round about it, & from y^e middest vpward very straight: the top is
hollow & couered with straw: it hath foure windowes with frontals and
galleries. In y^t holow place is their chappel, wheras their Idols do
stand. The temple that stoode by the sea side was such a one, in the
which was a maruellous straunge Idol, and differed muche from all the
rest, although they haue manye and of diuerse fashions. The body of
this Idol was great and hollow, and was fastened in that wall with
lime: hee was of earth. And behinde this Idols backe was the Vesterie,
where was kept ornaments & other things of seruice for y^e temple. The
priests had a little secret dore hard adioyning to y^e Idol, by which
dore they crept into y^e hollow Idol, and answered the people y^t came
with prayers & peticiös. And w^t this deceit y^e simple soules beleued
al y^t the Idol spake, & honored y^e god more thä al the rest w^t
many perfumes & swéete smelles, and offered bread and fruite, with
sacrifice of Quayles bloud, and other birds, and dogges, and sometime
mans bloud. And through the fame of this Idoll and Oracle, many
Pilgrimes came to _Acusamil_ from many places. At the foote of this
Temple was a plotte like a Churchyard, well walled and garnished with
proper pinnacles, in the middest whereof stoode a Crosse of ten foote
long, the which they adored for God of the rayne, for at all times whë
they wanted rayne, they would goe thither on Procession deuoutely, and
offered to the Crosse Quayles sacrificed, for to appease the wrath
that the God séemed to haue agaynste them: and none was so acceptable
a sacrifice, as the bloud of that little birde. They vsed to burne
certaine swéete güme, to perfume that God withall, and to besprinckle
it with water, and this done, they beléeued assuredly to haue rayne.
Suche is the Religiö of those _Indians_ of _Acusamil_. They could neuer
know the original how that God of Crosse came amögst them, for in all
those parties of _India_, there is no memorie of anye Preaching of the
Gospell that had bin at any time, as shall be shewed in another place.
The Battell and vvinning of _Potonchan_.
[Sidenote: Policie.]
_Cortez_ procéeded with his Fléete very ioyfull, bycause he had found
one of his Ships which hée thought had bin lost, & aported at the
riuer _de Grijalua_, whiche in the _Indian_ tong is called _Tauasco_,
and anckred at the riuers mouth, fearing to enter in with the bigger
vessels ouer the barre: and incontinente came manye _Indians_ to gaze
at them and theyr Shippes, who were armed with feathers, and suche
lyke armour as they vse, séeming a farre off trimme fellowes. They
wondered not muche to sée oure Shyppes and menne, bycause they hadde
séene before _Iohn de Grijalua_ in the same Riuer. The behauiour of
that people, and scituation of the Countrey, liked _Cortez_ verye
well, so that leauyng sufficiente garde in hys Shyppes, he manned
hys Vergantynes and Boates, and carried with hym certayne pieces of
Ordinance, and with force of oares he entred the Riuer agaynste the
streame, whiche was verye greate, and hauyng rowen little more than
halfe a league, they espyed a greate Towne walled wyth Timber, and the
houses made of mudwall, couered with strawe. The Towne wall was verye
strong, with loope holes to offende withall. And before oure menne
came néere the Towne, they mette with manye little Boates, whiche the
_Indians_ call _Tahucup_, full of armed menne, shewyng themselues
desirous of battayle. _Cortez_ procéeded forwardes, and made vnto
them signes of peace, declaring vnto them by his interpreter, that
hys commyng thither was not to molest or disquiet them, but onely to
take freshe water, and to buy victuals, as menne that trauelled by
Sea, and stoode in néede thereof, promising good paymente for anye
thing that they shoulde take. The _Indians_ hearyng theyr request,
promised to shewe theyr message to the Townesmen, and woulde also
returne with theyr aunswere and vittayles, and so departed. In shorte
space they returned againe, and broughte bread and fruite, and eyght
Turkie Cockes, and presented it franckely vnto them. _Cortez_ gaue them
thankes, but (quoth he) the prouision that ye haue brought, is very
little, for the néede that I and so manye persons which I haue within
yonder greate vessels locked and shutte vp, therefore I pray you to
bryng me more vittayles, or else to permitte and suffer mée and my
folkes to come vnto youre Towne to séeke oure remedie.
[Sidenote: Diligence of a good Captayne.]
The _Indians_ demaunded one nyghtes space to doe the one and the
other, and departed towarde the towne. _Cortez_ also went to a little
Iland that standeth in the riuer, to abide their aunswere, so that
eache pretended to deceyue the other, for the _Indians_ demaunded that
time, to the intent to carrie that night away theyr goodes, and to put
in safetie their wiues and children in the Mountaynes, and likewise
to gather their men of warre to defende theyr Towne. _Cortez_ also
commaunded his Hargabushiers and Crossebowmen to goe a lande vppon the
Ilande, and caused the Riuer vpwardes to bée soughte for way, to wade
ouer, so that these thyngs were done that nyghte without anye knowledge
to the contrarye syde. And all those whyche abode aboorde the Shyppes,
came vnto _Cortez_, and those who wente to séeke the passage, founde
within lesse than halfe a league vpwardes, a place that was of depth to
the girdle of a manne. And likewise founde suche couerte of wooddes,
that they myghte come néere vnto the Towne, and not to bée séene.
Thys newes lyked well _Cortez_, wherevppon he appoynted two Captaynes,
whose names were _Alonso de Auila_, and _Peter de Aluarado_, and
to eache of them fiftie menne. The same nyghte hée sente certayne
Souldyers wyth a sea compasse, to lye in ambushe in the woodde whyche
stoode betwéene the riuer and the towne, for two considerations.
The one, bycause the _Indians_ shoulde sée, that there were no moe
Spanyardes in the Ilande, than were the daye before. And the other was,
that hys menne hearing their watchword, shoulde assaulte the towne on
the land side. And as soone as the day appeared, came eight boates of
_Indians_ armed, wheras oure Campe was pitched, who broughte a little
victuall, saying they could get no more, bycause that the inhabitantes
of the Towne were fledde, with feare of them, and their deformed
vessels, desiring them to returne aboorde their Shippes, and not to
disquiet the people of that Countrey. The interpreter aunswered, that
it was against humanitie to suffer them to perishe wyth hunger, yea and
if they woulde heare the cause of theyr comming, they should shortly
sée what profite would rebound vnto them. The _Indians_ replyed, that
they woulde take no counsell of straungers and menne whome they knewe
not. Lykewise, they thoughte not good to lodge suche guestes in their
houses, for they séemed terrible, and such as would be commaunders. But
if they woulde néedes haue water, they mighte take riuer water, or else
make welles on the shore, for so dyd they at theyr néede.
Then _Cortez_ séeyng that wordes preuayled not, hée signifyed vnto
them that he woulde enter their Towne by force, to sée it and their
Countrey, for to giue thereof relation to the greatest Prince in the
worlde, who hadde sent them thither: requesting them to be therewith
contented, considering he meante not to disquiet them: and if they
would not permitte the same, he would commend himselfe to his God, and
to the strength and force of hys men. The _Indians_ aunswered agayne,
that they shoulde depart, and not thus bragge in other mens land,
for in no wise they woulde permitte them to enter their Towne. And
if with this warning they would not departe, they meante to kyl both
him and as many as were with him. Yet _Cortez_ ceassed not to vse all
humanitie with those barbarous people, according to the commaundemente
and instructions giuen vnto him by the King of _Castill_, whiche was,
to require those people oftentimes with peace, before the attempting
of warre, or entring perforce into their Townes and Countrey, so that
yet agayne he conuited them with peace, promising them libertie with
good entertainement, assuring them of things profitable both for body
and soule, and that they myghte accompt themselues happie with the
knowledge thereof: but if now they would refuse his offer, he did then
warne them to make them ready for the euening, for before the going
downe of the Sunne, he did hope with the help of his God, to rest and
take vp his lodging in the Towne, in despite of all the inhabitants
thereof, who had refused his offer.
The _Indians_ laughed at his talke, and skorning at him, they returned
to the Towne, to enforme their fellowes of the pride and madnesse
that they thought they hadde hearde. Then the Spanyardes wente to
dinner, and hauing well refreshed themselues, they putte on their
Armour, and went aboorde their Boates and Vergantines, looking for
some aunswere from the _Indians_, and séeyng the Sunne decline apace,
and no aunswere, _Cortez_ aduised the Spanyardes that lay in ambushe
in the woodde, to giue assault, and he embarqued himselfe with his
rapier and Targette, gyuyng likewise assaulte with néere two hundred
men, who comming néere the Towne walles, discharged his Ordinance,
and lept into the water to the knées, and began valiantly to assault
the walles and bulwarkes. The _Indians_ séeyng their enimies so nigh
vnto them, beganne to fighte with courage, shooting arrowes, throwing
of dartes and stones, wherewith they hurte about twenty Spanyardes:
yea, and though the fearefull noyse of the Ordinance did many times
so annoy them, being things so straunge, and neuer before séene of
them, yet they fledde not from the walles, but resisted the Christians
valiantlye, and suffered them not to enter the Towne that way, if they
had not bin assaulted in another place. But when the Company that lay
in ambush hearde the shooting of their fellowes, they began likewyse
theyr onsette. The _Indians_ knowyng nothyng what was prepared behynde
theyr backes, and hauing also theyr handes full in defending the
entrance by the Riuer: and the Christians fyndyng that parte of the
Towne without resistance, entred in wyth a terrible noyse, killing as
many as they mette. Then the Townesmen vnderstoode theyr oversyghte,
and woulde haue remedyed it, and fledde from the place where _Cortez_
was gyuing combat, whereby _Cortez_ and hys Company entred the Towne at
ease, without contradiction, so that hée and the other Companye of his
Souldyers mette togither at the Markette place, and expulsed all the
_Indians_ out of the Towne, excepte those that were taken prisoners,
and the carkases of the deade. Then the Chrystians soughte the spoyle,
and founde nothyng but Turkie Hennes, and some thyngs wrought of Cotten
wooll, but verye little Golde.
There was that daye aboue foure thousande _Indians_ in fyghte and
defence of the Towne: There was much _Indian_ bloud shedde, bycause
they fought naked, manye were wounded, and fewe Captiue. _Cortez_
lodged himselfe wyth hys armie in the chiefest Temple of the Idolles,
where was roome sufficiente. They kepte that nyghte good watche, as in
a house of enimies, but the poore _Indians_ durst not once interrupte
them. After thys forte was _Potonchan_ taken, béeyng the fyrste Cytie
that _Cortez_ wanne by force in all hys Conquest.
The Battell of Cintla.
[Sidenote: Care of a good Captayne.]
[Sidenote: Fortye thousande Indians.]
[Sidenote: Perill of the Christians.]
[Sidenote: A miracle.]
Al y^t nighte _Cortez_ slept not, but rather occupyed himselfe in
carrying the wounded men, & other stuffe aboord y^e Shyps, & also
to disenbarke thirtéene Horses, & the residue of his më y^t he had
left aboord, y^t which he brought to passe before the sunne rising,
although the _Tauascans_ had notice thereof. Whë the sunne was risen,
he had with his company made vnto God their prayers, and mustered his
men, where were at that time in Campe néere fiue hundred Spanyardes,
thirtéene Horses, and sixe péeces of ordinance: These Horses were
the fyrste that euer came into that Countrey, whych now is called
new _Spayne_. He planted his men and munition in good order, and
thus marched forwardes toward _Cintla_. The _Indians_ séeyng this
preparation, began also to make readie, and to place in good order
fortie thousand men in fyue cöpanies: their méeting was in ploughed
lande among manye déepe lakes and pondes, very daungerous to passe,
so that our men by reason thereof were brought out of order. And
_Hernando Cortez_ with his horsemen wente to séeke a better passage,
and to enclose himselfe among certayne trées on their left hand, for
to set vpon the enimies when time should serue. The footemen procéeded
on, and passed many marishe groundes, vntill they came to the tilled
land. The _Indians_ were expert in those places wher they beganne the
battayle, shooting with their bowes and slings, and throwing of dartes.
And although our më did some hurt among them with their Crossebowes,
hädgunnes, and Ordinance, whë they were in place to shoote, yet the
_Indians_ pursued our men so thicke, that they could not put them off,
for by pollicie, the _Indians_ of _Potonchan_ hadde soughte out that
place: and it is to bée thoughte that they were not barbarous, nor of
small vnderstanding in warres, yet notwithstanding wyth muche payne,
oure men gate out of that place, and obtayned another somewhat better,
and more playner grounde, whereas they myghte vse their Ordinance, and
fyghte with their weapons bodye to body. But the _Indians_ béeyng so
greate a number, draue our men to so narrowe a place, that they were
fayne to ioyne backe to backe for theyr owne defence, yea & for all
that were in maruellous greate daunger, for they hadde no roome to vse
their Ordinance, nor yet Horsemen to make them waye. They béeyng in
thys perplexitie, and readie to flye, suddaynely appeared a Horseman
with a speckled Horse, whome they iudged to be Captayne _Morla_, whych
Horsemanne sette vppon the _Indians_, and made them retyre: and hauyng
more space than before, they sette afreshe vppon the enimies, and slewe
some of them. In thys meane tyme the Horsemanne vaded away, and was not
séene, and wyth hys absence the _Indians_ beganne afreshe, and enclosed
the Chrystians in the same daunger that they were in before: then the
Horsemanne appeared agayne néere oure menne, and made maruellous way
among the enimies, wherevpon our menne séeyng this succoure, gaue the
onset agayne with great courage, and slewe and hurt many _Indians_, but
at the best season, the Horseman vanished away cleane out of sighte,
and when the _Indians_ sawe not the Horseman, with feare of whome they
fledde, thinkyng that he hadde bin a _Centaure_, and that the Horse and
man was all one incorporate, they returned agayne with liueley courage,
and vsed our Christians worse than they hadde done before. Then the
Horseman returned the third time, and putte the _Indians_ to flight
with great hurte, whom our footemë pursued with great slaughter.
Now at this instant came _Cortez_ with al his company of horsemen,
being wearied with the trauaile in passing such strange lakes and
wildernesse, wherof the countrey is replenished. Our men being ioyful
of his comming, they began to enforme him what wonders they had sene
a horseman do, which came to succour them, demanding of him which of
their company it was. _Cortez_ answered and faithfully assured them,
that it was none of their cöpany, bicause it was not possible for any
of them to come any sooner: Then they al gaue God praise, belieuing
that it was a helpe sent from heauen. _Cortez_ said (my deare fellows)
forwards, for god is with vs. Then the horsemë set vpon the _Indians_,
and with force of lance droue them out of the marish ground, and brake
their mayne battel. The _Indians_ incontinent left the fielde, and fled
into the thicke wooddes, the footemen followed them, and slue aboue
thrée hundred _Indians_, besides many other that were hurt. There wer
aboue seauenty Spaniardes wounded with arrowes and stones.
[Sidenote: A sodaine disease.]
And whether it were with labour of the battel, or with excessiue heate,
or with drinking the water of that place, there fel such a stitch in
their loynes, that about a hüdred of them fel flat vpon the groüd, not
able to go nor stand, their fellowes being forced to carry thë on their
backes. But it pleased god that the same night the payne wente frö
them, being in the morning wel againe. Who séeyng themselues deliuered
from so manye perils, gaue moste humble thankes to the almightye god
that had miraculously deliuered them. They all agréed that thrée times
they had séene the straunge horseman, with the speckled horse, fight in
their fauour, as is aforesaid, beléeuing generally it was a miracle, as
certainely it did appeare, for the Christians did not alone sée this
thing, but also the _Indians_ dyd muche note it, for the maruelous
fiercenesse wherwith he came vppon them, with such great murder,
that they were amased, and almoste blynde with hys bryghtnesse, being
so trodden vnder hys féete. The captiue _Indians_ after the battayle
declared the circumstance therof.
The Lord Tauasco submitteth
_himselfe to the Christians_.
[Sidenote: The Cazike enbassadours.]
_Cortez_ released some of hys prisoners and sent them to their Lorde,
saying that it grieued him the hurt done on both parties, but the
fault was theirs. And that god was witnesse of hys innocencie and
also of hys curtesie offered vnto thë. But notwithstanding all that
was paste, he pardoned their errour with suche condition, That if in
continent or within two dayes, theyr Lorde woulde come vnto him, to
yéelde satisfaction of their malice and stubbornesse, and to treate of
peace and friendship, warning and aduising them, that if they came not
wythin the time appointed, hee woulde enter into his countrey, burning
and spoyling with slaughter both great & smal, armed and vnarmed:
with which message the messengers departed, and _Cortez_ returned to
the towne to cure his wounded men. The next day came fiftie auncient
Indians to craue pardon for their offence, and also licence to bury
the dead, with likewise safeconduct that their rulers and principal
persons myght safely come vnto the towne. _Cortez_ graunted their
request, warning them to make any lyes or yet to conspire againe:
and also if their lords came not personally, he would not heare any
more embassadors: with this rigorous cömaüdemët & protestation they
departed. These _Indians_ féeling their strength woulde not preuaile,
thinking the christians to be inuincible, their Lords and chiefest
persons did determine to goe and visite the christians and their
captaine. And according to the time appointed, the Lorde of that town
and other foure Lords his neyghbours came vnto _Cortez_ with a good
trayne of their vessals and seruitours, and presented vnto him, bread,
turkie hennes, & fruites, with other like prouision for his host, with
four hundred pieces of gold of y^e value of 400. double duckets, w^t
other small iewels, and certaine turkie stones of small value. And
twentie women slaues, to serue to make breade and dresse meate for
y^e whole army. He craued and beseeched _Cortez_ to pardon his former
offence. And to accept and receiue them into hys friendshippe. And in
token of his obedience, hee and his fellowes dyd willinglye deliuer
their bodies, landes and goods into his handes and power. _Cortez_
did louingly receiue them, and gaue vnto them certaine trifles of his
wares, whiche they estéemed much. And those _Indians_ hearing the
horses and mares ney, they maruelled at their neying, thinking that
the horses could speake, & demaunded of the Christians what they sayd,
(mary quoth they) these horses are sore offended with you bycause ye
fought with them, & wold haue you corrected and chastened for your so
doing. The simple _Indiäs_ hearing this, presented roses and Gynea Hens
vnto the horses, desiring them to eate and to pardon thë.
Certaine questions that Cortez demaunded
_of the Cacike Tauasco_.
Many things passed betweene our men & the _Indians_: for where the
_Indians_ vnderstood thë not, their behauiour was much to laugh at. And
vsing conuersation with our men, & seeing they receiued no hurte of
them, they brought to the towne their wiues and children, which were
no smal number. And among many matters that _Cortez_ communed with
_Tauasco_ by the mouth of _Ieronimo de Aguila_ his enterpreter:
The first question was: Whether there wer mynes of gold or siluer in
that countrey, and from whëce they had that small quantitye that they
hadde broughte vnto them?
The secöd question was: Why they denyed him their friendshippe, more
than the other captaine that had bin there the yeare before?
The third was: Why they being so many in nüber, fled from them being so
fewe?
The fourth was: To giue thë to vnderstäd the mightie power of the king
of Castill. And last of all to giue them knowledge of the faith of Iesu
Christ.
[Sidenote: The ansvvere of the Cacike.]
As touching Sir (quoth he) the Mynes of gold and siluer in our country,
we séeke for none, for we séeke not after treasure and riches, but
we procure and desire a quiet life. And that golde which we haue,
was founde by chaunce: for we know not what Mynes do mean. Yet
notwithstanding further within the lande, whereas the sunne doth hide
himselfe, ther the people do finde muche gold and are giuen to séeke
the same.
And as touching the captaine that was here of late, we seeing the men
and shippes to be such as we had neuer before seene, spake vnto them
and demaunded what they would haue, they sayde that their comming was,
to chaunge their merchandice for gold and nothyng else, wherefore we
graunted to their request. But now séeing greater vessels and moe in
number, wee feared least ye came to take our substance. And I knowing
my selfe nothing inferiour to any of my neyghbours, would not permit
any iniurie to be offered me, and that he and his subiectes did estéeme
themselues the most valiant of men of warre in all these parties, and
that none durste take away their goods, women, and children, to be
sacrificed by force, wherevpon he thought to withstande those fewe
Christians, but (quoth he) I founde my selfe deceiued, seeyng we could
not kill any of your companye. And likewise the brightnesse of youre
weapons dyd blynde vs, and the woundes you made were incurable.
But the noyse and lightning of your ordinance dyd more amase vs, than
either thunder-clappes or tempest: and also the great spoyle that you
made among vs therwith: likewise your straunge horses made vs greatly
to wonder, to behold their open mouthes, wee feared to be swallowed.
And then to consider their swiftnesse in running, we knew no creature
could escape them. But y^e first horse that fought with vs, put vs in
marueylous feare, being but one, but when we espyed many, then all
oure helpe was past, for we belieued that the horse and man was al one
incorporate.
Hovv the Indians of Potonchan brake
_downe their Idols, and worshipped Christ
crucified_.
VVith the relation of _Tauasco_, _Cortez_ sawe that the countrey
was not for Spaniardes, nor yet he toke it a thing conueniente to
settle themselues where no golde nor siluer was, or other riches.
And so pretended to passe forwardes to discouer westward the lande
endewed with golde. But before his departure, he declared to those new
conquered _Indians_, that the Lord in whose name he and hys company had
taken that iourney was king of Spayne and Emperour of Christians, and
the greatest Prince in the worlde, vnto whom many kings and Princes
dyd homage and obey. And that hys rule and gouernemente in iustice
proceeded from God, beeing iust, holy, peaceable, and sweete, and also
the _Monarchie_ of the vniuersall did appertaine vnto him. And for
these causes he required them to yelde themselues as his subiectes.
And if they would doe so, there shoulde ensue vnto them great profite,
lawes and pollicie. And as touching their religion, he declared their
blindnesse & greate abuses which they vsed in worshipping many Gods,
and in making sacrifice vnto them with mans bloud, yea & thinking that
those images and Idols, did or coulde doe good or euill vnto them,
being dübe, without life or soule, yea and y^e worke of their owne
hands. He certifyed them of one god maker of heauen and earth, and all
creatures whom the Christians did worshippe and serue, and that all
creatures ought to doe the same. In conclusion with thys doctryne they
brake downe their Idols, and receyued the crosse, _Cortez_ hauing first
declared vnto them the great miseries that the son of God suffered on
y^e Crosse for mankynde. And in the greatest temple of _Potonchan_,
set vp a Crosse in remëbrance of the death of Christ and celebrated
the feast vpon their knees, and the multitude of _Indians_ likewise,
and departed to their meate. _Cortez_ desired them within two dayes to
come agayne to theyr diuine seruice. And that day was Palme sunday. And
so they did and brought an infinite number of men women and children
of other villages with them whych was straunge to behold. And there
generally gaue theyr vassalship to the king of Spaine into the handes
of _Hernando Cortez_, with protestation of perpetuall friendship with
the Spanish nation. So that these were the fyrste vassals that the
Emperour had in the new Spayne. And this feast and ceremony ended, our
men toke shipping with the palme boughes in their handes. In this doyng
_Cortez_ deserued no lesse prayse than in his victorie, for he vsed
wisedome with manhoode in all his doings: he lefte those _Indians_ with
a newe faith, and the towne frée and without hurt, he toke none for
slaues, nor yet any spoyle nor exchäged his merchaundice for any thing
although he aboade there twentye dayes. The towne is called in the
_Indian_ tongue _Potonchan_, that is to saye, a place that stincketh,
and our menne named it, the victorie.
[Sidenote: The armor of the Indians.]