_Of various remarks which were made respecting my history, which the
reader will be pleased to hear._
After I had completed this my history, two licentiates called upon me
and begged permission of me to peruse it, in order that they might
acquaint themselves better with the history of the conquest of Mexico
and of New Spain, and that they might judge for themselves in how far my
history differed from the representations which Francisco Lopez de
Gomara and doctor Illescas have given of the heroic deeds of the marquis
del Valle Oaxaca. As ignorant persons, like myself, always learn
something from men of learning, I gave it to them, but under the
condition that they should neither add nor take anything away from it;
as everything I had related was conformable to truth. When the
licentiates had read through the whole of my work, one of them who was a
great rhetorician, said he was astonished at the sharpness of my memory,
that I should not even have forgotten one single circumstance of the
many things that had taken place from my first voyage of discovery under
Cordoba down to the present time. With respect to my style of writing,
both remarked, that it was plain old Castilian, which was more agreeable
at that time than those embellished sentences which are generally
affected by historians; and that though my style was plain it was
rendered beautiful by the truth which it contained. They were, however,
of opinion that I had written too conspicuously about myself, in
describing the battles at which I was present, and that I should have
left this to others. I ought also, they said, to have quoted other
historians to confirm my statements, instead of dryly saying: This I
did, This happened to me; for, added they, I was only witnessing for
myself. To this I replied, and said as follows: "In certain despatches
which Cortes forwarded to the emperor from Mexico in the year 1540, my
name and the services I had rendered to the crown were also mentioned,
and how I had made two former voyages of discovery to New Spain." In
these despatches Cortes spoke as an eyewitness of my conduct in the many
battles we fought with the Mexicans, of the courage I had evinced on
every occasion, of the many wounds I had received in the numerous
engagements, and also how I had accompanied him on the expedition to the
Honduras, and said besides several other things in my praise, which it
would be tedious to enumerate here. The illustrious viceroy, Antonio de
Mendoza, wrote in a similar strain to his majesty respecting the
officers who were then serving in New Spain. His accounts agreed
perfectly with those of Cortes; and lastly, I myself in the year 1540
gave the royal council of the Indies sufficient proofs in confirmation
of what both had said. But should you senores licentiates, continued I,
not feel satisfied with such witnesses as the viceroy and Cortes, and
with the proofs I have myself adduced, I can bring forward another
witness, who must have greater weight than any other in the world, I
mean the emperor Charles the Fifth himself, who, by one of his royal
letters bearing his own seal, addressed to the viceroys and presidents,
commands that I and my sons shall be munificently rewarded for the many
important services which I have rendered to the crown. I myself possess
the original letters containing these commands. But if you wish for any
further witness, behold the territory of New Spain, which is thrice the
size of old Spain; count the numbers of towns and settlements which have
all been founded by Spaniards, and sum up the wealth which is
continually passing from this portion of the new world to Spain. Another
reason why I have written this true account is, because the historians
Illescas and Gomara never mention a word in our praise, but give to
Cortes alone all the glory of our conquests. If they had been honestly
inclined they would not have passed us, the Conquistadores, by in
silence; a share of Cortes' heroic deeds is also due to me, for in all
his battles I fought among the first; besides that, I was present in so
many other engagements in the provinces under his officers, as you must
have seen in the course of this history. I can also claim my share of
the inscription which Cortes put on the silver culverin, we called the
phoenix, and which Cortes sent a present to his majesty from Mexico. The
inscription ran thus:
This bird was born without its equal,
As a servant I have not my second,
And you have not your equal in this world.
And when Cortes, on his first return to Spain spoke to his majesty of
the courageous officers and soldiers who had served under him in the
Mexican wars, I was also included in this number. Cortes also took
frequent opportunities of speaking to his majesty in our praise during
the unfortunate expedition against Algiers, and of this praise a part
was also due to me; for I lent also my assistance in the conquest.
This was my reply to the two licentiates; but with respect to the
reproach they made me of having spoken too much in my own praise, and
that all this self-praise would have come with a better grace from
others, I desired them to bear in mind, that there are indeed certain
virtues and excellent qualities which we ought never to praise in
ourselves, but let our neighbours do it for us; but how is it possible
for a neighbour to mention anything in the praise of another if he was
not present at the battle with him? Are the sparrows, said I, to speak
of it, who flew over our heads during the engagements? or the clouds,
that floated on high? Who can speak better about it than we, the
officers and soldiers, the men who themselves fought the battles? Your
reproach, gentlemen, would have been very just, continued I, if in my
history you had found that I had withheld the praise that was due to the
officers and soldiers who were my companions in arms, and I had claimed
all the honour to myself; but I have not even said so much in my own
praise as I could, and indeed ought to have done; but I write that my
name may not be forgotten. Here I feel tempted to make a comparison,
though it is between a very great man and a poor soldier like myself;
which is, if historians relate of the imperator and celebrated general
Julius Caesar, that he fought fifty-three battles, I may say that I
fought in many more battles than Julius Caesar, as may be seen from my
narrative. Historians also say of Julius Caesar how courageous he was,
and always ready for battle at a moment's notice, and how he devoted his
nights in writing down his valorous deeds with his own hand; for though
there were numbers of historians, he would not trust his fame in their
hands. It should therefore be no matter of surprise to any one, when I
mention a few words about myself, in describing the battles at which I
was present, that future generations may say: this Bernal Diaz del
Castillo wrote, in order that his children and descendants might share
in the praise of his heroic deeds, in the same way as the fame of those
heroes of old has been handed down in their escutcheons to their latest
posterity.
I will not, however, say anything further on this head; for what I have
already said will not be relished by malice and envy, who will be of
opinion that I have praised myself too much. What I have said of myself
has, so to say, happened but yesterday, and not centuries ago, as the
exploits of the Romans. There are still sufficient of the Conquistadores
living to confirm what I have related. If they found any untruths, or
even any obscure passage, they would not allow it to pass unnoticed.
However, it is so in the world; malice always maligns truth. I will now
enumerate in their regular order all the battles at which I was present,
from the first discovery of New Spain, down to the pacification of the
whole country, in order that the reader may have a short and clear view
of them all at once; however, there were many hostile rencontres at
which I was not present, either because I was wounded or knocked up with
fatigue, or while the provinces were so numerous, that we were obliged
to march out against them in different bodies.
The first was the pretty sharp conflict at the Punta de Cotoche, during
my first voyage of discovery, under Cordoba. Next followed the severe
battle at Champoton, where we lost the half of our troops; I myself was
dangerously wounded, and our captain had two severe wounds, of the
consequences of which he died.
On our return to Cuba, when we landed on the coast of Florida in search
of water, we had another sharp conflict, in which I was wounded, and one
of our men was carried off alive by the Indians.
In the expedition under Grijalva, we fought a second battle in
Champoton, on the same spot; ten of our men were killed, and Grijalva
himself wounded.
In the third expedition under Cortes, I was present at the following
engagements:
The two battles on the Tabasco, subsequently called the river Grijalva.
The battle of Tzinpantzinco.
A few days after, the three pitched battles against the Tlascallans.
The conspiracy and chastisement of the inhabitants of Cholulla.
Entrance into Mexico, and seizure of the person of Motecusuma. I do not
count this exactly among the battles, yet it was a bold step to take so
mighty a cazique prisoner.
The great victory over Narvaez, whose troops amounted to nearly 1400; we
were only 226 in number.
On our return to Mexico, to the relief of Alvarado, we were attacked by
the whole armed force of Mexico. The battles continue, without
intermission, for eight days and nights. I will, however, say, that I
only fought six battles during this time. We lost 860 of our troops.
The battle of Otumpan, and that in our expedition to the province of
Tepeaca.
The expedition against Tezcuco, where, in the two battles we fought, I
was each time severely wounded in the throat by the thrust of a lance.
Two battles against the Mexicans, on our march to the assistance of some
townships in the province of Tezcuco. These battles were respecting the
possession of some maise fields.
Second campaign of Mexico, and our battles against the wild tribes of
the marquis mountains. Here we had eight men killed, and the whole of us
were in the utmost danger.
The battle of Quauhnahuac.
The three battles of Xochimilco, where likewise we stood in great
danger, and four of our men were killed.
The siege of Mexico, which lasted ninety-three days, during the whole of
which time the battles continued, almost without intermission, day and
night. Here I may, at least, say that I fought in eighty severe
engagements and skirmishes.
Expeditions to the provinces of Guacasualco, Chiapa, and Zapoteca. Here
we fought three battles, and I was also at the taking of Chiapa.
The two conflicts near Chamula and Quitlan.
The two similar rencontres near Teapa and Cimatan. Here I lost two of my
companions, and was myself severely wounded in the throat.
I had almost forgotten to mention that, in our disastrous retreat from
Mexico, we were continually attacked, for the space of nine days, by the
enemy, and we fought four severe battles with them.
Expedition to the Honduras and Higueras, in which two years and three
months elapsed before we again reached Mexico. Near the township of
Culacotu we fought a severe engagement, in which I lost my horse, which
had cost me 600 pesos.
On my return to Mexico, I assisted in putting down the insurrection of
the Zatopecs and Minges.
I do not mention several other hostile rencontres, for I should find
neither any end to them, nor to the numerous perils I encountered.
Neither must I omit to mention that I was among the first who stood
before Mexico when we were about to commence the siege. Cortes himself
did not take up his station till five days after. I was also one of
those who destroyed the aqueduct of Chapultepec, by which the Mexicans
were deprived of fresh water.
If we sum up all this together, it will be found that I have, at least,
been in 119 battles and hostile rencontres: not that I exactly wish to
praise myself by stating this; but it is truth what I have written, and
my history is not a book of old traditions, or account of things that
happened in ancient times among the Romans; neither does it contain
poetical fictions, but a faithful narrative of the important and
remarkable services which we rendered to the Almighty, to our emperor,
and to the whole of Christianity.
Praise and thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ, who preserved me in so
many perils, and that at present I have the power to write all this with
such clearness! And I can, indeed, boast that I have been in as many
battles as historians relate of the emperor Henry the Fourth.