Christians, saying they were but fewe, and when they were come, he
should doe what he lysted with them, willing him in no wise to ceasse
from the bloudy sacrifice, least some mischance might happen vnto him.
And assured hym that he should haue the Goddes _Vitzipuchtli_, and
_Tescatlipuca_ to preserue and kéepe hym. And bycause _Quezalcouatle_
was agréeued for wante of bloudy sacrifice, he permitted the Straungers
to punishe them of _Chololla_. And _Mutezuma_ hearing this dyuelishe
Oracle, and likewise _Cortez_ hauing warned him that hée would visite
hym as an enimie, he was by this perswasion of Sathan, the better
willing to receyue hym into _Mexico_.
Likewise _Cortes_ when he came to _Chololla_, was strong, and hadde
at commaundemente a mightie power, and there made hymselfe stronger,
the fame whereof, was blowen abroade, throughout all the dominions of
_Mutezuma_. And whereas the poore _Indians_ hadde but onely maruelled
at their persons and furniture, nowe they began to tremble and to feare
at his doings, so that wheresoeuer he came, they opened him the gates
with pure feare, more than for any loue.
[Sidenote: An euill counsellor.]
_Mutezuma_ at the beginning, pretended to feare _Cortes_ with the
fearefull passages and other perils and danger, as the fortitude of
_Mexico_, with his greate multitude of subiectes, and the great number
of Princes that dyd both serue and obey him: and séeyng that all these
things profited not, he thoughte to haue ouercome him with gyftes
and treasure, knowyng that he hadde required golde: yet he sawe that
nothing woulde preuayle, for that _Cortez_ woulde néedes come to sée
hym, wherevppon, he tooke counsell of the Diuell what he shoulde doe
in that case, vpon which counsell he was satisfyed by hys Priests and
Captaynes, that he ought not to warre against so fewe straungers, for
if he so did, the dishonor would be his, and chiefly, bycause _Cortez_
certifyed that he was an Ambassador, and vsing hym otherwise, it
myghte so fall out, that hys owne subiectes would rebell againste him
theyr Lorde and Prince, saying likewise that it was manifest that the
_Otomies_ and _Tlaxcaltecas_ woulde fauour his syde, and also manye
others, for to destroy and spoyle _Mexico_, vpon which consultation it
was openly proclaymed, that his will was that the straungers should
enter into _Mexico_ fréely, thinking that if at anye time they shoulde
displease hym, to make a breakefast of them the nexte day.
Things that happened to Cortez in
_his iourney to Mexico_.
_Cortez_ hauyng so good an aunswere of the Ambassadors, he gaue licence
to as manye of the _Indians_ hys friendes, as listed to departe home
to their houses, and he likewise departed from _Chololla_ with some
borderers that would néedes follow him.
[Sidenote: Oh vvise Cortes.]
He lefte the way that the _Mexicans_ had perswaded him to come, for it
was bothe euill and daungerous, as the Spaniarde whiche went to the
vulcan had séene, he went another playner way and more nearer. That
day he traueled but foure leagues, bicause he meant to lodge in the
villages of _Huexozinco_, where he was friendly receyued, and they
presented vnto him slaues, garments, and golde, although but little,
for they are poore by reason that _Mutezuma_ hath enuironed them
aboute, bicause they were of the parcialitie of _Tlaxcallan_. The next
day in the morning he ascended vp a hill couered with snowe, which
was sixe myles of heigth, where if the .30000. Souldiers had wayted
for them, they might easily haue taken them, by reason of the great
colde: and from the toppe of that hill, they discouered y^e land of
_Mexico_, and the great lake with his villages rounde about, whiche is
an excéedyng goodly sight. But when _Cortes_ saw that beautifull thing,
his ioy was without comparison, and he tooke not so much pleasure, but
some of his men feared as muche, and there was a murmuration among them
to returne backe againe, yea and like to haue bene a mutinie among
them. But _Cortes_ with his wisedome and dissimulation did pacifie the
matter, with courage, hope, and gentle wordes, and they seing that
their Captayne at all assayes was the first himselfe, they feared the
lesse the things that they imagined. And discending downe into the
playn, they found a great large house, sufficient for him and all his
company, with sixe thousande _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, _Huexozinco_,
and _Chololla_. And y^e seruants of _Mutezuma_ made cotages of straw
for the _Tamemez_ or carriers, who were ladë with the fardage, and
victuals: there was a good supper prepared for them, and great fires
to warme them, and all things necessary. Thither came many principall
persons from _Mexico_ to visite him, among whome was a kinsman of
_Mutezuma_, who presented vnto _Cortes_ the value of thrée thousand
Ducates in gold, & besought him to returne backe againe, and to haue
consideration of the pouertie, hunger, & euill way, yea and to passe
in litle boates in daunger of drowning. And as for tribute to be giuen
to the Emperour, a greater summe should be appointed thë though he
went personally to _Mexico_, yea and that it should be payde at what
place he would apoint. _Cortes_ welcomed them, as reason did require,
and presented vnto them haberdashe toyes, which they estemed in much,
& chiefly he did louingly entertayne _Mutezuma_ his kinesman, vnto
whome he made this answere, saying, I woulde gladly serue & pleasure
such a mightie prince as your soueraigne _Mutezuma_ is, if it lay in my
handes without offence of the King my mayster, and concerning my goyng
to _Mexico_, _Mutezuma_ shall receyue both pleasure and honour rather
than otherwise, & after I haue talked with him I will soone returne,
likewise hunger I feare not, neyther yet doubt that I nor none of mine
shall wante, and for my passage on the water, I say it is nothing in
comparison of twoo thousande leagues, which I haue sayled onely to come
and visit him.
But yet for all this talke, if they had founde him carelesse, they
would haue pinched him as some doth say, for he gaue them to vnderstand
that he nor his men slept not by night, nor yet vnarmed themselues, yea
and also if it chanced thë to find in the night season any that were
not of their company, they slew them out of häd, desiring him to aduise
his men thereof, least any of them should happen to fall into that
daunger, which would much grieue him, and with this talke they went all
to take their reste.
The next day in the morning he proceded forward and came to
_Amaquemecan_ which is two leagues frö thence, & standeth in the
prouince of _Chalco_, a towne that cötayneth 20000. householders.
The Lorde of that towne presented to _Cortes_ fourtie women slaues,
and .3000. Ducats in gold, with meate abüdantly for two dayes, and
secretely made complaynt vnto him of _Mutezuma_. And from thence he
went to another towne foure leagues from thëce, the one half therof
was builte vpon the lake, and the other halfe vpon the lande at the
foote of a ragged hill. There went in his company many subiectes of
_Mutezuma_ for purueyors, but yet both they and the townes men would
fayne haue layde hand vpon the Spaniardes, and euery night would sende
their spies to sée what the Christians did, but the watch slew about
twentie of them, whervpon the matter stayed and their pretence tooke
no effect: sure it is a thing to laugh at, for at euery fancie they
woulde proue to kill them, and yet they were not for the purpose.
The nexte day in the mornyng came twelue Lordes from _Mexico_, among
whome was _Cacama_ Neuew to _Mutezuma_, who was Lorde of _Tezcuco_ a
yong man of .xxv. yeares of age, whom the _Indians_ did much honour:
he was carried vpon their shoulders, & when they set him downe one
went before with a brome to swéep the dust out of his way. These
Gentlemen came to accöpany _Cortes_ excusing _Mutezuma_, saying that
he was not well at ease & therfore he came not personally to receiue
him. And yet they entreated _Cortes_ to returne backe againe, & not
to come vnto _Mexico_, gyuing him to vnderstand by signes, y^t they
would there displease him, yea & also defend the passage & entrance,
a thing easie to be done, but they were either blinded or else they
durst not breake the Calsey. _Cortes_ entertayned thë like noble më,
& gaue vnto thë of his haberdashe, & departed from y^e towne w^t many
graue personages who carried with thë a great trayne, whiche filled
vp the way well nigh as they should passe, wödring at their beardes,
harneys, apparell, horses & ordinaunce, saying to themselues, these be
Gods. _Cortes_ gaue them warning not to come among the horses, nor
among his men, for feare they would kil them. This he made them beléeue
bicause he would not haue his way stopped, for y^t the number of thë
was so great. They then came to a towne buylte vpon the water of two
thousand houses, and before they came thither they had gone more than
halfe a league vppon a fayre Calsey, whiche was twentie foote brode:
the towne had fayre houses and many towers: the Lord of the towne
did receyue them worshipfully, and prouided all things plentifully,
desiryng him to abide there that night, and secretly made complayntes
against _Mutezuma_, of many wrongs and exactions done by him, and
certified him, that from thence the way was very fayre to _Mexico_, and
al the like calsey as he had passed. With this newes _Cortes_ was very
glad, for he meant to haue stayed there for to haue buylte barkes and
foystes, & yet he feared least they woulde breake the calsey, wherfore
he had alwayes a care ouer _Cacama_, who with the other Lordes desired
him not to abide there, but to procéede forward to _Iztacpalapan_,
which was but twoo leagues off, and that the Lorde thereof was another
Neuew to _Mutezuma_. To admit their request he wët with them to that
towne, and from thence to _Mexico_ was but twoo leagues, the which the
next day he might goe at pleasure, and come timely into the Citie, & in
this order came to _Iztacpalapan_.
Euery two houres came messengers betwixte _Cortes_ and _Mutezuma_:
then came _Cuetlauac_ Lorde of that towne, with the Lorde _Culhuacan_
his kinsman to receyue him, who presented vnto him, slaues, garments,
and feathers, and to the value of foure thousande Ducates in golde.
_Cuetlauac_ receyued al the Spaniards into his own house, whiche hath
very fayre lodgings all of stone and Carpenters worke excéeding well
wrought, with high & lowe roumes, with all kinde of seruice: The
chambers were hanged with cloth of Cotten, very rich, after their
maner. There were fayre gardës replenished with many swéete floures,
and swéete trées garnished with networke, made of Canes, and couered
with roses and other fine hearbes, with sundry pondes of swéete water.
There was an other garden very beautifull of all sortes of fruytes and
hearbes, with a great ponde walled with lyme and stone, and was foure
hundreth paces square, made with fayre steppes to discende vnto the
bottome in many places, and was full of diuers kindes of fishes, and
many kinde of water birds, which somtimes couered y^e pond, as Gulles,
Mewes, and such like. _Iztacpallapan_ is a towne of .10000. households,
& is pläted in a lake of salt water, the one half of the towne buylt on
the water, & the other on the lande.
The Solemne pompe vvherevvith
_Cortez was receyued into Mexico_.
From _Iztacpalapan_ to _Mexico_ is twoo leagues all vpon a fayre
calsey, vpon the which eight horsemë may passe on räke, and so directly
straight as though it had bene made by line. And who soeuer hath good
eiesight might discerne the gates of _Mexico_ from thence. _Coyoacan_
is a towne of sixe thousande dwellers, _Vizilopuchtli_ is of fiue
thousand. These townes are planted in the lake, and are adorned with
many temples, whiche haue many fayre towers, that doe beautifie
excedingly the lake. There is great contractatiö of Salte, which is
made there, and from thence is carried abrode to fayres and markets,
whiche thing was a greate rente to _Mutezuma_. Vpon this Calsey are
many drawebridges buylt vpon fayre arches that the water passeth
through.
_Cortes_ passed this calsey with .400. Spaniardes, & .6000. _Indians_
his friends: theyr passage was with much ado, by reason of the great
multitude of _Indians_ which came to sée him, & cöming neare the
citie, there adioyned another calsey with a broder passage, where
standeth a strong bulwark of stone of the heigth of .ij. fadom, with
two towers on eche side, and two gates very strong. Here at this forte
came thrée thousande Courtiers and Citizens to receyue him, & euery
of them touched the grounde with his right hand and kissed it, and
passed forwards in the order as they came. These salutatiös endured an
houre & more. From the bulwark the calsey lieth directly, and before
the entraunce into the streate there is an other drawe bridge made of
timber ten paces broade, vnder the which the water passeth too and fro.
At this bridge came _Mutezuma_ to receyue _Cortes_ vnder a Canapie of
gréene feathers & golde with much argentery hangyng thereat, whiche
Canapie foure noble men did carry. And the two princes _Cuetlauac_, and
_Cacama_ his neuewes, did leade him by eache arme: all thrée were riche
appareled & al of one fashion, except _Mutezuma_, whiche had a payre
of shoes of golde besette with pretious stones, and the soles were
tied to the vpper part with latchets, as is paynted of the Antikes.
His Gentlemen wente by two and two laying downe and taking vp mantels
and couerlets vpon the ground, bicause his féete should not touche the
same: then followed him as in procession .200. noble men barefooted,
with garments of a richer liuery then the first thrée thousand.
_Mutezuma_ came in the middest of the streate, and the others came
behinde him as nigh the wal as they mought, their faces towards the
grounde, for it was a great offence to looke him in the face. _Cortes_
alighted from his horse, and according to our vse went to embrace him,
but the Princes who led him by the armes would not suffer him to come
so nigh, for they held it for sin to touch him, but yet saluted ech one
y^e other.
_Cortes_ put about _Mutezuma_ his necke a coller of Margarites,
Diamondes, & other stones al of glasse. _Mutezuma_ receyued it
thankfully, & wente before with one of the princes his Neuewes, &
cömaunded the other to lead _Cortes_ by the hand next after him in the
middest of the streat: and procéeding forwarde in this order, then came
the Gëtlemen in the richest liuery to welcome him one by one, touchyng
the ground with their handes, & after returned to their standyng. And
if the Citizens had come as they requested, all y^e day would not haue
serued for salutatiös. The coller of glasse pleased well _Mutezuma_,
and bycause he woulde not take without giuyng a better thing as a great
prince, he commaunded to be brought twoo collers of redde prawnes,
which there are muche estéemed, and at euery one of them hanged eight
shrimpes of gold of excellent workemanship, & of a finger length euery
one, he put these collers with the owne hands about _Cortes_ his necke,
the which was estéemed a most great fauour, yea and the _Indians_
marueled at it. At this time they were come to the streate ende, whiche
was almost a mile long, broade, straight and very fayre and full of
houses on eche side, in whose dores, windowes and tops was such a
multitude of _Indians_ to beholde the strangers, that I knowe not who
wondered most, our men to sée such a number of them, or else they to
sée our men, their ordinance & horses, a thing so straunge vnto them.
They were brought vnto a great court or house of idols, which was y^e
lodging of _Axaiaca_, at the dore where of _Mutezuma_ tooke _Cortes_
by the hande and brought him into a fayre hall, and placed him vpon a
riche carpet, saying vnto him, Sir nowe are you in your owne house,
eate and take your rest & pleasure, for I wil shortly come and visite
you againe. Such (as you heare) was the receiuing of _Hernando Cortes_
by _Mutezuma_ a most mightie King, into his great and famous Citie of
_Mexico_, the eight day of Nouember .1519.
The Oration of Mutezuma to
_the Spanyardes_.
[Sidenote: A strange opinion.]
The house where the Spaniardes were lodged was great and large, with
many fayre chambers sufficient for them all: it was nete, cleane
matted, and hanged with cloth of Cotten, and feathers of many colours,
pleasant to behold. When _Mutezuma_ was departed frö _Cortes_, he
began to sette his house in order, and placed the ordinaunce at his
dore, and hauing all his things in good sorte, he went to a sumptuous
dinner that was prepared for him. As soone as _Mutezuma_ had made an
ende of his dinner hearyng that the straungers were rysen from the
table, and reposed a while, then came he to _Cortes_, salutyng him,
and satte downe by him. He gaue vnto him diuers iewels of gold plate,
feathers, and many garmëts of Cotten, both riche, well woven, & wrought
of straunge colours, a thing comely, that did manifest his greatnesse,
and also cöfirme their imagination. This gifte was deliuered honorably,
and then began his talke as foloweth: Lorde and Gentlemen, I doe much
reioyce to haue in my house such valiant men as ye are, for to vse you
with curtesie, and entreate you with honour, according to your deserte
and my estate. And where heretofore I desired that you shoulde not come
hither, the onely cause was, my people had a greate feare to sée you,
for your gesture & grimme beards did terrifie them, yea, they reported
that yée had such beastes as swallowed men, and that your cöming
was frö heauen, bringing with you lightning, thunder & thüderbolts,
wherwith you made the earth to trëble & to shake, and that yée slew
therewith whom ye pleased. But now I do sée & know that you are mortall
më, & that ye are quiet & hurt no man: also I haue séene your horses,
which are but your seruauntes, and youre Gunnes lyke vnto shootyng
Trunkes. I do now hold all for fables and lyes which hath bin reported
of you, and I do also accept you for my méere kinsmen. My father tolde
me that hée had heard his forefathers say, of whome I doe descende,
that they helde opinion howe they were not naturals of thys lande, but
come hither by chance, in companye of a mighty Lorde, who after a while
that they hadde abode héere, they returned to their natiue soyle: After
manye yeares expyred, they came agayne for those whome they had left
héere behind them, but they would not goe wyth them, bycause they had
héere inhabited, and hadde wyues and children, and great gouernement in
the land. Nowe these myghtie Lords séeyng that they were so stubborne,
and woulde not returne with them, departed from them sore displeased,
saying, that he woulde sende his children that should both rule and
gouerne them, in iustice, peace, and auntient Religion, and for this
consideration, wée haue alwayes expected and beléeued, that suche a
people should come to rule and gouerne vs, and cösidering from whence
you come, I doe thinke that you are they whome we looked for, and the
notice which the greate Emperour _Charles_ had of vs, who hath now sent
you hither. Therefore Lorde and Captayne, be well assured, that we wyll
obey you, if there be no fayned or deceytefull matter in your dealings,
and will also deuide wyth you and youres all that we haue. And although
this which I haue sayde were not only for youre vertue, fame, and
déedes of valiant Gentlemen, I would yet do it for your worthinesse in
the battayles of _Tauasco_, _Teocazinco_, and _Chololla_, béeyng so
few, to ouercome so many.
Now agayne, if ye ymagine that I am a God, and the walles and routes of
my houses, and all my vessell of seruice to be of pure golde, as the
men of _Zempoallan_, _Tlaxcallan_, and _Huexozinco_ hath enformed you,
it is not so, and I iudge you to be so wise, that you giue no credit
to such fables. You shall also note, that through your commyng hither,
manye of my subiectes haue rebelled, and are become my mortall enimies,
but yet I purpose to breake their wings. Come féele you my body, I am
of fleshe and bone, a mortal man as others are, and no God, although
as a King I doe estéeme my selfe of a greater dignitie and preheminëce
than others. My houses you do also sée, which are of tymber and earthe,
and the principallest of Masons worke, therefore nowe you do both knowe
and sée what odious lyars those talebearers were. But troth it is, that
golde plate, feathers, armour, iewels, and other riches, I haue in the
treasory of my forefathers a long time preserued, as the vse of Kings
is, all the which you & yours shal enioy at all times. And now it may
please you to take your rest, for I know that you are wéery of your
iourney. _Cortez_ with ioyfull countenance humbled himselfe, séeing
some teares fall from _Mutezuma_ his eyes, saying vnto him, vppon the
trust I haue hadde in youre clemencye, I insisted to come both to sée
and talke wyth your highnesse, and now I know that all are lyes which
hath bin tolde me. The like youre highnesse hath hearde reported of
vs, assure youre selfe, that the Emperoure Kyng of _Spayne_ is your
naturall Lorde, whome yée haue expected for, he is the onely heyre from
whence youre lynage dothe procéede, and as touching the offer of youre
highnesse treasure, I do most hartyly thanke you.
[Sidenote: A louing aunsvvere.]
After all this communication, _Mutezuma_ demaunded whether the bearded
men whiche came with him, were eyther his vassals or his slaues,
bycause he would entertayne eache one according to his estate. _Cortes_
aunswered, that they were all his bréethren, friendes, and fellowes,
except some that were his seruauntes.
Then he departed, and wente home to his Pallace, and there enformed
himselfe particularlye who were Gentlemen, and who were not, and
according therevnto, sent euery one particular gift or present. To the
Gentlemen he sente the rewarde by his Controller, and to the Marriners
& other seruitors, by a Page of his housholde.
The Maiestie and order, vvherevvith
_Mutezuma was serued_.
Mvtezuma was a man of a small stature and leane, his couloure tawnie as
all the _Indians_ are. He hadde long heare on hys heade, sixe little
heares vppon him, as though they hadde bin put in with a bodkin. His
thinne bearde was blacke. Hée was a man of a fayre condition, and a
doer of Iustice, well spoken, graue and wise, beloued and feared among
his subiectes. _Mutezuma_ doth signifie sadnesse.
To y^e proper names of Kings and Lords, they do adde this sillable C.
whiche is for cortesie and dignitie, as we vse Lord. The Turke vseth
_Zultan_. The Moore or Barbarian calleth his Lorde _Mulley_, and so the
_Indians_ say _Mutezumazin_. His people hadde him in such reuerence,
that he permitted none to sit in his sight, nor yet in his presence to
weare shoes, nor looke him in the face, except very few Princes. He
was glad of the conuersation of the _Spanyardes_, and would not suffer
them to stande on foote, for the great estimation he had of them, and
if he lyked any of the _Spanyardes_ garments, he woulde exchange his
apparrell for theirs.
He changed his owne apparell foure times euery day, and he neuer
clothed himselfe agayne with the garmentes whiche he hadde once worne,
but all suche were kept in his Guardrobe, for to giue in presents to
his seruantes and Ambassadors, and vnto valiante souldyers which had
takë any enimie prisoner, and that was estéemed a great reward, and a
title of priuiledge.
The costly mätels whereof had bin diuers sent to _Cortes_, were of the
same Guardrobe.
_Mutezuma_ went alwayes very net and fine in hys attire. He bathed him
in his hotehouse foure times euerye day. He went seldome out of his
Chamber, but when hée went to his meate. He eate alwayes alone, but
solemnelye and with great abundance. His table was a pillowe, or else a
couple of coulloured skynnes. His Chayre was a fourefooted stole made
of one péece, and hollowe in the middest, well wroughte and paynted.
His table clothes, napkins and towels were made of Cotten woll, verye
white and newe, for he was neuer serued but once wyth that naperie.
Foure hundred Pages broughte in hys meate, all sonnes of greate Lordes,
and placed it vppon a table in his greate Hall. The meate béeyng
broughte in, then came _Mutezuma_ to beholde the dishes, and appoynted
those dishes that liked him best, and chafing dishes were prepared
to kéepe that meate warme, and seldome would eate of any other dish,
except the Lord Stewarde or Controller should highly commende any other
dishe.