discretion and wisedome, praysing the election of the newe officers as
men moste méete for suche an office, and besought them to accept theyr
charge.
This diligence done, he commaunded to bring foorth into the markette
place all the goodes and treasure which they had gotten, as well cloth
of Cotten, Feathers, Golde, and Plate, whiche mought amount vnto in
valew the summe of .27000. Ducates: The same he caused to be delyuered
vnto the newe elected treasorers by account, requestyng the whole
counsell of the Cittie that they shoulde make deuision thereof. The
counsellours and communaltie replyed, saying: Sir here is nothing to
deuide, for deductyng the fifte parte whiche appertayneth to the King,
all the reste shall be to make payment for the furniture whiche you
prepared for this voyage, and you beyng satisfied, then the shippes,
munition and furniture shall serue in common for vs all, beséeching
him with one assent to take all the treasure, and to sende vnto the
kings maiestie his portion or fifte parte, euen as shoulde séeme most
conuenient vnto him.
[Sidenote: Liberalitie of Cortez.]
_Cortes_ replied and sayde, that time hereafter shoulde serue to pay
him according to their gentle offer: But for this present time my
louyng felowes (quoth he) I will receyue no more than the share or
portion that appertayneth vnto my office of generall Captayne, and all
the residue shal be for the Gentlemen of my company, wherewith yée may
beginne to make payment of your debtes, whiche ye ought when ye made
your prouision to come with me on this voyage.
And where I haue appoynted certayne things to send to the King, of
more value than his fifte parte, it mighte please them, for as muche
as they were suche things as coulde not be well deuided, and likewyse
the firste fruite of that Conquest, fréely to giue him libertie to vse
his discretion in that onely poynt. They al in generall graunted to his
request, wherevpon he tooke out of the stocke, these things followyng.
Inuentary.
Firste the twoo whéeles of Golde and siluer, whiche _Heudilli_
presented vnto him on the behalfe of _Mutezuma_.
A coller of golde of eight péeces, whereat hanged a hüdreth and
four score and thrée little Emeraldes, and twoo and thirtie little
redde stones, lyke vnto Rubies, of small value: there hanged at
the same coller seauen and twentie little belles of Golde, and
certayne heads of pearle.
Another coller of foure doubled twiste, with a hundreth and twoo
Rubies, and a hundreth and seuentie and twoo Emeraldes, and tenne
good pearles well sette, and for border or fringe sixe and twentie
belles of golde: both those collers were beautifull to beholde,
and had many other fine thyngs wrought in them, than is here
declared.
Many graynes of golde of the bignesse of a pease, euen as they
were founde.
A Casket of graynes of golde of the same sorte.
A Helmet of woodde champed with golde and besette with stones, and
at the beuier fiue and twentie belles of golde, and vpon the toppe
a gréene birde, with his eyes, beake, and féete of golde.
A sallet of planches of golde, and belles rounde aboute it, decked
with stone.
A bracelet of golde of small weight.
A rodde lyke vnto a roiall Scepter, with twoo rings of golde
hangyng thereat, garnished with pearle.
Foure forkes with thrée shepehookes at ech, couered with feathers
of sundry colours.
Many payres of shoes made of Déere skinnes, sowed with golde
thréede, and in the soales were sette certayne stones of colour
white and blewe whiche shyned fayre.
Sixe payre of letherne shoes of diuers colours, garnished with
golde, siluer, and pearle.
A Targatte of woodde couered with leather, beset round about with
belles of Latton, and the bosse in the midst was planched with
gold, and there was engraued vpon the same _Vitsilopucthli_, God
of the warres, and also foure heads set crossewise, whiche heades
were of a Lion, a Tigre, an Eagle, and an Owle, verye liuely made
with feathers.
Many skinnes of beast and foule, curried and dressed in their
feathers and in haire.
Foure and twenty targets of gold feathers, and set with pearle
both curious and gallant to behold.
Fiue Targets of feathers and siluer.
Foure fishes of gold wel wrought.
Two birdes called Auades, and other birdes of gold.
Certaine Hatchets and a rod of latten.
Diuerse loking glasses garnished with gold.
Many Myters and crownes of gold & feathers wrought of many colours
beset with pearle and stone.
Many faire feathers of sundry colours.
Many tuffes of feathers adorned with siluer and gold.
A garment like a coape of cotten, wouen of sundry coulours, and in
the middest a blacke whele made of feathers.
Many surplices, vestments, palles, frontals and ornaments of Idols
alters and temples.
Many couerlets of cotten of diuerse colours, whyche shewed like
vnto vnshorne veluet.
Manye shirtes, Iackettes, headclothes and other naperie.
Many Carpets and hangings of cotten.
Al these things wer more beautiful than rich, although the whéeles were
very rich, the workmanshippe of al the rest, was more worth than the
thing it selfe. The colours of the cloth of cotten wool was excéeding
fine, and the fethers natural.
[Sidenote: Straunge Paper.]
The pounced worke in gold and siluer did excéed our goldsmithes, of
whiche things we wil write in an other place. They ioyned with this
present certaine _Indian_ bookes of figures which serue to their vse
for letters: these bookes are folden like vnto clothes, and written
on both sides. Some of these bookes were made of cotten & glewe, and
others were made of leaues of a certaine trée called Melt, whyche serue
for theyr paper, a thyng straunge to behold.
At that time the _Indiäs_ of _Zempoallan_ had many prisoners to
sacrifice. _Cortez_ demaunded them to send vnto the Emperour, but the
_Indians_ desired him to pardon them, for if we so do (quoth they) we
shall offend our gods, who will take awaye our corne and children from
vs, yea and also our liues in so doing.
Yet notwithstanding, _Cortez_ tooke foure of them, and two women which
were al yong and lustie.
But it was very strange to sée those that shold be sacrificed, how they
wer trimmed and deckt with feathers, and went dauncing through the
Cittie, asking almes for their sacrifice & death. It was also strange
to sée the offerings y^t were giuen thë. They had at their eares
hanging rings of gold beset with turkie stones, & likewise other rings
at their lippes, whiche shewed their téeth bare, a griesely sight to
sée, but yet estéemed among them a thing beautifull.
Letters from the army and magistrates of
_the new towne directed to the Emperour_.
VVhen this present and fift part was layde aside for the king, _Cortez_
required the magistrats to name and appoint two atturnyes, to carry the
Emperors portion vnto Spayne. And that he for his part wold giue vnto
them his full power, and letter of attourneye, with also one of his
beste Shippes for that voyage.
The Counsell of the newe towne chose _Alounso Fernandez Portocarero_,
and _Francisco de Monteio_ for that iourneye: whereof _Cortez_ was
verye glad, and gaue them _Antonio de Alominos_ for their pilot, with
golde and plate sufficiente for tourne and retourne of the voyage.
_Cortez_ gaue them instructions, what they shoulde doe particularlye
for hym, in the Courte of Spaine as also in Ciuil, and the towne where
he was borne. Hee sente to his Father and Mother certaine money, with
newes of his prosperitye: hee sente also with them the ordinaunces and
actes instituted, and wrote by them a large letter to the Emperour,
in the whiche hee gaue full aduertisemente of all things whyche hadde
passed from the time of his departure from the Ilande of _Cuba_ vntil
that day, and of the discord betwéene hym and _Iames Valasques_, and
of their greate traueyle and paynes, with the greate good will whiche
they all bare vnto hys royall seruice: hee certified likewise of the
riches of that countreye, with the maiestie and power of _Mutezuma_.
Hee offered to bring in subiection vnto his royall Crown and state of
Castil, al that Empire, & to winne also the greate Citie of _Mexico_,
and to bring that mightie king _Mutezuma_ to his handes quicke or deade.
Beséeching the Emperours maiestie to haue hym in remembraunce when
offices and prouisions shoulde bee sente vnto that newe Spayne latelye
discouered at hys great costes, and in recompence of hys paines and
trauell.
The Counsell and magistrates of _Vera Crux_ wrote also two letters to
the Emperour, the one was touching the successe of their procéedings in
his royall seruice. In that letter, went onely the Aldermens firmes,
and Iudges.
[Sidenote: A good protestatiö.]
The other letter was firmed by the generalitye and chiefest of the
army, the contentes whereof was in substance, that they would holde and
kepe that towne and countrey wonne, in his royall name, or ende theyr
lyues in the quarrel, if his maiestie did not otherwise determyne.
They also moste humblye besought him, that the gouernement thereof, and
of al that hereafter shoulde bee conquered, might be giuen to _Hernädo
Cortez_ their guide, generall captaine, and chiefe Iustice by them
electe and chosen, saying, that wel he had deserued the same, for that
he alone spent more than the whole army vpon that iourney. And that
it might please his maiesty to confirm that, which they generally of
fréewill had done for theyr owne safegard and securitye, in the name of
his royall maiestie.
And if by chaunce his maiestie had already giuen the sayde office of
gouernement to any other person, that it might please him to reuoke it.
For so should it be expedient for his seruice, and quietnesse of the
countrey. And thereby might be excused, rumours, slanders, perils, and
slaughters, that myght ensue, if any other should gouerne and rule as
captaine general.
And moreouer they besoughte hys maiestie to graunte them aunswere with
breuity, and good dispatch of theyr attourneys, who departed from the
porte of _Aguiahuistlan_ in a reasonable shippe the twenty sixe day of
July, _Anno_ .1519.
They touched by the way at _Marien_ a port of _Cuba_, declaring that
they went to _Hauana_: they passed through the chanell of _Bahama_
without disturbaunce, and sayled with a prosperous winde, till they
arriued in Spayne.
The cause why the generaltye had written these letters was, suspecting
_Iames Velasques_, who had frends and great fauour in the Court and
counsel of _Indias_, and also some secrete friendes in _Cortez_ his
campe. For _Francisco Salzeda_ brought newes that _Iames Velasques_ had
already obteyned a graunt of the Emperor for the gouernment of that
land by the meanes of one _Benito Martinez_ going into Spayne. And
although they knew not the certainty thereof, yet it was most true, as
shal appeare in another place.
An vproare among the souldiers against
_Cortez, and the punishment for the same_.
There wer some in the host y^t murmured against the election of
_Cortez_, for thereby was excluded _Iames Valasques_, vnto whö they
bare good wil.
Some were _Valasques_ friends, and other some his kinesfolkes, who
letted not to say openly, that _Cortez_ by flattery, sutteltie and
giftes had gotten and obtayned his purpose.
[Sidenote: Mischefe.]
[Sidenote: Tvvo hanged, and tvvo whipped.]
And that the dissymulation in makyng hym selfe to bee entreated and
prayed to accepte that charge and office, was a thing craftily fayned,
whereby suche election coulde not bee of anye value, and chieflye
without any such authority of the Ierome Friers dame, who ruled and
gouerned the _Indians_ as chiefe presidents: how muche more they hadde
newes that _Iames Velasques_ had already obteyned the gouernement of
that land, and _Yucatan_. Then _Cortez_ began to vnderstande in those
matters, and made informatiö who had raysed vp this rumoure, and béeing
knowen, he apprehended the chiefest, and sent them prisoners aboorde
his Ship: and to molifye their wrath, he shortly releassed them agayne,
the which afterwards was cause of more mischief, for these his enimies
woulde haue fledde with a Vergantine and killed the maister, pretending
to flye vnto the Ilande of _Cuba_, for to aduertise _Iames Velasques_
of the great present sent vnto the Emperour, to the intent it shoulde
be taken from their attorners passing néere the porte of _Hauana_, with
all the letters and relations of their businesse, bycause the Emperoure
shoulde not sée it, to conceyue well of their procéedings. Then
_Cortez_ began to be agréeued in earnest, and apprehended diuers of
them, whose confessions being taken, the matter was manifestly knowen
to be true, and therevppon according to the processe, hée condemned
those that were most culpable, and caused forthwith two of them to
be hanged, who were _Iohn Escudero_, and _Iames Cermenio_ pilot, and
condemned _Gonsalo de Vmbria_ and _Alonso Penate_ to be whipped, and
incontinent execution was done, all the rest being pardoned.
With this correction _Cortez_ was more feared, and also estéemed, than
before he was, for certainely if he hadde vsed gentlenesse, he should
neuer haue tamed them, yea and if he had not loked to them in time,
he had bin spoyled: for their pretence was, to haue aduertised _Iames
Velasques_, who would haue preuented them of their Shyps and present,
and yet afterwarde he sente a Caruell after the sayd Ship, although it
were too late.
Cortez caused all his Shippes to be
_sunke, and broken vpon the shore, a most worthy facte_.
[Sidenote: A famous facte.]
_Cortez_ purposed to goe vnto _Mexico_, and would not gyue his
Souldyers to vnderstand it, bycause they shoulde not refuse the
iourney, through the talke of _Teudilli_, especially hearing that the
Citie of Mexico was situated vpon water, whyche they imagined to be
excéeding strong, as in effect it was: and to the intent that they
should all follow hym, although againste their willes, he determined
to spoyle all his Shyppes, which was a strange case, perillous, and a
great losse. His intent throughly weyed, he little estéemed the losse
of his Shippes to withstand his men from disturbance of his enterprise,
for doubtlesse they woulde haue stayed him, yea and rebelled, if they
hadde knowen his minde and pretended purpose. He did secretly accord
with one of the Maisters of hys Fléete in the nighte season to bore
holes in them, that thereby they myghte synke, wythoute anye remedie to
recouer them agayne.
Also he requested the other Maisters and Pylots to publish among the
army, that the Shyppes were so rotten and wormeaten, that they were not
fytte to goe to sea agayne, and that they shoulde, when they chanced
to espye him and many of his Souldies togither, come and certifie him
openly of the estate and force of the sayde Shippes, bycause that
afterwardes they shoulde not laye any fault to his charge.
According to this instruction, the Pylots and Maisters did accomplish
his commaundemente: for shortlye after they espyed him among a flocke
of his companye, and then came they vnto him, saying: Sir, your nauie
is not to make any moe voyages, by reason that they are all leake, and
spoyled, rotten, and worme eaten, wherfore according to our duetie, we
do certifie you thereof, to prouide therein as you shall see cause.
All the Souldiers gaue credite to their tale, bycause the Shippes had
bin there more than thrée monethes. And after long talke aboute the
matter, _Cortez_ commaunded that they shoulde profite themselues of
them the best that they myght, and as for the Hulles, let them sinke
or runne a shore, fayning great sorrow for so great a losse, and want
of such prouision. And in this manner they lette runne a shore fyue of
the best Shyppes, sauyng theyr Ordinance, vittayles, sayles, Cables,
Ankers, ropes, and all other tacle: and shortely after they spoyled
other foure vessels, but that was done wyth some difficultie, bycause
they beganne to surmise the intente of _Cortez_, and beganne openly to
saye, that _Cortes_ meant to carrie them to the slaughter house. He
then pacifyed them wyth gentle wordes, saying, what is he that will
refuse the warres in so riche a Countrey? if there be any of you that
wyll leaue my companye, hée or they may (if please them) returne to
_Cuba_ in a Shyppe that yet remayneth. And this hée spake, to knowe
howe many were the cowards, meanyng in tyme of néede to haue no trust
or confidence in them. Then dyuers shamelesse persons demaunded licence
to returne to _Cuba_, but they were suche as loued no warres. There wer
also others that said nothing, who woulde gladly haue retourned, séeyng
the greatenesse of the Countrey, and the multitude of the people, but
yet they were ashamed to shewe cowardise openlye.
_Cortez_ knowing his souldyers mindes, commanded the other Ship to
be sunke, so that then they were all without hope to goe out of
that Countrey at y^t time, exalting and praysing the noble minde
of _Cortes_ shewed in that worthy facte. Certaynely it was a déede
necessary for the present time, and done by the iudgement of a stout
Captayne, although he lost much by his Shyppes, and abode without
succour of the sea. There are few of these examples, which are not of
valiant personages, as was _Omiez Barbaroza_ with the cut arme, who
a few yeares past brake seauen Galleys and Foystes, to winne thereby
_Bugia_, as largely I do write thereof in battayles of y^e sea in our
dayes.
Hovv the inhabitants of Zempoallan
_brake downe their Idolles_.
[Sidenote: Nevves for Cortez.]
Euery day séemed long to _Cortes_, with the desire to sée _Mutezuma_.
He nowe began to publishe openly his iourney and departure, and chose
out of the body of his host a hüdred and fiftie më, which he thought
sufficient to leaue for safegard of the new towne and fort, which
was almost finished, and appoynted _Pedro de Hircio_ their Captaine,
leauing with them two Horses, and two small péeces of Ordinance, wyth
many _Indians_ to serue them, and fiftie Townes round about them in
faithfull friendship and league, out of the which Townes they might
alwayes haue at their néede fiftie thousande men of warre: and he
departed with the residue of his Spanyardes towarde _Zempoallan_,
whyche mighte be foure leagues from thence, and was scarcely come to
the Towne, when newes was broughte hym that foure Shippes of _Francisco
Garray_ sayled along hys coast, and were in sight of _Vera Crux_.
With this newes he returned incontinent with a hundred of his men,
suspecting euill of those Shippes. At his comming to _Vera Crux_, his
Captaine there enformed him how he had gone himselfe to know what they
were, and from whence they came, and what they would, but coulde speake
with none of them. _Cortes_ beyng informed how they roade at anker,
toke Captaine _Hircio_ and certaine of his company to expect their
commyng ashore, suspectyng them muche, bicause they roade so farre off,
being by signes and tokens willed to come into the Harbor. _Cortes_
hauing wandered neare thrée miles, mette with thrée Spaniardes whiche
came from the shippes, the one of them sayde that he was a Notary, and
the other twoo were to serue for witnesses in their affayres, which
was, to ascite and notifie certaine wrytings, whiche they shewed not:
and also to require _Cortes_ by vertue of the same, to come and make
repartitiö of that countrey with captayne _Garay_ their generall, for
theyr sayd Captaine pretended that conquest (as first discouerer of the
same,) certifying moreouer that hée was determined to inhabite twentie
leagues distät from that place Westwarde neare vnto _Nahutlan_, whiche
nowe is called _Armeria_. _Cortes_ answered, that they should returne
vnto their shippes, and to will theyr Captayne to come to _Vera Crux_
with his nauie, and there they woulde commune togither aboute his
comming, and if he stoode in néede of any thing it shoulde be prouided.
And if it were (as they reported) that he was comen on the Kings
affaires, he woulde gladly fauour his procéedings, considering that
he and all his were there in seruice of his highnesse, how muche more
beyng all of one nation.
They answered, that in no wise their captaine nor none of his army
would come ashore, nor yet come where as _Cortes_ was. With this
answere _Cortes_ vnderstood the matter, and layde holde of them, and
went and placed himself in ambushe behinde a little hill of sande,
whiche stoode right ouer agaynst the shippes, beyng neare sunne sette,
& slepte there that night till daye approched, and the mornyng farre
spent, hopyng that _Garay_ his Pilote or some of his company woulde
come ashore, meanyng likewise to apprehende them for to be certified
what course they had made, and what hurte they had done, and findyng
them guiltie, to sende them prysoners into Spayne, likewise he desired
to knowe whether they had spoken with any vassals of _Mutezuma_, and
seyng they came not a lande his suspition was the greater.
[Sidenote: A vvise practise.]
_Cortes_ commaunded thrée of his men to chaunge apparell with the thrée
messengers that came from _Garay_, and this done, caused them to goe
to the Sea side, wauyng with theyr clokes, and callyng for the shippe
boate, nowe those of the shippes thought by theyr apparell that they
were their owne menne, and came with a dozen persons in the skiffe with
Crossebowes and Handgunnes. Then _Cortes_ his men whiche were clothed
in other mens garments hidde themselues among bushes, as who woulde
say, they were gone into the shadowe, for to flée from the great heate
of the Sunne, being at that time highe noone, and bicause they should
not be knowen.
The Mariners of the skiffe set a lande twoo men with Hargabushes, and
other two më with Crossebowes, and and _Indian_ who went straight way
to the bushes, thinkyng to finde their fellowes. Then stept forth
_Cortes_ and caught them before they coulde gette aborde the skiffe,
although they meant to haue defended themselues, so that one of them
who was a Pilote, hauing his Hargabushe ready charged, & would haue
shot at captaine _Hircio_, & assuredly if his match and pouder had bene
good he had slayne him. When the general aborde the ships perceiued
this deceit, would abide no longer, & cömaunded to make saile, not
tarying for his skiffe. By these seuen më taken at two times _Cortes_
was satisfied, & also certified how captain _Garay_ had sayled along
the coast séeking _Florida_, and arriued in a riuer, the King of that
prouince was called _Panuco_, where they founde little golde, barteryng
aborde their shippes, all theyr golde passed not thrée thousande
Castelins, but in exchaunge of things of small value, nothing contented
_Garay_ on that voyage, bycause the quantitie of golde was small and
not fine.
With this newes _Cortes_ returned to _Zempoallan_ with his men which
he brought in his company: and there concluded and fully agreed with
those _Indians_ to pull downe theyr Idols & sepulchres of their
_Cassikz_, whiche they did reuerence as Gods, perswading them to
worship the God of heauen. And after this doctrine their league of
friendship was effectually established, and with other townes adioyning
against _Mutezuma_. Those _Indians_ gaue vnto him gagues to be alwayes
faithfull of worde & promisse, and offered vnto him as many men fitte
for warre & seruice as he would require. _Cortes_ receiued the gagues
which were of the principallest persons of the townes, as _Mamexi
Teuch_, and _Tamalli_, he tooke also a thousand _Tamemes_, that is to
say, men that are carriars, who ordinarily taketh his burden vpon his
backe which is halfe a hundred waight, and those fellowes followe the
campe with their bagge & bagage: These men serued for horses to draw
the ordinance, and to carrie other munition and victuals.
Hovv Olintlec exalted the mightie
_power of Mutezuma_.
_Cortes_ departed frö _Zempoallan_, leauing that towne named
_Siuillia_, towarde _Mexico_ the sixtene day of August of the same
yéere, with 400. Spaniardes and fiftene horses, & sixe péeces of
ordinance, and 1300. _Indians_ w^t the carriers & më of _Cuba_. And
whë _Cortes_ departed frö _Zempoallan_ he had not one vassall of
_Mutezuma_ in his campe to leade them the way towarde _Mexico_, for al
were fledde, seing the new league, or else by commaundement of their
Lord, and the _Indians_ of _Zempoallan_ knew not well the way.