visit _Mutezuma_, hée lefte there twentie thousande Castlins of golde
and moe, besides the Kings portion which was sent with _Monteio_ and
_Portocarrero_. He lefte there also manye other things if néede should
haue happened in _Mexico_ of money, or other things to prouide his men
in _Vera Crux_, and this he lefte there also, to proue the fidelitie
of his friendes in _Tlaxcallon_. And after he had obteyned the victory
against _Naruaez_, he wrote vnto the Captayne that he shoulde sende for
the same, for reason required that in all things they should haue their
partes.
[Sidenote: Exclamation.]
The Captaine of _Vera Crux_ sente fiftie Spanyardes and fiue Horsemen
for the same, who at their returne, were slayne and taken prisoners
with all that treasure, by y^e men of _Culhua_ who had rebelled
through the comming of _Pamfilo de Naruaez_, robbing and spoyling
sundrye dayes. But when _Cortez_ vnderstoode this newes, his ioy was
turned to sorrowe, not onely for the golde and treasure so muche, as
for the losse of his menne, fearyng also some other warre or vprore
to haue bin in the riche Towne of _Vera Crux_, wherevpon hée sente a
messenger thyther, who returned in shorte time, certifying that all the
inhabitantes there were in good health, and also all the _Comarcans_
quiet, and without any token of alteration. This newes and answere
pleased _Cortes_ and all his company, whiche desired to goe thither,
but he woulde not permitte them, wherefore they began to murmure and
to exclayme, saying, what thinketh _Cortes_, what meaneth he to doe
with vs? why, will he kéepe vs héere to dye an euill death? what haue
we offended him, that he will not let vs goe? we are alreadye full of
wearinesse, our bodyes are yet ful of fresh woundes, we haue spente
our bloude, and are nowe withoute strength and apparell: wée sée oure
selues in a straunge Countrey, and full of miserye, enuironed with
enimies, yea and without hope to come to that hygh place from whence
we fell, yea then mighte wée bée accompted for worse than madde men,
to come into the perils from whence wée escaped: wée meane not nowe
to ende oure lyues so desperately, as he would haue vs, for wyth the
insatiable thirste of honoure and glorye, hée estéemeth not hys life,
neyther oures. He doth not lykewyse consider, that he wanteth menne,
horses, artillerie, and armoure, things so necessarye for the warres,
yea he also wanteth victuall, whyche is a thyng moste principall:
what shall wée saye, but that, he erreth, and is deceyued, in giuing
credite to these _Tlaxcaltecas_, who are, like vnto the other nations
of _India_, which are light, changeable, and louers of newe things, yea
and rather, in effecte of troth, they better loue the _Culhuacans_,
than the Spanishe nation, yea and although they nowe dissemble, yet
when they shall sée a greate army of _Mexicans_ come vpon them, they
will then deliuer vs aliue, to be eaten, and sacrificed, for it is an
olde rule, that friendship dothe not long endure betwixte them that are
of sundry religion, apparell, and spéech.
After all these complayntes and murmurations amög themselues, they made
a protestation and request, in forme as it were in the name of the King
and all the company, praying him incontinent to departe frö thence, and
to goe with them to the Towne of _Vera Crux_, before the enimies mighte
disturbe their way and passage, and then they to remayne both bought
and solde, and shutte vp as it were in a prison: also they declared,
that in _Vera Crux_ they should haue better opportunitie to make
themselues strong, if that he meante to returne agayne vpon _Mexico_,
or else to take shipping, if so it shoulde séeme conuenient.
_Cortes_ hearing this request, and determination of hys Souldyers, was
at his wits ende, ymagining that theyr pretence was, onely to procure
him to goe from thence, and afterwardes to rule him at their pleasures,
and béeing a thing cleane contray to his pretended purpose, hée
aunswered them as followeth.
The Oration made by Cortez in answere
_to his Souldyers demaunde_.
My maisters, I would do and fulfill youre request, if it were a thing
méete and conueniente for you, for there is not one alone of you, how
much more all in generall, for whome I shoulde not willingly aduenture
my goodes and life, if he shuld néede the same: for why? your deedes
haue bin such, that I stand bound neuer to forget thë, or else to
shewe my selfe an ingratefull man. And thinke you not good friendes,
although I do not fulfill the thing whiche you so earnestly desire,
that therefore I estéeme not youre authoritie: but in not graunting to
the same, I do exalt and estéeme you in greater reputation: for why? in
oure departing nowe from hence, oure honor is blotted and stayned for
euermore, and in abiding héere, we shall like valiant menne preserue
the same. What nation is there, that had rule, dominon, and Empire
in this world, that hath not bin ouercome at some time? What famous
Captayne returned home to his house, for the losse of one battayle?
none truly, for he that dothe not perseuer, shall neuer triumph with
Lady Victory: he that retyreth, sheweth that he flyeth, and remayneth
a mockingstocke for all men: but hée that sheweth nobly his face,
dothe vtter the courage of his heart, yea and is both feared, and also
beloued.
If we now should depart from hence, these our friëds would accept and
iudge vs for cowardes, and refuse perpetually our friendship. Likewise
oure enimies woulde iudge the same, and neuer héereafter stande in
feare of vs, which shoulde be a greate shame vnto oure estimation. Is
there any amög vs, that would not holde himselfe affrented, if it
shoulde be sayde, that he turned his backe and fledde, how much more
would it be a dishonor for vs all to haue the same report?
I doe much maruell at the greatenesse of your inuincible heartes in
battell: you were wont to be desirous of warres, and nowe that suche
iust and laudable warre doth offer it selfe, you doe feare and refuse
the same: sure it is a thing cleane contrary to oure nature. What is
hée that will prate of harnes, and neuer ware none? It was neuer yet
séene in all this _India_ and new world, that any of our nation retired
with feare. And woulde you nowe that it should be said, that _Cortes_
and his company fledde, being in securitie, and without perill or
daunger? I beséech God not to permitte any suche thing. The warres doe
muche consist in fame: why then? what better thyng would you desire,
than to be héere in _Tlaxcallan_ in despite of all youre enimies, yea
proclayming open warres againste them, and they not dare to annoy vs?
Therefore you may well consider, that héere you are more sure than if
you were from hence, so that héere in _Tlaxcallan_ you are honored with
securitie and strength, and besides this, you haue al things necessary
for phisick and medicine to cure youre woundes and obteyne your health:
yea, and I am bolde to saye, that if you were in youre owne naturall
Coütrey, you should not haue the like, nor yet be so much made off.
I do nowe meane to send for our men that are in _Coazacoalco_ and
_Almeria_, and so we shall haue a reasonable army: yea and although
they come not, wée are sufficient, for we were fewer in number when
first we entred into thys Countrey, hauyng no friendes: and likewise
you knowe well, it is not the number that doth fighte, but the
couragious hearte and minde. I haue séene one of you discomfyte a whole
army, as _Ionathas_ did, yea and many among you haue had victory
against a thousand, yea ten thousand _Indians_, as King _Dauid_ had
againste the _Philistines_. I looke dayly for Horses from the Ilandes,
and other armoure and artillerie we shall haue from _Vera Crux_. And
as for vittayles, take you no care, for I wyll prouide you abundantly,
for they are thinges that alwayes followe the Conqueroures: and as
for these Citizens of _Tlaxcallan_, I binde my selfe that you shall
finde them trustie, loyall, and perpetuall friendes, for so they haue
promised me vppon their solemne othes, yea, and if they had meante
otherwise, what better opportunitie of time could they haue wished,
thä these latter dayes, where as we lay sicke in their owne beddes
and houses, yea some of vs lame, wounded, and in manner rotten, and
they like louing friendes haue not only holpen you, but also serued
you with diligence of seruantes, for they woulde rather choose to be
your slaues, than subiectes to the _Mexicans_: theyr hatred is suche
to them, and their loue so great to you. And bycause you shall sée the
troth, I will now proue them and you, againste these of _Tepeacac_,
who slewe of late dayes twelue Spanyardes. And if this iourney happen
euill, then will I followe youre request, and if it please God that it
happen well, then wyll I entreate and pray you to follow my counsell.
The Souldyers hearing this comfortable speeche, began to lay aside
their desire to goe from thence to _Vera Crux_. They aunswered
generally, that they woulde obey his commaundemente, it shoulde
séeme with the promise made, touching the successe of the victory in
_Tepeacac_, and lightly seldome it happeneth, that a Spanyard saith no,
when he is required to goe on warfare, for it is holden for a dishonor
and shame.
The vvarres of Tepeacac.
_Cortez_ found himselfe at hearts ease with this answere, for it was a
thing y^t had much troubled him: & vndoubtedly if he had followed his
fellowes demand, he shoulde neuer haue recouered _Mexico_ agayne, &
they likewise had bin slayne in the way towards _Vera Crux_, for they
hadde manye perilous places to passe. Eache one of them waxed whole
of his wounds, sauing some which dyed for wät of loking to in time,
leauing their wounds filthy & vnbound, as Surgiös doe affirme, with
also their great trauell & weakenesse. And likewise other some remayned
lame and halt, which was no small griefe and losse: but the most
parte recouered healthe, as I haue declared. After twenty dayes fully
past, whiche they had abode in _Tlaxcallan_, _Cortes_ determined to
make warre with the _Indians_ of _Tepeacac_, which is a greate Towne,
and not farre from thence, for they hadde slayne twelue Spanyards,
whiche came from _Vera Crux_ towardes _Mexico_. Likewise they were of
the league of _Culhua_, and therfore were holpen by the _Mexicans_,
and did many times great hurt to the inhabitantes of _Tlaxcallan_,
as _Xicotencatl_ did testifye. _Cortes_ desired hys louing friende
_Maxixca_, and diuers other Gentlemen, to goe with him, who forthwith
entred into counsell wyth the states and comunaltie of the Citie,
and there determined with generall consente to gyue vnto him fortie
thousand fighting men, besides many _Tamemoz_, who are foote carriers,
to beare the baggage, victuall, and other things. With this number
of _Tlaxcaltecas_, his owne men and horses, he wente to _Tepeacac_,
requiring them in satisfaction of the death of y^e twelue Christiäs
that they shuld now yéelde themselues to the obedience of the Emperor,
and that héereafter neuer more to receiue any _Mexican_ into theyr
towne or houses, neyther yet any of the prouince of _Culhua_.
The _Tepeacacs_ answered, that they had slaine the Spaniardes for good
and iuste cause, whiche was, that being tyme of warre they presumed to
passe through their countrey by force, without their will and licence.
And also that the _Mexicans_ and _Culhuacans_ were their friendes and
Lordes, whom alwayes they would friendly entertayne within their towne
and houses, refusing vtterly their offer and request, protesting to
giue no obedience to whom they knew not, wishyng them therefore, to
returne incontinent to _Tlaxcallan_, excepte they had desire to ende
their werie dayes.
_Cortes_ innuited them diuers times with peace, and seing it preuailed
not, he begä his warres in earnest. Their enimies lykewise with the
fauour of the _Culhuacans_ were braue and lustie, and began to stoppe
and defend their pretended entraunce. And they beyng many in number,
with diuers valiant men among them, began to skirmishe sundry times,
but at the end, they were ouerthrowen, and many slayne, without killing
any Spaniarde, although many _Tlaxcaltecas_ were killed that day.
The Lordes and principall persons of _Tepeacac_ seyng theyr ouerthrow,
and that their strength coulde not preuayle, yéelded themselues vnto
_Cortes_ for vassalles of the Emperour, with condition to banish for
euer their allied friendes of _Culhua_. And that he should punishe and
correct at his will and pleasure, all those whiche were occasion of the
death of the twelue Spaniardes. For which causes and obstinacie, at
the firste _Cortes_ iudged by his sentence, that all the townes whiche
had bene priuie to the murder, should for euer remaine captiues and
slaues: others affirme that he ouercame them without any condition,
and corrected them for their disobedience, being Sodomites, idolaters
and eaters of mans flesh, and chiefly for exäple of all others. And in
conclusion, they were condemned for slaues, and within twenty daies
that these warres lasted, he pacified all that prouince, which is very
great: he draue from thëce the _Culhuacans_: he threw downe the idols,
and the chiefest persons obeyed him. And for more assuraunce he builte
there a towne, naming it _Segura de la Frontera_: he appoynted all
officers for the purpose, being a towne situated in the high way from
_Vera Crux_ to _Mexico_, whereby the Christians and straungers mighte
passe without daunger. In these warres serued lyke faithfull friendes
the _Indians_ of _Tlaxcallan_, _Huexocinco_ and _Cholalla_, promysing
the lyke seruice and succour agaynst _Mexico_, yea and rather better
than worse. With this victory the Spaniardes recouered great fame, for
they were thought to haue bene slayne.
The great auctoritie that Cortez
_had among the Indians_.
After all these things were finished, _Cortes_ cömaunded & gaue licence
to al the _Indian_ friëds, to returne home vnto their houses, except
his assured friends of _Tlaxcallan_, whö he kept in his company for
the warres of _Mexico_: he nowe dispatched a poste to _Vera Crux_,
commaundyng that foure of the shippes which _Naruaez_ had brought,
should be sent with al spéede to y^e Iland of _Santo Domingo_, for men,
horses, armour, pouder & other munition, also for wollen cloth, linnen,
shooes, and many other things: and wrote his letters for the same to
the licenciat _Rodrigo de Figueroa_, and to the whole magistrates of
Chancery, certifying them of all their procéedings in that countrey;
beséechyng them of helpe and succour, and that forthwith to be sent by
the messenger.
This done, he sente twentie horsemen, twoo hundred Spaniardes, and
many _Indians_ vnto _Zacatami_ and _Xalaxinco_, whiche were townes
subiect to the _Mexicans_, and placed in the high way to _Vera Crux_,
who had slayne certaine Spaniardes passyng that way. This company
wente thither, with their accustomed protestations, whiche preuayled
not, wherevpon followed fire and spoyle: many Gentlemen and other
principall persons came to yéelde themselues to _Cortes_, more for
feare than for good will, crauyng pardon for theyr offence, promising
also not to offende agayne, nor yet at any tyme to take armour agaynst
the Spaniardes. _Cortes_ pardoned them, & then hys armie returned,
with determination to kéepe his Christmasse in _Tlaxcallan_, whiche
was within twelue dayes followyng. He left a Captaine with thrée score
Spaniards in the newe towne of _Segura_, to kéepe that passage, and
also to put in feare the _Comarcans_ that dwelled thereabout: he sente
before him his whole armie, and he himself went with twentie horsemen
from thence to _Coliman_ to lodge there that night, being a cittie of
his allied friendes, and there to ordaine and make by hys auctoritie,
bothe Noble men and Captaynes in lue of them whiche died with the
disease of small pockes. He aboade there thrée dayes, in the whiche
the newe Lordes were ordeyned, who afterwardes remayned his especiall
friendes. The nexte day hée came _Tlaxcallan_, beyng sixe leagues
distant from thence, where he was triumphantly receyued. And truely at
that time he made a iourney most worthie of renowne and glory.
At this season his déere friende _Maxixca_ was departed this
transitorie lyfe, for whome he mourned clothed in blacke, after the
Spanishe fashion: he lefte behinde him certaine sonnes, of whom the
eldest was .xij. yéeres of age, whome _Cortes_ named and appoynted
for Lorde of his fathers estate, and the commons did certifie it to
appertaine vnto him. This was no small glory for _Cortes_ to giue
estates, and also to take them away at his pleasure, yea and that those
_Indians_ should haue him in suche feare and respect, that none durste
doe any thyng in acceptyng the inheritaunce of their fathers without
his good will and licence.
Now _Cortes_ procured that euery man shoulde make his harneys, weapons
and prouision readie and in good order: he made also great haste in
building Vergantines, for his timber was already cutte and seasoned:
he sente vnto _Vera Crux_ for sayles, tacle, nayles, roapes and other
necessarie things, whereof there was store remaynyng of the furniture
of the shippes that were sunke. And hauyng wante of pitche, for in that
countrey the _Indians_ knewe not what it meant, he commaunded certayne
of his Mariners to make the same in the highe Mountaynes where was
store of Pine trées, and not farre from the cittie.
The Vergantines that Cortez commaunded
_to be built, and the Spaniardes which he
had ioyned togither to besiege Mexico_.
The fame of prosperitie whiche _Cortes_ enioyed, was wonderfully
blowen abroade with the newes of the imprisonment of _Mutezuma_, and
the victory against _Pamfilo de Naruaez_, wherevppon there came many
Spaniardes by twenty and twentie in a company from _Cuba_, _Santo
Domingo_, and other Ilandes. Although that iourney coste some their
liues, for in the way they were murdered by those of _Tepeacac_ and
_Xalacinco_, as is before declared, yet notwithstanding there came
many to _Tlaxcallan_, whereby his hoste was muche encreased, beséechyng
him to make haste towarde the warres.
It was not possible for _Cortes_ to haue espies in _Mexico_, for the
_Tlaxcaltecas_ were knowen by their lippes, eares, and other tokens,
and also they had in _Mexico_ garde and greate enquirie for that
purpose, by reason wherof he could not certainely knowe what passed in
those parties, accordyng as he desired, for to haue prouided himself
of things néedefull: yet a Captayne whiche was taken prysoner in
_Huacacholla_, certified that _Cuetlauac_ Lorde of _Iztacpalapan_,
Neuewe to _Mutezuma_, was elected Emperour after his Vncles death, who
was a wise and valiant man, and hée it was that had dryuen _Cortes_
out of _Mexico_, who now had fortified _Mexico_ with many bulworkes
and caues, and with many and sundry sortes of weapon, but chiefly
very long Lances, yea and planted them in the grounde to resiste and
molest the horsemen. He proclaymed pardon and frée libertie, without
paying any tribute for the space of one whole yéere, yea and further
as long as the warres should laste, he promysed also great rewardes to
all them that shoulde kill any Christian, or expulse them from that
countrey. This was a policie whereby he gatte muche credite among
his vassals, yea and gaue them greate courage to play the valiant
men. All this newes was founde to be true, sauyng onely _Cuetlauac_
was dead. And that _Quahutimoccin_, Neuew also, as some doe say, of
_Mutezuma_, raygned at that tyme, who was a valiant man and a good
warrier, as hereafter shalbe declared, who sente his messengers through
out his Empyre, proclaymyng as great rewardes as _Cuetlauac_ had done
before, declaryng vnto them that it was more reason to serue him than
straungers, and also to defende theyr olde auncient Religion, and not
to credite suche Christians as woulde make themselues Lordes of other
mens goodes, yea and make them slaues and captiues as they had done in
other places. _Quahutimoc_ encouraged muche his subiectes, and kindled
with his talke their wrath agaynst the Spaniards: yet there were some
prouinces that gaue no eare to his information, but rather leaned to
our side, or else medled with neyther side. _Cortes_ seyng the effect
of the matter, determined forthwith to beginne the warres: he mustered
his men on Sainct Steuens day, and founde fourtie horsemen, and fiue
hundreth & fourtie footemen, wherof foure score were Hargabushiers,
and crossebow men, niene péeces of ordinaunce, and little powder: his
horsemen he diuided into foure squares, and his footemen into nine: he
named & appointed captaynes, and other officers for the host, vnto whom
in general he spake as followeth.
The exhortation of Cortez to
_his Souldiers_.
My louyng brethren, I gyue moste hartie thankes vnto Iesu Christ, to
sée you now whole of your woundes and frée from diseases: likewise
I muche reioyce to sée you in good order trimly armed, yea and with
suche desire to sette agayne vpon _Mexico_, to reuenge the death of
our fellowes, and to winne that greate Citie, the whiche I truste in
God shalbe brought to passe in shorte time, hauing the friendship of
_Tlaxcallan_ and other prouinces, who haue as great desire to sée the
ouerthrowe of the _Mexicans_, as we our selues, for therein they gette
both honour, libertie & safegarde of life. Also it is to be considered,
that if the victory should not be ours, they poore soules should be
destroyed and remaine in perpetuall captiuitie. Also the _Culhuacans_
do abhorre them worse than vs, for receyuing vs into their houses and
countrey: therefore sure I am that they will sticke vnto vs vnfaynedly.
I muste néedes confesse their vnfayned friendship, for presente workes
doe testifie the same. They will not onely be a meane to bryng others
their neyghbours to our seruice, but also haue now in readinesse
.100000. më of warre, to sende with vs, besides a great nüber of
_Tamemez_ or carriers to carrie al our prouision. Ye also, are now the
same which alwaies heretofore ye haue bene, for I as witnesse beying
your captayne, haue had the victory of many battayles fighting with a
.100. yea & 200000. enimies: we got also by strength of arme many strög
cities, yea & brought in subiection many prouinces, not beyng so many
in number as we are nowe, for when we came firste into this countrey we
were not so many as now presently we are. Agayne in _Mexico_ they feare
our cöing: it should also be a blot vnto our honour that _Quahutimoc_
should inherite y^e kingdome that cost our friëd _Mutezuma_ his life.
Likewise I esteme al that we haue done is nothing, if we winne not
_Mexico_, our victories shoulde also be sorowfull if we reuenge not
the death of our déere fellowes. The chiefe and principall cause of
our cöming into this countrey, was to set forth the faith of Iesu
Christ, & therwithal doth folow honour & profite which seldome times
do dwell togither. In those fewe dayes that we were in _Mexico_, we
put downe the idols, we caused sacrifice and eatying of mans fleshe to
bée layde aside, and also in those dayes wée beganne to conuerte some
to the fayth. It is not therefore nowe reason to leaue of so laudable
an enterpryse, so well begonne. Lette vs now goe whither holy fayth
doth call vs, and where the sinnes of our enimies deserueth so great a
punishment, and if yée well remember, the Citizens of that citie were
not cötent to murder such an infinite number of men, women & children
before the idols, in their filthy sacrifice, for honour of their
Diuelishe Goddes, but also to eate their fleshe, a thyng inhumayne,
and much abhorred of God, and al good men doth procure, and especially
Christians, to defende and punishe suche odious customes.