's commands to march out.
+
+Cortes' whole force, including those of Guacasualco, consisted of above
+250 foot, besides the musketeers and crossbow-men, 130 horse, and a
+number of men recently arrived from Spain. Before leaving Guacasualco,
+Cortes gave me the chief command of a detachment, consisting of 30
+Spaniards and 3000 Mexicans, with instructions to march against the
+Cimatans, and force them into obedience, as they still obstinately
+refused to submit to our arms. The 3000 Mexicans were to be distributed
+among the townships of the country, but I was particularly instructed to
+abstain from all violent measures if the inhabitants were peaceably
+inclined, and submitted as vassals to our emperor; neither was I to
+demand anything further from them than the necessary provisions for the
+troops. If they still persisted in their hostilities, I was thrice to
+summon them to submit, in a manner intelligible to them, and in presence
+of a notary and several witnesses; but if they refused to submit after
+the third summons, I was to commence hostilities against them without
+any further delay.
+
+I am still in possession of the document containing these instructions,
+which is signed by Cortes himself, and countersigned by his secretary
+Alonso Valiente.
+
+These commands I punctually obeyed, and I had the good fortune to
+tranquillize the whole province; but this was of very short duration,
+for when these Indians heard what a small number of Spaniards were left
+behind in Guacasualco, and that the whole of the veteran Conquistadores
+had marched out with Cortes, they again revolted, a few months after our
+departure.
+
+As soon as I had pacified the province of Cimatan, I again joined the
+main body under Cortes, with which I came up near Iquinupa. Our general
+had marched from Guacasualco to Tonala, a distance of about thirty-two
+miles; he passed a river by means of canoes, and then came to the
+township Ayagualulco. From this place he continued his march
+twenty-eight miles further on, up to an arm of the sea, over which
+Cortes threw a bridge, which was in every respect a work of wonder, and
+was half a mile in length. During the whole of our march through this
+country, two of our officers of Guacasualco had to go a considerable way
+in advance of the army. One of these captains was Francisco de Medina, a
+man of a peaceable disposition, and who knew best how to manage the
+inhabitants of the country.
+
+After we had crossed this estuary, we passed through several small
+townships, until we arrived on the banks of the immense river Mazapa,
+which flows from Chiapa, and is termed by the sailors _Rio de dos
+bocas_. A large number of canoes lay ready for us here, fastened two and
+two together, in which we ferried safely across this broad river. We
+then passed through numerous small townships, and had to throw a bridge
+across another estuary, and also a river, before we reached the
+extensive township of Copilco, and here you enter the populous province
+of Chontalpa. This country enjoyed the profoundest peace at that time,
+and was everywhere covered with cacao plantations. From Copilco we
+passed over Nacanuxuica to Zaqutan, after passing over another river, by
+means of canoes. On our arrival in this township, the inhabitants
+appeared very friendly disposed, but during the night they had all left,
+and fled to the opposite shore of a broad river, between the swamps.
+Cortes then ordered that we should march across the mountains, in search
+of the inhabitants. This was indeed a most inconsiderate command, nor
+was there any advantage to be gained thereby.
+
+It was only with the greatest difficulty, after undergoing excessive
+fatigues, that we succeeded in passing over this broad river, and all we
+gained by it was the capture of seven Indian chiefs, with a few of the
+common people; but even these soon ran away from us, so that at last we
+had not even a single person left to guide us on our march.
+
+While we were staying here, the chief caziques of Tabasco came to us
+with fifty canoes, laden with maise and other provisions. Some of the
+inhabitants of the Teapan townships, then comprehended in my commendary,
+also arrived, with several canoes full of provisions.
+
+Our further march now lay through Tepetitan and Iztapa. In our road we
+had to pass the deep river Chilapa, where we were detained four days in
+constructing boats to ferry over the army without danger. Further up
+this river I knew there was a township, which likewise bore the name of
+Chilapa. I therefore proposed to our general to despatch five of our
+Indian guides to this place, and request the inhabitants to come down
+with their canoes. To this Cortes readily agreed, and he ordered one of
+our men to accompany the Indians thither, who succeeded so well, that
+they returned with two caziques, besides six large canoes laden with
+provisions. With these and the boats we had constructed, the whole of
+the troops safely crossed the river; but, as I have said before, all
+this cost us four whole days.
+
+We then arrived in the township of Tepetitan, which was quite deserted
+by its inhabitants, and every house had been burnt to the ground. The
+inhabitants of this place, we were told, had been at war with their
+neighbours, and a severe battle had recently been fought between them,
+in which the former were defeated with great loss, when the enemy
+destroyed their town by fire, and returned home with a great number of
+prisoners.
+
+For the next three days after we had passed the river Chilapa, our route
+lay through one continued bog, in which our horses often sank up to
+their girths. The next township we came to was Iztapa, where we did not
+meet a living soul, for the inhabitants, from fear of us, had all fled
+across a rapid river. We, however, went instantly in pursuit of them,
+and after some time we came up with the caziques, and a number of men,
+women, and children. Cortes, by means of Doņa Marina, spoke very kindly
+to them, and restored to their families four women and three men, whom
+we had captured among the mountains. In gratitude for this, and in order
+to show how friendly they were disposed towards us, these Indians
+presented our general with several ornaments of gold, but the metal was
+of an inferior quality. In this neighbourhood we halted three days, as
+it contained plenty of good food for our horses, and a great abundance
+of maise. Cortes considered this would be a most eligible spot to found
+a colony in, as the country round about contained a number of wealthy
+townships, from which a settlement would derive great advantages, and
+have a constant supply of all necessaries. Here Cortes also made the
+most minute inquiries of the caziques and Indian merchants as to the
+route we were to take; for which purpose he laid before them a piece of
+nequen cloth, he had brought with him from Guacasualco, and on which
+were noted down all the townships we had to pass through up to Huyacala.
+This place was termed by these Indians Great Acala, in order to
+distinguish it from another, called Little Acala, and they assured us
+that the greater part of our route lay through a country containing
+numerous rivers, and was intersected in various places by arms of the
+sea. Up to Tamaztepec alone, they said, which lay at a distance of three
+days' journey, we should have to pass no less than three rivers, and one
+estuary, which was exceedingly broad.
+
+In consequence of this information, Cortes requested the caziques to
+furnish us with canoes, and assist us in the construction of bridges.
+This they readily consented to do, but took care not to fulfil their
+promise. We, however, placed perfect confidence in what they had said,
+and only took provisions for three days with us. But it appears they had
+merely wished to get rid of us as speedily as possible; for, instead of
+three, it took us seven days' march before we arrived at Tamaztepec, nor
+did we find at any of the rivers either canoes or bridges; so that our
+Indian friends had deceived us in every way. We were therefore
+compelled to set to work ourselves, to construct bridges sufficiently
+strong to carry our horses; every officer and soldier set diligently to
+work in felling the heavy trees, and dragging them to the river side, in
+all of which we were likewise greatly assisted by the Mexican warriors.
+Three days were spent in the construction of this bridge, during which
+time we had nothing to subsist on but grass, and a wild root called by
+the Indians quecuenque, which burnt our lips and tongues. After we had
+at length, with great difficulty, safely crossed this broad estuary, our
+further progress was almost impeded by an impenetrable barrier of
+thickets and woods, through which we were obliged to cut a road with our
+swords. In this way we continued to move forward in a straight line, in
+the hopes of reaching some township. One morning, as usual, when we had
+again commenced marching forward in this laborious manner, Cortes
+himself began to find that our position was truly miserable. He could
+not help hearing how the men murmured against him, and cursed the whole
+expedition, and the terrible hunger they sustained; uttering aloud that
+he ought immediately to march back to Mexico, if at least he was not
+desirous of starving us to death. To all this suffering was added, that
+we now saw before us nothing but terrific mountains, which almost hid
+the very heavens from our view. Though some of us climbed to the tops of
+the highest trees, all we could see was one huge pile of mountains
+frowning above the other on every side. Besides this, two of our Indian
+guides had secretly decamped, and the third was so ill, that he was
+unable to move along, and had so far lost his recollection, that he
+could give us no information as to which way we were to bend our steps.
+But as Cortes was a man who never shrunk back from any difficulty, and
+whose active mind was never at a loss, he ordered the pilot Pedro Lopez
+to bring him the compass, which he placed on our map of nequen cloth
+above mentioned, and then desired him to point out the direction we were
+to take, in order to reach the nearest township. In accordance with
+Lopez's instructions, we commenced cutting our way through the woods in
+an easterly direction, and moved up the mountains. It was here that our
+general himself declared he should be quite at a loss what to do, if we
+did not reach some township by the next day.
+
+Although every one of us would gladly have marched back to New Spain at
+this moment, yet, strengthened by hope, we continued our difficult
+route, and in a short time it pleased God we should come up to a tree
+which had been recently cut down, and a little further on to a small
+footpath. Pedro Lopez and myself, who were a good bit in advance, with
+several of the men, to explore the way, instantly hastened back to
+inform Cortes of our discovery, and to assure him that some habitation
+or other must be in the immediate vicinity. Our general, with the whole
+of the men, were exceedingly rejoiced at this news; though we found that
+we had to cross a river and several marshes before we could reach any
+dwellings. By employing our utmost exertions, however, we soon
+surmounted these difficulties, and we arrived at a township, from which
+the inhabitants had fled on our approach, but leaving behind them a
+quantity of maise, beans, and other vegetables, which tasted the more
+savoury to us, as we were completely famished. Here our horses likewise
+regained their strength, and we offered up our humble thanks to God for
+so much mercy. On this last march, Cortes' buffoon and three soldiers,
+who had recently arrived from Spain, died from exhaustion. A great
+number of Mechoacan and Mexican Indians likewise perished, and many
+others, who were unable to bear the fatigues, became ill, and in despair
+sank down on the ground as we marched along.
+
+As this township was quite deserted by its inhabitants, and we had no
+guides left, Cortes despatched myself and another captain among the
+mountains in search of other small villages. Others of our men also
+crossed the broad river, which flows here, in some canoes they found,
+belonging to this township, and they soon came up with a number of the
+inhabitants, thirty of whom, for the greater part caziques and papas,
+they persuaded, by kind words and promises, to accompany them to Cortes,
+who, with the assistance of Doņa Marina, spoke to them in an
+affectionate manner; so that they brought us several more fowls, and a
+quantity of maise. They then pointed out the route we were to take, in
+order to reach the next township, which was called Izguatepec, the
+distance to which place, they said, was three days' journey, or
+sixty-four miles; but that on our road we should come up to another
+small township, which was subject to Tamaztepec, where we were then
+staying.
+
+Before describing our further march, I must not forget to mention that a
+few Mexican chiefs, who were unable to endure the pains of hunger any
+longer, had secreted two or three Indians of the townships we had passed
+through, among their baggage. These unfortunate beings they slaughtered
+on our march, and baked them after the fashion of their country, between
+heated stones, under ground, and then devoured their flesh. We
+afterwards discovered that our two guides, whom we so suddenly missed,
+had been served in a similar manner. When Cortes was informed of this
+revolting circumstance, he ordered the caziques into his presence, and
+reprimanded them for committing such atrocities, threatening to punish
+them most severely if they repeated this abominable conduct. One of the
+Franciscan monks likewise preached a sermon on the occasion, and he
+told them many holy and edifying things. In order, however, to deter the
+caziques from committing a similar offence, one of them was sentenced to
+be burnt at the stake.[46]
+
+I will not go further into the particulars of the many hardships and
+privations we had to suffer. Our distress was so great, that even the
+performers on the sackbut, clarion, and dulcimer, who were constantly to
+have amused us with their instruments, the only hard work they had to
+do, fell ill for want of food, and so an end was put to their music.
+
+There was only one of them who managed to force out a tune now and then,
+but we all grew so sick of his blowing and puffing that we told him it
+sounded in our ears like the mingled howls of foxes and wolves, and that
+a handful of maise to stay the cravings of hunger would be more
+acceptable than all his music.
+
+Several persons on reading this history have asked me, why we did not
+kill the herd of swine which Cortes took with him? For you know, they
+said, that necessity breaks through all law, and Cortes would
+undoubtedly have distributed some of the flesh from time to time among
+the troops. To this I answered, that Cortes' chief butler Guinea, a man
+of a dubious character, gave out that the hogs had by degrees all been
+devoured by the alligators and sharks in crossing the rivers. However,
+in order that we might never catch sight of these swine, they were
+always kept about four days' journey behind us; though I must confess
+that the whole herd put together would not have fed our numerous troops
+for one single day, and besides this, no one ever spoke of killing them
+for fear of annoying Cortes.
+
+In every township we came to, and in various other places wherever we
+found proper trees for the purpose, particularly the ceiba tree, we cut
+the form of a cross into the bark, these being much more durable than
+those crosses usually constructed of two pieces of wood and stuck into
+the ground; besides that, the former become more and more perceptible as
+the bark grows. To these we likewise fastened scraps of paper, that
+would immediately catch the eye, and on which was written: _Cortes
+passed this way on such and such a day_, for the instruction of those
+who might be sent after us. On our march to Ciguatepec we were
+accompanied by above twenty Indians of Tamaztepec, in order to assist us
+in crossing the rivers with their canoes; some of them likewise went in
+advance, to acquaint the inhabitants of the townships that we came in a
+friendly disposition. By this so much was gained, that those who would
+otherwise have fled at our approach now quietly awaited our arrival
+without evincing the least fear.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXVI.
+
+    _How Cortes on our arrival at Ciguatepec despatches Francisco de
+    Medina in search of Simon de Cuenca, with orders for the latter to
+    repair with the two vessels to Triunfo de la Cruz; and what further
+    happened._
+
+
+Cortes' first care on our arrival in Ciguatepec was to gain the
+friendship of the caziques and of other distinguished persons of the
+township, and for this purpose he presented them with a number of
+Mexican chalchihuis stones. These people then gave him an account of a
+very broad river which flowed at no great distance from their township,
+and emptied itself into an arm of the sea, near to the township of
+Gueyatasta, which lay close to the larger one called Xicalango. From
+Ciguatepec Cortes, therefore, considered it most advisable to send some
+one to the north coast in search of the two transports under Simon de
+Cuenca, and after making the minutest inquiries respecting the route
+they were to take, he despatched two Spaniards thither for this purpose,
+the principal one of whom was Francisco de Medina, a man who was very
+active and prompt in everything he undertook. This is the same officer
+who caused an insurrection in Chamula, in our expedition under Luis
+Marin against Chiapa, mentioned in a former chapter.
+
+Cortes gave him full power to share the command between himself and
+Cuenca, but it would have been much better if he had never given him
+this authority, as will presently be seen. However, Medina went down the
+river and found Cuenca lying at anchor with his vessels in front of
+Xicalango, awaiting Cortes' further commands, according to the
+instructions he had received. As soon as Medina stepped on board he
+produced his authority from our general with respect to the command,
+which gave rise to high words between both parties, and ended in so
+bloody a conflict in which the crews mingled, that they slew each other
+without mercy, and only seven men remained alive. But here misfortunes
+were not at an end, for when the Indians of Xicalango and Gueyatasta saw
+how the Spaniards quarrelled among themselves and weakened their
+strength, they fell suddenly upon those that survived, put them to death
+and then set fire to the vessels. Though we did not hear of all this
+until two years and a half had elapsed.
+
+The caziques of Ciguatepec informed us that we were still three days'
+journey from Gueyacala, and that we should have to cross two rivers, of
+which one was uncommonly deep and broad; after this our route would lay
+through an extensive moorland, full of dangerous bogs, and they assured
+us we should not be able to cross the rivers without canoes. Cortes
+therefore despatched two Spaniards with three distinguished Indians in
+advance, to bring him an accurate account of the state of the rivers and
+the marshes, and inform him what would be the easiest method of crossing
+them. The two soldiers who received these commands were, Pedro de Ribera
+and Martin Garcia, of Valencia, who was alguacil of our army, and in
+whom our general placed the greatest confidence. They set out on their
+march, explored the rivers in small canoes, and were of opinion that the
+only way to pass the former would be by throwing bridges across; but as
+for the marshes, which lay four miles further on, they had never even
+given them a thought, and they only brought word about the difficulty of
+throwing bridges across the water. Cortes then sent for myself and
+Gonsalo Mexia, and commissioned us to go in company of some of the
+chiefs of Ciguatepec to the Acallan townships, and do all in our power
+to gain the friendship of the inhabitants, that they might not run away
+as our army approached.
+
+These Acallan townships were above twenty in number, some built on the
+mainland, some on the small islands which lay in the river and at the
+head of the estuary, so that they could only communicate with each other
+by means of canoes. We accordingly set out with our Indian friends, who,
+however, deserted us on the first night, because they were at enmity
+with these townships, as we subsequently learnt. We were, therefore,
+obliged to continue our route in the best way we could without the help
+of guides, and it was only with the greatest difficulty we found our way
+through the morasses to the first of the Acallan townships. Although on
+our approach the inhabitants immediately took up arms, we sought to gain
+their friendship by kind words and presents of glass beads, begging of
+them to accompany us to Malinche and take him something to eat. These
+people were then not aware that Cortes was advancing with so large a
+body of foot and horse, and showed little inclination to return with us.
+It was not until the following day, when they learnt from some Indian
+merchants what a large army Malinche had with him, that they evinced
+greater willingness to supply him with provisions. Though, at the same
+time, they told us he must wait for these until he arrived in person,
+when they would gladly supply him with everything that lay in their
+power. They could not think, they added, of entering upon the territory
+of Ciguatepec, where their enemies lived. While we were thus holding a
+conference with these people, two Spaniards arrived with a letter from
+Cortes, in which he desired me to meet him on his march with as large a
+quantity of provisions as I could possibly collect together, for the
+whole of the inhabitants of Ciguatepec had suddenly fled, and not a
+morsel of food was to be got; he was therefore compelled to commence his
+march immediately, and I was to use all my endeavours to persuade the
+caziques to remain in their townships.
+
+These two Spaniards also told me that our general had despatched four
+men up the river in search of provisions among the townships, which were
+said to lie in that direction. But none of these men had returned,
+having most probably been murdered by the inhabitants.
+
+Cortes, therefore, began his march, and arrived in the space of two days
+on the banks of the broad river above mentioned. Here he displayed his
+usual activity of mind in superintending the construction of a bridge,
+which, with the utmost exertions, was completed in the space of four
+days of the tallest and thickest trees growing in the neighbourhood,
+which greatly excited the astonishment of the inhabitants of Acala.
+During these four days our troops had scarcely anything to eat, as they
+had commenced their march without any provisions whatever. And what was
+worse, they were totally ignorant whether any maise was to be had
+further on, or whether the country was at peace. Some of the veteran
+troops stopped the gnawing pain of hunger by cutting down a species of
+very tall palm-tree, which bore on the topmost branches a kind of nut,
+with an uncommon hard shell, these they roasted in the fire and ate the
+kernel.
+
+A short time after this strong bridge had been completed, I and my
+companions returned to where the army lay encamped, bringing with us one
+hundred and thirty loads of maise, eighty fowls, some honey, some salt,
+and various kinds of vegetables. Though it was pretty late when we
+arrived, yet the whole of the men were keeping a sharp look out for us,
+as they were perfectly aware we had gone out in search of provisions;
+our general, moreover, having assured them he had good hopes they would
+shortly get something to eat, if at least the Indians did not kill me,
+as they had the four other Spaniards he had despatched in search of
+provisions.
+
+As I was thus approaching the camp in the dark, the whole of our troops
+suddenly fell upon the provisions like ravenous wolves, and took entire
+possession of them, nor did they leave the smallest quantity, either for
+Cortes, Sandoval, or the other superior officers. "This is for Cortes!"
+cried they each time they forcibly carried off a load of provisions. His
+major-domo Carranza, and his butler Guinea, certainly disputed the
+possession with them, and tugged with all their might at the sacks, but
+our men were determined to keep all to themselves, and continually cried
+out: "Cortes and you regaled yourselves with the hogs while we were
+famishing with hunger, and you never offered us a morsel; and now in our
+turn we are determined to care for nobody but ourselves!" In short, all
+Cortes' officials might say went for nothing, and they divided the whole
+of the provisions among themselves.
+
+When Cortes heard this he stamped the ground with rage, swore he would
+bring the guilty persons to trial and punish them severely. However,
+after he had given vent to his anger for some time, and had considered
+the matter a little, he found that all his threats amounted to nothing.
+Yet he sent for me, and asked me, in a tone of reproach, why I had not
+defended the possession of the provisions more effectually? I replied,
+"That he should have despatched a small detachment to meet me on the
+road," although, added I, "if your excellency had formed one of the
+guard yourself it would have been of no avail, for hunger knows no law."
+
+When he saw that there was no remedy, and that extreme distress alone
+had induced the men to act thus he became quite friendly again, and
+praised me in the most flattering terms. Gonzalo de Sandoval happened to
+be present when he was thus kindly addressing me, and I still well
+remember how Cortes said to me, "O! seņor Bernal Diaz del Castillo, for
+the love you bear me, if you have concealed any provisions on the road
+do, I beg of you, let me share them with you! You cannot certainly have
+forgotten to stow some part away for yourself and your friend Sandoval!"
+
+The tone in which he said this went to my very heart; besides that,
+Sandoval exclaimed, at the same moment, "I declare to Heavens I should
+feel grateful for a mere handful of maise to roast on the fire for my
+supper!"
+
+Well, said I, when all is quiet and the whole of the troops have retired
+to rest, we will steal out in the depth of night and repair to the next
+village, where the inhabitants have put by for me twelve loads of maise,
+twenty fowls, three jars of honey, some salt, and have presented me
+besides with two females to bake my bread. We must use the utmost
+circumspection and fetch all this while it is yet dark, that our men may
+not again waylay us on the road, and likewise deprive us of these
+provisions.
+
+Sandoval was so exceedingly thankful for this fair prospect of getting
+something to eat in a short time, that he fell about my neck and
+embraced me, with the assurance that he would march out with me that
+very night. We accordingly left our camp in company, had the good
+fortune to bring in these provisions unperceived, and we regaled
+ourselves at our ease. Cortes upon this inquired whether the monks had
+been provided for? To which I replied, that God took better care of them
+than he did, for the soldiers had not forgotten to give them a share of
+the provisions they had plundered, in order that they might not perish
+of hunger.
+
+I have merely mentioned all this in order to show the reader in what an
+awful predicament a general may be placed who penetrates with an army
+into an unknown country. Though Cortes was greatly feared by the troops,
+yet they even to a man grudged him a handful of maise to still his
+hunger, and Sandoval himself was obliged to go in search of provisions
+when he wanted any, for he durst not trust any of his men. So little
+confidence did one place in the other!
+
+We had all safely passed the broad river, and marched about four miles
+in a straight line, when we got fixed in a terrible morass. Here all
+throwing in of trees and other materials to make a road was fruitless.
+Our horses sunk in so deep, that often their heads alone were to be seen
+above ground, and we thought we should never have rescued a single one
+of them alive. Yet we were ordered to march forward, for we should again
+be on firm ground at the distance of about half a bowshot. We thus
+continued to move on, while our army left a deep hollow track behind it,
+formed of mud and water, the horses swimming, sometimes wading, through
+the deeper parts. At length we reached firm land, and we offered up
+thanks to God for our escape.
+
+Cortes now again despatched me to the Acallan townships, in order to
+induce the caziques, with whom I had become very friendly, to send off
+some provisions to him in advance. I instantly set out on my journey,
+arrived towards evening in Acala, and despatched that very night three
+Spaniards who had accompanied me, with about one hundred Indians, to
+Cortes, laden with maise and other provisions. When our general gave me
+these instructions, he added: "This time I will await the arrival of the
+provisions, and stand guard over them, that I may not fare as badly as I
+did before." And sure enough, when they arrived, he, Sandoval, and Luis
+Marin took them into their own custody, and ordered them to be
+distributed under their own eyes.
+
+The following day, about noon, the army arrived in Acala, the caziques
+of which place having met our general with a supply of provisions; but I
+will break off here, and relate what further took place in the next
+chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXVII.
+
+    _Cortes' further plans after his arrival among the Acallan
+    townships; how he orders the powerful cazique of Mexico
+    Quauhtemoctzin, and the king of Tlacupa, to be hung; his reasons for
+    doing this; and of other matters._
+
+
+After Cortes had arrived in Gueacala, and had been thus kindly received
+by the caziques, he told them all manner of fine things, through our
+interpretess, Doņa Marina, and he presented them with various kinds of
+Spanish toys, all of which appeared vastly to amuse them. They willingly
+supplied us with provisions, and Cortes questioned them as to the route
+we were next to take, and whether they had seen other people like unto
+us, with beards, and riding on horseback, or any strange vessels off the
+coast?
+
+To which they replied, that eight days further on there were numbers of
+people with beards, who had women of Castile, horses, and three acales
+(for so they term vessels) with them. Respecting our inquiries about the
+direction in which we were to march, they answered by laying before us a
+large piece of cotton cloth, on which were drawn all the rivers, swamps,
+morasses, and townships of the country.
+
+Cortes was excessively rejoiced at all this, and he requested the
+caziques, as their population was so numerous, to bring their canoes,
+and throw bridges across the river for us. To this they answered, that
+their townships were indeed above twenty in number, but that the greater
+part of these refused obedience to them, particularly those which lay
+between the rivers. It would therefore be necessary, they added, for him
+to send a number of his teules--so they termed us--thither, and command
+them to furnish him with provisions.
+
+Cortes followed their advice, and commissioned Diego de Mazariegos,
+cousin to the treasurer Estrada, whom Cortes had appointed governor of
+Mexico, to repair to the latter townships. Cortes was very partial to
+Mazariegos, and was desirous of distinguishing the man, by conferring
+this command upon him. But as Mazariegos had very little experience in
+the manners and customs of these countries, Cortes desired him in
+confidence to request me to accompany him, and advised him to act upon
+my advice in all matters. This hint was not lost upon Mazariegos, who
+did not neglect to follow our general's counsel. I have not mentioned
+this in praise of myself, for it was well known to the whole of the
+troops, and Cortes himself, in his despatches to the emperor respecting
+the expedition to the Honduras, and which I read myself, also detailed
+this circumstance.
+
+The caziques readily furnished us with the necessary canoes, in which
+eighty of us, with Mazariegos, set out. We arrived safely in the
+townships above mentioned, met with the most friendly reception, and the
+inhabitants gave us as large a quantity of provisions as they could
+possibly spare. We therefore loaded one hundred canoes with maise,
+fowls, honey, and salt, taking along with us besides ten female slaves,
+who had been presented to us, and the caziques accompanied us themselves
+on our return, to pay their respects to Cortes. After the lapse of three
+days, however, most of the caziques suddenly left, and we had only three
+guides remaining, with whom we continued our march. We had two rivers to
+pass, one of which we crossed by means of a bridge, that broke down
+before we had all stepped on land; the other we ferried over in canoes,
+and in this way we reached another of the Acallan townships, which was
+quite deserted by its inhabitants; but we found abundance of provisions,
+which they had concealed among the hills on our approach.
+
+I have now to relate a circumstance of a very different nature, which
+occasioned much grief to us all. Quauhtemoctzin and other Mexican chiefs
+who accompanied our army had, it would appear, spoken among themselves,
+or secretly determined to put the whole of us to death, then march back
+to Mexico, and assemble the whole armed power of the country against the
+few remaining Spaniards, and raise an insurrection throughout the whole
+of New Spain. This circumstance was discovered to Cortes by two
+distinguished Mexican chiefs, one of whom was named Tapia, and the other
+Juan Velasquez. This latter personage had been Quauhtemoctzin's
+captain-general during our war with Mexico, and his testimony was borne
+out by the investigation which Cortes made into the matter, and by the
+confession of several of the caziques themselves who were implicated in
+the conspiracy. These men fearlessly declared, that seeing how
+carelessly and dispiritedly we roamed about; that numbers of the men
+were ill from want of food; that four of our musicians, with the buffoon
+and five soldiers, had died of hunger; and that three other men had
+turned back, more willing to run the risk of reaching Mexico again than
+of moving forward, the thought struck them that they could not do better
+than fall suddenly upon us while we were crossing some river or marsh,
+particularly as they were upwards of 3000 in number, all armed with
+lances, and several of them with swords. Quauhtemoctzin did not hesitate
+to acknowledge that these men had spoken the truth, but added that the
+conspiracy did not emanate with him, and that he himself had never for
+a moment contemplated carrying it into effect, but had merely spoken
+about it with the other caziques. All the cazique of Tlacupa confessed
+was, his having declared to Quauhtemoctzin that it was better to die at
+once than daily to have death before their eyes on these fatiguing
+marches, and see their countrymen and relations perish with hunger.
+
+These were sufficient proofs for Cortes, and without any further
+ceremony he sentenced Quauhtemoctzin and his cousin the king of Tlacupa
+to the gallows. Before, however, this sentence was executed, the
+Franciscan monks, with the assistance of Doņa Marina, strove to comfort
+these unfortunate men, and commended their souls to God. When they were
+being led to the place of execution, Quauhtemoctzin turned to Cortes,
+and said: "Oh Malinche! I have for a long time perceived, from your
+false words, that you had destined me for such a death, because I did
+not lay violent hands on myself when you entered my city of Mexico! Why
+are you thus going to put me unjustly to death? God will one time ask
+this of you!"
+
+The king of Tlacupa said, he could only rejoice in a death which he
+would be permitted to suffer with his monarch Quauhtemoctzin.
+
+Previous to their being hung, both these unhappy caziques confessed to
+father Juan, who understood the Mexican language, and they begged of him
+to commend their souls to God. For Indians they were good Christians,
+and they died in the true faith, and fully believed in our holy
+religion.
+
+The death of these two monarchs grieved me excessively, for I had known
+them in all their glory, and on our march they honoured me with their
+friendship, and showed me many little attentions; for instance, they
+would often order their servants to go in quest of fodder for my horse;
+besides which, they were innocent of the guilt imputed to them, and it
+was the opinion of all who accompanied this expedition that they were
+put to death unjustly.
+
+But I will leave this miserable subject, and return to our march, on
+which we henceforth observed the utmost vigilance, for we greatly feared
+the Mexicans might rise up in arms against us, after they had thus
+beheld their monarch ignominiously hung by the neck from a tree. But
+hunger, fatigue, and sickness weighed heavier upon their minds than the
+misfortune of Quauhtemoctzin.
+
+On our further march we came up to a river, which we crossed by means of
+canoes, and soon after we arrived in a township which was entirely
+deserted by its inhabitants. However, in searching for provisions in
+some houses lying in the neighbourhood, we discovered eight Indian
+papas, who, after a little persuasion, followed us to the township,
+where they were brought into the presence of Cortes, who, by means of
+Doņa Marina, spoke very kindly to them, telling them to banish all fear
+from their minds, and to go and call their countrymen. The papas said
+they were very willing to fulfil his commands, but they must beg of him
+not to allow any one to touch the idols which stood in a building
+adjoining Cortes' quarters. Our general promised them faithfully that no
+harm should be done the idols, but observed, that they were mere lumps
+of clay and wood, wicked things, which were unworthy of the veneration
+they paid them, and that the whole of their idolatrous worship was the
+work of Satan. The Franciscan monks also put several questions to the
+papas respecting their idol worship, to which they returned very
+intelligent answers, promising for the future to abolish it altogether.
+
+Thirty loads of maise and some fowls were now soon brought us, and
+Cortes inquired of the papas how many suns (that is to say days'
+journey) it was from this place to the people with the beards and
+horses. They replied, that it was seven suns to the township of Nito,
+where the men with the horses had settled, and they would themselves
+show us the way to the next township, but that on our road thither we
+should have to pass one night in an uninhabited village.
+
+Near to the building in which the idols were placed there stood a ceiba
+tree of an immense size, in the bark of which Cortes ordered a large
+cross to be cut. Our general had for some time appeared in low spirits,
+and very pensive. The thoughts of our fatiguing march, the number of
+Spaniards who had fallen ill, the still greater number of our Mexican
+troops that died away, and perhaps also the regret he felt for having
+put Quauhtemoctzin and the king of Tlacupa to death without any trial,
+constantly preyed upon his mind, and left him no peace either night or
+day; so that he would rise up from his bed in the depth of night to
+stroll about, which also happened to be the case in this township. He
+got up in the dark from his bed, in order to pass into an adjoining
+large apartment, where a number of idols stood, and where the Indians
+were accustomed to hold their meetings. It seems that he forgot the two
+steps which led down into it, so that he fell rather heavily, and
+bruised his head severely. This wound he had secretly dressed, nor did
+he himself ever mention the accident to any one.
+
+The next morning, very early, we again broke up our quarters, and our
+guides led us exactly in the direction they had previously described,
+and we arrived, without anything happening to us worthy of mention, in
+front of a morass, which lay at the foot of very high mountains, where
+we encamped for the night. With break of day we again continued our
+march, and arrived about the hour of high mass, at a township which lay
+in the midst of this extensive morass. This town had every appearance of
+having been recently built, and indeed we found that the houses had only
+been erected a few days before our arrival. It was surrounded by a
+double entrenchment, formed of the trunks of large trees, encircled by
+other huge poles stuck in perpendicularly, The approaches were secured
+by a deep fosse, and they were protected by a double inclosure of a
+circular form: one of which was supplied with a regular battlement,
+small towers and loop-holes; the other was very high and strongly built
+of large stones, and was likewise provided with a battlement. As the
+other side was covered by the morass this place might, in every sense of
+the word, be called a fortress.
+
+When we entered the town we did not meet with a single inhabitant, but
+were surprised to find in the houses quantities of boiled turkeys and
+other fowls, dressed according to Indian fashion, with hot peppers and
+maise cakes, which they call tamales. We were perfectly astonished at
+this great abundance, and we made all manner of speculations on so
+extraordinary a sight. Another large building we found filled with bows
+and arrows and small darts. We now carefully searched the surrounding
+neighbourhood, but we could nowhere see any maise plantations.
+
+While we were thus looking about us we observed fifteen Indians
+approaching from the side of the morass, who, on coming up, touched the
+ground with their hands and kissed it. These were the chiefs of the
+township, and they begged of Cortes, in a half-crying tone of voice, not
+to set fire to their buildings. They had, they said, but recently
+settled in this spot, and had been compelled to fortify themselves thus
+strongly from fear of their enemies; whom, if I do not mistake, they
+termed Lacandones. These people had burnt down their two former towns
+which lay on the plain, had plundered them of all they possessed, and
+had killed numbers of their countrymen. On our further march we should
+pass over the ashes and ruins of their former habitations. These chiefs
+then related the cause of their enmity, and described their mode of
+warfare. Upon this Cortes inquired of them what had induced them to
+dress so large a quantity of turkeys and other fowls? To which the
+chiefs replied, that they again expected an attack from the Lacandones,
+who would be sure, if victorious, to carry off all their property and
+fowls; they had therefore determined to eat up all their provisions
+before the enemy arrived; but if they themselves proved victorious,
+they would march into the enemy's towns, plunder them in their turn, and
+so make up for their recent losses.
+
+Cortes told them he was extremely sorry to hear of their wars, but that
+it was not in his power to render them any assistance at present, as he
+was obliged to continue his march. This tribe, to whom the two other
+large townships also belonged, through which we passed on the following
+day, were termed the Mazotecs, a name which, in their language, denotes
+the land or the nation of the wild deer, and this was indeed a most
+appropriate appellation, as the reader will presently see.
+
+From this place we took two guides with us, who led us over the ruins of
+the two townships above mentioned, and gave us some further account of
+the Spaniards whom we should find at a considerable distance further on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXVIII.
+
+    _We continue our march, and what further happened to us._
+
+
+After we had quitted this fortified township, we came into an extensive
+open plain, on which, as far as the eye could reach, there was not a
+tree to be seen, and the heat was more excessive than we had ever
+experienced before. This plain abounded with wild deer, which were so
+little shy that we could easily catch them with our horses, and in a
+very short time we killed upwards of twenty. On questioning our guides
+how it came that these animals were neither afraid of our horses nor
+anything else, and so easily to be caught, they answered that the
+Mazotecs revered them as beings of a superior nature, because they
+appeared such to them from their external form, and their idols had
+strictly commanded the people not to kill or in any way to scare them.
+
+One of Cortes' relatives, named Palacios Rubios, lost his horse in
+chasing these deer, for he galloped up and down the plain until the fat
+melted in its body, and the poor animal dropped down dead all of a
+sudden.[47]
+
+It was not long before we came to the townships which had been
+destroyed, and certainly they presented a most miserable picture to the
+eye. On our further march, our scouts came up with two Indians who
+belonged to a town which lay in advance of us. These men were returning
+from the chase, and had killed a large lion and a number of iquanas,[48]
+which resemble small serpents, and are excellent food. Our scouts then
+inquired of these Indians whether there was any township in the
+neighbourhood, to which they answered in the affirmative, and offered
+their services to conduct them thither. This place lay on an island in
+the fresh water, and could only be approached by means of canoes on the
+side we were advancing, which compelled us to march to the distance of
+two miles along the water until we came to a spot where the latter was
+sufficiently shallow for us to wade through, though even then it reached
+almost up to our arms. Only a few of the inhabitants had remained in the
+town, the rest having fled immediately on our approach, with all their
+property which they concealed among the reeds in the neighbourhood of
+their cultivated fields; but several of our men quartered themselves for
+the night among the maise plantations, feasted plentifully off the
+fruit, and took care to provision themselves for the next day's march.
+
+Adjoining this township lay a fresh water lake of considerable extent,
+which abounded with large fish covered with sharp prickles, and very
+much resembled the disgusting-looking and insipid-flavoured fish called
+the shad. By means of a few old cloaks and tattered nets which we found
+in the deserted habitations, we dragged the lake from one end to the
+other, and succeeded in taking above 1000 of these ugly fish. Among the
+fields we likewise captured a few of the inhabitants, who were requested
+by Doņa Marina to guide us to the towns where the men with the beards
+and horses had settled. With this they readily complied, for they soon
+perceived it was not our intention to harm them in any way, and five of
+them immediately accompanied us. At first the road along which we
+marched was very broad, but this gradually became narrower as we
+approached a broad river or estuary, which was much frequented by
+canoes. Here the inhabitants ferried across to the opposite township of
+Tayasal, situated on an island, and of which the houses and temples were
+covered with white plaster, so that they could be seen to a vast
+distance. All the lesser townships in this neighbourhood were subject to
+the first mentioned.
+
+As our road was becoming very narrow, and we found that it terminated in
+a small path, we resolved to encamp for the night in the vicinity of
+some elevated mountains. During the night-time Cortes despatched four
+companies along the footpaths which led to the estuary, in search of
+guides; and, indeed, they had the good fortune to capture ten Indians
+and two females, with two canoes laden with maise and salt. When these
+people were brought into the presence of Cortes, he spoke to them in the
+most affectionate terms, through Doņa Marina, whom they informed that
+they were inhabitants of a township which lay on an island sixteen
+miles further on. Our general then despatched the lesser of the two
+canoes, with four of the Indians and two Spaniards, thither, in order to
+request the caziques to come with their canoes and ferry us over the
+water, and our men were to present them with some Spanish toys, and
+assure them that no harm should be done their persons.
+
+The whole of the troops now marched forward until they arrived on the
+banks of the broad river, where, to our great joy, we found the
+caziques, besides several other distinguished personages waiting for us
+with five canoes, a supply of maise, and a number of fowls. Our general
+addressed the caziques very affectionately; and, after they had held
+some excellent discourses with him, he embarked with thirty crossbow-men
+in the canoes, and so proceeded with the chiefs to their town. When
+arrived there, they set before him the best of everything in the shape
+of provisions, and presented him with several of their cloaks and a
+small quantity of gold, though of inferior quality. According to their
+assurances, there were men like ourselves in two different townships,
+namely, in Nito, which we called San Gil de Buena Vista, lying on the
+north coast, and in Naco, which lay in the interior of the country.
+According to their account, these two towns were ten days' journey
+distant from each other. We were very much surprised that Oli should
+thus have divided his troops, we being at that moment ignorant of the
+existence of Buena Vista, founded by Avila.
+
+The whole of our troops passed the broad river in canoes, and we
+encamped for the night eight miles further on to wait for Cortes, who
+still continued at the township above mentioned. On returning to the
+main body, he ordered one of the horses, which had likewise been
+overheated in chasing the deer, to be left behind. While we were staying
+here, one of our negroes and two female slaves ran away. Even three
+Spaniards chose rather to stay here and run the risk of being murdered
+by the Indians than to undergo the fatigues of our march for another
+three days. I myself was far from well; the excessive heat of the sun
+had affected my head, and I scarcely knew how to bear myself. But even
+this distressing heat was more welcome to us than the torrents of rain
+which began to fall, and lasted, without intermission, for three days;
+nevertheless, we were obliged to continue our march, as we had not a
+morsel of food left. In the space of two days we arrived at some small
+hills, which were completely covered with stones, and these so sharp
+that they cut like razors. Our men gave themselves considerable trouble
+in searching for some other road in order to avoid these stones, but all
+their endeavours were fruitless, though they went to a distance of
+above four miles. This part of our march was most dangerous for the
+horses; for, as it still continued to rain, they constantly stumbled,
+and were sure to cut their knees, and even their bellies in the most
+dreadful manner on the pointed stones; but the descent was still more
+difficult, eight of the horses being killed and many others shockingly
+lacerated, and one of the soldiers named Palacios Rubios, a relative of
+Cortes, had the misfortune to break his leg. We could not, therefore,
+feel sufficiently thankful to the Almighty when at last we got clear of
+this mountain of flint, as we ever after termed it.
+
+As we had now advanced within a short distance of the township Taica, we
+were not a little rejoiced at the thoughts that we should again get some
+food. In the neighbourhood of this place we came to a river which poured
+down over the precipices of a very high mountain, and was so much
+swollen by the rain of the three last days that it rolled down in
+immense volumes, and the roaring noise of the flood, as it dashed from
+one precipice to another, could be distinctly heard at the distance of
+eight miles. There was no other possibility of passing this turbulent
+river but by throwing a bridge across from one rock to the other. We
+accordingly set to work with the utmost diligence, and in the space of
+three days we constructed a bridge of the largest trees, and the whole
+of us passed safely to the other side of these cataracts. While we were
+engaged in building this bridge, the Indians of Taica had gained
+sufficient time to run off and conceal all their provisions. When,
+therefore, we arrived in this township and met not a single inhabitant,
+nor found the smallest particle of food to still our hunger, we stared
+at each other in dismay when we considered our dreadful position. The
+hope of soon obtaining food had alone inspired us with sufficient
+courage and strength to undertake the construction of this bridge. For
+myself I do not hesitate to acknowledge that I never, in the whole
+course of my life, felt so distressed in mind as on this occasion, when
+I found that I could neither procure food for my men nor myself. Added
+to all this, we had overheated ourselves by marching about the
+neighbourhood in a burning sun for a couple of hours in search of the
+inhabitants. It happened to be the eve of Easter day, and I shall never
+forget this day as long as I live; and the reader can easily imagine
+what a pleasant Easter we spent without a morsel of food. We should have
+considered ourselves blessed and happy if we had only had a handful of
+maise.
+
+In this great distress Cortes despatched all his servants and grooms
+with our guides to traverse the hills in search of maise plantations. On
+the first day of Easter they indeed returned with some maise, but all
+they had was scarcely a bushel, and what was this among so many mouths!
+Cortes, seeing that our distress was each moment increasing, ordered
+myself and several other soldiers, mostly of those who had settled in
+Guacasualco, into his presence, and told us our condition was at present
+so lamentable, that he must beg of us to search the whole country round
+to procure some kind of provisions or other. Pedro de Ircio happened to
+be present when Cortes was thus soliciting us; and as he was always
+ready with a mouthful of words, he supplicated Cortes to give him the
+command of this foraging party. As far as regards myself, replied our
+general, go, and may God be with you! But as I was well aware that Ircio
+was a miserable pedestrian, and, instead of being any assistance to us,
+would only be a troublesome companion, I secretly communicated what I
+thought to Cortes and my friend Sandoval, and requested that he might
+not be sent with us, as a person with splay feet as he had was least of
+all able to make his way through bogs and marshes; added to which, he
+was all talk, but seldom acted, and altogether unable to bear the
+fatigues of a long march. Our general, accordingly, followed my advice,
+and he countermanded the order he had given to Ircio.
+
+I now set out with four soldiers and two guides. First we passed several
+rivers of considerable depth, then crossed some marshes until we arrived
+at a small village, whither most of the inhabitants of the deserted
+township had fled. Here we had likewise the good fortune to find four
+houses, completely filled with maise, also about thirty fowls, and a few
+melons. We captured four Indians and three women, and we now celebrated
+Easter right jollily. Above a thousand Mexicans whom Cortes had sent
+after us arrived in the night, and we immediately loaded as much of the
+maise on them as they could carry, with which they returned to our camp:
+we at the same time sent above twenty fowls for Cortes and Sandoval,
+besides the prisoners we had taken, and then placed a watch over these
+storehouses in order that the inhabitants might not set fire to them
+during the night, or carry off their contents. The following day we
+continued our march, and discovered some more buildings full of maise,
+fowls, and various kinds of vegetables. Here I made myself a little ink,
+and I wrote a letter to our general on a small piece of drum skin,
+requesting him to send me a detachment of Indian troops, as we had found
+another storehouse full of provisions. The next day, accordingly, above
+thirty Spaniards and 500 Indians arrived, and each took as heavy a load
+of provisions as he could possibly carry. In this way God in his great
+mercy again relieved us in the utmost distress, and we halted five days
+in Taica to rest from our fatigues.
+
+The bridges which we threw across the numerous rivers we passed on our
+march had been so strongly put together that several of them were still
+to be seen for many years after; and subsequently, when all these
+provinces were subjected to the Spanish crown, our countrymen regarded
+them in astonishment, and exclaimed, _These are the bridges of Cortes!_
+in the same way as people say, _These are the columns of Hercules!_
+
+After marching forward for two more days, we arrived at a township
+called Tania, which was also deserted by its inhabitants, though we
+found some maise and other provisions, but not in sufficient quantity
+for our troops. On thoroughly exploring the country round about, we
+discovered that we were now completely surrounded by rivers and small
+streams; the guides we had brought with us ran away in the night from
+the soldiers who had charge of them. These men had but recently arrived
+from New Spain, and it appears had been overtaken by sleep; our general,
+on receiving the first information of their neglect of duty, was going
+to have them severely punished; however, he was at length induced to
+pardon them, and he sent out another party to explore our route; but as
+this neighbourhood abounded with rivers, and it continued to rain very
+fast, almost the whole of the country was inundated; besides which, we
+could have no hopes of meeting with any of the inhabitants. Thus
+situated, in the midst of the waters, we scarcely knew which way to
+turn, and our distress and alarm were each moment increasing. Cortes
+himself appeared considerably disheartened, and said, with a good deal
+of ill humour, to Ircio, and other officers who came with him from
+Mexico: "I should like to know which of you will volunteer to go out in
+search of some Indian guide, or to discover a way out of these waters;
+for it is shameful to leave everything to the veterans, who have
+accompanied us from Guacasualco!"
+
+After this reproach, Ircio, with some of his friends and acquaintances,
+offered himself, and he actually marched out for this purpose.
+Marmolejo, a person of distinction, likewise went out with six men; so
+also Santacruz Burgales, with a like number. Each of these three small
+detachments went off in a different direction, and they wandered about
+for three days, but returned with the disheartening news, that wherever
+they came there was nothing but water to be seen. Cortes was ready to
+burst with vexation when they told him this, and he desired Sandoval to
+go and speak with me, and request me, in his name, to try if I could not
+discover some road, to rescue the army from its present perilous
+position. All this he said in an affectionate and begging tone of voice,
+as he very well knew that I was by no means in good health: and indeed
+I was suffering with a bad fever, for which reason I had refused to
+accompany my intimate friend Marmolejo, to whom I said: "You expect me
+to do everything; let others bestir themselves as well!" First I refused
+Sandoval also, but he came a second time to my hut, and begged very hard
+of me to comply with our general's request, who had said, that next to
+God he could only expect assistance from me at this juncture. Though I
+felt very ill, yet my honour would not allow me to refuse any longer,
+and I desired that Hernando de Aguilar and a certain Hinojosa might
+accompany me, both of whom were men I well knew could bear any fatigues.
+
+We three then set out from our camp, and followed the course of a
+rivulet to some considerable distance, until we came in view of a hill
+lying on the opposite side of the water, and on which we observed
+several branches of trees that had been stuck in the ground as if to
+serve for some signal. We now marched in this direction for upwards of
+an hour, and after finding our way out between the rivers, we came to
+some small huts, which had a short time previously been deserted by
+their owners. Continuing our course in this direction, we observed at
+some distance from us, on the slope of a hill, some maise plantations
+lying about an isolated dwelling, in which we distinctly heard the sound
+of human voices. As the sun was by this time nearly gone down, we
+concealed ourselves among the bushes until late in the night, when we
+thought the inmates of the house were all fast asleep. We then moved
+forward in the utmost silence up to this habitation, broke suddenly into
+it, and captured three Indians, an old woman, and two other young
+females, who were uncommonly pretty. We only found two fowls and a small
+quantity of maise, with which, and the whole of these Indians, we
+returned highly rejoiced to our encampment. Sandoval had kept a look out
+for us until late in the evening, and he was the first to observe us at
+a distance, on our return. He could scarcely contain himself for joy
+when he recognized us, and he hastened to inform Cortes, to whom no news
+could be more acceptable than the fact of our safe return. "Indeed,"
+said Sandoval, on this occasion, to Pedro de Ircio, "Bernal Diaz del
+Castillo remarked well some time ago, on going out in search of
+provisions, that this required men of great activity, and not people who
+thought of nothing else on the road but of their pretty stories of the
+count of Ureņa and his son Don Pedro Giron!" for this was the constant
+theme of friend Ircio. "He had good reasons for saying so, and you need
+not reproach him, for speaking in your dispraise to our general and
+myself."
+
+These words caused a general laughter at Ircio's expense, and Sandoval
+purposely procured me this little triumph, because he knew I owed the
+former a grudge.
+
+When I came into the presence of Cortes, he thanked me in the kindest
+terms, and said: "I have never found you at a loss in time of need!"
+
+But why should I repeat these flattering sentences? for at most they are
+mere empty sounds, and little profit to any one: at least, I gained
+nothing by these fine words, excepting that when this perilous
+expedition was subsequently the topic of conversation in Mexico, my name
+was always mentioned with praise.
+
+Cortes, on questioning the Indians respecting the country, learnt from
+them, that if we followed the course of a certain rivulet we should
+arrive, after two days' journey, in a township called Oculizti, which
+consisted of upwards of two hundred houses, but had been deserted a few
+days previously by its inhabitants. We accordingly marched down the
+rivulet, and arrived at several large huts belonging to Indian
+merchants, who rested here on their journeys. We passed the night in
+these dwellings, and the following day we continued our march along the
+same stream for two miles, when we came to a good road, which brought us
+before sunset to Coliste, where we found maise and plenty of vegetables,
+and, suspended in a temple, an old Spanish cap and a shoe, which had
+been dedicated to the idols there. Several of our men searched some
+hollows in the neighbourhood, and soon discovered two aged Indians and
+four women, who were immediately brought into the presence of our
+general. On being questioned by Doņa Marina about the town where the
+Spaniards had settled, they answered, that it lay on the sea coast,
+about five days' journey from our camp, but that on our road thither we
+should not see a single Indian township.
+
+On this information, Cortes instantly despatched Sandoval, with six men
+on foot, to the sea coast, in the direction the Indians had pointed out,
+in order to learn, if possible, what number of Spanish troops Christobal
+de Oli had under his command, for at that time we were still ignorant of
+what had taken place there.
+
+Our general's plan was to fall upon Oli during the night, when he least
+dreamt of our approach, and to take him prisoner, with all his troops.
+Sandoval took three Indian guides with him from Oculizti, and set out on
+his journey. When he had arrived on the north coast, and was marching
+along the beach, he espied a canoe making for the land with sails and
+paddles. He therefore hid himself behind a rising ground until the
+vessel should have run ashore. This canoe belonged to some Indian
+merchants, was laden with salt and maise, and was destined for the large
+river which flows into the Golfo Dulce.
+
+In the night time Sandoval sallied forth from his hiding place, captured
+all the crew, then stepped into the canoe with two of his companions and
+the three guides, and desired the Indian merchants to row him along the
+coast, while the four other Spaniards followed by land. Sandoval was
+sure the great river could not be far distant, and in this he was not
+deceived, for he entered it soon after, and he had the good fortune to
+come up with four Spaniards of the new town founded by Gil Gonsalez de
+Avila. These men had just arrived in a canoe from an excursion in search
+of provisions, of which there was an uncommon scarcity in the colony.
+The whole of the inhabitants were suffering from ill health, and durst
+not venture into the neighbourhood of the town to search for provisions,
+as they were at enmity with the Indians, who had already killed ten of
+their number since Avila's departure for Mexico.
+
+When Sandoval was approaching in the canoe, he found these Spaniards
+busily occupied in gathering cocoa nuts. Two of them, who had climbed up
+the tree, were the first to observe the strange vessel, and they
+immediately called out to their companions below. The whole of them were
+so astonished and alarmed, that they scarcely knew whether they should
+run away or stop where they were; but on Sandoval coming up, and
+addressing them in a friendly manner, they took courage, and related to
+him the whole history of the foundation of their colony, the misfortune
+which befel the fleet of Las Casas, his and Avila's capture by Oli, the
+execution of the latter at Naco, and the subsequent departure of the two
+first-mentioned officers for Mexico: then gave him a full description of
+the miserable condition of the colony mentioned, the number of the
+inhabitants, and their great suffering from want of food; and stated,
+that a few days previously they had hung the commandant of the town,
+Armenta, because he had refused to grant them permission to return to
+Cuba.
+
+Sandoval considered it best to take these men along with him to Cortes,
+in order that our approach might not be made known to the colony. One of
+Sandoval's soldiers, named Alonso Ortiz, a native of the town San Pedro,
+begged that he might be allowed to start an hour before the rest, to
+gain a handsome reward, by being the first to announce this joyful news
+to our troops. This favour Sandoval readily granted him, and certainly
+no news could have been more welcome to us all; for we now fully
+believed that all our fatigues and perils were at an end, and we never
+thought for a moment that we should have to suffer even greater
+hardships than we had hitherto. Alonso de Ortiz was well rewarded for
+the haste he had made, for Cortes presented him with a fine gray horse,
+which we generally termed the Moor's head; besides this, every one of us
+gave him some other little presents. Shortly after, Sandoval himself
+arrived, with the other Spaniards, who told Cortes what I have above
+mentioned. They also informed him that two miles further on there was a
+harbour, in which a vessel was being fitted out, to convey the colonists
+to Cuba. The commandant Armenta, they added, had obstinately refused to
+allow them to depart; for which reason, and because he had scourged a
+Spanish priest, who had caused an insurrection in the town, the
+inhabitants rebelled against him, hung him, and appointed a certain
+Antonio Nieto commandant in his stead. In the meantime, at the town of
+San Gil de Buena Vista, there was nothing but lamentation and grief,
+when the Spaniards, who had been sent out in quest of provisions, did
+not return in the evening, and every one thought they must either have
+been massacred by the Indians or devoured by the wild beasts. One of the
+Spaniards who had returned with Sandoval was a married man, and his wife
+broke out into loud lamentations at his supposed death. The whole of the
+inhabitants went to the church, and a funeral sermon was preached by the
+priest Velasquez, and prayers were offered up for the souls of the dead.
+
+Cortes now marched, with the whole of his troops, in the direction of
+the sea coast, the distance to which was full twenty-four miles, but our
+further progress was retarded for a considerable time by a deep arm of
+the sea, where we were obliged to wait until low water before we could
+pass over, partly swimming and partly wading across, which detained us
+until noon. In this way we at length arrived at the broad river of the
+Golfo Dulce, which Cortes and six soldiers were the first to cross, in
+order to reach the new town. Two canoes, one which Sandoval had captured
+on the coast, and the other belonging to the colonists, were fastened
+together, in which our general, with six men, and a few of his servants,
+embarked, and was ferried across the water. Upon this a few of the
+horses were swum across, the grooms holding the animals by the bridles,
+which were kept as short as possible, for fear of the former upsetting
+the canoes.
+
+Cortes left strict commands that no one was to pass the river until
+further orders, which he would send in writing. The passage across this
+rapid stream was indeed excessively dangerous, and Cortes himself
+regretted that he had thus risked his life unnecessarily.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXIX.
+
+    _How Cortes entered the town founded by Gil Gonsalez de Avila; the
+    great joy of the inhabitants at his arrival, and what he further did
+    there._
+
+
+The town of Buena Vista, which Avila had founded in this neighbourhood,
+lay about eight miles from the broad river of the Golfo Dulce, near to
+the sea shore, whither Cortes immediately repaired with his small body
+of men, after crossing the river. When he entered the town, the arrival
+of strangers on horseback and others on foot, in the first moments,
+spread a great consternation among the inhabitants, but as soon as they
+learnt that it was the man whose fame was spread through the whole of
+these provinces and New Spain, they were almost overcome with joy. All
+the inhabitants instantly assembled to wait upon him and to congratulate
+him upon his safe arrival. Our general received them in the kindest
+manner possible, and then ordered the commandant Nieto to load the two
+boats belonging to the town, and all the canoes he could get with
+cassave bread, and despatch them to Sandoval. The commandant immediately
+set about to fulfil these commands, but was unable to collect more than
+fifty pounds of this bread, as the colonists had had no other food than
+the fruits which they gathered from the trees, some vegetables, and what
+fish they could catch. Even this small quantity of cassave bread had
+been set apart for their voyage to Cuba.
+
+With these provisions the two boats, manned with eight sailors, left for
+the place where Sandoval was encamped with our troops. Cortes, in a
+letter to the latter officer, desired that he, with Luis Marin, should
+cross the last over the broad river, and was particularly cautioned not
+to allow more than a certain number of the men to be ferried across at a
+time on account of the rapidity of the stream. No horses were to be
+taken across by the canoes, and even the boats were not to take more
+than two at a time.
+
+When these vessels arrived there immediately rose a dispute as to whom
+should be ferried across first, and Saavedra, with his brother Avalos,
+pretended to have a prior claim, because they happened to be related to
+Cortes, but Sandoval maintained that this honour was unquestionably due
+to the three reverend monks. Saavedra persisted, however, that as a
+relation of Cortes the precedence was due to him, and answered Sandoval
+in very unbecoming terms, whose blood now also began to boil, and the
+dispute rose to so high a pitch that Saavedra drew his dagger.
+Sandoval, who was standing up to his knees in the water to prevent the
+boats being overloaded, rushed upon his antagonist, and, seizing him by
+the hand in which he held the dagger, he dragged him headlong into the
+water. If the rest of us had not hastened up and parted them, Saavedra
+would most likely have ended his life in this affray, for the troops,
+almost to a man, were on Sandoval's side.
+
+Four whole days were consumed before all our men had crossed over,
+during which time we had nothing to eat but the nuts we gathered from
+some low palm-trees, which we roasted on the fire and ate the kernels.
+One of our soldiers, named Tarifa, ventured across the river with his
+horse in a canoe, was upset, and both were most likely drowned, for no
+traces could be found of either. Two other horses met with a similar
+fate, one of which was the property of Solis Casquete, who behaved like
+a madman when he found his horse was lost, and wished our general, with
+the whole expedition, in the infernal regions.
+
+The excessive hunger we endured during the time we were occupied in
+ferrying across, created altogether great discontent among the troops,
+and they murmured loudly against Cortes, and this dreadful march. When
+we arrived in the town we found our condition very little bettered, for
+there was neither any bread in the storehouses nor in the dwellings of
+the colonists; who, in the bargain, were even unacquainted with the
+surrounding neighbourhood, and only knew the way to two townships, which
+had long ago been deserted by the inhabitants. Cortes' first care was to
+adopt some means for obtaining provisions; he, therefore, instantly
+despatched Luis Marin, with the soldiers of Guacasualco into the
+country, in search of maise. How far we succeeded in this I will relate
+in the following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXX.
+
+    _How eighty of us on the second day after our arrival in Buena
+    Vista, marched out under the command of Luis Marin to explore the
+    country and to search for provisions._
+
+
+The population of the town of Buena Vista consisted of forty Spaniards,
+four Spanish ladies and two mulattoes. The whole of these people were
+suffering from ill health, and had a yellow sickly appearance about
+them. They had no provisions, and suffered as much from hunger as we did
+ourselves, nor could any one tell where we were to go in search of
+maise for this purpose. Cortes, therefore, saw that there was not a
+moment to be lost, and he despatched Luis Marin, with the men of
+Guacasualco, into the country.
+
+We were altogether eighty in number, and we all set out on foot, in
+order first to see whether horses would be able to traverse the country.
+An Indian, of Cuba, accompanied us as guide to some townships which lay
+thirty-two miles further up the country. When we reached these we found,
+to our inexpressible joy, that they contained great abundance of maise,
+beans, and other vegetables; besides that, the whole neighbourhood was
+literally sown with cocoa-nut trees. We first feasted sumptuously
+ourselves and then despatched a courier to our general, desiring him to
+send us all the Mexican troops to fetch away the maise, forwarding him
+in advance ten bushels of the latter as a supply for the moment, and
+begged of him to send our horses to us.
+
+When Cortes learnt that we had arrived in so fertile a neighbourhood,
+and was told by some Indian merchants that the road to Naco, where
+Christobal de Oli was beheaded, led through the township where we were
+staying, he ordered Sandoval to follow us with the greater part of the
+remaining troops, and not to leave this township until he should receive
+further instructions.
+
+Sandoval, on arriving in our camp, was not a little delighted to find us
+thus surrounded by plenty, and he immediately despatched the Mexicans
+with thirty bushels of maise to Cortes, who distributed this welcome
+supply among the colonists, and as they had not been accustomed for a
+length of time to any other nourishment than fruit and a little cassave
+bread, they ate so ravenously of the maise that the greater part fell
+ill in consequence, and seven of them died.
+
+During this great distress for want of provisions, it pleased the
+Almighty that a vessel should run into the harbour from Cuba, having on
+board seven passengers, seven horses, forty pigs, eight barrels of
+pickled meat, and a large quantity of cassave bread. The cargo belonged
+to a certain Antonio de Comargo, and Cortes purchased the whole of it
+upon credit, distributing a great part of the provisions among the
+colonists; but the consequences again proved fatal to many of these
+unfortunate persons, for they had become so enfeebled, that their
+stomachs were unable to bear this very nourishing food, which brought on
+dysentery, and ten more of them died.
+
+As this vessel had brought a few soldiers and had eight sailors on
+board, Cortes determined to embark in her and sail up the river to visit
+the townships which lay on the banks, and to explore the interior of the
+country. He also ordered one of the brigantines of Gil Gonsalez de
+Avila to be repaired, and a boat to be constructed in the shape of those
+used in unloading vessels; also four canoes, to be securely fastened
+together. On board these vessels Cortes embarked with thirty soldiers,
+the eight sailors, and twenty Mexicans. He may have sailed up the river
+to the distance of about forty miles, when he came to a large lake,
+which, to judge from the measurement of the eye, was about twenty-four
+miles in breadth, and its banks were quite uninhabited, as the whole
+surrounding country was subject to frequent inundations. Further up, the
+river continually became more rapid, until the vessels arrived at some
+cataracts, which none of them were able to pass; Cortes, therefore,
+landed his men here, and, after leaving six Spaniards in charge of the
+vessels, he commenced his march up the country along a very narrow path.
+First, he arrived at some townships which were deserted by the
+inhabitants, and then to a few maise plantations, in which he captured
+three Indians, whom he took along with him as guides. These people
+conducted him to several small villages, where there was abundance of
+maise and fowls. The inhabitants here also kept pheasants, (which they
+call sacachueles,) tame partridges, and pigeons. This breeding of
+partridges as domestic birds I never observed in any other part of the
+country but in the townships on the Golfo Dulce. From this place Cortes
+took new guides, and next arrived in some townships which are called
+Cinacatan-Tencintle. The whole surrounding neighbourhood was covered
+with maise, cacao, and cotton plantations. When Cortes had approached
+within a short distance, he heard the sound of drums, trumpets, and a
+noise as if the Indians were in the midst of some festive orgie. Our
+general then concealed himself with his men on a rising ground, in order
+to watch for a favorable opportunity of falling upon these
+Bacchanalians. This he accordingly did before they were in the least
+aware of it, and captured ten men and fifteen women. The rest of the
+Indians fled to their town, armed themselves, and commenced flying their
+arrows at us. Cortes immediately fell upon them, and very soon cut down
+eight of their chiefs, which brought the others to their senses, and
+they despatched four old men, of whom two were papas, to our general,
+with a trifling present in gold, and begged hard that the prisoners
+might be restored to them. Cortes spoke to them through Doņa Marina, who
+had accompanied the detachment with her husband Juan Xaramillo, and gave
+them to understand that they should send maise, fowls, salt, and a large
+supply of other provisions to our vessels. If they complied with this he
+would immediately restore the prisoners to their families. They
+accordingly set their canoes afloat, which lay in a hollow communicating
+with the river, and loaded them with the required provisions; but as
+Cortes did not release all the prisoners at once, and detained three men
+with their wives to bake some bread, the whole of the inhabitants again
+flew to arms, and showered forth their arrows, stones, and darts upon
+our troops, wounding twelve men, and Cortes himself in the face. During
+this skirmish one of the canoes upset, by which part of the provisions
+was lost, and one Mexican killed.
+
+There were such swarms of moschitoes along the banks of this river as to
+render it impossible for a person to live there; but Cortes bore
+everything with patience, and returned to Buena Vista, which had never
+before been so well supplied with provisions. The last township, where
+the inhabitants had attacked Cortes, was called Cinacan, and considered
+to be about 280 miles from Guatimala. In this expedition up the river
+our general had spent twenty-six days; but, notwithstanding the
+fertility of the soil, he did not consider it an eligible spot for a
+colony, as the population of the country was too small. He therefore
+wrote word to Sandoval that he would shortly march to Naco himself, but
+that he was first desirous of making a short expedition to Puerto de
+Caballos, for which purpose he would require ten of the veterans of
+Guacasualco, without whom it was impossible to undertake anything which
+required activity and perseverance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXI.
+
+    _How Cortes embarks, with the soldiers who accompanied him on this
+    expedition, and with all the inhabitants of Buena Vista, for Puerto
+    de Caballos, where he founds a colony, to which he gives the name of
+    Natividad._
+
+
+Our general, considering the spot where Avila had built the town of
+Buena Vista every way unfavorable for a colony, embarked, with the whole
+of the inhabitants, in two vessels and the brigantine, and set sail for
+the bay of Puerto de Caballos, where he arrived in the space of eight
+days. Finding that there was an excellent harbour in this bay, and
+having learnt from the Indians that there were numerous townships round
+about, he determined to found a colony in this place, to which he gave
+the name of Natividad, and appointed Diego de Godoy commandant of the
+town. He then made an excursion into the interior of the country to
+visit the several townships, but which, at the present day, are all
+destroyed. The inhabitants assured him that there were several other
+townships in the neighbourhood, and that Naco itself was not far off. He
+well stocked the new town with provisions, and wrote word to Sandoval,
+whom he imagined had already reached Naco, to send him ten of the men of
+Guacasualco, without whom, he particularly remarked in his letter, no
+undertaking could well succeed. From this place, he added, it was his
+intention to repair to the bay of Honduras, in order to visit the new
+town of Truxillo; and concluded by saying he was to continue the
+conquest of the country, and to leave a settlement in some advantageous
+place. Sandoval received this letter in the township where we had first
+halted, for we had not yet broken up our quarters for Naco. At present,
+therefore, we will leave Cortes in Puerto de Caballos, where, as we
+understood, the inhabitants were so dreadfully tormented night and day
+by innumerable moschitoes that every comfort was destroyed.
+
+On the receipt of Cortes' letter, Sandoval would gladly that instant
+have set out for Naco if he had not previously despatched a great part
+of his troops into the surrounding townships in search of provisions and
+fodder for our horses. He was therefore compelled to await the return of
+these troops, which, moreover, had been detained in passing a river,
+where they had left a small detachment to guard the canoe that had
+ferried them across. Besides this, Sandoval had had daily skirmishes
+with the Indians of the townships lying on the Golfo Dulce, so that he
+deemed it necessary to send a further reinforcement of eight men, under
+my command, as a further guard to the canoe. Here we were obliged to
+observe the utmost vigilance, for one night a great body of Indians fell
+suddenly upon us, in the hopes, if they found us off our guard, to
+capture the canoe and set fire to our huts. However silently they came
+creeping along, we received timely notice of their approach, and we
+eight men, with four Mexicans, boldly advanced against them, and quickly
+sent them back from whence they came, though two Spaniards and one of
+the Mexicans were slightly wounded by the enemy's arrows. Upon this
+three of us marched further on to some huts where several invalid
+Mexicans and Spaniards had remained behind. These people we conducted
+safely to Sandoval, with the exception of one Spaniard, who died of
+exhaustion a couple of miles from the township, where the former was
+quartered with the rest of the troops. This soldier was one of those who
+had but recently arrived from Spain, and we were obliged to leave his
+body on the road from want of sufficient hands to carry it.
+
+When I had given Sandoval my report of everything that had befallen us
+on our march, he was excessively angry with us for not having brought
+the dead body either on our shoulders or on one of the horses. I told
+him very coolly that each of the horses as it was had carried two sick
+persons, and that we ourselves had been obliged to walk on foot. One of
+my companions, however, a certain Villa Nueva, was not quite so cool as
+myself, but told Sandoval in a passion that we had trouble enough to
+drag ourselves along without loading ourselves with the dead, and as for
+himself he was perfectly tired of the many fatigues he had to undergo in
+the service of Cortes, and that all for nothing. Sandoval, however,
+persisted that we should turn back and bury the dead body. Villa Nueva
+and myself accordingly took two Mexicans and a spade with us, dug a deep
+hole, in which we put our deceased companion, and placed a cross on it.
+In one of his pockets we found a little gold, a number of dice, and a
+small scrap of paper containing an account of his birthplace, his
+parents, and of some property which he possessed in the island of
+Teneriffe. This document we subsequently forwarded to the latter place.
+May God have mercy on his soul: Amen.
+
+We now marched further on to some townships, in the neighbourhood of
+which gold mines were discovered three years afterwards. From this place
+we came to Quinistan, and the following day in the forenoon we arrived
+at Naco, which at that time was a township of considerable magnitude,
+but there was not a single inhabitant to be seen, and we quartered
+ourselves in a large courtyard, where Christobal de Oli was beheaded. In
+some houses we were fortunate enough to find a good supply of maise,
+beans, and even some salt, of which latter we were in great want. In
+this place we quartered ourselves as comfortably as if we never meant to
+leave the spot again.
+
+In Naco there was a well which contained the most delicious water I ever
+tasted in the New World. Here likewise stood a wide spreading tree,
+under the shade of which, even during the hottest part of the day, the
+air was so cool that our very hearts became refreshed and invigorated.
+From this tree there also continually fell a very delicate dew, which
+produced a most comfortable feeling to the head. The surrounding
+neighbourhood abounded in various kinds of provisions, and numerous
+small townships lay dispersed in all directions. But I will break off
+here, and reserve what I have further to relate for the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXII.
+
+    _Sandoval commences to subdue the province of Naco, and the
+    opposition he meets with from the natives._
+
+
+Immediately upon our arrival at Naco we took possession of the
+storehouses, and then dispersed ourselves among the maise plantations,
+where we captured three of the chiefs of this township. Sandoval behaved
+in the kindest manner to these men, presented them with some Spanish
+toys, and begged of them to go and call the principal caziques, with
+whom he was anxious to live on friendly terms. These personages
+faithfully fulfilled their commission, and returned with two of the
+caziques, though they had not been able to persuade the inhabitants to
+return to their dwellings, who contented themselves by forwarding us
+from time to time a small supply of provisions. In this way matters
+continued for several days, and neither party thought of commencing
+hostilities.
+
+The reader will remember that Cortes had written to Sandoval for ten of
+the veterans of Guacasualco, all of whom he had mentioned by name, and
+mine was put at the head of this list; but as I was very unwell at the
+time, I desired Sandoval to excuse me from leaving him on the present
+occasion, and to acquaint our general that I should not be able to
+accompany him, owing to the bad state of my health; which was really the
+fact. Sandoval accordingly allowed me to stay behind, and he despatched
+eight soldiers to Cortes, men who would face any danger; but on this
+occasion they showed so much reluctance to march out that they cursed
+Cortes' proposed expedition in the strongest terms: and certainly they
+were in some manner justified, for it was impossible to say whether the
+country whither they were going to march was friendly disposed or not.
+
+Before these eight soldiers departed, Sandoval requested the caziques to
+despatch five distinguished personages to accompany them to Puerto de
+Caballos, declaring to the caziques at the same time that, if these
+Spaniards received the slightest annoyance on their journey, he would
+burn down their townships, and fall upon the inhabitants. He then
+ordered them to provide our men with the best of provisions on their
+route.
+
+Cortes was just about embarking for Truxillo when the eight Spaniards
+marched into Puerto de Caballos. He was greatly rejoiced at their
+arrival, for he knew what excellent soldiers they were, and soon after
+set sail with his troops, leaving Diego de Godoy as commander-in-chief
+of the new colony, consisting of forty persons belonging to Buena Vista,
+and of the passengers lately arrived from Cuba. Godoy had scarcely
+sufficient patience to wait until Cortes' vessel was out of sight before
+he marched out with those who were in tolerable good health to visit the
+neighbouring townships, two of which he obliged to submit to his arms;
+but as the Indians soon found that his men were in bad health, and daily
+dying away, they troubled themselves very little about him, and withheld
+their supplies of provisions. As the Spaniards themselves durst no
+longer leave the town in search of these, a real famine existed among
+them, which, in a short time, carried off half of the inhabitants, three
+of whom deserted the spot altogether and fled to Naco.
+
+Here affairs likewise began to assume a different aspect; for when
+Sandoval found that the Indians obstinately refused to return to the
+township, he determined to adopt some stronger measures, and to compel
+them to reoccupy their dwellings. We therefore marched out and visited
+Girimonga, Aculaco, and three other townships, which all lay in the
+neighbourhood of Naco, and they submitted to the Spanish crown without
+offering any resistance. We were equally successful in Quizmitan and
+with the tribes which inhabited the mountains, who even came out to meet
+us in order to declare themselves vassals of our emperor. In this way we
+lived on terms of friendship with the inhabitants of the whole
+surrounding country; and as we demanded nothing of them, but only
+accepted of what they gave us of their own free choice, the inhabitants
+of Naco at length also reposed more confidence in us, and returned to
+their homes. In this peaceable condition the whole country continued
+until Cortes founded the town called Puerto de Caballos.
+
+We must now see how matters stood in Truxillo.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXIII.
+
+    _How Cortes disembarks in the harbour of Truxillo, and the
+    inhabitants rejoice at his arrival._
+
+
+Cortes had embarked at Puerto de Caballos with a considerable body of
+the best troops; and, after a favorable voyage of six days, he arrived
+in the harbour of Truxillo. The colonists there were excessively
+rejoiced on learning that Cortes himself was among the newly arrived.
+The whole of the inhabitants assembled on the beach to receive him and
+to pay their homage to him; and as great part of the colony was composed
+of those who had been expelled from Panuco, and of those who had taken
+an ostensible part in the revolt of Christobal de Oli, their very first
+step was to beg forgiveness of Cortes for the past. This he granted them
+without any hesitation, discoursed with them in a most friendly manner,
+and in their company proceeded direct to church to make his devotions.
+The most comfortable mansion was prepared for him, and the chief
+inhabitants then detailed every circumstance respecting Francisco de las
+Casas' arrival, his capture, with that of Gonsalez de Avila, and the
+subsequent beheading of Christobal de Oli; how the two former officers
+had then departed for Mexico, but that they themselves had in the
+meantime subdued several of the townships of this province.
+
+After our general had been apprized of everything that had taken place,
+he expressed his satisfaction, and confirmed the several authorities of
+the town in their respective offices, both civil and military, but
+appointed his cousin Saavedra captain-general of the whole country,
+which met with universal approbation. He then summoned the inhabitants
+of the whole surrounding neighbourhood to send him ambassadors, and to
+declare themselves vassals of our emperor, which they were not long in
+complying with when they understood that Malinche, the conqueror of
+Mexico, had arrived in person; and they brought at the same time a
+quantity of provisions for him.
+
+As the caziques of the four principal townships happened to stand all
+together in the presence of Cortes, he took the opportunity of
+addressing them at some length, which was interpreted to them by Doņa
+Marina. He first spoke to them about our holy religion, and then of our
+great emperor Don Carlos of Austria, who had dominion over so many
+countries and nations; how his majesty had sent us expressly into these
+countries in order to abolish from among them all idolatry, theft, the
+sacrificing of human beings, the eating of human flesh, and other
+abominations; also to accustom them to live in peace and harmony with
+each other. It was therefore their duty, he added, to subject themselves
+to a monarch who was so mercifully inclined, and to lend us every
+assistance in their power; but, on the other hand, he should be
+compelled to punish those severely who in any way broke the peace.
+
+After this, father Juan de las Varillas and the two Franciscan monks
+preached an edifying sermon to them, which two Mexicans, who understood
+the Spanish language, and other persons, interpreted to the caziques,
+who listened with great attention to all that was said, and readily
+acknowledged themselves vassals of our emperor, and promised to obey
+Malinche in everything. Our general then ordered them to furnish the
+colony with provisions, and to send a number of Indians with the
+necessary tools to level a rising ground which lay in the town and
+obstructed the view of the harbour and of the sea. He also desired them
+to repair with their canoes to some townships of the Guanajas islands to
+request the inhabitants there to supply him with fish, which they had in
+abundance. The inhabitants of these islands readily complied, and
+brought a present consisting in fowls and fish, Cortes, in return,
+giving them some of the swine he had taken with him on this expedition;
+for he had been assured by a Spaniard that these islands were peculiarly
+adapted for breeding pigs, provided the animals were allowed to go at
+large. This indeed was found to be a fact; for, a couple of years after,
+they had so increased that people went thither regularly to hunt them.
+
+But all this is rather foreign to my narrative, and I will rather
+acquaint the reader that the caziques sent so large a body of Indians to
+level the hill, that, in the space of two days, there was a good
+prospect of the sea from the town. They likewise constructed fifteen
+houses, of which one for Cortes was of larger dimensions. As there were
+still a great number of townships which refused obedience, Cortes
+desired the caziques of Papayeca, which, at that time, was a very
+extensive township, to enumerate the several tribes which had omitted to
+send ambassadors. The whole of them, he was informed, dwelt among the
+mountains, and had equipped themselves for war. Our general then
+despatched thither Saavedra, with a strong detachment of troops, among
+whom were also the eight soldiers of Guacasualco, to compel these
+Indians to sue for peace. Most of these townships, on the approach of
+our troops, very wisely submitted without offering any resistance; but
+there were three which obstinately refused to do so, and, if I am not
+mistaken, are called the Acaltecas, against which Saavedra immediately
+marched his men. Cortes' name was so feared and respected among all the
+inhabitants of this country that even the distant tribes of Olancho,
+where subsequently so many lucrative mines were discovered, sent
+ambassadors to him to declare themselves vassals of our emperor.
+Throughout this country Cortes was known by the name of the captain Hue,
+Hue of Marina, which means the old captain who has Marina with him.
+
+During our general's stay in Truxillo, his cousin Avalos, the two
+Franciscan monks, the licentiate Pedro Lopez, the officers of his
+household, Carranza and Guinea, Juan Tlamena and several of the men he
+had brought with him, besides many of the colonists, were all suffering
+from bad health. Cortes, therefore, determined to send the whole of
+them, as soon as the weather was favorable, either to Cuba or to St.
+Domingo. For this purpose he fitted out a vessel and sent on board the
+best provisions that were to be had, and likewise took this opportunity
+of forwarding despatches to the Hieronymite brotherhood, in which he
+gave them a full account of the hazardous expedition to the coast of the
+Honduras, and of the arrangements he had made in Mexico for the
+government of New Spain, during his absence. He likewise mentioned every
+circumstance from the day he had despatched Oli with an armament to the
+Honduras, down to the tragical death of the latter; and concluded by
+giving an account of the country and of the rich gold mines it
+possessed.
+
+In order that these passengers, on arriving at Cuba, might have
+sufficient credit there, he gave them a number of valuable jewels out of
+his private treasure, besides several pieces of his golden dinner
+service. As chief in command of this vessel, he appointed his cousin
+Avalos, whom he desired to touch at the island of Cozumel, and to carry
+away prisoners from thence twenty-five soldiers, who had been left there
+by some officer to levy contributions upon the inhabitants.
+
+The vessel set sail with a favorable wind, and had alternately good and
+bad weather. She had already doubled the cape of Sant Antonio, and had
+arrived within seventy leagues of the Havannah, when a heavy storm
+arose, in which she was wrecked off the coast. The Franciscan monks, the
+captain Avalos, and a great number of others met with a watery grave;
+only a few, by great exertions, saved themselves in the boat, and others
+drifted on shore by clinging to pieces of wood.
+
+The persons who thus luckily escaped soon spread the news through the
+island of Cuba that Cortes, with his whole army, was still in existence.
+The licentiate Pedro Lopez, who had also escaped destruction, hastened
+to St. Domingo, and there related to the royal court of audience every
+circumstance relative to Cortes' expedition to the Honduras, and how he
+was then staying at Truxillo occupied in subduing the surrounding
+country. He likewise stated that the troops were in great want of
+provisions, wine, and horses; that he had despatched a vessel with a
+quantity of gold to Cuba, in order to purchase these necessaries, but
+which was unfortunately wrecked off the coast of the latter island, and
+he himself had narrowly escaped destruction.
+
+The news of Cortes being still alive and well spread universal joy, for
+it was generally believed that he, with the whole of his troops, had
+perished in the expedition to the Honduras. From Hispaniola the glad
+tidings also reached New Spain, where Cortes' death had also been
+currently reported. In St. Domingo the spirit of speculation was soon
+stirred up and two vessels were quickly despatched to Truxillo, with
+horses, shirts, military caps, and Spanish toys, to all of which these
+speculating merchants unfortunately forgot to add provisions, and only
+sent one pipe of wine.
+
+Cortes himself had remained at Truxillo, where his time was fully
+occupied in making various regulations. While he was staying here
+several of the inhabitants of the Guanajas islands came and complained
+to him about a vessel which lay at anchor in front of their township.
+This vessel, they said, had a great number of Spaniards on board, all
+armed with matchlocks and crossbows, and they were intent upon carrying
+off the inhabitants into slavery. To all appearances, added they, these
+Spaniards were pirates, and the same who had visited their country some
+years previously in a similar manner, and forcibly dragged away a
+considerable number of their countrymen.
+
+Upon this information, Cortes hastily fitted out one of the brigantiues
+with the largest piece of ordnance, and sent twenty men on board, under
+the command of one of his best officers, who was ordered, at all events,
+to bring the strange vessel, with all her hands, into the harbour of
+Truxillo. The Indians likewise promised to man all their canoes and
+accompany the brigantine to where the vessel lay moored.
+
+When the strange vessel observed a well-armed brigantine approaching,
+with several canoes belonging to these islands, she easily guessed how
+matters stood, quickly weighed anchor, made off at the utmost of her
+speed, and so eluded the pursuit of the brigantine. We subsequently
+learnt that this vessel was commanded by the bachelor Moreno, whom the
+royal court of audience at St. Domingo had despatched on certain
+business to Nombre de Dios, and he had either been driven by contrary
+winds off these islands, or had purposely repaired thither to carry away
+a cargo of slaves.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXIV.
+
+    _How Sandoval, during our stay at Naco, takes forty Spanish soldiers
+    with their captain prisoners, who, on their march from the province
+    of Nicaragua, had everywhere plundered and otherwise ill-used the
+    inhabitants._
+
+
+While Sandoval was staying at Naco, occupied in the friendly subjection
+of the surrounding country, four caziques arrived in our camp from the
+two townships of Quecuscapa and Tanchinalchapa, complaining bitterly of
+some Spaniards, who, they said, had horses, and were otherwise armed
+like ourselves. These men plundered the inhabitants of all their
+property, and forcibly carried off their wives and daughters in iron
+chains.
+
+Sandoval, it may be imagined, was exceedingly vexed at this
+intelligence. On inquiring of the caziques how far distant their
+townships lay, they told him only one day's journey. He then immediately
+marched out with sixty of us, all well-armed, and we arrived in the
+above-mentioned townships before the Spaniards there had the least
+notice of our approach; yet the instant they saw us they flew to their
+arms, but we came so suddenly upon them, that we took the greater part
+of the men with their captain prisoners, without so much as a drop of
+blood being spilt on either side. Sandoval, to use a common phrase, blew
+them up in fine style, and asked them whether theirs was justifiable
+conduct thus to ill-use his majesty's subjects, and whether the course
+they pursued was the proper method of making conquests in his majesty's
+name? He then commanded the men and women they had taken prisoners, and
+around whose necks they had fastened iron collars, to be instantly
+released and restored to the caziques of the district.
+
+We then marched back to Naco, carrying along with us our Spanish
+prisoners and their captain, whose name was Pedro de Garro. Almost the
+whole of these men had horses, and were followed by numbers of female
+Indians of Nicaragua, some of whom were uncommonly handsome; besides a
+great many female slaves to attend upon them. We others, who had
+suffered so many hardships in this expedition, had none of these
+comforts, and, in comparison with our miserable appearance, these
+Spaniards looked like so many wealthy noblemen. When we arrived in Naco,
+Cortes quartered each of them according to his respective rank and
+station, as there were several men of distinction and quality among
+them.
+
+When these men found that we formed part of Cortes' troops, their
+captain, Garro, did all in his power to ingratiate himself in Sandoval's
+and our favour, and the whole of them declared they were delighted to be
+with us. Respecting their arrival in this neighbourhood, they gave the
+following explanation.
+
+Pedro Arias de Avila was governor of Terra Firma, and had sent out
+Francisco Hernandez, one of his most distinguished officers, with a
+considerable body of foot and horse, in order to make conquests in the
+provinces of Nicaragua and Leon, which he subdued and colonized.
+Hernandez, finding that everything went on so successfully, and thinking
+himself sufficiently far removed from Pedro Arias de Avila, to do what
+he liked, listened to evil counsellors, and came to some secret
+understanding with the bachelor Moreno, above mentioned, who had been
+despatched, by the royal court of audience at St. Domingo, to Terra
+Firma, to make inquiries into the death of Balboa, whom Arias de Avila
+had most unjustly beheaded, after giving him his daughter in marriage.
+This Moreno hinted to Hernandez, that it would not amount to treachery
+if he strove to gain for himself the government of the countries he
+should subdue, which would be the more easily obtained, since Pedro
+Arias had acted so wickedly against Balboa, who had had the best claim
+to be appointed adelantado of these countries, and indeed the first of
+the two who memorialised his majesty to that effect. Francisco Hernandez
+lent a willing ear to this advice, and began by despatching his chief
+officer Pedro de Garro to the northern provinces, in search of some
+harbour where he might found a colony, and send his majesty thence an
+account of the countries he had subdued and colonized; and he doubted
+not but that his endeavours would be crowned with success, since the
+provinces of which he should petition to be the governor lay so far
+distant from Terra Firma.
+
+Respecting these matters, Sandoval and Garro had several secret
+conferences with each other, which terminated in the former writing on
+the subject to Cortes, at Truxillo, to induce him to confer on Hernandez
+the government of Nicaragua. For this purpose he despatched five of our
+men, and an equal number of Garro's troops, along the coast, to
+Truxillo, in order to convey his letters to Cortes. These men took with
+them twenty of Garro's Indians, in order to assist them in crossing the
+rivers. Their march, however, was attended with very little success, for
+they could neither pass the river Pichin nor the river Balama, both of
+which were greatly swollen, so that they returned to Naco, after a
+fortnight's absence. Sandoval was excessively annoyed at this
+circumstance, and spoke in very severe terms to the person who had the
+command of this small detachment. He then ordered captain Luis Marin,
+with ten of us, and five of Garro's men, immediately to set out for
+Truxillo, and to march thither in a direct line through the country. I
+was likewise desired to accompany Luis Marin, and we all set out on
+foot. We passed through a number of hostile townships, though, if I were
+to relate all the battles we fought with the natives; the difficulties
+we had to encounter on this journey; the rivers and estuaries we had to
+cross, sometimes by means of swimming, sometimes in canoes; the hunger
+we sustained for several days, I should not finish so easily. There
+were days in which we crossed, either in canoes or by swimming, three
+rapid streams. On approaching nearer to the coast, we had to pass arms
+of the sea which abounded with alligators, and when we arrived at the
+river Xaqua, which lay forty miles from Triunfo de la Cruz, it took us
+two whole days before we reached the opposite shore, in canoes. Here we
+saw the remains of seven horses which had belonged to Oli's troops. At
+length we arrived in Triunfo de la Cruz, where we found nothing but the
+wood of some vessels which had been wrecked. We then marched on for
+another four days, and came to the township of Guemara, where the
+inhabitants rose up in arms against us. These Indians were armed with
+long heavy lances, which they use in the same way we do ours, covering
+their bodies at the same time with a shield, which is fastened to the
+left arm. They came out against us in a large body, and we were obliged
+to fight foot to foot with them; though, after a short conflict, we cut
+our way through their crowded ranks, with only two of our men wounded.
+Their reason for attacking us was, because they thought we did not
+belong to Cortes' troops, but to a body of adventurers, who had on a
+former occasion committed depredations among them.
+
+Two days' further march brought us into the neighbourhood of Truxillo.
+It was about the hour of vespers, and we speedily came in sight of five
+persons, who were strolling along the shore on horseback, one of whom
+was our general himself, who soon recognized us at a distance, gave spur
+to his horse, and galloped up to us. He instantly dismounted, embraced
+us, with the tears flowing from his eyes, and cried out: "O, my
+companions and brothers, how I have longed to see you, and to receive
+some intelligence of you!"
+
+Cortes looked exceedingly ill, and we felt sorely grieved to see him
+thus. He had been suffering from a violent fever, which had nearly
+proved fatal to him, and he felt the more downcast, as he had not
+received any intelligence whatsoever as to how matters stood in Mexico.
+Some of our men even assured me he had been so nigh his death, that the
+Franciscan gown, in which he was to have been buried, had been got in
+readiness.
+
+After the first welcomes were past, Cortes accompanied us on foot to
+Truxillo, where we were immediately shown to our quarters, and then
+invited to sup with our general; but it was a very poor set out, for
+there was not even cassave bread to be had. The letter we brought from
+Sandoval he read to us at table, and he declared his willingness to do
+all in his power for Francisco Hernandez.
+
+Three days previously, as I mentioned above, the two small vessels from
+St. Domingo ran into the harbour of Truxillo, but had unfortunately
+brought nothing in the shape of provisions, excepting a pipe of wine. It
+would, however, have been much better for us if these vessels had never
+arrived, for the whole of us got greatly into debt, by purchasing
+various articles of wearing apparel, and Spanish gewgaws.
+
+We were still in conversation with Cortes, when some one came running in
+with the information that another vessel was making full sail for the
+harbour. This vessel came direct from the Havannah, and had been
+despatched hither by the licentiate Zuazo, whom Cortes had appointed
+alcalde-mayor of Mexico. Zuazo sent our general some refreshments by
+this vessel, and a letter, the important contents of which I will give
+as nearly as possible in the next chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXV.
+
+    _How Cortes receives a letter from the licentiate Zuazo out of the
+    Havannah, and of its contents._
+
+
+After this vessel had cast anchor, the captain, who was a person of
+quality, stepped on shore, announced his arrival to Cortes, and handed
+over to him a letter from the licentiate Zuazo. The grief which this
+letter occasioned our general was so excessive, that he was heard to sob
+aloud in his apartment, nor did he show himself again until the next
+morning, which was a Sunday. The night previous he confessed to father
+Juan, and had desired that the mass might be performed very early in the
+morning, and he then made the communion. After mass had been said, he
+ordered us all into his presence, and communicated to us the news he had
+received with regard to the affairs of New Spain.
+
+To begin, we now learnt, that on the bare rumour of our having perished
+on the expedition to the Honduras, our property had been seized, and
+sold to the highest bidder; and our Indians distributed among people who
+were least deserving of them.
+
+Upon this followed the intelligence which had been received from Diego
+de Ordas, and our general's father, Martin Cortes, respecting the
+slanderous letters which the accountant Albornoz had despatched to his
+majesty against Cortes; and the commands which the emperor had, in
+consequence, issued to the admiral of St. Domingo; and how the duke of
+Bejar had, for a time, dispersed the storm which was thickening over our
+general's head. Those two gentlemen at the same time mentioned that the
+captain Narvaez had been empowered by his majesty to subdue the
+countries lying on the river Palmas; that a certain Nuņo de Guzman was
+appointed governor of the province of Panuco; and that Cortes' great
+enemy, the bishop of Burgos, was dead.
+
+With respect to the affairs of New Spain, they were in a most dreadful
+state of confusion. As soon as the factor Gonzalo Salazar and the veedor
+Pedro Almindez Chirinos arrived in Mexico from Guacasualco, with their
+credentials, by virtue of which they were empowered to take the
+government of New Spain into their own hands if they observed that the
+treasurer Alonso de Estrada and the accountant Albornoz began to govern
+badly, they allied themselves with the licentiate Zuazo, alcalde-mayor
+of Mexico, Rodrigo de Paz, alguacil-mayor, Andreas de Tapia, Jorge de
+Alvarado, and the whole of the veteran Conquistadores then staying in
+that city. When they thought their party was sufficiently numerous, they
+came forth with their commissions, and maintained that they alone were
+the real governors, and that neither the treasurer nor accountant ought
+to have any share in it whatever. This created terrible factions in the
+city, which ended in a regular battle, and many were killed on both
+sides.
+
+The factor and the veedor, in the end, gained the upper hand, and cast
+their two opponents, with several of their adherents, into prison. But
+the opposite party was not put down by this, and not a day passed
+without a conflict between the two, while the inhabitants became
+continually more embittered against the new governors, who distributed
+the Indians among their creatures and other worthless fellows. Nor was
+it long before the triumphant party fell out among themselves. The
+licentiate Zuazo was obstructed, in every way, in the exercise of his
+office, and Rodrigo de Paz was even thrown into prison for siding with
+him. The latter had done all in his power to bring about a
+reconciliation between the four claimants to the governorship, in which
+he had fortunately succeeded; but this harmony was of no longer duration
+than eight days, when hostilities again burst out between them.
+
+About this time, also, the provinces of the Zapotecs and Minxes, besides
+the extensive and well-fortified township of Coatlan, again revolted,
+and the veedor Chirinos marched against them in person, at the head of
+some Spanish soldiers, all of whom had but recently arrived from Spain,
+and were, consequently, little accustomed to Indian warfare. This
+campaign put the royal treasury to vast expense, although nothing but
+debauchery and gambling went on in the camp; while the veedor put the
+money into his own pocket which he ought to have given the Indians, in
+exchange for their provisions. The inhabitants of Coatlan, finding the
+Spaniards little upon their guard, fell suddenly upon their encampment
+one night, killed a number of the men, and wounded a great many more.
+The factor, upon this, despatched one of Cortes' officers, Andreas de
+Monjaraz, who was a close adherent of his, to the assistance of his
+associate in office; but Monjaraz's aid was of very little use, as he
+was suffering severely from virulent swellings in his groins, so that he
+was scarcely able to move about. The Indians were each time victorious,
+and it was greatly feared the Mexicans themselves would rise up in arms.
+Notwithstanding all these unfavorable circumstances, the factor was very
+diligent in accomplishing his main object, which was, to forward his
+majesty, and the comendador-mayor of Leon, Don Francisco de las Cobas,
+as much gold as he could possibly scrape together, to gain their good
+wishes, particularly as about that time the rumour was fast spreading
+that Cortes and the whole of us had been cut off by the Indians in a
+township called Xicalango.
+
+During these troubles, Diego de Ordas, whom Cortes had despatched to
+Spain, returned to Mexico, and had been, as I have above related, highly
+honoured by his majesty. When he saw the party-spirit which was raging,
+and that a total anarchy must soon follow, he united himself closely to
+the factor, and declared that he would repair in person to the coast of
+Honduras, to gain some certain information with regard to the fate of
+Cortes. He actually fitted out a large vessel and a brigantine, and
+sailed along the coast until he arrived at Xicalango, where, as I have
+mentioned in a former chapter, Simon de Cuenca and Francisco de Medina
+perished, with all their men. The accounts which Ordas could gather here
+went to confirm all that had been rumoured respecting our total
+destruction. He therefore returned to New Spain, and wrote word to the
+factor, without going on shore, that there was now no doubt of Cortes
+having perished, with all who accompanied him on the expedition. After
+despatching this letter to Mexico, he immediately set sail for Cuba, in
+order to purchase cows and horses there.
+
+The factor, on receiving this intelligence from de Ordas, made it known
+to every one, and subsequently the whole of Cortes' old soldiers and
+friends put on mourning, and even a tomb was erected to his memory in
+the chief church of Mexico. The factor then, under sound of trumpet and
+drum, had himself proclaimed governor and captain-general of New Spain.
+His next step was, to order the wives of those who were supposed to have
+perished with Cortes to pray for their late husbands' souls, and to form
+new marriages, all of which was likewise made known in Guacasualco and
+other townships. He even went so far as to order the wife of a certain
+Alonso Valiente to be publicly scourged for a witch through the streets
+of Mexico, for having declared her determination not to marry again, as
+she was sure that Cortes and the whole of us were still alive, and that
+we should shortly make our appearance, for we, the veteran
+Conquistadores, said she, were a very different kind of soldiers to
+those who marched out under the veedor to Coatlan, against whom the
+Indians made war, not they against the Indians. The veedor was soon
+surrounded by a vile set of flatterers, who supported him in all his
+measures; and one Spaniard, whom we had always considered to be a man of
+honour, but whose name I will refrain from mentioning, had the
+shamelessness to assure the factor, in presence of several persons, that
+as he was one night passing over the Tlatelulco, near the church of
+Santiago, where the great temple of Huitzilopochtli once stood, he had
+seen the souls of Cortes, Doņa Marina, and Sandoval burning in livid
+flames in a courtyard near this church. This had frightened him to such
+a degree, he added, that he fell ill in consequence.
+
+There was also another Spaniard, whose name I will suppress, because we
+had always greatly esteemed him, who related a similar circumstance,
+telling the factor that evil spirits were seen flitting up and down the
+great squares of Tezcuco, which the Indians said, were the departed
+souls of Cortes and Doņa Marina. But all these were of course infamous
+lies, merely invented to flatter the factor, or most likely he had
+promulgated them himself.
+
+About this time Francisco de las Casas and Gil Gonsalez de Avila arrived
+in Mexico, the officers who, we saw in a former chapter, ordered
+Christobal de Oli to be decapitated at Naco. Las Casas, seeing the
+disordered state of the government, and that the factor had proclaimed
+himself governor of New Spain, publicly declared that the conduct which
+had been pursued was bad, and that nothing of all this ought to have
+been permitted, as Cortes was still alive. But even if he had perished,
+which God forbid, the government ought to have devolved upon a person of
+higher rank than the factor, a cavalier of distinction and merit; for
+instance, on Pedro de Alvarado, whom, he maintained, ought to be called
+to take the government into his hands. The latter's brother, indeed, and
+even the treasurer, besides several other of the inhabitants of Mexico,
+actually wrote to that officer, requesting him to march, without delay,
+to this town, at the head of as large a body of troops as he could
+possibly get together, and they would assist him in getting him
+proclaimed governor, until some certainty was obtained respecting the
+fate of Cortes, and his majesty's pleasure was known as to whom his
+successor should be. In consequence of this letter, Alvarado set out on
+his march to Mexico, but on the road he changed his mind and returned
+to his province, when he heard that the factor threatened to put him to
+death, and had already hung Rodrigo de Paz, and cast the licentiate
+Zuazo into prison.
+
+The factor had, shortly beforehand, scraped together as much gold as he
+possibly could, which he intended forwarding, with secret despatches, to
+his majesty in Spain, through his most confidential friend, a certain
+Pennas. This was opposed by Las Casas, the licentiate Zuazo, Rodrigo de
+Paz, the treasurer, and the accountant, who maintained that it was wrong
+to announce Cortes' death to his majesty before they had gained some
+certainty as to his fate; but they had no objection to forward the
+emperor all the gold arising from the royal fifths; only this should be
+done in common, and with the consent of the treasurer and of the
+accountant, and not in the factor's name alone. As this gold was put on
+board a vessel which was about to set sail for Spain, Las Casas, by
+authority of the alcalde-mayor Zuazo, and in understanding with Rodrigo
+de Paz and the other crown officers, repaired to the sea coast, in order
+to detain the vessel until they should all have drawn up a faithful
+account of the state of affairs in New Spain, and to despatch it to his
+majesty by this same opportunity. As it was of the first importance to
+the factor to prevent this if he wished to further his own ends, he
+ordered Las Casas and the licentiate Zuazo to be imprisoned. He then
+instituted a criminal suit against Las Casas and Gonsalez de Avila for
+the execution of Christobal de Oli, when both were found guilty, and
+sentenced to decapitation, which was very nigh being put into execution;
+but they succeeded, by the utmost of their exertions, in obtaining an
+appeal to his majesty. The factor, consequently, sent them prisoners to
+Spain, and, to rid himself of Zuazo, he sent him on a mule to Vera Cruz,
+where he ordered him to be put on board a vessel bound for Cuba, which
+the factor maintained was his proper place of abode, as he had
+previously filled the office of judge in that island. But the
+unfortunate Rodrigo de Paz fared worse than all; him he cast into irons,
+and wished to extort from him where Cortes' gold and silver lay hid,
+which he must know, as he was the latter's major-domo. This treasure, he
+said, he was desirous of forwarding to his majesty, whom Cortes had
+secretly robbed of it; but as Rodrigo de Paz (against all probability
+however) declared he knew nothing of any such treasure, the factor put
+him to the torture by pouring boiling oil over the soles of his feet;
+and after he had exhausted his strength by this, as well as by keeping
+him in close confinement, he at length hung him for a rebel, in order to
+put it out of his power of ever bringing any accusations against him for
+so much ill-treatment. The factor at the same time issued orders for
+the apprehension of the greater part of the soldiers and inhabitants of
+Mexico who had remained true to Cortes. These persons, seeing the storm
+that was brooding over them, retired with Jorge de Alvarado and Andreas
+de Tapia into the cloister of the Franciscans, as their party was too
+weak to bid defiance to the factor, and most of the veteran
+Conquistadores were with Cortes in the Honduras, and a great number had
+closely allied themselves to the factor, who had gained them over to his
+side by bestowing lucrative commendaries on them. But as the factor
+still feared the inhabitants of Mexico might each moment rise up in arms
+against him, and a desperate conflict ensue, he ordered all the arms to
+be taken out of the arsenal, and had them brought into his palace, in
+front of which he mounted all the cannon of the fortress, and those
+which served for the protection of the harbour. The chief command of
+this park of artillery he gave to Don Luis de Guzman, a relative of the
+duke of Medina Sidonia. In the same way he formed a body guard, in which
+were found the names of Gines Nortes, Pedro Gonsalez Sabiote, and others
+of Cortes' soldiers. A certain Artiaga he appointed captain of this
+guard.
+
+Zuazo advised our general to use the utmost circumspection, in case he
+should repair in person to New Spain, as other things had happened even
+of a worse nature; for instance, the factor had written to acquaint his
+majesty that a stamp had been found in Cortes' bureau, with which he was
+accustomed to mark the gold that was secretly brought to him by the
+Indians, thereby to avoid paying the royal fifth.
+
+In order that Cortes might form some notion as to how matters stood in
+Mexico, he (Zuazo) would give him the following instance: One of the
+Spanish inhabitants of Guacasualco had come to Mexico, to apply for some
+property, which had become vacant by the death of one of the settlers
+there. In Mexico he happened to lodge with a Spanish woman, who had
+married a second time, on the supposition that her former husband had
+perished with Cortes; he reproached her for having married again, and
+assured her that Cortes and the whole of us were still alive. All this
+was reported to the factor, who instantly despatched four alguacils to
+bind him hand and foot, in which way he was dragged to prison. He would
+even have hung him for creating sedition, but the poor fellow, whose
+name was Gonsalo Hernandez, swore that he had only said it to console
+the woman, for she still bitterly mourned the loss of her husband. He
+further said, that he was quite sure we were all cut off to a man by the
+Indians, for he had received positive information of it. This confession
+of Hernandez made all right again; he obtained the property for which
+he had petitioned, but was ordered to quit Mexico forthwith, and
+assured that, if he ever again mentioned a word about Cortes being
+alive, he would, undoubtedly, be put to death.
+
+Zuazo also communicated the mournful death of the excellent father
+Olmedo, who died shortly after Cortes' departure from Mexico; the whole
+of the inhabitants of which city had shed tears for the loss of this
+holy man. He was buried in the church of Santiago, and the Indians
+fasted from the day of his decease up to the moment of his funeral. The
+Franciscan monks held a beautiful funeral oration over his body, in
+which they enumerated all his great virtues, and said that the emperor
+was as much indebted to him as to us, the veteran Conquistadores, for
+the conquest of New Spain; but the still greater praise was due to him
+for giving the Indians a knowledge of God, and for having opened to them
+the gates of heaven. They knew, these Franciscans said, that he alone
+had baptized above 2500 Indians; that the good he had done by his advice
+and kindness was endless; and that he had been a father to the poor. In
+short, concluded Zuazo, all is lost in Mexico; and thus matters stood,
+when I was thrown on the back of a mule, and sent in chains to the place
+whence I date my letter.
+
+When Cortes had finished reading this letter to us, our grief and
+vexation were without bounds; nor did we spare our abuse of him who, in
+addition to the many hardships and fatigues we suffered, had also
+brought this calamity upon us. We vented a thousand curses upon Cortes,
+as well as upon the factor, and every one expressed his sentiments
+aloud, without any reserve. But Cortes himself could not refrain from
+shedding tears. He again shut himself up for half a day with the letter,
+and would not allow any one to come near him. When he made his
+reappearance, we unanimously proposed to him immediately to embark with
+the three vessels which lay in the harbour for New Spain. To this he
+replied, in the most affectionate manner, as follows: "O! my sons and
+companions, with so worthless a character as the factor a person must be
+particularly on his guard. This man has at present the government in his
+own hands, and is villain enough, if he should get us into his power, to
+put us all to death. Wherefore I intend, with God's assistance, to
+embark with no more than four or five of you gentlemen, and to land in
+some harbour where my arrival will not be immediately known in Mexico;
+not, until we are enabled to march with a considerable force into this
+metropolis: besides which, Sandoval is with too small a body of troops
+in Naco for you all to leave him; wherefore you, Luis Marin, must again
+join him with your small detachment, and desire him to commence his
+march as speedily as possible through the province of Guatimala to
+Mexico."
+
+Our general then wrote to the captain Francisco Hernandez, who was
+staying at Nicaragua, offering to promote his interests to the utmost of
+his power, and sent him two mules laden with horseshoes, of which he
+knew he was in great want; a quantity of agricultural implements,
+several splendid articles of dress, and four pieces of beautiful plate,
+besides several golden ornaments. With these things a certain Cabrera,
+one of the five men of Garro's troops, who had accompanied us to
+Truxillo, was despatched to the camp of Hernandez. This Cabrera was a
+hidalgo by birth, and a native of Old Castile, an officer of great
+courage and muscular power, who subsequently gained so much renown as
+captain under Benalcazar. He became quartermaster-general of Blasco
+Nuņez Vela, and fell in the same battle with the viceroy.
+
+When I found that Cortes was determined to proceed to New Spain by
+water, I earnestly begged he would allow me to accompany him, and
+desired him to remember that, in all the dangers he had undergone, and
+in the battles he had fought, I never had flinched from his side; how
+faithfully I had always cooperated with him to accomplish his objects;
+and that now he had an opportunity of showing me he valued the services
+I had rendered to him. When I had done speaking, Cortes gave me a hearty
+embrace, and said, "If I take you along with me, my son, who will be
+with Sandoval? I therefore beg of you to remain with your friend, and I
+swear to you by my beard that I will reward you for it, and believe me I
+shall never forget the services you have rendered me." In short, all I
+might say was to no purpose; he would not allow me to accompany him.
+
+While we were still lying in Truxillo, a cavalier, named Rodrigo
+Mannueca, wished by some means or other to enliven Cortes, who was
+exceedingly downcast, and certainly required something to rouse his
+spirits; for which purpose he, with several other cavaliers, clambered
+suddenly, in full armour, to the top of a house, which the Indians had
+recently built; but this bit of fun terminated fatally for Mannueca. The
+house stood upon a hill of considerable height, and poor Mannueca fell
+through the roof, broke his ribs, and died shortly after of the
+consequences.
+
+Another circumstance likewise caused our general much grief, which was,
+that several of the cavaliers of the town, being dissatisfied with the
+appointments he had given them, boldly refused to obey him, and he could
+only succeed in quieting them by promising that they should accompany
+him to Mexico, when he would bestow honorable appointments on them all.
+
+He then desired Diego de Godoy, whom he had appointed commandant of
+Puerto de Caballos, to repair to Naco with those of the inhabitants, who
+were suffering from ill health, and unable to live any longer in the
+former place, on account of the innumerable swarms of moschitoes and
+flies. The rest of us, under command of Luis Marin, were to take our
+route overland to Mexico, and, if possible, to march through the
+province of Nicaragua, the government of which our general meant to
+petition his majesty to join to that of New Spain.
+
+We then took leave of Cortes, just as he was about embarking for Mexico,
+and we marched in a direct line for Naco, in the best spirits, because
+we were now on our return to New Spain. After suffering a great deal of
+fatigue and hunger, we arrived safely in Naco, to the great joy of
+Sandoval. Pedro de Garro had already left, with the whole of his men for
+Nicaragua, to inform his captain, Francisco Hernandez, of the
+arrangements he had made with Sandoval; neither did we lose a moment's
+time, but broke up our quarters for Mexico the morning after we arrived
+in Naco.
+
+I will not tire the reader by relating to him what happened to us on
+this long march, but rather acquaint him with the unfortunate end of
+Francisco Hernandez.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXVI.
+
+    _How Pedro Arias de Avila is apprized by two of his confidants that
+    Francisco Hernandez was in close correspondence with Cortes, and
+    about to declare his independence of him; the steps which Arias took
+    upon this._
+
+
+Among the troops under Francisco Hernandez there were two soldiers,
+named Garavita and Zamorano, who were close adherents to Pedro Arias,
+the governor of Terra Firma. When these men saw the presents which
+Cortes had sent to Hernandez, and observed how the latter held secret
+conferences with Garro and other of his officers, they suspected that
+Hernandez designed giving Cortes possession of the province of
+Nicaragua. They consequently hastened off to communicate their
+suspicions to Arias. Garavita, in particular, evinced a considerable
+degree of zeal in this matter, for he had an old spite against our
+general; namely, when they were both young men, and living at St.
+Domingo, they came to blows about some woman, and Garavita came off
+worst, with a thorough good drubbing.
+
+On receiving this information, Arias marched out in person, at the head
+of a large body of troops, and soon arrived in Nicaragua, where he
+instantly seized Hernandez. Pedro de Garro had been wise enough not to
+await his arrival, and sought refuge in our camp. The former had had
+sufficient time to have done the same, but, unfortunately for him, he
+put his trust in the previous friendship which existed between himself
+and Pedro Arias, and felt quite confident the latter would behave
+leniently towards him. Arias, however, paid no respect to former
+friendship, but immediately put him upon his trial, and as it was proved
+that he intended to declare his independence of his commander-in-chief,
+Arias sentenced him to decapitation, which was put into execution in the
+town which he had himself founded shortly beforehand. This was all the
+unfortunate Hernandez gained by the treaty of Pedro Garro with Cortes,
+and the fine presents which the latter had sent him!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXVII.
+
+    _How Cortes, after setting sail, was twice obliged to put back into
+    the harbour of Truxillo; and what further happened._
+
+
+Cortes, after setting sail from Truxillo two several times, was again
+obliged to put back into the harbour; the first time on account of a
+tremendous storm which arose, and the second time on account of the
+foremast snapping in two. As our general was suffering both bodily and
+mentally, and had been severely attacked by sea-sickness, he determined
+to postpone his voyage to Mexico to a more favorable season of the year;
+which he felt the more inclined to do, as he feared the factor might
+seize his person, and throw him into prison. After he had put back for
+the second time into Truxillo, he desired father Juan, who had set sail
+with him, to perform the mass of the Holy Ghost, to make a solemn
+procession, and to supplicate the Almighty, and the Holy Mary our Lady
+the Virgin, to enlighten his understanding, and lead him in that path by
+which he could exert himself most in the holy service of God. By this
+means, it appears, he was enlightened by the Holy Spirit not to leave
+this province at present, but to continue its colonization. He then
+despatched three couriers to us in all haste, with orders for us to
+discontinue our march to Mexico, and to proceed with the further
+conquest of the country, as his guardian angel, he said, had pointed out
+this course to him.
+
+When these commands were made known to us, we were ready to burst with
+rage; we poured out a thousand maledictions upon the man who seemed
+entirely deserted by his previous good fortune, and who was now working
+out our total ruin. We boldly told Sandoval to his face he might remain
+in this country if he liked, but we were determined not to be completely
+ruined, and would continue our march to Mexico. Sandoval acknowledged
+that we were in the right, and said he would only request of us to halt
+until he had informed Cortes of the resolution we had come to, and we
+had received his answer in return.
+
+We then drew up a letter, which was signed by every one of us, and we
+despatched it to our general by the same couriers who had brought us his
+commands. His answer speedily arrived, in which vast promises were made
+to all those who would consent to remain in this country for the
+present; but at the very top of the letter was put: "I have only to tell
+those who do not choose to obey my commands, that there are plenty of
+soldiers in Spain."
+
+When we received this answer, we were determined to give ourselves no
+further trouble about him, and forthwith to continue our march to
+Mexico; but Sandoval entreated us so earnestly, and with so much
+kindness, to have patience for a few days longer, as he would repair in
+person to Truxillo, to persuade Cortes to embark, that we consented to
+write an answer to his last letter, in which we requested him to take
+our present position into his consideration, and to remember that all
+our misfortunes were owing to this expedition. It was in supporting his
+cause, we said, that our possessions had been sold by public auction,
+and our Indians given away to other persons. Those among us who had left
+wives and children in New Spain were up to this time without any tidings
+of them. We therefore urgently begged of him to embark for Mexico
+without delay. With respect to the taunt which he threw out against us,
+of there being plenty of soldiers in Spain, we, in our turn, could
+remind him that there were also numbers of governors and celebrated
+captains in Mexico at present, who would be too happy to receive us, and
+to return our Indians to us; wherefore we were not exactly dependent on
+his kind considerations.
+
+With this letter Sandoval set out for Truxillo, accompanied by Pedro de
+Sauzedo the snub-nose, and Francisco Donaire the blacksmith. When
+Sandoval was mounting his motilla, he made a solemn oath that he would
+do all in his power to persuade Cortes to embark for Mexico.
+
+Since I have mentioned Sandoval's motilla, I may as well take the
+opportunity of saying a few words of this splendid horse. This animal
+was remarkably well trained for the field of battle, was of a dark
+chesnut colour, and so exquisitely beautiful in its proportions, that
+there was nothing to equal it in New Spain. The fame of this horse was
+so great, that it even reached the ears of the emperor, which induced
+Sandoval to present it to his majesty. While I am speaking about horses,
+I remember that Sandoval once offered to exchange one of his horses for
+mine, which was likewise a powerful and well-trained animal; indeed I
+had paid Avalos, the brother of Saavedra, 600 pesos for it, after I had
+lost a former one in our attack upon the township of Zulaco, for which I
+had paid a similar sum. I took Sandoval's offer, and we made an
+exchange; but I had scarcely done so, when it was killed in an
+engagement. I had now only a miserable young colt left, which I
+purchased from the merchants who had put into Truxillo with the two
+vessels above mentioned.
+
+Sandoval, before his departure, addressed us in the most affectionate
+terms, and appointed Luis Marin chief in command during his absence. We
+quartered ourselves in the Marayani townships, and afterwards in the
+large township of Acalteca, where we were to await Sandoval's return.
+When Cortes had read our letter, he appeared greatly perplexed,
+particularly as he had sent out all his troops under his cousin Saavedra
+against the Indians, who had risen up in arms, and refused all further
+obedience to him. Sandoval, with Pedro Sauzedo, and father Juan, who
+likewise longed to return to Mexico, might say what they liked; it was
+all to no purpose; our general obstinately refused to embark.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXVIII.
+
+    _How Cortes despatches one of his servants, named Martin de Orantes
+    to Mexico, with letters to Francisco de las Casas and Pedro de
+    Alvarado, in which he empowers them to take upon themselves the
+    chief government of New Spain; but in case they were absent he
+    conferred the same power on Estrada and Albornoz._
+
+
+As Cortes could not be persuaded to embark in person for New Spain, but
+was determined to continue the colonization of the country about
+Truxillo, although he could do no more than he had done, Sandoval and he
+at length agreed to despatch to Mexico one of the officers of his
+household, named Martin de Orantes, a remarkably shrewd and clever man,
+who might have been intrusted with business of the greatest importance.
+This Orantes was furnished with papers by Cortes, in which he gave Pedro
+de Alvarado and Francisco de las Casas, if they were in Mexico, full
+power to take upon themselves the chief government of New Spain until
+Cortes' return thither. If, however, they were not staying there, then
+he conferred this power on the treasurer Alonso de Estrada, and the
+accountant Albornoz. Cortes, at the same time, deprived the factor and
+veedor of any share in the government, and wrote very friendly letters
+both to Estrada and Albornoz, although he was well aware how the latter
+had calumniated him to his majesty. He likewise sent letters to all
+those of the Conquistadores whom he knew favoured his party. Orantes
+himself took the chief command of the vessel which was to convey him,
+and he was instructed to run into a certain bay which lay between Vera
+Cruz and Panuco. No one was to go on shore but Orantes, and the vessel
+was instantly to return when he had landed, to which the pilot and
+sailors were bound down by a solemn oath, and richly remunerated, that
+they might not be induced to break it.
+
+The best of the three vessels lying in the harbour was fitted out for
+this purpose, and after Orantes, with all the crew had attended mass, he
+set sail with a favorable wind. The Almighty prospered this voyage so
+greatly that the vessel arrived in the bay determined upon, and Orantes,
+according to his instructions, immediately disembarked. After he had
+offered up his prayers to Heaven for his safe arrival, he disguised
+himself in the dress of a labourer, and so set out on foot for Mexico.
+He had taken the great precaution to conceal his papers next to his
+skin, and as he was an excellent pedestrian he soon reached some Indian
+townships, where also a few Spaniards were staying, whom he avoided as
+much as he possibly could, that he might not be recognized by them. Now
+and then, indeed, he could not help coming up with a Spaniard, yet they
+did not recognize him, as he had been absent for two years and three
+months, in which time he had allowed his beard to grow. If any one asked
+him who he was and whence he came, he told them, that his name was Juan
+de Flechilla, and that he was a poor labourer. By this means he passed
+through the country without being recognized, and he made so much haste
+that he arrived in Mexico on the fourth day after landing. It was in the
+night-time he entered the town, and he instantly repaired to the
+cloister of the Franciscans, where he found a considerable number of
+Cortes' friends, who had sought refuge there from the factor's
+persecutions. Of these the principal personages were Jorge de Alvarado,
+Andreas de Tapia, Juan Nuņez de Mercado, Pedro Moreno Medrano, and
+several other of the veteran Conquistadores.
+
+As soon as these men recognized Orantes, and learnt from him that Cortes
+was alive and had despatched him with letters to them, they were almost
+overcome with joy, and jumped about the room as if they had been out of
+their senses. Even the Franciscan monks themselves, with brother Toribio
+Motolinia, and brother Domingo Altamirano, danced about the room with
+delight, and offered up fervent thanks to God for this good news. All
+the doors of the cloister were immediately fastened and no one allowed
+egress, as there were several persons among them who were not to be
+trusted. About the hour of midnight the treasurer Estrada and the
+accountant Albornoz were sent for, besides several other of Cortes'
+adherents, the whole of whom hastened to the cloister in all secrecy.
+The commissions which Orantes had brought were read aloud, and all
+present were unanimously of opinion that their first step must be to
+seize the factor's person. The whole night was spent in deliberations
+and letting into the secret those in whom they could place confidence;
+the necessary arms were got in readiness, and early in the morning a
+sudden attack was to be made upon the factor's palace. Fortunately, the
+veedor was still stationed with the troops in Coatlan, so that they had
+not much opposition to fear. As soon as daylight appeared the whole of
+Cortes' adherents sallied forth in a body from the cloister, accompanied
+by Orantes, that every one might see him, and they hastened off to the
+factor's abode, under the cry of: "_Long live the emperor, and in his
+imperial name Hernando Cortes, who is still alive and will shortly
+arrive in person! I, his servant Orantes, have come to announce his
+approach._"
+
+The inhabitants, hearing this sudden alarm so early in the morning, flew
+as usual to arms, imagining their aid was required in the name of his
+majesty; and scarcely had they recognized Orantes, and heard that Cortes
+was alive, when they joined Estrada in great numbers. The accountant
+Albornoz, however, though Cortes had appointed him joint governor with
+the former, evinced very little zeal in this matter; the steps which had
+been taken did not seem to meet with his approbation, and he expressed
+himself in so dubious a manner that Estrada was obliged to put him in
+mind of a few circumstances which soon brought him to his proper senses.
+
+When they approached the dwelling of the factor, they found him quite on
+his guard, for he had been secretly informed by the accountant Albornoz
+of what was going to happen. The park of artillery, under the command
+of Don Luis de Guzman, a nephew of the duke of Medina Sidonia, was ready
+loaded, and the factor's body-guard, commanded by the captain Artiaga,
+Gines Nortes, and Pedro Gonsalez, stood ready drawn out to defend any
+attack upon the palace. But Jorge de Alvarado and the confederates were
+not to be daunted by this, and forced their way into the palace, from
+different sides, some even clambered to the top of the roof and forced
+an entrance that way. The cannons were certainly fired off against them,
+but the captain of the artillery, Guzman, fired in one direction and the
+artillerymen in another; Artiaga, captain of the guards, concealed
+himself, and Gines Nortes took to his heels. At last the factor had no
+one about his person but Pedro Sabiote, and four of his servants.
+Finding his men had thus deserted him, he seized a match in order to
+fire the cannon himself; but the confederates rushed so suddenly upon
+him that he was obliged to surrender himself prisoner. For the moment a
+strong guard was put over him, until a cage was constructed of heavy
+beams, in which he was then securely fastened.
+
+Thus ended the power of this man, and couriers were despatched in all
+haste to every town in New Spain, to spread the news. This change was
+hailed by some, but others again, on whom the factor had bestowed
+commendaries, seemed anything but pleased; and when intelligence of the
+factor's overthrow reached the camps at Coatlan and Oaxaca, the veedor
+was so excessively alarmed at the bad news that he fell ill, conferred
+the chief command of the troops on Monjaraz, who was suffering
+dreadfully from disease of the groins, and he actually sought refuge in
+the Franciscan cloister at Tezcuco. By this time, however, the new
+governors had despatched a number of Alguacils in search of him; when,
+therefore, they learnt whither he had flown, they entered the cloister
+without any ceremony, and carried him off prisoner to Mexico, where he
+was locked up in a similar cage to that which the factor inhabited.
+
+Upon this, couriers were sent to Guatimala, to inform Alvarado of the
+fall of the factor and veedor. As the province he was then staying in
+was not very distant from Truxillo, the confederates also conveyed to
+him their letters to Cortes, containing an account as to how the whole
+affair had been managed, and that it was necessary for him to repair to
+Mexico in all haste. With these letters Alvarado was requested to set
+off in person for Truxillo, and when there he was to urge Cortes to
+leave without any further delay. The first thing which Estrada did was
+to restore Juana de Mansilla to honour, whom, it will be remembered, the
+factor had whipped for a witch through the streets of Mexico. The
+following was the method which Estrada adopted to honour this injured
+woman; the whole of the cavaliers were ordered to mount their horses, he
+himself placing Juana Mansilla on his saddle behind him, and in this
+way, at the head of the cavalcade, he paraded every street of the city.
+"This woman," he said, "had behaved like the Roman matrons of old,
+wherefore the insult which had been offered to her person by the factor,
+should now be made to exalt her in the estimation of all honest men."
+And, indeed, she could not be too highly honoured for the praiseworthy
+conduct she had pursued, and ever after she was addressed as Doņa Juana
+de Mansilla. The factor could not induce her to form a second marriage,
+and, notwithstanding all his persecution, she had steadfastly maintained
+that her husband and all of us were still alive.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CLXXXIX.
+
+    _How the treasurer, with several other cavaliers, requested the
+    Franciscan monks to despatch father Diego de Altamirano, a relation
+    of Cortes, to Truxillo, to desire our general to hasten his
+    departure for Mexico._
+
+
+The treasurer and other cavaliers of Cortes' party soon saw how
+necessary it was that our general should lose no time in repairing to
+New Spain, for a strong party was already forming against him, which
+might become the more formidable, as no reliance was to be placed on
+Albornoz. This man had, from the very commencement, greatly disapproved
+of the imprisonment of the factor and veedor: his principal reason for
+which was, that he feared Cortes might have received intelligence of the
+infamous manner in which he had calumniated him in secret letters to the
+emperor. Cortes' party, therefore, considered there was not a moment to
+be lost, and begged of the Franciscan monks to despatch father Diego de
+Altamirano to Truxillo, for which purpose they had already fitted out a
+vessel, manned with the best sailors. They had purposely made choice of
+father Diego, from his being related to Cortes, and because he had
+formerly been a soldier, and was altogether a man of business-like
+habits. Altamirano readily undertook to fulfil this commission, and the
+other brothers gave their immediate consent to his departure.
+
+Matters were now daily gaining a more unfavorable aspect in Mexico. The
+accountant Albornoz, as I have already stated, bore a dubious character,
+and was very adverse to the recent change; besides which, the factor
+himself had still a number of adherents among the more turbulent
+spirits, whose friendship he had gained with gold and lucrative
+commendaries. These personages, therefore, secretly conspired with
+several other men of distinction, to murder the treasurer, with the
+whole of his party, and to liberate the factor and veedor from their
+cages. When the accountant was let into this secret, it is said, he was
+excessively delighted.
+
+The conspirators commenced their operations by enlisting among their
+number a locksmith, named Guzman, a very poor fellow, but much addicted
+to low wit. They first made him take an oath of secrecy, and then
+commissioned him to construct a key to open the cages in which the
+factor and veedor were imprisoned, and to ensure his fidelity they gave
+him a large piece of gold. This man declared he was ready to serve them
+as much as lay in his power, and appeared the more eager to do so the
+more they assured him of the importance of his services, and the more he
+became acquainted with the extent of the conspiracy. He made every
+appearance as if he wished nothing more sincerely than the liberation of
+the factor and veedor, and inquired the names and number of the
+conspirators, with the day and hour they intended to rise up in arms.
+After he had gained sufficient information of every circumstance he
+commenced making a key according to the impression they had given him,
+but purposely constructed it in such a manner as not to open the lock,
+that the conspirators might return with it to him. As in this way they
+came several times backwards and forwards to his shop, he continually
+gained further information respecting their plans. When the whole of the
+conspirators stood ready armed, merely awaiting his key to commence the
+murderous attack, the locksmith hastened to Estrada and discovered the
+whole plot to him.
+
+The treasurer, without saying a word to Albornoz, instantly assembled
+the whole of Cortes' party, and repaired at their head to the house
+where the conspirators had met for the purpose of sallying out in a body
+at a preconcerted signal. Twenty of their number were soon seized, but
+the rest saved themselves by a precipitate flight. The prisoners were
+instantly put upon their trial, when it was clearly proved that they
+contemplated murdering the treasurer and liberating the factor and
+veedor. It was also discovered that Albornoz was cognisant of the
+conspiracy, and that three or four very dangerous and rebellious fellows
+were concerned in it, who had performed a conspicuous part in all the
+disorders that had taken place in Mexico during Cortes' absence, one of
+whom had even insulted a Spanish lady in the grossest manner. A
+criminal suit was soon after instituted against these latter personages
+by the bachelor Ortega, alcalde-mayor of Mexico. The whole of them were
+found guilty of sedition, three were sentenced to be hung, and several
+of the other conspirators to be scourged. Those sentenced to the gallows
+were Pastrana, Valverde, and Escobar; the names of the others I have
+forgotten.
+
+As for the locksmith, he durst not venture out of doors for several
+days; fearing the partisans of the factor would assassinate him in
+revenge for having betrayed the secret.
+
+Although it may be thought rather out of place here, I must observe that
+the factor had indeed despatched to Spain the vessel, mentioned in a
+former chapter, with the gold which he had collected for his majesty. In
+his despatches he stated Cortes' death as a fact of which there was not
+the slightest doubt; he then went on to magnify the great confidence
+which all parties placed in him (the factor); and he concluded by
+petitioning his majesty to confer the appointment of governor on him.
+However, by this same vessel, other letters were secretly forwarded to
+his majesty, in which his majesty was duly apprized of every
+circumstance that had transpired in New Spain, with a full account of
+the tyrannical and cruel government of the factor. His majesty was also
+at the same time informed by the royal court of audience at St. Domingo
+and the Hieronymite brotherhood that Cortes was alive and busily
+occupied in subduing and colonizing the country along the coast of the
+Honduras. When, therefore, the council of the Indies and the
+comendador-mayor of Leon communicated with his majesty on the affairs of
+New Spain, it is said that the emperor expressed himself as follows:
+"The people of New Spain have done very wrong indeed in rising up
+against Cortes, and have greatly injured the true interests of the
+crown; but as Cortes is still alive, I trust that, on his return to
+Mexico, he will severely punish the villains who have caused so much
+disorder."
+
+I must now return to father Altamirano, who set sail from Vera Cruz, and
+arrived, after a most favorable passage of two days, in Truxillo. As
+soon as the inhabitants of this town observed a large vessel in the
+horizon, they immediately concluded it came from New Spain to convey our
+general thither. Altamirano, the instant he arrived in the harbour,
+stepped on shore, with several others, and repaired to Cortes' abode,
+who gave them all a most hearty welcome, and again recognized several of
+them whom he had previously known in Mexico. The whole of them then went
+to church to offer up their prayers to God.
+
+On their return to Cortes' quarters, Altamirano minutely related every
+circumstance that had taken place in Mexico during his absence. Our
+general was sorely grieved at what he heard, and yet he returned fervent
+thanks to the Almighty that matters were not worse, and that peace had
+been restored to the city. He said, however, that he would return to New
+Spain by land, as he was afraid of the sea, after having twice set sail,
+and each time been obliged, by contrary winds and heavy currents, to put
+back into the harbour; besides which, he thought he was in too weak a
+state of health to bear the fatigues of a sea voyage. The pilots,
+however, assured him that, being now the month of April, there was less
+apprehension of boisterous winds, and the best of weather was to be
+expected at this time of the year. By these representations Cortes was
+induced to alter his determination, and he made up his mind to journey
+thither by sea, but would postpone his departure until the return of
+Sandoval, whom he had despatched with a detachment of troops to Olancho,
+a distance of about 600 miles from the coast, to drive out of this
+province a captain named Rojas, who had been sent out to explore the
+gold mines of the country by Pedro Arias, after the latter had beheaded
+Francisco Hernandez.
+
+The Indians of Olancho had journeyed all the way to Truxillo to make
+bitter complaints to Cortes of the Spaniards at Nicaragua, who, they
+said, had fallen hostilely into their country, plundering them with
+impunity, and carrying off their wives and daughters.
+
+Sandoval, on this expedition, was only accompanied by sixty men, and, on
+arriving in Olancho, at first was going to imprison Rojas, but several
+cavaliers stepping in as mediators between the two captains, they came
+to more amicable terms, and parted the best of friends, after Rojas had
+presented Sandoval with one of his Indian pages. While the latter was
+yet here, he received Cortes' letter, in which, after giving him a short
+account of what had taken place in Mexico, he was desired immediately to
+repair with his troops to Truxillo. No intelligence could have been more
+welcome to Sandoval; and, after arranging matters with Rojas, he marched
+with the utmost expedition towards the coast.
+
+Cortes conferred upon Saavedra the chief command of the provinces about
+Truxillo, and gave him particular instructions as to what he was to do.
+He also wrote to Luis Marin and we others who were under his command,
+informing us of the arrival of father Altamirano, and desiring us to
+march forward to Guatimala. The captain Diego de Godoy, who had
+previously commanded in Puerto de Caballos, was ordered to march with
+his men into the province of Naco. The letters which were destined for
+us, Cortes gave in charge to Saavedra, with instructions that they were
+to be forwarded to us immediately; but, from sheer malice, he neglected
+to do so, and they never came to hand. To return to my narrative; I must
+not forget to mention that Cortes, previous to embarking, fell so
+dangerously ill again that his life was actually despaired of, and the
+last sacrament was administered to him; yet he had the good fortune to
+recover this time also, and he set sail from Truxillo with a
+considerable suite. He had the most beautiful weather all the way to the
+Havannah, where he put in to await a more favorable wind for his passage
+to New Spain. The inhabitants of the last-mentioned town were
+exceedingly rejoiced at seeing him again, and he greatly recruited his
+strength in this place. While here, he even received very satisfactory
+accounts from Mexico, where the news of his speedy return had produced
+this good effect, that the Indians of Coatlan called of their own
+account upon the treasurer Estrada, and again submitted, on certain
+conditions, as vassals of our emperor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXC.
+
+    _Cortes sets sail from the Havannah, and has a favorable passage to
+    Vera Cruz, where he is received with the greatest rejoicings._
+
+
+After Cortes had been five days at the Havannah, he began to grow very
+impatient for the hour of his departure, so greatly did he long to be
+once more in Mexico. He therefore gave orders for embarking without any
+further delay, and arrived, after a very favorable passage of twelve
+days, in the harbour of Medellin, opposite the island of Sacrificios,
+where he dropped anchor for the night. He himself disembarked, with
+twenty of his most trustworthy soldiers, intending to march to San Juan
+de Ulua, which was only a couple of miles distant; but it fortunately
+happened he should come up with a party of travellers who had a number
+of horses with them, and were on their way to the harbour he had just
+left to embark for Spain. Cortes took possession of the horses, and then
+proceeded direct to Vera Cruz, which was distant about twenty miles.
+
+When he stepped on shore, he had given strict orders that no one should
+hasten to the last-mentioned town to announce his arrival. It was about
+two o'clock in the morning when he entered Vera Cruz, and he immediately
+repaired with his suite to the church, the door of which was open. After
+they had been a short time in the church, the sacristan, who had but
+recently arrived from Spain, walked in, and he was not a little
+astonished to find the seats filled with strangers, of whom not a single
+person was known to him. Quite alarmed, he instantly hurried out into
+the streets, called out to the watch, and hastened to call up the chief
+authorities to inform them that there were a great number of strangers
+in the church. The alcalde-mayor soon made his appearance with the other
+magistrates, three alguacils, and several of the inhabitants. The whole
+of them marched armed into the church, and peremptorily commanded the
+strangers to leave the church without delay. As Cortes was very much
+fatigued with the journey, and scarcely looked himself, he was not
+recognized by the inhabitants until they heard his voice. They then at
+the same moment knew father Juan again by the white robe of his order,
+though the former was become considerably the worse for wear. As soon as
+they found that it was Cortes himself who stood in their presence, the
+whole of them crowded up to pay their respects to him and to
+congratulate him on his safe arrival. Among those present there were
+several of the veteran Conquistadores, whom Cortes immediately addressed
+by name, and embraced them under the most flattering assurances of his
+friendship. Upon this, mass was read, and after it was finished the
+magistrates conducted our general to his quarters, which were in one of
+the most beautiful houses of the town. Here he stayed eight days, during
+which time several festivities took place in his honour, and notice of
+his arrival was instantly sent off to Mexico. He himself wrote letters
+to the treasurer Estrada and to the accountant Albornoz, although he was
+well aware that this person was very ill inclined towards him. If the
+news of his arrival was hailed with joy in the metropolis, it was no
+less so by the Indians of the country surrounding Vera Cruz, who sent
+him numerous presents of gold, cotton stuffs, fruits, and of fowls. They
+likewise cleared the roads for him all the way to Mexico, built huts for
+his accommodation at different stages along his route, and furnished
+provisions in abundance. Every one who could followed in his suite, and
+his whole march to Mexico appeared like a triumphal procession. Presents
+and refreshments came pouring in from all sides, ambassadors arrived
+from the different townships to assure him that if the notice of his
+approach had not been so short, they would have made more suitable
+arrangements for his reception, begging of him at the same time to take
+his route through their towns, when it would be in their power to give
+him a more honorable reception. The Tlascallans, above all, were most
+zealous to evince their attachment to him; the whole of the principal
+caziques came out to meet him, and received him with dances, songs, and
+all manner of rejoicings.
+
+When he had arrived within twelve miles of Tezcuco, a town almost equal
+in magnitude to Mexico, he was met by the accountant Albornoz, who stood
+ready there to receive him, and, if possible, to regain his friendship,
+for he greatly feared the resentment of our general. Besides Albornoz,
+there were numbers of other Spaniards from this neighbourhood who came
+out to meet him, and the caziques of the town had marched out to the
+distance of eight miles, and performed various dances and games in his
+honour, all of which pleased our general very much. In Tezcuco itself
+other rejoicings took place, and here he passed the night, though he
+might easily have reached Mexico on the same day, but he had been
+requested by the treasurer, all the other chief authorities, and the
+Conquistadores to defer his arrival thither until the morrow, in order
+that they might make preparations to receive him in the most splendid
+manner possible.
+
+The following morning accordingly, the treasurer, accompanied by all the
+city authorities, the officers of the crown, the Conquistadores, and all
+Cortes' best friends came out to meet him, clothed in their full
+uniform, and preceded by a large band of music. The Mexican caziques
+then followed with their several devices, decked out in their full war
+costume in which they had fought against us under their late monarch
+Quauhtemoctzin; they celebrated all manner of games after their fashion,
+while at the same time the lake was covered with canoes full of armed
+Indians, just in the same manner as when they fought with us who were
+stationed on the causeways. In short, the rejoicings in the city were so
+manifold and great that a description can give no idea of them. During
+the whole day there was dancing and music in every street, and in the
+evening every house was illuminated. But what was better than all this,
+the Franciscan monks, on the following day, formed a solemn procession
+to the church, and public thanksgivings were offered up to the Almighty
+for Cortes' safe return.
+
+Cortes himself, immediately on his entering the city, had repaired to
+their cloister to attend mass, and to offer up his thanks to God for
+having preserved his life in all the dangers of the late campaign. Not
+until he had performed this duty did our general repair to his dwelling,
+which had been finished during his absence, and had indeed every
+appearance of a magnificent palace, in which he was really courted and
+feared as though he had been a king. From every province the Indians
+sent ambassadors to him with presents, and even the caziques of Coatlan
+came to pay their respects to him, and bring him presents.
+
+Cortes' entry into Mexico took place in the month of June, 1524 or 1525,
+I forget which.[49] He remained quiet for several days to rest from his
+fatigues before he ordered the turbulent personages to be seized, and an
+inquiry to be made into the late conduct of the veedor and factor. In
+the same way Diego de Ocampo, or Gonzalo de Ocampo, I really cannot
+remember which of the two it was on whom those libellous papers were
+found against Cortes, was also thrown into chains. The scribe Ocaņa, an
+old man, who was commonly called the life and soul of the factor, shared
+a similar fate. Criminal suits, as they are termed, were certainly
+instituted against these personages, and Cortes might have inflicted due
+punishment upon them without any further ceremony, and his just
+retribution would have met with every approbation in Spain; but he
+neglected to do so, though his majesty himself had fully expected he
+would have adopted such a course. This I can assure the reader to be a
+fact, for I was told it by the members of the council of the Indies
+themselves, when I was in Spain in the year 1540 on account of some
+lawsuits which were pending between myself and others. The bishop
+Bartolomé de las Casas was present at the time. It was the opinion of
+all that Cortes had been remarkably negligent in this matter, and that
+he had shown very little of his wonted spirit on the occasion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCI.
+
+    _How the licentiate Luis Ponce de Leon, who was commissioned to make
+    inquiries into Cortes' government of New Spain, arrives in the
+    harbour of San Juan de Ulua._
+
+
+I have already mentioned in a former chapter that the emperor, during
+his stay at Toledo, had commissioned Luis Ponce de Leon to repair to
+Mexico, and there to institute a formal inquiry against Cortes; and if
+he found him guilty, to punish him so severely, that the whole world
+might know it. He had been previously furnished with all the particulars
+of the several accusations which had been brought against Cortes.
+
+It was not for a length of time that this man received the necessary
+despatches, which had greatly retarded his departure. At length,
+however, he arrived, after a favorable passage, with three or four
+vessels, in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, where he immediately
+landed, and repaired to the town of Medellin. As he made no secret of
+the purport of his arrival, one of the officers of Cortes' household
+immediately sent his master intelligence of the nature of this
+gentleman's visit, so that Cortes was apprized of it four days after
+Leon's arrival. When our general received these letters from Villalobos,
+the officer above mentioned, he happened to be in the Franciscan
+cloister, making the holy communion, and humbly supplicating the
+Almighty to bless his endeavours. This news was the more disagreeable to
+him, as Ponce de Leon seemed to hasten his journey to Mexico in such a
+manner as if he did not wish to allow him time to make the necessary
+arrangements for his reception. In the meantime, however, he despatched
+some of his most confidential friends to learn something more of the
+newly arrived, and whether they were really provided with a proper
+commission from his majesty; but a couple of days after he had received
+the first news, three couriers arrived from Leon with letters for
+Cortes; among others there was one from the emperor, in which his
+majesty acquainted him that an investigation would be instituted against
+him on various accounts. Our general perused the emperor's letter with
+the deepest veneration, and declared that it was a proof of great mercy
+on the part of his majesty to have despatched a proper judge, that
+justice might be done him against his enemies. Cortes returned an answer
+to Leon by the same couriers, expressing himself in the most obliging
+and friendly terms, requesting of him at the same time to state along
+which road he intended journeying to Mexico, in order that he might make
+the necessary preparations for his reception at the different stages
+along his route.
+
+The licentiate, in reply to this letter, returned Cortes the most
+sincere thanks for his kind wishes, saying he was desirous of staying a
+few days where he was, to rest from the fatigues of the sea voyage.
+
+While staying at Medellin, various accusations were brought against
+Cortes, both by letter and word of mouth, as the latter had many enemies
+at Medellin, composed partly of those who had accompanied him on the
+expedition to the Honduras, partly of those who had been previously
+banished from Panuco; besides which, there were several discontented
+persons in Mexico, who would gladly have worked out our general's ruin.
+Here, it was said, Cortes was hastening to bring the trial of the factor
+and the veedor to a close, before the licentiate Leon should arrive. The
+latter had better be upon his guard; for Cortes, with his courteous and
+flattering sentences, only wished to learn from him by which road he
+intended journeying to Mexico, in order to put him to death by some
+means or other. The same artifice he had employed against Narvaez and
+Garay. Further, they assured Leon that Cortes had sacrificed the lives
+of a considerable number of Spanish troops, and of above 3000 Mexicans,
+in the expedition to the Honduras; that he had left there Diego de
+Godoy, one of his officers, with thirty Spaniards, all suffering from
+ill health; the whole of whom had since perished. This we found indeed
+to be a fact. They then begged of the licentiate Leon to leave all other
+considerations, to hasten to Mexico, and to remember what had befallen
+Narvaez, Garay, and Tapia, to whom Cortes likewise made every show of
+respect and affection, but had, some how or other, obliged them to
+return home again without accomplishing their object. In short, they
+calumniated our general in every possible manner, and actually succeeded
+in persuading Leon that Cortes would not listen to his commission.
+
+The licentiate was accompanied by several cavaliers, among whom were the
+alguacil-mayor Proaņo of Cordoba and his brother, Salazar de Petraza,
+who came with the appointment of alcalde of the fortifications of
+Mexico, but he died shortly after of pleurisy; further, the bachelor or
+licentiate Marcos de Aguilar, a soldier of the name of Bocanegra of
+Cordoba, and several monks of the order of the Dominicians, with their
+provincial father Thomas Ortiz, who had been for several years prior of
+some cloister, but I forgot where; however, every one was of opinion
+that he was better suited for business than for a religious life. With
+these personages Leon held a consultation as to whether he should
+proceed immediately to Mexico or not; and they were unanimously of
+opinion that he should repair thither without delay.
+
+The licentiate accordingly set out on his journey, and arrived in
+Iztapalapan when Cortes was about to despatch other couriers with
+letters and refreshments to him. Here, however, he met with a most
+splendid reception, and a sumptuous banquet was prepared for him, at
+which Andreas de Tapia figured as master of the ceremonies. Ponce de
+Leon enjoyed himself very much at table, and was perfectly astonished
+when fresh cream and cheese were also handed to him. He and the
+cavaliers who accompanied him eat so heartily of these dainties, that
+several of them were obliged to leave the table, having been seized with
+sudden pains in their bowels. Although the others felt not the slightest
+effects of the cream, father Thomas Ortiz instantly declared it had been
+poisoned, and that he would take good care not to touch it. The other
+gentlemen, however, who sat at table declared that he had stuffed down
+as much of it as any of them; but as Tapia had been master of the
+ceremonies on this occasion, the newly-arrived guests declared that all
+was not right.
+
+Cortes himself was not present at this banquet in Iztapalapan, but had
+remained in Mexico, where a rumour was soon spread that he had
+immediately forwarded to Leon a considerable present of gold bars.
+Whether there was any truth in this I cannot say, though many persons
+positively asserted there was no truth in it.
+
+As Iztapalapan was only eight miles from Mexico, Cortes learnt the exact
+hour when Leon would arrive in the city; he therefore went out to meet
+him, accompanied by the whole of the cavalry then at Mexico, and
+immediately around his person were Sandoval, the treasurer Alonso de
+Estrada, the accountant Albornoz, Jorge and Gomez de Alvarado, and then
+followed the whole of the chief authorities of the town and a number of
+the Conquistadores. When Cortes and Leon met on the causeway, they
+greeted each other in the most respectful manner imaginable. The latter
+was not a little astonished at the courteous behaviour of our general,
+and it was not till after much pressing that he would allow Cortes to
+concede the place of honour to him. When he entered the city, beheld the
+large fortifications, and the numerous towns lying around the lake, he
+declared that no other general in the world, with so small a body of
+troops, would have been able to take this strong city, and subdue so
+vast a territory.
+
+The procession then repaired to the Franciscan cloister, where mass was
+said. When this was finished, Cortes begged Leon to produce his
+commission, as the first thing he should demand was that the veedor and
+factor might be put upon their trial. Leon, however, desired that this
+might be postponed until the morrow, and Cortes then conducted him to
+his palace, which had been hung with beautiful tapestry, and where a
+splendid repast was awaiting them. Everything was served in gold and
+silver, and the whole table was so beautifully arranged, that Leon could
+not help remarking, in an under tone, to his alguacil-mayor Proaņo and
+to Bocanegra, that Cortes, in his manners and conversation, had every
+appearance of a man who had lived like a grand seņor for many years.
+
+The following day all assembled in the principal church of the city,
+whither Cortes had desired all the civic functionaries, the officers of
+the crown, and the Conquistadores to meet. After mass had been
+celebrated, Leon, in due form, produced his royal commission, which
+Cortes perused with deep veneration, kissed it, and declared that it
+contained the mandates of his emperor and master, to which he would pay
+implicit obedience.
+
+Every one present then followed Cortes' example, by turns; upon which
+Leon desired the alcalde-mayor, the ordinary alcaldes, the officers of
+the Hermandad, and the alguacils, to hand him their several staffs of
+office; which having been done, he immediately returned them to the
+respective persons. He then turned to Cortes, and addressed him as
+follows: "Seņor capitan, his majesty has commanded me to take upon
+myself the chief government of New Spain; not that I think you unworthy
+of filling this office, and even others of greater importance, but
+because our sovereign master so commands."
+
+Cortes thanked him in the most respectful terms, with the assurance that
+he was always ready to act strictly up to his majesty's commands; and
+Leon himself, he added, would be convinced, from the investigation he
+was ordered to set on foot, that he (Cortes) had always proved himself a
+loyal and faithful subject of his majesty; and how falsely he had been
+accused and calumniated by evil-minded persons.
+
+To this the licentiate answered, that it was ever so in the world; that
+where there were honest people, there were also others of a contrary
+character; and that we must expect praise from those to whom we have
+shown kindness, and calumny from those towards whom we have been obliged
+to act harshly. This was all that took place on the first day.
+
+On the following day, after mass, which was celebrated in the palace,
+Ponce de Leon sent a cavalier with a most courteous message to our
+general, desiring him to wait upon him. During the discourse which now
+ensued, there was, besides themselves, no one present excepting the
+prior Thomas Ortiz; and the licentiate thus addressed our general: "I
+must, first of all, inform you, seņor capitan, that his majesty has
+particularly desired me to bestow lucrative commendaries on all the
+veteran Conquistadores; those who first left the island of Cuba for the
+conquest of New Spain and the city of Mexico; as also on those who
+subsequently joined your troops, and likewise assisted in the conquest;
+but to favour the former somewhat more than the latter. I announce
+these, his majesty's commands, to you, as I have been informed that, in
+the distribution of the Indians, you have but poorly remunerated several
+of the veteran Conquistadores, who first landed with you in New Spain;
+but that, on the other hand, you have presented considerable lands on
+persons recently arrived from Spain, who had no claim thereto whatever.
+If this is really true, I am bound to observe, that you have not acted
+up to the views of his majesty, when he conferred upon you the
+appointment of governor of these countries."
+
+To this Cortes replied, that there was not one of the Conquistadores
+whom he had not rewarded; that some, indeed, had fared better in the
+distribution of the Indians than others; but that, owing to many
+unforeseen circumstances, he had not been able to do justice to all; and
+that, on this account alone, he hailed his arrival in New Spain, to
+satisfy all parties; for the whole of the Conquistadores had every claim
+to be handsomely rewarded.
+
+The licentiate then questioned him respecting the expedition to the
+Honduras, and asked him which of the Conquistadores had accompanied him
+on that occasion, and how they had fared; but he wished particularly to
+know what had become of the thirty or forty men whom he had left under
+the command of an officer, named Diego de Godoy, to perish of hunger at
+Puerto de Caballos?
+
+This latter reproach was, unfortunately, too well founded in truth, as
+we shall presently see; and certainly, as men who had been present at
+the siege of Mexico, and assisted in the conquest of New Spain, they, at
+least, had merited to live quietly in the enjoyment of the fruits of
+their labour. Cortes ought rather to have taken along with him on that
+expedition those troops only which had recently arrived from Spain.
+
+Ponce de Leon then made inquiries after the captain Luis Marin, after
+Bernal Diaz del Castillo, and the rest of the men who were with him.
+
+To all these inquiries Cortes answered: "That it would have been useless
+for him to have attempted an expedition to countries so far distant,
+attended with so many difficulties, without those veterans who were
+inured to the hardships of a military life. But he could assure him that
+the troops which had been left behind were on their way to Mexico, and
+that the whole of them were men whom he would particularly recommend to
+his consideration, and who deserved to have the most lucrative
+commendaries bestowed upon them."
+
+The licentiate then continued in a more earnest tone of voice, and asked
+Cortes: "How, without his majesty's permission, he had dared to set out
+on so tedious an expedition, by which he knew he must absent himself for
+so long a time from the seat of his government, and which had, as he
+knew, almost proved the destruction of the city of Mexico?"
+
+To this Cortes answered: "That as his majesty's captain-general he had
+been bound to pursue such a course, for, if he had not taken some active
+step, the example of revolt set by Oli would have been followed by other
+officers. Besides which, he had previously announced his intention to
+his majesty of marching thither."
+
+After this explanation the licentiate touched upon the defeat and
+imprisonment of Narvaez, the capture of Garay's vessels, the loss of his
+troops, and his sudden death; and, lastly, on the manner in which he had
+obliged Christobal de Tapia to reembark; besides these, he questioned
+him on various other matters, which I will not enumerate here. To all of
+which Cortes gave such excellent answers, that Ponce de Leon appeared
+pretty well satisfied.
+
+I have above remarked, there was no one present during this conference
+excepting father Thomas Ortiz. This person, immediately after it was
+ended, called upon three intimate friends, and assured them, in all
+confidence, that it was Leon's intention to sentence Cortes to
+decapitation, in accordance with the commands of his majesty, and that
+it was for this purpose only he had put the above-mentioned questions to
+him. Ortiz, the next morning, very early, called upon our general
+himself, and said to him: "Seņor capitan, the great respect I entertain
+for you, my spiritual office, and the rules of the order I belong to,
+make it imperative on me to warn people in cases like these; I will
+therefore not hide from you that his majesty has given Leon full power
+to put you to death."
+
+This communication appeared to affect Cortes very much, nor could he
+think lightly of it when he considered the questions which the
+licentiate had put to him; yet, on the other hand again, he was well
+aware that this monk was an evil-minded person, and that very little
+reliance could be placed in what he said. Perhaps he had made up this
+story himself, that Cortes might ask him to intercede for him with Leon,
+for which the former, he naturally supposed, would not fail to
+remunerate him with some gold bars. There were several persons who even
+affirmed that Leon himself had secretly desired Ortiz to communicate
+this to our general, to alarm him into a supplication of mercy. However,
+Cortes replied to father Ortiz in the most courteous manner, thanked him
+for the communication, and concluded by saying, "He had always
+entertained hopes that his majesty would reward him for the many great
+services he had rendered to the crown, and that he should still continue
+to live in this hope, being conscious that he was perfectly innocent of
+all guilt, and confident that Ponce de Leon was not the man to exceed
+his emperor's commands."
+
+By this reply the monk found himself excessively disappointed in his
+expectations, nor could he hide his confusion. Cortes, however, remained
+firm to his purpose, and never gave him a single farthing, although
+Ortiz had reckoned upon so much.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCII.
+
+    _How the licentiate commences the investigation against Cortes, and
+    all those persons who had filled judicial offices; and how he fell
+    ill shortly after and died._
+
+
+Ponce de Leon publicly announced that a commission of inquiry would be
+set on foot, against Cortes, and against all those who filled military
+commands, or held judicial authority. As Cortes had many enemies, and
+among them several who had real cause of complaint, various old
+grievances were harrowed up, to substantiate which witnesses were
+required, and thus it may be imagined the whole city presented one
+continued scene of lawsuits. One brought his accusations against our
+general respecting his unjust division of the gold; another complained
+that, notwithstanding his majesty had particularly ordered Cortes to
+give him a fair portion of the Indians, in their distribution, the
+latter had neglected to do so, but had bestowed them on persons whose
+only merit consisted in their having been servants of Martin Cortes and
+of the grandees of Spain. Others again demanded an indemnification for
+their horses which had been killed in the several campaigns, for they
+did not consider the gold they had received a sufficient compensation
+for their losses. Lastly, there were also persons who preferred their
+charges against Cortes for injuries which they had suffered by his
+orders. These investigations had, however, been scarcely set on foot,
+when, to our great misfortune, it pleased the Almighty that the
+licentiate Leon should fall ill.
+
+It appears that he had been attending mass in the Franciscan cloister,
+on leaving which he was seized with so malignant a fever that he was
+obliged to be put to bed immediately, and he became so prostrate in
+strength that he lay in a state of unconsciousness for four successive
+days. He received every attention from his medical attendants, the
+licentiate Pedro Lopez, the Dr. Ojeda, and a third physician, who had
+come with him from Spain; but they were of opinion from the very first
+moment that his illness was of a dangerous nature, and they advised him
+to confess and make the holy communion. For this Leon was quite
+prepared, and he received the holy sacrament with the greatest humility,
+and then made his last will, in which he appointed the licentiate Marcos
+de Aguilar, who had accompanied him from Hispaniola, to succeed him in
+the government.
+
+There were many persons who maintained that this Aguilar was not a
+licentiate, but that he had only the degree of bachelor; and that,
+properly speaking, he was not qualified to fill an appointment of this
+nature. Ponce de Leon, however, seems to have been of a different
+opinion, and he had his commission drawn out in such a manner that all
+the actions and inquiries, including the criminal suits against the
+factor and veedor, should remain as they then were, until his majesty
+had been informed how far he himself had progressed in these matters;
+for which purpose a vessel was immediately to be despatched to Spain.
+
+After he had thus arranged his earthly affairs, and had performed the
+last duties for the salvation of his soul, he died on the ninth day
+after he had fallen ill, and delivered up his immortal soul into the
+hands of his Maker. Great, indeed, was the grief and despondency which
+his sudden death occasioned to all the Conquistadores. They mourned his
+loss as if he had been their common father, because they were convinced
+that it had been his real intention to reward and honour all those who
+had proved themselves faithful servants to his majesty; for which
+purpose his majesty had given him the necessary powers and instructions.
+The Conquistadores, therefore, sincerely lamented the untimely end of
+this gentleman; and even Cortes himself and the greater part of the
+cavaliers in Mexico put on mourning for him. His interment took place in
+the Franciscan cloisters with every pomp and ceremony.
+
+Luis Ponce was very fond of music, and several cavaliers who attended on
+him told me that, in the last days of his illness, he desired some one
+to play on the guitar at his bedside, in order to cheer him up. In his
+last moments even he desired the musician to play a dance, but as he was
+not able to move his legs from excessive weakness, he at least
+accompanied the movements with his lips, and this he continued to do
+until he breathed his last.
+
+The enemies of Cortes and Sandoval, on this occasion, again began to
+whisper their calumnies abroad, and asserted that they had poisoned Leon
+in the same manner as they had Garay. Loudest among these slanderers was
+father Thomas Ortiz, but the latter himself, with several brothers of
+his order, died of the same infectious disease a few months after. It
+appears that the vessel which brought Leon from Spain was infected with
+a kind of pestilential fever; for of above one hundred persons who were
+on board, many had died during the passage, and a still greater number
+perished of the same disorder soon after their arrival in Medellin. Most
+of the monks, likewise, fell victims to this disorder; and it was even
+said that the disease had spread to Mexico.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCIII.
+
+    _How after the death of Ponce de Leon, Marcos de Aguilar assumes the
+    government; the disputes which arose in consequence, and of other
+    matters._
+
+
+Those of the Conquistadores who were ill inclined towards Cortes,
+desired that the commission of inquiry might be continued,
+notwithstanding that Ponce de Leon had died, but our general declared
+that this could not take place according to the wording of Leon's last
+will; yet, if Aguilar was willing to proceed with the inquiry, he had no
+objections.
+
+But now the town-council of Mexico threw in their objections, and
+maintained that Leon was not empowered to leave Marcos de Aguilar sole
+governor. An important office of this kind required a very different
+kind of person to Aguilar, who, besides being far advanced in years, was
+quite infirm, eaten up with sores, and a man of no authority. (I must
+say his outward appearance was anything but prepossessing, and bespoke
+deficiency in every way; besides which he knew nothing of the country
+nor of the persons who had proved themselves meritorious.) In short, the
+town-council declared him to be a man for whom no one entertained any
+respect, and it was necessary for a person who held the staff of justice
+to be looked up to. They were therefore of opinion that the only thing
+he could do would be to share the government equally with Cortes until
+his majesty's further pleasure was known.
+
+Marcos de Aguilar, however, was determined to act strictly up to the
+contents of Leon's last will, by which he was appointed sole governor,
+and added, that he would not submit, unless, in direct violation of his
+majesty's commands, they chose to appoint another governor.
+
+The procuradores of all the towns of New Spain urged Cortes, in every
+possible manner, to take the government into his own hands; and they
+assured him they would persuade Aguilar, by fair words, to agree to it,
+particularly as he was always suffering from ill health, and it was
+perfectly evident the service of God and the true interests of his
+majesty must suffer in his hands. But whatever they might say to Cortes,
+he would not enter into their schemes, and always repeated that old
+Aguilar must govern alone.
+
+Aguilar, indeed, was in a rapid decline, and so feeble, that to keep him
+alive he was obliged to be suckled by a Spanish woman; besides that, he
+drank quantities of goats' milk. He likewise about this time lost one of
+his sons, whom he had brought with him, of the same pestilential fever
+which hurried Ponce de Leon into the grave.
+
+I must now go back in my history a little, and relate what befel the
+captain Luis Marin, who, with the troops under his command, had remained
+behind in Naco, where he was waiting to hear from Sandoval whether
+Cortes had embarked for Mexico or not; but we never received any tidings
+from him, as Saavedra, from sheer malice, had omitted to forward us the
+letters of Sandoval and Cortes, in which they sent us information of
+their intended departure for Mexico, with orders for us to march thither
+overland. As we had thus waited in vain for a length of time for some
+tidings from Truxillo, Luis Marin determined, with our unanimous
+consent, to despatch a few horse thither, to ascertain how matters
+stood. There were ten of us that left Naco on this occasion, under the
+command of Francisco Marmolejo. We had already fought our way through
+various hostile tribes up to Olancho, which at present is called
+Guayape, abounding in lucrative gold mines, when we happened to meet two
+Spanish invalids and a negro, who assured us that Cortes had set sail
+several days ago for Mexico, with Sandoval and all the other
+Conquistadores who were with him. They then added, that he had been
+induced to embark from the universal solicitations of the citizens of
+Mexico, who had despatched one of the Franciscan monks to Truxillo, to
+hasten his departure. Saavedra had been left behind in this latter town
+as commandant, and was further to subdue the surrounding country.
+
+This intelligence filled all our hearts with joy, and we immediately
+despatched a letter by some of the inhabitants of Olancho to Saavedra
+for further information, and in the space of four days we received an
+answer from him, confirming the account of the two Spaniards. We offered
+up thanks to God for this good news, and instantly set out on our march
+for the place where Luis Marin was encamped. We found him in the
+township of Acalteca, and he was not a little rejoiced at the good news
+we brought him.
+
+We now, without any further delay, broke up our camp, and commenced our
+march towards Mexico. We took our route over the township of Mariani,
+where we came up with six men of the troops under Alvarado, who was on
+his road in search of us. One of these men was Diego de Villanueva, an
+excellent soldier, and one of the veteran Conquistadores, who had
+assisted in the founding of the town of Guatimala: he was a native of
+Villanueva de la Serena, in the territory of the grand master of the
+military order of Alcantara. As we were old friends, we gave each other
+a hearty embrace, and he then told us that Alvarado was marching hither,
+in company of several cavaliers, in search of Cortes, to hasten his
+return to Mexico. He likewise gave us full particulars of everything
+that had taken place in this town during our absence, and how the
+government of New Spain had been offered to Alvarado, who had not dared
+to accept of it, from fear of the factor.
+
+After two days' further march, we came up with Alvarado himself, who was
+encamped, with his men, in a township, called Choluteca Malalaca. It
+would, indeed, be a difficult task for me to describe the delight he
+experienced when we told him of Cortes' departure for Mexico, which was
+the more excessive, as he was now spared the further fatigues of a long
+march, on which his troops had already suffered many hardships. In this
+township we likewise met several of Pedro Arias' officers, one of whom
+was named Garavito, and another Campannon, who said they were despatched
+by Arias to discover new countries, and to settle about some boundaries
+with Alvarado. The whole of our troops, and the two officers of Arias,
+remained three days in Choluteca, from which place Alvarado despatched a
+certain Gaspar Arias de Avila, who had settled in Guatimala, to the
+governor Arias, as we understood, respecting the preliminaries of a
+marriage, which is indeed most likely, as Gaspar Arias was a great
+adherer to Alvarado.
+
+On the fourth day we left Choluteca, and continued our march to the
+province of Guatimala, but before we could reach the territory of
+Cuzcatlan, through which our route immediately lay, the rainy season set
+in, and we found the river Lempa so greatly swollen, that it seemed an
+impossibility for us ever to cross it. The only resource we had left was
+to fell a ceiba tree of very large dimensions, of which we hollowed out
+a canoe of such magnitude, that nothing was ever seen equal to it in
+this country before. Even then it took us five whole days before we had
+all passed across, during which time we suffered dreadfully from hunger,
+as we had not a grain of maise left.
+
+After we had passed the river, we came to the townships of Chapanastec,
+where the inhabitants killed one of our men, named Nicuesa, and wounded
+three others. These men had gone out in search of provisions, and were
+attacked before we could come up to their assistance. As we did not wish
+to be detained any longer, we would not give ourselves the trouble of
+chastising the inhabitants for their murderous attack. This took place
+in that province where at present the town of San Miguel is built. From
+this place we came into the territory of Cuzcatlan, the inhabitants of
+which we found very hostilely inclined towards us; nevertheless, we had
+plenty of provisions; and we now came into some townships in the
+neighbourhood of Petapa, where the Guatimaltecs were lying in wait for
+us, in deep hollows, between steep rocks. It took us three days before
+we could succeed in forcing this passage. Here I was slightly wounded by
+an arrow.
+
+In this way we at length reached Petapa, and the day following we
+arrived in a valley, to which we gave the name of Fuerto, and in which
+at present the town of Guatimala stands. At that time the whole of
+Guatimala was up in arms against us, so that we had to fight our way
+through the country. I shall never forget the dreadful earthquake we
+felt here. We were marching steadily along the slope of a rising ground,
+when the earth began to tremble so strongly, that several of our
+soldiers were no longer able to stand on their legs, and fell down; and
+this fearful shaking continued for a considerable length of time. From
+this place we had a good road to Old Guatimala, where the two caziques
+Sacachul and Cinacan generally resided. However, the whole armed force
+of Guatimala lay in wait for us, in a deep hollow, near the town, to
+prevent our entry; but we soon dispersed them with considerable loss,
+and we took up our quarters for the night in the town, which contained
+many large and beautiful buildings, owing to the circumstance of all the
+caziques, who governed the neighbouring provinces, residing there. The
+next morning we again quitted the town, and encamped on the plain, where
+we constructed ourselves huts. Here we lay for the space of ten days, as
+Alvarado had twice summoned the inhabitants of Guatimala, and other
+townships of the surrounding neighbourhood, to submit, and was desirous
+of knowing what answer they would return; but as they neither sent any
+message nor ambassadors to him, we again broke up our camp, and
+continued to move forward by forced marches. We did not, however, pass
+any way near to the district where Alvarado had left his brother Gonzalo
+in command of the great body of his troops, for the whole country had
+risen up in arms. The township we next came to was Olintepec, where we
+halted for several days, to rest from our fatigues. From this place we
+marched to Soconusco and Teguantepec, where two of our countrymen, and
+the Mexican cazique Juan Velasquez, who had been commander-in-chief
+under Quauhtemoctzin, died on the road. Here it was that we received the
+first intelligence of the death of the licentiate Leon, which was the
+more to be regretted, since so much good was expected from him, and the
+excellent choice which his majesty had made in his person.
+
+We now marched forward with the utmost expedition, so impatient were we
+to see Mexico again. As, altogether, we were eighty in number, and that
+under the command of Alvarado, we immediately sent Cortes notice, when
+we had arrived in Chalco, that on the following day we intended making
+our entry into Mexico, and we begged that quarters might be got in
+readiness for us, as, during an absence of above two years and three
+months, we should almost be strangers there. As soon as it was known in
+Mexico that we had arrived in Iztapalapan, Cortes, accompanied by
+several cavaliers, came out to meet us along the causeway. The first
+building we visited in the town was the principal church, whither we
+instantly repaired, to offer up our thanks to the Almighty for our safe
+return. From the church we were conducted by Cortes to his palace,
+where a sumptuous repast had been prepared for us. Alvarado took up his
+quarters in his official dwelling, belonging to the fortifications, of
+which he was alcalde at that time. Sandoval gave Luis Marin a lodging in
+his house, and I, and one of my friends, the captain Luis Sanchez, were
+invited by Andreas de Tapia to take up our abode with him, and we were
+treated with every mark of respect. I now very soon received from
+Sandoval, Cortes, and other of my old friends of this town, different
+articles of wearing apparel, some gold, and a quantity of cacao, all of
+which were sent as presents to me. The next day after our arrival, I and
+my friend Luis Sanchez, having first attended mass, walked out together
+in the town, first of all to pay our respects to the governor Marcos de
+Aguilar. We requested Sandoval and Tapia to accompany us on this
+occasion, to interest themselves for us with the governor; to which they
+readily consented, and they explained to him who we were, what important
+services we had rendered to the crown, and then begged of him to bestow
+on us Indian commendaries in the neighbourhood of Mexico, as those we
+possessed in the province of Guacasualco were of very little value.
+
+Marcos de Aguilar, in reply, promised very kindly to do all he could for
+us, but at the same time assured us that it was totally out of his power
+either to grant or take away any commendary, as Ponce de Leon, in his
+last will, had particularly ordered that all the lawsuits and the
+unoccupied commendaries should remain as they were until his majesty had
+otherwise disposed; and concluded by saying, that as soon as he should
+receive full powers to distribute the Indians, he would present us with
+the most lucrative commendaries in the whole country.
+
+About this time, also, Diego de Ordas arrived from Cuba in Mexico, and
+as it was said he had written the letters which the factor sent to
+Spain, respecting the certainty of our all having perished with Cortes
+in the late expedition, the latter, Sandoval, and several other
+cavaliers, reproached him most bitterly for having written things of
+which he had no certainty, and that by his letters he had brought New
+Spain to the brink of destruction; but Ordas swore most solemnly that he
+had never written any letter to that effect. He certainly had been, he
+said, in a township called Xicalango, and had learnt that two Spanish
+vessels had lain there for some time; that a dispute had arisen among
+the men on board, who came to blows, and many on both sides were killed;
+and that the few who remained were massacred by the Indians. It was
+respecting this unfortunate affair that he had written to New Spain, and
+this might, indeed, have caused the rumours to be set afloat of our
+total destruction. Moreover, the letter he had written might still be
+found among the factor's papers, by which they would best be able to
+convince themselves of the truth of what he had said, and what bad use
+the factor must have made of it, to serve his own ends.
+
+As the factor and veedor were still kept in close confinement, and
+Cortes, according to the arrangements made by Leon in his will, could
+not at present continue the criminal suits against those two persons,
+besides that he had many other unpleasant matters to attend to just
+then, he determined to leave the case as it was until his majesty's
+further pleasure should be known with regard to the government of New
+Spain. The whole of his time was occupied for the present in reclaiming
+a great part of his possessions which had been sold to raise a fund that
+prayers might be offered up in the churches for his departed soul; but
+this was done with an evil design, that people might think he was really
+dead. All this property, besides that which had been set apart for the
+masses for the repose of his soul, was purchased by an inhabitant of
+Mexico named Juan Caceres the wealthy.
+
+Diego de Ordas finding that Cortes, since the arrival of Leon, had lost
+his former authority, and that many persons had even the shamelessness
+to neglect and make him feel the little estimation in which they held
+him, he, with his usual dexterity of mind, profited by this circumstance
+to regain the good graces of our general, and advised him to assume all
+the outward splendour of a grandee, to receive his visitors seated on a
+canopied throne, and not to allow himself to be called merely Cortes,
+but to be addressed as Don Hernando Cortes. He at the same time
+particularly reminded him that the factor was a creature of the
+comendador-mayor Don Francisco de los Cobos, whose influence in Spain
+was immense. The protection of such a man, he said, might perhaps be of
+the utmost importance to him, as his majesty and the council of the
+Indies were much prejudiced against him; it would be altogether
+injurious to his interests to act more severely against the factor than
+the law permitted. This counsel Ordas thought proper to give Cortes, as
+it was generally suspected in Mexico that he intended putting the factor
+to death in his prison.
+
+Before I proceed with my narrative I must inform the reader why, when
+speaking of Cortes, I never call him Don Hernando Cortes, or marquis, or
+by any other title, but plainly Cortes. The reason is, that he himself
+was best pleased when he was simply addressed as Cortes; besides that,
+he was not created marquis until some time after, and that the name of
+Cortes stood in equal renown throughout the whole of Spain at that time
+as in the Roman period the names of Julius Cæsar and of Pompey; and in
+the Carthaginian as that of Hannibal; or, in the earlier part of our
+history, the name of the valiant and invincible knight Diego Garcia de
+Paredes; or, in more recent times, the name of Gonzalo Hernandez,
+surnamed the Great Captain.
+
+I must also not forget to mention that, about this time, the treasurer
+Alonso de Estrada married one of his two daughters to Jorge de Alvarado,
+and the other to Don Luis de Guzman, son of Don Juan de Saavedra, earl
+of Castellar. During the preliminaries of the marriage it was likewise
+settled that Pedro de Alvarado should repair in person to Spain in order
+to obtain from his majesty the appointment of governor of Guatimala for
+himself, and that, during his absence, his brother Jorge was to take the
+chief command of this province, and to continue to subdue the hostile
+tribes. The latter officer, indeed, immediately made preparations for
+this purpose, and took along with him two hundred Indian auxiliaries
+from Tlascalla, Mexico, and other provinces.
+
+Marcos de Aguilar at the same time despatched a cavalier named Don Juan
+Enriquez de Guzman, a near relation of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, into
+the province of Chiapa to found a colony there. A similar expedition
+Aguilar sent out under the command of Baltasar Osorio, a nobleman of
+Seville, to the province of Tabasco. A third expedition he sent out
+under the command of Alonso Herrera, one of Cortes' soldiers, to subdue
+the Zapotecs, who inhabit almost inaccessible mountains. I will relate
+how far these several officers succeeded, in a subsequent page. I must
+now speak of the speedy termination of Aguilar's government.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCIV.
+
+    _Marcos de Aguilar dies, and in his will appoints the treasurer
+    Alonso de Estrada governor; and of other matters._
+
+
+I have already stated, in the former chapter, that Marcos de Aguilar was
+in a miserable state of ill health, yet the physicians contrived to keep
+him alive for the space of eight months by means of goats' milk and
+other nourishing food; but, in addition to his other diseases, he was at
+length attacked by a malignant fever, which soon put an end to all his
+miseries. By his will he appointed Alonso de Estrada his sole successor
+in the government, with the same restrictions as he himself had received
+from Ponce de Leon.
+
+The inhabitants of Mexico, however, and particularly those Spaniards
+who had settled in the provinces, placed not the slightest confidence in
+Estrada's capability of governing, as he did not evince sufficient
+energy to offer any resistance to the tyrannical conduct of Nuņo de
+Guzman, who, a couple of years previously, had arrived from Spain with
+the appointment of governor of Panuco. This man, without any ceremony,
+added whole districts from the territory of Mexico to his province; he
+paid not the least attention to the instructions he had received from
+the emperor, and altogether behaved like a furious madman. Among other
+things, he hung a nobleman of distinction named Pedro Gonzales de
+Truxillo, who had settled in Mexico, without any form or trial, merely
+because he had declared that his commendary was not subject to his
+government but to that of Mexico, as his possessions were not
+comprehended in the province of Panuco. In like manner he had the
+audacity to serve several other Spaniards, and he paid not the slightest
+attention to the remonstrances of the governor Estrada.
+
+The chief authorities of Mexico and the rest of the distinguished
+cavaliers of the town, seeing how little this tyrannical neighbour cared
+for their governor, and what little support they had to expect from the
+latter against the oppression and encroachments of the other, they
+begged Estrada to give Cortes an equal share in the government with
+himself, assuring him that the service of God and the true interests of
+his majesty imperatively demanded this. However, Estrada obstinately
+refused to listen to their proposal, though others again affirm that
+Cortes himself was the person who declined in any way to interfere in
+the government, to put it out of the power of his enemies to say that he
+was striving by some means or other to raise himself to the head of the
+government again, and thereby give them an opportunity of confirming
+their suspicions which they had begun to rumour abroad against him,
+namely, that Marcos de Aguilar had died by his hand. In short, after
+many conferences, it was agreed that Sandoval, who was alguacil-mayor,
+and highly respected by every one, should jointly govern with Estrada,
+who himself approved of it in every way, though some persons maintained
+he had merely conceded in the hopes of marrying his daughter to
+Sandoval, and of obtaining for the latter the appointment of governor of
+New Spain, which at that time was not considered of so much importance
+as at the present day.
+
+After every arrangement respecting the government of the country had
+been settled between Sandoval and Estrada, the latter was advised by his
+friends to despatch a vessel forthwith to Spain to forward his majesty
+an account of everything that had taken place, and to draw up this
+account in such a manner as if he had only taken Sandoval as a
+colleague in order to avoid giving Cortes a share of the government.
+
+Cortes' enemies also profited by this opportunity to despatch their
+letters to Spain, in which they calumniated our general in the foulest
+manner; they stated right out that he had poisoned Garay, Leon, and
+Aguilar, and that it was his intention to put the veedor and factor to
+death; the whole of which, however, were most barefaced and scandalous
+lies. To all this was added, that about the same time the accountant
+Albornoz, who was never well inclined towards Cortes, went to Spain to
+injure him in every possible manner. After his majesty and the council
+of the Indies had read all the letters and despatches, which seemed to
+vie with each other in their complaints against Cortes, and were
+moreover confirmed by Albornoz, all the former accusations respecting
+his treatment of Narvaez, Tapia, and his conduct towards his first wife,
+Doņa Catalina Suarez la Marcaida, were harrowed up again, and actually
+gained credit in all their distortion. The emperor, therefore, came to
+the determination to appoint Estrada sole governor of New Spain; he
+confirmed all his previous acts and deeds, gave him power to distribute
+the commendaries according to the best of his judgment, and ordered that
+the factor and veedor should again be set at liberty and reinstated in
+all their former possessions.
+
+A vessel was immediately despatched from Spain with these his majesty's
+commands, which soon arrived in Mexico; but this was not all, for his
+majesty also ordered the comendador-mayor of the order of Alcantara, Don
+Pedro de la Cueva, to equip three hundred soldiers at Cortes' expense,
+to repair with these to New Spain, there to make inquiries into the
+complaints which had been made against Cortes, with full power, if he
+should find them founded in truth, to cut off his head. In the same way
+the comendador was to punish all those who had acted against the real
+interests of the crown; he was to take away all the townships in
+possession of Cortes, and to distribute them among the veteran
+Conquistadores. His majesty likewise ordered that a royal court of
+audience should be appointed at Mexico, as a supreme court of justice.
+
+The departure of the comendador-mayor, however, was so long deferred,
+that at last it was given up altogether; for it met with great
+opposition at court, and the comendador was either not supplied with so
+large a sum of money as he had asked for, or perhaps the duke of Bejar
+had again espoused Cortes' cause, as on former occasions.
+
+But to return to the treasurer Estrada. He grew excessively vain and
+proud when he found himself so highly favoured by his majesty as to be
+appointed sole governor of New Spain; and he had been assured that the
+emperor knew he was a son of his catholic majesty king Ferdinand. The
+first thing he did therefore was to despatch his cousin Diego de
+Mazariegos as captain to Chiapa, to institute an inquiry into the
+conduct of Don Juan Enriquez de Guzman, to whom Marcos de Aguilar had
+intrusted the chief command in that province, but who plundered and
+oppressed the inhabitants in the most shameful manner. In the same way
+he began to make preparations to subject the townships of the Zapotecs
+and of the Minxes, and to make success more sure they were to be
+attacked from two different points at the same time. The troops which
+were to operate on the north side he gave in command to a certain
+Barrios, who had previously been captain in Italy. He was a man of great
+courage, had but recently arrived from Spain, and must not be confounded
+with Cortes' cousin Barrios, of Seville. The number of his troops, on
+this expedition, amounted to above one hundred men, including several
+musketeers and crossbow-men. But this expedition terminated very
+unfortunately, for scarcely had he arrived in the Tiltepec townships,
+when one night he was suddenly attacked by the natives, and Barrios
+himself killed, with seven of his men. The greater part of the remaining
+troops were wounded, and the whole of them would undoubtedly have been
+cut to pieces if they had not made a precipitate retreat to Villa-Diego
+and the neighbouring friendly districts.
+
+This, I think, is a sufficient proof of the difference between the
+veteran Conquistadores and the troops newly arrived from Spain, who have
+not the slightest notion of a war with Indians or of their artifices;
+and thus miserably did this expedition terminate.
+
+The second body of troops were to fall into the Zapotec territory from
+the side of Guaxaca, and were commanded by an officer named Figuero,
+who, it was said, had likewise previously been a captain in Spain; one
+thing is certain, he stood on a most confidential footing with the
+governor Estrada. He had a like number of troops under his command as
+Barrios, but also men recently arrived from Spain. As soon as he reached
+the territory of the Zapotecs, he despatched a messenger to a certain
+Alonso Herrera to repair to his camp. This Herrera had been sent with a
+detachment of thirty men into these provinces, during the administration
+of Marcos de Aguilar.
+
+Figuero had, no doubt, been empowered to take the command over Herrera,
+for the latter obeyed his orders and arrived in his camp; but they had
+not been long there together before a terrible dispute arose between
+them, which ended in their drawing swords, and in Herrera severely
+wounding Figuero, besides three soldiers who came up to defend him. As
+the latter officer, on account of his wounds was unable to use his arm,
+he gave up all idea of marching to the mountains of the Minxes, which
+were very difficult of access; besides which, his men had no notion of
+the warfare of this country; so that in the end he solely turned his
+attention towards discovering the burial places of the caziques, to open
+their graves for the sake of the gold ornaments which the inhabitants of
+olden times were accustomed to bury with their chiefs. This employment
+he prosecuted with so much vigour, and his endeavours proved so
+successful, that he collected in this manner above 100,000 pesos worth
+of gold, and with this treasure, added to some other valuable matters he
+had found in two of the townships, he determined to retire, and he
+consequently relinquished the expedition against the Zapotecs and Minxes
+altogether. He then returned to Mexico with the intention of spending
+his money quietly in Spain; for which purpose he shortly after set sail
+from Vera Cruz, but had not been long at sea before he was overtaken by
+so terrific a storm that the vessel, he himself, with five other
+passengers and all his gold went to the bottom.
+
+Thus terminated all the governor Estrada's warlike undertakings against
+these provinces, nor was the rebellion put down until we, the
+inhabitants of Guacasualco, marched against them and completely subdued
+the country; though it was no very easy matter for us either, and as the
+cavalry was of no use among the high mountains there: I was obliged
+three several times to march out against these tribes; for if we did
+subdue them during the spring and summer months, they were sure to
+revolt again when the rainy season set in, and they put every Spaniard
+they could lay hold of to death. But as we each time vigorously pursued
+them to their retreats, they at length sued for peace, and then it was
+that the town of San Alfonso was founded in their country.
+
+The governor Estrada, in the meantime, was determined that Herrera
+should not go unpunished for wounding his friend Figuero, and issued
+orders for his apprehension; but he had escaped to the mountains before
+the arrival of the alguacils, who, in order not to return with empty
+hands to Mexico, brought back with them in chains a soldier, whom
+Herrera had generally about his person. This man's name was Cortejo, and
+he was a hidalgo by birth, yet the governor without so much as bringing
+him to trial, ordered his right hand to be cut off.
+
+About this time also one of Sandoval's grooms got into high words with
+one of the governor's servants, so that at length they drew swords and
+wounded each other. Even this paltry affair the governor thought it
+worth his while to resent, and he ordered one of the groom's hands to be
+cut off. Cortes and Sandoval were not then in Mexico, but had retired to
+Quauhnahuac, partly to enjoy more peace and get out of the way of the
+constant cabals, and partly to bring about a good understanding between
+two caziques of the latter place who had come to blows with each other.
+They were, however, immediately informed of what had taken place in
+Mexico, and with the severe punishment with which Sandoval's groom was
+threatened. They hastened, therefore, to Mexico, but too late to prevent
+the sentence being put into execution.
+
+Cortes was so enraged at this insult, that he said the most bitter
+things to the governor in Sandoval's presence, which alarmed him to such
+a degree that he considered his life in danger from him, and he formed a
+body guard for the protection of his person, and only selected for this
+purpose men in whose fidelity he could place implicit reliance. In
+order, however, still further to strengthen his party against Cortes, he
+liberated the veedor and factor, who, in acknowledgment for this, hinted
+to him that he ought to banish Cortes from Mexico, for he would never be
+able to govern in peace, and the demon of party-spirit would always be
+sowing discord as long as this man was allowed to remain in the city.
+This counsel was followed by the governor, who signed the banishment of
+Cortes, and ordered it to be notified to him. Cortes said he gladly
+obeyed these commands, and thanked God from the bottom of his heart that
+things had now come to such a pass, that persons of worthless character,
+unworthy of the offices they filled, should banish him from a country
+and a city, in the conquest of which he and his companions in arms had
+endured every species of hardship, fought numerous severe engagements,
+and so many brave soldiers had lost their lives. He was now himself
+determined to repair to Spain, there to acquaint his majesty with what
+was going on in Mexico, and to demand justice against people who repaid
+all the past favours he had bestowed upon them with base ingratitude.
+
+Cortes quitted Mexico without delay, and repaired to the township of
+Cojohuacan, which was his own property, where, however, he only stayed
+for a short time, but travelled from thence to Tezcuco, and a few days
+after to Tlascalla. The governor Estrada, in the meantime, began to
+repent of what he had done; for when his wife, Doņa Marina Gutierrez de
+la Caballeria, a most excellent and virtuous woman, learnt that her
+husband had liberated the veedor and factor, and had then banished
+Cortes from Mexico, she was seized with sudden grief, and said to her
+husband, she hoped the Almighty would forgive him his ingratitude
+towards a man who had befriended him in every way, and bestowed upon him
+so many lucrative commendaries. She advised him to do all in his power
+to regain his friendship, and to persuade him to return to Mexico; for
+otherwise his own life would be in constant danger. These circumstances
+are said to have made a deep impression on the governor, and he
+regretted exceedingly that he had banished Cortes, and liberated the
+factor and veedor; though they, as sworn enemies of the former, were
+ready to serve him in every possible manner.
+
+About this time, also, father Don Julian Garces arrived from Spain, in
+order to enter upon the new bishopric of Tlascalla, of which he was
+appointed bishop. He was a native of Arragon, and a very eloquent
+preacher, and, in honour of the emperor, he took the name of Carolense.
+This prelate highly disapproved of Cortes' banishment, and as soon as he
+heard of it he determined to bring about peace and friendship between
+the former and the governor. With this good object in view, he repaired
+to Tezcuco, where he embarked in a couple of canoes, with two priests
+and a monk, who had accompanied him, for Mexico. As intelligence of his
+approach had reached this town, the whole of the clergy in grand pomp,
+the chief authorities, the Conquistadores, and all the officers and
+soldiers then in Mexico went out to meet him. Nor had he scarcely been a
+couple of days here before the governor begged of him to become mediator
+between himself and Cortes, and to persuade the latter to return to
+Mexico; for which purpose he then withdrew the order of banishment. The
+bishop, indeed, tried his utmost in this matter; but Cortes would listen
+to no adjustment of differences, and continually moved about from place
+to place, always accompanied by a considerable number of cavaliers and
+other persons. Cortes' principal object at the present moment was to
+collect as much gold as possible for his journey to Spain; for which
+purpose he not only mortgaged his own property, but even that of his
+friends who were resolved to stand by him. His example was followed by
+Sandoval and Tapia, who were determined to accompany him on his journey.
+Cortes, during his stay in Tlascalla, was likewise visited by several of
+the inhabitants of Mexico and of other towns, as also by all those
+soldiers who had not received any commendaries; even the caziques of
+Mexico waited upon him, and offered him their services: and as at all
+times there are persons fond of change and rebellion, who are most
+pleased when everything is in uproar and confusion, many likewise
+advised him to set himself up for king of New Spain, for which, they
+said, he could not choose a more favorable opportunity than the present,
+and they would lend him every support. Cortes, however, showed so little
+inclination to listen to proposals of this nature, that he ordered two
+persons, who had made similar proposals to him, to be imprisoned, as
+guilty of high treason, and for a length of time made every semblance as
+if he intended to hang them.
+
+A proposal of the same nature was made to him, in a letter from Mexico,
+by some turbulent characters of this town; though many persons were of
+opinion that this was merely the vile attempt of a certain party to
+catch some expression from Cortes which would lay him open to suspicion.
+But as his fidelity to the emperor was not to be shaken, he dismissed
+every one with indignation from his presence who durst whisper such
+thoughts to him, threatening to have them hung immediately if they ever
+again durst mention such things to him.
+
+In the same way these rebellious spirits sought to arouse Cortes by
+their vile projects; they did their utmost to alarm the governor and the
+factor, assuring them that Cortes had not the remotest idea of leaving
+for Spain, but had merely spread this rumour to hide his real
+intentions, which were, to assemble as large a body of men as he
+possibly could, to fall suddenly upon them; and that the caziques of
+Mexico, Tezcuco, Tlascalla, and of all the townships situate on the
+lake, were only awaiting the word from him to commence hostilities. The
+governor, the factor, and the veedor were so excessively alarmed at
+this, that they repeatedly importuned the bishop to inquire what Cortes'
+real designs were; they even wrote to the latter himself, begged his
+pardon, and made all manner of offers to him.
+
+The bishop, therefore, repaired to Cortes, in order to make another
+attempt to bring about a good understanding between all parties; but
+when he found how kindly he was received in every part of the province,
+when he found the excellent spirit which reigned among the inhabitants
+themselves, and was informed how indignantly Cortes had sent away those
+evil counsellors from his presence, he wrote word to the governor that
+he was the most loyal cavalier and the most faithful servant of his
+majesty, and that the present age could not show a second person of his
+worth. The governor might rest assured that Cortes positively intended
+to repair in person to the imperial court in Spain, and that he had no
+other design whatever. For the rest, continued the bishop, he could
+assure him that he had drawn universal odium on himself by Cortes'
+banishment. This letter the bishop concluded with these words: "O, seņor
+tesorero Estrada, what a terrible affair is this, which you have so
+wantonly caused!"
+
+I forget whether Cortes, before leaving for Spain, again returned to
+Mexico, to make the necessary arrangements for the care of his property
+during his absence; I only know that he intrusted the licentiate
+Altamirano, Diego de Ocampo, Alonso Valiente, and Santacruz Burgales,
+but particularly the first mentioned, with the conduct of those matters.
+
+Cortes had, among other things, a curious collection of the various
+kinds of birds found in New Spain, besides two tigers, several small
+jars of liquid amber, dried and fluid balsam, four expert Indian clowns,
+several rope-dancers, and three dwarfs of so monstrous a shape, that one
+could scarcely recognize the human form in them; also several Albinos of
+both sexes, who could scarcely see out of their eyes: all of which were
+objects that could not fail to create universal astonishment in Spain,
+and the whole of them he intended as a present to his majesty. The
+caziques of Tlascalla likewise begged he would take along with him three
+young men of the most distinguished families of their country, one of
+whom was the son of the old blind Xicotencatl. Besides these, several of
+the Mexican caziques followed in his suite.
+
+Cortes was just about preparing for his departure, when intelligence
+arrived that two fast-sailing vessels had put into Vera Cruz, direct
+from Spain, with letters, the contents of which will be found in the
+following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCV.
+
+    _How Cortes receives letters from the Cardinal de Siguenza, then
+    president of the council of the Indies, and from several other
+    cavaliers, advising him to repair to Spain without delay; the death
+    of his father Martin Cortes; and of other matters._
+
+
+Cortes was about taking his departure for Spain, when letters arrived
+for him from Don Garcia de Loaysa, cardinal of Siguenza, president of
+the council of the Indies and subsequently archbishop of Seville, and
+from the duke of Bejar, and other cavaliers in Spain, all of whom
+assured him that his enemies drew the greatest advantage from the
+continued postponement of his arrival in Spain, and daily brought fresh
+accusations against him. He was openly accused, they said, of the
+foulest of crimes, and of having poisoned the different governors whom
+his majesty had sent to New Spain. It was necessary, therefore, that he
+should repair immediately to the imperial court, which could not fail to
+produce a good effect, and all the calumnies which had been heaped upon
+him would recoil upon his enemies, and prove the very means of raising
+him to the highest honours. They at the same time announced to him the
+death of his father Martin Cortes; and as he was still in mourning[50]
+for his wife Doņa Catalina Suarez, he put on additional mourning for his
+father, to whose memory he in every way paid the highest honours. The
+different accounts which he had received caused him altogether
+considerable grief, and if he had previously felt a great desire to
+return to Spain, he felt now the more so; and as he was informed that
+the two vessels which had arrived in Vera Cruz were newly built, and
+fast sailers, he despatched his mayor-domo Pedro Ruiz de Esquival
+thither to purchase them. Various kinds of provisions were then
+collected in great abundance, of the most expensive kinds, and
+everything was regulated for his voyage in a manner due to so
+distinguished and wealthy a person. The two vessels were so plentifully
+provisioned, that they had sufficient victuals for a voyage of two
+years, although the number of people on board was much greater than
+ordinary.
+
+The mayor-domo, who was to repair to Vera Cruz, had, in order to take
+the shortest route thither, embarked in a canoe on the lake of Mexico,
+for the township of Ayotzinco. This canoe, of considerable size, was
+manned with six Mexican rowers, and Ruiz had with him a number of gold
+bars, for the purchase of the vessels, and a negro slave to attend upon
+him. Whether he was waylaid by any one in the midst of the lake, and
+murdered, could never be discovered, but certain it is that neither the
+canoe, the rowers, nor the negro were ever seen again; only the body of
+Ruiz was found, four days after, on a small island of the lake, half
+devoured by the birds of prey. Various conjectures were made respecting
+the death of this man, and many persons said he had bragged too openly
+of the great favours which were bestowed upon him by the ladies, and
+that he had most likely boasted of things which never happened. Others
+maintained that something much worse had taken place, which, however, I
+will not go into here; in short, it was never known, nor was there ever
+much trouble taken to investigate, how this man came to his end, and we
+can only wish that his poor soul may rest in peace.
+
+Cortes, on learning the untimely end of this man, despatched other
+officers of his household to Vera Cruz, to make the necessary
+preparations there for his departure, and he made it publicly known that
+all those who were desirous of leaving for Spain, and could obtain the
+governor's permission thereto, should have a free passage with him. He
+then departed, in company of Sandoval, Andreas de Tapia, and of several
+other cavaliers, for Vera Cruz, where the whole of them, after having
+confessed, and made the holy communion, set sail for Spain.
+
+Cortes had so very favorable a passage, that, without touching at the
+Havannah or any other port, he arrived safe in forty-one days off the
+coast of Spain, and cast anchor near the town of Palos, opposite the
+church of our dear lady of Rabida. At the first sight of land every one
+on board fell down on his knees, and with uplighted hands offered up
+fervent thanks to God for this prosperous voyage. Cortes' arrival in
+Spain took place in the month of December of the year 1527.
+
+During this voyage Sandoval fell dangerously ill, and Cortes' joy at his
+safe arrival in his native land was soon changed into excessive grief,
+for a few days after it pleased the Almighty to take away this our
+general's faithful companion in arms. Sandoval was still at Palos, and
+lodged in the house of a rope-maker; and here, while lying on his
+death-bed, he was forced patiently to behold the master of the house
+open one of his trunks, and take out thirteen bars of gold. This fellow
+had watched the favorable opportunity when Sandoval's servants had all
+hastened to the Rabida, to call Cortes to his dying friend, so that he
+was left quite alone; besides which, he was so helpless and weak, that
+he durst not even cry out, lest the rope-maker, who had the very
+countenance of a villain, should have smothered him with the cushions.
+The thief immediately fled with the gold bars, and escaped to Portugal,
+nor was he ever heard of again.
+
+Cortes, on learning the dangerous state in which Sandoval lay, hastened
+to his bedside, where he learnt what I have just stated, from the
+latter's own mouth. Persons were immediately sent in pursuit of the
+thief, but it was too late, the fellow got clear away.
+
+Sandoval's health was daily growing worse, so that at length the
+physicians gave up all hopes of his life, and told him his end was
+drawing nigh. Saudoval then confessed, and received the last sacraments
+with the greatest devotion. He made his last will, to which he appointed
+Cortes executor, set apart large sums for the poor and the cloisters,
+and left his sister or sisters heir to his property. I am not sure
+whether he had more than one sister, but I know that subsequently a
+sister of his married a natural son of the earl of Medellin. A short
+time after he had made his will Sandoval rendered up his soul into the
+hands of his Maker, and his death caused universal and heartfelt grief.
+He was buried with every imaginable pomp in the monastery of our dear
+lady of Rabida, and Cortes, with the whole of his suite, put on mourning
+for him. May God have mercy upon his soul! Amen!
+
+The next thing Cortes did was to announce his arrival to his majesty, to
+the cardinal de Siguenza, the duke of Bejar, the earl of Aguilar, and to
+many other cavaliers of distinction. He also mentioned Sandoval's
+death, and was unbounded in the praise of his excellent character, of
+the important services he had rendered to the crown, of his great
+talents as a commander, and of his personal courage. Though the monarch
+was greatly rejoiced at the arrival of Cortes in Spain, yet the death of
+Sandoval caused him much grief, as he had been duly informed of the many
+excellent qualities of this officer. The cardinal de Siguenza and the
+whole of the council of the Indies were no less grieved at his death.
+The duke of Bejar, the earl of Aguilar, and several other cavaliers
+certainly evinced no less sorrow at the death of this brave officer, yet
+it was soon lost in the joy they experienced at the arrival of Cortes.
+
+The duke of Bejar and the earl of Aguilar now called upon his majesty,
+who had already received Cortes' letter. During this audience the former
+told his majesty that he himself had always been convinced of Cortes'
+loyalty, and that a man who had rendered the greatest services to his
+monarch could not fail to be equally faithful to that sovereign in all
+other matters; and this was sufficiently evident in the conduct of
+Cortes, who, placing all his reliance on a clear conscience, had
+fearlessly come to Spain. The duke had every reason for thus expressing
+himself, for during the time when various heavy accusations had been
+brought against Cortes, he had become responsible for him and his
+companions in arms with both his life and property; nor had he omitted
+on any occasion to extol our loyalty and our services to the skies;
+which at that time seemed the more meritorious, as Peru was not yet
+discovered. The emperor, indeed, changed his sentiments with regard to
+Cortes in so wonderful a degree as to issue orders that he was to be
+received with the highest honours in every town he passed through. The
+first person who gave Cortes a splendid reception was the duke of Medina
+Sidonia, in Seville, who supplied him with beautiful horses. Having
+rested in this town for a few days, Cortes hastened by long days'
+journeys to the convent of our dear lady of Guadaloupe, there to make
+his devotions. It happened fortunately for him that the distinguished
+lady Doņa Maria de Mendoza, wife of the comendador-mayor of Leon, should
+arrive there at the same time. She had a number of ladies of quality in
+her suite; among others her sister, who was two years afterwards married
+to the governor of the Canary islands. Cortes was highly delighted at
+this circumstance, and after making his devotions to our dear lady of
+Guadaloupe, bestowing rich alms on the poor, and having ordered a number
+of masses to be said, he repaired, though in deep mourning, with the
+whole of his suite, and several other cavaliers, who had come to offer
+their services to him, to pay his respects to Doņa Maria de Mendoza, her
+exceedingly beautiful sister, and to the other ladies: and as Cortes
+was a man of excellent good breeding, of a frank and cheerful
+disposition, and eloquent in address, he the more easily gained the good
+wishes of these ladies, and the fame of his great exploits was re-echoed
+from one end of Spain to the other. He was possessed of sufficient
+wealth to bestow with an unsparing hand; and to the whole of these
+ladies he presented the most valuable presents in gold, trinkets of
+beautiful workmanship, penaches of green feathers, decorated with gold,
+silver, and pearls; of course, the most splendid of these presents fell
+to the share of the distinguished lady Maria de Mendoza and her charming
+sister. This latter lady he even presented with several bars of gold, to
+be worked into all manner of fine ornaments. Among these presents to the
+ladies he did not forget the most delicious perfumes and balsams: he
+also made his Indian buffoons and rope dancers perform in their
+presence; and on learning that the last-mentioned lady had lost one of
+her mules, he secretly purchased two others for her, and gave them in
+charge of her major-domo.
+
+Cortes remained in the town of Guadaloupe until these ladies returned to
+the imperial court, which, at that time, was in Toledo. He accompanied
+them on their journey, and gave them banquets and feasts everywhere
+along their route; and he so completely gained the good wishes of Doņa
+Maria de Mendoza by his graceful behaviour, his great splendour, and the
+attentions he paid her, that she began seriously to think of making a
+match between her sister and Cortes. If the latter had not promised his
+hand to Doņa Juana de Guzman, niece to the duke of Bejar, a match would
+certainly have been brought about between them; and by this alliance
+with the comendador-mayor of Leon he would have increased his good
+fortune, and have obtained from his majesty the appointment of governor
+of New Spain. However, I will say no more on this subject, for
+everything is guided and directed by the hand of God.
+
+Doņa Maria de Mendoza, in her letters to her husband, could scarcely say
+sufficient in praise of Cortes. All the fame of his deeds of arms, said
+she, were really nothing when compared to his own personal qualities: in
+order to appreciate his whole worth, it was necessary to listen to the
+charm of his conversation, learn the noble frankness of his disposition,
+and the grace with which his every action was accompanied. It was
+impossible, she continued, that his majesty could have a more devoted
+servant among his subjects, and she hoped her husband would fully
+acquaint his majesty with the great merits of this man, that he might
+receive the rewards which he so richly deserved.
+
+The comendador-mayor was vastly pleased with the excellent opinion which
+his wife entertained of Cortes, and the attentions the latter had shown
+her, so that he was quite prepossessed in his favour; and as at that
+time no one stood on a more confidential footing with the emperor than
+the comendador himself, he laid his own wife's letter before the
+emperor, and strongly recommended Cortes to his majesty's favour. But it
+appears that the emperor was already most favorably inclined towards
+him, and had, as the duke of Bejar afterwards assured Cortes, on the
+first news of his arrival in Spain, expressed a great desire to make the
+acquaintance of the man who had rendered him so many important services,
+and of whose dangerous and deceitful character so much had been told
+him.
+
+When Cortes arrived at the imperial court, his majesty ordered
+apartments to be given him in the palace. When he had approached near to
+the town, the duke of Bejar, the earl of Aguilar, and several other
+gentlemen of distinction went out to meet him, and gave him a most
+honorable reception. On the following day, he was allowed to throw
+himself at his majesty's feet; and to show him every possible
+distinction on the occasion, he was accompanied by the admiral of
+Castile, the duke of Bejar, and the comendador-mayor of Leon. After
+Cortes had obtained leave from his majesty to speak, he knelt down, but
+his majesty immediately desired him to rise; upon which Cortes addressed
+the emperor, and enumerated the many important services he had rendered
+the crown, the various conquests he had made down to the perilous
+expedition to the Honduras, and then recounted the disturbances and
+conspiracies which the veedor and factor had caused in Mexico during his
+absence. Though this address was of considerable length, yet he spoke
+everything with great fluency and ease, concluding with these words: "In
+order, however, not to tire your majesty's patience any longer by
+listening to me, and as it ill becomes a subject like myself to address
+the first monarch of the world to any greater length, as I am
+unaccustomed to speak with your majesty, and as the mental pain which I
+suffer from the many injustices which have been done me might force
+unbecoming expressions from my lips, I have drawn up in this memorial a
+statement of everything I wished to say, from which your majesty may
+learn the full particulars of every circumstance that has transpired."
+With these words Cortes knelt down, and handed over to his majesty the
+memorial, and was going to kiss his feet for having granted him so
+lengthened an audience, but the emperor again desired him to rise; upon
+which the admiral of Castile and the duke of Bejar addressed his
+majesty in praise of Cortes, and said how richly he had merited reward.
+
+The emperor then upon the spot created him marquis del Valle Oaxaca,
+bestowed a number of townships upon him, and presented him with the
+cross of the order of Santiago. The income that he was to have was not
+mentioned at the time, and I am unable to say how it came to be
+overlooked. The emperor also appointed him captain-general of New Spain
+and of the South Sea; after which Cortes had a second audience of his
+majesty to thank him for the many favours he had bestowed upon him, and
+his majesty, as on the previous occasion, received him with every mark
+of distinction.
+
+Cortes had been but a few days at Toledo when he fell so dangerously ill
+that every person despaired of his life. The duke of Bejar and the
+comendador of Leon fearing his end was drawing nigh, requested his
+majesty to visit the sick man at his bedside before his death, as a mark
+of distinction to him for the many services he had rendered to the
+crown. His majesty was pleased to comply with this request, and he
+repaired to Cortes' lodgings, accompanied by several dukes, marquisses,
+and other distinguished personages. This, at court, was considered the
+highest honour and mark of respect that could be paid to a subject. When
+Cortes, therefore, was restored to good health, envy strove to do its
+worst to poison the favour in which he stood with his majesty, under the
+protection of the earl of Nassau, the duke of Bejar, and the admiral of
+Castile.
+
+It happened one Sunday that Cortes came rather late to mass in the
+cathedral church. His majesty had already taken his seat, and the
+noblemen of his suite, each according to his respective rank and
+station. Cortes, clothed in his deep mourning cloak, passed by all these
+illustrious noblemen, and seated himself next to the earl of Nassau, who
+sat very near to his majesty. This self-assumed precedence of so many
+illustrious personages, as it was termed, appeared so presumptuous, and
+showed so great a want of propriety, that those persons who considered
+themselves slighted thereby, immediately began to murmur forth their
+disapprobation of such conduct. However, the duke of Bejar, the admiral
+of Castile, and the earl of Aguilar, who were present, took Cortes'
+side, and observed that no reproach could be made to the latter on this
+score, as his majesty, to do him honour, had ordered that he should take
+his seat next to the earl of Nassau. It should also be taken into
+consideration, these noblemen further said, what vast territories Cortes
+had added to the crown, how greatly indebted the whole of Christendom
+was to him; that their titles had merely descended to them from their
+forefathers, whereas the marks of distinction which his majesty was
+pleased to confer upon Cortes were the immediate consequences of the
+latter's own merits.
+
+However, it is certainly true that the great favour in which Cortes
+stood with the emperor, the admiral of Castile, the earl of Nassau, and
+with the duke of Bejar, added to the title of marquis which had been
+conferred upon him, had turned his head a little; for he now began to
+neglect his other patrons, the cardinal de Siguenza, the
+comendador-mayor of Leon, the latter's wife Doņa Maria de Mendoza, and
+the members of the council of the Indies, all of whom had interested
+themselves so greatly for him; and he exclusively courted the three
+noblemen above mentioned, with whose protection he imagined he could
+obtain anything. The first thing he did was to storm his majesty with
+petitions to appoint him governor of New Spain, each time enumerating
+the many important services he had rendered the crown, promising, should
+his majesty be pleased to grant his prayer, to equip an armament for a
+voyage of discovery to the islands and rich countries of the South seas.
+His distinguished patrons likewise used all their influence with his
+majesty to obtain this appointment for him. The emperor, however,
+replied, that Cortes must be satisfied with the rich marquisate he had
+conferred upon him, for he had now also to think of those with whose
+assistance Cortes had accomplished his undertakings, and who certainly
+deserved a reward for their exertions.
+
+From this moment Cortes began gradually to fall in his majesty's favour.
+Some ascribed this to the president of the council of the Indies,
+cardinal de Siguenza, who had, in a consultation with his majesty,
+declared himself against conferring the appointment of governor on
+Cortes. Others ascribed it to the comendador-mayor of Leon and his wife
+Doņa Maria de Mendoza, who felt piqued at the manner in which Cortes had
+latterly neglected them. However this may have been, I cannot say; but
+his majesty adhered to his first determination, and refused to grant
+Cortes his request. The emperor at this time was about to embark at
+Barcelona for Flanders, being accompanied by a great number of
+distinguished personages, and the three patrons of Cortes persevered in
+their endeavours to obtain the appointment in question for him, until at
+length his majesty forbade the earl of Nassau to speak another word
+about it, remarking to him at the same time that the marquisate he had
+conferred upon Cortes produced a larger annual income than he (the earl)
+obtained from his whole territory of Nassau.
+
+We will now wish his majesty a good voyage, and say a few words
+respecting Cortes' marriage with Doņa Juana de Zunniga. The banquets
+which took place on this occasion were of the most sumptuous nature, and
+the presents which Cortes made his bride, as I have been informed by
+persons who saw them, were so expensive and magnificent, that nothing in
+Spain had ever before been seen like them. Even the empress Isabella, it
+is said, expressed a wish, from the descriptions which had been given
+her of these presents by the jewellers, to possess similar ones, and
+that she had accepted with indifference several precious stones which
+Cortes had presented to her, because they were not equal in beauty and
+value to those he had given to his wife.
+
+Cortes, upon the whole, experienced a great deal of vexation during his
+stay in Spain. Above all, it is said, the empress changed her previous
+favorable sentiments with regard to Cortes, when she learnt his
+ungrateful conduct towards the comendador-mayor of Leon, his wife Doņa
+Maria, and the cardinal de Siguenza; and that he had kept back jewels of
+much greater value than he had presented to her. Yet she commanded the
+council of the Indies to promote his interests in every possible manner.
+An agreement was also signed between him and the crown, namely, that he
+should equip a couple of vessels, at his own expense for a certain
+number of years, for the discovery of new islands and countries in the
+South Sea, with the condition, however, that he should have a certain
+share of the profits arising therefrom.
+
+About this time also the comendador-mayor of the order of Alcantara, Don
+Pedro de la Cueva, was staying at the imperial court. This was the same
+gentleman who was some time previously commanded by his majesty to
+repair with a considerable body of troops to New Spain, there to make an
+inquiry into the conduct of Cortes, with full power, if he found him
+guilty, to cut off his head. At present, however, he gave every proof of
+sincere joy at the distinguished title and the many favours which had
+been conferred upon him by the emperor, and he now daily courted the
+company of the marquis Don Hernando Cortes. He likewise told Cortes that
+he might congratulate himself on having come to Spain; for he assured
+him that if even he had not found him guilty of any offence, he would
+still have had to pay all the expenses of the armament, which would have
+amounted to above 300,000 pesos.
+
+Besides all I have above related, many other things were written to us
+by persons who were present in Spain at the time, and by Cortes himself,
+but I will not go into them here; and though the latter expatiated a
+good deal on the many favours which had been bestowed upon him at
+court, yet he never mentioned a word why he was not appointed governor
+of New Spain.
+
+A few days after he had been created marquis, Cortes despatched the
+cavalier Juan de Herrada to Rome in his name to kiss the feet of his
+holiness pope Clement, and beg his acceptance of a valuable present in
+jewels and gold trinkets. He ordered Herrada to take along with him two
+Indian buffoons, and likewise wrote a lengthened epistle to his
+holiness, in which he gave him a full account of the countries he had
+discovered and subdued; of the great services he had above all rendered
+to God, and then to his majesty; of the idol worship practised among the
+Indians, and what a great number of the latter had already been
+converted to Christianity. What he further told his holiness I cannot
+say; but we learnt from Herrada, when he afterwards returned to New
+Spain, that Cortes had begged his holiness to remit a certain portion of
+the tithes.
+
+I ought also to mention that this Juan de Herrada was an excellent
+soldier, and that he had accompanied us on our expedition to the
+Honduras. After his return from Rome he went to Peru, where Don Diego de
+Almagro appointed him governor to his younger son Don Diego, and
+otherwise placed implicit confidence in him. He likewise commanded the
+small but determined body of men who put the elder Pizarro to death, and
+afterwards became a chief officer under Almagro the younger.
+
+At Rome, Herrada, with his fine presents and Indian buffoons, met with
+the best reception; and his holiness declared, during the audience which
+he granted him, that he could not sufficiently thank the Almighty that
+he lived in an age when so many extensive countries were discovered, and
+so many heathens converted to our holy religion. He said that Cortes and
+his troops had rendered the greatest services to God, to our master the
+emperor Don Carlos, and to the whole of Christendom, and we were
+deserving of the highest rewards. His holiness even ordered a solemn
+procession and a day of thanksgiving, and sent especial bulls, by which
+he granted us absolution of our sins, and gave other indulgences to the
+cloisters and churches. He likewise confirmed and approved of everything
+Cortes had done in New Spain, only he refused to grant the latter's
+request with respect to the tithes.
+
+This is all I know of the contents of the letter which his holiness
+wrote to Cortes; but everything I have above related of this mission to
+Rome I learnt from Herrada himself and from another soldier who had
+accompanied him named Campo. They staid altogether eight days at Rome,
+and his holiness, with the cardinals, were highly delighted with the
+performances of the Indian buffoons. His holiness even created Herrada a
+count palatine, presented him with a large sum of money for his journey
+back, and gave him a letter to our emperor, in which he requested his
+majesty to bestow upon him some lucrative commendary; but as Cortes, on
+his return to New Spain, had no longer the power to distribute lands or
+Indians, Herrada never derived any benefit from the pope's letter, and
+he repaired to Peru, where he made a brilliant career.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCVI.
+
+    _How the royal court of audience arrive in Mexico during Cortes'
+    stay in Spain, and what their first occupations were._
+
+
+While Cortes was staying in Spain, and had already been created a
+marquis, the royal court of audience appointed by his majesty arrived in
+Mexico. This court consisted of a president, Nuņo de Guzman, who was
+previously governor of Panuco, and of four licentiates as auditors,
+whose names were Matienzo of Biscay or Navarra, Delgadillo of Granada,
+Maldonado of Salamanca, (not the licentiate Alonso Maldonado the Good,
+who was governor of Guatimala,) and the licentiate Parada, who, up to
+this moment, had lived at Cuba.
+
+These gentlemen met with a most splendid reception in Mexico, and
+commenced their operations about sixteen days after their arrival. None
+of the subsequent viceroys or presidents possessed the extensive powers
+granted to these men by his majesty. They had full power to distribute
+the commendaries in perpetuity, and they were particularly desired to
+reward the Conquistadores handsomely, and to give them the preference in
+all matters.
+
+These gentlemen made known their arrival in every town throughout New
+Spain, and ordered the citizens to send their procuradores to them, each
+provided with a list of the Indians in his province. Many days had not
+elapsed before these procuradores and the Conquistadores made their
+appearance in Mexico from all parts of New Spain. I myself repaired
+thither as procurador syndic of the town of Guacasualco, but when I
+found in what manner the auditors intended to treat the matter, I
+hastened back to Guacasualco in order to elect the procuradores who were
+to represent the interests of the latter place at the royal court of
+audience, during the distribution of the commendaries in perpetuity.
+Various disputes arose respecting this election, for every one was
+desirous of choosing his particular friend; however, at length their
+choice fell upon Luis Marin and myself; but when we arrived in Mexico
+and the whole of us procuradores insisted upon a distribution in
+perpetuity as his majesty had commanded, we found that a great change
+had taken place. Nuņo de Guzman, Matienzo, and Delgadillo were now quite
+against this measure; and the two other auditors, Maldonado and Parada,
+died of pleurisy shortly after their arrival in Mexico, and no doubt if
+Cortes had been at that time in New Spain calumny would have accused him
+of their death also. With respect to the distribution in perpetuity, I
+have been assured by many credible persons that the factor was the only
+man who stopped it from being carried into effect, for he had so far
+gained the confidence of Guzman and Delgadillo, that they never did
+anything without consulting him, and allowed themselves to be led
+blindly by him in all matters. These gentlemen now opposed the
+distribution in perpetuity, because they saw that the Conquistadores by
+such a measure would become independent of them, and trouble themselves
+no more about them. They consequently considered it more to their
+interest to leave matters as they were, for then they could bestow and
+take away Indians whenever they liked, by which they would always have
+us at their mercy, and they themselves derive great power and riches.
+The factor, Delgadillo, and Guzman likewise came to a secret
+understanding with each other, that the first-mentioned gentleman should
+repair to Spain in order to procure for Guzman the appointment of
+governor of New Spain; for they had already learnt that Cortes did not
+stand so high in his majesty's favour as at first, and that,
+notwithstanding all his great interest at court, he had not been able to
+obtain this appointment for himself. The factor accordingly embarked for
+Spain, but he had not been many days at sea before he was overtaken by a
+violent storm, and his vessel was wrecked off the coast of Guacasualco;
+the factor narrowly escaped on shore in the boat, and here this project
+ended.
+
+The first thing which Nuņo de Guzman and his colleagues did was to
+institute an inquiry into the government of the treasurer Estrada, to
+which he very patiently submitted. If this man had shown the determined
+character we had expected of him, he would certainly have continued
+governor of New Spain, for it was only a few months previously that his
+majesty had conferred this appointment on him, with every approbation of
+the conduct he had pursued in the government of the country; besides
+which, Guzman had no further powers than those conferred upon him as
+president of the royal court of audience, and even then he could not
+make any distribution of lands or of Indians, unless it met with the
+approbation of his colleagues. Every inhabitant of Mexico, and the whole
+of the Conquistadores would have the more zealously supported Estrada if
+he had shown any determination to maintain his authority, as he had
+evinced the utmost impartiality in his government, and had scrupulously
+acted up to the commands of his majesty; but the inquiry had scarcely
+lasted a few days when he grew weary of offering any further resistance
+to the court of audience, and he died shortly after of downright
+vexation.
+
+This new court of audience was altogether opposed to Cortes and his
+adherents, in which partisan-like spirit they instituted an inquiry into
+the conduct of Jorge de Alvarado, in his government of Guatimala, and
+for this purpose a certain Orduņa, the elder, of Tordesillas, was
+despatched thither; but I am totally ignorant of the result of his
+investigation. In the same way they attacked the government of Cortes,
+and specially appointed for this purpose the fiscal and the factor
+Salazar. During this investigation, Cortes was accused in open court of
+so many base actions, and was altogether so grossly calumniated, that
+the licentiate Altamirano, to whom Cortes had intrusted the sole care of
+his possessions in New Spain, with cap in hand, stepped up in front of
+the president and the auditors, and respectfully begged of them to
+bridle the slanderous tongue of the factor, and to forbid him henceforth
+to utter his low abuse of the marquis, a cavalier of unblemished
+character, and the faithful servant of his monarch. He then demanded
+justice of the factor, but very little notice was taken of his
+remonstrances, for the next day the factor produced even more infamous
+accusations, and the auditors countenanced this in so far that very high
+words arose between the licentiate Altamirano on one side, and the
+factor and the auditors on the other. At length Altamirano lost all
+patience, drew his dagger, and would certainly have killed the factor on
+the spot if he had not flown for protection behind the auditors. The
+whole city broke out into open insurrection at this circumstance.
+Altamirano was thrown into prison, and the factor was confined in his
+own house. The whole of us Conquistadores, however, went in a body to
+the president and interceded for Altamirano, so effectually, indeed,
+that three days after, he was set at liberty again, and a reconciliation
+was brought about between him and the auditors.
+
+After this affair had blown over, another of a more serious nature took
+place; namely, there arrived about this time in Mexico a relation of
+Pamfilo Narvaez, named Zavallos, who had been despatched from Cuba by
+Maria de Valenzuela, Narvaez's wife, to gain some information respecting
+her husband, who had been appointed governor of the country on the
+river Palmas; but, as was currently reported, had perished on the
+expedition thither. Maria de Valenzuela had also given Zavallos full
+authority to take possession of her husband's property wherever he might
+find it, for she imagined he had taken considerable property with him to
+New Spain. This man was secretly advised by the auditors to bring
+actions against all those of the Conquistadores who had accompanied
+Cortes on the expedition against Narvaez, injured his person, burnt his
+property, and killed so many of his men. Zavallos immediately lent a
+willing ear to this, and forthwith commenced an action of
+indemnification against the Conquistadores, who all happened at that
+time to be staying in the metropolis. There were altogether 250 of us,
+and the whole were condemned in the sum of a certain number of pesos,
+and banished to the distance of twenty miles from Mexico. But this
+sentence of banishment was instantly withdrawn, and several of us were
+not even asked for the fine in which we had been condemned, for it was
+very small. But this was not all, for now other enemies of Cortes began
+to show themselves, and accused him of having kept to himself a quantity
+of the gold, silver and jewels taken at the conquest of the city of
+Mexico; that he had even concealed the treasure of Quauhtemoctzin, and
+merely given the Conquistadores eighty pesos a piece; that he had only
+sent a very small portion of this treasure to his majesty, and that in
+such a manner as if the present had come from him alone. Though these
+complainants very well knew that the present which Cortes sent on that
+occasion to Spain fell into the hands of the French freebooter, Jean
+Florin, yet they not only demanded that Cortes should repay the money
+captured by this corsair, but also the other treasures which he had
+secretly kept to himself.
+
+Various other accusations were brought against Cortes, and in every case
+judgment was given in favour of the complainants, so that his
+possessions were sold in payment of all demands. The auditors even went
+so far as to contrive that Cortes' own brother-in-law, Juan Suarez,
+should accuse Cortes, in open court, of the murder of his late wife,
+Doņa Catalina Suarez, which he sought to prove by witnesses.
+
+With regard to the demands against Cortes respecting the prize-money of
+Mexico and the treasure of Quauhtemoctzin, we, the friends of Cortes,
+after obtaining leave of the alcaldes, assembled in the house of Garcia
+Holguin, and signed our names to a paper, in which we declared that we
+would not accept of any share of the fines in which Cortes had been
+condemned, and that we had altogether no demand whatever of that nature
+against him, as we were perfectly satisfied that the gold, with the
+other valuable matters in question, had been duly forwarded to his
+majesty, and that this was done with unanimous consent to prove our
+fidelity and loyalty to the emperor. When the auditors were informed of
+what we had done, they were going to have us all seized, on the ground
+that we were not authorized to call any meeting or sign any document of
+such a nature without their sanction; but we showed them the permission
+we had received from the alcaldes, yet the auditors again sentenced us
+to be banished twenty miles from Mexico. This sentence was soon after
+indeed withdrawn as on the former occasion, but it nevertheless caused
+us a great deal of vexation and sorrow.
+
+The next thing the auditors did was to announce to the public that all
+those persons who either descended from the Moors or the Indians, whose
+relations or forefathers in the fourth degree had been burnt by the holy
+inquisition, or had even been dismissed with the San Benito, should
+leave New Spain within the space of six months, or forfeit the half of
+their property. Many persons were accordingly called up to vindicate
+themselves on this point, and several found their respectability sadly
+impugned; yet there were only two persons who were obliged to leave New
+Spain on this account.
+
+With regard to the distribution of commendaries, the auditors fully
+acted up to his majesty's commands, and they richly remunerated the true
+Conquistadores; but the real cause of their downfall was the
+immoderateness with which they allowed the Spaniards to mark slaves.
+This was carried to so great a length in the province of Panuco, that
+the whole of this territory became at length quite depopulated. Nuņo de
+Guzman had, altogether, something noble and frank about him, and when he
+gave, it was with an unsparing hand. For instance, by way of a
+new-year's gift he presented the accountant Albornoz with the township
+of Guazpaltepec. Albornoz had just returned from Spain, with his wife
+Doņa Catalina de Loaisa, whom he had recently married, having also
+obtained permission from his majesty to erect a sugar refinery at
+Sempoalla, which a few years after was completely destroyed. If the
+president Guzman pursued a ruthless course in the marking of slaves, and
+tried all he could to injure Cortes, the auditor Delgadillo was
+certainly no better. It was even said of him that he made grants of
+commendaries in consideration of a certain per centage on their annual
+produce. Besides this, he appointed his own brother Berrio alcalde-mayor
+of the town of Guaxaca, where he oppressed and ill-used the inhabitants
+in every possible manner to obtain gold. This auditor likewise
+despatched a person of his own name as commandant to the township of
+the Zapotecs, whose conduct was equally infamous there as that of Berrio
+in Guaxaca. The other auditor, Matienzo, was a man far advanced in
+years, and the only one who had not abused his power; but against the
+others so many bitter complaints were made, and these so well confirmed
+by letters from the monks and prelates, that the emperor ordered the
+council of the Indies immediately to recall all the members of the royal
+audience, to severely punish them, and to appoint other men of integrity
+and intelligence. His majesty also desired that an inquiry should be
+made as to the number of slaves which had been marked in the province of
+Panuco. Matienzo was commissioned to make the inquiry, as this aged
+auditor had shown greater love of justice than his colleagues.
+
+From this moment all the permits which had been given to mark slaves
+were considered as invalid, and the marking-irons were destroyed
+wherever they were found, and henceforth it was forbidden ever again to
+mark slaves. It was even ordered that a census should be taken of all
+the slaves in New Spain, in order to prevent their being sold out of the
+country, or even from being sent from one province into another. In the
+same way it was declared that every distribution of commendaries made by
+Guzman and his colleagues to their friends, relations, and other persons
+of no worth, should be considered as invalid, and the property these
+persons had obtained in this manner was immediately to be delivered up
+again.
+
+These commands produced endless lawsuits, for those in possession
+employed every artifice to retain what they had once got. Some
+maintained they belonged to the body of the Conquistadores, though there
+was not a word of truth in it; others asserted that they had been
+settled in the country for many years. Some, who could offer no good
+excuse, asserted, at least, that they never belonged to the household,
+or to the table companions of the auditors; declaring that they had only
+called upon these gentlemen from time to time, and appeared in their
+suite, to pay them the respect which was due to them in their capacity
+of royal auditors. In short, each person defended his property as well
+as he could, and, upon the whole, so successfully, that there were only
+a few persons who were obliged to relinquish their possessions. The
+accountant Albornoz was of this number, and he was again deprived of the
+township of Guazpaltepec, which Guzman had given him as a new-year's
+gift. In the same way a certain Villa Roël was obliged to deliver up
+possession of the township of Quauhnahuac. Villegas, Guzman's
+mayor-domo, and other officials and relatives of the auditors, had to
+quit their commendaries.
+
+As soon as the news arrived in Mexico that the auditors were to be
+cashiered, Guzman and his colleagues determined to despatch a procurador
+to Spain, to testify that they had faithfully fulfilled the duties of
+their office, and acted up to his majesty's commands. For this purpose,
+all the procuradores of the different towns of New Spain then staying at
+Mexico, and the most distinguished of the Conquistadores, were desired
+to assemble in the principal church, to elect the factor Salazar, when
+it would be made to appear as if this man was chosen by our unanimous
+consent to repair to Spain, and there to white-wash Guzman and his
+colleagues. The auditors had fully expected we should have elected
+Salazar, particularly as they had been so liberal in their grants of
+commendaries to the Conquistadores.
+
+This meeting actually took place, but so many persons forced their way
+into the church who had no voice at all, creating so much disturbance
+and noise, that it was impossible to restore order. We therefore
+declared to the auditors that it was impossible to proceed with the
+business of the day, and that we would assemble in their private
+dwelling on the following morning. But as we plainly saw that their main
+object was that we should select some one entirely devoted to their
+interests, we determined also that a second agent should be chosen in
+Cortes' interest. We then proceeded to the election, and our choice fell
+upon Bernardino Vazquez de Tapia, in the latter's interest, and Antonio
+de Carvajal, who commanded a brigantine during the siege of Mexico, was
+chosen to represent the interest of the auditors; however, both these
+gentlemen were more inclined to favour the cause of Nuņo de Guzman than
+that of Cortes: nor could we indeed blame them for this, the royal
+auditors having been more bountiful towards us than Cortes. They had, at
+least, in some measure acted up to his majesty's commands, by bestowing
+commendaries upon us; whereas Cortes, at the time when he had full power
+to reward us according to our deserts, totally neglected us. But as
+Spaniards are ever loyal, and we could not forget that he had been our
+captain, we still felt a great affection for him, more indeed than he
+had shown us when it was in his power to have remembered us, according
+to his majesty's express desire.
+
+After we had thus selected our two procuradores, a lengthened discussion
+took place as to the particular points that were to be impressed on his
+majesty's mind. The president and his colleagues, on their part,
+maintained that it was imperative on all the procuradores to declare
+that it would be both injurious to the cause of religion and the true
+interests of the crown if Cortes returned to New Spain, for his presence
+would only create factions and disturbances among the inhabitants, and
+a good government would be totally impracticable; that moreover it was
+not unlikely he would seize the first opportunity of taking forcible
+possession of the country, and declare his independence of the Spanish
+crown. These assertions most of us Conquistadores positively denied, and
+we maintained that his majesty had not a more devoted and faithful
+servant than Cortes.
+
+About this time also Alvarado returned from Spain, as governor and chief
+justice of Guatimala, and comendador of Santiago. He was accompanied by
+his newly-married wife, Doņa Francisca de la Cueva, who, however, died
+soon after her arrival at Vera Cruz, so that Alvarado and his suite
+arrived in Mexico clad in the deepest mourning. As soon as he learnt the
+nature of the petition which the auditors were going to despatch to his
+majesty, he managed that we should draw up a joint address to the
+emperor, in which we fully explained to his majesty the real object the
+president and his colleagues had in view. When therefore the two
+above-mentioned procuradores laid their papers before the council of the
+Indies, the members of this body readily perceived that they contained
+nothing but a rancorous feeling against Cortes. Not the slightest notice
+therefore was taken of these representations, and the imperial decree
+for the cashiering of the auditors was confirmed. Cortes was at that
+time still in Spain, and it may naturally be supposed that all these
+attempts to injure him turned out to his advantage, and added to his
+honour.
+
+Nuņo de Guzman in the meantime sent out an expedition to Xalisco for the
+colonization of this province, in which, it will be seen, he was more
+fortunate than Cortes, who had previously made a similar attempt.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCVII.
+
+    _How Nuņo de Guzman, on the intelligence that the emperor had
+    cashiered the royal court of audience, determines to subdue the
+    province of Xalisco, at present called New Galicia._
+
+
+Nuņo de Guzman, finding that his power in New Spain was drawing to an
+end, assembled a large body of troops, consisting of cavaliers,
+crossbow-men, and musketeers, for an expedition to the province of
+Xalisco. Those who were not willing to accompany him he compelled, or
+made them give a certain sum of money to hire a substitute. He seized
+every horse he could lay his hands on, and at most only paid half their
+value. The more wealthy inhabitants of the metropolis were obliged to
+contribute as much money as they could spare, and a large number of
+Indian auxiliary troops and porters were joined to the expedition.
+
+Guzman's troops everywhere committed terrible depredations. The first
+province he marched through was Mechoacan, the inhabitants of which
+still possessed abundance of gold, though not of the finest quality, as
+it contained a considerable alloy of silver, for which reason Guzman
+compelled them to contribute a larger amount. Casonci, the principal
+cazique of the province, boldly refused to give him so great a quantity
+of gold as he demanded, wherefore Guzman ordered him to be tortured, by
+pouring hot oil over his feet; but as the unfortunate cazique,
+notwithstanding all the torments he endured, still remained firm to his
+purpose, he was ordered to be hung. This was the most cruel and wicked
+deed the president ever perpetrated, and he himself was the only guilty
+person, for the whole of his men expressed their horror at this inhuman
+act. Out of this province he took with him a great number of Indians, to
+transport his baggage to the spot where he built the present town of
+Compostella; which, however, cost the imperial treasury a vast sum of
+money, besides the heavy contributions he levied on the inhabitants of
+Mexico, a number of whom he compelled to settle in the new town. As I
+did not accompany this expedition, I will not go into its particulars;
+but I know well that neither Cortes nor Nuņo de Guzman drew any
+advantages from it, and that the latter remained in the province of
+Xalisco until his majesty issued orders for him to be seized, and
+brought back a prisoner to Mexico, at Guzman's own expense, there to
+render an account of his government to the new court of audience which
+his majesty had appointed. It was at the particular request of Matienzo
+and of Delgadillo that these steps were taken against him. We will now,
+however, leave him to his own fate, and see who the new members of the
+royal court of audience were.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCVIII.
+
+    _The arrival of the new members of the royal court of audience in
+    Mexico._
+
+
+I have above mentioned the orders which his majesty issued with respect
+to the formation of a new court of audience, which was solely composed
+of men of intelligence and strict justice, and choice was made of the
+following persons: Don Sebastian Fuen Leal, as president, who at that
+time was bishop of St. Domingo; auditors, the licentiate Maldonado, of
+Salamanca; Francisco de Cainos, of Toro or of Zamora; Vasco de Quiroga,
+of Madrigal, subsequently bishop of Mechoacan; and Salmeron, of Madrid.
+The auditors arrived in Mexico before the president, and they, as well
+as the latter, who came a few days after, were received with great
+splendour.
+
+These gentlemen immediately instituted a general inquiry into the
+government of the late auditors. Numbers of the inhabitants, with the
+procuradores from every town of New Spain, besides several Indian
+chiefs, repaired without delay to Mexico, and brought such a mass of
+accusations against the late auditors, of oppression, extortion, and of
+injustice, that the present auditors were utterly astounded. Cortes'
+agents also complained of the illegal manner in which Nuņo de Guzman and
+his colleagues had seized part of the former's property, and sold it by
+public auction to the highest bidder. The agents then claimed damages to
+the amount of 200,000 pesos. As Nuņo de Guzman refused to appear in
+Mexico at the summons of the auditors, obstinately refusing to leave the
+province of Xalisco, Delgadillo and Matienzo had alone to answer all
+these accusations; they, however, threw all the guilt on the shoulders
+of Guzman, who, in his capacity of president, they said, had acted on
+his own authority, and therefore was the only responsible person.
+
+As Guzman refused to appear before the auditors, all they could do for
+the present was to forward his majesty an account of the state of
+affairs in New Spain; for they feared, by employing open force, to
+create insurrection throughout the country. The council of the Indies,
+on receiving this information, despatched to Mexico the licentiate de la
+Torre, with orders to repair in person to the province of Xalisco, there
+to institute an inquiry against Guzman, and to take him prisoner to
+Mexico. This licentiate was also commissioned to see that Guzman repaid
+us the money he had obliged us to pay to the wife of Narvaez, as an
+indemnification for the losses the latter sustained in our expedition
+against him.
+
+The auditors in the meantime continued their investigations, and first
+of all ordered the possessions of Delgadillo and of Matienzo sold, to
+pay the demands which were made against them; and as the moneys arising
+from the sale of their property was not sufficient to satisfy these,
+they were to be imprisoned. In like manner they served Berrio, the
+brother of Delgadillo, who, in his capacity of alcalde-mayor of Guaxaca,
+had thought proper to exercise every species of oppression. The whole of
+his property was sold, and he himself thrown into prison, where he died
+some time after. Another of Delgadillo's relatives, alcalde-mayor of the
+country of the Zatopecs, shared a similar fate.
+
+The new auditors were altogether strictly honest and just in their
+proceedings; they were, indeed, men whose only aim was to serve God, and
+to watch the true interests of the crown. They were unwearied in their
+labours to promote the happiness of the Indian population, made the best
+regulations for their being instructed in the doctrine of our holy
+faith, and abolished all further marking of slaves.
+
+As two of the auditors, Salmeron and Cainos, were far advanced in age,
+they begged permission of his majesty, after a stay of four years in
+Mexico, to return to Spain, there to spend the large fortunes which they
+had honestly gained, in peace and retirement. His majesty, being
+satisfactorily convinced of the excellent conduct they had pursued in
+their government, readily granted their request. The emperor at the same
+time also recalled the president Don Sebastian, to learn from him the
+true state of affairs in New Spain, and soon after appointed him
+president of the supreme court of justice at Granada. From this place he
+was some time after removed to Valladolid, made bishop of Tui, soon
+after bishop of Leon, and then bishop of Cuenca; so that one episcopal
+appointment followed the other in quick succession, all of which he
+obtained by the strict justice he observed in all matters that came
+before him. After this last promotion death called him away, and it
+appears to me, according to our holy faith, that he is clothed with the
+glory of the blessed in heaven. During the stay of this excellent man in
+Mexico I had often occasion to confer personally with him, and I at all
+times found him a man of excellent disposition, whose love of justice
+knew no bounds. The same kindness of heart he had shown as bishop of St.
+Domingo, and previously as inquisitor at Seville.
+
+The licentiate Alonso Maldonado, whom his majesty appointed president
+and governor of the provinces of Guatimala, Honduras, and Nicaragua,
+likewise possessed every good quality, and was subsequently appointed
+governor of Yucatan jointly with his father-in-law Don Francisco de
+Montejo.
+
+The licentiate Quiroga also possessed similar virtues, and was
+afterwards made bishop of Mechoacan. Thus were these excellent men
+rewarded for their virtues; while Delgadillo and Matienzo returned poor
+and despised to Spain, where they died a couple of years after in
+obscurity.
+
+About this time it pleased his majesty to appoint a viceroy of New
+Spain, in the person of the illustrious and excellent cavalier Don
+Antonio de Mendoza, whose memory will be honoured to eternity. The
+viceroy brought with him, as the new auditors, the doctor Quesada, of
+Ledesma, and the licentiate Tejada, of Logroņo. As the auditor Maldonado
+shortly after left for the province of Guatimala, another person was
+appointed in his place, named Loaisa, of Ciudad Real. He was a man
+advanced in age, and, after staying a few years in Mexico, he returned
+with a handsome fortune to Spain. After him the licentiate Santillana,
+of Seville, was appointed an auditor, and the whole of these men
+observed the strictest justice in their conduct. Their entry into Mexico
+was uncommonly splendid, and they immediately announced to the public
+that all those persons who had any complaints to make against the late
+members of the court of audience should forthwith produce them. However,
+not a single person came forward to offer any, and their government was
+pronounced irreproachable.
+
+The first thing which the viceroy did on his arrival in Mexico was to
+try if he could not induce Nuņo de Guzman to come to terms, without
+using open force. For this purpose he invited him to Mexico; and when he
+had arrived there, he gave him lodgings in his own palace, treated him
+with every possible respect, and allowed him to dine every day at his
+own table. While Guzman was staying here, the licentiate De la Torre
+arrived, who was commissioned by his majesty to take Guzman prisoner,
+and, after communicating with the viceroy, to bring him to trial. The
+licentiate De la Torre finding, however, that the viceroy was very
+unwilling to assist him in this matter, repaired in person to his
+palace, seized the person of Guzman, and threw him into prison, where he
+remained for several days, until he was set at liberty again by the
+viceroy.
+
+When the disaffected portion of the inhabitants of Mexico found that the
+licentiate De la Torre was determined to make the minutest inquiry into
+the late conduct of Guzman, if they could do nothing else, they at least
+resolved to injure his good name, for which the licentiate's gambling
+propensity gave them the best opportunity. At that time it was the
+fashion (particularly for those persons who practised in the law courts)
+to wear a kind of loose coat with very wide sleeves. In one of the
+sleeves of such a coat belonging to the licentiate, one of Guzman's
+partisans ingeniously managed to fasten a small pack of cards in such a
+manner that they should not fall out immediately. When the licentiate,
+accompanied by several distinguished personages, was walking across the
+large square at Mexico, the person who had concealed the cards so
+contrived it that they dropped one after the other out of his sleeve on
+the ground, so as to mark his way as he went along. At length this was
+observed by those who accompanied him, and they drew his attention to
+what was falling from his coat. This malicious piece of frolic, as may
+he imagined, annoyed the licentiate excessively, and he exclaimed, "It
+appears to me that the people here are not exactly pleased with the
+impartial justice I exercise; however, if I live, his majesty shall
+certainly be made acquainted with the insult which has thus been offered
+to me."
+
+A few days after this trick had been played off upon him, he actually
+fell ill from downright vexation, and died.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CXCIX.
+
+    _Cortes returns to New Spain as marquis del Valle Oaxaca, and
+    captain-general of New Spain and of the South Sea, accompanied by
+    his wife Doņa Maria de Zuniga, and father Leguizamo and other
+    monks._
+
+
+Cortes having now been so long absent in Spain, and having married a
+second wife, was very desirous of returning to New Spain, in order to
+take the management of his property into his own hands again, and enter
+into possession of the marquisate which the emperor had bestowed upon
+him. As he was well aware how matters stood in Mexico, he hastened his
+departure, and embarked with his whole household and twelve monks of the
+order of Charity, who were to continue the good work of conversion
+commenced by father Olmedo and by several other pious men mentioned in
+former chapters. The general of this order again selected for Cortes
+virtuous and excellent men, at the head of whom he placed father Juan de
+Leguizamo, of Biscay, a man of great learning and piety, and who was the
+confessor both of Cortes and his wife.
+
+Cortes this time again had a very favorable passage; but, unfortunately,
+one of the monks died a few days after his arrival in Vera Cruz. In this
+town Cortes was received with every mark of respect, but not with the
+former splendour. From Vera Cruz he travelled to some of the townships
+belonging to his marquisate, and thence to Mexico, in order to have
+himself proclaimed captain-general of New Spain and of the South Sea,
+and to desire the viceroy and the royal auditors to count out to him the
+number of his subjects according to his own views. The emperor, when
+granting him the marquisate, had stated how many inhabitants it was to
+contain, but I cannot remember the exact number. However, I know it came
+to a lawsuit; for when Cortes begged of his majesty to bestow these
+Indians on him, he counted one whole household, including the sons,
+sons-in-law, and servants, as one person. But the royal court of
+audience explained this in a very different manner; for doctor Quesada,
+one of the auditors, being commissioned to make the enumeration, counted
+all the full-grown members of a family separately, reckoning the slaves
+and servants in a similar manner. In this way one house often contained
+from ten to fifteen subjects; instead of which, Cortes said that each
+house must only be considered as one individual, and maintained that his
+majesty fully intended, when he presented him with the several
+townships, that the number of inhabitants should be the number of
+houses. This matter involved him in lawsuits, and he became at variance
+both with the viceroy and the auditors, who then laid the matter before
+his majesty, but no decision was come to for several years, during which
+time the marquis continued to levy his tribute according to his own
+views.
+
+Cortes, on his arrival in New Spain, staid but very few days at Mexico,
+and took up his permanent abode with his wife in the town of
+Quauhnahuac, which also belonged to his marquisate. He now occupied
+himself in fitting out the armament according to his agreement with the
+empress Isabella, of glorious memory, and with the council of the
+Indies, for discoveries in the South Sea. This armament he fitted out in
+the town of Teguantepec, which at that time formed part of his
+marquisate, and in the harbours of Zacatula and Acapulco.
+
+How this expedition terminated I will relate in the following chapter,
+from which will be seen that Cortes' undertakings were no longer
+attended with success.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CC.
+
+    _Of the vast expenses to which the marquis Hernando Cortes put
+    himself in fitting out the expeditions to the South Sea, and of
+    their unfortunate termination._
+
+
+The marquis Del Valle had, previous to his departure for Spain, during
+the government of Marcos de Aguilar, built two vessels, on board of
+which he put 250 men, all well-armed, and a number of excellent sailors.
+The command of these vessels he gave to a cavalier named Alvarado de
+Saavedra, and they were abundantly victualled for one year, besides
+carrying a large quantity of goods for barter.
+
+Saavedra was instructed to shape his course to the Moluccas, or towards
+China, and the main object was to discover some direct route from the
+Spanish possessions to the Spice islands. This expedition was undertaken
+at his majesty's express desire in a letter to Cortes, dated Granada,
+the 22d of June, 1526. I am particular in mentioning these
+circumstances, because Cortes showed this letter to me and other of the
+Conquistadores who were about him at the time. In this letter the
+emperor also ordered that Cortes' armament should go in search of
+another more extensive one which had set sail direct from Spain for
+China, and was commanded by Don Garcia de Loaysa, comendador of the
+order of St. John.
+
+When Saavedra was about to set sail, a small vessel arrived off the
+coast of Guantepec, belonging to the squadron under Loaysa. The captain
+of this vessel, whose name was Ortuņo de Lango, gave Saavedra a full
+account of the fate of Loaysa's expedition, and explained to him in what
+direction he was to sail. Saavedra then persuaded the pilot and a couple
+of Ortuņo's sailors to join him, and set sail, after attending mass, in
+the month of December, 1527, from Ciguatepec, lying in the province of
+Colima or Zacatula. This armament, indeed, reached the Moluccas, and
+visited several other islands, but suffered dreadfully from heavy
+tempests, hunger, and disease, and many of the men died. One of the
+sailors who accompanied this expedition I saw three years after at
+Mexico, and he told me marvellous things of the towns and islands which
+Saavedra had visited. If my memory is correct, (for many years have
+since elapsed,) Saavedra, with all his men, were taken prisoners by the
+Portuguese there, and transported to Spain, or brought back thither at
+his majesty's request.
+
+After this first armament had departed, Cortes fitted out two more
+vessels with eighty musketeers and crossbow-men. The command of these
+vessels he gave to a certain Diego Hurtado Mendoza, who set sail from
+Acapulco in the month of May, 1532, for the discovery of islands and new
+countries. The captain Hurtado, however, did nothing of all this, and
+durst not even venture far out at sea, so that the greater part of his
+men at length grew wearied of sailing about to no purpose, refused all
+further obedience to him, and deserted with one of the vessels; though
+these men afterwards positively declared that the two vessels parted
+with the captain's consent, who granted them permission to return with
+one of the vessels to Spain: but this account cannot be credited, and
+the men no doubt took forcible possession of the vessel. However, they
+had not been separated long before the vessel was cast on shore by a
+severe storm, and, after undergoing many fatigues, the crew arrived at
+Xalisco, whence the news of their misfortune speedily reached Mexico.
+Hurtado, in the meantime, continued to sail along the coast, but all at
+once his vessel disappeared, nor was she or any of those on board ever
+after heard of.
+
+Cortes was excessively grieved at this loss, yet it did not deter him
+from fitting out other armaments for the same purpose. He had already
+built two more vessels at his own expense, which were lying in the
+harbour of Guantepec, and were manned with seventy soldiers. The command
+of one of these vessels he gave to a cavalier named Diego Bezerra de
+Mendoza, and captain Hernando de Grijalva he appointed to the other,
+though Bezerra had the chief command of both. Ortuņa Ximenes, of Biscay,
+a great cosmographer, accompanied this expedition, as chief pilot.
+Bezerra's instructions were to go in quest of Hurtado; but if he should
+not fall in with him, he was to steer at a venture for the main ocean in
+search of islands and new countries; for it was said there were many
+islands in the South Sea which produced immense quantities of pearls.
+The chief pilot Ximenes was so confident of the good success of this
+expedition that he promised the men on board he would steer them to
+countries where they would all become rich, and many there were who
+firmly believed what he said.
+
+These expectations, however, vanished with the very first night after
+the vessels had left the harbour of Guantepec, for a contrary wind
+arose, which parted the two vessels, and they never joined again. Very
+favorable weather indeed soon returned, and the vessels might easily
+have fallen in with each other again if Grijalva had not made direct for
+the main ocean in order to evade the superior command of Bezerra, who
+was a haughty and ill-disposed man. Grijalva sailed on to the distance
+of above 800 miles, and discovered an unknown island, to which he gave
+the name of St. Thomas. Bezerra with his vessel had likewise continued
+to sail forward, but he soon fell out with the chief pilot Ximenes, who,
+with his countrymen of Biscay and a greater part of the troops fell upon
+Bezerra in the night, and put him to death, with several of the
+soldiers; even greater loss of life would have ensued if two Franciscan
+monks who were on board had not interfered, and persuaded Ximenes and
+the other conspirators to put them on shore on the coast of Xalisco with
+several of the men who were wounded in the scuffle. Ximenes now
+continued his course, and came to an island which he named Santa Cruz,
+where, according to all accounts, there were fine pearl fisheries. This
+island was inhabited by a savage tribe of Indians, and they massacred
+Ximenes with the whole of the men who had accompanied him on shore to
+take in fresh water. The few sailors who had remained on board put back
+with the vessel to the harbour of Xalisco, where they related all that
+had taken place and spread a vast account of the large population and
+the rich pearl fisheries of the island they had discovered. These
+accounts soon reached Mexico, and as may be imagined, were anything but
+pleasing to Cortes; but as he was a man whose spirits were not easily
+damped by adversity, he determined in future not to trust similar
+expeditions to other hands, but to take the chief command himself. By
+this time three other fine vessels were lying in readiness at Guantepec,
+with which he proposed to sail out in person, for he felt a great
+temptation to visit the above-mentioned pearl island, besides that he
+fully believed there were other large continents to be discovered in the
+South Sea.
+
+As soon as it was known in New Spain that Cortes was going to head the
+expedition in person, no one any longer doubted of its good success, and
+of the riches it would produce those who joined it; and so many
+cavaliers, musketeers, and crossbow-men offered their services, that
+their number soon amounted to above 380 men, among whom were thirty
+married men, accompanied by their wives.
+
+These vessels were provided with a copious supply of the best of
+provisions, with all kinds of ammunition, and tools of various
+descriptions. The most experienced pilots and sailors were hired, who,
+with the troops, received instructions to repair by a certain route to
+the harbour of Guantepec, while Cortes, with Andreas de Tapia, several
+other officers, a few priests, surgeons, physicians, and an apothecary,
+travelled thither by another road. When he arrived at the harbour above
+mentioned he found the three vessels in readiness, and immediately set
+sail with the first body of troops for the bay or island of Santa Cruz,
+where he landed safely in the month of May, 1535.[51] The three vessels
+then put back for Guantepec to fetch the ladies and the rest of the men
+who had remained behind under the command of Tapia. This time, however,
+the passage was not so favorable, for the vessels were driven out of
+their course by a violent wind into the mouth of a wide river, to which
+they gave the name of St. Peter and St. Paul. The vessels, on leaving
+this river, to get into their right course again, were overtaken by
+another storm, and they became separated from each other. There was only
+one which reached the harbour of Santa Cruz; the second was cast on
+shore off Xalisco, the men on board narrowly escaping a watery grave,
+and becoming wearied of the perils of the sea, they dispersed themselves
+through New Spain, only a few remaining in the province of Xalisco; the
+third vessel ran into a bay, to which the men gave the name of the bay
+of Guajava, on account of the numbers of Guajava trees they saw growing
+there.[52] But this vessel likewise ran aground, nor were the hands on
+board able to set her afloat again. Cortes in the meantime was
+impatiently awaiting the arrival of these vessels, particularly as all
+his provisions were consumed, for the greater part of the biscuits and
+salted meat was on board the vessel which had got ashore off Xalisco. As
+the inhabitants of Santa Cruz are perfect savages, and neither grow
+maise nor in anywise till the ground, but merely live on wild fruits,
+fish, and animals, there arose so dreadful a famine among Cortes'
+troops, that twenty-three of the men died of hunger and disease. The
+greater part of the remaining troops likewise suffered from ill-health,
+and they threw out bitter curses against Cortes, the island, and the
+whole voyage of discovery.
+
+Cortes, determining, if possible, to put an end to their distress, ran
+out with the vessel which had arrived in search of the two others,
+taking with him fifty men, two smiths, and several shipwrights. On
+arriving off Xalisco he found one of them lying on a sand-bank, quite
+deserted, and the other he discovered jammed between the coral rocks. By
+dint of the utmost exertions he succeeded in setting them afloat again;
+and, after the carpenters had properly repaired them, he arrived safely
+with the two vessels and their cargoes at Santa Cruz. Those of the
+troops who had not tasted any nourishing food for so long a time ate so
+ravenously of the salted meat that half of them died of a violent
+dysentery.
+
+In order not to witness this scene of misery any longer, Cortes again
+set sail from Santa Cruz, and discovered the coast of California. Cortes
+himself was in very bad health about this time, and he would gladly have
+returned to New Spain but he feared the slanderous tongues of his
+enemies, who would be sure to make their observations respecting the
+large sums of money he expended in the discovery of countries which held
+out no advantage; besides, he could not brook the idea that people
+should say, all his present undertakings were failures, and that this
+was owing to the curses which the veteran Conquistadores of New Spain
+had heaped upon him.
+
+During the whole of this time the marchioness Del Valle had heard no
+tidings of her husband, and as information had been received that a
+vessel had been wrecked off the coast of Xalisco, she became excessively
+low-spirited, and felt almost sure that her husband had been lost at
+sea. In order, however, if possible, to gain some certain information
+respecting her husband's fate, she sent out two vessels, under the
+command of a captain named Ulloa, to whom she gave a letter for her
+husband if he should perchance meet with him alive, in which she
+fervently begged of him to return to Mexico and his beautiful
+possessions; to think of his children, and no longer to tempt fortune,
+but to content himself with his former deeds of valour, which had
+spread his fame throughout the whole world. In the same way the viceroy
+Mendoza also wrote to him, and desired him, in the most courteous and
+friendly terms, to return.
+
+Ulloa had a most favorable voyage, and soon arrived in the harbour where
+Cortes lay at anchor. The letters of his wife, with those of his
+children and of the viceroy, had so much effect upon him, that he gave
+the command of his vessels and troops to Ulloa, embarked for Acapulco,
+and when he had arrived here he hastened to Quauhnahuac, where his wife
+resided. The joy of his family at his safe return may easily be
+imagined; but the viceroy, with the royal auditors, and the whole of the
+inhabitants of Mexico, were no less so, as they feared a general
+insurrection of the caziques of New Spain, who were going to take
+advantage of Cortes' absence.
+
+Shortly after also, the troops arrived which had been left behind in
+California, but I cannot say whether they left this country of their own
+choice or by permission of the viceroy and royal court of audience.
+
+Cortes had scarcely enjoyed a few months' repose when he sent out a more
+considerable armament, under the command of Ulloa, and this time by the
+express command of the royal court of audience, and according to the
+agreement he had made with his majesty. This armament left the harbour
+de la Natividad in the month of June, of one thousand five hundred and
+thirty, and so many years--I forget the exact year; and Ulloa received
+instructions, first of all, to shape his course along the coast in
+search of Hurtado, of whom nothing had been heard since his departure.
+Ulloa sailed up and down in this manner for the space of seven months,
+and then returned to the harbour of Xalisco without having accomplished
+anything worthy of mention; but he had not been many days on shore when
+he was waylaid by one of his men and stabbed to death.
+
+Thus miserably terminated the several expeditions which Cortes fitted
+out in the South Sea, and I have frequently been assured that they cost
+him above 300,000 pesos. Cortes, therefore, determined to repair in
+person to Spain to solicit a reimbursement of this sum from his majesty,
+and also to bring the dispute with respect to his marquisate to some
+favorable issue; and lastly, to force Nuņo de Guzman, who had been taken
+prisoner to Spain, to pay him the large amount of damages in which he
+had been condemned by the royal court of audience.
+
+When we reflect that none of his undertakings were attended with success
+after the conquest of New Spain, we cannot at least feel surprised that
+people should say, he was pursued by the curses which were heaped upon
+him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCI.
+
+    _Of the great festivities which took place in Mexico on account of
+    the peace which was concluded between our emperor and the king of
+    France; and of Cortes' second journey to Spain._
+
+
+In the year 1538 intelligence arrived from Spain that our emperor, of
+glorious memory, had repaired to France, and was most splendidly
+received by the French monarch in the harbour of Aigues-Mortes. Here the
+two monarchs met, embraced each other most affectionately, and concluded
+a treaty of peace.[53] At this interview, which was celebrated by
+various festivities, there was also present queen Eleanor, the mother of
+the French king, and sister to our emperor.
+
+In order to celebrate this happy event, the viceroy of New Spain,
+Mendoza, the marquis del Valle, the royal auditors, and several of the
+most distinguished Conquistadores gave splendid feasts. By this time
+Cortes and the viceroy had become good friends again, after having been
+for a length of time at variance with each other respecting the number
+of Indians belonging to his marquisate, and on account of the favour
+which the viceroy showed Nuņo de Guzman. As far as I am able to judge,
+such splendid tournaments, sham fights, masquerades, bull fights, and
+public rejoicings, were never seen in Spain as took place in Mexico on
+this occasion. Similar festivities were celebrated as in ancient Rome,
+when a consul or a victorious general made a triumphal entry into the
+city; and all these rejoicings were superintended by a Roman cavalier,
+named Luis de Leon, who was said to be a descendant of some ancient
+patrician family of Rome.
+
+When all these festivities were ended, Cortes ordered the necessary
+preparations to be made for his departure, and he invited me to
+accompany him, promising to obtain for me from the council of the Indies
+a grant of more lucrative townships than would be conferred upon me by
+the royal court of audience in Mexico. I accordingly embarked for Spain,
+and arrived there a couple of months before Cortes, who said he had been
+detained by a bad leg, and because he had not so soon been able to
+collect the quantity of gold he was desirous of taking with him on this
+voyage. It was in the year 1540 that Cortes thus, for the second time,
+arrived in Spain; and as the empress Isabella, of glorious memory, died
+in the month of May of the preceding year, the whole of Spain was still
+in deep mourning for her; and I, in my capacity of regidor of the town
+of Guacasualco, and as the oldest of the Conquistadores, had likewise
+put on deep mourning on arriving at the imperial court.
+
+At this same time Hernando Pizarro, with his suite, consisting of above
+forty persons, all in deep mourning, likewise arrived in Madrid, where
+the court was then staying. Cortes and his suite arrived in the city
+almost at the same moment, was splendidly received by order of the
+council of the Indies, and took up his abode with the comendador Juan de
+Castilla. Upon the whole he was treated with the utmost respect, for
+whenever he went to attend the sittings of the council of the Indies,
+one of the auditors was sent to meet him at the door, and a seat was
+given him on the same bench with the president and the auditors.
+
+Cortes never afterwards visited New Spain, for notwithstanding the
+admiral of Castile, the duke of Bejar, the comendador-mayor of Leon, and
+Doņa Maria de Mendoza used all their influence with his majesty, he
+never could obtain leave to repair thither again. Each time these
+distinguished personages solicited the emperor, his majesty answered,
+"That all the investigations against Cortes must first be brought to an
+issue before he could grant him permission to return." Yet no one seemed
+to stir in the matter, and the council of the Indies would not say
+anything until his majesty should have returned from Flanders, whither
+he was gone to punish the town of Ghent. Neither was Nuņo de Guzman
+allowed to return to New Spain, and though he was condemned in a heavy
+fine, he was allowed to retain possession of his commendaries in the
+province of Xalisco; and he likewise, with his suite, went about the
+town of Madrid clad in deep mourning. And as Cortes, Pizarro, Guzman,
+and several other personages of New Spain and Peru, were continually
+before the eyes of the public, we were derisively dubbed the mourning
+Indians of Peru. It was no joke, however, for Pizarro, for he was
+shortly after imprisoned in the Mota of Medina.
+
+I myself returned to New Spain, and the first thing I heard on my
+arrival there was, that an insurrection had broken out among the
+mountain tribes of Cochitlan, in the province of Xalisco, to quell which
+the viceroy had despatched thither several officers, among whom was a
+certain Christobal Oņate. The Indians, however, defended themselves so
+courageously that the civic authorities of Mexico applied for assistance
+to Alvarado, who was at that time busily occupied in fitting out an
+extensive armament in Guatimala, destined for China; yet Alvarado
+readily consented to render the assistance required, and set out by
+forced marches for Cochitlan with a large body of troops. In this
+campaign he met with a fatal accident, which I will relate in a
+following chapter. I have now to speak of two armaments which left New
+Spain, one fitted out by the viceroy, the other by Alvarado.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCII.[54]
+
+    _How the viceroy sends out a squadron of three vessels into the
+    South Sea to the assistance of Francisco Vasquez Coronado, in the
+    conquest of Cibola._
+
+
+I have already mentioned in a former chapter that the viceroy and the
+royal auditors had sent out an armament for the discovery of the seven
+towns, which are also termed the towns of Cibola. A certain cavalier of
+Salamanca, called Francisco Vasquez Coronado, who was governor of the
+province of Xalisco, and was married to the beautiful and virtuous
+daughter of the treasurer Estrada, had marched out as captain-general
+with a strong body of horse and foot, in order further to explore the
+country. Having appointed a certain Oņate to govern in his absence, he
+took his route overland, and arrived, in the space of a few months,
+among the so-termed seven towns. Whether he had despatched thither the
+Franciscan monk, father Marcos de Nizza, in advance, or whether both
+arrived there at the same time, I am unable to say; however, when they
+came into the country of Cibola they found to their surprise the meadows
+abounding with cows and bulls, though different in shape to ours in
+Spain; the houses of the towns were several stories high, and were
+ascended by regular steps. The father seeing all this considered it well
+worth his while to return to Mexico and inform the viceroy of the
+country they had discovered, that he might send thither an armament of
+some extent. This the viceroy accordingly did, and he sent out three
+vessels under the chief command of Hernando Alcaron, one of the officers
+of his household, who was accompanied by Marcos Ruiz de Rojas, of
+Madrid, and a certain Maldonado, as second in command. I ought to
+mention that all I have related respecting the discovery of this country
+I have from hearsay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCIII.
+
+    _Of a very extensive armament which was fitted out by Alvarado in
+    the year 1537._
+
+
+Here I must not pass by in silence the vast armament which Alvarado
+fitted out in the year 1537, in the harbour of Acaxatla, lying on the
+coast of the South Sea, in the province of Guatimala, of which he was
+then governor.
+
+This expedition was fitted out according to an agreement he had entered
+into with the crown during his stay in Spain, by which he bound himself
+down to fit out a certain number of vessels at his own expense, for the
+express purpose of discovering some western passage to China, the
+Moluccas, or to other of the Spice islands. In consideration of which he
+was promised a certain portion of the lands he should discover, or of
+the annual rents that should arise from them; however, as I never saw
+this agreement myself, I am unable to give any further particulars about
+it.
+
+Alvarado, who had always proved himself a most faithful servant to his
+majesty, both during the conquest of New Spain and in the campaigns of
+Peru, and, with his four brothers, had taken every opportunity to
+promote the interests of the crown, was desirous on this occasion to
+surpass every armament which Cortes had fitted out before him. He
+therefore equipped thirteen vessels of considerable burden, all well
+provided with ammunition, provisions, and water, and care was taken to
+select the best sailors and the most experienced pilots. As the harbour
+where he built these vessels lay above 800 miles from Vera Cruz, all the
+ironwork and the greater part of the building materials had to be
+transported thither from the latter port by land; and all this proved so
+expensive to him, that he might have built eighty vessels of the same
+size at Seville for an equal sum of money. He not only spent in fitting
+out this armament all the riches he had brought with him from Peru, and
+all the gold he could collect from his mines in Guatimala and other
+possessions, but he borrowed large sums of money, besides that he
+purchased quantities of goods on credit. To all of which was added the
+large sums of money he had to pay the captains of the vessels, the
+officers, and the troops, which amounted to 650 men; further, the
+purchase of horses, the best of which cost him 300 pesos a piece, and
+the inferior ones from 150 to 200 pesos; and lastly, the cost of a
+considerable store of ammunition and powder. In short, the sums of money
+he laid out were beyond conception. By this expedition he not only
+thought to render his majesty distinguished services, but he also hoped
+to reach China, the Moluccas, or the Spice islands, by a western
+passage, and either to make conquests there, or at least to open a trade
+between these countries and the province of which he was governor; he
+was therefore determined to stake both his life and the whole of his
+property in the enterprise.
+
+The armament being at length fully equipped, Alvarado took the chief
+command himself, as captain-general, and ordered the imperial flags to
+be hoisted. The number of troops he had on board amounted to 650 men,
+including 200 horse, and after attending mass he set sail in the year
+1538, but I forget in which month. He first of all shaped his course for
+the harbour de la Purificacion, in the province of Xalisco, where he
+took a further supply of water and provisions on board, besides a few
+additional troops.
+
+When the viceroy received intelligence that so vast an armament had been
+fitted out at such a distance from Vera Cruz and Mexico, he was filled
+with utter astonishment. He consulted the most experienced pilots and
+cosmographers, and learnt from them, but particularly from his relative
+Villalobos, who was a very skilful geographer and navigator, that it was
+every way possible to reach China by sailing due west from the new
+world. This created a great desire in him to share the expenses of the
+expedition with Alvarado; for which purpose he first made the latter a
+proposal by letter, and then despatched to him his major-domo Agostino
+Guerrero and Don Luis de Castilla, to settle the terms of an agreement.
+In consequence of this proposal an interview took place between the
+viceroy and Alvarado in the township of Chiribitio, lying in the
+province of Mechoacan, a commendary belonging to Juan de Alvarado. Here
+both these distinguished personages inspected the armament, and then
+travelled in company to Mexico, in order to select an officer as
+captain-general of the whole expedition. Alvarado was desirous of
+appointing his relative Juan de Alvarado, of Guatimala, who, however,
+must not be confounded with the person of the same name just mentioned;
+but the viceroy's choice fell upon his relative Villalobos. Alvarado
+himself had been obliged to relinquish all thoughts of taking the chief
+command himself, as the affairs of his own province required his
+immediate presence there; nevertheless, he was desirous of being present
+at the departure of the armament, for which purpose he journeyed
+overland to the harbour of Natividad, where all the vessels lay in
+readiness, and only awaited his commands for setting sail.
+
+Just as he was about to issue these commands, he received a letter from
+Christobal de Oņate, whom, as I have above stated, Vasquez Coronado,
+during his absence in Cibola, had appointed governor of Xalisco. In this
+letter Oņate stated that he was threatened on all sides by large bodies
+of Indians, who had, in particular, taken up a strong position on the
+mountains of Chochitlan, and had killed a considerable number of his
+troops; and that, if he did not receive immediate assistance, he must be
+cut off, with the whole of his men. In short, Oņate drew so dreadful a
+picture of the posture of affairs, that the whole of New Spain itself
+seemed to be threatened with destruction, if the Indians could march
+down victorious from their strong position on the heights. Alvarado, on
+receiving this intelligence, hastened with a large body of troops to
+Oņate's assistance, whom he indeed found in so perilous a position, that
+if this timely help had not come, the Indians would very shortly have
+mastered his small body of troops. After Alvarado's arrival the enemy
+did not repeat their attacks so often, yet they fought with great
+courage each time the combat was renewed. It was in one of these
+engagements between the rocky mountains that a horse stumbled, and
+rolled headlong down a steep declivity. Alvarado, who happened to be
+ascending the same height, was unable to get out of the way of the
+rolling horse, which carried him down, and lay upon him, when both
+reached the bottom, so that his body was bruised all over, and he found
+himself very ill. However, the bruises he had received were not
+considered dangerous, and he was conveyed in a sedan to the neighbouring
+town de la Purificacion for medical aid, but on his way thither he had
+frequent swoons, and scarcely a few days elapsed before he rendered up
+his spirit to God, after he had partaken of the holy communion, and made
+his confession. Some persons even maintained that he left a will, but
+nothing was ever seen of it.
+
+This excellent cavalier would, no doubt, have survived, if he had not
+been carried to the town in the weak state he was in, but had been
+promptly attended by a surgeon on the spot where the accident took
+place. However, it was thus ordained by the Lord, whose will be praised,
+and may God have mercy on his soul. Alvarado was buried with every
+possible splendour in the town where he breathed his last. Subsequently,
+I heard that Juan de Alvarado carried his earthly remains to Chiribitio,
+where they were again entombed with the greatest funeral pomp, many alms
+were distributed, and several masses were ordered for the repose of his
+soul.
+
+When intelligence of Alvarado's death reached the fleet and the
+head-quarters of Cochitlan, there being no one there to take the chief
+command, a number of the troops dispersed with the money they had
+received in advance. The consternation which this sad news created in
+Mexico was very great, particularly as the viceroy, after Alvarado's
+decease, was desired to send immediate assistance to Xalisco; but as he
+was unable to leave himself just then, he despatched the licentiate
+Maldonado thither with as large a body of men as could be assembled in
+the hurry of the moment; though subsequently he marched in person
+against the Indians, and completely subdued them, after protracted and
+fatiguing campaigns.
+
+When the news of Alvarado's death reached Guatimala, the grief of his
+family knew no bounds; and his wife, Doņa Beatriz de la Cueva, with
+whom he had lived on the most affectionate terms, cried incessantly, and
+she and all the ladies of her household cut off their hair. His death
+was also a severe blow to his lovely daughter, his sons, and his
+son-in-law Don Francisco de la Cueva, on whom Alvarado had conferred the
+government of Guatimala during his absence. Every one of the
+Conquistadores of this province deeply lamented his death, and put on
+mourning for him. The bishop Don Francisco Marroquin was likewise deeply
+affected at the sad news, and performed a solemn mass for the dead,
+assisted by the whole body of the clergy, and ordered daily prayers to
+be offered up for the repose of his soul. Alvarado's major-domo, to show
+his excessive grief, had even plastered all the walls of his house with
+a species of black bitumen, which stuck so fast, that it could never
+after be taken off again.
+
+Several cavaliers waited upon the disconsolate widow to condole with
+her, and begged of her to moderate her grief, and humbly to resign
+herself to the will of God. This, as a good Christian, she promised to
+do; but as women are unable to moderate their grief for the loss of
+those they have loved, she said she was tired of life, and longed to
+quit this vale of sorrows. I have merely mentioned this circumstance
+because Gomara, in his Chronicles, puts the following blasphemous words
+into her mouth: "That the Lord Jesus could not have visited her with a
+severer calamity;" and he maintains that it was owing to her having
+given utterance to this that the town of Guatimala was shortly after
+visited by so direful a calamity; for the volcano, which lies about two
+miles from the town, during a violent storm, suddenly vomited huge
+masses of stone and clouds of ashes, succeeded by a deluge of water,
+from the bursting of the crater, by which a great part of the town where
+the widow of Alvarado resided was totally destroyed, and she herself,
+with several of her ladies, drowned. However, this lady certainly gave
+utterance to nothing more than what I have mentioned above, and what
+Gomara states is an invention of his own: and if it pleased the Lord
+Jesus to call her away from this earth, it is not for mortal man to
+scrutinise the mysterious decrees of heaven.
+
+With respect to this dreadful tempest and earthquake, I will give the
+particulars in another place. I cannot help mentioning with regret,
+that, notwithstanding the many important services which Alvarado and his
+five brothers, as also the other Alvarados, had rendered to the crown,
+the sons and daughters of the first-mentioned retained none of the
+townships comprehended in his commendary, and that the fact of his
+having subdued the whole province was never even taken into
+consideration, and it was no longer borne in mind that he accompanied
+the expedition under Grijalva, and was present in all the campaigns of
+Cortes. The manner in which he himself, his wife, his children, and his
+brothers lost their lives, is altogether remarkable. Alvarado himself,
+as we have seen, met with his death in the expedition against Cochitlan;
+his brother Jorge, who fought in some of the campaigns of Mexico and
+those of Guatimala, died in Madrid in the year 1540, whither he had gone
+to solicit his majesty for some remuneration for the services he had
+rendered the crown; Gomez was killed in Peru; Gonzalo died in Guaxaca or
+Mexico; and Juan, who was a natural brother, ended his life at Cuba,
+whither he had journeyed to look over some property he possessed in this
+island. The eldest of Alvarado's sons, named Don Pedro, repaired, with
+his uncle Juan the younger, to Spain, to represent to his majesty the
+many valuable services his father had rendered to the crown; but neither
+of them were ever after heard of, and they must either have been lost at
+sea or taken prisoners by the Moors. His second son, Don Diego, finding
+that all his father's property was gone, returned to Peru, where he lost
+his life in battle. With respect to Alvarado's widow, I have above
+stated how she perished, with several of the ladies of her household,
+during a fearful tempest. And thus, unfortunately, did Alvarado die, at
+a distance from his wife and daughters, whom he loved with so much
+affection; and the wife without her husband, for whom she cherished the
+dearest remembrance! One of the sons, in his journey to Spain, was never
+heard of again, and the second was killed in Peru. May they become
+glorified with the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
+
+A short time ago two tombs were constructed near the altar of the
+principal church of Guatimala, in one of which the remains of Alvarado
+are to be deposited, which were taken to Chiribitio; and in the other
+Don Francisco de la Cueva and his wife, Doņa Leonora, Alvarado's
+daughter, have expressed a wish to be buried, when it shall please the
+Almighty to call them from this earthly life.
+
+In order to return to the armament which Alvarado had fitted out, I must
+not omit to mention that the viceroy a year after ordered the best of
+the vessels to be selected, and these he sent out to sea, under the
+command of his relative Villalobos, with instructions to sail in a
+westerly direction, in search of China; but as I never heard how this
+expedition terminated, I will say nothing further about it; though one
+thing is certain, the heirs of Alvarado never derived any advantages
+from it, and the whole of the vast sums which Alvarado had expended in
+fitting out this armament were for ever lost to the family.
+
+We must now see what Cortes is doing in Spain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCIV.
+
+    _What befel the marquis del Valle on his second visit to Spain._
+
+
+When the emperor, after punishing the town of Ghent, fitted out the
+large fleet to besiege Algiers, the marquis del Valle, with his eldest
+son, likewise entered the service, and he also took along with him his
+natural son Don Martin Cortes, whom he had by Doņa Marina, besides
+several pages, servants, and horses, and embarked in a fine galley, with
+Don Enrique Enriquez. However, as the whole of this fleet, by the
+mysterious destiny of heaven, was cast away in a violent storm, the
+galley in which Cortes had embarked was also dashed to pieces, and he,
+with his son and most of the other cavaliers, narrowly escaped with
+their lives. During the universal disorder which reigned at the moment,
+when every one saw death before his eyes, Cortes, according to the
+assurances of his servants, had tied up his splendid jewels in a
+kerchief, and fastened them tight to his arm; for it was customary for
+persons of distinction to take their jewels with them; but he
+unfortunately lost them in the rush every one made to save his own life;
+which indeed must have been a loss to him of several thousands of pesos.
+
+After this great destruction of men and vessels, the principal officers,
+who formed the royal council of war, advised his majesty to relinquish
+all idea of besieging Algiers, and to withdraw to Bugia, as it would be
+fruitless to make any attempts on the former place at present. When
+Cortes, who had been purposely excluded from the council of war, learnt
+this, he declared, that if his majesty would leave the matter to him, he
+would, with the assistance of God, and the good fortune which had ever
+attended his majesty's troops, very soon take the town of Algiers, even
+with the few remaining forces: and as one word led to another, he
+launched out into the praise of his officers and companions in arms, who
+had formed the siege of Mexico with him, and he declared that we thought
+nothing of hunger and hardships; that we had proved ourselves heroes on
+every occasion; and though we had many times been covered with wounds,
+and ready to sink with fatigue, yet we used to continue the conflict,
+and took every town and fortress that came in our way.
+
+As many cavaliers were present when Cortes uttered this, they did not
+fail to acquaint his majesty with it, expressing their regret at the
+same time that Cortes had not sat in the council, nor did they omit to
+mention that the latter himself felt hurt at his having been excluded.
+Other cavaliers, however, openly avowed that he had been purposely
+excluded, because it was well to be foreseen he would have opposed the
+general opinion of the council, and have given his voice for prosecuting
+the siege. After the destruction which had been caused by the tempest,
+they continued, advice was scarcely needed, for all that could be done
+was to save the life of his majesty, and of so many distinguished
+cavaliers who had accompanied him on this expedition. With the
+assistance of God, they concluded, the expedition against Algiers might
+be renewed on some future occasion: and thus it was resolved the troops
+should return to Spain.
+
+After the miserable termination of this perilous expedition, Cortes grew
+wearied of any longer stay at court; and as old age was growing upon
+him, and he was beginning to feel the effects of the many hardships and
+fatigues he had endured through life, his greatest desire was to obtain
+permission from the emperor to return to New Spain. To all this may be
+added, the breaking off of the marriage which was to have taken place
+between his daughter Doņa Maria and Don Alvaro Perez Osorio, heir to the
+marquisate of Astorga, to whom Cortes had promised, as a marriage gift,
+above 100,000 golden ducats, besides other valuable matters. Doņa Maria
+had expressly arrived in Seville from Mexico, at her father's desire,
+that the marriage might be consummated, and he was consequently much
+hurt and annoyed when the match was broken off. The fault, it appears,
+lay with the bridegroom; and certain it is this matter caused so much
+annoyance to Cortes that it brought on a severe fever, accompanied by
+dysentery. Finding that his sickness was growing upon him, he left the
+town of Seville, and retired to Castilleja de la Cuesta to enjoy more
+repose. Here he ordered all his affairs, made his last will, and was
+called away from this world of troubles on the 2d of September, 1547,
+after receiving the holy sacrament and extreme unction. He was buried
+with every pomp and magnificence in the chapel containing the sepultures
+of the dukes of Medina Sidonia, and he was followed to the grave by a
+large body of the clergy and a number of cavaliers. Subsequently his
+remains were taken to New Spain, and interred, according to a desire
+expressed in his last will, either in Cojohuacan or Tezcuco,[55] I
+forget which.
+
+The following is what I know respecting Cortes' age. When we first set
+out with him for New Spain from Cuba, in the year 1519, we often heard
+him say in the course of conversation, that he was thirty-four years of
+age, and from this day until the day of his death twenty-eight years had
+elapsed, which will bring his age to sixty-two.[56]
+
+The following were the children he left behind him born in lawful
+wedlock: the present marquis Don Martin; Doņa Maria, who was to have
+been married to Don Perez Osorio, but who afterwards married the earl of
+Luna de Leon; Doņa Juana, the wife of Don Hernando Enriquez, heir to the
+marquisate of Tarifa; and Doņa Catalina de Arellano, who died in
+Seville. Besides these there was another daughter of Cortes, named Doņa
+Leonor, who was married to a wealthy gentleman of Biscay, living in
+Mexico, named Juan de Toloso, who possessed lucrative silver mines. When
+the present marquis del Valle arrived in New Spain, he greatly
+disapproved of this match.
+
+Besides these children, Cortes had two sons and three daughters born out
+of wedlock. One of these sons, named Don Martin, was a comendador of
+Santiago, whom he had by the interpretress Doņa Marina. The other son,
+Don Luis, was also a comendador of Santiago, whom he had by a certain
+Hermosilla. Of these daughters one was named Pizarro, after her mother,
+an Indian woman of Cuba; the other was born of a Mexican woman.[57]
+Cortes had, during his lifetime, richly provided for these daughters,
+and had bestowed lucrative townships upon them; among others, that of
+Chinanta. There is no doubt he also remembered them in his will, for he
+was a man of deep penetration and had sufficient time in his latter days
+to order all his affairs in a proper manner, he would naturally not omit
+to fulfil anything that might tend to lighten his conscience. In this
+way, like a good Christian, he also left a fund for erecting an hospital
+in Mexico, and a cloister in Cojohuacan, where he desired his remains
+might be interred; besides this, he left large sums for other pious
+purposes. However, in order not to go too much into detail I will say
+nothing further on this head, indeed I have forgotten many circumstances
+relative to his bequests.
+
+Cortes' armorial bearings and their motto bespoke his great valour, and
+were suitable emblems of his heroic deeds. The motto was in Latin, but
+as I am no Latin scholar I will not attempt to explain its meaning. His
+escutcheon bore the seven heads, chained, of monarchs whom he had
+conquered. These I believe, and have heard others say, represent the
+monarchs Motecusuma of Mexico, Cacamatzin of Tezcuco, Cuitlahuatzin of
+Iztapalapan; the kings of Tlacupa and Cojohuacan, and a powerful cazique
+of the province of Tulapa, near Matlaltzinco, who was nephew to
+Motecusuma, and the nearest heir to the throne of Mexico. The last was
+Quauhtemoctzin, who fought the terrible battles with us during the siege
+of Mexico.
+
+I must now say a few words with respect to Cortes' outward person. He
+was of good stature, his limbs well proportioned and strongly knit
+together, but his complexion was rather of an ash-coloured grey, nor was
+there much cheerfulness in his look; and if his countenance had been
+somewhat larger it would have been more handsome. His eyes, generally
+speaking, had a remarkably sweet expression, but he could also look very
+grave. The hair of his beard, like that of his head, was black, but not
+very thick. His chest was well developed, his shoulders broad, his legs
+were rather bowed, but his ankles and feet were well proportioned. He
+had very little _embonpoint_, and was rather lean. He was a capital
+horseman, remarkably expert in all martial exercises, both as a foot and
+cavalry soldier; but what was more than this he was uncommonly
+courageous and never shrunk back from any danger. In his younger days,
+while living at Hispaniola, he had frequent adventures about women, and
+often fought with the most expert swordsmen for the possession of some
+fair one, and always carried off the palm of victory. On one of these
+occasions he was wounded beneath the underlip, the scar of which was
+visible through his beard. His bearing, his gait, his conversation, his
+behaviour during dinner-time, and the taste he showed in his dress, all
+bespoke the cavalier of distinction and good breeding. He always dressed
+according to the fashion of the day; wore very little silk, satins, or
+expensive damasks; but the whole of his garments were plain and very
+neat. He never bedizened himself with heavy gold chains, but always had
+the same one, which was of exquisite workmanship, and had attached to it
+a kind of trinket, having on one side the image of the blessed virgin,
+holding her heavenly Son in her arms; on the other that of St. John the
+Baptist, with a Latin inscription. On one of his fingers he wore a
+valuable ring set with a most splendid diamond. To his velvet cap was
+fastened a medal, with a bust in relief and some name, but I have
+forgotten what it was, as latterly he used to wear nothing but cloth
+caps, without any medal.
+
+The style in which he lived was that of a person of high distinction. At
+the head of his household stood two maestresalas and two mayor-domos; he
+had many pages to wait upon him, and everything was served up in gold
+and silver. He always made a good dinner, and drank about a pint of wine
+diluted with water. He also took suppers; but all his dishes were plain,
+excepting on particular occasions, when, indeed, no expense was spared.
+He was always affable to us officers and his companions in arms,
+particularly to those who joined him in the first instance at Cuba. He
+was a good Latin scholar, and whenever he was in conversation with men
+of learning he always spoke that language; indeed, I have heard say, he
+was a bachelor of laws. He was also fond of poetry, and composed several
+pretty pieces himself, and wrote good prose. His manner of speaking was
+calm and his sentences were well chosen, and his manner of arguing was
+remarkably convincing. When he rose in the morning he prayed from his
+breviary, and he attended mass every day with fervent devotion. For his
+tutelar saint he had chosen the blessed Virgin Mary, whom, indeed, every
+faithful Christian ought to look up to as his protectress and holy
+guardian. He also held in particular veneration St. Peter, St. Jacob,
+and St. John the Baptist, and was liberal in bestowing alms. His oath
+was, Upon my conscience! And whenever he was annoyed with any of us
+soldiers who were upon more intimate terms with him, he used to say, May
+the plague take you! When he was in a passion, a vein in his forehead
+and neck distended considerably; and when excessively annoyed with any
+one, he flung down his cloak: yet he never made use of any low or
+unbecoming expression to his officers or soldiers. He bore everything
+with great patience, and though sometimes the soldiers were very
+inconsiderate in their behaviour, yet Cortes never forgot himself in
+wrathful expressions towards them, and all he said was, Hold your
+tongue! or, In the name of God, be gone, and for the future be more
+guarded in your language, for you might have to pay dearly in repeating
+such conduct. If he had once made up his mind to anything, he was not to
+be dissuaded from it, particularly in matters relating to war; and we
+might argue with him as we liked on the inconsiderateness of any command
+he might issue, it was all to no purpose,--we were obliged to act up to
+it, whatever the cost might be. This was frequently the case on our
+expeditions to the large townships which lay on the lake of Mexico, and
+in our attacks upon those mountains which are now known by the name of
+the Marquis mountains. On the latter occasion it was in vain for us to
+represent to him that it would be impossible to storm the rocky heights
+against the huge masses of stone which were rolled down upon us; that
+all our courage and experience would be of no avail, and that we should
+all run the risk of being crushed to pieces. Our words were spoken to
+the wind; we were ordered to ascend and peril our lives in the attempt
+to scale the rugged heights. The consequence was, a complete failure;
+ten or twelve men were killed on the spot, and the whole of us covered
+with wounds. On our expedition to the Honduras, after Christobal de Oli
+had rebelled, I repeatedly proposed to him that we should march over the
+mountains; but he obstinately maintained that the route along the coast
+was preferable, nor would he ever believe when I told him that the
+country through which I proposed to march was everywhere inhabited: yet
+those who are at all acquainted with these parts know that there is a
+straight road leading from Guacasualco over Chiapa and Guatimala to
+Naco, where Oli had fixed his head-quarters. But then I must also say
+that Cortes was always the first to put his hand to any laborious work
+we had to do. This he fully showed when we constructed the
+fortifications of Vera Cruz, for he himself was the first to take spade
+in hand and dig out the earth for laying the foundations. In every
+battle that was fought I always found him in the midst of the ranks. As
+early as in the battle of Tabasco, where he courageously headed the
+cavalry, he showed what kind of officer he was; the excellent example
+which he set during the construction of the fortress of Vera Cruz I have
+just mentioned. Then we must remember what great determination he showed
+when his brave officers and soldiers counselled him to run the thirteen
+vessels on shore; and not, as Gomara would have it, without consulting
+us. In the three battles which we fought with the warriors of Tlascalla
+he proved himself the most courageous of commanders. And then how daring
+it was to march into the city of Mexico with only 400 men, and to seize
+a monarch like Motecusuma in his own palace, surrounded by so many
+thousands of his warriors! It is certainly true he had good officers and
+soldiers to counsel him, yet it was an astonishingly bold step on his
+part when he ordered Motecusuma's generals, who had killed Juan de
+Escalante with seven of his men, to be burned at the stake in front of
+the monarch's own palace. And then what a remarkably bold and hazardous
+undertaking it was first of all to lead Narvaez and his 1300 well-armed
+troops by the nose with a few small presents, and afterwards, with only
+266 men, merely armed with pikes and swords, to attack, completely
+overthrow them, and take the commander himself prisoner! He displayed
+wonderful feats of courage in our attack upon the great temple of
+Huitzilopochtli, before our disastrous flight from the city, though
+certainly neither his courage nor ours, as it unfortunately turned out,
+was of any avail. Shortly upon this, at the memorable battle of Otumpan,
+where the flower of the Mexican army was drawn up against us to put us
+all to the sword, it was Cortes who made the first run at the Mexican
+general-in-chief who carried the imperial standard, and threw him to the
+ground, and in an instant the courage of the enemy began to flag; though
+it must be borne in mind he was courageously assisted by his brave
+officers Alvarado, Sandoval, Oli, Ordas, Dominiguez, Lares, and Tapia,
+besides other officers and soldiers who had no horses, but whose names I
+will not mention: even several of Narvaez's men fought bravely on this
+occasion. It was, however, Juan de Salamanca, of Ontiveros, who gave the
+Mexican general the finishing stroke, and tore away the splendid penache
+from his head, which he presented to Cortes. How dangerous was not our
+position in Iztapalapan? Near Xochimilco the Mexicans had already
+dragged him from his horse; and had it not been for our Tlascallan
+auxiliaries, and the brave Christobal de Olea, of Old Castile, he would
+have been carried off by the enemy. In that unfortunate combat on the
+causeway, where sixty-two of our men were taken prisoners and sacrificed
+to the Mexican gods, the enemy had already laid hands on our general and
+wounded him in the foot; but in that perilous moment it again pleased
+the Almighty that Olea should come up to his rescue, assist him on
+horseback, and thus save him from a horrible death. But, alas! this
+heroic deed cost Olea his own life; and now even, while I am writing
+this, the figure and powerful build of Christobal de Olea comes fresh to
+my memory, and my heart feels sore with grief, for we were both born in
+the same spot, and he was a relative of my relations. I will not,
+however, relate the further heroic deeds of the marquis del Valle, for
+they are so numerous and astonishing that I should not so soon get to
+the end of them. I will now show a few of his peculiarities.
+
+He was excessively fond of gambling at cards and dice, but he never lost
+his temper in playing, and he delighted in using those quaint
+expressions customary with gamblers. Nothing could exceed his vigilance
+during war, and in the night-time he would make the rounds himself, and
+visit the different outposts. He would visit the hut of every soldier,
+see that his weapons were ready at hand, and that he had his shoes on.
+Those whom he found had neglected anything in this way he severely
+reprimanded, and compared them to mangy sheep whose own wool is too
+heavy for them. During our expedition to the Honduras, he had a peculiar
+infirmity about him which I never observed previously, which was, that
+if he could not get some little nap after dinner he became so ill that
+he vomited up everything he had eaten. We therefore took the precaution
+as soon as he had dined to spread a carpet for him beneath some tree or
+elsewhere in the shade, on which he took a short repose; it mattered not
+whether it was oppressively hot, or that the rain came down in torrents,
+it made no difference to him. During the conquest of New Spain he was
+very thin, and had scarcely any _embonpoint_; but after our return from
+the Honduras he became excessively fat and big-bellied. When his beard
+was beginning to grow grey, he used to dye it black. In New Spain and on
+his first return to Castile he was uncommonly generous; but on his
+second return thither in the year 1540, he was considered very miserly,
+and one of his servants, named Ulloa, actually brought an action against
+him for non-payment of wages. If we consider his life after the conquest
+of New Spain, we shall find that it was full of troubles and sorrows.
+The armaments which he fitted out cost him immense sums of money, from
+which he never derived any advantage. Both his expedition to the
+Honduras and to California proved very unsatisfactory. I hope, however,
+that he may meet with his reward in heaven, and I have every reason to
+think he will, because he was an honest cavalier, and a devoted reverer
+of the blessed Virgin, of the holy apostle St. Peter, and of other
+saints. May the Almighty pardon his sins, and mine also; and may he also
+grant me a happy death, for this is of more importance than all our
+conquests and victories over the Indians.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCV.
+
+    _Of the brave officers and soldiers who sailed from the island of
+    Cuba with the fortunate and spirited captain Hernando Cortes,
+    afterwards marquis del Valle._
+
+
+First I have to mention the marquis Don Hernando Cortes himself, who
+died at Castilleja de la Cuesta, near Seville. Then come the following
+officers and soldiers.
+
+Don Pedro de Alvarado, who, subsequent to the conquest of New Spain, was
+comendador of Santiago, chief justice and governor of Guatimala,
+Honduras, and of Chiapa. As we have above seen, he was accidentally
+killed in the province of Xalisco.
+
+Gonzalo de Sandoval, a most distinguished officer; he was
+alguacil-mayor, and for a short time joint governor of New Spain with
+Alonso de Estrada. His majesty had been duly informed of the heroic
+conduct which he showed on every occasion. He died at Palos, while on
+his journey to court with Cortes to pay his respects to the emperor.
+
+Christobal de Oli, a very brave officer; our quartermaster-general in
+the campaign of New Spain: was beheaded at Naco for having revolted with
+the troops which Cortes had put under his command.
+
+When Cortes, after the conquest of New Spain, made his first appearance
+at court, he particularly praised these three officers, and he told his
+majesty that in the army with which he made the conquest of New Spain he
+had three officers who could be compared to the most celebrated of any
+age. The first he said was Pedro de Alvarado, who, besides being very
+courageous, was graceful in his manners, and just the man to become the
+father of a race of heroes. The second was Christobal de Oli, whom he
+called a real Hector in battle, when he was combating man to man; but
+if he had known how to command, he would even have been more than a
+Hector. Of Gonzalo de Sandoval he said, that he united power of command,
+courage, and valour in such a degree as to constitute him one of the
+best officers that Spain ever possessed,--an officer on whom he could at
+all times depend, and whose words were followed up by deeds.
+
+On this occasion Cortes likewise spoke of the other brave soldiers who
+fought with him in the campaigns of New Spain. It is, however, to be
+regretted that he omitted to mention our names with the same praise in
+his first despatches as he did when in his majesty's presence. In these
+despatches he takes all the glory and merit of our conquests to himself;
+and he never so much as mentions the names and heroic deeds of his
+officers and brave soldiers; for he only says, This I did, and thus I
+commanded my officers to do. For us there only remained the blank piece
+of paper at the end, where we had scarcely room to sign our names.
+
+But let us continue the enumeration of our brave companions in arms.
+
+First there was Juan Velasquez de Leon, an officer of great courage and
+intrepidity, who lost his life at one of the bridges on the night of
+sorrows.
+
+Don Francisco de Montejo, who, subsequent to the conquest of Mexico,
+became chief-justice of Yucatan, and died in New Spain.
+
+Luis Marin, a courageous and distinguished officer, died a natural
+death.
+
+Pedro de Ircio, a man of middle stature; took short steps, was very
+passionate, and was continually talking about his heroic deeds and
+adventures in Spain; though among us, who never witnessed any of his
+valorous exploits, he was held in very little estimation. We commonly
+called him the second Agramant, of many words and few deeds. He was for
+a short time an officer in Sandoval's expedition to Tepeaquilla.
+
+Andreas de Tapia, an officer of uncommon courage, died in Mexico.
+
+Juan de Escalante, commandant of Vera Cruz during our first march to
+Mexico. He was captured by the Indians in the battle of Almeria, and
+died shortly after of his wounds. In this battle seven other soldiers
+were killed, whose names, however, I have forgotten. This was the first
+defeat which we sustained in New Spain.
+
+Alonso de Avila, a courageous officer, but of a quarrelsome disposition;
+for which reason Cortes gave him the appointment of contador, and
+despatched him on business to Hispaniola, where the Hieronymite
+brotherhood resided, and the royal court of audience held its sittings;
+and in order further to appease him, Cortes presented him with a number
+of gold bars and valuable trinkets.
+
+Francisco de Lugo, a natural son of a cavalier of Medina del Campo,
+named Alvaro de Lugo; he was also a man of uncommon bravery, and died a
+natural death.
+
+Andreas de Monjaraz was for some time captain in Mexico, but always in
+ill health, and suffered excessively from swellings in his groins, which
+rendered him unfit for a soldier. He also died in his bed.
+
+Gregorio de Monjaraz, brother to the former, was an excellent soldier,
+became deaf during the siege of Mexico, and died a natural death.
+
+Diego de Ordas was present in the first campaign of Mexico, became a
+comendador of the order of Santiago subsequent to the conquest of New
+Spain, and perished in an expedition to the river Marannon.
+
+Respecting the four brothers of Alvarado, I have given a full account of
+their death in a former chapter.
+
+Juan de Xaramillo commanded a brigantine during the siege of Mexico. He
+married our interpretess, Doņa Marina, and was a man of distinguished
+parts, and also died a natural death.
+
+Christobal de Flores, a man of great courage, was killed during the
+expedition of Nuņo de Guzman to the province of Xalisco.
+
+Christobal de Gamboa was Cortes' equerry, and died a natural death.
+
+Calcedo was a man of great wealth, and likewise died in his bed.
+
+Francisco de Saucedo, of Medina de Rioseco, a man always very neatly
+dressed, and whom we termed the gallant. He had formerly been
+maestresala to the admiral of Castile, and perished on the night of
+sorrows.
+
+Gonzalo Dominiguez, a man of great courage, and an excellent cavalry
+soldier, was taken prisoner by the Indians, and died in captivity.
+
+Francisco de Morla, of Xerez, likewise a brave and distinguished cavalry
+soldier, lost his life in the night of sorrows.
+
+There was also another Morla, of Ciudad Rodrigo, killed in an expedition
+to the mountains of Guatimala.
+
+Francisco de Bonal, of Salamanca, also a man of great courage, died a
+natural death.
+
+There were two brave men of the name of Lares, one a cavalry soldier,
+the other a crossbow-man, and both perished at the bridges on the night
+of sorrows.
+
+Simon de Cuenca, Cortes' major-domo, was killed, with seven other
+Spaniards, by the Indians of Xicalango.
+
+The same misfortune befel Francisco de Medina, who commanded as captain
+in one of our expeditions. With him fifteen other soldiers were killed,
+but I forget their names.
+
+Maldonado, of Salamanca, whom we commonly called the broad; an officer
+who greatly distinguished himself. He died a natural death.
+
+The two brothers Francisco and Juan Chico, of Fregenal. The first was a
+merchant, and died of a severe illness at St. Domingo; the second died
+in Indian captivity.
+
+Francisco de Terrazas, major-domo of Cortes, greatly distinguished
+himself as a soldier, and died a natural death.
+
+Christobal del Corral, our first standard-bearer in Mexico, and a man of
+uncommon bravery. He returned to Spain, where he died.
+
+Antonio de Villareal, who married Isabella de Ojeda. He afterwards
+changed his name to Antonio Serrano de Cardona. He died a natural death.
+
+Francisco Rodrigues Magarino, a man who greatly distinguished himself,
+and also died in his bed.
+
+In the same way Francisco Flores, who was of a noble family, and lived
+in Guaxaca.
+
+Alonso de Grado, a better man of business than a soldier, would not
+desist from importuning Cortes until he had given him Doņa Isabella,
+Motecusuma's daughter, in marriage. He also died in his bed.
+
+There were four soldiers of the name of Solis. One was far advanced in
+years, and perished on the night of sorrows. The second was a very odd
+kind of fellow, we called the helmet, and he ended his days in
+Guatimala. The third was Pedro, to whom we gave the name of Tras la
+Puerta, because he was always looking out behind his door to see who was
+passing by, without, however, any one being able to see him. The fourth
+de Solis was called the warrior, but sometimes we also jokingly called
+him the silk coat; for he said his health was always good when he wore
+silk. These brothers all died a natural death.
+
+The brave soldiers Berritez and Juan Ruano both perished on the night of
+sorrows.
+
+Bernardino Vasquez de Tapia, an officer of great distinction, died a
+natural death, leaving great wealth behind him.
+
+Christobal de Olea, of Medina del Campo, a soldier of astonishing
+courage, and of whom it may be well said, that, next to God, he twice
+saved the life of Cortes, as has been related in former chapters.
+
+There was also another courageous soldier among us, who had only one
+hand; the other had been cut off in Spain, according to a sentence which
+had been passed upon him. This man died in Indian captivity.
+
+Another soldier, named Tuvilla, likewise lost his life in this way. He
+limped with one foot, and said he had fought at the battle of
+Garigliano, under the great captain.[58]
+
+Of the two brothers Gonsalo and Juan Ximena, the first died in Indian
+captivity, and the latter as alcalde-mayor of Vera Cruz.
+
+Juan Cuellar, an excellent cavalry soldier, married the beautiful Doņa
+Anna, daughter of the king of Tezcuco, and died in his bed; so also the
+other Cuellar, a relative of Francisco Verdugo.
+
+Santos Hernandez, of Soria, was rather advanced in years, and we
+generally called him the good old scout. He also died as the two former.
+
+Pedro Moreno Medrano lived for a length of time in Vera Cruz, and was
+often one of the ordinary alcaldes. He was a man who loved strict
+justice, afterwards lived at Puebla, and was a brave soldier, and
+devotedly attached to his monarch. He also died in his bed.
+
+Juan Limpias de Carvajal, a brave soldier, commanded one of the
+brigantines, and became deaf in battle. He died like the former. So also
+Melchior de Galvez, who settled in Guaxaca.
+
+Roman Lopez, a man of great courage, lost an eye during the siege of
+Mexico, and afterwards died in Guaxaca.
+
+Villandromo, a relative of the earl of Ribadeo, was also an excellent
+soldier, and died in his bed. So also Osorio, of Old Castile, a soldier
+of uncommon bravery, and of great weight in Vera Cruz.
+
+The excellent soldier Rodrigo Castanneda died in Spain.
+
+Pilar, who rendered great services, as an interpreter, died in the
+expedition of Nuņo de Guzman against Cojohuacan.
+
+A soldier of the name of Granado is still living in Mexico.
+
+The excellent soldier Martin Lopez rendered the most efficient services
+in building the thirteen brigantines, without which we should scarcely
+have been able to subdue the city of Mexico. He is still living, and
+resides in this town.
+
+The crossbow-men Juan de Naxara and Ojeda were both excellent soldiers,
+the latter of whom lost an eye in the siege of Mexico, and has settled
+in the country of the Zapotecs.
+
+La Serna possessed some silver mines, but I do not know what has become
+of him.
+
+Alonso Hernandez Puerto Carrero, a cavalier of most distinguished parts,
+was thrown into prison, as we have seen, by the bishop of Burgos, where
+he ended his days shortly after. He was one of the chief officers who
+first sailed with us from Cuba, and I should have mentioned his name
+long before this, if he had come sooner to my memory.
+
+Alonso or Juan Luis was remarkably tall, and we used jokingly to call
+him the little child. He died in Indian captivity. So also Alonso
+Monroy, who was believed to be the son of a comendador of the order of
+Santiago.
+
+Hernando Burguenno died a natural death, and was also an excellent
+soldier.
+
+Villalobos and Juan del Rio both returned as wealthy men to Spain.
+
+Both Tirado, of Puebla, who was a merchant, and a certain Navarette died
+in their beds.
+
+Juan Rico de Alanis died in Indian captivity. Another excellent soldier
+was Gonsalo Hernandez de Alanis.
+
+Francisco Martin de Vendabel and his comrade Pedro de Gallego were taken
+prisoners, and sacrificed to the Mexican idols. The capture of these men
+was entirely owing to Cortes, who, thinking to lay an ambush for the
+enemy, was caught in one himself.
+
+There were three soldiers of the name of Truxillos, all men of uncommon
+courage, but who died in Indian captivity.
+
+Juan Flamenco, Francisco de Barco, who commanded in Cholulla, and Juan
+Perez, who murdered his own wife, all three died a natural death.
+
+Najera, the hunchback, was a remarkably droll fellow; and another
+hunchback, named Madrid, were courageous soldiers, and were either
+killed in Zacatula or Colima.
+
+Juan de Inhiesta and Alamilla, capital crossbow-men, with Moron, an
+excellent musician, and the brave soldier Valera, all four died a
+natural death. So also the courageous Villafuerte, who married a
+relative of Cortes' first wife; and a certain Gutierres. Valladolid, the
+stout, an excellent soldier, died in Indian captivity.
+
+Pacheco greatly distinguished himself, with Hernando de Lerma or Lerna,
+who was a captain. Both died peaceably in Mexico.
+
+Suarez the elder, who killed his wife with a stone mortar, also died a
+natural death.
+
+Angula, Francisco Gutierrez, and Santa Clara, all three born at the
+Havannah, died in Indian captivity.
+
+Garci Caro, and Larios the younger, both died a natural death, and had
+settled in Mexico.
+
+Juan Gorrez lived for some time in Guatimala, and returned to Spain a
+wealthy man.
+
+Of the two brothers Ximenes, of Linguijuela in Estremadura, one died in
+his bed, and the other in Indian captivity. The two brothers Florin
+likewise ended their lives in the same manner.
+
+Gonzalez de Najara, and his two nephews Ramirez. The first was killed
+among the mountains of Guatimala, and the two latter perished on the
+night of sorrows.
+
+The brave soldier Amaya, and the two brothers Carmonas, of Xerez, died
+a natural death. So also one of the two Vargas', of Seville; the other
+died in Indian captivity.
+
+The courageous soldier Polanco, of Avila settled in Guatimala, and died
+a natural death.
+
+Hernan Lopez de Avila managed the properties of deceased parties, and
+accumulated great wealth, with which he returned to Spain.
+
+Bernardino de Corio, Juan de Aragon, and a certain Santisteban died
+natural deaths.
+
+Bartolomé Pardo and a certain Cieza died in Indian captivity.
+
+Pedro Escudero, Juan Cermenno, and his brother, were excellent soldiers.
+The first two, it will he remembered, were hung by Cortes, for
+attempting to desert with one of the vessels to Cuba.
+
+The pilot Gonzalo de Umbria was also an excellent soldier, who, by
+command of Cortes, had his feet cut off. His majesty subsequently
+bestowed on him an annuity of 2000 pesos or some Indian commendaries;
+but, for fear of Cortes, he durst not return to Spain.
+
+Rodrigo Rangel was a very talented man, but he never distinguished
+himself as a soldier, and he died of severe swellings in his groins.
+
+Francisco de Orozco suffered likewise from this disease. He had served
+in the Italian campaigns; he was sent in command of a small detachment
+to Tepeaca, while we were quartered in Mexico. I do not however know
+what became of him.
+
+Mesa, who had previously served as an artilleryman in Italy, was drowned
+in a river subsequent to the conquest of Mexico.
+
+Alobancho, of Old Castile, a man of great courage, died in Indian
+captivity.
+
+Luis Velasquez, of Arevalo, perished in the expedition to the Honduras.
+
+Alonso de Barrientos escaped to the Indians of Chinanta, when the
+Mexicans put twenty-six men and five Spanish ladies to death at
+Tustepec.
+
+Almodovar, with his son and two nephews. One of the latter died in
+Indian captivity, the others a natural death.
+
+The two brothers Martinez, of Fregenal, both brave soldiers, and a
+certain Logos, who distinguished himself, all three died in Indian
+captivity.
+
+Juan del Puerto, also an excellent soldier, fell a victim to a disease
+of the groins.
+
+Father Olmedo, a great theologian, a capital singer, and a man possessed
+of singular virtues, died a natural death.
+
+Sancho de Avila, of Garrobillas, died in Indian captivity. He was said
+to have been worth 6000 pesos before he left St. Domingo, with which,
+however, he returned to Spain, and lost all in gambling.
+
+Alonso Hernandez de Palo, a man advanced in years, had two of his
+nephews with him, one of whom was a capital crossbow-man. The two latter
+died a natural death, but the uncle in Indian captivity. So also Alonso
+de la Mesa, and Rabanal Montannes, who were both excellent soldiers.
+
+Pedro de Guzman married Doņa Francisca de Valtierra, of Valencia, with
+whom he went to Peru; both of whom, it was said, with their horses, a
+negro, and several other persons, were frozen to death.
+
+Christobal Diaz, an excellent crossbow-man, of Colmenar de Arenas, died
+peaceably in his bed.
+
+The soldier Ratamales was killed by the Indians of Tabasco. The brave
+soldiers Gines Nortes, Luis Alonso, and Alonso Catalan were killed in
+Yucatan.
+
+Juan Siciliano settled in Mexico, where he died a natural death.
+
+Camillas served as a drummer both in Italy and New Spain, and fell into
+the hands of the Indians. The same misfortune befel Hernandez, Cortes'
+private secretary; and Juan Diaz, who had a gutta serena on one of his
+eyes, and was an officer of Cortes' household.
+
+Diego de Coria died a natural death in Mexico.
+
+Juan Nuņez Mercado came as a very young man to New Spain, is now living
+at Puebla, but is blind of both eyes.
+
+An excellent soldier was also Juan Sedenno, and he was considered the
+wealthiest man of our troops. This man had great weight in New Spain,
+and died a peaceable death.
+
+Balnor, of Trinidad, died in Indian captivity.
+
+Saragoza was advanced in years when he joined our ranks, and died a
+natural death.
+
+Diego Martin de Ayamente had the same good fortune, and was also an
+excellent soldier.
+
+Cardenas, who was a nephew of the comendador-mayor Cardenas, died in
+Indian captivity. The other Cardenas was a sailor, of Triana, the same
+who brought accusations against Cortes, and received from his majesty an
+annuity of 1000 pesos. He died a natural death in Mexico.
+
+Arguello, of Leon, an excellent soldier; Vazquez, a man of uncommon
+strength and courage; and Arroyuelo de Olmedo, all three died in Indian
+captivity.
+
+Diego Hernandez assisted in the building of the brigantines, became
+blind, and died a natural death.
+
+Pizarro had a command as captain, was a relation of Cortes, and died in
+Indian captivity.
+
+Alvaro Lopez, who had settled at Puebla, died in his bed. So also the
+soldier Yannez, of Cordoba, who accompanied us on the expedition to the
+Honduras. When he returned he found his wife married to another, but he
+never took her back.
+
+The excellent soldier Magallanes, a Portuguese, was a nimble pedestrian,
+who, with his countryman Platero, died in Indian captivity.
+
+The four other Portuguese soldiers named Martin de Alpedrino, Juan
+Alvarez Rabaso, and Gonzalo Sanchez, a man of great bodily strength, and
+Gonzalo Rodriguez, who was the most distinguished of the four, all died
+a natural death.
+
+Of two other Portuguese, named Villanuevas, both very tall men, I know
+nothing more than that they settled in la Puebla.
+
+Of the three Avilas, Gaspar died a natural death; the other, who was
+always about the person of Andreas de Tapia, in Indian captivity; and
+the third settled somewhere in New Spain.
+
+Two soldiers of the name of Vandadas, both far advanced in years, and
+three others of the name of Espinosa, all died in Indian captivity. One
+of the Espinosas we used to call, "God bless you," because he was
+constantly saying this; which, indeed, is an excellent sentence: he died
+in peace. So also the courageous soldier Pedro Poron, of Toledo. Another
+excellent soldier, named Villasinda, of Portillo, entered a Franciscan
+monastery.
+
+Of the two brave San Juans, of whom one was called the "high-minded;"
+the first died in Indian captivity, and the second peaceably in his bed.
+So also the courageous soldier Izguierdo, of Castro Mocho. An intrepid
+soldier was also Caceres, of Truxillo, who was captured by the Indians.
+Alonso de Herrera was also a courageous warrior, who for some time
+commanded in the country of the Zapotecs. The same who fought the duel
+with Figuero during the administration of Estrada. He died among the
+Indians of the Marannon. Figuero was drowned on his return to Spain.
+
+There was also a young man named Maldonado, of Medellin, who always
+suffered from disease of the groins; but I forget what afterwards became
+of him. He must not be confounded with a soldier of the same name, who
+married Doņa Maria de Rincon. The soldier, Morales, was advanced in
+years, and limped with one foot, he was one of the ordinary alcaldes of
+Vera Cruz, where he kept good order and was considered an honest man.
+
+Escalona, the younger, died in Indian captivity. The three soldiers
+Arevalo, Juan Leon, and Madrigal, who settled in Vera Cruz, never fought
+in any of our battles, and all three died a natural death.
+
+Lencero, to whom the Venta belonged, known as the Venta[59] de Lencero,
+between Vera Cruz and la Puebla, was an excellent soldier, and entered
+the order of the brothers of charity. His example was followed by Alonso
+Duran, who was near-sighted, and generally performed the office of
+sacristan.
+
+Navarro, who generally kept company with Sandoval's servants, died a
+natural death at Vera Cruz.
+
+Another courageous soldier, Alonso Talavera, died in Indian captivity.
+
+Of the two Indians whom we took with us from Cuba, one died in Indian
+captivity, the other in his bed.
+
+The drummer Benito Bejel, who had served in the Italian campaigns, and
+Alonso Romero, who settled down a rich man in Vera Cruz, both died a
+natural death.
+
+Sindos de Portillo received a very lucrative commendary, which produced
+him considerable riches. But he relinquished all his worldly goods, sold
+them by public auction, distributed the money among the poor, and
+entered the order of the brothers of charity.
+
+The courageous soldier Quintero likewise entered this order, possessed
+considerable property, and gave it all to the church.
+
+Alonso de Aguilar was also a man of wealth, and he sold all he possessed
+and entered the order of the Dominicans.
+
+Another rich soldier, named Varguillas, entered the order of the
+Franciscans, but subsequently left the cloister again.
+
+Another excellent soldier, named Escalante, who was very neat in his
+person and an excellent cavalry soldier, also entered the Franciscan
+order.
+
+Gaspar Diaz, of Old Castile, was a man of considerable wealth; but he
+relinquished all his property and lived a hermit in the most deserted
+spot among the mountains of Huexotzinco. He slept on straw and lived so
+severe a life of penance that he became quite enfeebled. When the bishop
+Don Juan de Zumarroga learnt this, he admonished him not to lead such a
+life of severity. However, he became so celebrated for piety that
+several others joined him, and he died in the space of four years, and
+entered into eternal glory.
+
+Ribadeo, of Galicia, whom we termed the "winebibber," because he was
+given to drink, was killed in the battle of Almeria. A similar fate
+befel another soldier, whom, on account of his shortness, we called the
+little Galician.
+
+Lerma, who once saved Cortes' life, was a courageous soldier; but on
+account of some misdemeanour or other he fled to the Indians, and we
+never after heard of him.
+
+Pinedo was also an excellent soldier, and had formerly served under the
+governor of Cuba. He was sent by Narvaez to Mexico, but was killed by
+the Indians on his road thither.
+
+The excellent crossbow-man Pedro Lopez, died peaceably in his bed.
+Another soldier, of the same name, accompanied Alonso de Avila to
+Hispaniola where he died.
+
+One of our three smiths fell into the hands of the Indians, the two
+others died a natural death. One was named Juan Garcia, the second
+Hernan Martin, the name of the third I have forgotten.
+
+Alvaro of Galicia likewise died a natural death in Mexico. Paredes, who
+was an old man and has still a son living in Yucatan, died among the
+Indians. The same misfortune befel Gonzalo Meia Rapapelo, who said he
+was a nephew of that Meia, who, with a certain Canteno, committed so
+many robberies during the reign of king John.
+
+Pedro de Tapia died of the gout sometime after the conquest of Mexico.
+
+Of all our pilots, Anton de Alaminos, his son of the same name, Camacho,
+Manquillo, Sopuerta, Cardenas, and Gonzalo Umbria, Sopuerta alone
+settled in New Spain, the others, fearing the resentment of Cortes,
+because they had given Garay some information respecting the country, of
+which he obtained the appointment of governor, durst not return to this
+country.
+
+Another pilot, named Lucas de Genna, died in Indian captivity. His
+countryman Lorenzo settled in Guaxaca, where he died, after marrying an
+old Portuguese woman. Enrique de Palencia was drowned in fording a
+river, from the weight of his arms. The carpenter Christobal de Jaen
+died in Indian captivity.
+
+Ochoa, of Biscay, a man of wealth and distinction, died a natural death
+in Guaxaca. The brave Zamisdio was obliged to flee from Mexico because
+he had killed several persons there. He returned to Spain, became an
+officer, and was killed with several other cavaliers near Locastil.
+
+The low jester Cervantes died among the Indians. The same fate befel
+Plazuela and Alonso Perez Maite, who married a beautiful Indian female
+of Bayamo.
+
+Martin Vasquez, of Olmedo, died rich and respected in Mexico. So also
+Sebastian Rodriguez, a capital crossbow-man, and his comrade Pennalosa.
+
+The sailor Alvaro, was killed by the Indians, during our expedition to
+the Honduras. He was said to be the father of thirty children, by Indian
+women.
+
+Both Pedro Sabrite, and Juan Perez Malinche, whose real name was
+Artiaga, died a natural death.
+
+Geronimo de Aguilar was an excellent soldier. He had been for several
+years in the power of the Indians; he died of a disease of the groins.
+
+Pedro Valenciano, who lived in Mexico, and two of the three soldiers
+named Tarifas, died a natural death. One of these settled in Guaxaca,
+and married Catalina Muņoz: the second, whom we called "Tarifa of
+Services," because he was always boasting of the many services he
+rendered his majesty gratis: the third we called "Tarifa with the white
+hands," because he was neither fit for service nor anything else, but
+was always telling us old stories about Seville; he was drowned with his
+horse in a river of the Golfo Dulce during our expedition to the
+Honduras.
+
+Pedro Sanchez Farsan, who commanded in Tezcuco during the siege of
+Mexico, died a natural death.
+
+Alonso de Escobar, who prided himself on having been page to the
+governor of Cuba, was killed by the Indians. Another Escobar, whom we
+called the bachelor, was an apothecary, and dressed our wounds. He died
+raving mad. A third soldier of this name had a more unfortunate end. He
+was a remarkably courageous soldier, but was hung for having ill-used a
+married woman.
+
+A soldier named Santiago, a native of Huelva, returned to Spain a
+wealthy man. His comrade Ponce died in Indian captivity. A soldier of
+the name of Mendes shared a similar fate; he was far advanced in years
+when he first joined our ranks.
+
+Three of our men were killed in the battles of Tabasco; but Saldaņa is
+the only one I remember by name.
+
+Orteguilla the elder, and his son of the same name, who was some time
+page to Motecusuma, were killed by the Indians. Gaona, the brave Luis
+Farsan, and Morillas shared a similar fate.
+
+Juan de Caceres died a rich man in Mexico.
+
+Gonzalo Hurones and Ramirez the elder both died a natural death.
+
+Rojas went to Peru.
+
+Astorgos was an old man when he came to New Spain, and he died peaceably
+at Guaxaca.
+
+The courageous soldier Valdovinos and Tostado both died among the
+Indians; a brother of the latter died more fortunately.
+
+Guillen de la Loa, Andreas Nuņez, and the harper Pedro, with three other
+soldiers who came to us from one of Garay's vessels, are also deserving
+of notice. The first was killed by a cannon ball, one died a natural
+death, and the other in Indian captivity. The same misfortune befel
+Porras the red head, who was a beautiful singer.
+
+Ortiz performed charmingly on the guitar, and gave lessons in dancing.
+He had been a miner at Cuba, and joined us with his friend Bartolomé
+Garcia, who possessed the finest horse of our whole troop. Both died in
+Indian captivity. The brave and excellent crossbow-man Serrano shared a
+similar fate.
+
+Pedro Valencia, of Placencia, died a natural death.
+
+Quintero the navigator, and Alonso Rodriguez, who possessed lucrative
+gold mines in Cuba, were both killed by the Indians. Gaspar Sanchez, who
+pretended to be a nephew of the treasurer of Cuba, and six other
+soldiers of Narvaez's corps were killed in storming the Marquis
+mountain.
+
+Pedro Palma, the first husband of Elvira Lopez the tall, with the priest
+Misa and the soldier Trebejo were hung, either by Francisco de las Casas
+or by Gil Gonsalez de Avila, for having attempted to raise an
+insurrection among the troops on their return from Naco. When we
+returned from the Honduras with Luis Marin we saw the large tree on
+which they were all three hung.
+
+Father Juan de las Varillas was an excellent theologian and a man of
+great piety; he died a natural death.
+
+Andreas de Mola and the brave soldier Alberza died in Indian captivity.
+
+Besides these were a number of sailors who proved themselves excellent
+soldiers. Even the boys, who served on board the vessels we ran on
+shore, fought with wonderful courage. Of all these I only remember the
+names of Pennates and Pinzones. Some died among the Indians, some
+returned to Spain to bring accusations against Cortes.
+
+Lastly, I mention myself; for I made the two voyages of discovery to New
+Spain previous to going out with Cortes, as has been seen in the proper
+place. I cannot sufficiently thank and praise God and the blessed Virgin
+for having shielded me in all the battles, and saved me from falling
+into the hands of the Indians, who at that time sacrificed all prisoners
+to their abominable idols. To heaven I must also offer up my thanks for
+giving me power to describe our heroic deeds, and to publish to the
+world the names of all the brave officers and soldiers who conquered New
+Spain; and not that all the honour, glory, and our merit in the conquest
+might be given to one officer alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCVI.
+
+    _Of the stature and outward person of several brave officers and
+    soldiers, and of their age when they first joined Cortes._
+
+
+Of the marquis Don Hernando Cortes and of Christobal de Oli, I have
+spoken in former chapters. I will therefore now commence with Don Pedro
+de Alvarado.
+
+This officer was comendador of the order of Santiago, chief-justice and
+governor of Guatimala, the coast of the Honduras, and of Chiapa. He may
+have been about thirty-four years of age when he came with us to New
+Spain. His build was both beautiful and strong; his countenance was all
+cheerfulness, and his eye had a remarkably sweet expression. It was on
+account of his pleasant looks that the Mexicans called him Tonatio, or
+the sun. He was of a slender figure, a splendid horseman, open and
+agreeable in conversation, and remarkably neat in his dress, which was
+always of the richest stuffs. He usually wore a small gold chain about
+his neck, to which was suspended a fine jewel, and on one of his fingers
+a diamond ring.
+
+The chief justice and governor of Yucatan, Montejo, was of middling
+stature, had a pleasant-looking countenance, was a good horseman, and
+much addicted to all kinds of pleasures. He was about thirty-five years
+of age when he came to New Spain, but was rather a man of business than
+a soldier. He was generous of disposition, but lived beyond his income.
+
+Gonzalo de Sandoval was a man of extraordinary courage and of heroic
+valour. He was twenty-two years of age when he joined us, soon became
+alguacil-mayor of New Spain, and was, for the space of eleven months,
+joint governor with Alonso de Estrada. The frame of his body was of the
+most beautiful proportions, and gave to the beholder the full expression
+of muscular power; his chest was finely developed, his shoulders broad,
+and his legs rather bowed. He had a large face, his hair and beard were
+of an auburn colour, and curled as it was then the fashion. His voice
+was rough and unpleasant, and he had a slight lisp. He knew no more of
+the arts and sciences than he required, was not in the least avaricious,
+and never took more than his rightful share. He was fond of seeing
+soldiers act strictly up to their commands, but favoured and assisted
+them in every possible manner. He was not a man who put on rich
+garments, but dressed simply like a good soldier. His was the finest and
+best rode horse of the whole troop; and a more splendid animal,
+according to general opinion, was even not to be found in Spain. It was
+of a chesnut colour, had a white star on the forehead, and one of the
+left legs was white. This horse was called Motilla, and its excellence
+has become a proverb; for when any one wants to praise a horse, he says,
+It is as good as the Motilla. It was of this officer that Cortes said to
+the emperor, that there was a captain among his troops who was never
+surpassed in courage and determination, and who was fit to command the
+largest armies. He was a native of Medellin, a hidalgo, and his father
+had been alcalde of a fortress.
+
+Juan Velasquez de Leon, of Old Castile, may have been about twenty-six
+years of age when he joined our ranks. His limbs were straight and
+beautifully formed; his chest and shoulders were broad, and he was
+altogether a powerful man. His face was full, and he used to dye his
+curly beard. His voice was harsh and unpleasant, and he stuttered a
+little. He was uncommonly courageous, agreeable in conversation, and
+shared his last farthing with his comrades. It was said of him that he
+had killed a wealthy and distinguished cavalier at Hispaniola named
+Basaltas, for which he was obliged to flee: the royal court of audience
+indeed despatched alguacils to apprehend him, but he defended himself so
+bravely against them that he escaped to Cuba and thence to New Spain. He
+was a splendid horseman, but fought equally well on foot as on
+horseback.
+
+Diego de Ordas, a native of Campas, was forty years of age when he came
+to New Spain. He was a capital officer with the sword and buckler, but
+did not excel as a cavalry soldier. He was equal to any one in foresight
+and courage. He was rather tall and strong of limb; his face carried
+with it the very expression of muscular power; his beard was thin and
+black. He stuttered a little, and many words he could not pronounce
+plainly; but he was open and agreeable in conversation.
+
+The captain Luis Marin was a well-built, powerful, and courageous man.
+His legs were rather bowed; his beard of a ruddy hue; his face broad,
+rather pitted with the smallpox, but cheerful. He was thirty years of
+age when he came to New Spain, was a native of San Lucar, and he lisped
+a little like the inhabitants of Seville. He was an excellent horseman
+and an agreeable companion.
+
+The captain Pedro de Ircio was of middling stature, had short legs, but
+a pleasant-looking countenance. His tongue was never silent, and he was
+always relating his stories of Don Pedro Giron and of the earl of Ureņa.
+He was more bold in word than in deed; we therefore called him the
+Agramant of many words and few works.
+
+Alonso de Avila was thirty-three years of age when we arrived in New
+Spain. He was of good stature, had a cheerful countenance, was
+remarkably courageous, and eloquent and persuasive in argument. He was
+very open-hearted towards his comrades, but rather imperious, jealous,
+and turbulent, for which reason Cortes despatched him with Quiņones to
+Spain to present part of the treasure of Motecusuma and Quauhtemoctzin
+to his majesty, but he was captured by a French corsair, and imprisoned
+in France. Several years after he again returned to New Spain. He was
+uncle to the two sons of Gil Gonsalez de Benavides, who were decapitated
+in Mexico.
+
+Andreas de Monjaraz, who had a command during the siege of Mexico, was a
+man of good stature; he had a cheerful countenance, black beard, and was
+an agreeable companion. He was always suffering with painful swellings
+in his groins, which was the reason he never accomplished anything
+worthy of mention, and I have merely noticed him here because he was
+once put in command. He was about thirty years of age when he came to
+New Spain.
+
+Here I must not forget to mention the very brave soldier Christobal de
+Olea, a native of Medina del Campo. He was twenty-six years of age when
+he joined our ranks. He was of middling stature; his limbs were strong
+and beautifully proportioned; his chest and shoulders broad; his face
+was full and cheerful; his hair and beard curly, his voice strong and
+clear.
+
+Neither must I forget to mention Gonzalo Dominiguez and Larez, who were
+considered equal in courage to Olea. Both were strong of limb, well
+proportioned, had agreeable countenances, and were men of excellent
+dispositions; in short, they may be considered among the bravest
+soldiers Spain ever possessed.
+
+Andreas de Tapia was also a courageous officer, and was about
+twenty-four years of age when he joined us. He had rather an unpleasant
+expression of countenance, which was of a leaden colour; his beard was
+thin, but his figure was stately. He was both a capital horse and foot
+soldier.
+
+I should be going too much into detail if I were to describe the
+countenances and figures of all the officers and soldiers who fought
+with Cortes. We were all men of courage and distinction, and we have
+deserved that our names should be written in letters of gold. I must
+also pass by in silence many brave officers of Narvaez's corps; for I
+intended from the beginning to confine myself to the heroic deeds of the
+small army which first set out for New Spain with Cortes. I must,
+however, make an exception in the person of Pamfilo Narvaez.
+
+This officer may have been about forty-two years of age when he arrived
+in New Spain with an army of 1300 men, which was totally defeated by our
+small body of 266 men. He was tall of stature, strong of limb; his beard
+was red; his face large but cheerful. His voice was amazingly powerful,
+and sounded as if it proceeded from a vault. He was a capital horseman,
+and was said to be an officer of great courage. He was a native of
+Tudela or Valladolid, on the Duero, and was married to a lady of rank
+named Maria de Valenzuela. He had settled in Cuba; was considered very
+rich, but miserly. He was an excellent spokesman, and obtained for
+himself the government of Florida, where, however, he lost both his life
+and his property.
+
+Several curious cavaliers who had read the minute description I have
+here given respecting the persons and the characters of the officers and
+soldiers of the courageous and fortunate Don Hernando Cortes, marquis
+del Valle Oaxaca, inquired of me in astonishment how I could remember
+all these little particulars after so many years had rolled by. I told
+them it was no great wonder at all when they reflected that we were only
+550 men altogether, who daily came in contact with each other in the
+numerous campaigns, battles, skirmishes, and at the outposts. We were
+constantly in conversation with each other, and in this way it soon
+became known what happened to every individual, in what battles he fell,
+or whether he was captured by the Indians and sacrificed to their idols:
+besides which, a list of the killed was taken after every engagement.
+Nor can I see anything so very wonderful in all this; for we read in
+ancient times of generals who knew every soldier personally, his name
+and birthplace, though these armies were generally composed of 30,000
+men. Historians have mentioned as instances of this, Mithridates, king
+of Pontus, of one of the kings of Epirus, and of Alexander of Macedonia.
+The renowned Carthaginian general Hannibal is also said to have known
+every one of his soldiers personally. In our times we know this of
+Gonzalo Hernandez de Cordoba, called the "great captain." Besides these
+there are many other generals who possessed the same powerful memory.
+But I go further than this, for I perfectly retain in my memory the
+outward person and peculiar habits of every one of my companions in
+arms, so that I should be able to sculpture or draw the very form of
+their bodies, their manner of holding themselves, and the exact
+expression of their countenances, as well as is mentioned of Apelles,
+the celebrated painter of old, or in later times of Berruguete, Michael
+Angelo, or the far-famed Burgales, who is termed the second Apelles.
+Indeed I should very much like to paint each of them according to life,
+with the full expression of courage which sat on their countenances the
+moment they rushed into battle!
+
+Thanks be to God and the blessed Virgin who saved me from being
+sacrificed to the idols, and from so many perils, and thereby rendered
+it possible for me to write this history!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCVII.
+
+    _Of the great merit which is due to us, the true Conquistadores._
+
+
+I have now said sufficient of every individual soldier who accompanied
+Cortes, and how each one ended his life. If any one wishes to know
+anything further about us, I can tell him that most of us were men of
+good families; and if the lineage of some was not quite so
+distinguished, we must remember that all are not born equal in this
+world, neither in respect to rank nor virtues. However, by the valour of
+our arms and our heroic deeds, we conquered New Spain, with the great
+city of Mexico, and many other provinces, thereby rendering the most
+important services to the emperor our master, though at so vast a
+distance from Castile; nor had we any assistance in the terrible battles
+we fought night and day, saving that of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
+indeed is our true strength. What we have done is sufficient to spread
+our fame throughout the world!
+
+If we read the ancient histories, at least if they speak truth, we find
+that all those men who gained honorable titles to themselves, as well in
+Spain as in other countries, gained them solely by the valour of their
+arms, or by other important services they rendered to their monarchs. I
+have even observed that several of those celebrated cavaliers, who
+obtained titles and extensive grants of land, had merely entered the
+army for the pay they received, and yet gained for themselves and
+descendants, in perpetuity, towns, castles, lands, besides various
+privileges and immunities. When the king of Aragon, Don Jayme,
+reconquered a large part of his kingdom from the Moors, he divided it
+among the cavaliers and soldiers who had fought with him, and from that
+time are dated the several escutcheons which their descendants possess.
+The same thing was done after the conquest of Granada and Naples by the
+great captain. The noble house of Orange originated in a similar manner.
+
+But we added the immense territory of New Spain to the Spanish crown,
+without his majesty knowing anything about it; and it is for this
+reason I have written these memoirs, that the great, important, and
+excellent services which we have rendered to God, our emperor, and to
+the whole of Christendom, may become known; and I think, when everything
+is put into the same scale, and weighed according to its quantity, we
+shall be found equally deserving of remuneration as those cavaliers of
+previous times.
+
+Though the number of courageous soldiers enumerated in a former chapter
+may have been considerable, yet I myself was not one of the least among
+them, and I had always the reputation of being a good soldier. If the
+curious reader has perused this history with attention, he will have
+seen in how many severe battles I fought, both during the two first
+voyages of discovery, and in the campaigns under Cortes, in New Spain;
+how nearly I was killed on two different occasions, and only escaped by
+the utmost exertion of my strength from being sacrificed to the
+abominable idols; not to mention the dreadful hardships I suffered from
+hunger, thirst, and cold, and the many perils to which those who go out
+for the discovery of new countries are inevitably exposed.
+
+I will now relate the great advantages which Spain has derived from our
+illustrious conquests.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCVIII.
+
+    _Of the human sacrifices and abominations practised by the
+    inhabitants of New Spain; how we abolished these, and introduced the
+    holy Christian faith into the country._
+
+
+After thus describing our glorious deeds of arms, I will show how
+advantageous they proved in the service of God and of our emperor. These
+advantages were purchased with the lives of most of my companions in
+arms, for very few had the good fortune to escape being captured and
+sacrificed by the Indians.
+
+I will commence with the human sacrifices and the other abominations
+which were practised throughout the whole of the provinces we subdued.
+According to the computations of the Franciscan monks, who arrived in
+New Spain subsequent to father Olmedo, above 2500 persons were annually
+sacrificed to the idols in Mexico, and some of the towns lying on the
+lake.[60] As this barbarous custom was also prevalent in all the other
+provinces, the number, of course, is much greater. But these human
+sacrifices were not the only abominations that were practised by the
+inhabitants; I should, however, scarcely know where to end, if I were to
+enumerate them all. I will, therefore, only relate what I witnessed with
+my own eyes, and heard with my own ears. Of the victims that were
+sacrificed, the faces, ears, tongues, lips, the breast, the arms and
+legs, were brought as a burnt-offering to the idols.
+
+In some provinces circumcision took place, which was effected by means
+of sharp knives made of flint. The cursed idol temples were called cues,
+and were as numerous as the churches, chapels, and monasteries in Spain.
+Every township had its own temples, and these infernal buildings were
+filled with demons and diabolical-looking figures. Besides these, every
+Indian man and woman had two altars, one near to where they slept, and
+the other near the door of the house. In these were placed several
+wooden boxes, which they termed petacas, full of small and large idols,
+flint knives used in the sacrifices, and books made of the bark of
+trees, which they call amatl, containing their signs to denote the
+seasons, and things that have happened. Most of the Indians,
+particularly those living on the coasts and in the hotter climates, were
+given to unnatural lusts. To such a dreadful degree was this practised,
+that men even went about in female garments, and made a livelihood by
+their diabolical and cursed lewdness.
+
+The Indians ate human flesh in the same way we do that of oxen, and
+there were large wooden cages in every township, in which men, women,
+and children were fattened for their sacrifices and feasts. In the same
+way they butchered and devoured all the prisoners they took during war
+time. Sons committed incest with their mothers, fathers with their
+daughters, brothers with their sisters, and uncles with their nieces.
+They were addicted to the vice of drunkenness to a most terrible degree,
+and the inhabitants of Panuco had the most filthy and unheard-of custom,
+of injecting the wine of their country, by means of hollow canes, into
+their bodies, in the same way we should take a clyster. Various other
+vices and abominations were practised among them; and every man took as
+many wives as he liked.
+
+We, the few veteran Conquistadores who escaped alive from the battles
+and perils we encountered, succeeded, with the aid of God, to turn these
+people aside from their abominations. It was through our exertions they
+began to lead a more moral life, and that the holy doctrine was
+introduced among them. We were the persons who made this good beginning,
+and it was not until two years later, when we had made the conquest, and
+introduced good morals and better manners among the inhabitants, that
+the pious Franciscan brothers arrived, and three or four years after the
+virtuous monks of the Dominican order, who further continued the good
+work, and spread Christianity through the country. The first part of the
+work, however, next to the Almighty, was done by us, the true
+Conquistadores, who subdued the country, and by the Brothers of Charity,
+who accompanied us. To us and them are due the merit and praise of
+sowing the first seeds of Christianity among these tribes: for when the
+beginning is good, the continuation and completion are sure to prove
+praiseworthy!
+
+But enough of this; I will now speak of the great advantages which the
+inhabitants of New Spain derived from our exertions in their behalf.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCIX.
+
+    _How we introduced the Christian religion among the Indians; of
+    their conversion and baptism; and of the different trades we taught
+    them._
+
+
+After we had abolished idolatry and other abominations from among the
+Indians, the Almighty blessed our endeavours and we baptized the men,
+women, and all the children born after the conquest, whose souls would
+otherwise have gone to the infernal regions. With the assistance of God,
+and by a good regulation of our most Christian monarch, of glorious
+memory, Don Carlos, and of his excellent son Don Philip, our most happy
+and invincible king, to whom may God grant a long life and an increase
+of territory, several pious monks of different orders arrived in New
+Spain, who travelled from place to place, preached the gospel to the
+inhabitants, and baptized new-born infants. By their unremitted
+exertions Christianity became planted in their hearts, so that the
+inhabitants came to the confessional once every year; and those who were
+better instructed in our Christian faith received the holy communion.
+Their churches are very richly ornamented with altars, crucifixes,
+candelabras, different-sized chalices, censers, and everything else
+required in our religious ceremonies, all of pure silver. The more
+wealthy townships have the vestments of choristers, the chasuble and the
+full canonicals of a priest, mostly of velvet damask or silk, and of
+various colours and manufacture. The flags which hang to the crosses are
+of silk, and richly ornamented with gold and pearls. The funeral crosses
+are covered with satin, and bear the figure of a death's head and cross
+bones; the funeral palls, in some townships, are also more or less
+splendid. The churches are likewise provided with a set of bells, have a
+regular band of choristers, besides flutes, dulcimers, clarions, and
+sackbuts, and some have even organs. I do believe there are more large
+and small trumpets in the province of Guatimala, where I am writing
+this, than in my native country Old Castile. It is indeed wonderful, and
+we cannot thank God too much for it, to behold the Indians assisting in
+the celebration of the holy mass, which they particularly do in those
+places where the Franciscan friars or the Brothers of Charity officiate
+at the altar.
+
+It was also a great blessing for the Indians that the monks taught them
+to say their prayers in their own language, and frequently to repeat
+them. The monks have altogether so accustomed them to reverence
+everything relating to religion, that they never pass by any altar or
+cross without falling down on their knees and repeating a Pater Noster
+or an Ave Maria. We also taught the Indians to make wax lights for the
+holy service, for, previous to our arrival, they made no manner of use
+of their wax. We taught them to be so obedient and respectful to the
+monks and priests, that whenever one of these religious men approach a
+township the bells are rung, and the inhabitants go out to meet him with
+wax-lights in their hands; and they always give him a hospitable
+reception. On the day of Corpus Christi, the birth of Mary, and on other
+saint-days, when we are accustomed to form processions, the inhabitants
+of the districts surrounding Guatimala likewise march out in procession
+with crucifixes, lighted candles, and carry about their tutelar saint
+splendidly dressed up, all the time chanting hymns, accompanied by the
+sound of flutes and trumpets. The inhabitants have also learnt the
+different trades which are carried on in Spain, in a highly praiseworthy
+manner. They have regular workshops with all kinds of instruments, and
+earn a good livelihood by their industry; the gold and silver workers
+are particularly expert, as well in the smelting as in the hammering of
+these metals. The lapidaries and painters are also very clever, and the
+sculptors produce astonishing works of art with their emeralds and fine
+steel instruments. Among others, they sculpture the figure of our
+Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, with all the expression of his suffering,
+in so exquisite a manner, that unless we had witnessed it with our own
+eyes we could not have thought Indians capable of doing it. If I might
+offer an opinion, I think, that neither the celebrated Apelles of
+ancient times, nor the great masters of our days, Berruguete[61] and
+Michael Angelo, nor even the more modern artist of Burgos, who is said
+to be a real Apelles, could produce such beautiful works of art with
+their fine pencils, as the celebrated Indian masters, Andreas de Aquino,
+Juan de la Cruz, and Crespello, with their emeralds. Besides this, the
+sons of the more distinguished chiefs of the country are well
+instructed in our grammar, and the most reverend the archbishop of
+Mexico sees that this is strictly attended to. Several of these young
+men are not only able to read and write, but even compose whole books of
+choral songs. Numbers of Indians are also employed in weaving silks,
+satins, and taffetas. They manufacture all kinds of coarse woollen
+stuffs and mantles; there are also cloth manufacturers, wool-combers,
+fullers, hat-makers, and soap-makers, as good as those of Segovia and
+Cuenca; but they have not been able as yet to learn glass-blowing and
+the apothecaries' trade; however, they are so expert in all arts that no
+doubt they will soon master these also; though there are among them
+surgeons and herbarists. They are very expert at juggling, perform
+puppet-shows, and play on the guitar. Of agriculture they understood
+something before our arrival, but now also they attend to the breeding
+of all kinds of cattle. They plough with oxen, sow maise, bake biscuits,
+and have everywhere planted Spanish fruit trees, so that they already
+draw considerable profit from them. As the fruit of the peach tree is
+not wholesome, and the plantain tree throws too much shadow, they
+continually keep cutting them down, and plant in their stead quince,
+apple, and pear trees, which, in their estimation are of greater value.
+
+We have also introduced among them good police and justice. In every
+township the Indians annually choose their alcaldes, regidors,
+accountants, alguacils, and other authorities; and they have a
+courthouse where the authorities hear causes twice a week, and pronounce
+judgment in actions for debt and minor offences. Criminal cases and
+heavy offences are always referred to the governor or the royal court of
+audience, according to circumstances. I have been assured by credible
+persons that when the town councils of Tlascalla, Tezcuco, Cholulla,
+Huexotzinco, and of other great towns meet, the mace-bearers precede the
+civic authorities with golden staffs, the same as are carried before a
+viceroy; also that these Indian judges are as correct in the judgments
+they pronounce, and look quite as dignified as the judges in Spain, and
+that they assiduously study our laws and set a high value on them. All
+the caziques keep good establishments, they have their horses with
+beautiful saddles and trappings, and whenever they travel through the
+country are attended by numerous pages. In some townships even tilts,
+tournaments, and bull-fights take place among them, particularly on
+Corpus Christi day, the feast of St. John, St. Jacob, and of the Virgin
+Mary, in the month of August. Many Indians have even the courage to
+combat with the bulls, though these animals are so uncommonly fierce.
+Some of the most expert horsemen are to be found among them,
+particularly among the inhabitants of Chiapa de los Indios. Most of the
+caziques breed their own horses and mules, which they employ in carrying
+goods for sale to the different markets,[62] and gain a livelihood as
+carriers to different parts of the country, in the same way as we do in
+Spain. In short they are uncommonly expert in all handicrafts, even to
+the making of tapestry. I must now close this, and relate what further
+advantages the Indians derived in the following chapter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCX.
+
+    _Of other advantages which arose from our glorious conquests._
+
+
+Having shown how many advantages the Indians derived from our glorious
+conquests, I must now speak about the gold, silver, precious stones, and
+other valuable matters, as cochineal, wool, sarsaparilla and cow-hides,
+which are annually exported to Spain; also of the monies arising from
+the royal fifths, and of the valuable presents which we forwarded to his
+majesty during the course of the conquest; in which, of course, are not
+included the quantity of valuable goods which merchants and travellers
+take with them. Certainly, since the time that the wise king Solomon
+built the holy temple of Jerusalem with the gold and silver of the
+islands of Tarshis, of Ophir and Saba, we find no mention made in any
+old histories of so much gold, silver, and of other riches, as are
+continually being exported from this country to Spain. Many thousands of
+pounds weight of gold and silver have indeed been also sent from Peru;
+but at the time we conquered New Spain the name of Peru was not even
+known, nor was it discovered till ten years after. We forwarded to his
+majesty presents of immense value from the very beginning, for which and
+other reasons I place New Spain at the head; for we very well know with
+regard to the affairs of Peru, that the captains, governors, and
+soldiers continually carried on civil wars with each other, in which the
+lives of many Spaniards were sacrificed. We, in New Spain, on the
+contrary, were never for a moment forgetful of the profound respect
+which was due to our emperor and master; nor will our fidelity ever be
+questioned, and whenever his majesty requires our services we are ready
+with our property and our lives to obey his commands.
+
+Let the kind reader reflect but for one moment on the towns and villages
+which the Spaniards have already founded in these countries. Their
+number is so extensive, that I must pass them by in silence. Seven
+bishoprics have already been erected in New Spain; the very celebrated
+city of Mexico is the see of an archbishop, and there are three royal
+courts of audience. The reader would be astonished to see the number of
+cathedrals, and the monasteries of the Brothers of Charity, and of the
+Franciscan, Dominican, and Augustin friars; the hospitals, with their
+endowments, and the church of our dear lady of Guadaloupe, at
+Tepeaquilla, where Sandoval was stationed during the siege of Mexico:
+also the holy miracles which have taken place in the country, and those
+which happen daily, are astonishing; and we cannot sufficiently thank
+God and the blessed Virgin, who gave us the power to conquer this
+country, where everything has already become so Christian. In Mexico
+there is an universal college, where grammar, rhetoric, logic,
+philosophy, theology, and other sciences and arts are taught. In this
+city even books are printed both in the Latin and Spanish languages, and
+here also licentiates and doctors graduate.
+
+I could enumerate many other matters of great importance, and describe
+the numerous silver mines which are worked in New Spain, and the new
+ones that are daily being discovered, and from which Spain draws so much
+wealth; but I have stated sufficient to prove that our heroic deeds were
+never surpassed in any age, and that no men ever subdued so many
+kingdoms as we, the true Conquistadores, conquered for our emperor and
+master: and though there were many brave men among us, yet I was not the
+least among them, and now I am the oldest alive. I repeat it, I, I, I am
+the oldest, and I have always served his majesty like a good soldier.
+And here I must relate something after the manner of a dialogue. When
+illustrious Fame resounded from one end of the world to the other our
+glorious deeds of arms, and the important services which we had rendered
+to God, our emperor, and the whole of Christendom, she cried aloud, and
+said, that we were more justly entitled to and deserving of lucrative
+possessions than those who had neither rendered his majesty any services
+here nor in any other place. Where, she asks, are your palaces, castles,
+and escutcheons, to witness of your heroic deeds to posterity, like the
+escutcheons of so many illustrious families do of the deeds of their
+forefathers, but which have not surpassed yours? Where, inquired
+illustrious Fame, where are the Conquistadores, who escaped alive from
+all those battles; where are the tombs of those great heroes who fell in
+battle; where are their escutcheons?
+
+I can answer this with few words: O, excellent and illustrious Fame, who
+art praised and desired by all good and virtuous men: the malice and
+envy of those who have sought to cast our heroic deeds into the shade
+are not desirous of seeing you, nor even to hear your illustrious name
+mentioned, that you may not praise us according to our deserts. Know
+then, O Fame, that of the five hundred and fifty warriors who sailed
+with Cortes from Cuba, that there are now, in the year 1568, while I am
+writing this, only five of us alive, and that all the others were either
+captured by the Indians, and sacrified to their idols, or were killed in
+battle, or have since died in their beds! And with respect to their
+tombs, I say that the bellies of the Indians were their sepultures, and
+those parts of their flesh which the Indians did not eat themselves were
+thrown to the lions, tigers, and serpents, which were kept by the
+Mexicans in strong cages. These cages were their monuments and their
+escutcheons; and those who died so cruel a death, who rendered such
+important services to God and to their emperor, and who gave light to
+those who lived in darkness, ought to have had their names perpetuated
+in letters of gold; but they were never remunerated! They did not even
+obtain wealth, although this is the goal of all men!
+
+Illustrious Fame then inquired after those who had arrived with Narvaez
+and Garay, and I answered her as follows: Narvaez's troops, without
+including the sailors, amounted to thirteen hundred men, of which only
+ten or twelve are now living, the greater part of the rest having fallen
+in the battles, or were captured by the Indians, and sacrificed. The
+troops of Garay, including those three companies which landed in San
+Juan de Ulua, previous to his own arrival, amounted, according to my
+computation, to about twelve hundred men, most of whom were captured by
+the Indians of Panuco, and their flesh devoured at their festive orgies.
+Of the fifteen men who survived the expedition of Vasquez de Aillon to
+Florida, and joined our army, not a single man is now remaining!
+
+I repeat, O illustrious Fame, that of Cortes' veteran troops there are
+only five of us alive, all of us far advanced in years, sickly, and very
+poor, with numbers of grown-up sons and daughters, and we are obliged to
+drag on a life of misery and toil, with scarcely enough to support our
+families! And now, O Fame, since I have told you everything you wished
+to know respecting our palaces, our escutcheons, and our tombs, lift up
+your excellent and honest voice, and resound our deeds of valour
+throughout the whole world, that malice and envy may no longer obscure
+their glory! This, Fame answered she would do with the greatest delight;
+but added, she was surprised that the best commendaries had not been
+presented to us, particularly as his majesty had issued commands to that
+effect. Illustrious Fame then went on to say, that the deeds of the
+courageous and spirited Cortes would always be considered inestimable,
+and might be compared to those of the most renowned generals; but that
+the historians Gomara, doctor Illescas, and others, make all our
+discoveries and conquests redound to the honour of Cortes alone, and
+never so much as mention any of our names with praise; but at present
+she was delighted to find that I had written a faithful account of the
+conquest, without exaggeration or fulsome flattery, and not, as Gomara,
+in the praise of one officer alone. Fame then promised, in the goodness
+of her heart, that she would announce all this to the world; adding,
+that wherever my book was published persons would everywhere recognize
+in it impartiality and the naked truth.
+
+A certain doctor, who is one of the members of the royal court of
+audience, once asked me, how it came that Cortes, in his despatches and
+during his personal interviews with his majesty, never strove to obtain
+anything for us, the true Conquistadores, though it was with our
+assistance he obtained the distinguished appointment of governor of New
+Spain? To this I answered, and must still answer, that when Cortes
+received the appointment of governor he immediately took the best
+commendaries to himself, and imagined that he would remain uncontrolled
+master of New Spain for life, and that the distribution of the
+commendaries would continue in his hands. He therefore considered that
+it would be superfluous to solicit anything for us, as he would have it
+in his own power to do what he liked; but after his majesty had given
+him a marquisate, his majesty refused to reappoint him governor: and so
+it happened that Cortes, in soliciting honours for himself, allowed the
+best opportunity to pass by of making some provision for us. It was
+certainly not his majesty's fault that our services were never rewarded;
+for when he was informed by several cavaliers of Mexico that Cortes had
+taken the best townships and districts of New Spain to himself, and had
+presented others to his relations and friends recently arrived from
+Spain, his majesty issued commands that Cortes' companions in arms
+should likewise be handsomely rewarded. Soon after this his majesty
+left, for Flanders, where he most probably lost sight of the matter
+altogether. If Cortes immediately after the conquest had divided the
+whole country into five equal parts, and had set one of these with the
+most lucrative townships apart for the crown, he would have done much
+better. Then he would have had one fifth and a half for the churches and
+cloisters, and for those cavaliers who had served in his majesty's
+armies in the campaigns of Italy, and those against the Moors and Turks;
+and the other two fifths and a half ought to have been distributed among
+the Conquistadores in perpetuity. This division would certainly have met
+with his majesty's approbation, particularly as the whole conquest never
+put the crown to any expense.
+
+In the first times, moreover, we did not know before what tribunal we
+were to lay our complaints and petitions, and we accordingly put our
+whole trust in Cortes, as our general. It was not until we found that
+Montejo, by applying personally to his majesty in Spain, procured for
+himself the appointment of governor and chief justice of Yucatan,
+besides other rewards; and that Ordas, in a similar manner, obtained
+honours and lucrative commendaries for himself; and that Alvarado, after
+throwing himself at his majesty's feet, obtained the appointment of
+governor and chief justice of Guatimala and Chiapa, besides a gift of
+extensive lands; and that, lastly, Cortes was created a marquis, with
+the appointment of captain-general of New Spain and of the South Sea: it
+was not, I say, until we were taught experience by these facts, that we,
+the large body of the Conquistadores, likewise despatched agents to
+Spain, to obtain for us in perpetuity the commendaries that should
+become vacant. Our claims were then gone into, and pronounced to be
+just, and his majesty instructed the royal auditors, whom he despatched
+to Mexico, to consider the whole of the Indians of New Spain as if they
+had not yet been distributed, and they were to deprive all those of
+their possessions whom Cortes had so richly remunerated; that the most
+lucrative commendaries were to be distributed among the veteran
+Conquistadores, and all the remainder to be retained in the patronage of
+the crown. But all this ended in smoke, as the very men whom his majesty
+intrusted to carry out his commands either died too soon, or were averse
+to the distribution of the commendaries in perpetuity; for they readily
+perceived how soon their power and influence in the country would be at
+an end if they carried out this measure. I must, however, do Nuņo de
+Guzman and the other auditors the justice to say, that whenever there
+were any commendaries vacant, they always first remembered the
+Conquistadores, though their conduct was rather harsh towards the Indian
+population. However, these auditors were very soon deprived of all
+power, by the disputes in which they became involved with Cortes, and
+the abuse they made in the marking of slaves.
+
+In the following chapter I will give some further account of the
+question respecting a distribution of the Indians in perpetuity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCXI.
+
+    _The deliberations which took place at Valladolid in the year 1550,
+    in the royal council of the Indies, respecting the distribution of
+    Indians in perpetuity._
+
+
+In the year 1550, the licentiate De la Gasca came from Peru to the
+court, which was then residing at Valladolid. He was accompanied by a
+monk of the Dominican order, named father Martin, who was regent of his
+order, and whom his majesty soon after appointed to the bishopric of las
+Charcas. At the same time there appeared at the court the bishop of
+Chiapa, Don Bartolomé de las Casas; the bishop of Mechoacan, Don Vasco
+de Quiroga, and other cavaliers, who came as the representatives of New
+Spain and Peru; and also certain hidalgos, against whom several
+accusations had been brought. To this meeting I was also cited, as the
+oldest of the Conquistadores. The reason for assembling this council was
+as follows: De la Gasca, and those who accompanied him from Peru, had
+brought along with them a large quantity of gold, partly their own, and
+partly belonging to the crown. This gold was forwarded to Augsburg, in
+Germany, where his majesty was then staying with our present most
+fortunate king Don Philip, his beloved son, to whom God grant a long
+life. Several cavaliers repaired with this gold, in order at the same
+time to present themselves to his majesty as deputies from the Spanish
+settlers in Peru, and also to beg of him to grant us commendaries in
+perpetuity, in reward for the services we had rendered to the crown. A
+petition to the same effect had been laid before his majesty by Gonzalo
+Lopez, Alonso de Villanueva, and other cavaliers, who had purposely been
+deputed from New Spain.
+
+Shortly after the arrival of the licentiate De la Gasca in Spain, the
+see of Palencia became vacant, and the emperor, it was said, had given
+it to this licentiate in remuneration for his having restored
+tranquillity to Peru, and for his having regained possession of the gold
+and silver which had been stolen by the Contreras.
+
+With respect to the petition of distributing commendaries in perpetuity,
+his majesty appointed a commission to inquire into its merits, and as to
+what would be the best possible manner of carrying it into effect. The
+following were the gentlemen appointed: the marquis of Mondejar as
+president of the council of the Indies, the licentiates Gutierre
+Velasquez and Tello de Sandoval, the doctor Hernan Perez de la Fuente,
+the licentiates Gregorio, Lopez, and Briviesca; and the doctor
+Riberadeneyra, auditors of the royal council of the Indies; and besides,
+there were several others of his majesty's privy councillors.
+
+This distinguished body of prelates and cavaliers met together in the
+residence of Pedro Gonzalez de Leon, where the council of the Indies
+hold their sittings, and began to deliberate on the subject of the
+distribution of commendaries in perpetuity in New Spain, Peru, and if I
+mistake not, also in New Granada and Bobotan. The reasons which were
+adduced for carrying this into effect were indeed just and Christian.
+For it was said, among other things, that those Indians who were
+distributed in perpetuity would receive better treatment; would be more
+thoroughly instructed in the Christian doctrine, be attended in sickness
+as children, and their lives would be altogether made more comfortable
+to them. It would be an incitement also for those who possessed
+commendaries to attend more to agriculture and the breeding of cattle.
+The endless lawsuits about the possession of Indians would cease
+altogether; no inspectors would be further required in the townships;
+and the soldiers would live in peace and friendship with each other as
+soon as they found that the presidents and governors durst no longer
+distribute the vacant commendaries among their relations for party
+purposes, as was too often the case. Besides which, if perpetual
+distribution were carried into effect, and the commendaries were solely
+given to men who had rendered services to the crown, his majesty's real
+views would not only be carried out, but it would be an effectual means
+of dispossessing the crew of vagabonds in Peru of the lands they had
+unjustly seized, and put it out of their power to create further
+dissensions.
+
+After this august body had well argued these points pro and con, the
+several deputies and we, the other cavaliers, were required to give our
+opinion, and the greater part voted for the distribution in perpetuity.
+
+Of those who were opposed to it the bishop of Chiapa was first and
+foremost, and was supported by his colleague, brother Rodrigo, of the
+Dominican order, the new bishop of Palencia, De la Gasca, the marquis de
+Mondejar, and by two auditors of the royal council of the Indies. These
+prelates, in opposition to the opinion of all the above-mentioned
+cavaliers, (with the exception of the marquis de Mondejar, who refused
+to pronounce in favour either of the one or the other party, merely
+listening to what each had to say, and to see which way the majority
+would go,) declared that the Indians should not be distributed in
+perpetuity, and that they should be compelled to deprive many persons of
+their Indians, who at present derived considerable incomes from them;
+though, in the first instance even, they had been more deserving of
+punishment than of reward. This was particularly the case in Peru, they
+said, where peace would be maintained if these views were carried out;
+for it was to be feared that the troops there would rise up in open
+insurrection, if they found no further distribution of Indians was to be
+allowed.
+
+To this the bishop of Mechoacan, who was on our side, answered, by
+asking the licentiate De la Gasca, why, instead of punishing all the
+thieves and vagabonds, whose infamous practices were notorious to the
+world, he had even presented them with additional Indians?
+
+To this the licentiate smilingly replied: "Indeed, I considered,
+gentlemen, that it was no little matter for me to maintain peace there,
+and that I escaped with my life, after I had deprived so many persons of
+their possessions and punished them as the law required."
+
+After a good deal of further speechifying pro and con, we, supported by
+several others who were present, proposed that the distribution in
+perpetuity should at least be carried into effect in New Spain, though
+only for the benefit of the true Conquistadores, who sailed from Cuba
+with Cortes, and those of Narvaez's and Garay's troops, who were still
+living. Of the Conquistadores, we added, there were but few remaining,
+for the greater part had lost their lives in battle in the service of
+their monarch. The services which we had rendered to the crown fully
+merited such distinction; the other troops could be rewarded in some
+other way.
+
+As the commissioners could not come to any decision among themselves on
+this point, some of the prelates and royal auditors proposed that the
+matter should be laid at rest until his majesty returned to Spain, as it
+was necessary that the emperor should himself be present in discussing a
+matter of so much importance. We others, the bishop of Mechoacan, and
+several of the cavaliers present said, however, that the majority, as
+far as regarded New Spain, had declared in favour of the distribution in
+perpetuity, and that our affairs must not be mixed up with those of
+Peru; that it was also very evident, from the commands which his majesty
+issued in appointing the commission, that he was in favour of this
+measure. However, all the arguments we adduced, all we might say with
+regard to the important services we had rendered to the crown was to no
+purpose; the auditors of the royal council of the Indies, the bishop las
+Casas, and brother Rodrigo persisted in their opinion, and added, that
+on his majesty's return from Germany, the Conquistadores would be
+rewarded in such a manner that they would never find cause of complaint
+hereafter.
+
+Intelligence as to how this matter had terminated was brought to New
+Spain by the very next vessel, and the Conquistadores determined to
+despatch procuradores in their own name to his majesty. I had again
+returned to Guatimala about this time, when Andreas de Tapia, Pedro
+Moreno Medrano, and Juan Limpias Carvajal wrote to me on the subject of
+our memorial, in which I was mentioned as one of the oldest of the
+Conquistadores. I then communicated with the other Conquistadores
+staying in Guatimala, desiring them to subscribe what they could to
+defray the expenses of our procuradores. We could not, however, raise
+sufficient money for the purpose, and it was therefore determined that
+the citizens of Mexico should join us in this matter, that we might
+despatch our procuradores in common; but this also came to nothing, and
+thus matters remained until our invincible king, Don Philip, whom God
+grant a long life, made certain regulations in favour of the
+Conquistadores and their children; and also of the oldest settlers who
+had families, as may be seen by the royal decrees which were issued.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCXII.
+
+    _Of various remarks which were made respecting my history, which the
+    reader will be pleased to hear._
+
+
+After I had completed this my history, two licentiates called upon me
+and begged permission of me to peruse it, in order that they might
+acquaint themselves better with the history of the conquest of Mexico
+and of New Spain, and that they might judge for themselves in how far my
+history differed from the representations which Francisco Lopez de
+Gomara and doctor Illescas have given of the heroic deeds of the marquis
+del Valle Oaxaca. As ignorant persons, like myself, always learn
+something from men of learning, I gave it to them, but under the
+condition that they should neither add nor take anything away from it;
+as everything I had related was conformable to truth. When the
+licentiates had read through the whole of my work, one of them who was a
+great rhetorician, said he was astonished at the sharpness of my memory,
+that I should not even have forgotten one single circumstance of the
+many things that had taken place from my first voyage of discovery under
+Cordoba down to the present time. With respect to my style of writing,
+both remarked, that it was plain old Castilian, which was more agreeable
+at that time than those embellished sentences which are generally
+affected by historians; and that though my style was plain it was
+rendered beautiful by the truth which it contained. They were, however,
+of opinion that I had written too conspicuously about myself, in
+describing the battles at which I was present, and that I should have
+left this to others. I ought also, they said, to have quoted other
+historians to confirm my statements, instead of dryly saying: This I
+did, This happened to me; for, added they, I was only witnessing for
+myself. To this I replied, and said as follows: "In certain despatches
+which Cortes forwarded to the emperor from Mexico in the year 1540, my
+name and the services I had rendered to the crown were also mentioned,
+and how I had made two former voyages of discovery to New Spain." In
+these despatches Cortes spoke as an eyewitness of my conduct in the many
+battles we fought with the Mexicans, of the courage I had evinced on
+every occasion, of the many wounds I had received in the numerous
+engagements, and also how I had accompanied him on the expedition to the
+Honduras, and said besides several other things in my praise, which it
+would be tedious to enumerate here. The illustrious viceroy, Antonio de
+Mendoza, wrote in a similar strain to his majesty respecting the
+officers who were then serving in New Spain. His accounts agreed
+perfectly with those of Cortes; and lastly, I myself in the year 1540
+gave the royal council of the Indies sufficient proofs in confirmation
+of what both had said. But should you senores licentiates, continued I,
+not feel satisfied with such witnesses as the viceroy and Cortes, and
+with the proofs I have myself adduced, I can bring forward another
+witness, who must have greater weight than any other in the world, I
+mean the emperor Charles the Fifth himself, who, by one of his royal
+letters bearing his own seal, addressed to the viceroys and presidents,
+commands that I and my sons shall be munificently rewarded for the many
+important services which I have rendered to the crown. I myself possess
+the original letters containing these commands. But if you wish for any
+further witness, behold the territory of New Spain, which is thrice the
+size of old Spain; count the numbers of towns and settlements which have
+all been founded by Spaniards, and sum up the wealth which is
+continually passing from this portion of the new world to Spain. Another
+reason why I have written this true account is, because the historians
+Illescas and Gomara never mention a word in our praise, but give to
+Cortes alone all the glory of our conquests. If they had been honestly
+inclined they would not have passed us, the Conquistadores, by in
+silence; a share of Cortes' heroic deeds is also due to me, for in all
+his battles I fought among the first; besides that, I was present in so
+many other engagements in the provinces under his officers, as you must
+have seen in the course of this history. I can also claim my share of
+the inscription which Cortes put on the silver culverin, we called the
+phoenix, and which Cortes sent a present to his majesty from Mexico. The
+inscription ran thus:
+
+    This bird was born without its equal,
+    As a servant I have not my second,
+    And you have not your equal in this world.
+
+And when Cortes, on his first return to Spain spoke to his majesty of
+the courageous officers and soldiers who had served under him in the
+Mexican wars, I was also included in this number. Cortes also took
+frequent opportunities of speaking to his majesty in our praise during
+the unfortunate expedition against Algiers, and of this praise a part
+was also due to me; for I lent also my assistance in the conquest.
+
+This was my reply to the two licentiates; but with respect to the
+reproach they made me of having spoken too much in my own praise, and
+that all this self-praise would have come with a better grace from
+others, I desired them to bear in mind, that there are indeed certain
+virtues and excellent qualities which we ought never to praise in
+ourselves, but let our neighbours do it for us; but how is it possible
+for a neighbour to mention anything in the praise of another if he was
+not present at the battle with him? Are the sparrows, said I, to speak
+of it, who flew over our heads during the engagements? or the clouds,
+that floated on high? Who can speak better about it than we, the
+officers and soldiers, the men who themselves fought the battles? Your
+reproach, gentlemen, would have been very just, continued I, if in my
+history you had found that I had withheld the praise that was due to the
+officers and soldiers who were my companions in arms, and I had claimed
+all the honour to myself; but I have not even said so much in my own
+praise as I could, and indeed ought to have done; but I write that my
+name may not be forgotten. Here I feel tempted to make a comparison,
+though it is between a very great man and a poor soldier like myself;
+which is, if historians relate of the imperator and celebrated general
+Julius Cæsar, that he fought fifty-three battles, I may say that I
+fought in many more battles than Julius Cæsar, as may be seen from my
+narrative. Historians also say of Julius Cæsar how courageous he was,
+and always ready for battle at a moment's notice, and how he devoted his
+nights in writing down his valorous deeds with his own hand; for though
+there were numbers of historians, he would not trust his fame in their
+hands. It should therefore be no matter of surprise to any one, when I
+mention a few words about myself, in describing the battles at which I
+was present, that future generations may say: this Bernal Diaz del
+Castillo wrote, in order that his children and descendants might share
+in the praise of his heroic deeds, in the same way as the fame of those
+heroes of old has been handed down in their escutcheons to their latest
+posterity.
+
+I will not, however, say anything further on this head; for what I have
+already said will not be relished by malice and envy, who will be of
+opinion that I have praised myself too much. What I have said of myself
+has, so to say, happened but yesterday, and not centuries ago, as the
+exploits of the Romans. There are still sufficient of the Conquistadores
+living to confirm what I have related. If they found any untruths, or
+even any obscure passage, they would not allow it to pass unnoticed.
+However, it is so in the world; malice always maligns truth. I will now
+enumerate in their regular order all the battles at which I was present,
+from the first discovery of New Spain, down to the pacification of the
+whole country, in order that the reader may have a short and clear view
+of them all at once; however, there were many hostile rencontres at
+which I was not present, either because I was wounded or knocked up with
+fatigue, or while the provinces were so numerous, that we were obliged
+to march out against them in different bodies.
+
+The first was the pretty sharp conflict at the Punta de Cotoche, during
+my first voyage of discovery, under Cordoba. Next followed the severe
+battle at Champoton, where we lost the half of our troops; I myself was
+dangerously wounded, and our captain had two severe wounds, of the
+consequences of which he died.
+
+On our return to Cuba, when we landed on the coast of Florida in search
+of water, we had another sharp conflict, in which I was wounded, and one
+of our men was carried off alive by the Indians.
+
+In the expedition under Grijalva, we fought a second battle in
+Champoton, on the same spot; ten of our men were killed, and Grijalva
+himself wounded.
+
+In the third expedition under Cortes, I was present at the following
+engagements:
+
+The two battles on the Tabasco, subsequently called the river Grijalva.
+
+The battle of Tzinpantzinco.
+
+A few days after, the three pitched battles against the Tlascallans.
+
+The conspiracy and chastisement of the inhabitants of Cholulla.
+
+Entrance into Mexico, and seizure of the person of Motecusuma. I do not
+count this exactly among the battles, yet it was a bold step to take so
+mighty a cazique prisoner.
+
+The great victory over Narvaez, whose troops amounted to nearly 1400; we
+were only 226 in number.
+
+On our return to Mexico, to the relief of Alvarado, we were attacked by
+the whole armed force of Mexico. The battles continue, without
+intermission, for eight days and nights. I will, however, say, that I
+only fought six battles during this time. We lost 860 of our troops.
+
+The battle of Otumpan, and that in our expedition to the province of
+Tepeaca.
+
+The expedition against Tezcuco, where, in the two battles we fought, I
+was each time severely wounded in the throat by the thrust of a lance.
+
+Two battles against the Mexicans, on our march to the assistance of some
+townships in the province of Tezcuco. These battles were respecting the
+possession of some maise fields.
+
+Second campaign of Mexico, and our battles against the wild tribes of
+the marquis mountains. Here we had eight men killed, and the whole of us
+were in the utmost danger.
+
+The battle of Quauhnahuac.
+
+The three battles of Xochimilco, where likewise we stood in great
+danger, and four of our men were killed.
+
+The siege of Mexico, which lasted ninety-three days, during the whole of
+which time the battles continued, almost without intermission, day and
+night. Here I may, at least, say that I fought in eighty severe
+engagements and skirmishes.
+
+Expeditions to the provinces of Guacasualco, Chiapa, and Zapoteca. Here
+we fought three battles, and I was also at the taking of Chiapa.
+
+The two conflicts near Chamula and Quitlan.
+
+The two similar rencontres near Teapa and Cimatan. Here I lost two of my
+companions, and was myself severely wounded in the throat.
+
+I had almost forgotten to mention that, in our disastrous retreat from
+Mexico, we were continually attacked, for the space of nine days, by the
+enemy, and we fought four severe battles with them.
+
+Expedition to the Honduras and Higueras, in which two years and three
+months elapsed before we again reached Mexico. Near the township of
+Culacotu we fought a severe engagement, in which I lost my horse, which
+had cost me 600 pesos.
+
+On my return to Mexico, I assisted in putting down the insurrection of
+the Zatopecs and Minges.
+
+I do not mention several other hostile rencontres, for I should find
+neither any end to them, nor to the numerous perils I encountered.
+Neither must I omit to mention that I was among the first who stood
+before Mexico when we were about to commence the siege. Cortes himself
+did not take up his station till five days after. I was also one of
+those who destroyed the aqueduct of Chapultepec, by which the Mexicans
+were deprived of fresh water.
+
+If we sum up all this together, it will be found that I have, at least,
+been in 119 battles and hostile rencontres: not that I exactly wish to
+praise myself by stating this; but it is truth what I have written, and
+my history is not a book of old traditions, or account of things that
+happened in ancient times among the Romans; neither does it contain
+poetical fictions, but a faithful narrative of the important and
+remarkable services which we rendered to the Almighty, to our emperor,
+and to the whole of Christianity.
+
+Praise and thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ, who preserved me in so
+many perils, and that at present I have the power to write all this with
+such clearness! And I can, indeed, boast that I have been in as many
+battles as historians relate of the emperor Henry the Fourth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER CCXIII.
+
+    _Of the planets and signs in the heavens which prognosticated our
+    arrival in New Spain; how these were interpreted by the Mexicans;
+    and of other matters._
+
+
+The Mexicans relate that, shortly before our arrival in New Spain, there
+appeared a figure in the heavens of a circular form, like a carriage
+wheel, the colours of which were a mixture of green and red. Shortly
+after a second, of a similar form, made its appearance, which moved
+towards the rising of the sun, and joined the first. Motecusuma, who at
+that time sat upon the throne of Mexico, assembled his priests and
+soothsayers, and desired them to watch, and explain to him these
+wonderful signs, which had never been seen before. The priests
+accordingly communicated with their god Huitzilopochtli, who answered,
+that they portended dreadful wars and horrible pestilence, and that it
+was necessary to sacrifice some human beings.
+
+Shortly after these signs had been seen in the heavens we arrived in New
+Spain, and ten months after Narvaez came, and brought with him a negro,
+who was ill with the smallpox. From this person the disease spread among
+the inhabitants of Sempoalla, and thence, like a true pestilence,
+throughout the whole of New Spain.
+
+When, subsequently, we fought the severe battles during the night of
+sorrows, and lost 550 of our men, who were either killed in our retreat
+or taken prisoners, and sacrificed to the Mexican idols, the
+interpretations which the priests had given of the signs were considered
+perfectly correct. These signs were not seen by any of us, but I have
+related this exactly as told by the Mexicans, for it is so described in
+their hieroglyphic writing, which we always found correct.
+
+The following appearance I beheld with my own eyes, which any one else
+might have seen if he had taken the trouble of looking up. In the year
+1527 there appeared in the heavens a sign, which had the shape of a long
+sword, and seemed as if it stood between the province of Panuco and the
+town of Tezcuco, and remained unchanged in the heavens for the space of
+twenty days. The Mexicans and their papas declared it was a sign of some
+pestilence, and certainly a few days after the measles, and another
+eruptive disease, like leprosy, broke out, which was accompanied by a
+very nauseous smell, and carried off numbers of persons, though it did
+not prove so destructive as the smallpox.
+
+In the year 1528 a very heavy rain fell in Guacasualco, with large clods
+of earth. But this phenomena differed from what had been seen before of
+the kind, for as soon as these clods touched the ground they turned into
+innumerable frogs, a little larger in size than the bluebottle fly. The
+earth was completely covered with these creatures, which hopped about in
+various directions, to gain the river, which was not far off. As,
+however, there were myriads of them, and the sun burning hot, numbers of
+them perished before they could reach the water. The birds of prey
+certainly devoured great numbers, yet many of them still remained on the
+ground, and soon turned putrid, spreading a most dreadful stench around.
+
+I have likewise been assured by credible persons that similar showers of
+frogs fell at Sempoalla, in the neighbourhood of the sugar mills,
+belonging to the accountant Albornoz.
+
+I should not have noticed this raining of frogs if it were not something
+of rare occurrence, a thing which the greater part of mankind never see;
+moreover, celebrated men have said a writer should only notice those
+things which are truly wonderful. I was also assured by a cavalier of
+distinction, who resides in the neighbourhood of this town, named Juan
+de Guzman, that he himself was once caught in a shower of this kind, on
+his journey through Yucatan. He assured me that a number of such small
+frogs stuck frozen to his and his companions' cloaks, and they were even
+obliged to shake them off.
+
+About the same time that this happened to Guzman, it also rained frogs
+in Guatimala, as I have been assured by my fellow-townsman Cosmo Roman.
+The most awful occurrence, however, took place in Guatimala, in the
+month of September, of the year 1541. Here a most terrific hurricane
+arose, accompanied by torrents of rain, which continued incessantly for
+the space of three days, and so vast was the quantity of water that came
+pouring down, that the crater of the volcano, which lies about four
+miles from the town of Guatimala, literally burst, and so terrific was
+the volume of water that came rolling down the mountain, that numbers of
+huge stones and trees were carried along with it. Those who did not
+witness it themselves will scarcely credit this, for there were masses
+of rock carried down by the flood which two oxen could not move, and
+these blocks of stone were left there as a memento of this fearful
+tempest. Every tree was torn up by the roots, and hurried down the
+precipices by the impetuosity of the torrent. The water had exactly the
+colour as if it had been mixed with chalk, and by the immense power of
+the hurricane it was raised into foaming billows. The noise occasioned
+by the rushing of the wind and water was so terrific, that persons could
+not hear each other speak, and fathers were unable to render their sons
+any assistance.
+
+This direful tempest commenced at ten o'clock on Sunday evening, of the
+11th of September, and the whole body of water, stones, and trees came
+rolling along over the half of the town of Guatimala, crumbling down the
+houses in its progress, strongly built as they were. A great number of
+men, women, and children perished in a few moments, and everything they
+possessed was lost. Some houses which had withstood the torrent were
+blocked up to the topmost windows by mud, pieces of rock, and large
+trees. During this tempest, also, Doņa Beatriz de la Cueva, the wife of
+Pedro de Alvarado, perished, with several other ladies, who had fled to
+the chapel, to supplicate the Almighty in prayer to preserve them from
+destruction in the tempest. The water and mud rushed with such
+impetuosity into the chapel, that it soon gave way, and only three
+ladies escaped, one of whom was Alvarado's daughter; the names of the
+two others I have forgotten. This young lady, whose name was Leonora,
+was fortunately rescued from her perilous situation, between scattered
+trees and heaps of stone, and is now the wife of the distinguished
+cavalier Don Francisco de la Cueva, by whom she has several fine sons
+and daughters.
+
+Many persons declared that they heard during this tempest a fearful kind
+of howling, yelling, and whistling, and maintained that numbers of evil
+spirits came rolling along with the large pieces of rock; for it would
+not have been possible for the water of itself to have moved those heavy
+masses of stone and large trees. In the midst of this flood people also
+said they saw a cow with one horn, and two monstrous-looking men, like
+negroes, with horrible countenances, who kept crying out in a loud
+voice: "_Go on! Go on! For all must be destroyed!_" If the inhabitants
+looked out of their doors or windows to watch the torrent, they were
+seized with such sudden dread, that they fled from their houses from one
+street to another, and were at length carried off by the flood, or
+sinking into the mud, were hurried with it into the neighbouring river.
+The Indians who lived further down the country, in the direction in
+which this mass of water, mud, stones, and trees was moving, fared much
+worse, for they were all drowned. May God have mercy on their souls!
+
+I have above related that this dreadful tempest was looked upon as a
+punishment for the blasphemous expression which the disconsolate widow
+of Alvarado was said to have uttered at the intelligence of her
+husband's death. However, I have often been assured since I have resided
+in Guatimala, that this lady never gave utterance to the sinful
+expressions of which she has been accused, but that she merely said:
+"She wished she had perished with her husband."
+
+I must not omit to observe that the stones which were rolled down with
+the flood are of such magnitude, that when any stranger comes to
+Guatimala, they are always pointed out to him, and he is quite astounded
+at the sight.
+
+After this unfortunate occurrence the inhabitants burned all the dead
+bodies they could find; but they themselves durst no longer take up
+their abode in the town, and the greater part retired to their
+possessions in the country, or built huts in the fields. At length,
+however, they determined to build the present town, which now stands
+where formerly maise was grown. But I cannot say much in praise of the
+site that was chosen. It would have been much preferable if choice had
+been made of Petapa, or of the valley of Chimaltenango, both of which
+places are better situated for commerce. Each time the river overflows
+its banks the town is in danger, while earthquakes are of very frequent
+occurrence.[63]
+
+After this destructive tempest, the late bishop, of pious memory, and
+several other cavaliers instituted an annual solemn procession, which
+was to take place on the 11th of September. This procession, composed of
+the clergy and of all the inhabitants of the town, set out from the
+principal church, under chant of sacred hymns, to the spot where the old
+town stood, and then entered the church, which on this day was decorated
+with green boughs and cloth, and a solemn funeral mass was performed for
+those who had perished in the tempest. After which funeral ornaments
+were placed on the graves of the more distinguished with lighted wax
+torches, and an offering was made of bread, meat, and other things,
+according to the quality of the person interred. After the funeral mass
+a sermon was preached, and the late bishop not only followed in the
+procession himself, but he likewise left a fund for celebrating the mass
+for the dead on the anniversary of this day of sorrows. After these
+religious ceremonies, those who formed the procession enjoyed themselves
+in the gardens and the fields of the neighbourhood, and feasted off the
+plentiful provisions which they had brought along with them, in the same
+manner as it is done in Spain on similar occasions.
+
+What I have related of this deluge I have taken from the memorials of
+the late bishop, who was accustomed to note down every curious phenomena
+of nature which he himself witnessed in this neighbourhood; besides
+which, I have heard all this confirmed by eyewitnesses. But the
+procession I have been describing is no longer continued, as the fund
+left by the late bishop, according to the assurances of the priests and
+dignitaries of the church of Guatimala, is not sufficient to meet the
+expenses.
+
+
+
+
+NOTES TO THE SECOND VOLUME.
+
+
+[1] Cortes, in his despatches, thus enumerates his troops, 40 horse, 550
+foot soldiers, among whom there were 80 musketeers and crossbow-men; 8
+or 9 field-pieces and a small supply of powder. (p. 1.)
+
+[2] This king was also called Cohuanacotzin, subsequently he became a
+convert to Christianity, and took the name of Don Fernando. (p. 3.)
+
+[3] His Indian name was Ixtlilxuchitl, and his Spanish, Don Hernando
+Pimentel, not Cortes. (p. 5.)
+
+[4] His real name was Necahuatpiltzintli. (p. 5.)
+
+[5] Calpullalpan. (p. 15.)
+
+[6] Several Spanish writers make the number of Tlascallan warriors who
+accompanied this transport, amount to 180,000; but this is no doubt an
+excessive exaggeration. Here again the honesty of Bernal Diaz is
+conspicuous, who never multiplies numbers. (p. 17.)
+
+[7] Teutepil and Ayutecatl were their proper names. (p. 17.)
+
+[8] Torquemada, who himself saw this canal, says it was full two miles
+in length. (p. 18.)
+
+[9] Gomara calls this place Accapichtlan; Torquemada, Yacapichtla. (p.
+29.)
+
+[10] Gomara most likely followed Cortes' despatches, where we find that
+the stream was coloured with the blood of the Indians, to the distance
+of four miles. (p. 30.)
+
+[11] Indian servants. (p. 32.)
+
+[12] Our old soldier has, "Unas bulas de seņor S. Pedro," a bull of St.
+Peter. (p. 32.)
+
+[13] There were four vessels which arrived on this occasion, carrying
+200 Spaniards and 80 horses. (p. 33.)
+
+[14] According to Torquemada this garden was eight miles in
+circumference, through the midst of which flowed a small rivulet, whose
+banks were decorated with all kinds of shrubbery. Besides the many
+beautiful buildings which it contained there were also artificial rocks,
+(p. 40.)
+
+[15] The Mexican name is Quauhnahuac, where Cortes subsequently built
+himself a palace. (p. 41.)
+
+[16] According to Cortes' despatches, the Indians made use of these
+words, which are indeed more intelligible than our author's: "They had
+sought our friendship thus late, because they thought they were bound
+first to atone for their guilt by allowing us to inflict some punishment
+upon them, after which they thought we should not be so embittered
+against them." (p. 42.)
+
+[17] According to Torquemada, who was born in Mexico, and was elected
+provincial of his order by a chapter held at Xochimilco, the distance
+was sixteen miles. (p. 42.)
+
+[17*] Torquemada here relates that Cortes was saved by a Tlascallan, and
+that the day following he made a fruitless search for him among the
+dead. (p. 44.)
+
+[18] The following is a free translation of the first six lines:
+
+    "Pensive and sad brave Cortes stood
+    Surrounded by his valiant band,
+    His thoughts were in the heaviest mood,
+    While musing on Tlacupa's land,
+    Grief must assume an attitude,
+    Forehead and side were clasped by either hand."
+
+Of the four following lines Bernal Diaz only gives the first two, the
+last two I have taken from Las Casas, (Brevissima Relacion de la
+destrucyon de las Indias.) These lines were most likely applied to
+Cortes after the attack he made upon the Cholullans:
+
+    On the Tarpeian rock as Nero stood
+    To view the flames consume th' imperial city,
+    Both young and old uttered their grief aloud,
+    But Nero neither showed remorse nor pity.    (p. 52.)
+
+[19] According to Torquemada there were 300 concerned in this
+conspiracy, and their intention was to elect Francisco Verdugo,
+brother-in-law to the governor of Cuba, captain-general in Cortes'
+stead; but adds that Verdugo, who was very courageous and highly
+esteemed, was not let into the conspiracy. (p. 55.)
+
+[20] According to Cortes, this canal was two miles long, twice the
+breadth of a man's length, and as deep. It was completed in fifty days
+by 8000 Indians. (p. 55.)
+
+[21] Herrera (Historia Gen. de las Indias) gives another reason for the
+younger Xicotencatl's return to Tlascalla. He says, that Alonso Ojeda
+had given a relation of Xicotencatl, named Piltectetl, who had been
+shamefully ill-used by the Spaniards, leave to return home, but as
+Xicotencatl was jealous of this man on account of some love affair, he
+also secretly decamped for Tlascalla. (p. 61.)
+
+[22] Torquemada remarks that, though the younger Xicotencatl was a man
+of uncommon bravery, his courage failed him when he saw the hour of
+death approaching. However, this is hardly to be credited, for it is
+quite contrary to the Indian character. (p. 62.)
+
+[23] Cortes, in his despatches, tries to throw all the blame of this
+unfortunate attack upon the royal treasurer. (p. 81.)
+
+[24] Respecting this slimy substance, called by the Mexicans Tecuitlatl,
+see a former note, first vol. (p. 95.)
+
+[25] Bernal Diaz further remarks, (which we thought better to insert
+here,) that his complexion was fairer than that of the Indians in
+general; that he was above twenty-three years of age, and that he had a
+beautiful wife, daughter of his uncle Motecusuma. (p. 98.)
+
+[26] So the Spaniards called the famous general Gonsalo de Cordova. Our
+old soldier is generally very satirical when he speaks about the boasted
+campaigns of Italy. (p. 106.)
+
+[27] The battle of Garigliano, by which Cordova decided the fate of the
+kingdom of Naples. (p. 106.)
+
+[28] Yet Torquemada assures us that mothers had eaten of the flesh of
+their own offspring. (p. 112.)
+
+[29] The Spaniards at length, it would appear, took little notice of
+this barbarous custom of eating human flesh, so common among the
+Indians. Even here we see it is mentioned very coolly by Bernal Diaz.
+Human flesh certainly formed part of the provisions which Indian
+warriors carried with them when going out to battle. Both Gomara and
+Torquemada mention, that when Sandoval had defeated the warriors of
+Matlaltzinco, he found among their baggage a quantity of maise and
+numbers of roasted children. (p. 114.)
+
+[30] All accounts agree in laying the guilt of this inhuman act to the
+door of the crown officers. Cruelty formed no part of Cortes' character,
+yet he will always be reproached for having yielded up his better
+feelings on this occasion to satisfy the rapacity of others. To the
+honour of the Spanish name, I must here add, that Torquemada most
+distinctly remarks, that the whole of Cortes troops openly showed their
+disgust of this infamous deed. (p. 117.)
+
+[31] We have mentioned in a former note that this wine was made from the
+Agava Americana. To this day it is the common drink of the inhabitants
+of New Spain. (p. 129.)
+
+[32] Most likely the Chalchicoeca river, for under this name Torquemada
+comprehends the coast district south of the Islas de Sacrificios.
+Monarch. Ind. iv. (p. 140.)
+
+[33] Hibueras and not Higueras. Honduras and Hibueras were the original
+names given to the coast districts along the bay of the same name. For
+further information, see Monarch. Ind. iii, 41. (p. 173.)
+
+[34] Christobal de Oli set sail from Vera Cruz early in April of the
+year 1523. (p. 175.)
+
+[35] Bernal Diaz calls this pope Andriano de Lobayna, but he was not
+elected to the papal throne until the year following. (p. 195.)
+
+[36] The author calls this Flemish nobleman, Monsieur de Lasoa, the same
+who performed so conspicuous a part during the early part of the young
+emperor's reign. (p. 195.)
+
+[37] The emperor arrived in Spain in the month of June 1522, at the same
+time that Pope Adrian the Sixth repaired to Rome to take possession of
+the papal throne. (p. 197.)
+
+[38] This nobleman the emperor had appointed commander-in-chief of his
+troops in Spain; but all his operations were attended with little
+success, and he lost all influence at court. (p. 198.)
+
+[39] Bernal Diaz means the emperor's chancellor, Mercurin Arborio de
+Gattinara, who subsequently became a cardinal. (p. 200.)
+
+[40] Most likely in the year 1523. (p. 207.)
+
+[41] A town of Estremadura, and the native place of Cortes. (p. 212.)
+
+[42] Gomara, who had been domestic chaplain in Cortes' family, says,
+that Cortes sent his father on this occasion 25,000 castellanas de oro,
+and 800 pounds weight of silver, but that it was seized by the emperor.
+(p. 219.)
+
+[43] According to Gomara, several others had tried their wits to compose
+a verse for this field-piece, until Cortes himself engaged and hit upon
+those lines. Andreas de Tapia by way of joke proposed the following:
+
+    A questo tiro a mi ver
+    Muchos necios a de hazer.
+
+[44] The liberties which Cortes granted to all those who built houses in
+Mexico, drew such vast crowds to the spot, that pestilential diseases
+broke out, which carried off numbers of human beings. The labourers,
+while at work, were enlivened by vocal and instrumental music. (p. 221.)
+
+[45] The real name of this excellent man was Toribio de Benavente. When
+he first arrived in New Spain, the Indians thought his outward garments
+so mean that they continually cried out when they saw him, "Poor man!
+poor man!" As he was then unacquainted with their language, he inquired
+the meaning of the word "Motolinia," which they so often repeated; and,
+on being told what it was, he said, "Well, since this is the first word
+of the language which I learn, it shall in future be my name!" This monk
+was unremitting in his exertions to promote the welfare of the Indians,
+and he alone baptized above 400,000. (p. 222.)
+
+[45*] According to Gomara and Herrera, Cortes left Mexico in October,
+1524. (p. 235.)
+
+[46] Herrera, who has otherwise merely transcribed Gomara's account of
+this expedition, has the following passage, which we do not find
+elsewhere: "Medrano, the hoboist," he says, "declared that, in order to
+still his hunger during this campaign, he ate of the brain and inside of
+Bernardo Caldero, and of those of a nephew of his, who was also a
+musician, and had died of hunger." I must here take the opportunity,
+owing to an omission in the print, of offering a few remarks on the
+execution of Quauhtemoctzin, and the king of Tlacupa.
+
+Gomara, in his account of the expedition to the Honduras, positively
+asserts that Quauhtemoctzin and the other chiefs were guilty of this
+conspiracy, and says that they confessed it themselves, and were then
+tried by a court-martial, which passed sentence of death upon them.
+Torquemada, however, differs widely with Gomara; and, in speaking of the
+unfortunate end of Quauhtemoctzin, he has the following: "So this matter
+is related by Gomara and Herrera, but I find it differently represented
+in a history written in the Mexican language, and which I believe to be
+perfectly correct. While Cortes (the Mexican author says) was quartered
+in a certain township, the Mexican chiefs one evening began to discourse
+among themselves about the recent hardships they had suffered, and
+Cohuanacotzin said to Quauhtemoctzin, to Tetlepanquetzaltzin, and to
+other distinguished Mexicans, 'Thus you see, gentlemen, from kings we
+are become slaves, and we suffer ourselves to be led about by Cortes and
+this handful of Christians. If we were other people than we are, and
+would break through the promise we have made these Spaniards, we could
+play them a pretty trick here, and revenge ourselves upon them for all
+they have done to us, and the ill-treatment my cousin Quauhtemoctzin has
+suffered at their hands.' To this the Mexican monarch replied, 'I beg of
+you Cohuanacotzin to drop this subject, lest some one should overhear
+us, and imagine we were in earnest.' It appears (continues Torquemada)
+that they were indeed overheard, for the whole of this discourse was
+reported to Cortes by a low-minded Mexican of the lower classes." (p.
+244.)
+
+[47] With respect to the running or melting of the fat in the body
+causing instant death, it was most likely a notion entertained by the
+medical men of that day; the remark is, therefore, very excusable in an
+old soldier. (p. 255.)
+
+[48] Probably the iguana, a species of lizard common to St. Domingo,
+where it is eaten, and considered delicate food. (p. 255.)
+
+[49] Here our author has evidently erred, for Cortes left Mexico in the
+month of October, 1524, and the author repeatedly says that two years
+and three months were spent in this expedition; thus he cannot have
+returned until the year 1526. (p. 302.)
+
+[50] Cortes must either have worn mourning for an uncommon length of
+time for his wife, or our author must have been misinformed when he says
+that she died a few months after her arrival in New Spain. (p. 327.)
+
+[51] Bernal Diaz had forgotten the precise year, and says he arrived
+there in the month of May, 1536 or 1537. (p. 352.)
+
+[51] The psydium pyriferum or pomiferum of Linnæus. (p. 352.)
+
+[53] Bernal Diaz has fallen into an error here, for the meeting of the
+two monarchs at Aigues-Mortes was accidental, the emperor having been
+cast on the shore of Provence on a sea-voyage to Barcelona, and Francis
+the First, who happened to be in the neighbourhood at the time, kindly
+invited him to the place above mentioned. Neither was there any treaty
+of peace concluded between the two monarchs on this occasion, but an
+armistice for ten years had been agreed upon between them shortly
+beforehand, on the 18th of June, 1538. (p. 355.)
+
+[54] This chapter 202 we may distinguish as the most uninteresting of
+all; it seems a mere jumble of facts thrown in anyhow; but the author
+himself remarks at the end of the chapter, "I relate all this merely
+from hearsay." (p. 357.)
+
+[55] A little below, Bernal Diaz particularly mentions Cojohuacan. (p.
+364.)
+
+[56] Gomara agrees with Bernal Diaz as to the day of Cortes' death, (the
+2d day of December, 1547,) but says he was sixty-three years of age. (p.
+364.)
+
+[57] Our author omits to mention anything about the third daughter. In
+these passages we cannot sufficiently admire the excellent feeling of
+the old soldier, which was charitable to a degree; for though he had
+great reason to complain of the neglect he suffered from his hero
+Cortes, yet, after his death, he tries to raise him in your estimation,
+and he lets him die an honest man. (p. 365.)
+
+[58] The famous general Gonsalo Hernandez de Cordoba. (p. 373.)
+
+[59] The inns in Spain, which stand along the high roads at great
+distances from any town, are called ventas, and are mostly built by
+government. (p. 378.)
+
+[60] This passage proves volumes for the honesty, judiciousness, and
+education of the author; for uneducated minds are fond of large numbers
+to create astonishment, but he takes the least number, while the so
+termed learned historians have not hesitated to employ ridiculous
+exaggerations. Gomara, for instance, says that 20,000 human beings were
+annually sacrificed to the idols within the circle of Cortes' conquests;
+according to others, 50,000. Herrera goes further, for he says that
+frequently from 5000 to 20,000 human beings were sacrificed in one day
+at Mexico and in the surrounding neighbourhood. (p. 388.)
+
+[61] Respecting this celebrated artist, see a former note. (p. 391.)
+
+[62] The inland trade of New Spain was considerable as early as in the
+year 1531. In the market of Tlascalla alone there were annually
+slaughtered from 14,000 to 15,000 sheep, 4000 oxen, and 2000 pigs. See
+Herrera.
+
+The Spaniards must have been remarkably active in those days, for Cortes
+first arrived at San Juan de Ulloa in the year 1519; in August, 1521, he
+took the city of Mexico, which was converted into a heap of ruins by the
+siege; in the month of June, 1526, he returned from the Honduras, and
+there stood a new city, with many churches, cloisters, palaces,
+fortifications, and most probably also an amphitheatre for bull-fights.
+(p. 393.)
+
+[63] Bernal Diaz had good reasons for his fears. The three volcanoes
+which lay in the vicinity, termed volcan de Agua, volcan de Fuego, and
+volcan de Pacaya, rendered the ground very unsafe, and the metropolis of
+this province was several times removed by the Spaniards. The present
+town of Guatimala, called La Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion, lies in the
+plain of Mixco. For a further account of this town and the eruptions of
+the above-mentioned volcanoes, we must refer the reader to the work of
+Domingo Juarros, entitled, 'Compendio de la Historia de la Ciudad de
+Guatemala,' published at the latter place, 1809-1818. (p. 409.)
+
+
+FINIS.
+
+C. AND J. ADLARD, PRINTERS, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal
+Diaz del Castillo, Vol 2 (of 2), by Bernal Diaz del Castillo
+
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