_How the licentiate Luis Ponce de Leon, who was commissioned to make
inquiries into Cortes' government of New Spain, arrives in the
harbour of San Juan de Ulua._
I have already mentioned in a former chapter that the emperor, during
his stay at Toledo, had commissioned Luis Ponce de Leon to repair to
Mexico, and there to institute a formal inquiry against Cortes; and if
he found him guilty, to punish him so severely, that the whole world
might know it. He had been previously furnished with all the particulars
of the several accusations which had been brought against Cortes.
It was not for a length of time that this man received the necessary
despatches, which had greatly retarded his departure. At length,
however, he arrived, after a favorable passage, with three or four
vessels, in the harbour of San Juan de Ulua, where he immediately
landed, and repaired to the town of Medellin. As he made no secret of
the purport of his arrival, one of the officers of Cortes' household
immediately sent his master intelligence of the nature of this
gentleman's visit, so that Cortes was apprized of it four days after
Leon's arrival. When our general received these letters from Villalobos,
the officer above mentioned, he happened to be in the Franciscan
cloister, making the holy communion, and humbly supplicating the
Almighty to bless his endeavours. This news was the more disagreeable to
him, as Ponce de Leon seemed to hasten his journey to Mexico in such a
manner as if he did not wish to allow him time to make the necessary
arrangements for his reception. In the meantime, however, he despatched
some of his most confidential friends to learn something more of the
newly arrived, and whether they were really provided with a proper
commission from his majesty; but a couple of days after he had received
the first news, three couriers arrived from Leon with letters for
Cortes; among others there was one from the emperor, in which his
majesty acquainted him that an investigation would be instituted against
him on various accounts. Our general perused the emperor's letter with
the deepest veneration, and declared that it was a proof of great mercy
on the part of his majesty to have despatched a proper judge, that
justice might be done him against his enemies. Cortes returned an answer
to Leon by the same couriers, expressing himself in the most obliging
and friendly terms, requesting of him at the same time to state along
which road he intended journeying to Mexico, in order that he might make
the necessary preparations for his reception at the different stages
along his route.
The licentiate, in reply to this letter, returned Cortes the most
sincere thanks for his kind wishes, saying he was desirous of staying a
few days where he was, to rest from the fatigues of the sea voyage.
While staying at Medellin, various accusations were brought against
Cortes, both by letter and word of mouth, as the latter had many enemies
at Medellin, composed partly of those who had accompanied him on the
expedition to the Honduras, partly of those who had been previously
banished from Panuco; besides which, there were several discontented
persons in Mexico, who would gladly have worked out our general's ruin.
Here, it was said, Cortes was hastening to bring the trial of the factor
and the veedor to a close, before the licentiate Leon should arrive. The
latter had better be upon his guard; for Cortes, with his courteous and
flattering sentences, only wished to learn from him by which road he
intended journeying to Mexico, in order to put him to death by some
means or other. The same artifice he had employed against Narvaez and
Garay. Further, they assured Leon that Cortes had sacrificed the lives
of a considerable number of Spanish troops, and of above 3000 Mexicans,
in the expedition to the Honduras; that he had left there Diego de
Godoy, one of his officers, with thirty Spaniards, all suffering from
ill health; the whole of whom had since perished. This we found indeed
to be a fact. They then begged of the licentiate Leon to leave all other
considerations, to hasten to Mexico, and to remember what had befallen
Narvaez, Garay, and Tapia, to whom Cortes likewise made every show of
respect and affection, but had, some how or other, obliged them to
return home again without accomplishing their object. In short, they
calumniated our general in every possible manner, and actually succeeded
in persuading Leon that Cortes would not listen to his commission.
The licentiate was accompanied by several cavaliers, among whom were the
alguacil-mayor Proano of Cordoba and his brother, Salazar de Petraza,
who came with the appointment of alcalde of the fortifications of
Mexico, but he died shortly after of pleurisy; further, the bachelor or
licentiate Marcos de Aguilar, a soldier of the name of Bocanegra of
Cordoba, and several monks of the order of the Dominicians, with their
provincial father Thomas Ortiz, who had been for several years prior of
some cloister, but I forgot where; however, every one was of opinion
that he was better suited for business than for a religious life. With
these personages Leon held a consultation as to whether he should
proceed immediately to Mexico or not; and they were unanimously of
opinion that he should repair thither without delay.
The licentiate accordingly set out on his journey, and arrived in
Iztapalapan when Cortes was about to despatch other couriers with
letters and refreshments to him. Here, however, he met with a most
splendid reception, and a sumptuous banquet was prepared for him, at
which Andreas de Tapia figured as master of the ceremonies. Ponce de
Leon enjoyed himself very much at table, and was perfectly astonished
when fresh cream and cheese were also handed to him. He and the
cavaliers who accompanied him eat so heartily of these dainties, that
several of them were obliged to leave the table, having been seized with
sudden pains in their bowels. Although the others felt not the slightest
effects of the cream, father Thomas Ortiz instantly declared it had been
poisoned, and that he would take good care not to touch it. The other
gentlemen, however, who sat at table declared that he had stuffed down
as much of it as any of them; but as Tapia had been master of the
ceremonies on this occasion, the newly-arrived guests declared that all
was not right.
Cortes himself was not present at this banquet in Iztapalapan, but had
remained in Mexico, where a rumour was soon spread that he had
immediately forwarded to Leon a considerable present of gold bars.
Whether there was any truth in this I cannot say, though many persons
positively asserted there was no truth in it.
As Iztapalapan was only eight miles from Mexico, Cortes learnt the exact
hour when Leon would arrive in the city; he therefore went out to meet
him, accompanied by the whole of the cavalry then at Mexico, and
immediately around his person were Sandoval, the treasurer Alonso de
Estrada, the accountant Albornoz, Jorge and Gomez de Alvarado, and then
followed the whole of the chief authorities of the town and a number of
the Conquistadores. When Cortes and Leon met on the causeway, they
greeted each other in the most respectful manner imaginable. The latter
was not a little astonished at the courteous behaviour of our general,
and it was not till after much pressing that he would allow Cortes to
concede the place of honour to him. When he entered the city, beheld the
large fortifications, and the numerous towns lying around the lake, he
declared that no other general in the world, with so small a body of
troops, would have been able to take this strong city, and subdue so
vast a territory.
The procession then repaired to the Franciscan cloister, where mass was
said. When this was finished, Cortes begged Leon to produce his
commission, as the first thing he should demand was that the veedor and
factor might be put upon their trial. Leon, however, desired that this
might be postponed until the morrow, and Cortes then conducted him to
his palace, which had been hung with beautiful tapestry, and where a
splendid repast was awaiting them. Everything was served in gold and
silver, and the whole table was so beautifully arranged, that Leon could
not help remarking, in an under tone, to his alguacil-mayor Proano and
to Bocanegra, that Cortes, in his manners and conversation, had every
appearance of a man who had lived like a grand senor for many years.
The following day all assembled in the principal church of the city,
whither Cortes had desired all the civic functionaries, the officers of
the crown, and the Conquistadores to meet. After mass had been
celebrated, Leon, in due form, produced his royal commission, which
Cortes perused with deep veneration, kissed it, and declared that it
contained the mandates of his emperor and master, to which he would pay
implicit obedience.
Every one present then followed Cortes' example, by turns; upon which
Leon desired the alcalde-mayor, the ordinary alcaldes, the officers of
the Hermandad, and the alguacils, to hand him their several staffs of
office; which having been done, he immediately returned them to the
respective persons. He then turned to Cortes, and addressed him as
follows: "Senor capitan, his majesty has commanded me to take upon
myself the chief government of New Spain; not that I think you unworthy
of filling this office, and even others of greater importance, but
because our sovereign master so commands."
Cortes thanked him in the most respectful terms, with the assurance that
he was always ready to act strictly up to his majesty's commands; and
Leon himself, he added, would be convinced, from the investigation he
was ordered to set on foot, that he (Cortes) had always proved himself a
loyal and faithful subject of his majesty; and how falsely he had been
accused and calumniated by evil-minded persons.
To this the licentiate answered, that it was ever so in the world; that
where there were honest people, there were also others of a contrary
character; and that we must expect praise from those to whom we have
shown kindness, and calumny from those towards whom we have been obliged
to act harshly. This was all that took place on the first day.
On the following day, after mass, which was celebrated in the palace,
Ponce de Leon sent a cavalier with a most courteous message to our
general, desiring him to wait upon him. During the discourse which now
ensued, there was, besides themselves, no one present excepting the
prior Thomas Ortiz; and the licentiate thus addressed our general: "I
must, first of all, inform you, senor capitan, that his majesty has
particularly desired me to bestow lucrative commendaries on all the
veteran Conquistadores; those who first left the island of Cuba for the
conquest of New Spain and the city of Mexico; as also on those who
subsequently joined your troops, and likewise assisted in the conquest;
but to favour the former somewhat more than the latter. I announce
these, his majesty's commands, to you, as I have been informed that, in
the distribution of the Indians, you have but poorly remunerated several
of the veteran Conquistadores, who first landed with you in New Spain;
but that, on the other hand, you have presented considerable lands on
persons recently arrived from Spain, who had no claim thereto whatever.
If this is really true, I am bound to observe, that you have not acted
up to the views of his majesty, when he conferred upon you the
appointment of governor of these countries."
To this Cortes replied, that there was not one of the Conquistadores
whom he had not rewarded; that some, indeed, had fared better in the
distribution of the Indians than others; but that, owing to many
unforeseen circumstances, he had not been able to do justice to all; and
that, on this account alone, he hailed his arrival in New Spain, to
satisfy all parties; for the whole of the Conquistadores had every claim
to be handsomely rewarded.
The licentiate then questioned him respecting the expedition to the
Honduras, and asked him which of the Conquistadores had accompanied him
on that occasion, and how they had fared; but he wished particularly to
know what had become of the thirty or forty men whom he had left under
the command of an officer, named Diego de Godoy, to perish of hunger at
Puerto de Caballos?
This latter reproach was, unfortunately, too well founded in truth, as
we shall presently see; and certainly, as men who had been present at
the siege of Mexico, and assisted in the conquest of New Spain, they, at
least, had merited to live quietly in the enjoyment of the fruits of
their labour. Cortes ought rather to have taken along with him on that
expedition those troops only which had recently arrived from Spain.
Ponce de Leon then made inquiries after the captain Luis Marin, after
Bernal Diaz del Castillo, and the rest of the men who were with him.
To all these inquiries Cortes answered: "That it would have been useless
for him to have attempted an expedition to countries so far distant,
attended with so many difficulties, without those veterans who were
inured to the hardships of a military life. But he could assure him that
the troops which had been left behind were on their way to Mexico, and
that the whole of them were men whom he would particularly recommend to
his consideration, and who deserved to have the most lucrative
commendaries bestowed upon them."
The licentiate then continued in a more earnest tone of voice, and asked
Cortes: "How, without his majesty's permission, he had dared to set out
on so tedious an expedition, by which he knew he must absent himself for
so long a time from the seat of his government, and which had, as he
knew, almost proved the destruction of the city of Mexico?"
To this Cortes answered: "That as his majesty's captain-general he had
been bound to pursue such a course, for, if he had not taken some active
step, the example of revolt set by Oli would have been followed by other
officers. Besides which, he had previously announced his intention to
his majesty of marching thither."
After this explanation the licentiate touched upon the defeat and
imprisonment of Narvaez, the capture of Garay's vessels, the loss of his
troops, and his sudden death; and, lastly, on the manner in which he had
obliged Christobal de Tapia to reembark; besides these, he questioned
him on various other matters, which I will not enumerate here. To all of
which Cortes gave such excellent answers, that Ponce de Leon appeared
pretty well satisfied.
I have above remarked, there was no one present during this conference
excepting father Thomas Ortiz. This person, immediately after it was
ended, called upon three intimate friends, and assured them, in all
confidence, that it was Leon's intention to sentence Cortes to
decapitation, in accordance with the commands of his majesty, and that
it was for this purpose only he had put the above-mentioned questions to
him. Ortiz, the next morning, very early, called upon our general
himself, and said to him: "Senor capitan, the great respect I entertain
for you, my spiritual office, and the rules of the order I belong to,
make it imperative on me to warn people in cases like these; I will
therefore not hide from you that his majesty has given Leon full power
to put you to death."
This communication appeared to affect Cortes very much, nor could he
think lightly of it when he considered the questions which the
licentiate had put to him; yet, on the other hand again, he was well
aware that this monk was an evil-minded person, and that very little
reliance could be placed in what he said. Perhaps he had made up this
story himself, that Cortes might ask him to intercede for him with Leon,
for which the former, he naturally supposed, would not fail to
remunerate him with some gold bars. There were several persons who even
affirmed that Leon himself had secretly desired Ortiz to communicate
this to our general, to alarm him into a supplication of mercy. However,
Cortes replied to father Ortiz in the most courteous manner, thanked him
for the communication, and concluded by saying, "He had always
entertained hopes that his majesty would reward him for the many great
services he had rendered to the crown, and that he should still continue
to live in this hope, being conscious that he was perfectly innocent of
all guilt, and confident that Ponce de Leon was not the man to exceed
his emperor's commands."
By this reply the monk found himself excessively disappointed in his
expectations, nor could he hide his confusion. Cortes, however, remained
firm to his purpose, and never gave him a single farthing, although
Ortiz had reckoned upon so much.