firste Spaniardes that came thyther, named the riuer _Tauasco_, but
_Grijalua_ called it after hys owne name, whose name and remembraunce
will not so soone be forgotten. And truely all those that do discouer
newe countreys, ought to make perpetuall their owne names. This town
doth containe neare fiue and twentye thousand houses (as some say)
but as euery house städeth by himselfe like an Iland, it seemeth much
bigger than it is in déede. The houses are great, made of lime stone, &
bricke: others there are made of mood wal, and rafters & couered with
straw or bordes. Their dwelling is in the vpper part of the house, for
the greate moystnesse of the riuers and lakes, and for feare of fier,
they haue theyr houses separated the one from the other. Without, the
towne they haue more fairer houses than wythin for their recreation and
pleasure. They are browne people, and go almost naked, and eat mans
flesh sacrificed. Their weapons are bowes and arrowes, slyngs, darts,
and lances. The armour wherwith they defend themselues, are Targets and
skulles made of woodde or barke of trées, and some of gold very thinne.
They haue also a certayne kinde of harneis made of cotten wooll wrapped
aboute their stomacke.
The good entertainement that
_Cortez had in Saint Iohn de Vlhua_.
Captaine _Cortez_ and his company beeyng embarked, sayled weastwards
as nye the shoar as thei might. And this coast hauing no harbors,
they founde no place where they might Anker safely with their greater
vessels, vntil they arriued vpon Mandie thursday at _Saint Iohn de
Vlhua_, whiche séemed a good harbor for them. The _Indians_ of this
place call this harbour _Chalchicoeca_, there the fleete came to Anker.
They were not so soone at Roade, but incontinente came two little
boates named _Acalles_, enquiring for the Generall of the Fleete, who
when they came to hys presence, dyd humble reuerence vnto him, and
sayde vnto hym that _Teudilli_ the Gouernoure of that Prouince sente
to knowe what people they were, and what they woulde haue, and whether
they meante to stay there or procéede farther. _Aguillar_ dyd not
well vnderstande that language. _Cortez_ caused them to come aboorde
hys Shyppe, gyuyng them thankes for theyr paynes and visitation. Hée
made vnto them a banket of Wyne and Conserua, and sayde vnto them,
that the nexte day followyng hee would come alande, and talke with
the Gouernoure, whome hée besoughte not to alter him nor hys people
wyth hys commyng a shore, for he meant not to molest hym, but rather
to pleasure and profyte hym. To that these messengers were rewarded
wyth certayne gyftes, they eate and dranke, but yet suspected euill,
although they lyked the Wyne well, wherefore they desired to haue
thereof, and also of the Conserua, to presente vnto theyr Lorde, whyche
was giuen them, and so departed.
The nexte daye béeyng good Friday, _Cortez_ came alande wyth hys Boates
full of menne, and broughte hys Horses and artillerie a shore by little
and little, wyth all hys menne of warre, and two hundred _Indians_ of
_Cuba_, whyche serued to toyle and laboure. Hée planted hymselfe in the
best scituation that hée coulde fynde among the Sandy bankes on the Sea
syde, and there pytched hys Campe, and hauyng néere that place manye
trées, they builte them Cotages with boughes.
[Sidenote: VVisedome.]
[Sidenote: The comming of the Gouernor.]
[Sidenote: A straunge salutation.]
From a little Village that was at hand, came many _Indians_ to gaze
at things so straunge, and the like neuer séene vnto them, and
brought with thë gold to barter for suche toyes, as the two little
Boates had broughte from them before. They brought also bread and
meate readie dressed after their vse likewise to sell. Oure men
chaunged wyth them beadestones of glasse, looking glasses, sissers,
kniues, pinnes, and suche other wares, whereof the _Indians_ were
not a little glad, returning home to their houses, shewing their
neighbours. The ioy and pleasure that these simple soules tooke with
these trifles, was so greate, that the next day they came agayne
wyth other _Indians_ ladë with Iewels of gold, Turkie Hennes, bread,
meate, and fruite, that suffised for all the Campe, and for the same
they receyued nedels, and beadestones of glasse, but the poore soules
thought themselues therewith so riche, that they knewe not where they
were with ioy and pleasure, yea and they thoughte that they hadde
deceyued the Straungers. Nowe _Cortez_ séeyng the greate quantitie of
golde broughte and bartered so foolishly for trifles of no valewe,
proclaymed throughout all hys host, that no Christian shoulde take
any golde vppon greate penaltie, and that they shoulde all shewe, as
though they knewe not to what purpose the golde serued, and that they
passed not for it, bycause they shoulde not thynke that the desire
thereof had broughte them thyther, and so they did dissemble that great
demonstration of golde, to sée what was meante thereby, and whether
the _Indians_ hadde brought that golde, to proue whether theyr commyng
was for that or no. On Easter day in the morning, came _Teudilli_ the
Gouernour to the Campe, from _Cotosta_ hys dwellyng place, whyche was
eyght leagues from thence. He brought attendyng vpon his person foure
thousande men without weapon, and the most part well clothed, some of
them with garments of Cotton, riche after their manner. And others
naked, laden with victuals in great abundance, whiche was straunge to
sée. _Teudilli_ according to their vsance, did his reuerence to the
Captaine, burning frankinsence, and little strawes touched in bloud of
his owne bodye, he presented vnto him the victuals, and certayne Iewels
of golde very riche and well wrought, and other things made of feathers
very curious straunge and artificiall. _Cortez_ embraced him in his
armes, and receyued hym ioyfully, saluting all hys company. He gaue to
_Teudilli_ a coate of silke, a brooche, and a coller of glasse, with
many other péeces of Haberdashe wares, whiche was highly estéemed of
him.
The talke of Cortez vvith
_Teudilli_.
[Sidenote: A maruellous happe.]
Al the former talke was had without an Interpreter, bycause _Ieronimo
de Aguillar_ vnderstoode not thys language, bycause it differed muche
from the spéeche of the other _Indians_, whereas hée hadde bin captiue:
for whyche cause _Cortez_ was somewhat carefull, bicause he would
largely haue discoursed with _Teudilli_. It chanced that among those
twentie women giuen hym in _Potonchan_, one of them stoode talking
with a seruaunte of _Teudilli_, bycause she vnderstoode them as menne
of hir owne language. _Cortez_ espying this, called hir aside, and
promised hir more than libertie, so that she woulde bée a trustie and
faithfull interpreter betwixte hym and those _Indians_, and that hée
woulde estéeme hir as his Secretarie. And further demanded of hir of
what lignage she was, then she aunswered, that she was naturall of the
Countrey that bordered vpö _Xalixco_, and of a towne called _Viluto_,
daughter vnto riche parentes, and of the kinrede of the Lorde of that
lande. And béeyng a little girle, certayne Merchantes dyd steale hir
away in tyme of warre, and brought hir to be solde at the fayre of
_Xicalanco_, whyche is a greate Towne néere _Coasaqualco_, not farre
distant from _Tauasco_: and after this sorte shée came to the power
of the Lord of _Potonchan_. This woman was Christened _Marina_. She
and hir fellowes were the firste Christians baptised in all the newe
_Spayne_, and she onely with _Aguilar_, were Interpreters betwixt the
_Indiäs_ and our men.
[Sidenote: The aunsvvere of Teudilli.]
[Sidenote: The disease of the Spaniardes.]
Nowe _Cortez_ béeyng assured of hys true Interpreters, hée celebrated
hys accustomed deuine seruice, and _Teudilli_ wyth hym, and after they
hadde dyned in _Cortez_ hys Tente in presence of many _Spanyardes_
and _Indians_, _Cortez_ enformed _Teudilli_ howe that hée was vassall
to the Lord _Charles_ of _Austria_ Emperour of the Christiäs, and
King of _Spayne_, and Lorde ouer a greate parte of the worlde, whome
great Kings and Princes dyd serue and obey: and that all Princes were
glad to bée hys friendes for his Vertue and myghte. And hée hauyng
aduertisemente of that Countrey and Lorde thereof, had sente him
thyther to visite hym on hys behalfe, and to enforme hym of certayne
secrete matters, the effecte whereof he hadde in wrytyng. Sir (quoth
_Teudilli_,) I am very glad to heare the Maiestie and Vertue of the
Emperoure youre maister, but you shall vnderstande, that my Lorde the
Emperoure _Melzuma_ is as greate and as good a Prince as he. And I doe
muche maruell, that there shoulde bée anye so greate a Prince in the
whole worlde, but yet according to youre request, I wyll certifye hym,
and knowe hys pleasure, for I trust (quoth he) in the clemencie of my
Prince, that youre newes and message shall bée acceptable vnto him,
and you well recompensed for your paynes. _Cortez_ then commaunded al
his men to set themselues in order of battayle with fife and drumme,
and to skirmishe before _Teudilli_. And that the horsemen shoulde
runne, and the ordinaunce shotte of, to the entent that _Mutezuma_
shoulde be aduertised thereof. The _Indians_ did much beholde the
gesture, apparell and beardes of our men, they wondered to sée the
horses runne, they feared the brightnesse of the swordes, and at the
noyse of the ordinaunce they fell flatte to the ground, thinking that
the heauens did fall. And the shippes, they held opinion was the God
of the ayre called _Quezalcoualt_, whiche came with the temples on his
backe, for they dayly looked for him. _Teudilli_ dispatched the poste
to _Mexico_, to _Mutezuma_, aduising him of all that he had séene,
and demaunded golde of him for to giue vnto the Captayne of that newe
people. Bicause _Cortez_ had inquired of him, whether _Mutezuma_ had
gold or no, he answered (yes) mary quoth _Cortez_, I and my fellowes
haue a certayne disease of the harte, and golde helpeth vs. This
message wente from the campe to _Mexico_ in one day and a night,
whiche is 210. myle, and the poste caried paynted the horses and
horsemen vpon them, the maner of theyr armour, and howe many péeces of
ordinaunce they had, & what number of bearded men there were: and as
for the shippes he had giuë aduise as soone as they arriued, shewing
the greatnesse and quantitie of them. All these things aforesayde,
_Teudilli_ caused to be paynted in cloth of Cotten very liuely, that
_Mutezuma_ mought sée it. The cause that this message wente so farre in
so shorte a space, was, they had certayne places that postes attended,
as we may say horsepostes which gaue alwayes from hand to hande the
paynted cloth: they doe runne on foote faster in this sorte, than by
horsepost, and is more of antiquitie than horsepost: Also _Teudilli_
sent to _Mutezuma_ the garments & many other things whiche _Cortez_
had giuen him, whiche things were after wardes founde in the treasorie
of _Mutezuma_.
The present and ansvvere that
_Mutezuma sente vnto Cortez_.
[Sidenote: The excuse of Mutezuma.]
After the message sente, and the answere promised, _Teudilli_ tooke
his leaue, and within twoo flight shoote of _Cortez_ his campe, he
caused a thousande cotages of boughes to be made, & lefte there twoo
principall men as Captaynes ouer two thousande persons men and women,
and then departed for _Cotosta_ hys dwellyng place. The twoo Captaynes
had charge to prouide the Christians of all things necessarie, and the
women serued to grynde their corne and make bread of _Maiz_, and to
dresse theyr fishe and flesh and other victuals, and the men serued to
carrie the dressed meate to the Christians cäpe, and wood, water, &
grasse for the horses and al other necessaries, and this they passed
eight dayes. In this meane season returned the poste with a riche
and gentle present, whiche was many couerlets and clothes of cotton,
white, and of other colours wrought, many tuffes of feathers very
fayre, and some things wrought with golde and fethers, quantitie of
Iewels and péeces of golde and siluer, twoo thinne whéeles, the one
of siluer whiche wayde .25. markes with the signe of the Moone, and
the other whéele of golde which wayed a hundreth markes, made like
vnto the Sunne, with many leaues and beasts, a very curious péece of
worke: these twoo things they helde for Gods in that countrey, & giueth
thë the colours of the metall that is likest thë, euery whéele was
two yardes & a half broade, and so proportionally in compasse round
aboute, this present was estéemed at 20900. Ducates. This present
shold haue bene giuen to _Grijalua_, if he had not so soone departed as
the _Indians_ reported. He also gaue vnto _Cortez_ this answere, that
_Mutezumas_ his Lorde was very gladde to know, & to be friend to suche
a mighty Prince as the king of Spayne was, and that in his time should
arriue in his countrey such new people, & the like neuer séene before,
& that he was readie to shew them al pleasure & honour, requesting him
to sée what things he stoode in néede of for y^e time that he meant to
abide there, as well for himselfe as for his ships, army and deceasse,
and it should be prouided abundantly: yea & also if he could finde any
thing in that countrey to his contentment, to present to the Emperour
of Christians, he would willingly prouide it. And as touching the
desire that _Cortez_ had to come to visite & to haue cömunication with
him, he thought it vnpossible, bycause that he was sickly and could not
come vnto the sea coast, and likewise for _Cortez_ to come where he did
abide, it was harde, troublesome and difficill, as well for the many
and cragged mountaynes, as also the countrey, wilde, desert & without
habitation, and shoulde be constrayned to suffer hunger, thirst, and
other necessitie: and moreouer the enhabitaunts of much part of the way
that he should passe, were his enimies, both cruell & cursed people,
and knowing thë to be his friendes, they should not escape with life.
All these excuses did _Mutezuma_ by the mouth of _Teudilli_ declare
vnto _Cortez_, thinkyng to driue him frö his purpose & pretëded
iourney, alleaging the foresayd difficulties and perils, the _Indians_
did also hope that with some cötrary weather they should be forced to
leaue that coast & coütrey. Notwithstäding this cötradiction, so
much the more desire had _Cortez_ to visite _Mutezuma_, who was so
great a prince in that parties, & throughly to discouer the treasure
which he imagined to be there. And hauing receiued y^e present, & also
y^e answer, he gaue vnto _Teudilli_ a garmët of his owne wearyng,
and many other trifles of his Haberdash, to be sente vnto _Mutezuma_,
saying that if it were for no other purpose but onely to sée so mightie
and vertuous a Prince, it should be requisite and iuste to trauayle
vnto his Court, how much the more, he was of duetie cöstrayned to
doe the Embassage which the Emperour of Christians had willed and
commaunded him to doe, for otherwyse he shoulde incurre the displeasure
of the King his mayster, wherefore he besought _Teudilli_ yet once
agayne to aduertise _Mutezuma_ of his constant determination, bycause
hée shoulde vnderstande that he would not leaue off hys pretended
purpose for any inconuenience that was obiected vnto him. Alleagying
moreouer, that he who had cömen 2000. leagues by sea, mought well
goe 70. leagues by lande, and consideryng that he had many at his
charge with small prouision, and likewise his shippes in daunger, he
required that with all expedition the messengers should be dispatched.
_Teudilli_ desired him to recreate himself, & not to take any grief,
for as much as he himself did dayly aduertise _Mutezuma_ of his
procéedings, euen so with all expedition the full resolution should
come from _Mexico_, although it were somewhat farre off. And as for
his victuals, he shoulde take no care, for abundantly he should be
prouided. And also desired him for so much as he was not well placed
among those sandy bankes, that it might please him to goe with him
to certayne townes aboute sixe or seuen leagues frö thence. _Cortez_
refused that offer, wherevpon _Teudilli_ departed, and he abode there
ten dayes looking for answere from _Mutezuma_.
Hovv Cortez knevv of discorde and
_dissention to be in the Countrey_.
In this meane season certayne _Indians_ were espied, that went lurkyng
a farre of among the sandy hilles. And those came not neare the
_Indians_, that serued the Spaniarde, _Cortez_ demaunded what people
they were, & for what cause they went lurkyng so farre off, and came no
néerer vnto them.
The twoo Captaynes answered, that they were husbandmen, that went
aboute theyr husbandry. _Cortez_ lyked not theyr answere, but suspected
that they had tolde hym a lye: for it séemed vnto hym that those people
desired to come among the Christians, and that they durste not with
feare of the _Indians_ of _Teudilli_, and so it was in very déede. For
all that coaste and mayne lande within, as farre as _Mexico_, was full
of the newes and straunge things that our men had done in _Potonchan_.
Wherefore they all desired to sée them and to talke with them, but they
durste not for feare of the _Indians_ of _Culhua_, who are subiectes
vnto _Mutezuma_, wherevpon _Cortez_ sente fiue Spaniardes to call
them with signes and tokens of peace. This company of _Indians_ were
in number twentie, and were gladde to beholde those fiue men commyng
towardes them, and were desirous to sée suche straunge people and
shippes, wherefore they came willingly altogither vnto _Cortez_ his
Tente.
[Sidenote: The Indiäs attyre.]
These _Indians_ dyd differ muche from all the other _Indians_ yet
séene, for they were hygher of person, and had the grystels of theyr
noses slitte, hangyng ouer their mouths, and rings of Iette and Amber
hanging thereat. They had also theyr neither lippes bored, and in the
holes rings of golde and turky stones, whiche wayed so muche, that
their lippes hanged downe ouer theyr chinnes, and their téeth remayned
bare: The whiche custome although they vsed for a brauery, it séemed a
foule and vgly sighte in the Spanyardes eyes, and very lothsome.
The other _Indians_ of _Mutezuma_, had theyr lippes and eares bored,
with rounde stones hangyng at the iagges thereof, yet they had not
suche foule slittes in their noses, but they had suche bored holes that
a manne myght put any finger of his hande through them, with rings of
golde and stone hanging thereat, the euill fauoured sighte of their
faces made our men to muse.
_Cortez_ communed with them by hys interpreter _Marina_, to knowe
from whence they were, they answered, that they were dwellers in
_Zempoallan_, a Cittie distant from thence one dayes iourney, situated
vpon a riuer side, and bordered vpon the Countrey of _Mutezumazin_, and
that their _Cazique_ or Lorde had sente them, to sée what Goddes were
comen in those _Teucallis_, that is to say, Temple, saying, also that
they durste not come sooner, not knowyng what people they were.
_Cortez_ made muche of them and shewed a chéerefull countenaunce vnto
them, for they séemed very bestiall, he declared vnto them that he
was gladde of theyr commyng, and to knowe the good will that theyr
Lorde bare vnto him, and gaue them Haberdashe toyes, and shewed them
the Horses and Armour, a straunge sighte for them. And so they wente
through the army lookyng and gasing here and there as menne amazed. And
in all the tyme they abode there, they vsed no conuersation with the
other _Indians_. _Cortez_ enquired of _Maryna_ the cause thereof, and
shée sayde that those menne did not onely speake an other languague,
but also did appertayne to another Lorde, who was not vassall to
_Mutezuma_, but by force and extortion.
_Cortez_ was very gladde of that newes, for hée coniectured by the
talke of _Teudilli_ that _Mutezuma_ had warres and enimies, wherevppon
hée tooke aside thrée of those _Indians_ whiche séemed moste wysest,
and demaunded of them by _Maryna_ what Lordes there were in that
Countrey: they answered that _Mutezuma_ was Lorde ouer all, although
in euery Cittie and Prouince was a Lorde, yet neuerthelesse all in
generall dyd paye tribute and serue him as vassals, nay rather lyke
slaues. But yet many of them of late dayes did reknowledge hym by force
of armes, and payde vnto him suche tolle and tribute that they were not
accustomed to pay, of whiche number their Lorde of _Zempoallan_ was one
of them, and other his neyghbours, who many tymes helde him warre to
be frée from his tiranny and bondage, but yet sayde they, it preuayled
not, for his hoste was greate and his warriers valiant.
_Cortez_ receyued greate pleasure to finde in that countrey dissention
and discorde among some Noble menne, and at deuision among themselues,
thynking thereby the better to bryng his purpose to passe. He gaue
thanks vnto those _Indians_ for their aduise, offeryng vnto them his
fauour, helpe and friendshippe, praying them to come often to his
campe, and so tooke his leaue of them, with his commendations to their
Lorde, and sente him certayne presents, with aduertisement, that
shortly he would come and sée him, yea and also serue him.
Hovv Cortez vvent to suruey the
_Countrey with foure hundreth men_.
At the ende of tenne dayes came _Teudilli_ backe againe, and brought
certaine cloth of Cotten, and other things made of feathers well
wrought for recompence of the thyng sente vnto _Mexico_, and warned
_Cortez_ to departe, for at that tyme there was no remedie to sée
_Mutezuma_, and to looke what was necessary for his prouision and
furniture, and it shoulde be prouided, offeryng the same seruice at
any time that hée shoulde happen to come that way. _Cortez_ would not
accept the offer, saying: That he would not departe from that countrey,
vntill he had bothe séene and talked with _Mutezuma_. The gouernour
_Teudilli_ yet agayne replied, that he shoulde not contende therein,
and with those wordes departed from hym. The nexte night followyng he
with all those _Indians_ as well men as women whiche attended to serue
and prouide the Spanishe campe, wente from thence: so that in the
mornyng all the cotages were emptie, where those seruitors had bene.
_Cortez_ suspecting this alteratiö prouided himselfe with preparation
for battayle, & finding the matter contrary to his expectation, he
deliberated to séeke a sure roade or harbor for his nauie, & also a
good plotte or situation to buylde vpon, for then he fully meant to
obtayne perpetuitie & to conquere the lande, considering y^t he had
found such great tokens of gold, plate, & other riches, & thereaboute
within a whole league cöpasse was no fit place for y^e purpose: for
why? all was sandy ground, & such as tossed too & fro with the winde,
with other morish groüd not méete for habitation. In consideration
wherof he sent _Francisco de Monteio_, with two vergantines, and
fiftie men, to runne along the coast, vntill they should finde some
reasonable poart and good scituation to build vpon.
_Monteio_ procéeded on his voyage, and sayled in sighte of lande,
vntill he came to _Panuco_, withoute finding anye port or harbor,
sauing the shadowe of a Rocke, whyche stoode somewhat distant from the
land a sea boord, so that at thrée wéekes ende he returned backe agayne
with the foresayde newes. Hauing runne so little a way, he fell into
suche terrible currants, that although he made waye wyth oares and
sayles, yet the sayde Currant forced hym backe agayne. Also he broughte
newes, that the _Indians_ of that coast did let themselues bloud,
offering the same vnto them vpon little strawes, in token of friendship
or deitie.
The relation of _Monteio_ contented not _Cortez_, yet notwithstandyng
he pretended to goe to the shade or succoure of the Rocke, bycause hée
was enformed, that néere that place, was two fayre Riuers, wyth store
of wooddes, necessarye for tymber and fyre woodde, greate quantitie of
stones to builde with, fayre pastures, and ground for tyllage, although
the harbour was not sufficiente for hys Nauie and contratation, bycause
that roade was without defence, and open vppon the Northe, which is the
winde that most ruleth with greatest hurte vpon that coast.