de Zoto_, with a whole Coluerin made of siluer, and 70000. castlins
in golde, the newes whereof was blowen ouer all _Spaine_. And to say
the troth, this presente was y^e cause, that _Cortes_ was not put
out of his office, but a Iudge of residence was sent thither to take
an accompt of him. Now a wise and a learned man was sought for that
purpose, yea suche a one as could rule the matter, for some souldiers
are oftentimes vnmanerly: whervpö they thought the Licenciat, _Lewes
pouce de Leon_ a fitte mä, who had bin Lieutenante to _Don Martin de
Cordoua_, Earle of _Alcaudete_, & chiefe gouernour of the citie of
_Tolledo_. This Licenciate with power sufficient, was sent vnto the
new _Spaine_, who carried in his company as assistant, the batcheler
_Marcus de Aguillar_, who hadde ruled in time past, in a worshipfull
office of Iustice in the Ilande of _Santo Domingo_.
With prosperous weather they departed from Spayne, and in shorte tyme
arriued at _Vera Crux_, _Cortez_ hauing newes of their arriuall by
foote postes within two dayes. And vppon Midsomer day came letters to
_Cortes_ from the Licenciate _Ponce_, with another letter from the
Emperour, wherby he vnderstood y^e cause of their comming. He returned
backe incontinët an aunswere, and desired to know which way he would
come to _Mexico_, eyther by y^e way inhabited, or else the other way
which is néerer. The Licenciate replyed, that he woulde for a while
abide in _Vera Crux_, to refresh himselfe, béeyng seasicke, and a man
y^t had not heeretofore at any time passed the seas, thinking that
_Cortes_ meante to haue done iustice on certain offenders, yea & also
to haue takë hym by the way: wherefore he suspected, that _Cortes_ had
sent, bycause he woulde knowe whiche way he meant to come, wherevpon he
secretely tooke post horse, with certaine Gentlemë, and other religious
persons that came in hys company, & passed through the Townes, although
it was the farther way, and made suche hast, that in fiue dayes he came
to _Iztacpallapan_, refusing the entertaynement and prouision of meate
and lodging that _Cortes_ had prepared by his Gentlemë, that wët both
the wayes to méete him.
In _Iztacpallapä_ they receyued him with great feast and maiestie,
but after dinner, the Licenciate fell a vomiting, and the most of hys
companye, and after the vomite, they fell into a flixe. They thoughte
that certayne hearbes was the cause thereof, whiche were in a dishe
of curdes. The Licenciate was somewhat gréedie of the curdes, and
tooke the dishe, and offered it to father _Thomas Ortiz_, no (quoth
the Stewarde) hys reuerence shall haue another dishe, no (quoth father
_Ortiz_) I will none of these, nor yet of anye other, of whyche wordes
there were afterwardes Verses made, suspecting somethyng of the curdes:
but truely there was no hurte, or anye euill thyng putte in them, (as
héereafter shalbe declared) for the _Comendador_, _Proano_, who was
then chiefe Sheriffe, did eate of all those dishes, yea in the same
dishe that the Licenciat eate of, who neyther vomited nor yet receyued
any hurte or alteration. But I thinke, that they cömyng hoate, wery
and hungry, did eate too muche, and dranke also colde water, whereby
their stomackes reuolted, and thereof followed the flixe with vomite.
On the behalfe of _Cortes_ there was presented to the Licenciat a riche
present, but he refused it.
_Cortes_ with al the flower of Gentlemen in _Mexico_, came to receyue
him, and giuyng him the right hand, they went togyther vntill they came
to _Sainct Frances_ abbay, where after their praiers made, _Cortes_
demaüded to sée the kings prouisions, who answered, that the nexte day
he woulde shew them vnto him: then they accompanied him to his house,
where he was well lodged.
The nexte day followyng, all the magistrates of the Cittie mette the
Licentiat in the cathedrall Church, and by acte, before the notary,
he presented his auctoritie from the Emperour. He tooke the Vares
of Iustice from the Iudges and Sargeants, and incontinent restored
them agayne, and saide with gentle speach, this rodde of the Senior
gouernour, I will haue for my selfe. _Cortes_ with all the other
Magistrates kissed the Emperours letters, and put them vpon the crowne
of their heads, in tokë of great obedience, saying, that they woulde
obserue and obey all that was therein contayned, as the commaundement
of their king and Lorde, requyring the same to be set downe by acte and
testimony.
After these things done, they proclaymed the residence and account
of iustice, of _Hernando Cortes_, to the intent that all persons who
coulde accuse him of any vnrightful dealing, should come and make their
complaint, and to haue remedy for the same. There should you then sée
the stirre and talke among them, euery officer fearyng his owne cause,
with desire to sée the ende of their businesse.
The death of the Licenciat
_Luys Ponce_.
The Licenciat comming one day from _Saint Frances_ abbay from seruice,
fell into an extréeme burnyng feuer, and lay him downe in his bedde,
where he remayned the space of thrée dayes, as a man out of his wittes,
and the feuer stil encreasing, so that on the seuenth day he yéelded vp
the ghost. In the time of his sickenesse he receyued the communion, and
made his laste will & testament. He left for substitute in his office,
the bacheler _Marcus de Aguillar_. _Cortes_ made as greate sorrow for
his death, as if he had bene his owne father, his funeralles were
celebrated with great pompe.
[Sidenote: A madde daunce.]
The enimies of _Cortes_ published, that he died of poyson. But the
Licenciat _Pero Lopez_, and Doctor _Hoieda_, who were his Phisitions,
swore that he died of a burnyng feuer, and shewed a further
consequence, that the euenyng before he deceased, he desired them to
play the measures vpon a lute, and as he lay in his bedde, shewed with
stirryng his féete the compasses and pointes of the daunce. It was a
thing which diuers persons saw, and forthwith he lost his speach, and
that night towarde the dawning of the day he yéelded vp his spirite.
I thinke that fewe men do die daüsing, as this Lawier did. The number
of a hundred persons came out of Spayne with the Licenciat, whereof
the moste parte died by sea and on the lande. It was suspected to be a
pestilence, for one of them infected another. There were in his company
many Gentlemen & ech of them had an office. There was a Frier who was
a very slaunderous fellow, & reported that _Cortes_ had poysoned the
Licenciat, and also that the Licenciat had an expresse order from the
Emperour to cut of _Cortes_ his head, as sone as he had taken the Vare
of Iustice from him. The subtle Frier, had thought to haue gotten money
of the one, and thankes of the other, and at the ende had nothyng.
Hovv Cortez came into
_Spayne_.
VVhere one _Alonso de Estrada_ gouerned the state of _Mexico_, as
substitute of _Marcus de Aguillar_, accordying to the Emperours
commaundement, _Cortes_ considered with himselfe that it was not
possible for him to haue agayne his office, except he wente personally
to the Emperours court, where he had many aduersaries and fewe
friendes, so that he was afflicted on euery side: yet he in fine
determined to goe into Spayne, as well for businesse of importaunce of
his owne, as also matters touchyng the Emperour and his new kingdoms
whereof I will reherse particularly some.
As touchyng his owne causes, first he beyng a man of good yéeres, went
to marry, hoping to haue children, vnto whom he might leaue the profite
of his labour and payne: also to appeare before the King his maister
face to face, and to enforme his Maiestie what landes and Kyngdomes hée
had wonne and brought vnto his royall crowne: To signifie lykewise vnto
hym, of the dissention among the Spanyardes hys subiectes in _Mexico_,
and to answere for himselfe, to any false reportes whiche had bene made
agaynst hym: And finally, to receyue a condigne rewarde for hys worthie
and faythfull seruice. _Cortes_ beyng in these imaginations, there
was brought a letter vnto him, from the reuerend father _Garcia de
Loaisa_ ghostly father vnto the Emperour, and afterwarde was ordeyned
Cardinall, in the whiche letter he conuited him earnestly to come vnto
Spayne, to the entent that the Emperours Maiestie mighte bothe sée
and know him, assuring him of his friendshippe. After the receyte of
this letter, he made al the hast possible to departe vpon his iourney,
ceasing from his voyage whiche he had in hande, for to inhabite the
riuer _De las Palmas_. Before his departure he dispatched twoo hundred
Spaniardes, & thrée score and ten horsemen, with many _Mexicans_ for
the countrey of _Chichimea_, to inhabite there, finding the lande riche
of siluer mines, as it was reported, giuyng vnto those men expresse
order, that if the people of that prouince did not entertayne them
with friendship, that then they should accept thë as enimies, and
forthwith to make warre, and to take them for slaues, for that they
are a barbarous people. He wrote his letter to _Vera Crux_, to prepare
with all spéede twoo good shippes, and for that purpose he sent _Pero
ruiz de Esquiuel_, who was a Gentleman of Siuill: But he wente not on
the iourney, for a moneth after, they founde him buried in a little
Iland of the lake, with one hande out of the graue, whiche was eaten
with dogges and foule: he was buried in his dublet and his hose: he had
one onely wounde in his forehead: And a _Negro_, his slaue, who wente
in his company, was neuer hearde of, nor yet the _Canao_ and _Indians_
that wente with him, so that the truth of his death was neuer knowen.
_Cortes_ made an Inuentary of his moueable goodes, whiche was valued
at twoo hundred thousande Castlins of golde: he left for gouernour of
his owne estate, the Licenciat _Altamirano_ his kinsman, with other
two friends: he furnished twoo shippes, and proclaymed frée passage
and victuals vnto all those that would goe in his cöpany: he shipped
for his owne account a thousand fiue hundred markes of siluer, twentie
thousand Castlins in good gold, and ten thousand Castlins of base
golde. He tooke in his company _Gonsalo de Sandoual_, _Andres de
Tapia_, and other of the chiefest of the conquerours. He brought with
him a Sonne of _Mutezumas_, & another Sonne of _Maxixca_, who was
become a Christian, & named _Don Lorenso_, with many other _Indian_
Gentlemen of _Mexico_, _Tlaxcallan_, and other cities: eight players
with a cudgell, twelue tenis players, with certaine men & women of
that countrey, who were white of colour, and other dwarfes & deformed
persons. He brought also wilde beasts, as Tigres, & other strange
beastes called _Aiotochtli_, and one _Tlaquaci_. Moreouer he brought a
great number of mantels made of feathers & Conny heare, Targets, bushes
or tuffes of galant feathers, and looking glasses of stone. In fine, he
came lyke a great Lorde, & arriued in Spayne, in the ende of the yéere
1528. the Courte being then in _Tolledo_. The newes of his arriuall was
blowen through out all Spayne, and euery one desirous to sée him.
The honour vvhiche the Emperour
_shewed vnto Hernando Cortes, with rewarde_.
The Emperour receyued _Cortes_ magnifically, and to giue him the
greater honour, he went & visited him at hys owne lodging.
The Emperour beyng in a readinesse to passe into Italy, to be there
crowned with the Emperiall crowne, _Cortes_ went in his maiesties
company vnto the Citie of _Saragoza_, whereas his Maiestie calling
to remembrance his worthy seruice, & valour of his person, made him
_Marques del valle de Huaxacac_, accordyng to his desire, on the .vi.
of July, _An._ 1528, and Captayne generall of the newe Spayne, with
all the prouinces and coast of the south sea, chiefe discouerer and
inhabiter of the same coaste and Ilandes, with the twelfth parte of all
that after that tyme should be discouered, for a sure inheritaunce to
him and his discendentes: he offered vnto him also the habite of the
order of Knighthoode of Saint Iames, the whiche offer _Cortes_ refused,
bycause there was no rent gyuen with the habite, but he besought his
Maiestie to graunt vnto him the gouernmët of _Mexico_, the whiche
request the Emperour denied, bycause that no Conquerour shoulde thinke
that the office of gouernment and iustice is due vnto hym, for the like
demaunde was desired of the king _Don Fernando_, by _Cristoual Colon_
who firste discouered the _India_, and also the great Captaine _Gonsalo
Hernandoz de Cordoua_, who conquered _Naples_. _Cortes_ deserued muche,
and also the Emperour gaue him much, to honour him as a most bountifull
and gratefull King, who neuer taketh away that whiche once he giueth.
He likewise gaue vnto _Cortez_ all the kyngdome of _Michuacan_, but hée
had rather haue had diuers other townes whiche he demaunded, many other
great fauours and rewardes he receyued at the Emperours handes, but the
principall are those before declared.
The Mariage of Cortez.
VVhen it was knowen in Spayne, that the lady _Catherin Xuares_, wife
vnto _Cortes_, was deceassed in _India_, by intercessours he was
assured vnto the Duke of _Beiar_, his brothers daughter, who was named
the Lady _Iane_ of _Zuniga_: hyr fathers name was _Don Carolus de
Arrellano_, Earle of _Aguilar_. This Lady was a bewtifull Dame, and
hyr brethrene noble personages, who were highly in fauour with the
Emperour. And _Cortes_ to matche with so honorable an house and lynage
he iudged himselfe fortunate and well maried.
[Sidenote: The riche Emeraldes.]
Among many Iewelles whiche _Cortes_ broughte with him, were fiue moste
riche and fine Emeraldes, whiche were valued at a hundreth thousande
Duckets: the one was wrought lyke vnto a Rose, an other like a Cornet,
an other lyke a fishe with the eyes of golde, whiche was a maruellous
péece of worke, beyng wrought among _Indians_: an other péece was
wrought lyke vnto a bell, with a great and a riche pearle for the
clapper, garnished with golde, ingrauen about with letters, whiche
sayde, Blessed is he that created thée. The fifth was made lyke a cuppe
with the foote of gold, and had foure little chaynes of gold, that were
ioyned all at the top togither, in a great pearle, and the brimme of
this cuppe was of gold, with this verse ingrauen rounde aboute, _Inter
nates mulierum non furrexit maior_. For this onely péece the Merchantes
of _Geneua_ did offer fourtie thousand Ducates, for to sel the same
again to the great Turke. But at that tyme _Cortes_ woulde not giue
it for any money, although afterwarde he lost them all in the warres
of _Argel_, beyng there with the Emperour. It was told _Cortes_ that
the Empresse desired to haue those péeces, meaning to demaunde them
of him, and that the Emperour shoulde pay for the same, for whiche
cause he sent them to the Lady his newe wife, with many other Iewelles
before he came at the Courte, and there, when he was enquired for them,
he answered, and excused himselfe, for then certaynely he gaue suche
Iewels vnto his Espouse, that the lyke neuer Lady had in Spayne. And
after he was maried to the Lady _Iane_ of _Zuniga_, he departed with
hyr to the newe Spayne, with title of _Marques_.
Hovv the Chancery vvas first placed
_in Mexico, and certayne Diuelishe pretences
wrought against Cortes_.
Before _Cortes_ his cöming into Spayne, _Pamfilo de Naruaez_ his old
enimy wët vp & down in the Court, procuring the conquest of the riuer
_De Palmas_ & _Florida_, where at the laste he died, and alwayes when
he saw time conuenient he made cöplaints against _Cortes_, yea and to
the Emperours owne hand he deliuered a scrole of many articles, amög
the which was one, wherein he affirmed that _Cortes_ had as many barres
of gold and siluer, as in _Biscay_ were barres of yron, and offered to
proue the same: but although it was not true, yet it was suspicious. He
also earnestly procured that he shold be punished, saying that he had
plucked out one of his eyes, & killed with poyson the Licenciat _Luys
ponce de Leon_, & _Francisco Garay_. Through his many and importunate
petitiös, it was determined to send to _Mexico_, _Don Pedro de la
Cueua_, who was bothe fierce and seuere, and Lorde stewarde of the
Emperour his house, and afterwarde made general of the ordinance, and
chiefe Comendador of the order and knighthood of _Alcantara_, who
findyng the accusation true, should cut off _Cortes_ his head.
But as God would, in the meane season came the testimoniall from the
Doctor _Hoieda_, and the Licenciat _Pero Lopez_, Phisitions, who had
cured the persons that were reported to haue bene poysoned, whervpon
that commission ceased. And when _Cortes_ came into Spayne, _Don Pedro
de la Cueua_ would many times laugh and iest with him, saying, From
farre places long lies.
[Sidenote: Before the Iudges came, Cortez vvas gone to Spayne.]
The Emperour and his councell of _India_ prouided a Courte of Chancery
in _Mexico_, as chiefe place, where as all controuersies and matters
of righte throughout the new _Spayne_ mighte there be determined, and
also to correct the mutinies, and partes taking among the Spanyardes:
likewise to take residence and accompte of _Cortes_, and to be
satisfyed both of his seruice and offences. Moreouer that they should
visite the officers, and royall Treasorie there. _Munio de Gusman_ was
appoynted president and gouernoure, with other foure Licenciates for
Iudges to accompany him. He departed toward _Mexico_ Anno 1529. and
at his comming, he began to vnderstande in his regimente and office,
with the Licenciate _Iohn Ortiz_, for the other thrée Iudges died by
the way. _Cortes_ béeing nowe absente, and vppon his iourney toward
_Spayne_, this newe Iudge made a terrible residence and condemnation
againste him, and commaunded all his goodes to be solde by out-thrappe,
for a greate deale lesse then hys goodes were worth, and in his absence
they called him by Proclamation: but if he hadde bin there present, his
life had bin in daunger, although face to face some respect is had, and
it is an ordinarie rule that the Iudge sheweth rigoure against him that
is absent. This hatred was not only against _Cortes_, but also againste
his friendes, for hée apprehended _Pedro de Aluarado_, who was newly
come from _Spayne_, bycause he spake in the fauour of _Cortez_, laying
to his charge the rebellion of _Mexico_, when _Naruaez_ was there. He
also apprehended _Alonso de Estrada_, & manye others, doing manifest
wrongs vnto them.
[Sidenote: A good sentence.]
In shorte space the Emperour had more complayntes against _Nunio de
Gusman_, and the other Iudge, than had bin héeretofore againste any
other, wherevpon he was put out of office in the yeare 1530. His
wrongful dealing in iustice was not onely proued in _Mexico_, but
also in the Court of _Spayne_, with many persons that were come from
thence, so that the nexte president and Iudges that went thither, did
pronounce _Nunio de Gusman_ and his fellowe for partiall Iudges, and
enimies vnto _Cortes_, and condemned him to pay all his goodes whiche
were euill solde. But whë _Nunio de Gusman_ vnderstoode that he was
put out of office, he then was afraide, and tooke his iourney against
the _Teuchichimecas_, séeking after the Towne of _Culhuacan_, from
whence the _Mexicans_ descended. He caried in his company fiue hundred
Spanyardes, whereof the most were horsemen, and many of them went as
prisoners, and against their willes.
[Sidenote: Abhominable fact.]
In _Mechuacan_ he tooke prisoner the King _Caconcin_, who was a great
friende vnto _Cortes_, a seruitor vnto the Spanyards, and vassal to
the Emperour, and as the same goeth, he tooke from him tenne thousande
markes of plate, and much golde, and afterward burned him, and many
other Gentlemen, and principal persons of that kingdome, bycause
they shoulde not complayne, saying, that a dead dogge biteth not.
He tooke from thence sixe thousand _Indians_ for the seruice of his
army, and with them conquered _Xalixco_, whiche is nowe called the
new _Gallizia_. He abode there, vntill the Vizeroy _Don Antonio de
Mondoza_, and Chancery of _Mexico_, caused him to be apprehended, who
sent him prisoner into Spayne, to giue accompte of his office. If
_Nunio de Gusman_ had bin so good a gouernour and Iudge, as he was in
bloud a Gentleman, he had then enioyed the best plot of all the West
_India_, but he behaued himselfe euill, both with the _Indians_ and
_Spanyards_.
The same yeare that he came from _Mexico_, went thyther for president
_Sebastian Ramirez_, who was a Bishop, and had in time past bin
presidente in _Santo Domingo_, and the Licenciates _Iohn de Salmeron_,
_Gasco Quiroga_, _Francisco Ceynos_, and _Alonso Maldonado_, for Iudges
to accompany him.
These Iudges gouerned well the land, and caused the Citie of _Angels_
to be inhabited which the _Indians_ called _Cuetlaxcoapan_, that is to
say a Snake in water. The reason was, bycause they haue two fountaynes,
the one of euill water, and the other of good. This Citie standeth
twentie leagues from _Mexico_, in the high way to _Vera Crux_. The
Bishop set the _Indians_ at libertie, and therefore many Spanyards
departed from thence, who hadde inhabited there before, and wente to
séeke their liuing at _Xalixco_, _Hunduras_, _Quahutemallan_, and other
places where warre was.
The returne of Cortez to Mexico.
At this season arriued _Cortes_ at the riche Towne of _Vera Crux_, and
when his comming was published, how he came wyth title of Marquez, and
had broughte hys wife with him, an infinite number of _Indians_ came to
visite him, and almost all the Spanyards of _Mexico_, so that in few
dayes there came a thousand persons of his owne nation, who made theyr
complaintes vnto him, how they were vndone, and that the Iudges which
had bin there, had destroyed both him and them, and asked his iudgement
whether that nowe they might kill both them and theirs. _Cortes_
hearing their odious request, reprehended them, and also gaue them hope
shortly to reléeue their necessitie with new discoueries, and in this
order fearing some mutinie, he held them in pleasure and pastime.
When the president hearde howe _Cortes_ was visited of the Spanyaryds,
they commaunded forthwith euery one of them shoulde immediately returne
to _Mexico_, or else, where their dwelling places were vpö paine of
death, yea and they were aboute to apprehende _Cortes_ for a stirrer
of vprore, and to sende him backe againe prisoner into _Spayne_.
But when he saw howe soone these Iudges were moued, he commaunded to
proclayme himselfe openly in _Vera Crux_ Captayne Generall of all the
dominions of the new _Spayne_, and there caused the Emperours letters
pattentes to be redde, whiche thing being knowen to the _Mexican_
Iudges, it caused them to wring their noses. After this diligence
ended, he departed toward _Mexico_ wyth a great company of _Spanyards_
and _Indians_, among whom were a good company of horsemen: but when he
came to _Tezcuco_, the President sent to commaund him not to enter into
_Mexico_, vpon payne of losse of his goodes, and hys body to be at the
Kings pleasure.
He obeyed the commaundemente with greate wysedome, being a thing
conuenient to the seruice of the Emperour, and profite of the land,
which he had wonne wyth great toyle and laboure: but yet he abode in
_Tezcuco_ with a greater maiestie and court, than the President in
_Mexico_, and wrote vnto him, that he should consider his good will and
whole intent, and not to giue occasion to the _Indians_ to rebell, and
for the _Spanyards_ he might assure hymselfe.