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diff --git a/32475-8.txt b/32475-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6842289 --- /dev/null +++ b/32475-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19065 @@ +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. 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