_Cortes sets sail from the Havannah, and has a favorable passage to
Vera Cruz, where he is received with the greatest rejoicings._
After Cortes had been five days at the Havannah, he began to grow very
impatient for the hour of his departure, so greatly did he long to be
once more in Mexico. He therefore gave orders for embarking without any
further delay, and arrived, after a very favorable passage of twelve
days, in the harbour of Medellin, opposite the island of Sacrificios,
where he dropped anchor for the night. He himself disembarked, with
twenty of his most trustworthy soldiers, intending to march to San Juan
de Ulua, which was only a couple of miles distant; but it fortunately
happened he should come up with a party of travellers who had a number
of horses with them, and were on their way to the harbour he had just
left to embark for Spain. Cortes took possession of the horses, and then
proceeded direct to Vera Cruz, which was distant about twenty miles.
When he stepped on shore, he had given strict orders that no one should
hasten to the last-mentioned town to announce his arrival. It was about
two o'clock in the morning when he entered Vera Cruz, and he immediately
repaired with his suite to the church, the door of which was open. After
they had been a short time in the church, the sacristan, who had but
recently arrived from Spain, walked in, and he was not a little
astonished to find the seats filled with strangers, of whom not a single
person was known to him. Quite alarmed, he instantly hurried out into
the streets, called out to the watch, and hastened to call up the chief
authorities to inform them that there were a great number of strangers
in the church. The alcalde-mayor soon made his appearance with the other
magistrates, three alguacils, and several of the inhabitants. The whole
of them marched armed into the church, and peremptorily commanded the
strangers to leave the church without delay. As Cortes was very much
fatigued with the journey, and scarcely looked himself, he was not
recognized by the inhabitants until they heard his voice. They then at
the same moment knew father Juan again by the white robe of his order,
though the former was become considerably the worse for wear. As soon as
they found that it was Cortes himself who stood in their presence, the
whole of them crowded up to pay their respects to him and to
congratulate him on his safe arrival. Among those present there were
several of the veteran Conquistadores, whom Cortes immediately addressed
by name, and embraced them under the most flattering assurances of his
friendship. Upon this, mass was read, and after it was finished the
magistrates conducted our general to his quarters, which were in one of
the most beautiful houses of the town. Here he stayed eight days, during
which time several festivities took place in his honour, and notice of
his arrival was instantly sent off to Mexico. He himself wrote letters
to the treasurer Estrada and to the accountant Albornoz, although he was
well aware that this person was very ill inclined towards him. If the
news of his arrival was hailed with joy in the metropolis, it was no
less so by the Indians of the country surrounding Vera Cruz, who sent
him numerous presents of gold, cotton stuffs, fruits, and of fowls. They
likewise cleared the roads for him all the way to Mexico, built huts for
his accommodation at different stages along his route, and furnished
provisions in abundance. Every one who could followed in his suite, and
his whole march to Mexico appeared like a triumphal procession. Presents
and refreshments came pouring in from all sides, ambassadors arrived
from the different townships to assure him that if the notice of his
approach had not been so short, they would have made more suitable
arrangements for his reception, begging of him at the same time to take
his route through their towns, when it would be in their power to give
him a more honorable reception. The Tlascallans, above all, were most
zealous to evince their attachment to him; the whole of the principal
caziques came out to meet him, and received him with dances, songs, and
all manner of rejoicings.
When he had arrived within twelve miles of Tezcuco, a town almost equal
in magnitude to Mexico, he was met by the accountant Albornoz, who stood
ready there to receive him, and, if possible, to regain his friendship,
for he greatly feared the resentment of our general. Besides Albornoz,
there were numbers of other Spaniards from this neighbourhood who came
out to meet him, and the caziques of the town had marched out to the
distance of eight miles, and performed various dances and games in his
honour, all of which pleased our general very much. In Tezcuco itself
other rejoicings took place, and here he passed the night, though he
might easily have reached Mexico on the same day, but he had been
requested by the treasurer, all the other chief authorities, and the
Conquistadores to defer his arrival thither until the morrow, in order
that they might make preparations to receive him in the most splendid
manner possible.
The following morning accordingly, the treasurer, accompanied by all the
city authorities, the officers of the crown, the Conquistadores, and all
Cortes' best friends came out to meet him, clothed in their full
uniform, and preceded by a large band of music. The Mexican caziques
then followed with their several devices, decked out in their full war
costume in which they had fought against us under their late monarch
Quauhtemoctzin; they celebrated all manner of games after their fashion,
while at the same time the lake was covered with canoes full of armed
Indians, just in the same manner as when they fought with us who were
stationed on the causeways. In short, the rejoicings in the city were so
manifold and great that a description can give no idea of them. During
the whole day there was dancing and music in every street, and in the
evening every house was illuminated. But what was better than all this,
the Franciscan monks, on the following day, formed a solemn procession
to the church, and public thanksgivings were offered up to the Almighty
for Cortes' safe return.
Cortes himself, immediately on his entering the city, had repaired to
their cloister to attend mass, and to offer up his thanks to God for
having preserved his life in all the dangers of the late campaign. Not
until he had performed this duty did our general repair to his dwelling,
which had been finished during his absence, and had indeed every
appearance of a magnificent palace, in which he was really courted and
feared as though he had been a king. From every province the Indians
sent ambassadors to him with presents, and even the caziques of Coatlan
came to pay their respects to him, and bring him presents.
Cortes' entry into Mexico took place in the month of June, 1524 or 1525,
I forget which.[49] He remained quiet for several days to rest from his
fatigues before he ordered the turbulent personages to be seized, and an
inquiry to be made into the late conduct of the veedor and factor. In
the same way Diego de Ocampo, or Gonzalo de Ocampo, I really cannot
remember which of the two it was on whom those libellous papers were
found against Cortes, was also thrown into chains. The scribe Ocana, an
old man, who was commonly called the life and soul of the factor, shared
a similar fate. Criminal suits, as they are termed, were certainly
instituted against these personages, and Cortes might have inflicted due
punishment upon them without any further ceremony, and his just
retribution would have met with every approbation in Spain; but he
neglected to do so, though his majesty himself had fully expected he
would have adopted such a course. This I can assure the reader to be a
fact, for I was told it by the members of the council of the Indies
themselves, when I was in Spain in the year 1540 on account of some
lawsuits which were pending between myself and others. The bishop
Bartolome de las Casas was present at the time. It was the opinion of
all that Cortes had been remarkably negligent in this matter, and that
he had shown very little of his wonted spirit on the occasion.